26th May 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,509

THURSDAY, 26 MAY, 2016

Ex-PDP NWC members dump Sheriff •Back Makarfi-led committee —P30

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How I raised money to build 44 roads in 6 months —Adamawa gov —P11

Senate summons Finance Minister, CBN gov —P2,11,12

•We must diversify economy now —Buhari •FG, states, LGs to share N281.5bn for April •States endorse 22-point fiscal reform action plan

Letter appointing new Oba of Benin issued in error —Edo govt —P10

7,000 suspected pipeline vandals may lay down arms —P10

From left, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina; Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony Elumelu, at a panel discussion in Lusaka, Zambia, on Tuesday.

Enugu killings: Police arrest 5

THE police have announced the arrest of those who allegedly carried out the massacre in Nimbo community in Enugu State. Suspected Fulani herdsmen had, on April 25, stormed Nimbo, in Uzo-Uwani Local Gov-

ernment Area of Enugu State, killing over 40 people and injuring many. According to a statement on Wednesday, by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, the suspects were arrested by the Intel-

ligence Response Team (IRT) of the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase. Kolawole said the arrests were made based on credible intelligence. continues pg4

Reps halt privatisation of refineries

•Lawmakers, NNPC director in war of words —P10

2 news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Economy: Senate summons finance minister, CBN gov Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

HE Senate, on Wednesday, summoned the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, over what they called the dire state of Nigerian economy. The lawmakers, who adopted a motion by Senator Bassey Akpan, said the duo of Adeosun and Emefiele must appear before the chamber to give details of the economic policies of the government and the plan to turn around the situation. Senator Bassey told the Senate that Nigeria’s economic scorecard recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the economy had relapsed into a recession with a decline of 0.3 per cent year-on-year real terms, adding that the report showed a drastic drop from 2.11 per cent in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the fourth quarter of 2015. He also said the Senate needed to know the monetary and fiscal policies put in place to turn around the comatose economy. Senator Akpan, in his motion, entitled: “an urgent need to address the present economic state of the nation,” stated that unemployment rate rose from 10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015 to 12.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, while under employment also rose from 18.7 per cent in the same period to 19.1 per cent. He added that inflation rose from 9.6 per cent in January 2016 to 13.8 per cent in April 2016, while prices of commodities had continued to be on a geometric rise. The lawmaker explained that besides the high inflation rate, the declining GDP and rising unemployment rate, there were also indices of unfruitful economic policies which, he said, required urgent review if the government wanted to avert further economic recession. The senator also argued that the current economic situation was the first major crisis of the Nigerian economy since 2004 which, he said, the CBN classified as 12-year low while the World Bank called it 21-year low. According to him, the CBN had, in March 2016, deployed a contracting monetary policy which he believed increased the benchmark for interest rate from 11 per cent to 12 per cent and also raised the cash reserve ratio from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent as he queried the rationale behind contracting monetary policy instead of expanding it to boost eco-

nomic activities at such a precarious times like this. He also told his colleagues that if the persistent complacent state of the Nigerian economy continued

unchecked, it would graduate into a full blown economic recession at the end of June 201,6 in accordance with CBN alert, adding that non-availability of foreign

exchange to boost the importation of raw materials for Nigeria’s domestic industries would only worsen the current unemployment and poverty rates in the country.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who presided over the sitting on Wednesday, had to disallow debates on the motion to calm the growing tension among senators

Strengthen your anti-money laundering laws, Dabiri-Erewa advises UK SENIOR Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Honourable Abike DabiriErewa, has appealed to the British parliament to strengthen its anti-money laundering and banking laws, to prevent Britain from being a safe haven for looters. In a statement from her media assistant, AbdurRahman Balogun, in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this to the UK Parliamentarians in London, where she was a guest speaker on “Partnerships and Engaging Nigerians in Diaspora,” at the House of Commons. She urged Britain to adopt the “unexplainable wealth policy” which had been adopted by seven countries, including France, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, which forfeits assets of foreigners and firms with questionable wealth. “The person who receives stolen goods is just as guilty as the person who steals. “We appeal to you to support our anti-corruption drive and make your banking system and your society uncomfort-

able for looters,” she said. Dabiri-Erewa reiterated that the war against corruption was central to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. She said the administration had also made the welfare of Nigerians central to its programmes and policies, adding that the government was committed to creating enabling environment, both

for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. Dabiri-Erewa described Nigerians in the diaspora as “our greatest ambassadors and greatest advertisement to the world.” She urged them to keep political sentiments aside, elevate national interest above self and participate in the development and advancement

FG bows to Labour, constitutes board of PPPRA Appoints Muhammed Buba chairman Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Abuja THE Federal Government finally bowed to Labour on Wednesday, as it announced the appointment of Mohammed Lawal Buba as the chairman of board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, disclosed this to the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), during the re-negotiation meeting between the NLC and the Federal Government representatives on

Wednesday. The botched meeting between the Federal Government and the NLC was reconstituted to review issues involved in the new pump price of petrol, following the increase in the pump price by the government. Alhaji Buba, a former Managing Director of Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), has also expressed willingness to serve on the board. The SGF said the board comprises 25 members, adding that letters had been sent to other members selected

I am not against Fulani —Fayose Bola Badmus -Lagos EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said he had nothing against the Fulani people or any other tribe in the country. He also said he was not an ethnic jingoist, who is out to cause confusion in the country. He stated this in Lagos, on Wednesday, at the funeral ceremony of Mama Violet Oluremilekun Philips-George, mother of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George. In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor added that his call for the Federal Government to stem the rising tide of Fulani herdsmen attack on communities across the country was borne out of the need for national cohesion, unity and peace. “I have nothing against the Fulani people or any other group in the country. My call for the Federal Government to put a check to the excesses of the Fulani herdsmen is for national unity, peace and harmony. “The issue of incessant

of Nigeria’s economy. The event, chaired by British-Nigerian Member of Parliament (MP), Kate Osamor, was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Nigeria. The interactive event was well attended by MPs, policy makers, business leaders and Nigerian professionals from all walks of life.

of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the issue. Senator Biodun Olujinmi, who seconded the motion, also told the Senate that the incumbent government had not introduced any fruitful economic policy. She said many things were wrong with the economy, adding that the duo of Adeosun and Emefiele must not just appear before the Senate, but they must also unfold the government’s economic policy. Rather than allow debate on the motion, Saraki merely called for voice votes and the motion was adopted by the lawmakers.

attacks on communities across the country by the herdsmen is a time bomb and it should not be allowed to get out of hand. The earlier we stop the menace, the better for us as a nation. “This has nothing to do with politics or where one comes from in the country. Who knows who the next victim could be? “The attack is spreading across the country and I call on other state governors as well as political, religious and community leaders across the country to see the issue as a national one that we all must address. “Like I have said earlier, the solution is that those rearing cows should have ranches to keep them. In advanced nations, they engage in animal husbandry too and they don’t allow their animals to just roam about,” he said. Fayose, who sympathised with Chief George on the death of his mother, noted that the deceased lived a fulfilled life. In his sermon, Most Reverend Luke Odubanjo, the Archbishop of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria, also called on the Federal Gov-

ernment not to toy with the issue of attacks by Fulani cattle rearers in some parts of the country. The cleric noted that the issue could pose another security challenge for the country like the Boko Haram insurgency. He also admonished Christians to always bear it in mind that they would give account of their deeds on earth before their creator. Odubanjo made the call while delivering his sermon, “New Birth into a Living Hope,” while urging the Federal Government to do something urgently about it. He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his war against corruption, but warned that the anti-corruption fight should not be sectional, nor partisan, but must be made to cover all that had looted the country’s resources. He called on politicians to look back and see how they had contributed one way or the other to the situation Nigeria found itself today, saying that in many of the states, the resources were not used to uplift the people.

from related agency and groups in the industry. The Board of PPPRA is the only body with statutory power to determine and fix prices of petroleum products, but had not been constituted for over four years. Lawal, who highlighted what the government had put in place in respect of Labour demands, also disclosed that a 16-man committee had been set up to look into various issues that emanated from the hike in price of petrol, such as the minimum wage, implementation of the N500 billion palliative in the 2016 budget, as well as the review of the pump price. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said the issue of review of the minimum wage was a tripartite negotiation arrangement, adding that the 16-man committee was expected to work out the framework to constitute the

tripartite committee for the minimum wage review. Ngige, who declared himself as the chairman of the committee, added that “we are waiting for NLC to forward their nominees so that the committee can be inaugurated sometime next week.” On the issue of factions in the NLC, Senator Ngige said “we don’t know of any faction. We had our problem as a government and NLC is NLC, TUC is TUC. “We would not pry into anybody’s problem. If they have in-house problem, they would solve it. Husband and wife have problems and they reconcile. Government would be willing to play major role to make sure we have one indivisible NLC.” The NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who led other Labour leaders to the meeting, said it was successful.

el-Rufai upgrades 17 grazing reserves Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna AS part of efforts of Kaduna State government to end the crisis between herdsmen and respective communities in the state, 17 grazing reserves have been upgraded across the state. Manzo Daniel Maigari, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, stated this in a news conference in Kaduna, while reeling out activities of his ministry in the past 12 months. He said the state government was not thinking only of reviving the reserves, but looking at how they could be turned into commercial pasture hubs as done in other climes. According to Maigari, there was an existing committee set up to take proper records of visiting headsmen into the grazing reserves, but

expressed worry that somewhere along the line, the committee had not been doing that, thereby giving room for visiting herdsmen to use the facility without trace. The commissioner said the grazing reserves would be gazetted in such a way that it would create employment opportunity for other people, apart from cattle owners. “These grazing reserves have been existing for a long time. For example, that of Kachia was established in 1944, but they were abandoned. “Now, the present government has decided to revive these grazing reserves because they have been gazetted. No community is affected by these grazing land, so the issue of paying compensation to anybody does not arise,” he said.

3 news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Document links Abuja property to company, not Saraki, witness tells tribunal Sunday Ejike - Abuja

prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged false assets declaration, on Wednesday, revealed that Saraki’s name did not appear on any of the document linking him to any of the properties located in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The witness, Micheal Wetkas, who made the revelations under cross examination by the counsel to the Senate President, Paul Usoro, told the Tribunal that the Power of Attorney of the properties located at Plot 2481 and 2482, Cadastral Zone, Abuja, allegedly owned by Saraki, was made on June 3, 1993, with two parties, David Baba Akawu and Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited. He said Saraki’s name was not mentioned in the Power of Attorney which was made about 10 years before the Senate President became governor of Kwara State. According to the witness, “even though the documentation of the said properties was in the name of Carlisle Properties and Investments Limited, we believe they belong to the defendant, because the company belongs to him.” On the ownership of said company, whose certificate of incorporation was tendered before the Tribunal, the witness said Saraki’s name was never mentioned in the ownership of the firm, explaining further that the name on the certification of incoporation was one Oluwatoyin Ojora and Babs Trading and Manufacturing Limited, adding that the two owners were allotted 10,000 shares each in the company. In the certificate of incorporation of Carlisle Properties and Investment Limited obtained at the Corporate Affairs Commissions (CAC) by the EFCC, Wetkas, who was asked to read out the name of the defendant on the document, simply told the Tribunal that he could not see Saraki’s name on the certificate.

Usoro observed that the certificate of incorporation of the sold Babs Trad-

ing and Manufacturing Company Limited alleged to have being owned by

Saraki was not tendered in evidence, the witness said that the CAC was still

searching for it. When asked to tender the letter written by the EFCC

Principal Private Sector Specialist, African Development Bank Group, Emmanuel Akinwumi (left); acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Waheed Olagunju; representative of Kaduna State governor, Dr Abdulkareem Mayere; Chief Executive Officer, Arnergy Solar Limited, Femi Adeyemo and the Executive Director, Corporate Services and Commercial, BoI, Jonathan Tobin, during the commissioning of the solar electrification project at Charwa community, Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Tuesday.

to CAC requesting for that certificate, he told the Tribunal that the letter was also not available. When it was 4.00 p.m, the lead counsel for the defence, Chief Kanu Agabi asked for an adjournment, but the request was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, insisting that they have spent 10 days in cross examining the witness. This position infuriated a member of the Tribunal, Atedze Williams, who urged Jacobs to be considerate for the Bar and to the Bench. He reminded the prosecution counsel that the Tribunal had to wait for additional one hour for him and his witness to arrive and when it was time to adjourn, he remembered that he had to conclude the trial.

We have not commenced recruitment of 500,000 teachers —FG Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Federal Government said it has not commenced recruitment of the proposed 500,000 teachers to boost quality of teaching at the basic level of education as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan, therefore, warned Nigerians interested in the job to disregard offer of employment from fraudsters said to have been duping people around with fake employment letters. She said categorically that the ministry was not recruiting teachers yet and that members of the public should disregard any information to the contrary. Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Mr Ben Bem Goong, in a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja, said the Permanent Secretary sounded the note of warning following media reports that some fraudsters were on the rampage, defrauding unsuspecting and vulnerable members of the public, by collecting various sums of money and issuing them fake employment letters. He said the reports specifically indicated that one Mr Abayomi Owoyale, had defrauded a large

number of unsuspecting members of the public by “selling” employment letters to them, purportedly signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan. Goong said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the ministry wishes to let the public know the following

facts: That Mr Abayomi Owoyale is not a staffer of the Federal Ministry of Education; that the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan has not signed or asked anyone to sign or issue any letter of employment to anyone on

her behalf. “Ministry has already commenced investigation into the matter, with a view to establishing possible internal collaboration, if any. “It is important for members of the public to know that when the process of employment of the

500,000 teachers starts, it will be given wide scale publicity. “While the ministry expresses appreciation to members of the public who raised the alarm over fake letters of employment, we also commend the Nigeria Police for rising to the occasion.”

Clark calls for return to regional system of govt Leon Usigbe - Abuja ELDER statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has called for a return to the regional system of government as a basis for the Nigerian federation. This was as he noted that the present federal structure had failed. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, to mark his 89th birthday on Wednesday, a one-time Minister of Education, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the recommendations of the National Conference handed to him by former President Goodluck Jonathan. He observed that state governments were not viable and had not been able to pay salaries, but now dependent on the Federal Government. In the same way, he noted that local governments were virtually non-existent and had become appendages of state governors, who used them for their

own purposes. The elder statesman said the implementation of the conference recommendations would restore the country to the path of development. “So, I plead with this government. Government is a continuum. There is a lot that the National Conference produced, 600 resolutions. We made draft constitution, amendments,” he stated. Clark added: “The states cannot pay salaries, not to talk of local governments that are non-existent. “Many of us believe in regional government and we believe that the six zonal regions should form the basis of a federation and not states that cannot pay their salaries, not to talk of local governments that are branches of state governors, who tell them what to do. So, there is so much to do.” Noting his contributions to national development, Clark remarked that he

was yet to die, because God wanted him to help rebuild the country, which he observed had been placed in a precarious position by people like himself. According to him, “and those that attended that conference, there was a time they said we were too old to be there and I told

them, when you are 70 and above, you are at departure lounge, waiting for your boarding pass. “Some of us, we made Nigeria what it is today. We come from the regions, God will now allow some of us to go back and help to see that Nigeria is rebuilt.”

My abductors treated me with dignity —Kogi monarch Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE traditional ruler of Elaite, in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Ahmed Aminu Akwu, who was kidnapped last week Friday, has been released from captivity. The monarch was abducted by unknown gunmen close to his domain, while returning from Adogo, headquarters of Ajaokuta, Friday night. Akwu, who spoke shortly after he regained his freedom, expressed gratitude

to Allah, the state governor and the people of his domain, for his safe release. He said his abductors discovered that he was a traditional ruler and treated him very well throughout his abduction. He said: “On Friday around 9.00 p.m, I was kidnapped, but today, around 5.00 p.m, I was released without paying a dime. I thank Allah for bringing me back to my throne, I thank the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and I thank my community.”

4 news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Defamation: Omisore petitions EFCC, demands N500m damages By Moses Alao

HE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding a payment of N500 million as damages for what he described as an offensive, malicious and false publication. This was just as the former deputy governor of Osun State demanded an immediate retraction of the publication, which declared him (Omisore) wanted in connection with an alleged case of “receiving and misappropriating the sum of over N700 million between June and November 2014, from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).” Omisore had, through his lawyers, Chief Chris Uche & Co, in a letter signed by its principal partner, Chief Chris Uche, addressed to and received by the EFCC, on Wednesday, accused the commission of defamation of his character, noting that it was untrue that the senator refused to make himself available to the EFCC as alleged.

The letter noted that if Omisore’s demands for a retraction and the pay-

She added: “The IGP’s IRT, based on the intelligence gathered on the attack, arrested the following suspects: Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Sale Adamu, Suleiman Laute and Haruna Laute, and recovered one Gionee L88 mobile phone with memory card containing the video recording of the massacre in the community.” Kolawole also said the team, on May 6, bust up a three-man syndicate of deadly bank robbers/kidnappers and recovered arms, ammunition, dynamites and rifle servicing tools from them.

his lawyers would institute a civil proceeding against the EFCC and its head of

THE Federal Government, has declared Monday, May 30 as public holiday, to celebrate the 2016 Democracy Day. Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd), made the dec-

limited to N500 million.” According to the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Nigerian Tribune, Omisore had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, through Suit No FCT/HC/1456/2016, to seek its protection, having perceived that the EFCC’s invitation was “a deliberate ploy to unlawfully arrest and detain him.” According to the letter, Omisore had been granted an interim order, which restrained the commission and its agents, officers and privies from unlawfully arresting, detaining or interferring with the fundamental rights of the former deputy governor without the due process of law, an order to which the letter maintained that EFCC filed a counter-affidavit and preliminary objection, noting that the order was an impediment to the discharge of its statutory duty.

Alleged N400m fraud: Face trial, Appeal Court tells Metuh Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal brought before it by the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples The gang members – Gogo Daniel Ume, Ikado Michael and Ifeanyi Kalu – had been terrorizing Rivers, Imo and Enugu States respectively. Items recovered from them included three AK47 rifles; one LAR rifle; 310 rounds of live ammunition; 12 rifle magazines; rifle servicing tools; cache of dynamite explosive; one Toyota Highlander SUV; one Toyota Venza SUV; and one Ford Edge. The statement equally said in continuation of the IRT anti-kidnapping operations in Kaduna State, the team on May 20, arrested Babangida Ibrahim, Idris Abubakar and Idris

Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh. The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, held that it was satisfied that the former PDP spokesman had a case to Mai Anguwa over alleged involvement in kidnapping and robbery, while different calibre of weapons were also recovered from the bandits. The statement added: “The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has observed with satisfaction the high sense of patriotism and professionalism with which the members of the IGP’s IRT have carried out their duties so far.” He stated that the IRT relied on vital information made available to the police by the public and attributed the recent breakthrough to the growing trust and cooperation between the Force and the public.

answer pertaining to the N400 million transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), into the account of Destra Investment Limited, a company allegedly belonging to him. The unanimous judgment of the three-member panel of justices of the appellate court, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established a prima facie case to warrant explanations from Metuh. The appellate court held that the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was right when he dismissed Metuh’s no-case submission. “From evidence adduced before the trial court, can it be said that the first defendant has no-case to answer? “The case of the pros-

Democracy Day: FG declares Monday public holiday Clement Idoko - Abuja

Media and Publicity for “aggravated damages, which shall certainly not be

From left, Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Manpower Development, Stephen Maitazuma; Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi; Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem, during a meeting with House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Enugu killings: Police arrest 5 continued from front page

ment of N500 million were not met within seven days of the receipt of the letter,

laration on behalf of the Federal Government, in a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja. He assured Nigerians that with the signing into law of the 2016 Appropriation Act, the country would witness a “new deal” with its full implementation, especially

of the social intervention programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of the populace. The statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Bassey Akpanyung, said Dambazau congratulated Nigerians on the attain-

ment of one year in office of President Muhammadu Buhari. He enjoined all to continue to support the president in his sustained effort at building a peaceful, enduring and democratic legacy while all Nigerians a happy Democracy Day celebration.

ecution has raised several questions that only the defendant can answer. It is evident that from testimonies of the eight witnesses called by the prosecution that issues of fact were raised to warrant explanations from the appellant. “There is need for the defendant to either accept or deny the allegations against him,” the appellate court held in the judgment. Justice Aboki, who read the lead judgment, maintained that the prosecution have closed its case and the burden of defence shifted to the appellant (Metuh), who he said was “entitled to give explanations as to what actually transpired. “There is no merit in this appeal and it is accordingly dismissed,” Justice Aboki held. The appellants prayed the appellate court to quash the charge against them on the premise that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against them. They further wanted the appellate court to hold that trial Justice Abang erred in law when he, not only dismissed their no-case submission, but also ordered them to open their defence to the charge. Meanwhile, Metuh’s lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, in his reaction, said his cli-

ent, Chief Metuh, had since opened his defence at the Federal High Court, saying “after due consultation with their client, he will instruct them on the next action, as he has the right of appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.” Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed the application brought before it by Metuh, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical attention. The former spokesman of the PDP had, on Monday, through his counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, sought the permission of the court, via an application dated May 16, 2016 to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical attention. The prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, who strongly opposed to the application for the release of Metuh’s passport said, even though the court has jurisdiction to grant the prayers of the defence, the prayers were not properly made. Delivering his ruling on the application on Wednesday, the trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang held that there was fear that if Metuh was allowed to travel abroad, he might abscond and would not be available to face his trial.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Ex-Kaduna gov, Tanko Ayuba, is dead Bola Badmus -Lagos

X-KADUNA gov, Major-General Abubakar Tanko Ayuba, is dead. Ayuba also represented Kebbi South constituency of Kebbi State in the Senate in 2007. The former minister died on Wednesday afternoon at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, of an undisclosed ailment. Findings revealed that Ayuba had been on admission at a private ward in the hospital for about two months before he finally died. Ayuba attended the Nigerian Military School and Nigerian Defence Academy and was commissioned second lieutenant, Signals Corps in 1967; Second-in-command, Signals Regiment, 1967; Adjutant, 2 Signals Regiment, 1970; Company commander, 1971; Brigade major, 1972; Commanding Officer, 1973; Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Signals in 1978. He was Commanding officer, 2 Signals Regiment, 1979; Commander, 197980, Commander, Signals Brigade, 1980-81; Commander, Army Headquar-

Biafra: Court dismisses Kanu, others’ appeal, refuses them bail Sunday Ejike -Abuja The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Wednesday, dismissed the appeal filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The IPOB leader and two other pro-Biafra agitators, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu, standing trial with him, had gone before the appellate court to challenge the “strange procedure” adopted in their trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Kanu and his co-defendants are facing a sixcount charge bordering on treason, preferred against them by the Federal Government. In their consolidated appeal, they alleged bias against the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, who not only denied them bail, but also permitted the prosecution to shield the identity of eight witnesses billed to testify in the matter. Justice Tsoho had equally rejected application praying him to discharge and acquit the three defendants in line with Section 351(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

ters, Signals Group, 198184 and Commander, Corps of Signals, 1984-85. He was appointed member, Armed Forces Ruling Council, 1985; Minister of Communications, 198587; promoted colonel,

1986; director of Manning, Army Headquarters, Lagos, 1988-90 and was appointed military governor of Kaduna State in 1990. In April 2007, he was elected Senator for Kebbi South constituency on the

platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also served on the Committees on Science and Technology, Police Affairs, Navy, National Planning, Integration and Cooperation, Defence and

Army and Communications. In September 2008, he was awarded the prestigious Nelson Mandela Gold Award for his excellent leadership and contributions to society.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, with Senator Bayo Salami and others, during an inspection of ongoing construction of overhead bridge of Oba Adesoji Aderemi Bye Pass, Ring Road, Osogbo.

‘Scrapping LG councils’ll aggravate poverty in Nigeria’ Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti CHAIRMAN of Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mrs Sade Akinrinmola, has chided those calling for the scrapping of the 774 local governments in the country, saying “the third tier remains the most potent weapon the nation can deploy to tackle poverty in the system.” Mrs Akinrinmola, who stated this while addressing newsmen in Ode-Ekiti, headquarters of the council area, said rather than scrapping the third tier, “government should reinforce finances to the sector to reduce redundancy and make it reliable force to provide infrastructure and attend to the needs of the people at the grassroots.” The council boss, who spoke on the occasion of her 100 days in office and presentation of the council’s 2016 budget before the Gbonyin Local Government legislative arm, said the Federal Government and the state governments alone could not do it all. “The state and federal governments cannot do it all. The council can be supported with more funds by Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to help in fighting poverty. “Local governments are not redundant as they are claimed to be. It is always very difficult for development to spread from the centre to the remote or extreme areas, but when you begin from these remote ar-

eas, people will get a better deal. So, scrapping council areas will aggravate poverty level in Nigeria,” she said.

During the ceremony, scores of indigent residents were offered free health services, while two disabled

were presented with N1 million worth solar-powered charging point as empowerment.

Ondo guber: Agunloye, Dawodu declare intention on SDP platform Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

AHEAD the Ondo State governorship election slated for later this year, two aspirants on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye and Honourable Pius Dawodu, on Wednesday, formally declared their intentions. Speaking with newsmen separately, at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, both aspirants stated that they were in the race to rescue Ondo State and put it on the right track for the people of the state to get the real dividends of democracy. The duo vowed that SDP would spring surprises at the poll as it happened when the then relatively new Labour Party candidate, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, defeated the incumbent, the late Dr Olusegun Agagu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was the ruling power at the federal level. According to Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Minister of State for Defence, “I’m in the race to make the difference, from the governments of Late Papa Adefarati to the late Dr Olusegun Agagu, to that of Dr Olusegun Mimiko,

Ondo State has witnessed many developments, but the state is not where it is supposed to be, we need credibility in the governance of the state.” Also speaking on his chances of winning the gov-

ernorship poll, Dawodu said “SDP’s chances are about 75 per cent. We in SPD in Ondo State believe in God and we know that He gives power to whoever He wants. It had happened in the state before and is about to happen.”

Incessant buildings collapse, road failure will soon end —FG Ademola Adegbite -Abuja

THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, assured Nigerians that the challenges of incessant collapse of buildings and failure of roads in Nigeria would soon be a thing of the past. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, gave the assurance at the 2016 Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) Conference, with the theme: “Repositioning the Nigerian Construction Industry –Realities and Possibilities,” held in Abuja. He stressed that the institute was making efforts and contributions to knowing the reasons many of the buildings collapsed, either during or after construction and to also ensure that roads were built to be durable, in view of some of the unique characteristics. According to him, “NBRII

will play an important role in ensuring the deployment of appropriate research infrastructure that will meet our peculiar demands and needs as a nation.” In his own address, Minster of Works, Housing and Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by Mrs Salamatu Mohammed, said the government was committed to improving the road network and decrease over-dependence on public finance for the execution of road projects, by facilitating participation of private sector, multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies on roads development. He, therefore, challenged the participants at the conference to focus on the challenges faced in the infrastructural sector of the economy and come up with strategies towards repositioning the Nigerian construction industry.

Husband ends 17-year-old marriage over business competition Lanre Adewole with Agency Report

For engaging in the same business he does, a man had got a court to send his wife of 17 years packing. A Lagos Island Customary Court on Wednesday dissolved the marriage between Haruna Amunikoro, and his wife, Alimotu, after he complained that his wife built a house without informing him and refused to quit his line of business. “My wife has also started giving out tricycle and motorcycle to riders and they pay for them on instalment, which is the same business that I do. I have warned her severally to stop the business but she would not listen. On two occasions she has stabbed me with a kitchen knife and a scissors. My wife is not sincere with me. I cannot cope with her secretive ways any more, please separate us,’’ he pleaded with the court,” the husband told the court. Alimotu, who did not deny the allegations, said she started being secretive with her husband because of the sudden change in his behaviour and his infidelity. She told the court that their marriage which was once blissful took a different turn in 2012 when they rented their own apartment. “We were staying in my husband’s family house before we rented our own apartment in 2012, since then my husband has been unfaithful to me. He brings different kinds of women into our matrimonial home and sleeps with them on our bed. Whenever I confronted him, he beats me. On three occasions my husband beat me to a pulp and stripped me naked. “I joined him in doing the same business because it is a lucrative one, but since I started it, I have had no rest of mind,” she said. Alimotu, who had consistently prayed the court to reconcile them as she still loved her husband, however, pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage without further delay. Granting the husband’s request, the court President, Awos Awosola, said that the effort of the court to reconcile the parties failed, as Mr Amunikoro insisted on divorce. “The marriage between the two parties is hereby dissolved with effect from today in accordance with the Lagos State Customary Court Law, 2011, Order 3, Rule 7, as amended,” he ruled.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Govt signs MoU on construction of N844bn 4th Mainland Bridge Bola Badmus

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), receiving the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the fourth Mainland Bridge, from Executive Chairman, Visible Assets Limited, Mr Idowu Iluyomade shortly after it was signed, at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday. With them is the Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule.

Gunmen invade traditional ruler’s palace Opeyemi Owoaseye

gang of armed robbers on Wednesday attacked the residence of the traditional ruler of Aleke Town, in the Ikorodu. It was gathered that the robbers, who struck around 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday shot sporadically into the air as they gained entrance into the residence of the Baale and carted away valuables. The gunmen were reported to have injured some people who tried to resist them, before patrol teams attached to the Shagamu Road Police

Division were alerted about the incident. Two of the suspects, Muftau Ogunmerun and Akeem Adejobi, were said to have been arrested, while others escaped on the motorcycles they brought for the operation. The Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the incident, said the police recovered a dane gun, two cutlasses and a motorcycle from the robbers. She explained that preliminary investigation showed that the suspects were from the Ikorodu environs.

Police to quiz female officer over death of Igando driver Olalekan Olabulo The police in Lagos State have begun investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of a commercial bus driver in Igando area of the state. The deceased bus driver, who was simply identified as Ijaduola was allegedly pushed to death by a female police corporal, who had allegedly demanded bribe from him. The police had initially denied that the deceased Ijaoduola was pushed to death, claiming that he was epileptic and might

have died as a result of epileptic attack. The acting image maker in charge of the state police command, Damascus Ozoani confirmed to Lagos Metro that investigations had begun on the incident. Ozoani said “what I can tell you is that we have started investigations into the incident. The accused person will be invited for questioning.” The acting Lagos police spokesperson could however not confirm, when the accused police woman would be invited for interrogations.

“We received a distress call that a group of armed men entered Aleke Town, through Adamo, Ikorodu and ransacked the Baale’s house and some shops. They carted away valuable items. However, two of the hoodlums, identified as Muftau Ogunmerun, 26, and Akeem

Adejobi, 46, were arrested in connection with the robbery,” she said. Badmos said the case would be transferred to the Special Anti-robbery Squad, Ikeja for investigation, adding that efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.

Lagos State government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the construction of Lagos Fourth Mainland Bridge with a consortium of investors at a cost of N844 billion. The bridge, which will be the longest bridge in the world, costing a sum of N844 billion is expected to be ready in three year’s time. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, while speaking at the event held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the formal signing of the MOU with the consortium, Visible Asset and Advanced Engineering Consultants as consulting Engineers who had shown interest in constructing the bridge via Public, Private Partnership (PPP) was a major step towards actualising the state government’s dream that had been in the pipeline in the past 14 years. Available statistics on the project showed that initial cost of the project

operational 2016-2021 was N790 billion, while the other operating costs, including structural pavement repair, overlay plus line and refurbish before hand back 2055-2061, five year refresh programme of work along the route and annual operating cost 2021 to 2061 have brought the total to N844billion. According to Ambode, said, “The significance of this bridge will be fully appreciated if we can imagine Lagos of today without the 3rd Mainland Bridge. Almost 30 years after the delivery of the 3rd Mainland Bridge; the state has experienced phenomenal growth to become a megalopolis – a city-State with a population of over 21 million people. The increase in the state’s population and expanded commercial activity has led to frequent traffic congestion. “This has made it imperative for us to have a 4th Mainland Bridge that will serve as an alternative route to the Eastern axis and decongest traffic in the state.”

One dead, 27 rescued as boat capsizes How the accident happened —LASWA Bola Badmus And Olalekan Olabulo Passengers numbering 28 on Wednesday morning escaped death as a passenger boat capsized in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Two of the passengers, who were rescued by a combined team of emergency workers from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Inland Waterways and Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUA), were severely injured in the boat accident. One was eventually confirmed dead. The incident has been blamed on overloading of the boat. According to LASEMA, instead of the boat to be filled with 21 passengers, the management and owners of the boat filled it with about 28 passengers.

The General Manager of LASEMA, Michael Akindele confirmed the mishap to Lagos Metro, adding that investigations had commenced on the actual cause of the boat incident. Meanwhile, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Wednesday expressed sympathy with the family members of the victim of the accident. Managing Director of the Authority, Abisola Kamson, while expressing the concern of her office, gave detail

of how the sad incidence occurred. According to her, a ferry boat named HMS 2 with 30 passengers’ capacity travelling with 28 passengers from the Origin Jetty to the Addax Jetty in Victoria Island hit a log submerged in the waterways, after travelling 400 meters from the Origin Jetty. Kamson said this resulted to damage to the single hull of the boat causing the boat to sink, adding that rescue operation started imme-

diately and 27 passengers were rescued, adding that “unfortunately, one passenger was confirmed dead at the scene of the incident.” She said preliminary investigation revealed that all the passengers were wearing lifejackets. Kamson reiterated that LASWA and NIWA had issued out new guidelines and standards to boat operators in the state aimed at sanitizing and improving the waterways, among others.

Two nabbed over six stolen motorcycles Oluwakemi Adebayo A 36-year-old man, Ahmed Kolawole and a 25-year-old man, Abubakar Shabi, have been arrested by the police for stealing and receiving stolen properties respectively. Ahmed was accused of

stealing six motorcycles belonging to one Opeyemi Aregbesola while Abubakar was said to have received the motorcycles from Ahmed, fully aware that they were stolen properties. Both men pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before an Ikeja Mag-

istrate’s Court. The Magistrate, Aje Afunwa granted them N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum who she said must have their address verified and also an evidence of tax payment from Lagos state and adjourned till June 13, 2016 for mention.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

10 news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Refineries: Reps halt privatisation

•Cite gross violation of BPE Act • BPE faults process •Reps, NNPC director in war of words Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

HE House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation, Wednesday, halted the proposed privatisation

of the nation’s three refineries by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with immediate effect. The three refineries are located in Port-Hacourt, Kaduna and Warri respectively

The committee, in making the pronouncement in Abuja, on Wednesday, after engaging the officials of the NNPC and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the exercise, declared that NNPC violated the provi-

7,000 suspected pipeline vandals may lay down arms By Kunle Oderemi MORE than 7,000 suspected militants believed to be the brain behind vandalisation of oil and gas pipelines may soon lay down their arms, one of the Niger Delta groups, Isaac Boro Born Last (aka) Forest Soldiers, has said. The development is coming on the heels of the indication given by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed of government’s willingness to dialogue with militants that were prepared to sheathe their swords. Activities of the pipeline vandals have lately dipped Nigeria’s daily oil export from more than two million barrels a day to 1.2 million, with serious implications for the 2016 federal budget pegged at $38 per barrel. In an electronic mail tagged: “We are ready to lay down our arms,” and signed by one self-styled ‘General’ Ossy Ibori (aka) Baba Were, on behalf of the other leaders of the group, however, listed some six conditions that should be met before they could lay down their weapons. These include: “That the Federal Government declares and states unequivocally its commitment to dialogue and reconciliation;

“That the Federal Government affirms in no unmistakable terms its commitment to capturing all aggrieved groups and their members that agree to disarmament in empowerment schemes and rehabilitation; “That the Federal Government and all its coercive apparatuses unambiguously demonstrate and declare their commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Niger Delta. “That the Federal Government must uphold truth, equity and fairness in dealing with major stakeholders that are championing the struggle for freedom, emancipation, development and prosperity in the Niger Delta. There must be no room for betrayal, subterfuge and hypocrisy, but a true display of sincerity, piety and honesty on the part of the government and state apparatuses.” He said the authorities had 30 days to consider the willingness of members of the group to lay down their arms, just as it dismissed claims that the members were criminals hiding under the appalling condition in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta to sabotage the nation’s economy. The spokesman claimed that the members of the

Letter appointing new Oba of Benin issued in error —Edo govt THE Edo State government has withdrawn a letter earlier issued on the appointment of a new Oba of Benin, saying it was issued in error. This was contained in a retraction signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, dated May 25, 2016. The government stated: “In deference to the revered age-long tradition and respect for the sensibilities of the people of the great Benin Kingdom, the government of Edo State, hereby, withdraws a letter issued on May 24, 2016 entitled: “Appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as

the Oba of Benin. “The said letter was issued in error as the rites of passage of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin are still on. “The government will, in due course, issue a fresh letter on the installation of the Edaiken N’Uselu, His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, in line with the age-long succession tradition of the Benin Kingdom and in line with Section 19 (1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979 (as amended) and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that regard, after all necessary traditional rites are concluded.”

group formed the nucleus of the leadership of a coalition of forces that operated in places where there were oil pipelines in Lagos and Ogun states. According to him, the use of force by the authorities cannot solve the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta, but a true engagement with the aggrieved people of the region. Part of the statement read: “We are not dregs; we are not criminals, with an insatiable appetite for blood and sadism. We are not armed robbers; we are not beasts and terrorists, with propensity to wreak havoc, indulge in mindless killing, maiming and raping of girls and women. “We state and declare unmistakably that we represent the conscience of the people of the Niger Delta and other patriots, as well as sincere members of the international community, who are anguished by the degradation of the Niger Delta and the dehumanisation of our people in all oilbearing communities. “We cannot be intimidated by any resort to threats and weapon of terror, as falsehood and pretences never conquer light and naked truth, which is the fulcrum of the current struggle. “Our resolve to lay down our arms, if the Federal Government exhibits undisguised honesty and commitment now, must not and should not be misconstrued and interpreted as a sign of weakness. “Rather, the Federal Government and other authorities and genuine foreign friends and investors should see our resolve to accept the official offer of amnesty as an eloquent demonstration of our commitment to exploring all decent and transparent approaches for settling fundamental national issues, disputes and addressing genuine grievances, based on standard practices across the world. “Our members, numbering more than 7,000, form the nucleus of the leadership of a coalition of forces that has forest soldiers, (aka) Isaac Boro last born, are across the nooks and crannies of Lagos and Ogun states, especially where oil pipelines are located.

sions of the BPE Act Section 11, 2009. It accused the NNPC of acting unilaterally by going ahead with the exercise without involving other stakeholders as contained in the Act. Before making the pronouncement by the chairman of the committee, Honourable Ahmed Yerima, there was exchange of words between the Group Executive Director (GED) of the NNPC in charge of refineries, Mr Anibor Kragba and the members of the committee, which led to the abrupt adjournment of the sitting. Trouble started at the commencement of the sitting of the committee when it was informed that the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, who is also the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu was being represented by the GED, Mr Kragba. Most of the members of the committee kicked against the arrangement, insisting that the minister of state should appear personally on a later day based on their past experiences with the corporation when its chief executive had failed to honour invitations extended

to the corporation. But after assurances from the NNPC GED that he had the mandate of the minister to represent him and that he was competent to handle the matter in question, Kragba was allowed to make his presentation alongside the acting BPE Director-General, Mr Vincent Akpotarie, during which he denied that the corporation was not out to privatise the refineries, but to only source for core investors to come and invest in the refineries to enable rehabilitation since they were cost-intensive. Thereafter, the committee wanted to know who authorised the corporation to embark on such an exercise without the knowledge of the National Assembly and the BPE of which Kragba replied that he needed clarification on this, saying he was just appointed into the office. This development hiked the members of the committee who challenged him on his earlier claim that he was competent to handle the matter to their satisfaction At this stage, Kragba cut in saying, “with due respect to this committee, I was appointed into the office by Mr President who believed in my competence.”

In a swift reaction to his statement, all the members went wild for using such a derogatory language on them and resolved to call off the sitting. Speaking, the chairman of the committee, Honourable Yerima, ruled that the NNPC should stop the exercise with immediate effect for gross violation of the BPE Act. He warned Kragba to be careful of his choice of words before the parliament, saying “I am sure if the President reads this BPE Act, he will not be happy with what you are doing. “We are preaching change, change in our ways of doing things for the betterment of the country, yet we the leaders are doing things the other way round. Impunity is still rampant, I am a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and promised the people of real change before they gave us their votes,” he stated Earlier, the acting DG of the BPE, Mr Akpotaire, had raised some fundamental issues of the privatisation exercise that needed to be sorted out before it could be done in the interest of the nation, saying that BPE was not part of the process.

11 news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

UK, Australia deport 40 Nigerians Shola Adekola -Lagos

From right, President Muhammadu Buhari; the outgoing Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi and the Military Attachee, Colonel KIA Pasha, during a farewell audience at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.

We must diversify economy now —Buhari Leon Usigbe -Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed that his administration is fully committed and determined to do all within its powers to achieve the rapid diversification of Nigeria’s economy in the shortest possible time. Speaking on Wednesday, at a farewell audience with the outgoing Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Saeed Koozechi, at the presidential villa, Abuja, he said he was convinced that with greater diligence, hard work and patriotic

determination to achieve self-sufficiency, Nigeria could produce most of the items currently on its import list. He said: “We made a terrible mistake by becoming a mono-product economy hinged on oil and we are now in a volatile situation, due to the crash in oil prices. “We have seen the benefits of diversification which helped Iran to survive many years of sanctions and still come out strong. “We are now fully committed to economic diversification. Most of the things on our import bills can be produced here. And we are

determined to achieve that self-dependency.” At a separate audience with the outgoing Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Gu Xiaojie, President Buhari gave an assurance that the Federal Government would continue to do its best to meet its obligations under bilateral agreements with China for the development of critical infrastructure in Nigeria. The president said because of their importance to Nigeria, his administration would uphold contractual agreements with Chinese companies for the development of essential infrastructure which it inherited from

past administrations, and work to ensure that the projects are speedily completed. The president reiterated his particular commitment to the completion of the Mambilla Power Project which, he said, was of great strategic importance to his government’s efforts to ensure that Nigeria does not become over-reliant on gaspowered electricity generation. Wishing him well, he commended the outgoing ambassadors for their efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and their countries during their tenure in Abuja.

FOR the second time in a month, United Kingdom and Australia, on Wednesday, jointly deported 40 Nigerians for various immigration offences. The deportees, comprising males and females, arrived at the Hajj camp area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, at 7:25a.m with chartered aircraft. According to information gathered, a chartered aircraft, with registration number ZTA -4741, brought into the country 36 Nigerians, comprising 29 males and seven females. This was just as Air Seychelles, with the registration number SND-1, brought four males into the country for similar immigration offences. Apart from Nigerians that were deported by the two countries, some citizens of Africa, especially from Ghana, Liberia and Egypt, were equally deported alongside the Nigerians. The returnees were received by various agencies such as Immigration that checked their identities to ascertain their nationalities, police, National Agency for Protection and Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) and other relevant stakeholders. According to a source, some of the deportees were violent when officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) attached to the international wing of the airport attempted to collect their fingerprints for

How I raised money to construct 44 roads, others in one year — Adamawa gov By Moses Alao ADAMAWA State governor, Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindo, has explained that despite the decline in allocations from the Federal Government and the inability of several states to pay workers’ salary as and when due, the state government will complete the construction and reconstruction of 44 township roads in Jimeta and Yola, while about 14 other roads in Mubi, will be completed in the next few months. Jibrilla, who said this while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in an interview to mark his one year in office, attributed his success in the last one year to effective management of financial and human resources, as well as the experience and expertise of his team members and God’s assistance. The governor, who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District in the

last National Assembly, said “governance is all about management and once you are a businessman and you are successful as a businessman, effective management of resources should not be a challenge to you. As you manage financial resources, you also manage human beings; this is what I have been doing. I am not getting any extra fund from anywhere, the few resources I have is what I have been using to negotiate my way with the contractors, because I have also been a contractor before.” Commenting on the declining oil wealth, the governor stated that his government had begun an agricultural revolution in Adamawa State, saying a lot of programmes had been introduced to improve the agricultural sector and help farmers, “because we realised the centrality of Adamawa to agricultural chain in the country. This state is the largest producer of rice

in Nigeria.” According to him, about N300 million had been given to farmers as loans, noting that the government had also trained them on how to effectively utilise the loans. He added that the government had taken delivery of 105 tractors out of the over 250 tractors it intended to procure for the use of farmers in all the local governments in the state. “It was the first time that any government thought of giving loans to farmers and helping them. We also gave them fertilisers at the right time. They are now doing dry season farming and also during raining seasons. We are also getting some facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to help rice farmers, because the president is very serious about rice production. There is a serious commitment to agriculture and the farmers are happy. We are bringing about 250 tractors in for the

farmers; I think about 105 are already on the ground. Every local government will get about 15 tractors so that people can have access to them. So, I can say that we are doing a big thing in the agric sector,” he said. The governor further explained the commitment of his government to the overhaul of the healthcare and education sectors, maintaining that arrangements had been concluded on the effort to rebuild and equip the four major hospitals, which were located in Yola, Mubi, Numan and Ganye and also transform the health care system. He acknowledged the efforts of different NGOs and the World Bank, noting that work would start in earnest, immediately the state is through with the road construction projects next month. Governor Jibrilla, however, stated that apart from building infrastructure, his government had perfected

plans to empower the people of the state, especially the women and the youth, through agricultural programmes and a soft revolving loans of N30,000 each for small scale business owners and entrepreneurs. The loan, he said, would be disbursed soon to 66 beneficiaries across each of the 226 wards in the state, saying “we decided at the beginning of this administration that we won’t be giving our people fish, but that we would teach them how to fish. This scheme is designed to impact directly on the masses in the state. They will know that government is trying to support them to be independent and not just that, they will be dashed free money, which they end up spending without anything to show for it. This scheme will make you work hard and when you do, you can always be sure that you will be liberated from the shackles of poverty.”

data purpose. Others who didn’t kick against the fingerprinting were swiftly attended to by the officers and were allowed to leave the airport after the completion of their documentations. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the hajj and cargo terminal where the deportees used as exit, they looked frustrated and refused to speak to any journalist. The deportees, it was gathered, were returned from their host countries for overstaying their visas and other immigration offences. An officer of immigrations, who confirmed the deportation but could not give much details, hinted that the service was still awaiting more information as of the time of filing in this report.

Minister raises special task force to recover N10bn debt Christian Okeke -Abuja MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammdu Bello, on Wednesday, constituted a special task force to recover N9.8 billion debt owed the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB). He gave the new task force, headed by the former director of the board, Baba Shehu Lawan, eight weeks to do the recovery. The minister equally approved the appointment of Squadron leader, Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (Retired) to head a special team of 200 security personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to assist in the enforcement of environmental laws in Abuja. He, however, warned the new management and special team to conduct their duties within the ambit of the law. Bello warned that the FCT Administration would not tolerate any act of abuse of fundamental human rights of the residents in the discharge of their duties and urged them to diligently do their job by following and applying the law and due process. Meanwhile, the minister approved the immediate removal of the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Baba Shehu Lawan and replaced him with Mrs Oluwatoyin Omolola Olanipekun.

businessnews Diezani sleaze: EFCC re-arrests Fidelity Bank MD 12

Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rearrested the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo and another official in the Operation Department of the bank. The Nigerian Tribune gathered that Okonkwo, who was first arrested by the commission early in the month, was rearrested by EFCC operatives from its Lagos office in Lagos on Tuesday in connection with the $115 million deposited by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke. The money, which was said to have been funded by some oil barons up to the tune of $88.35 million, was disbursed by the bank to certain individuals, including some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some interest groups. The money was disbursed ahead of the last presidential election allegedly to compromise result in favour of the then President Goodluck Jonathan, who was the candidate of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). It was gathered that as of the time of lodging the fund in the bank, the former minister was not operating any account with Fidelity Bank, the bank failed to report the lodgment to the appropriate financial authorities as stipulated by law. This the bank, through its Head Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, denied, saying the transactions were duly reported by the bank as required by financial regulators. A source informed that the bank chiefs were rearrested by the commission over the discovery of another $153 million said to have been laundered through the bank by Mrs Allison-Madueke. The source stated that the commission in the course of its investigation into the former minister’s sleaze discovered a fresh dimension of the $153million, which was also meant to favour Dr Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. But an inside source told the Nigerian Tribune that Okonkwo was rearrested by the commission on the ground that he was withholding vital information which could lead to breakthrough in the ongoing investigations into the $115 million election fund. According to the source, “It is true that the Fidelity Bank MD was rearrested by our operatives in Lagos.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

He is still with us in Lagos. There is sufficient prove that he is holding on to vital and relevant information regarding the Diezani fund, which can lead to a breakthrough in our inves-

tigations. The anti-graft commission had since the discovery of the sleaze moved against some of the beneficiaries in order to make them refund the money

they collected. It had arrested and quizzed some serving and retired INEC officials, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, the Minister

of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammed, both of whom were alleged to have collected N900 million and N450 million respectively from the N23.29 billion.

From left: Micheal T. Harvey, USAID Mission Director; Mr Charles Momoh, Chairman, Eko DisCo; Mrs Funke Osibodu, MD/CEO Benin DisCo; Ambassador James F. Entwistle, US Ambassador to Nigeria and Mr Lanre Akinsola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Power, at the signing ceremony between representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Nigeria and Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) in Abuja, recently.

Pipelines bombings: It’s doubtful if FG can fund 2016 budget —Otuaro Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri WITH the increased spate of bombings of oil facilities leading to the drop in production quantum, it is doubtful if the expectations of of the N6.6 trillion 2016 budget can be fulfilled. This fear was expressed by the deputy governor of Delta State, Mr Kings-

ley Otuaro, during a press briefing on the activities of the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facilities Vandalism in Warri, Delta State. He said these were not the best times for the country which budget is predicated on the indices of massive borrowing, taxation and 2.2 million barrel per day production target.

“The continued bombing of critical oil facilities is inimical to the national/state economy and growth. We cannot continue as the situation has worsen an already bad economy occasioned by the dipping oil price in the world market,” he stated. According to him, Delta State will also largely be affected since it depends on

Federal allocation: FG, states, LGs to share N281.500bn

THE Federal Government, State Governments and Local Government Councils received a net statutory allocation of N207.878 Billion as Federal Allocation for the month of April, 2016 which was shared among the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government 52.68 per cent, States 26.72 per cent, Local government 20.60 per cent and 13 per cent derivation of Mineral Revenue for oil producing states. A Communique released by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation,Alhaji Ahmed Idris indicated that the GROSS REVENUE of N213.817 billion received for the month was lower than the N232.619 billion received in the previous month by #18.802 billion. Oil Production increased slightly between December, 2015 and January,

2016 despite explosions at Escravos Terminal, Force Majeure declared at Brass Terminal as well as Shut -in and Shut down of Pipelines at other Terminals for repairs and maintenance. However, there was revenue loss of $45.90 million as a result of drop in average price of Crude Oil from $39.04 in December,2015 to $29.02 in January, 2016. Also, a marginal drop in income was recorded from Oil and Gas Royalty and Import Duty. The distributable Statutory Revenue for the month is N213.817billion. The sum of #6.330 billion was refunded by the NNPC to FGN. Also, there is exchange gain of N2.424billion which was also proposed for distribution. The total revenue distributable for the current month (including VAT) is N281.500 billion. The details of the Statutory Revenue distributable for the month of March, 2016 is as follow : Fed-

eral Government received N101.215 billion (52.68 per cent), States received N51.338 billion ( 26.72 per cent), and the Local Government Councils received N39.579 billion (20.60%), while the Oil Producing States received N15.745 billion as (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue - Oil and Gas). Furthermore, for the month of April, 2016, the gross revenue available for the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N65.259 billion as against N64.234 billion distributed in the proceeding month, resulting in a decrease of N1.025 billion. The breakdown of the Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution for the month is as follows: N65.259 billion out of which the Federal Government got N9.397 billion (15 per cent), States got N31.325 billion (50 per cent) and the Local Government Councils received N21.927 billion (35%).

oil revenue through Federation Accounts allocation Committee (FAAC) and 13 per cent derivation to the state. Otuaro, who is chairman of the advocacy committee against pipelines vandalism, admonished elements involved in the renewed bombing of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta, warned that the environment is being degraded and ecosystem height endangered. He a diminished oil host communities to cooperate with government to provide intelligence in order to ward off vandals and avoid invasion of communities by soldiers for miscreants.

Nigerian Tribune

Nestle shareholders approve N19 final dividend Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba - Lagos SHAREHOLDERS of Nestles Nigeria Plc, at the company’s 47th Annual General Meeting, has approved the final dividend of N19 for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. The N19 final dividend is aside the N10 interim dividend that was paid mid last year, which made a total of N29 dividend for shareholders in the financial year 2015. Speaking on the political and business environment, chairman of the board of directors, Mr David Ifezulike, urged the government to ensure greater coordination of fiscal and monetary policy to achieve non-inflationary growth. He noted that there was the need for the government to improve on easing business activities through regulatory reforms to lower cost of doing business, by providing necessary infrastructures to facilitate the growth of the real sector and encourage federal oversight institutions to become more supportive of the private sector by considering the current economic challenges in all their actions. The audited 2015 account for the period ended December 31, 2015 of Nestle Nigeria Plc showed that profit after tax went up by 6.75 per cent to N23,739 million against N22,235 million that was recorded same period in 2014. Also revenue grew by 5.54 per cent from N143,328 million in 2014 to N151,271 million in 2015. The company cost of sales went up by 2.23 percent from N82,099 million in 2014 to N83,925 million in 2015.

States endorse 22-point fiscal reform action plan By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

STATE governors have agreed to reform the finances of states and local governments under a Fiscal Sustainability Programme to ensure their long-term viability, a statement by the Federal Ministry of Finance has said. According to the statement signed by Festus Akanbi, Special Assistant (Media) to Minister of Finance, the 22-point fiscal reform action plan to be implemented by states under the programme is indicative “of the ongoing public financial management reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government, including biometric capture of all civil servants, the establishment of an Efficiency Unit, im-

plementation of Continuous Audit, improvement in Independently Generated Revenue (IGR) and measures to achieve sustainable debt management.” The statement added that the reforms were unanimously agreed to by state governors during the National Economic Council meeting that was held on Thursday 19th May. “The Federal Government is developing a financial support structure which will be directly tied to the attainment of agreed fiscal reform milestones,” the statement said, adding that the ultimate objective of the programme was to ensure that states were set on a path towards fiscal sustainability.

editorial Omo N’Oba Erediauwa (1923–2016) Thursday, 26 May, 2016

ORMERLY known as Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I was, until his transition, the 38th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, Edo State. He was 56 years old when he was crowned, succeeding his father, Oba Akenzua II, in a ceremony held in Benin City on 23 March 1979. He took the title “Erediauwa,” interpreted to symbolically mean “one who has come to put the house or society in order.” Erediauwa was born on June 22, 1923. He attended Government College, Ibadan (1939–1945) and gained admission to Yaba College in 1945. He proceeded to King’s College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration. He returned to Nigeria to join the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service as a District Officer in 1957. He transferred his services to the Federal Civil Service in 1965 as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office. He was promoted to the position of substantive Permanent Secretary in 1968 and subsequently deployed to head the Ministry of Power and Steel. He retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973. For a short period, he was the regional representative of Gulf Oil. However, in 1975, he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in Bendel State during the Military Administration of Major-General George AgbazikaInnih, a position he held till 1977. He was reputed to be non-partisan, despite Nigeria’s intensely partisan political environment. Although the tone and length of his prayers were sometimes misinterpreted in various partisan ways, he welcomed and blessed all aspirants that called on him. He promoted peace among politicians and intervened in partisan conflict situations to foster peace and tranquillity across Nigeria.

Nigerian Tribune

Erediauwa’s commitment to the welfare and prosperity of the Benin Kingdom, the Binis and Nigerians at large was legendary. He was renown for his consistency and uprightness, especially during critical periods in the life of Nigeria where military juntas used traditional rulers to shore up their legitimacy by financial and other inducements. He put the welfare of his people above his personal sentiments and pride. Indeed, he was an effective leader who united all Edo-speaking people in the bid to re-establish the great Edo culture and tradition in line with acceptable norms of a modern society. Erediauwa utilised the traditional powers to dispense honours to worthy subjects and citizens with wisdom and without regard for pecuniary gains. He advanced the integrity of the Benin traditional institution that dates back to several centuries and brought his education, civility, and cerebral personality to bear on traditional governance. He authored a very well written autobiography: I remain Sir, Your Obedient Servant (2004), demonstrating his knowledge of history and underscoring his position as a respected custodian of the Edo cultural heritage. His reign witnessed tremendous intellectual, cultural, social and economic growth in Benin Kingdom. He was an author, peace advocate, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and a distinguished monarch. His death was announced on April 29, 2016. The Edo State government has announced his son, His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, as his successor Oba of Benin with effect from 29th April, 2016. We wish the Edos good tidings as they close a chapter in the history of the Benin monarchy and open a new one for the unfolding of the prosperous reign of their new king.

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•Be your brother’s keeper! A motorcylist assists in towing his colleague’s broken-down motorcycle. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN.

Strike: Kudos to Nigerians AFTER seeing that Nigerians were not interested in the strike action the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) declared, Mr Ayuba Wabba, a factional leader of the labour union, had no choice than to call it off last Sunday. By this, Nigerians have shown that they have a good grasp of what is going on in the country as far as the economy is concerned. When, in 2012, Nigerians trooped out enmasse to reject the removal of fuel subsidy by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, everything was going on fine, and the country was earning as much as $100 per barrel of crude oil. However, the situation today is completely different from what it was four years ago, as the price of crude has fallen drastically. Our foreign reserve has also been depleted as a result of the payment of fuel subsidy differentials to oil marketers. •Vincent Akadiri, 08030461538.

Towards achieving a greater Nigeria WE are passing through a phase in this country, and it is during this period that we need to be closer to God. We also need to be committed to Him. It is highly regrettable that we are suffering in the midst of plenty in this country. We have tried different economic policies to no avail. The situation in the country has got to a point where despair has become the lot of the youth, and this has been transferred to the society. This, therefore, poses danger for the very survival of the country, especially, as we gradually move towards another general elections in 2015. The government should, therefore, do more to make life more meaningful for the citizenry, since Nigeria is blessed enough to take care of its people. The government needs to resuscitate ailing industries and provide an enabling environment for entrepreneurial growth to guarantee job creation. I need to emphasise that the church is relevant in every facet of human endeavour.

As a result, religious leaders should also contribute to the development of the country. We need to wake up to our respon-

sibilities as the salt of the earth and the light of this world. As religious leaders, we should also pray for, and

advise those in positions of authorities. This will, therefore, help them take positive decisions in the interest of the people and

country. •Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel, 08033733470.

PDP members, settle your differences I am not happy with the crisis within the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has resulted in the party having three factional chairmen. Today, everybody is battling for the control of the party ahead of the 2019 general election, but these people must realise that a factionalised PDP will never have the wide reach to win back Federal power. It is also possible that members of the party who had been sidelined will work against its interest at the polls. Not having a common voice will make it difficult for the party to return to national relevance. Those who truly have the interest of the party at heart will do everything in their power to ensure unity among members. As a result of this, I want to charge members to unite and speak with one voice; it is important that the three people laying

claim to the chairmanship of the party should come together and forge a way forward. Having a divided opposition party will defi-

nitely not make the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) entertain any fear in the run-up to the 2019 general election. I hope

PDP members will sheathe their sword and unite now. •Stanley Umoh, 08029518875

... Pick chairman from South West IF the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) really wants to solve the challenges facing it, as well as remain relevant outside the South South, then it should simply pick its chairman from the South West. Since its establishment, a candidate from the South West has never been chairman of the party, and not allowing a candidate from that region become chairman is like saying that the region does not matter to the party. Today, three people from the North are laying claim to the chairmanship of the party, and if the party is serious about bringing an end to the challenges facing it, then a neutral candi-

date from the South West should be chosen to lead the party’s revival. It is expected that a candidate from the North will emerge as the presidential candidate in 2019 to face the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s President

Muhammadu Buhari, so it will be unfair to have a chairman who is from the North, while the presidential candidate will also be from the North. •Tumini George, 09095687489.

SOS, Gov Okowa THE roads in OgwuashiUkwu, capital of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State are in such a terrible state, and the residents have been appealing to those in positions of authority, from the state governor to those administering the local government to do something

about it. Terrible roads have a way of slowing down economic activities in an area, and it is as a result of this that something should be done fast about the terrible roads in Ogwuashi-Ukwu. •F.A Kareem, 08098245620

opinion

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Nigeria: One year after the political tsunami By Ademola Adesola

T is pointless harping on whether President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) now understand the difference between being in the opposition and gunning for the highest office, and controlling the levers of power. If anything, they have probably come to the humbling understanding that governing a complex country like Nigeria and mid-wifing change are after all not a piece of cake. As they have sung to the nation repeatedly since they assumed office about a year ago, President Buhari and members of his government have discovered that they have a huge boulder to roll up the summit of the mountain if the transition that brought them into office is to have a corresponding impactful transformation. But the way they have gone about this task of governance in the last one year inspires more worry than confidence. Except to those who are still giddy with the euphoria of Buhari’s emergence as president, diligent and retrospective observers of this present administration know that Nigeria, in the last one year, has not witnessed soothing transformation in critical areas of its national life. Thus, it is insulting and distracting to respond, like the government and its supporters have heedlessly done, that the affairs of the country cannot be transformed overnight when they are asked to show a smidgen of proof that they are firmly walking the country on the path to transformation. Yes, the vacant and vapid Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a hash of governance and left a massif of problems, but that does not justify a stance that brooks no criticism on the part of the current administration which, in spite of its seemingly tidied campaign promises, carries on like a ship without an anchor! They may not like to hear it, but the truth is that Nigeria under the watch of President Buhari has not progressed in the ways and manners which affirm that its manager has sought that position for three different times. If the president has learnt anything about how to effectively manage people and resources in line with modern prac-

tices in his over 30 years of being out of power, the country has not seen any evidence of that in the last one year! President Buhari might not have created the oceanic problems he met on assuming office, but the bald fact is that many of his actions in the last one year reveal a mind that insufficiently grasps that governance is a task of continual problem solving. Degrading and defeating the nihilistic Boko Haram sect, and duelling the hideous monster of corruption, as important and crucial as they are, are not all there are to governance. Now, if the transition that brought President Buhari into office is to have a durable transformation, a few points must be noted. This becomes imperative in view of the fact that the deepest quality of any act of governance will always be the quality of minds of the persons in charge. Or as someone views it, the presidency is only as good as those who serve it. First among the things the Nigerian president must do in order to be able to transform the country is to defenestrate barren inflexibility from his scheme of actions. While a leader worthy of the appellation is not a person thrown about by just any wind of idea, s/he must learn to mind critical interventions. A leader must be quick to entertain numerous thoughts on issues and then retire quietly to ruminate on them, separating the wheat from the chaff. But a leader cannot decide on an issue without

first drawing enlightenment and education from different thinkers, especially when that country in question is a plural one. President Buhari’s decision not to devalue the naira appears to lack inspiration from the pool of multiple thoughts, in the same way that his response to the worsening economic condition of the country is anaemic and hurtful. His policies on the naira and import trade reveals a mind more habituated to a single track than receptive to compound thoughts from which he can sift useful ideas. Second, President Buhari needs to engage Nigerians more at home than abroad. His policy statements must be issued on homeland for those he leads. He risks alienating himself from the people if he continues to talk about matters that concern them on foreign soils. Nigerians in the Diaspora are far less in number than those at home. Speaking tough against vandals in faraway China and publishing the blueprints of the administration in foreign tabloids will not achieve much. Third, as a corollary to the second, Mr President must respond more quickly to national issues. He cannot remain on his Olympian cathedra and send words through his publicists. He is elected to solve problems. He must do so and be seen to be doing so every time crises knock on our doors. Fourth, to transform the country and leave a longlasting legacy of excellence, President Buhari needs to check his penchant for acting as if he is deeply incommoded and displeasingly uncomfortable with the rule of law. He should understand that those who urge him to undermine the rule of law in his crusade against official larceny are enemies cloaked as friends. It is possible for his administration to have its being within the precincts of the rule of law. If he observes any obstacle from the law to his quest to transform the country, he must respond to it imaginatively rather than deploy some presidential fiat. •Ademola writes from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. (toludemola1@gmail.com)

The plight of Ogoni people By Fegalo Nsuke TO say that Ogoni is the worst place to live on earth may just sound like an over-statement. But It is, indeed, a fact. Everything seems to work against her. The government had been repressive, the environment is poisoned, the schools are dead, the hospitals can best function as dispensaries, the roads are death traps, there is no electricity, her school pupils are forced to learn the language of the majority ethnic groups (Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani) and worst of all, the Nigerian laws endorse the denigrating conditions of the Ogoni and gives little room for freedom. Ogoni is legally constrained to live in the most inhuman conditions forced on them by Shell Oil Corporation’s irresponsible business practices and the government with all its security agencies protect the oppressor. The Nigerian government, to my mind, is hypocritical in character. It has encouraged the violence in the Niger Delta by its response to the problem and its failure to promote healthy living in the area. The government has encouraged violent agitation by not encouraging the peaceful approach of the Ogoni people. The dualisation of the Eleme axis of the East-West road was in response to protests. The on-going construction of the East-West road was in response to protests. The increase in the derivation fund for oil mining states from 1.5 percent to 13 percent was in response to protests. The list is endless. Governments over the years have made little efforts to provide social security, create jobs and plan for the future of Nigerians. The mismanaged amnesty programme for Niger Delta youths was in response to protests. A minister under President Muhammadu Buhari has muted the idea of granting amnesty to the Boko Haram fighters. The rule appears to be for any group who wants attention to take up arms against government interests. But how did all these begin? Injustice, poverty, unemployment largely account for the escalation of violence in the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole. Whatever reasons could be adduced, the government is to blame for all the

violence. Yes! The government is responsible. Realising the failures of government, especially their inability to provide jobs for young men and women who should have been involved in productive activities, the late President Yar’Adua granted amnesty to the Niger Delta militants. He unfortunately did not to live and implement the programme. The eventual poor handling of the amnesty programme was another missed opportunity to fix the problem. In implementing the programme, Yar’Adua’s successor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, trained youths and began the payment of monthly allowances without providing jobs after their training. The youth stayed idly at home to receive monthly allowances. The youth have been clearly told that violence is rewarding. They have also understood that the government can surrender to violence. The government did not follow the intentions of the Technical Committee of the Niger Delta which recommended the amnesty programme. What the government was required to do was send the youth to various companies to work, and that way, you engage them daily, while government takes responsibility for their wages. We were not to have them sit at home doing nothing and be paid monthly allowances without engaging in any productive activity. So the government provided the environment for these boys to be exploited by politicians who engaged them to violently and forcefully win elections. That again could account for the influx of arms back into the Niger Delta. Unfortunately, things have gone very bad and the government must return to the drawing board. A military solution in the Niger Delta with pockets of undefined violent groups may be a difficult option to enforce.

It is, therefore, for the government to protect its citizens and that responsibility is primary and not excusable. Where a government fails to provide security for its citizens, it is honorable on the officer in charge to step aside and allow a more competent and willful person to step in. The rampant excuses of militant sabotage, the inability of the security forces to apprehend those behind politically motivated killings in Ogoni and the political sponsorship of militancy in the Niger Delta are all signals to government’s failure to provide security. For the generality of the Ogoni people, the restoration of Ogoniland beginning with the cleanup is something we all look forward to. There is no alternative to the peaceful approach; we are ready and willing to cooperate with all agencies of government to see to the implementation of the UNEP report. We hope that those whose responsibility is to deal with security issues will work assiduously and act professionally to address these challenges. While they move to deal with the effects of failed security, we also call on them to address the causes of these failures and the environment that have helped these causes to survive. Finally, there is no doubt that the people have been deprived their rights. Peaceful agitation will continue and is encouraged until the demands for the rights to a decent living are granted. The Ogoni people must be given the right to participate in Nigeria’s democratic process as a distinct ethic group with the right to decide their own future. The Ogoni have not enjoyed that right having been lumped with several other ethnic groups who govern them and decide their fate. Freedom for all people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria will be fundamental for lasting peace and prosperity for the country. •Nsuke, the Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), sent in this article via nsuke.fegalo@gmail. com

Thursday, 26 May, 2016 Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

Area Council flags-off N1.8bn market project Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

HE Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has flagged off N1.8 billion market project at Dawaki area in

order to boost the internally generated revenue of the council. Already, the ground-breaking ceremony of the 450 shops market has been performed while the project is being undertaken by Eflaye International Ltd which

had earlier constructed another market at Dutshe -Alhaji for the council. Speaking during the ceremony and before handing over to a new chairman, the immediate past council boss of Bwari, Peter Yohanna, stated that the council de-

Honourable Peter Yohanna, immediate past Chairman of Bwari Area Council and Chief Patrick Ojo, chairman, EfLaaye Property, during the laying of foundation for the market at Dawaki, Abuja.

Indigenes commence fresh agitation for creation of own development commission Christian Okeke -Abuja INDIGENES of Abuja, under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation, have commenced agitation for the establishment of Abuja Original Inhabitants Development Commission (AOIDC) to be charged with the responsibility of undertaking com-

prehensive development of rural communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT.) They said the commission should be structured after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and given similar tasks so as to speed-up development of the territory. In a memorandum addressed to FCT

FCT Administration sets up mobile court to prosecute beggars, hawkers Christian Okeke -Abuja THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has set up mobile courts to prosecute beggars, hawkers and prostitutes who continue to flout environmental laws in the territory. Malam Abubakar Sani, who is special Assistant on Media to FCT Minister, Muhammadu Bello, confirmed this to Abuja Xtra and stated that the mobile courts had now been restructured and would be inaugurated this week as all arrested offenders would be tried and, if found guilty, sentenced to prison to serve as deterrent to others. “It is believed that this will send a very strong signal to the recalcitrant offenders and their collaborators who believe they can test the will of this administration by flagrantly flouting the law and thereby constituting themselves into nuisances in the city,” he said. Sani denied media report suggesting that the FCT had been besieged by a myriad of mendicants and miscreants. He argued that every discerning resident of the FCT knew that there were no

colonies of beggars or street urchins in any part of the city. According to him, whereas it cannot for obvious reasons be said that the city has been completely rid of the miscreants, every resident of the city knows and feels that Abuja has been transformed into a modern functional city from what it used to be before the advent of this administration. The ministerial aide maintained that as a responsible administration, the relevant agencies of government had always ensured that they go about their duties in full compliance with the provisions of the law and with a human face, hence beggars, street hawkers and prostitutes who are being apprehended on a daily basis are not kept beyond the stipulated period. He, however, noted that the offenders took advantage of the opportunity as they returned to the streets as soon as they are released or repatriated back to where they came from, thereby giving the erroneous impression that nothing was being done to checkmate their activities while blaming the development on the absence of mobile courts designed to prosecute such offenders.

Minister, Muhammadu Bello and signed by the president of the group, Isaac David, the Abuja natives also demanded that the original inhabitants of the FCT be considered in all appointments and fully represented in various boards in line with the provisions of the Federal Character Commission Act 2004 as amended. They lamented that FCT was not captured as a catchment area for the purpose of admission into tertiary institutions by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as well as other examination bodies including examinations into all the Armed Forces and paramilitary organisations. The natives urged authorities at FCT Administration to expedite action on the establishment of Abuja University of Technology, Abaji to speed-up admission of the indigenes into institutions of higher learning. Other demands include compelling companies operating in the FCT to engage with host communities through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes and initiatives to douse the tension and acrimony between the companies and the host communities. They, however, commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello for what they described as responsive and transformational approach in the administration of Abuja. The indigenes recommended a review of some of the projects, programmes and initiatives embarked upon by previous administrations in the territory such as the Land Swap Policy and Centenary City so as to protect the interest of the indigenes.

cided to embark on the market project in order to boost its revenue. He said that such initiative became necessary so that the council could continue to meet its financial commitments especial in the area of the payment of staff salaries. “We cannot continue to wait until we receive our monthly allocation from the government more so in view of the dwindling earnings from crude oil,” he said. Yohanna noted that the market, when completed, would provide employment opportunities for the people of the area as well boost their economic activities. He disclosed that the market project consisted of a police station, library, fire service station, banking halls, standby generating set, water plant treatment as well as open and locked up shops while the developer is to provide access road to the market. While expressing confidence in the ability of the developer to deliver quality project, the ex-council boss assured that the project, being financed by the ECOBANK Plc, would not be abandoned. He charged people of the area to cooperate with the developer in order to achieve early completion of the project. According to him, there was the need for the residents to see the new market as their personal property and avoid vandalism of social amenities being provided at the market. In his remarks, the chairman of Eflaye International Ltd, Chief Patrick Ojo assured that the firm would ensure early completion of the project. He said although the council gave the company a time frame of 18 months within which to complete the project, he was sure of completing it within 12 months.

Herdsmen/farmers’ clash: Ministry sues for peace Adetola Bademosi-Abuja THE Ministry of Sports and Youth Development has called for a peaceful resolution of the rising conflict between herdsmen and farmers in parts of the country. Minister in charge of the ministry, Solomon Dalung, while speaking when he exchanged views with the Progressive Youth Association of Miyetti Allah Plateau State Branch in Abuja, noted that peaceful resolution of the conflict remained the way forward. The minister observed that not all herdsmen were Fulanis and advocated peaceful co-existence among all citizens. Earlier, leader of the Association, Alhaji Muhammad Ardo, raised the alarm over discrimination being meted out to Fulani herdsmen in the state. He claimed that children of the Fulani origin were being denied employment into the state’s civil service despite their educational qualifications. Ardo further alleged that Fulanis equally suffered discrimination in employment into Federal Civil Service, military and para-military establishments. According to him, the people are often denied State Indigene Certificates which is an important requirement for enlistment.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

•Professor Jelili Ojuade performing during the festival

•Remilekun Kasali rendering her poetry.

Tributes, dances as UI hosts Niyi Osundare poetry festival again By Adewale Oshodi

NCE again, scholars and literary enthusiasts converged on the University of Ibadan to celebrate the second edition of the annual Niyi Osundare International Poetry Festival. The first edition was held at the university last year, while the second edition was billed to come up at the Kwara State University, Malete, but due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, it couldn’t hold at Malete, and thus the reason it was held the Arts Theatre of the premier university again. In his opening remarks on the occasion, Dr Tunde Laniyan, who is responsible for organising the poetry festival, said Professor Niyi Osundare, who is being celebrated, had become an institution in poetry. “Professor Osundare is definitely one of the most popular poets on the African continent, and that is why we have decided to be celebrating him every year. “We had the first edition here at the University of Ibadan, and the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Professor AbdulRasheed NaÁllah, who was in attendance, promised that the second edition would hold at his university, and we had started working towards it, but something came up and we had to stay put in Ibadan,” Dr Laniyan said, while promising that the festival would continue to grow from strength to strength. Starting the tributes’ session was Professor Ademola Da Silva of the Department of English, University of Ibadan, who described Professor Osundare as an

inspiration and mentor to many staff in the department. “I want to say that many of us have modelled our lives along his simple lifestyle, and we will continue to appreciate him for how he was able to make us believe in ourselves. “As a result of this, I want to charge the secondary school students who are attending this poetry festival today to also be inspired by Professor Osundare, while working hard towards becoming like him in the nearest future,” Professor Da Silva said, admitting that Professor Osundare has been able to use his creative works to advance the cause of humanity. Next to speak was Dr Tunde Awosanmi, who is the Head of Department, Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan. Dr Awosanmi explained that the poetry festival makes more meaning to the upcoming generation, particularly the secondary school students, who can learn a

Professor Osundare is an inspiration and mentor to many staff in the Department of English.

lot from the life of Professor Osundare. “Professor Osundare is someone one can emulate; the truth is that what we are experiencing in the country is as a result of the lack of quality leadership, but when our students look up to, and take after the man being celebrated today, then we can imagine the kind of bright future we will have in the country. “Professor Osundare has inspired me to become who I am today, and it is also an opportunity of the younger generation to also pick one or two things from him, since it is not every day one will have the chance to meet him,” Dr Awosanmi said. All the way from Sierra Leone was Professor Osundare’s friend of 36 years, Professor Syl Cheney-Coker, who in his remarks, first linked the cultural relationship between the Yoruba people of Nigeria and the Creole of Sierra Leone. “More than 60 per cent of Creoles have Yoruba ancestry, and that is why we still have egungun (masquerade), akara (bean cake), olele, fufu, egusi (food), ikomojade (child naming), among others in Sierra Leone. “Having said this, it is not surprising that Professor Osundare and myself have become very good friends over the years, and this may be partly because of the ancestral link between Yoruba and Creole people. “I taught at the University of Maiduguri for six years, between 1978 and 1984, and it was in the process of academic exposure that I met Professor Osundare. “So this is also a relationship based on literary probity; we probe African writers and share ideas,” Professor Cheney-Coker said. The chairman on the occasion, Professor Ayo Banjo, admitted knowing Pro-

•Professor Niyi Osundare fessor Osundare since his undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan, “and I must say that he has maintained the same standard he set of himself then till date. “We are always very proud of Professor Osundare when we look at his exploits in poetry, and I know he still has a lot of good things to offer African literature. “I hope you and your friend, Femi Osofisan, will jointly share the Nobel prize in literature,” Professor Banjo said. One of the highlights of the day was the dance performance of Professor Jelili Ojuade from the University of Ilorin, while hunters who came all the way from Ilorin rendered traditional hunters’ chants. There were also poetry recitations by Servio Gbadamosi, Remilekun Kasali, and Ebika Anthony, who recited Professor Cheney-Coker’s poem, Mandigo Woman from the collection, The Road to Jamaica.

arts&review

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Possessed: Adejumo on the destructive power of envy By Abiodun Awolaja

OR critics and students of Akin Adejumo (author of the landmark Lord of Chaos and A Wry Keel), the novel, Possessed, is perhaps only logical. There are different facets to the creative muse and Possessed, middle level by Adejumo’s very high standards, is yet another engagement with the Nigerian condition, but on a deliberately lower plane, for here Adejumo dramatises the vagaries of the Nigerian social life, chiefly through the domain of marriage. In so doing, he avoids the traditional complexities of his images and symbols and lays bare the eccentricities of the Nigerian family life in the very language of the Nigerian experience, including its Pentecostalism. Possessed is the story of Lola, the virtuous banker-wife of Eric Atobemen, an engineer whom she met in the banking hall in a dramatic circumstance almost bordering on marvellous realism but exemplifying the place of the absurd in the human journey. Because Eric is Ishan and Lola Yoruba, she does not escape censure underlined by ethnic prejudice

when her husband dies at the beginning of the novel, but the practices which Adejumo deplores—in-law maladies, the

criminalisation of women in child-less relations and the pillaging of a welcoming home—are universal to Nigeria’s ethnic groups, and here again no seasoned critic can escape Adejumo’s unflattering view of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities, more fully sketched in A Wry Keel. Thus, in their morbid interference in the Eric-Lola home, members of the Atobemen family do not for once consider that the seed of childlessness might actually lie in their son Eric and not Lola whose fidelity and fertility they question, but readers are aware of Lola’s steely love for Eric who was “the first man to enter her room.” (p.24). In a society still glued to patriarchy in spite of the strident voices of garrulous feminism, it is no surprise that the Atobemens get Lola’s bride price returned to them while mouthing platitudes (“Our brother is much more precious to us than the bride price. We are not hungry people. By asking for the bride price we are merely observing tradition—that’s all”). It is interesting that this tradition has nothing to say about returning all the conjugal services rendered by the wife, nor acknowledging her financial contributions to the home

When Obi of Onitsha, Obiano unveiled Chimedie museum HISTORY was made on Saturday when the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, CFR, mni, unveiled his plan to build a world-class museum – the Chimedie Museum. The museum is to serve as a centre of excellence for the development and promotion of African art, and to help create a future in which African art achieves greater relevance and sustainability such that it becomes a key development resource. The monarch, who also marked his 75th birthday as well as his 14th anniversary on the throne on the day, launched the museum as a private endowment for the benefit of the public. Speaking at the launch, which had dignitaries including the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, in attendance, the Obi of Onitsha said the museum would make Onitsha and the entire Anambra State destinations of choice for business, tourism and leisure. He said, “It is our intent to build an edifice, which will become a reference centre for our history and culture, relating the past with the present for the benefit of the future. For instance, it is from the hundreds of museums around the world that we derive most of our knowledge about life in ancient Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, China, India, and Nigeria, among the world’s great civilisations. “The big difference with Nigeria is that we have not cared to preserve our heritage, the best of which now reside in foreign museums, where we and our future generations will painfully visit if we must know about our past. Today’s event is the beginning of a private journey to reverse that trend for Onitsha Ado N’Idu, Anambra State and, to some extent, Nigeria. “The museum that we are about to launch today is named after Obi Chimedie, my direct royal ancestor. Chimedie was the son of Eze Aroli, who was the son of Obi Chimaevi, who was the son of Ezechima the founding father of Onitsha Ado N’Idu. My more immediate ancestor,

•Mr Theo Lawson (left) explains the model of the Chimedie Museum to the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe (middle) and the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano. Orezeobi, was the first son of Chimedie. Having taken so many generations and a few hundreds of years for the descendant of Orezeobi to mount the throne of Ezechima, we thought it appropriate to name the museum after Chimedie, the father of Orezeobi.” The museum, which was designed by Architect Theo Lawson, the creator of Freedom Park in Lagos, will start up with the monarch’s personal collection of modern African Art numbering over 1200 pieces at the present time, and amongst the finest collections of visual art in Nigeria; all his royal paraphernalia and those of his predecessors that may be available, including photographs, music and video recordings, apparels, jewelleries, ornaments, and so on, as well as hhistoric documents and research materials, including the digital copies of the entire academic materials built up by Professor Richard and Dr. Mrs. Helen Henderson, who devoted their entire academic life to the socio-anthropological study of Onitsha. The Obi of Onitsha noted that the Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation had been duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a not-for-profit independent trust and a board of trustees

would soon be constituted. He also said the land for the museum had been allocated in his name by the state government and he had executed an irrevocable Deed of Gift conveying the land to the Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation. The monarch added that the museum will be a centre for education and enlightenment on the history and culture of Onitsha and Igboland. “The museum will in due course be linked with one of our universities and become a Centre for Onitsha and Igbo Studies. Our daughter and distinguished academic, Professor Nkiru Nzegwu, of the State University of New York in Binghamton, New York, has painstakingly built up a bibliography of over 500 sources of published materials on Onitsha and related subjects. The museum will equally painstakingly acquire such materials over time to become a research centre,” he said. Obiano, who performed the foundation-laying ceremony, was full of praise for the initiative and noted that the museum would help his administration in its bid to develop tourism in the state.

and vehicles she is now to hand over after losing her husband who, by the way, had suffered from low sperm count but had been saved from despair by the goodness of his devoted wife. To compound Lola’s woes, Joe, Eric’s illiterate and ill-mannered elder brother who has all along made her marriage miserable by his constant presence and eccentricities in her home coupled with lecherous advances, traces her to her new abode, “a modest three bedroom bungalow in another part of Ikoyi, not far from her former home,” and rapes her at knife point. The experience is however devoid of physical agony as Lola dons the toga of an artist and presents herself, tantalizingly, to the would-be rapist. “You mean am..,” he spluttered. “So you self wan do?” Lola nods, but it is to save her life, and Joe “traversed the spectrum of the Sahara, done down the peaks of the Himalayas and stilled the billows of the Meditteranean” (p.87) in a two-hour madness, accepts the offer of milk after the encounter, then finalizes his transition with a knife driven with “possession” into his “heart region,” while sleeping peacefully after Lola’s ordeal. (p.89). Here is where the title of the novel, Possessed, originates from, because Lola wields the knife possessed with rage, with the bitter experiences of the rape of her adopted daughter and her loss of a loving husband; a rage nurtured by the pain inflicted by the courts in acquitting rapists on the altar of legalism and the pain of devastating patriarchal practices. It is clear that drama is Adejumo’s chief medium and that Possessed would be best translated to film. Earlier in the novel, Ayomide, the son of Eric’s bosom friend Wale Afolabi, has raped Ann, Lola’s adopted daughter and got away with it, helped by the influence of his father, a member of the National Assembly who had deployed his political arsenal to get him off the hook and helped secure victory in court, but it is the rape and subsequent suicide of Justice Francis Adeleye’s virgin daughter and PhD holder, Kemi and her friend, Tola, that most lucidly articulates the theme of poetic justice and Adejumo’s prowess as an artist, for Adeleye it was who had cleared Ayomide of rape and let him loose on the hapless women of Lagos. It is no wonder then that the blurb on the novel says that “In this moving story, the author explores the theme of rape and justice in a way most engaging.” But this is, to say the least, a very limited reading, for the series of rape incidents in this very dramatic novel are only a motif in the overarching engagement with the destructive power of envy, particularly among supposedly intimate friends. For Eric’s killer and initiator of the series of tragedies in the novel is no other than Wale, his most envious bosom friend who had all along been plagued by bitterness following Eric’s success with a girl he (Wale) admired in the university and his (Eric’s) graduating with a First Class Honours as opposed to his Second Class Honours. Thus, as we learn at the end of the novel, it was Wale who suborned Eric’s subordinate and one-time consort, Nkechi, to poison his drink in his office. But Wale’s sins catch up with him as he is shot dead by Ayomide at the end of the novel. Before then, with Justice Adeleye’s help, Lola has been discharged of Joe’s murder, as the state drops the case, but then a pregnancy arrives. Next week, we look at language and symbolism in the novel.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

education

Editor: Laolu Harolds 08111845016 tribune.education@yahoo.com

Examination malpractice in private schools worrisome — WAEC Naza Okoli, Lagos

HE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has described as worrisome the incidence of examination malpractice observed in private secondary schools across the country. This formed part of the issues discussed by delegates at the 61st meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the council held recently in Lagos. A communique signed by the Head, Public Affairs, WAEC National Office, Lagos, Mr Demianus Ojijeogu, urged state governments to assist the council by “sanctioning erring proprietors.” “The committee decried the situation whereby private schools that do not have regular students register candidates for school examinations, and also observed the high incidence of examination malpractice in private schools due largely to the registration of non-students for West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). It enjoined the state governments to sanction erring proprietors and schools to serve as a deterrent,” the communiqué stated. The committee, however, observed that there were less cases of malpractice in the May/June 2015 than the previous years, attributing the development to the collaborative efforts of WAEC officials and

From left, Director, Educational Advancement Centre, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, Head of Global Alliance Orion Edutech, Mr Rohit Venaik and representative of the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Yinka Fatoki, at the launch of Orion Edutech Centre for Educational Advancement, in Ibadan, last Wednesday.

the various state ministries of education. The communiqué reads further: “The committee also observed that there was a decline in the reported examination malpractice cases in 2015 when compared to 2013 and 2014, and commended the council for deploying appropriate tech-

nology in the conduct of its WASSCE. “It also gave kudos to state ministries of education for putting in place measures to fight examination malpractice in public schools, and advised that efforts should be made to extend such to private schools. “In addition, for the states with relative-

ly high cases of examination malpractice, the committee resolved that the council, through its state offices, will partner with the ministries of education in those states for thorough policing and monitoring of examination centres during the WASSCE to forestall examination fraud.”

Make Mathematics engine of development, experts tell FG Clement Idoko, Abuja EXPERTS were unanimous in their call for Nigeria, and indeed other African countries, to demonstrate political will to adequately fund development of Mathematics and make the subject the engine of national development. They averred that mathematics is the ‘Queen’ of sciences and at the root of any significant scientific and technological development of any nation. Speaking at an international symposium on ‘Current Research Trends in Mathematical Sciences and Applications’ in Abuja, President, Africa Academy of Sciences, Professor Aderemi Kuku, said governments at all levels should give priority attention to creation of critical mass of mathematical scientists to drive development in the African continent. Kuku, who observed that brain-drain had robbed Nigeria of much of its expertise, noted that even though Africa could boast of well-trained mathematical scientists and about the best education the world could offer in famous universities and institutions abroad, what is lacking is the critical mass needed to teach the younger generation in the continent. “By critical mass, for instance, if you go

to New York alone, you will be able to count over 1,000 mathematicians with PhDs who are doing excellent work,” he noted. The president of African Mathematical Union (AMU), Professor AdewaleSolarin, also noted that the available mathematical sciences expertise is spread so thin resulting in shortage of staff, facilities and infrastructure as well as serious reduction in the quality of mathematical sciences education and research. Meanwhile, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has revealed plan to establish a Centre of Excellence for Mathematics in Nigeria in order to promote the study of mathematical sciences in the

country. UNESCO Regional Director, Mr Benoit Sossou, who made this known at the symposium, said the agency had noted with concern that the study of mathematics and other science-related subjects has declined sharply in Nigeria and indeed the African continent. Sossou, who was represented at the occasion by DrOsujiOtu, said study has also revealed low performance of women in mathematical sciences in Nigeria, saying UNESCO is however partnering with the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, to reverse the trend. He said that Nigeria was granted UNESCO Chair in Mathematics in order to pro-

mote the study of mathematical sciences in Nigeria. The Minister of Education, Malam AdamuAdamu, who was represented by the Director, Universities, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Elizabeth Igagbai, said the federal government would develop policies and programmes that would encourage the study of mathematical sciences in the country. He commended the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and African Mathematical Union (AMU) for organising the symposium and the pre-symposium school where a good number of young mathematical scientists were trained in various expects of the subject.

Desperate Nigerians seeking admission abroad end up being exploited, says Ireland-based don A lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, Dr Niyi Kolawole, has warned parents and students against being desperate to study abroad because most of them end up being exploited. Speaking in an interview with Tribune

Education, Dr Kolawole, who is also the executive director of Solid-Link Consulting based in Ireland, advised parents and students to diligently research any university abroad before applying for admission there. According to him: “One of the ques-

tions I ask people when they tell me they want to go to school abroad is ‘have you Googled the name of the school?’ They have to know if it is a nationally or globally recognised college. Most of the time, Nigerians are very desperate to go abroad to study and become victims of exploitation. Continues pg 22

education NOUN Law graduates petition NASS over denial of access to Law School

Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

AW graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have petitioned the National Assembly over the refusal of the Council of Legal Education to admit them into the Nigerian Law School. “We suffered enormously

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

to obtain the LL.B degree. Shutting us out of the vocational training at the Law School will render all our efforts over these long years useless. This will be most unfair, unjust and discriminatory,” they say. In the letter submitted at the National Assembly, which has been referred to the Committee on Ethics,

Privileges and Public Petitions for further legislative duties, the graduates called for necessary support and chance “to compete with others in the Law School, as that is the only objective way to measure the quality of NOUN Law programme and graduates, instead of shutting us out peremptorily.”

Their coordinator, Mr Alex Okonofua, said the Law programme of NOUN is approved and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and wondered why they are being denied the right to attend Law School. He said, “Prior to studying Law at NOUN, most of us were already graduates

and professionals in diverse disciplines from other institutions. Many had Master’s degrees and some are even with doctoral degrees.” The House of Representatives member who had earlier sponsored a motion in support of their case, Mr Ayodele Oladimeji, said the issue is a national matter and that somebody has to speak on behalf of others whose voice cannot be heard. The member representing Ado-Ekiti, Irepodun/ lfelodun federal constituency of Ekiti State, told Tribune Education that the motion is receiving the attention of the Committees on the Judiciary and

Tertiary Education, arguing that students’ ambition to become lawyers is not complete without attending the Law School. “Statutorily, in Nigeria, to become a lawyer is not complete without attending the Law School. All persons who have obtained a university degree in Law and want to practise as lawyers or want to be law professionals in Nigeria must attend the Nigerian Law School,” he said. He urged the Council of Legal Education and Body of Benchers to re- visit the decision with a view to allowing graduates from NOUN to be admitted to the Nigerian Law Schools.

Indian firm, EAC partner to boost youths’ skills development By Kehinde Adio

Mr Olatunji Hassan of the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of Tribune titles with renowned poet, Emeritus Professor John Pepper Clark (left) at the 15th edition of Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF 2016) held at the University of Lagos, recently.

West African students honour EKSU VC with Nkrumah Award As VC warns lecturers against high-handedness Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti THE Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Professor Samuel Oye Bandele, has emerged the winner of the 2016 Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award of the West African Students Union (WASU). The award was conferred on him at a ceremony held at the Senate Chamber of EKSU, where the leadership of WASU, led by Mr. Emmanuel Sobio, described the vice chancellor as “West Africa’s most outstanding person on education and humanitarian services par excellence.” WASU said the Kwame Nkrumah award was initiated to promote “all forms of good leadership designed to construct the defences of West African culture of leadership and integrity in

minds of men.” According to Sobio, “the winners were decided by the executive secretariat on the basis of proposals and nominations submitted by an international jury consisting of eminent personalities from WASU’s member unions and friendly international organisations around the globe.” He said the students’ body was seeking outstanding administrators. “We seek to find ourselves role models, outstanding institutions and mentors in life and we found in the vice chancellor of EKSU, Professor Samuel Oye Bandele, an erudite peace builder and experienced administrator.” In accepting the award, Professor Bandele said it was the first he had accepted out of the numerous offers, and that he decided to accept the award “after I

accepted to know those behind it.” Bandele said the award would encourage him to work harder, noting that it was time all in EKSU came together to fight against corruption and vices in the institution, including indiscriminate and deliberate failing of students. “Work with me to produce students that would love our university and love the state and work for themselves. When they come out with poor results, they won’t love you because they cannot be in a prime position with those who are top class. Henceforth, I will take it that in a class where students fail, the lecturer has failed.” He dedicated the award to the management, deans, heads of departments, staff members and students of the university, and thanked WASU for working with

him in his quest to achieve the dream of making the university a force to reckon with in the comity of institutions of higher learning.

AN Indian firm, Orion Edutech, is collaborating with Nigerian skill development practitioners to add more value to education development among Nigerian youths. To this end, Orion Edutech is establishing a skills development centre in Lagos, Enugu and Ibadan in Oyo State. At the official launch of the training centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Head, Global Alliances from India, Mr Rohit Venaik, said the training centre came to Nigeria courtesy of the Educational Advancement Centre, and that the two firms would work together on skills development among Nigerians to boost their productivity. According to Mr Venaik, the programme will be ran via video conferencing solution from India, with prac-

tical classroom work in Nigeria, and that the training would cover all the fields in the real sector. He said, “We are here to make Nigerians more employable in the economy, through effective and quality training on different skills. Our training programme will cover technology, Information Communication Technology, internet networking marketing, medicine, electronics, agriculture and so on. “As a vocational training centre, we are carrying along all artisans to have relevant skills that will boost their productivity in their various industries between a period of three to nine months for basic, advanced and diploma programmes. “Moreover, we are going to introduce more courses that will have direct bearing with Nigeria’s immediate trade and services needs.”

FUT Minna VC, 9 others inducted Academy of Science fellows Adelowo Oladipo - Minna THE vice chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Musbau Adewumi Akanji, was among the 10 distinguished scholars inducted last Thursday as fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), the highest honour in the scientific field in the country. The event took place at the Reiz Intercontinental Hotel, Abuja. Others include Professors Richard Adegbola, Olanike Adeyemi, Mojisola Adeyemi, Edith Ajai-

yeoba, Peter Anah, Chili Akujor, Catherine Falade, Timothy Oriana and Micha Osilike. Among other contributions, the academy recognised Professor Akanji for demonstrating through his works that the source of extra-curricular enzymes can be traced to tissues compromised by chloroquine, and for also establishing the potential and safety of fadogia agrestis, an aphrodisiac. Speaking with Tribune Education at the event, an elated Professor Akanji said “it means a lot to me.

It’s the pinnacle in one’s career; the highest award in science.” Tribune Education gathered that Thursday’s induction brings to 212 the total number of fellows of the academy. Four of the 10 new inductees are women – the highest female inductees so far in a particular year. It also brings the total number of female fellows of the academy to 19. Meanwhile, principal officers, members of the University Senate and staff were on hand to felicitate with the vice chancellor.

education

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

AAUA pro-chancellor canvasses robust varsity/community relations •VC lauds ANUPA on staff training

RO-CHANCELLOR and chairman of the governing council of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko, Ondo State, Otunba Solomon Oladunni, has stressed the need for the university and its host community to further strengthen the relationship between them in order to make accelerated progress. Otunba Oladunni made the call last Monday when he led the management of the university on a courtesy call on the regent of Akungba-Akoko, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon. The pro-chancellor thanked the regent, chiefs and people of the town for the support the university had enjoyed over the years. “We have every reason to associate with this community. The community must continue to cooperate with the management of the university so that AkungbaAkoko and AAUA will make tremendous progress,” he said. The spokesperson of the community, Chief OladeleOlowogorioye, thanked the university’s management for reducing the reparation fee recently charged the students from N25,000 to N15,000. He, however, made some demands bordering on the interest and welfare of members of the community. Responding, the chairman of council promised to liaise with the university management to work out how some of the requests could be granted. In her remark, Princess Omosowon thanked the pro chancellor and the management team of the university for the visit, and expressed the confidence that the symbiotic relationship between the university and the community would continue. Meanwhile, the vice chancellor, Professor IgbekeleAjibefun, has commended the university’s branch of the Association of Nigerian Universities Professional Administrators (ANUPA) for honing the skills of its members. Professor Ajibefun also assured the association of the university’s management’s steady support, especially in the training of its members. The vice chancellor gave the commendation last week while declaring open a one-day in-house training workshop organised by ANUPA for its members in the ranks of Administrative Officers I and II. He said, “Your initiative

to train your members is of crucial importance to the development of the university. This is one of the functions of the university, which you are carrying out as an association. It is commendable and we are proud of you.”

Responding to the request earlier made by the chairman of the association, Mr. R. D. Owamoyo, seeking the support of the university, Ajibefun said: “We will continue to support you as an association and your membership. Any time your

members want to attend conference elsewhere, let us have your request in time so that we can give you the necessary support.” The VC urged the trainees to maximize the opportunity offered by the workshop to improve themselves and

be successful administrators. The keynote address was delivered by the acting registrar, Mr. Sunday Ayeerun, while the deputy registrar (academic affairs), Mr. AdedayoAdedeji, spoke on ‘Developing Compliant Admin-

istrative Skills’. A paper, entitled: “The Role of Ethics in University Administration”, was delivered by the Head of the Department of Philosophy, Professor NkeonyeOtakpor, while the Principal Assistant Registrar/Head, Information, Protocol and Public Relations Unit, Mr. Sola Imoru, spoke on ‘Effective Management of the University and its Publics: Duties and Responsibilities of Administrative Officers’.

Benue Varsity introduces succor for indigent students Johnson Babajide -Makurdi

From left, Dr (Mrs) Omolola Aina Ladele, Provost, AdeniranOgunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, congratulating the guest speaker, Dr Sunday Oludele Babalola, during the college’s School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS)’s Distinguished Lecture Series held recently at the college. With them are the deputy provost, Mr Wole Ajose (2nd left) and the dean of SASS, Dr (Mrs) Omosehin Foluke (2nd right).

We’re committed to building human capacity, says FUNAAB VC •As186 part-time degree students matriculate THE current management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is determined to build human capacity and provide the visionary leadership that would enable the institution maintain high standards, achieve internationalisation, as well as deliver learning, research and virile community engagements. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, made the remarks during

a recent two-day capacity building workshop for heads of academic departments in the university. Professor Oyewole, who is also the president, Association of African Universities (AAU), noted that academic trends were fast changing, and that FUNAAB could not afford to live in the past. “The curricula review we had less than two years ago has called for another review; so it behoves on us to always review our curricula,

if we desire to move at the global pace and compete favourably with our peers in other climes,” he said. Oyewole stressed that there was the need to move beyond working with only course synopses, towards being student-friendly in teaching methodology. He then charged heads of departments to embrace constructive change that would re-position the university for better performance in global ranking.

Unions laud Lokoja Varsity over DVC’s appointment Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, has commended the management of the university for following due process in the appointment of a new deputy vice chancellor, Professor Makanjuola Osagbemi. The committee, an umbrella body of all unions in the university, gave the commendation in a statement signed by Mr AjaoAbdulhakeem, the chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU). The university JAC comprises the Academic Staff

Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), SSANU and the National Association of Academic Technologists of Universities (NAAT). The unions, however, expressed displeasure over the position of a non- governmental organisation, Concerned Citizens for Education Development (CCED), that the appointment was done without recourse to due process, insisting that the appointment was in order. The statement read: “The appointment of the new deputy vice chancellor actually followed the required procedure. The university

senate at its 32nd extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 conducted an election between two nominees for the position of deputy vice chancellor, and thereafter recommended the winner of the election to the governing council for ratification. “The recommendation was subsequently ratified by the second council at its meeting held on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.” The unions also condemned the CCED for blaming the institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Angela Freeman-Miri, over the appointment, describing her as a stickler for rules and regulations.

Delivering a paper entitled ‘Academic Ethics: Rules and Regulation’, Professor ChryssOnwuka, a former deputy vice chancellor (academics), said that in matters relating to ethics, honesty, integrity in academics and in all aspects of life, there are no half measures. “We may not be and are not saints, but we can strive to be saintly in our journey in life,” he said, adding that there is no Nigerian or African redefinition of ethics or integrity; that it is a global issue that calls for everyone’s strict adherence to the global definition. He, therefore, warned participants to strive not to harass, mistreat, belittle, harm or take unfair advantage of anyone, adding that plagiarism, lying, deliberate misrepresentation, theft, scientific fraud, cheating, among other bad behaviours, should not be tolerated in an academic environment. In her lecture, ‘Leadership and Management of Academic Departments’, Professor MorenikeDipeolu stated that the prime role of the head of department (HoD) is to provide strong academic leadership to the department; and that he/ she is required to lead, manage as well as develop the department.

VICE chancellor of Benue State University, Professor Moses Kembe, has introduced community service on campus for indigent students to enable them finance their education through the university. Addressing newsmen in his office, Professor Kembe said the management of the institution was aware of financial incapability of some students, and that the idea was to engage interested indigent students in menial jobs on campus, for which they will be paid at the end of every month. “We are taking interest in indigent students as they come on campus; if they are unable to pay their tuition fees, they can do some menial jobs like cutting of grasses, cleaning of toilets, sweeping rooms and so on, so they can be paid every month. Through this, they will be able to pay their tuition fees,” he said. The menial jobs, according to the vice chancellor, were contracted to a private firm which is expected to engage 1000 workers. Out of these, 200 spaces were allocated to interested indigent students. He further explained that 18 students have been offered scholarship, while seven courses from three faculties have been given full accreditation. Kembe listed the courses given full accreditation to include Accounting, from Management Sciences; Integrated Science, from the Faculty of Education; and Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Mass Communication from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

interview

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

‘Polytechnics have completely derailed’ The Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) Office Building was built by students of the five technical colleges under the board’s control. Its executive secretary, Mr Anthony Olawunmi Gasper, spoke with NAZA OKOLI on the board’s achievements and the challenges before technical education in Lagos State and Nigeria.

T is said that this structure was built by your students. Is this really true? Everything here was built by the students of the Technical Colleges, from the ground to the top. Tiling was done by the students of Tiling; painting by students of Painting; the same thing goes for electrical work, air-conditioning, and so on. Did they stop at this building or did they go ahead to build other government structures? No. This was done because there was the need for us to practise what we preach. We approached the governor and told him we did not want a contractor to do this for us; that we could do it. He gave us approval to do what is called student-direct-labour project. With this, they can build bungalows and other structures. It means if they stay two years in the construction industry, they will become as good as the Germans, Chinese, and all the giants that are in the construction business. And that is what we are saying: Let us grow local skills. If we grow local skills, then we can occupy the space. The amount of money we spend as remittance to foreign construction workers is huge. It’s all a matter of conviction. If what we teach in the classroom is not translated to actual work, the students will not develop the skills. Since the agency was created, how many people have been trained? This agency was created in 2010. When we came, we had about 1500 students. Now, we are about 7200 students. We achieved this because we made the colleges more attractive to young people. If you want to attract a young person into such sub-sector of education, you must really make it attractive. And then we brought in the industry; you cannot do technical education without the industry, because actually we are training for the industry. So we asked the industry: ‘What do you think we can do to make technical education more attractive?’ And they said: ‘Look, your curriculum is not good.’ So, what is wrong with our curriculum? We don’t have the power to tweak the curriculum, because it is a national curriculum. Since what we have is the minimum, we can expand it to accommodate what is called the industry curriculum, which means that our students would now spend more hours. So the curriculum was strengthened, and we also had to train our teachers. After their training, do your students leave to establish their own businesses? There are three things they can do. They can decide to progress academically, to the universities or the polytechnics; they can decide to work for establishments where their skills are required; and then of course they can start their own businesses. That is why we tell the parents that this is the best form of education they can give to their children; it doesn’t stop them from going to the university; it gives them skills.

Is it the case that parents do not want to send their children to the technical colleges? That is the major issue with technical education in the country – parental perception. We still think that technical education is for people who are not academically good, forgetting that it is a parallel form of education. It is not inferior to the conventional secondary school. Are you aware that these students do everything that they do in secondary schools? They do Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Mathematics, in addition to their vocational courses like car-

Mr Gasper

pentry, plumbing, and so on. The technical colleges are for students of secondary-school age. Do you have a programme for older people, including university graduates who may be interested in acquiring a skill? Yes. We have another flagship programme which we are very proud of, and that is the graduate programme. This is for graduates of polytechnics and universities. Already, there are many success stories. The graduate is in a very good position. He has finished his formal education, and what he needs now is vocational training. That is what we have done with

the graduates. We begin by changing their mindsets. Because the average Nigerian graduate believes he needs to work for a bank. But if you want to grow the economy of this country, you have to train more entrepreneurs. You are a former Rector of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH). Is there any difference between the orientation of polytechnic students and that of the people you train? Indeed, I have been in the two chambers. Appreciate what I have told you about these young boys and girls and the kind of training they go through. You can see the difference. For us in this lower

sector, it’s not really about ‘supply’; it’s demand-based. It is demand-based because we are working hand-in-hand with the private sector. Polytechnics are not supposed to be graduating numbers, and be happy that they are graduating numbers. They are supposed to be graduating young boys and girls that are supposed to meet the needs of the industry and grow to become local entrepreneurs. Go back to history: that was why polytechnics were established. To me, Polytechnics have completely derailed, because they are competing with the universities. They should create a brand for themselves. The technical colleges in Lagos have created a brand for themselves. When you say you are a polytechnic graduate, what should come to the mind of the person is that you are skilled; that you have been honed, that you are a candidate for local entrepreneurship. But employers also expect university graduates to be skilled? Employers who want university graduates to be skilled do not understand the meaning of university education. University education is a formal education that opens your eyes to all arteries; gets you to know about everything. I do not expect any skills from a university graduate, but I expect him to be able to source information for me easily in the first two years after graduation. University education is a broad one; polytechnic education is focussed. Finally, how do your graduates access loans after graduation? It’s a major issue, but on our own part, what we do is facilitate completing of their forms and other such things, with Lagos State microfinance institutions. But now, we have the Bank of Industry (BoI), and they (BoI) have made life easy now. Up to a certain amount of money, you don’t need collateral; only one reference. So, life is getting better. We have a very strong collaboration with NECA (Nigeria Employers Consultative Association). In fact, we are going to graduate 90 students specially sponsored by NECA on the July 5, 2016.

Desperate Nigerians seeking admission abroad end up being exploited, says Ireland-based don Continued from pg 19

“People exploit our ignorance of what is happening in Europe within the educational sector. So, on the one hand, what Solid-Link does with my help as an insider and as a graduate from Nigeria is to link students interested in studying abroad with their various institutions. We also link up Nigerian institutions that want to form collaborations with institutions abroad.” He identified overpopulation and the absence of research and development in a number of public universities as one of the reasons Nigerians prefer going abroad. “(The problem with) the Nigerian university system is that aspect of research and development. One of the experiences I have had overtime living and studying abroad is the amount of monies that governments and companies pump into the universities to help them do research. Every successful nation thrives on a successful university system, because most of the technological advancement they experience is actually incubated in their universities.

“In Nigeria, what we have is dwindling contributions by the government into education. Another thing is the population. We (Nigeria) have many students going into the university that cannot be qualitatively catered for; and it affects the output of what we have from the university. The government is not spending enough; we have too many students going into the universities without spaces for them. Sometimes you think we do not have the brains, but the thing is that we lack coordination and the right kind of funding,” Kolawole noted. Explaining how his company which offers three main services for students – basic consulting, standard service and complete package – works, Kolawolesaid it offers quality guidance to students it helps secure admission abroad. He said, “I think one of the things missing is guidance from someone they can see as role models. What the company that I lead does or offers for now is not just to place them in schools but all round empowerment for those kids so that they are not just going to go to school because ev-

erybody is going to school but to become independent and critical thinkers and when they come back home they would be able to contribute positively to the society. “I can tell you that abroad is not heaven; the system is made for the purpose of people that made it. If you are not qualified to stay there, you cannot get a job so you end up in the black market where they are used as slaves and get peanuts which is not enough to pay rents. “A lot of our girls and boys end up on the streets as prostitutes and gigolos, but we have to start talking about those things that abroad is not heaven. It is only going to work when you know, work within the system and fit yourself into the system.”

Mr Kolawole

Thursday, 26 May, 2016 Editor:

health

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

Stevens - Johnson Syndrome:

Not new, contagious but unusual

Nigeria in recent times has been afflicted by various dreadful diseases. From Ebola to Lassa, then Zika but recently, there has been panic about an imminent outbreak of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). VERA ONANA writes to shed light on this disease and allay the fears of several Nigerians.

EN-year-old Folakemi looked frail and dehydrated, after vomiting for the umpteenth time. She had no strength left and could barely move but it didn’t stop as the little girl continued retching. Her disturbed mother gathered her up in her arms and fled to the nearest private clinic in the neighbourhood around 7pm. Quickly the nurses swung into action trying to make the frail child drink some fluid but all to no avail, for the liquid barely landed in her stomach before a fresh bout of anti-peristalsis took over and out, it came. Confused, the nurses, mainly auxiliary, summoned the doctor and owner of the little clinic. Swiftly, he instructed that the little girl be given a tablet of anti-nauseant and it did the magic: the vomiting stopped and a happy mother took her child home. However, hours later, little Folakemi could not keep her mouth closed, her mother observed. Her tongue was sticking out of her mouth involuntarily and it seemed longer than normal. A distraught mother ran back to the clinic, horrified. The doctor calmed her down, explaining that her daughter was simply experiencing an adverse drug reaction (ADR) , medically known as focal dystonia, to Metoclopramide, the active ingredient of the anti-nauseant, which was earlier administered. Often times, some medications may trigger an injury known as an adverse drug reaction (ADR) or allergic reaction following a single dose or prolonged administration of the drug or other times, ADRs may result from the combination of two or more drugs. While some ADRs may be very mild, ubiquitous and relatively benign others could be very complex, unusual and life threatening. To the latter category belongs Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Recently however, it was reported in a number of national dailies that a new disease called SJS has allegedly been discovered in Nigeria. These reports had been evoking panic but “there is nothing new about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, it’s just a health related issue.” Ogun State Commis-

sioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, said while allaying people’s fears. SJS, according to experts is an extreme case of an allergic body reaction to specific drugs, chemical compounds or medications.

It has also been described as a form of toxic epidermal necrolysis, a life-threatening skin condition, in which cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis. The syndrome is thought to be a hypersensitiv-

ity complex that affects the skin and themucous membranes. According to experts, SJS is a sort of anaphylactic reaction and most of the time; it is due to an allergic reaction to some drugs. There is no way one can tell if a person will be allergic to a particular kind of drug because some people may take one kind of drug and may not react to it while some other persons may take the same drug and react. Experts also said that it may be likened to the reaction some people get from taking chloroquine but the point is that StevensJohnson syndrome has peculiar manifestations and appearance. According to experts, SJS usually begins with fever, sore throat, and fatigue, which is commonly misdiagnosed and therefore treated with antibiotics. Ulcers and other lesions begin to appear in the mucous membranes, almost always in the mouth and lips, but also in the genital and anal regions. Those in the mouth are usually extremely painful and reduce the patient’s ability to eat or drink. Conjunctivitis of the eyes occurs in about 30 per cent of children who develop SJS. A rash of round lesions about an inch across arears on the face, trunk, arms and legs, and soles of the feet, but usually not the scalp may also occur. Also, the skin and mucous membrane are affected. SJS could be very severe and may even result to death in some extreme cases. This is why questions about drug reaction history are asked before any drug is administered. In a standard hospital setting, there should be a one on one discussion based on what has been noticed from the patient. According to experts, to minimise the risk of people coming with ADRs of any kind or even SJS, it is important that self medication is eradicated. Some drugs should only be administered under observation but when people self medicate, there could be a problem of follow up or even close observation. SJS is an auto-immune hypersensitivity complex reaction and some people are genetically prone to hypersensitivity reactions which are immune complex related. Based on what experts immunologists said, SJS can be triggered immediately or later in what is known as either delayed or immediate hypersensitivity reaction. In some cases, SJS could be delayed or immediate in others. If it is delayed, that gives time to respond quickly but when it is immediate, it becomes an acute emergency. It is very dangerous and affects skin and muscous membrane but it is not a contagious disease and it is definitely not new. Speaking on the drugs that could trigger SJS, a pharmacist Simon Dazam said “a wide range of Drugs can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Most anti-gout medications, pain relievers, medications that fight infection, medications for treating seizures or mental illness, most anticonvulsants and antipsychotics as well as radiation therapy can often times cause SJS.” However, according to experts, aside from being triggered by drugs, SJS could also occur as result of infections ‘‘like Herpes, pneumonia, HIV, hepatitis or more rarely, cancers.

SEX, SEXUALITY&YOUR HEALTH

NATURAL HEALTH

Magic mushrooms lift severe depression in clinical trial Page 26

How safe is sex during menstrual period? Page 26

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

There shouldn’t be too many folks like me around!

Y talking watch announced loudly, “The time now is 11.00 o’clock.” I am a bit confused. I had been sleeping. For how long, I can’t really say. Whether my eyes are open or shut, the room lit or in darkness, it makes no difference to me. I am totally blind - what the eye doctors call no perception of light in both eyes. The room is very warm and I am a bit sweaty. My body clock suggests something around 2.00 pm. I call out to Olu, the little boy who is looking after me, “What time is it?” I ask. “11.00am grandma,” he yells and adds, “you were sleeping so soundly and I didn’t want to wake you up. Olu, like most boys of his age, usually play pranks. I knew he had tiptoed to the round table in front of me and gently moved his hand over my face to check if I was sleeping. I couldn’t see his hand but as he waved it roughly over my face, I felt the rush of air current and could tell what was happening. I heard the grating sound as he pulled out three pieces of biscuits one after another, from the packet. I had pretended to be asleep then, but must have fallen into real sleep soon after. “Your morning medications are already late by two hours grandma,” he announces gleefully. I am on six sets of different tablets and three types of eye drops. As the bottles of eye drops hit the table one after the other, I can tell from the faint sounds the different ones. Sound, touch and taste have become sharper and more meaningful for me since I

lost my sight. I can “see” with my ears, recognize objects by touch and by taste I can identify each tablet. Exactly 10 years ago today, I recall accompanying my older sister to the hospital. She had been told she had cataract in both eyes and needed an operation to see well. I remember how frightened and distraught she had been. The doctor had counselled her and told her reassuringly that cataract surgery was no big deal. A 30-minute operation under local anaesthesia was all that was needed to reverse the blindness. She was lucky it wasn’t glaucoma. Glaucoma blindness was not reversible, he had said. “Thank God my eyes are normal,” I had

These doctors just want to chop my money,” I told myself. “I am too busy to sit in an eye clinic for hours just to see an ophthalmologist. I have left so many things undone.” That was 10 years ago. Now I am blind.

exclaimed. “How do you know your eyes are normal?” the doctor had asked. “Because I see better than any of my friends who are about the same age with me. They all need glasses to read while I could see distance clearly and read without glasses,” I responded confidently. “You know, folks like you are in great danger of going blind before they know it,” the doctor said. As he went on to tell me why, I said to myself, “I reject it.” I lost the message in the process. But now I know and understand what he was saying. Those who see well, feel everything is alright without regular eye who examinations are living in a fool’s paradise. Not all eyes that see well are normal! There are several diseases afflicting the eyes quietly, causing neither pain nor discomfort and with no noticeable visual loss in the early stages. Unlike cataract, they don’t announce their presence by reduction of vision - the most important reason why patients visit the eye clinic. I recall the doctor facing me specifically and telling me that I should have an eye examination once a year. “These doctors just want to chop my money,” I told myself. “I am too busy to sit in an eye clinic for hours just to see an ophthalmologist. My job is far too important and by coming here today with my sister, I have left so many things undone.” That was 10 years ago. Now I am blind. And you know what? I have Glaucoma! It was detected during a screening exercise by an eye doctor on the World Sight Day, a couple of months after my sister’s eye surgery. One of my ‘beautiful’

seeing eyes was nearly gone and the other was just a little better. Every time, the doctor’s words keep echoing in my ears, “Folks like you are in great danger of going blind.” Did you ask about my life as a blind woman? Not now! At this moment I’m concerned about you. Have you had an eye examination in the last six months? If you haven’t, you’re walking on the same path that I walked and “folks like you are in danger of going blind.” Your eyes are far too important to be ignored and your vision should not be left to chance. Imagine what would happen to you in today’s world if you were blind. You can’t read this story except you have someone read it to you; you can’t use the ATM machine; you can’t easily write a cheque or fill out forms on the computer. Walking on the streets without a chaperon is impossible in this country; you can’t even see the food you eat or appreciate the faces of the beautiful people around. In one word you would lose your independence! Aren’t these sufficient reasons why you must make a resolution today that you will give one day a year to ensure that your eyes ‘live’ for as long as you are alive? Please don’t be selfish about it! Encourage everyone around you, starting with members of your immediate family, friends, co-workers and neighbours, to pay a visit to an eye doctor and have a comprehensive examination today. And if you care, give something, no matter how small, to help restore sight to the cataract blind in our midst. There shouldn’t be too many folks like me around!

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Fertility tales: A problem shared is a problem solved (III) continued from last week

She had never thought to be sensitive when meeting someone and immediately asking, “So, how many children do you have?” Gbemisola started wondering how many people might have extremely painful stories to relate about her thoughtlessness and was very sorry indeed. The first thing she did after she and Omotayo spoke was to search on the internet to learn more about infertility. What she discovered astounded her. Omotayo and her husband were just one of the thousands of couples who experience problems conceiving. In fact, about one in four couples in the country may have problems with fertility at some point during their married life. Worse still, the numbers increase as the couple gets older. This means that between 20 and 25 per cent of couples may not become pregnant after trying for 12 months. Some will subsequently conceive without any intervention, but most will require some medical assistance. It is unfortunately a rather widespread problem affecting so many, and Gbemisola was ba-

sically unaware. A few months after the incident’, Omotayo arrived in the office one day looking much more at peace than Gbemisola had seen her in a long time. She had finally found a fertility treatment centre with qualified medical professionals whom she trusted. There were several at the centre that was a source of tremendous emotional support and comfort for her and her husband and was guiding them through the entire process of fertility treatments. He was helping them put things into perspective and regain control of their lives. With the

positive feedback she was now receiving, she was continuing treatment with greater confidence and a renewed sense of hope. Omotayo continues to thank Gbemisola for ‘’being there” when she needed her most. But it was Gbemisola who had learned a lot and hasmuch to thank Omotayo for. She had learned to be more aware, to open her ears and heart to others. And if someone should choose to confide in her and to express her feelings, or if someone just appears to be overwhelmed and in need of some support, Gbemisola tries her best to listen, to let such woman speak freely of her frustrations and disap-

She hopes and prays that one day she will be able to join in the happiness of Omotayo and her husband, as well as the other families trying to conceive, so that she can be there when they do become pregnant,

pointments. Because of Omotayo, Gbemisola is volunteering at a centre for couples with fertility problems, sharing with these people their hopes and concerns. There are tens of thousands of couples like Omotayo and her husband, most suffering in pain and in silence. Through this incident, she has become determined to help, in any way she can. And not just by providing information about infertility to those who suffer from it, but to those who fortunately don’t, so that they will hopefully become a source of support and strength to those who do, rather than a source of pain and sorrow. Most importantly, Gbemisola has learned to count her blessings and never to take anything for granted. She hopes and prays that one day she will be able to join in the happiness of Omotayo and her husband, as well as the other families trying to conceive, so that she can be there when they do become pregnant, and give birth to a healthy baby, and gratefully welcome a little one into their home.

healthnews

IHVN, Access Bank, Dangote to build N5bn world-class virology research centre Newton-Ray Ukwuoma Lagos TOWARDS enabling local research on disease outbreaks and epidemic control, a not-for-profit organisation, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), in collaboration with Access Bank and Dangote Foundation, is raising funds to commence the construction of a world-class research centre in Abuja. The centre will be erected on 2.5 hectares of land located along the airport road in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and will house laboratories, offices, training facilities and lecture auditoriums, Dr. Patrick Dakum, the Chief Executive Officer of IHVN and convener of the fundraising ceremony said in a statement during a briefing organised ahead of the fundraising event in Lagos. Speaking on Nigeria’s recent confrontations with disease outbreaks and the significance of operational research, he said that “the centre will provide a common world-class platform for the implementation of research and clinical trials of international standards; foster collaborations and synergism between Nigeria’s finest researchers and their counterparts at international research institutions and universities; and will provide opportunities for young Nigerian researchers to develop and execute research projects”. Calling on well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative to eradicate communicable and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria by providing state-of-the-art facilities, the chairman of the IHVN Ad-hoc committee for the building of the centre, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Mutallab, said Nigeria does not need to depend on international donations for her health solutions as such gestures were not sustainable. “We cannot continually depend on the big-heartedness of the international communities for all our health needs and those of our children, neither should we always travel outside the shores of this great nation when we can build sustainable capacities for collaborative researches into the diseases that affect our wellbeing and of the whole world,” he said.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Adewole charges Oyo govt on Health Insurance Scheme By Sade Oguntola

HE Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has implored Oyo State government to accelerate the full take-off of the state health insurance scheme.

Adewole gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the maiden Oyo State health summit organised by the state branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The summit, themed, “Setting the Pace for

Health Sector Reform in the Change Era,” was attended by stakeholders in the heath sector, among whom were representatives of many health professional groups such as medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medical laboratory

scientists, as well as other members of the society, including the media and civil society organisations. The minister, who spoke through the Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge,

From left: Mr Kehinde Adegoke; Professor Abiodun Otegbayo; Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and representative of Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole and Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State, Dr Babatunde Olatunji at the event, recently in Ibadan.

Nigeria set to upgrade TB diagnosis and treatment By Vera Onana THE Federal Ministry of Health has made it known that tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment will receive an upgrade in the nation. The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the Federal Government would provide 111 gene expert machines, a new diagnosis tool in some

selected primary healthcare centres, to enhance treatment of tuberculosis (TB). This, he said at the just concluded National Conference on Tuberculosis, organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health with the theme “Hidden Face of Tuberculosis: Challenges in Identi-

fication and Management Among Vulnerable Groups in Nigeria.” Prof Adewole added that the ministry was working with World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and World Bank to train human resource needed for the primary healthcare Centres. “We are looking at the concept where we have at least 19 workers with six

major healthcare workers in a primary health centre so that we can interface with communities. “We need to go to people’s homes and pick out TB from there, if we can improve the diagnosis, we will also improve the treatment and make sure that we wipe out TB. What we need is support and we believe that we can get it.”

SOFPON urges family support for cigarette smoking campaign NATIONAL chairman, Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), Colonel (Dr) Akin Moses (retd), has solicited increased family support for smoking cessation, saying cigarette smoking accounts for 80 per cent of lung cancer deaths in men. Moses, who spoke at the 2016 World Family Doctor Day, organised by the SOFPON, Ibadan zone, said that nicotine dependency and smoking habit is linked to social influence from family and friends, and as such, their importance at ensuring smoking cessation. The expert, who spoke through the association’s assistant secretary, Dr. Achiaka Irabor, said “the initiation, maintenance and cessation of smoking are strongly influenced

by family members. In particular, support involving cooperative behaviours and reinforcement by family members predict successful quitting. Therefore, family interventions have become a standard part of most substance abuse programmes including smoking cessation.” He described cigarette smoking as an unhealthy and lethal habit, adding that a persistent smoking habit greatly increases the risk of premature deaths. According to him, “Cigarette smoking has been recognised as a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and other cancers. Tobacco smoking accounts for 80 per cent of lung cancer deaths in men and 50 per

cent in women worldwide.” He also expressed concern on the health risks of secondhand smoke, saying attention was already being paid to it through the anti smoke legislation in public places and awareness creation on its health impact in non public places. Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, speaking through the Director, Disease Control, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adebisi Ayoola, urged the professionals to focus more on health education enlightenment, including free health care mission to assist the underprivileged in the society. While reiterating his government’s commitment to good healthcare delivery in the state, Governor Ajimobi called for their support

in eliminating quackery and medical negligence, which he said was becoming common. Minister of information, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, who remarked that technology had revolutionised medical care, challenged the doctors to come up with initiatives to ensure e-health can be used to improve Nigeria’s poor health index. The Minster, who assured of an enabling environment for such initiatives to thrive, said “this is part of a larger picture we are looking at in Nigeria where every aspect of its operation will benefit from Internet and digitalisation. According to him, “with technology even the cost of health care can be reduced.”

maintained that the state should embrace the institutionalised of the public private initiatives for service delivery in the state and specialised hospitals. Adewole noted that the health insurance scheme, when fully operational, can procure services under a public private partnership initiative for the primary health sector despite the lack of local government autonomy. Adewole said “concessioning some healthcare services as an extension of a well-structured and politically correct Public Private Partnership may be considered in some circumstances.” He, however, urged the Oyo State government to partner with the Federal Ministry of Health by establishing the state primary health care development board. According to him, “when constituted, the board would work closely with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen Primary Healthcare Services which he said is the main thrust of the President Muhammadu Buhari healthcare agenda.” He also urged that the Oyo State reform agenda for the health sector should inculcate the structured referral system, which he said was imperative for research and data collection for proper health care planning. Stakeholders in the communiqué issued at the end health summit and signed by Dr Babatunde Olatunji and Dr Babatunde Akinwumi, NMA chairman and general secretary respectively, stressed the need to quickly domesticate the National Health Act by the state government and the commencement of the community health insurance scheme to improve access to primary health care services. While noting the dearth of health personnel and necessary working logistics at the state’s secondary health care facilities, they called for the decentralisation of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board to remove bureaucracy and promote efficiency of these facilities. Given the proliferation of quack practice in the state, the summit posited that the state ministry of health should review the law for the establishment of private hospital and strengthen its monitoring of their activities. Also, they urged for increased budgetary allocation to health as well as human resource for health.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Magic mushrooms lift severe depression in clinical trial

natural

health

By Sade Oguntola

CIENTISTS believe the chemical psilocybin, the ingredient in magic mushrooms, could help people with depression turn down the parts of the brain that are overactive, so stopping them from dwelling on themselves and their own perceived inadequacies. A clinical trial has found that two doses of psilocybin, the active substance in mushrooms, was sufficient to lift resistant depression in all 12 volunteers for three weeks, and to keep it away in five of them for three months. All the volunteers had severe depression over an average of 18 years and had failed to improve on at least two standard antidepressants. They were initially given a low dose of psilocybin to ensure they had no adverse reactions (none did) and then a higher dose a week later. A week after the treatment, eight patients were completely free of depressive symptoms. Five were still in remission three months later. The drug was well tolerated and there were no unexpected adverse events. The researchers said they did not know whether the effect of the drug was caused by chemical changes in the brain or whether the psychedelic experience, which people describe as spiritual or mystical, gives them a new perspective. Writing in the Lancet Psychiatry journal, Amanda Feilding, a co-director of the trial programme, said: “The results from our research are helping is to under-

Mushroom stand how psychedelics change consciousness, and how this information can be used to find breakthrough treatments for many of humanity’s most intractable psychiatric disorders, such as depression, addiction and obsessive compulsive disorder.” Clinical depression causes misery for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Around one in five patients fails to respond to any treatment and even among those who do recover, relapse rates are high and get progressively worse with each successive episode. A similar study of the brains of people who had taken psilocybin, published in 2012, also explains the antidepressant effect of the mushroom extract. The studies showed that psilocybin worked on the same areas of the brain as antidepressants such as Prozac, as well as talking thera-

pies and meditation as carried out by skilled practitioners. But the advantage over pills, they believe, is that the positive effect could be long-lasting. In spite of the outcome, the researchers urged people not to try magic mushrooms themselves. The lead author, Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, said: “Psychedelic drugs have potent psychological effects and are only given in our research when appropriate safeguards are in place, such as careful screening and professional therapeutic support. “I wouldn’t want members of the public thinking they can treat their own depressions by picking their own magic mushrooms which grows in the Elysian fields of Greece. That kind of approach could be risky.” Meanwhile, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have also shown that psilocybin

offers people without depression a lasting openness to new perspectives. It caused an unprecedented 80 per cent success rate in quitting in addicted smokers. Depression is now the largest cause of disability. There are many effective treatments but only about a third of individuals respond fully. At least 10 per cent fail to respond to three different treatments and as such the need for more types of treatment. There are many herbs used in the treatment of depression. Such herbs are used mainly as teas or infusion to help to relax, relieve stress, worries and anxiety and lift a depressed person. These herbs include St. John’s wort (contains a mood boosting chemical and is often called the Nature’s “Prozac”), rose petals, Roselle leaves and flowers, turmeric, corn silk and Indian basil. Similarly, the use of essential oils from plants or scent from flowers either by inhalation when diffused in the air or when they come in contact with skin through baths or massage can help to influence the mood, the mind and the thoughts of a depressed patient. Essential oils, such as rose, rosemary, lemon, lavender, chamomile and jasmine are used in the treatment of depression. Essential oils or flower essences are known to stimulate the production of neurotransmitters, like the mood altering serotonin. In addition, general body massage can help to improve circulation, lower stress hormones, reduce tension and anxiety, and lifting up the gloomy thoughts in a depressed patient.

sex,sexuality

&your health With Monica Taiwo

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being

08187754992 (sms only) taiwomonica@gmail.com

How safe is sex during menstrual period? Just because you are having your menstrual period does not mean you have to forego sex. For some women, sexual activity during menstruation can be even more pleasurable than at other times of the month. The need for lubrication lessens during your period, and some studies show that sex can soothe period-related symptoms, such as cramps. Also, a study published in 2013 in Cephalalgia concluded that sexual activity may reduce migraine and cluster headache pain for some. “Sex is a normal part of life and should be enjoyed by all women,” says Carrie Coleman, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Basically, ensuring you have good contraception and STI (sexually transmitted infection) prevention throughout the menstrual cycle should make it even more safe and enjoyable.” But before having sex, make sure you understand the risks of STIs, other infections, and pregnancy, even during your period. Here is what you need to know about having safe sex during your period. Infection risk from sex during your period It is crucial to practice safe sex while you are having your period because you could still get or transmit an STI, like HIV, during this time, according to the Centres for Dis-

ease Control and Prevention. The virus may be present in menstrual blood. Therefore doctors strongly encourage using a condom to decrease this risk. Lauren Streicher, MD, associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, says that anecdotally speaking, there are two reasons for this risk. “Any bodily fluid can carry HIV or [other] STIs, and [during your period], the cervix opens slightly, which might allow viruses to pass through,” she says. “My message to women is; you’re not off the hook as far as using protection.” You may also be more prone to some infections at this time. Your vagina maintains a pH level of 3.8 to 4.5 throughout the month, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). But during menstruation, that level rises because of the higher pH level of blood, and yeast is able to grow more rapidly. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are more likely to occur the week before your menstrual period, and intercourse during this time can exacerbate symptoms. But clear evidence is lacking for any increased risk of getting a yeast infection if you have sex during your period. There’s also the dreaded Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). “Some women can be more prone to having urinary tract infections after

intercourse,” says Dr. Coleman. “But this is more likely related to bacteria being able to easily travel to the bladder with intercourse, but it may happen at any point during the menstrual cycle.” Risk of pregnancy during your period Having sex when you are menstruating will most likely not result in getting pregnant, because you are usually several days away from ovulating during menstruation. But there are exceptions. If you have a shorter menstrual cycle (21 to 24 days) and you have sex toward the end of your period, sperm can remain viable in your vagina for up to five days, so pregnancy is possible. But this is not an optimal time to try to get pregnant if you’re hoping for a baby. Less need for vaginal lubrication You are less likely to need lubricants if you engage in intercourse during menstruation, because menstrual discharge tends to provide enough lubrication. If you do need a lubricant, then “water-based lubricants

are widely available and safe both for sex and for condoms,” says obstetrics and gynecologist James Simon, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. “Silicone and hybrid lubricants that are water-based and silicone-based are likewise safe for both sex and condoms. Oil-based lubricants, especially mineral-oil based lubricants, can deteriorate condoms — increasing the risk of breakage — and are not recommended with latex condoms,” he says. Period sex as a pain reliever If you experience symptoms such as cramping, feelings of sadness, or depression during your period, having sex at this time may be beneficial. Dr. Streicher says that because orgasms release endorphins — feel good hormones like oxytocin and dopamine — you can theoretically say that they will also decrease some period symptoms. “There’s no harm in trying,” she says. Courtesy: Women’s H ealth

Thursday, 26 May, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Buhari

Osinbajo

The highs and lows of Buhari’s first year in office

As the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari marks its first year in office, State House correspondent, LEON USIGBE, takes a cursory look at its highs and lows.

HESE are arguably the most difficult times Nigerians have had to face since the restoration of democratic rule in 1999. The country is tough, especially for the struggling masses whose high hopes on governments’ ability to engender enhanced welfare has proved forlorn under one administration after another. But none more so than the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The government rode to power a year ago on the wings of “change,” change from the old and crooked ways of doing things; vowing to eliminate the cankerworm of corruption, to deal with mounting insecurity, to tackle the downturn in the economy and to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed in the country. After one year in office, has the President come near to fulfilling the lofty promises he made to Nigerians? This is a big question his administration will struggle to answer as it gives an account of stewardship of its first year in office this week. The economy has hit an all-time low, unemployment is in geometric progression, inflation uncontrollable, infrastructure are on a continued state of decay, salaries are delayed, fuel pump price is at its highest in the nation’s history and the prices of goods and services have hit the rooftops beyond the ceilings. As Nigerians are groaning under unbridled hardship, the administration is struggling with economic fundamentals with the price of crude oil, the major source of revenue, plummeting to a previously unimaginable low number.

The one-year old administration has therefore instituted tough measures in an attempt to restore sanity to the economy and reduce waste so that it may have the necessary funds to channel into diversifying the economy and ensuring social development. It has given priority attention to the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in order to plug financial leakages in the system. Between June 2015 and April 2016, this measure has yielded about N3 trillion to the Federal Government. In the same vein, the administration has enforced the use

The president has in the past year, undertaken 30 trips abroad in search of investments, rallying support for his programmes and signing bilateral agreements that the government says will be invaluable in the effort to return the country to the path of development and progress.

of Bank Verification Number (BVN) to weed out ghost workers from government’s payroll and consequently saved billions of Naira. The Buhari administration has tried to reduce the cost of governance by limiting the number of ministers in his government and collapsing some ministries into others; stopped Federal Government’s sponsorship of pilgrims to the Holy Lands and working assiduously towards the repatriation of looted public funds back to NIgeria from foreign lands. Fighting corruption has obviously been one of the stand out programmes in the last year even though there are arguments about the propriety of the methods the administration has used. Many observers believe that the muchtouted fight against corruption has been a smokescreen in his seeming desire to decimate his political opponents. It is easy to note that all those arrested, clamped in jail or being prosecuted over the period under review are members of the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Yet, he has been able to strengthen the antigraft agencies which have recovered stolen funds. On the security front, there are clear achievements just as there are new challenges. The Buhari administration wasted no time after inauguration, launching itself into the war against Boko Haram insurgency. It overhauled the topmost hierarchy of the Nigerian military, relocated the command centre of the war to Maiduguri, boosted the morale of the fighting forces which resulted in optimal result and degradation of the insurgents. It encouraged foreign partners to renew their cooperation with the Nigerian military and commit men and resources into the prosecution of the war. These and several other measures placed Boko Haram on that back foot. Consequently, the Islamic terrorist groups has scarcely been able to launch its usual spectacular attacks to seize territories in the North-East. Despite the success against Boko Haram, the administration has found itself struggling in the Niger Delta, where renewed militancy spearheaded by a new group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), is causing cataclysmic problem to the national economy. The group complains of alleged Niger Delta marginalisation and has made some demands. Their seething anger is not far from alleged exclusion from, or planned discontinuation of the Amnesty Programme and the cancellation of pipeline protection contracts which had been enjoyed by former militants in the zone. But Buhari says its an outlaw group and has vowed to crush it with all military might. More military personnel have been deployed to the region but so far, crushing of the militants has not been realised, as NDA has continued to blow up oil and gas installations and making life more difficult for the citizens. The administration has made changes in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), reversing the policy where national infrastructural assets were given to militia leaders to protect as against established bodies like the Nigerian Navy. The government drafted the army to partner with other security agencies in ensuring the security of the infrastructure and deployed sophisticated weapons to contain pipeline vandalism. On the other hand, the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) has constituted its own security challenge to the government with its secession campaign. Thus, there has been constant clashes with the group intent on securing independence for the South-East. The administration is claiming an effective management of the separatist group. It also boasts of improving the technical capacity of both the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to make them more proactive in dealing with security challenges. Beyond the move to have grazing reserves in all parts of the country, the issue of rampaging Fulani herdsmen seems not to have attracted much attention from the Buhari administration in past year. But it has nonetheless trudged on in laying a foundation for its take-off even though many have found issues with its apparent sluggishness. The president has in the past year, undertaken 30 trips abroad in search of investments, rallying support for his programmes and signing bilateral agreements that the government says will be invaluable in the effort to return the country to the path of development and progress.

politics&policy

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Dr Ismaeel Adewusi served as the Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State in the administration of Senator Bola Tinubu. In an interview with TUNDE BUSARI, Adewusi reflects on his days at Alausa and on the current socio-political issues. Excerpts:

OU were brought up by the progressives but along the line, you opted out of the camp. What really hap-

pened? We started our journey in politics in the Alliance for Democracy (AD). We had some issues in the last dispensation. We felt we were not seriously taking into consideration, despite all the efforts and resources we put in. So, we decided to move away. But we are back now since the election was over because there is no place like home. And everybody is happy. Can you share your experience while outside the All Progressives Congress (APC)? It was more personal to me why we took the decision to walk away. But the beauty of politics is that it is very dynamic. There is no politician or a group of politicians who remain in the same political camp forever. It is a matter of interest of your followers. If you are in politics and most of your followers are not rewarded for their effort, they put in emergence of a party candidate. You then chose to go. You don’t have a choice as a general of a troop who must always retain the confidence of his troop. What happened was for the interest of my followers. It was not a matter of individual preference. The truth of the matter is that even while outside, we never did anything to destroy the progressives. We still maintained our friendship with progressive chieftains. It is something we continue to see as a dynamic process. Let me take you back to your days as the commissioner of finance in Lagos State. How would you describe that chapter of your history? We thank God because that era represented a period in my life when I had the most difficult challenges. I had just resumed as commissioner of finance in February. But by April, in less than three months in 2004, we went for a Federal Account Allocation Committee meeting in Abuja and we were not given the allocation for our local government councils (in Lagos). This was very sudden. We knew we had created additional local government councils in Lagos State and we thought the then President Olusegun Obasanjo would follow the rule of law and challenge that decision in a court of law. But that was never to be. It was really challenging because we needed to run that government. In other words, what that seizure meant was that the state had to shoulder the burden of the local government councils, in addition with that of the state. I must tell you that task was huge. That was a major challenge that tested the resolve of all of us, including the governor. Can you recall some of the very important decisions you took to sustain the ideas of creating those local government councils to survive the period of seizure? It was a fact that the governor believed that our decision to create those local government councils was based on the need to bring the government and governance to the grassroots, and we all bought to that vision. So, for us it was a no-go-back situation. If you can recall at that time, about six states mostly in the North which also created additional local governments had to revert immediately the Federal Government announced the seizure of fund. We had to finds means of executing various programmes of the government, including the funding of the local government. I think it was a most important decision. The

Adewusi

I doubt we can survive as a nation if ... —Adewusi wisdom therein is that when you are not challenged you seem not to come up with radical ideas to solve problem. That is, your resilience is most tested when you are faced with some challenges. We, therefore, used a multi-pronged strategy to face the situation. We had to do a review of all incomes of government and funding. Don’t forget the fact that the most priority of any government is to pay salaries of workers. The moment you stop paying salaries, you are faced with a disgruntled set of workers. We had to ensure that, no matter what happened, we must pay workers’ salaries for effective governance. Not only that, we also had to block all the loopholes. In addition, we had to go back to our revenue generating sources. The multi-pronged strategy worked together

the demand of a mega-city. The challenges of providing infrastructure are very huge. The situation today is a bit different. What we have today is a national crisis which has affected over 27 states that were unable to pay salaries and meet other obligations at various levels. Of course, we know what brought us here. It was the years of past administrations when we failed to save when we had enough money from oil. We failed to take the full advantage of the time. The truth about the Nigerian situation now is that oil price has collapsed internationally. In fact, all countries dealing with oil are affected. Also, we have a new set of militants in the Niger-Delta called Niger-Delta

Many states are finding it difficult to run government now. What would be your advice to current finance commissioners and their principals? The issue now is slightly different from the issue then. As at then, you recall that the major source of revenue was oil. Oil then represented over 80 per cent of our revenue. States were getting their normal allocations. Even at that, what the states were getting was not enough. In Lagos State, for instance, we had to contend with

When the building block of a house is weak, what you have, of course, is predictable.

Avengers. They continue to blow oil pipelines, an action which is taking a toll on our crude oil production capacity. Our Honourable Minster of State for Petroleum a week ago said our crude oil capacity has declined by 800,000 barrels. This means we are in for a very serious crisis. Aside from this, the issue of corruption is also clearly affecting us, especially as witnessed in the immediate past administration. We are in trouble. I want to say with full emphasis, that states today must come up with short, medium and long term strategies. Relying on federal allocations at this time is not going to help. Interestingly, every state has area of comparative advantage which it can use to generate revenue, especially investment in agriculture. Except cash crops, in Nigeria, you can plant maize, cassava, among other crops, and harvest in three months. Being a practical farmer myself, funding is the greatest challenge genuine farmers are facing but we have seen some serious efforts this government, creating a new regime of funding. It is sad that we import food into this nation despite our rich resources. Billions of Naira we spent on importation of food, which we can produce, does not make a meaningful sense. I have a farm and know that farming can save the nation from the current crisis. But if we fail to do it now, I doubt it whether we can survive as a nation. Besides, we have solid minerals all over the places. Part of the reason it has not contributed meaningfully to the nation economy is because we have so many operators scattered all over the country, and government does not have capacity to monitor what they do. So they don’t contribute to the national economy. I am, however, happy our Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi has really demonstrated the need to refocus attention of government on solid minerals. As an active player on the political arena, what is your assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s one-year in office? I must say that one year is not enough to conclude that this government has done well or otherwise. We should not forget that we had 16 years of uninterrupted rule by PDP. Today, we know how far the party has taken us back with several billions of naira developing wings offshores. Having said that, when the building block of a house is weak, what you have, of course, is predictable. A lot of people also share a sentiment that the president has been unlucky coming at a time the oil price has crashed, Boko Haram at its peak, and the Niger-Delta Avengers blowing all the pipelines on a daily basis. Now with these challenges, how do you start? It does not take a soothsayer to know that all the aforementioned problems are the product of the collective problems that started in the past 16 years. What is important is that he has shown very serious commitment and interest that Nigeria of our dream is realised. Some of the things he has done have never been done by any leader in our recent history. The problem with Nigerians is that we are impatient. We want things done on the spot. I want to appeal to Nigerians to give this man some time to settle down and Are you still interested in the Oyo State governor seat? My political aspiration is not about me. Politics is not about me but service. What is important to me is that God chooses leader. God installs a leader at His own time. If it is the wish of God, He will put me where He feels I should be at the appropriate time. If God can do it for President Buhari to be president at 73, and I just clocked 58, there is no reason to doubt what God can and will do.

south-westnews

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

2,000 jobs on offer as Ondo ceramics set to launch product

N its determination to ensure that employment opportunities were created in the state, the Ondo State government has announced that its Ifon Golden Ceramics outfit would begin operation in the last quarter of the year, following a successful first inaugural meeting of the board, where assurances were given to the effect. Speaking with newsmen in Akure, on Wednesday, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said the

company, when fully operational, would provide between 300 and 2000 jobs for Ondo State indigenes, insisting that the first products of the Golden Ceramic Products Limited, Ifon, in Ose Local Government Area of the state, would be out in few months. He explained that the first inaugural meeting for the commencement of production in the factory had been held by the board with assurances that work would begin at the outfit before the end of this year, while full operation would com-

mence by January 2017 when its products would be launched. Akinmade, who spoke with newsmen in company of the Chairman, Board of the company, who also doubles as the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Ayo Abiola, the state Coordinator of Public Private Partnership, Prince Adenekan OlateruOlagbegi and the Managing Director of the company, Mr Gbenga Abiuwa, said government was making tremendous success in its job creation and diversifi-

cation efforts. Mentioning that everything needed for effective take off of the ceramic company was on ground, Akinmade assured the people of enjoying more dividends of democracy from the present administration with their support, even as he called on investors, to take over some other moribund industries in the state. Managing Director of the company, Mr Abiuwa, who thanked Governor Mimiko for his commitment to industrialising the state, noted that the company would

start with the production of ceramic wall and floor tiles, adding that “we are giving ourselves stretched target and that is why we are looking at January 2017 when by God’s grace, we will launch the product. “The place will create so much employment for the teeming youths of the area as it will run three shifts with a shift consisting of an average of 300 both skilled and unskilled workers.” Speaking in the same vein, the state Coordinator of Public Private Partnership, Prince Olateru-Olagbegi, said the Mimiko-led administration had recorded unprecedented achievements in industrialisation and emphasised also that bitumen exploration in the state was real, stressing that the present administration had provided sterling leadership across all sectors devoid of propaganda.

Africa most vulnerable to climate change

From left, Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose; wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs Kemi Mimiko; Governor Olusegun Mimiko and son of deceased/ former governor of old Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, during the funeral service for Mrs Violet Remilekun Phillips-George, at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Wesley Cathedral, Olowogbowo, Lagos, on Wednesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Armed men kill traditional chief in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure GUNMEN suspected to be killers, on Tuesday night, invaded the home of an Akure traditional chief, the Ayalode of Akure Kingdom, Chief Dada Oyateru and killed the 83-year-old man in his house, situated at Oke Ijebu area of the state capital. The hoodlums, numbering three, were said to have gained entrance into the residence of the traditional chief by removing the burglary proof of one of the windows in the house, carting away some valuables like phones, jewelries and the sum of N35,000 before the octogenarian was strangled to death. According to the wife of the deceased, Titilola, who explained that the armed men held members of the family hostage for about four hours, ransacked the whole house, while they tied up the old man and other members of the family, threatening to kill the old man if he failed to produce the money he brought home the other night. She said “They pointed gun at Baba, demanding

for the money which he brought home last night. He pleaded with them that he didn’t have any money at home and usually didn’t keep money at home, but they refused to yield to her pleas, threatening that they would kill us if we didn’t give them money.” She said that the octogenarian, who was billed for medical checkup at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, on Monday, was un-

able to go because he had no money on him as a result of the recent nationwide strike that paralysed banking operations and other business transactions in the state. “He begged them not to kill him, imploring them to go with his two cars; and promised to go to the bank the following day to withdraw money from his bank account. He promised to drop the money wher-

ever they wanted him to drop the money for them, but they insisted that they would kill him if he failed to produce the money that night.” The deceased’s wife said that the bandits tied the deceased with ropes and asked them to lie down with their faces to the ground, before pouncing on the Octogenarian and stifled life out of him by twisting his neck.

...Cultists kill one also in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

GUNMEN suspected to be members of a cult group, on Tuesday night, killed a 24-year-old man identified as Victor Olabode, in Ondo, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the state. Olabode, also known as ‘Ara,’ who was said to be a strong member of “Eiye Confraternity,” was lured out of his home by one of his friends at about 10:30p.m. and was gruesomely murdered.

According to a source, the killing of Olabode was a reprisal attack against the Eiye Confraternity, saying at least four members of the opposing cult group partook in the killing of Olabode, who was regarded as a don of his group. He said Olabode was shot several times and stabbed with broken bottles by the four men, while he struggled to escape from the scene, but the men overpowered him and left him in his pool of blood.

Confirming the development, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Enuowa station, Mr Kunle Omisakin, said three people have been suspected in connection with the killing of the man. He said two of the suspects had been transferred to the police headquarters in Akure, saying the third person would soon be transferred to Akure, while men of the Special AntiCultism Squad (SACS) were seen patrolling the town.

AFRICA continent has been identified as the most vulnerable to the danger of climate change ravaging the world in recent times. According to a communiqué issued by Mr Ademola Adeagbo at the end of an international conference on climate change, organised by the Departments of Urban and Regional Planning and Crop and Environmental Protection, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, from May 18 to 20, 2016, “In Africa, there is a pressing need to mobilise resources to address the continent’s current limitations to deal with climate events, as well as resources to deal with future climate change.” The conference, which has more than 120 delegates from across the world, was themed: “Climate change impact, adaptation and mitigation strategies, and declared open by Professor Adeniyi Sulaiman Gbadegesin, the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Timothy Adebayo. Discussions at the conference highlighted the various effects of climate change and gave various measures both adaptive and mitigative, by which it could be dealt with. More than 82 papers were presented at the conference, while Professor Shem O. Wadinga, Chancellor of Egerton University and acting Director of the Institute of Climate Change, University of Nairobi, was the keynote speaker.

Nigerian Tribune

Pensioners commend Buhari, task APC govs on gratuities NIGERIA Union of Pensioners (NUP) South-west Zone, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for setting up a three-man committee headed by the office of the head of service of the federation to address pensioners’ plight in the country. The association said that they have become endangered species in Nigeria and pension fund has become a cesspool of fraud with the attendant consequences of disease, deprivation and untimely death of pensioners. This was contained in a press statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune; a copy of which was signed by the chairman, Alhaji Nojeem Ibrahim and the secretary, Mr Olusegun Abatan, respectively. The retirees in the SouthWest urged governors in Nigeria, particularly in All Progressives Congress (APC) states to likewise set up similar committee in their states, that would quickly address the plight of pensioners, especially where pensioners’ gratuities have not been paid in the last five to 10 years.

Adeoye mourns Obaro of Kabba THE late Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michael Folorunso Olabayo, has been described, as a complete family man, a quintessential leader of his people, who did his best to promote cordiality, love and virtuous living among his subjects and all those that passed through his way. This was contained in a message of condolence from DIG Adedayo Adeoye (retd), who is an in-law to the late Oba), to the people of Okunland in general and his family, of which he is a part in particular. DIG Adeoye said late Oba Olabayo extended warm hands of fellowship to his family, and ensured that there was close rapports between the two families. The late monarch, Adeoye stated, would be remembered as a humble goal-getter, a colossus and a fantastic icon in his own right, who would be greatly missed for his forthrightness, peaceful conduct and humility.

30 news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Ex-PDP NWC members dump Sheriff •Back Makarfi caretaker committee Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

EMBERS of the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) have disowned embattled former national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who is insisting on retaining the post. Eight members of the NWC dissolved by the national convention of the party held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last weekend, dashed his hopes by resolving to back the national caretaker committee led by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, as well as all the decisions of the national convention. Those who signed a statement backing Makarfi on Wednesday were Prince Uche Secondus (former deputy national chairman),

Onwe Solomon Onwe (former deputy national secretary), Victor Yusufu Kwon (former national legal adviser), Dr Kema Chikwe (for-

mer national woman leader), Abdullahi Maibasira (former national youth leader), Bolaji Anani (former national financial secretary), Alhaji

Buhari Bala (former national treasurer) and Chief Olisa Metuh (former national publicity secretary). With this, those appar-

ently still backing Sheriff remained former national secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo and former national auditor, Adewole Adeyanju,

Niger State governor, Yahaya Bello (left), with the acting chairman, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), Alhaji Shetima Umar Abagana, during a visit by the governor to the RMFAC chairman, in Abuja.

Why Sheriff suspended PDP national convention —Wike Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has revealed that the former acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, announced the suspension of the party’s national convention when he got to know that he was not qualified to contest the election. The party dissolved its National Working Committee (NWC), through the national congress, held in Port Harcourt, last Saturday and put in place a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs for three months. Wike revealed that the former PDP acting national chairman only made a Uturn on the national convention when he got the information on Saturday, adding that “we have seen that there is a hidden agenda. But nobody can destroy PDP. PDP will wax stronger.” The governor said Senator Sheriff had subjected himself to screening for the convention, on Friday, wherein he praised the transparent process, only to cite a court order, on Saturday, as the excuse for its purported suspension when the result of the screening committee did not favour him. Wike, in a statement issued by his aide of electronic media, Simeon Nwakaudu, on Wednesday, said by his anti-party actions, the former PDP acting national chairman had proved his numerous critics right that he was out to destroy the party. He also noted that the former acting national chairman participated in all the processes that led to the party’s

national convention, including the screening exercise where he was disqualified. The governor, who was the chairman of the PDP

2016 national convention planning committee, alleged that the main associates of Senator Sheriff were men of questionable character

He said Sheriff filed a suit against the party but lied about his involvement in that suit which was later discovered by the PDP stake-

holders, just as he urged the stakeholders to support the Senator Ahmad Makarfi-led caretaker committee to lead the party to success.

Senate expresses concern over illegal dissolution of LGs Plans public hearing Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja THE Senate, on Wednesday, expressed concern over illegal and indiscriminate dissolution of local government management and their frequent replacement with caretaker committees by the state governors. The lawmakers said the trend had always resulted in low morale and poor performance of the councils to the detriment of the people at the grassroots. The position was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Abdullahi Gumel and six others, entitled “Intervention on the Reforms and Strengthening of Local Government Administration in Nigeria.” Gumel said the lawmakers were worried by the flood of petitions from Nigerians and stakeholders in particular on the current situation of state local governments, especially in the light of the rampant dissolutions of elected council officials and enthronement of un-elected caretaker committee and the longstanding issue of funding for the councils, in line with their constitutional responsibilities. He stated that he was aware that various attempts to resolve the state/local government relations im-

passe via alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had failed and the matter has not been addressed, adding that this negated and hurt the attainment of the lofty goals of democracy and inclusiveness at the grassroots. During the debate, Senator Dino Melaye defied the instruction of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the debate, to withdraw a comment described as an unparliamentary language. Melaye had, while contributing to the motion, described activities of state governors in managing the local governments as “satanic,” a comment considered unparliamentary by the chamber. The comment did not go down well with former governors as the minority leader and a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godwill Akpabio, raised a point of order, demanding for the withdrawal of the language. However, in spite of Ekweremadu’s insistence that Melaye should withdraw the language, he refused, insisting that looting of council funds which he said had deprived innocent persons of their means of livelihood was “satanic.” Akpabio again raised an-

other point of order, saying it was wrong of Melaye to generalise the description of governors’ activities in local governments as satanic, noting that Akwa Ibom, under his leadership, conducted local government elections three times and also allowed councils to function effectively. That complaint notwithstanding and despite persuasion by Ekweremadu that Melaye should withdraw the language, he refused, not

even another point of order by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe could persuade him to change his mind. At the end of the day, the Senate mandated its Committee on States and Local Government to conduct a public hearing on the reforms meant to strengthen local government administration in Nigeria within the context of the 1999 Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria (as amended) and other extant laws.

who along with Sheriff were co-plaintiffs in the suit challenging the conduct of elections into the national offices they occupied. The former national organising secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, was not among those who signed the position which was conveyed in a statement signed by Secondus and made available to the media in Abuja, on Wednesday. “As products of the party’s national convention, we accept without equivocation all decisions and resolutions of the national convention of the PDP held at Port Harcourt, on May 21. “The decision of the national convention dissolving the National Working Committee merely re-echoes our undeniable decision as members of National Working Committee to give up our tenures for congresses and convention to be held in May 2016. “We recognise the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee of the PDP and offer the committee all our support and cooperation,” the statement read. In the statement, they also outlined the reasons for distancing themselves from Sheriff, saying that they were elected to serve in the NWC until May 21, 2016. According to the statement, they were sensitive to the mood of the generality of members of the party that election be held into national offices of the party to resolve lingering leadership issues in the party, which they said was openly communicated to the expanded national caucus at its 32nd meeting of March 6, 2016, held at the Ondo Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, adding that “our agreement is to give up our tenures for congresses and convention to be held in May 2016.

Most govs’ drivers operate with expired licences —FRSC Adelowo Oladipo -Minna CORPS Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has expressed concern that about 70 per cent of drivers attached to most state governors across the country operate with expired licences and are not well trained in the act of driving in a convoy. Oyeyemi, represented by the Assistant Corps Marshal/Head, Policy, Research and Statistics, Mr Kayode Olagunju, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State,

at the Government House, Minna. He told the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Ketso, that research had shown that about 70 per cent of drivers attached to some state governors had expired licences and were not experts in convoy driving. He said the Federal Government was working towards organising a sensitisation programmes for drivers on the convoy of chief executives. He also commended the efforts of Governor Bello in the massive construction and rehabilitation of roads

network within the state, adding that this would help reduce carnage on highways. The FRSC was in the state in continuation of the nationwide sensitisation on the use of standard tyres, as Oyeyemi said lack of knowledge on the expiration date of tyres by drivers had led to the loss of lives, destruction of properties and other challenges in traffic management in the country. According to him, a good percentage of road crash was caused by expired tyres, adding that people did not take the issue of tyres seriously.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Thursday, 26 May, 2016 32 news adjourns Court grants Bafarawa permission to perform lesser Hajj Court trial of former

NIMASA DG

Orders FG to allow Dasuki access to lawyers

Sunday Ejike-Abuja

High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on Wednesday, granted former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, the permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s lesser Hajj otherwise known as Umra. Bafarawa is standing trial, along with former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd), ex-finance director and administrator at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Shuaibu Salisu and two others for a 22-Count charges, bordering on money laundering and criminal abuse of public trust before Justice Peter Affen of an Abuja High Court. They are alleged to have mis-appropriated millions of naira entrusted to them at different times. Justice Affen granted Bafarawa’s request to travel for the Lesser Hajj following a motion to that effect by Dasuki’s coun-

sel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi after a no-objection by the protection counsel. The Judge ordered that the travel document of the former governor be released to him by the Registrar of the court to enable the applicant to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj between June 5 and July 5, 2016.

Also, at Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Affen, for the third time, orderd the Federal Government to allow the detained former NSA to have unhindered access to his lawyers for consultation and briefing, in order to allow him prepare adequately for his trial. The court said Dasuki

(DSS), who had kept the ex-NSA in detention since December last year, after being granted bail by three courts, must bring him to his lawyers within the premises of the FCT judiciary headquarters. Justice Affen then adjourned the matter till July 14 and 15, 2016 for definite trial.

Builder, 26, to die for murder Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has sentenced a 26-year-old builder, Lucky Anyali to death by hanging for murder. The accused Lucky Anyali was convicted on a onecount charge of murder, punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C. 21 Volume 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006. According to the charge, the accused on or about the 18th day of February, 2014 at Ogwashi-Uku, within the Ogwash-Uku Judicial Division, murdered Emeka Ashibuogwu, by stabbing him in the chest with a kitchen knife.

Emeka Ashibuogwu reportedly died at the Ogwashi Uku General Hospital where he was rushed to. Report said the deceased had a scuffle with his assailant when he visited his estranged wife who had a three-year- old daughter for him. It was also alleged that the condemned murderer was having an affair with the estranged wife of

General of the Federation as co-defendants. The applicants contended that the state government contravened Section 7 of

the deceased, before the incident. Lucky was said to have become furious on sighting Emeka on the night of the incident, when he reportedly visited his three-yearold daughter who was allegedly ill. After committing the offence, the accused fled the scene of crime that night but was later arrested by

youths of the area the next morning, and handed over to the police at OgwashUku, where he admitted in his voluntary statement that he committed the offence in self-defence. The accused was said to have maintained this position during trial but it was dismissed by the Court, and was sentenced to death by hanging for murder.

Ayomide Owonibi OdekanyinLagos THE continuation of the trial of a former DirectorGeneral of Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, charged with N2.6 billion theft, has been fixed for May 27. Akpobolokemi is standing trial alongside Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Ltd and Al-Kenzo Logistics Ltd before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos. They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 22 counts bordering on conversion and theft of N2. 6 billion. Akpobolokemi had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was subsequently granted bail.

Kaduna to install CCTV, drones in strategic places Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna KADUNA government is set to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and provide drones surveillance in strategic

16 political parties sue Kogi govt over councils’ reconstitution No fewer than 16 registered political parties in Kogi have dragged the state government to court for alleged reconstitution of local governments without recourse to democratic process of election. The political parties are UPP, Action Alliance, Advance Congress for Democrats, Alliance for Democracy, Citizen Popular Party, Hope Democratic Party, Kowa Party and Labour Party. The others are Fresh Democratic party, Peoples Democratic Party, Independent Democrat, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Unity Party of Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Movement, Young Democratic Party and Peoples Party of Nigeria. Their originating summons signed by counsel to the political parties, Williams Aliwo, dated May 18, was made available to newsmen in Lokoja, on Wednesday. They joined the Kogi Government, AttorneyGeneral of Kogi State, Accountant-General of the Federation and Attorney-

must be released to his team of lawyers for eight working days to take briefing from him and prepare for the trial in the criminal charges filed against him by the Federal Government. Justice Affen, while giving the order, directed that the operatives of the Department State Security

the 1999 Constitution as amended by reconstituting the 21 local governments on May 6, without recourse to elections.

places in the metropolis and across the state as part of efforts to combat crime in the state. This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Internal Security and the Coordinator of Operation Yaki, Yakubu Yusufu Soja while speaking on the achievements of the Kaduna State government under Mallam Nasiru elRufai in the last one year. He revealed that the work had already reached advanced stage for the installation of CCTV cameras across the state and

the procurement of Unmanned Ariel Vehicle also known as drones. He said the drones were being supported by the training of operatives to man the equipment in order to provide citywide and statewide surveillance. “Plans are underway by the state government to provide modern crime de-

tecting devices and more operation vehicles to the joint outfit in order to stand the test of time in withstanding the security challenges in terms of intelligence gathering, pin down and surveillance throughout the state and as part of efforts to create jobs and business opportunity in the state.”

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

news

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

Road projects: FG okays payment to 41 construction firms Christian Okeke - Abuja

ORTY-ONE construction companies, including some consultancy firms, have been slated for payment in the second quarter of 2016 by the Federal Government. Already, the companies have promised to re-engage their over 17,500 workers ,who were laid-off due to lack of payment for the past three years. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this while featuring on a television programme monitored in Abuja. He, however, said that the ministry cannot ac-

commodate all the contractors, which it ordinarily, should consider, due to what he described as insufficient funds. According to him, the priority of the ministry is to complete as many ongoing road projects as possible. Fashola noted that N79 billion had already been earmarked for road pro-

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that will benefit from the re-mobilisation to site to include Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, Loko-Oweto Bridge in Benue State, Kano-Maiduguri Expressway, 2nd Niger Bridge, Abuja-Lokoja Expressway, Ore-Shagamu Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt, among others. On the issue of power

generation, the minister acknowledged that there are problems in the sector, ranging from distribution, transmission, generation and gas supply but noted that the existing gap of meter supply in the distribution segment of the power sector, has created enormous opportunities for local production.

According to him, the distribution companies had already been told to raise capital to buy and supply meters and replace the aged ones since they have increased tariff. On the housing sector, Fashola stated that the ministry aims at having a policy that will standardise housing schemes.

Kogi govt uncovers 3,000 bank accounts for ghost workers on payroll Christian Okeke - Abuja KOGI State government, on Wednesday, said part of the startling revelations discovered during the ongoing screening of workers of the state was the opening of over 3,000 bank ac-

Buhari appoints DGs for NTA, FRCN, NAN, others THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, appointed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of six parastatal agencies under the Ministry of Information and Culture. The appointments were announced in Abuja, on Wednesday, by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. A statement issued by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister, named Mr Bayo Onanuga, as Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The statement also named Mr Yakubu Mohammed, as Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority and Mr Osita Okechukwu, as Director-General of Voice of Nigeria. Mr Mansur Liman, is the Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr Ishaq Modibo-Kawu, is Director-General of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) while Garba Abari is Direct-

jects, N24 billion for power, while about N5 billion, will be spent on housing, totaling N108 billion. The minister said that some contractors have agreed to return to site, while some have already started mobilising to site in anticipation of payment. He gave the projects

or-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA). The statement said the new appointees would replace the CEOs of the organisations, who were disengaged on February 15 and that their appointments would take effect immediately.

counts for ghost workers on its payroll. The government, however, promised that no worker in the state would be unjustly screened out of work, saying the move was to sanitise the system and ensure that only genuine workers are paid with the state resources. The chairman of the 28-member screening committee set up for the exercise, Brigadier-General Paul Okuntimo (retd), who disclosed this to newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, said one particular worker had 63 different account numbers, while another had 23 account numbers. He said contrary to the claim by the organised labour in the state, the com-

mittee had painstakingly worked since its inauguration on February 28 to ensure that the state has a clean payroll. According to him, the opposition of the leadership of the labour unions to the process, was because many of them did not understand the workings of the committee. He added that apart from thousands of account numbers opened to service ghost workers in the state, the committee also discovered existence of ghost schools in various parts of the state during the exercise. Okuntimo said many of the schools existed on the records of education secretaries in the local gov-

ernment areas, but on the spot verification exercise embarked upon by the committee, revealed that such schools were not on ground. On the protest over the lists of screened workers sent to local government areas, the chairman said those lists were the first batch to be sent, adding that two other batches

would be forwarded to the 21 local government areas of the state. He, however, said at the end of the exercise, the committee would publish three lists, which would be for those that were screened in, those that were screened out and those with controversies but that could still be rectified.

INEC to conduct bye-elections in Nasarawa, Kwara Saturday THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said it has fixed Saturday for the conduct of bye-elections in Nasarawa and Kwara states. This was contained in the commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily

bulletin issued on Wednesday, in Abuja. The bye-election ,according to the bulletin, would be conducted into Nasarawa-Toto Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State and Oke-Ero State Constituency of Kwara State.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

communitynews ‘My subjects are not members of Niger Delta Avengers’ 36

ebenezer adurokiya-warri

HE traditional ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State, HRH Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, has said that his subjects are not members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). HRH Oboro-Gbaraun II said this on Wednesday, during a press conference held at his palace in Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the Gbaramatu Kingdom. He described reports linking his kingdom with the activities of the militant group as malicious and unfounded. While condemning the activities of the militant group, he expressed dismay over the continued military siege on his kingdom in search of members of the NDA. The community leader debunked rumours that the embattled ex-militant leader from his kingdom, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), was behind the group and recent attacks on oil facilities in the region. The Ijaw royal father stated that though the group’s activities took place in some creeks inGbaramatu kingdom like other parts of the region, it was not enough to accuse his people of being behind such heinous economic sabotage. He lamented the continued military invasion of communities in his kingdom, saying it was capable of further aggravating the already tense atmosphere in the area. He said before the invasion, he had detailed clan and community leaders under him to intensify surveillance of their com-

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

munities and report any strange movement to security agents. “We as a people are peace loving. Upon hearing of the recent activities of the Niger Delta Avengers, I immediately summoned a meeting of clan and community heads to intensify surveillance of our territory against the activities of the group to

ensure permanent peace in my kingdom. “But I was miffed when I started reading on the pages of newspapers that the militants are from my kingdom. This is not true. “Let me say here that we are not militants and nobody should give us a name that is not ours. We don’t know them and I can tell you that they are

that the continued hunt for him further endangered the relative peace in the region. According to him: “It is politically motivated because he is not in the same party with the current administration. The right thing to do is to bring everybody together as one after the election and not pursue your op-

ponents. I’m making this appeal to the Federal Government because this will not bring peace to the Niger Delta. “The cancellation of the Maritime University was a political aggression against Gbaramatu kingdom. President Buhari should know that the university is key to the peace in the region. “I urge him (Buhari) to allow academic activities to commence soon. He should see us as partners in progress and not foes.”

Philanthropist donates classrooms, borehole to alma mater

Wife of the Ogun State governor , Mrs Olufunso Amosun (middle) with some nursing mothers, during the distribution of gift items to expectant and nursing mothers, in commemoration of her 50th birthday, at Oba Ademola Maternity Hospital, Ijemo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday.

Ado monarch wants federal secretariat, railway in community sam nwaoko-ado-ekiti

THE Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, has expressed the desire to see more federal presence in the community

and called on the Federal Government to make available amenities and facilities befitting of a capital city in Ado Ekiti. Oba Adejugbe specifically noted that Ado Ekiti needed federal presence to put it on

Aworis seek peaceful resolution of land dispute The Aworis in Soki-Ere in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have appealed for the amicable settlement of the land dispute in the community. While making the appeal, the Baale of SokiEre, Chief Jimoh Akinola, pleaded with the Eguns, to adhere strictly to a judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on Friday, July 13, 1990, which pronounced that the Arilegbolorosi family comprising Baale of Soki-Ere, Chief Jimoh Akinola, Chief Benedict

not from our communities. My people won’t resort to pipeline bombing to express any form of grievance,” the traditional ruler noted. Oboro-Gbaraun II also said the ongoing trial of Tompolo, a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), had been politicised, saying

Adekunle and Chief Mufutau Dosunmu, were the original owners of the land delineated with survey plan No. AB/546/OG and that the Eguns were their customary tenants. He added that there was also an order in the court judgment that the customary tenancy had been forfeited and a further injunction restraining the Eguns, who were the defendants/respondents in the matter, from going to the land for whatever reason. Chief Akinola averred that the court further ordered that the land be given back to the

owners and should not be tampered with by the defendants and unknown persons. The Baale of Soki-Ere described the Egun people’s disregard for the orders of the Supreme Court and an Ota High Court as an attempt to cause crisis in the community. Chief Akinola, however, solicited the assistance of well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Egun people in his community to obey court judgment, which had been delivered in favour of the Awori people so that peace, order and tranquility can prevail in the land.

a par with its peers, and listed infrastructure development as chief among the needs of the community. According to the monarch, the needs of the state also include a federal secretariat and rail network. He said the absence of a federal secretariat in the state had “denied many Ekiti citizens who ought to be working there job opportunities,” while also explaining that “the extension of railway service to the state would facilitate mass movement of agricultural produce and boost the people’s participation in international trade.” Oba Adejugbe, who called on the Federal Government to make the 45-kilometre Ado – Akure Road a dual carriageway and pay attention to its roads in the state, said “good transportation network is necessary to attract investors to the state.” He said: “As a state capital, we need all those things that a state capi-

tal should have like the federal secretariat. If it is here, a number of our people will work there. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is under construction, we thank the Federal Government for that. “Talking about security, the military is supposed to have its establishment here in Ekiti State. There are certain things that should ordinarily come to the state capital. Then our roads; Akure-Ado-Ekiti Road ought to be dualised. There is need for good road network. “Thank God the Federal Government is giving attention to railway. AdoEkiti and, indeed, Ekiti State should be linked to the rail service. When you do that, you are encouraging private investors to come. This is a basic requirement before anybody thinking of siting an industry here will also think of moving raw materials and finished products.”

A philanthropist, Alhaji Rufai Bello, has donated a block of three classrooms with store and solar powered borehole to his alma mater, Nurudeen Grammar School, Ogbomoso. Speaking while donating the newly completed projects to the school, Alhaji Bello said he was motivated to embark on the projects to boost teaching and learning and improve on the dilapidated structures in the school. He added that the poor condition of schools in the country made it mandatory for old students to come to the rescue. “I became a student of this school 31 years ago. Exactly 25 years after my graduation, everything has become a shadow of itself. The roofs of the classrooms have been blown off while their ceiling have fallen down. In fact, the situation is pitiable and I made up my mind to contribute my widow’s mite to arrest the decadence,” he added. Alhaji Bello added that he would provide furniture worth N500, 000 for the classrooms and renovate the technical workshop in the school. In his address, the chairman, Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) in the school, Alhaji Samhuna Adisa, said he was grateful to God for using one of the products of the school for the projects. He urged other old students to consider the gesture as a challenge to them to contribute to the schools that made them. The principal of the school, Alhaji Lateef Bello, also lauded the donor for his support for the school and pleaded that the school be prvided with a fence and power supply.

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

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08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Police budget used to buy 10 cars for Zuma’s wives

Millions going hungry in drought-stricken Zimbabwe

South African President Jacob Zuma

THE United Nations says nearly three million people in drought-stricken Zimbabwe are going hungry. The world body expects that number to exceed four million as the full impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon kicks in. U.N. Resident Coordinator for Zimbabwe Bishow Parajuli says the impact of little rain and low crop yields following two years of drought is painfully visible in Matabeleland and other dry lands, VOA said. “I recently visited that area with a number of donors and ambassadors,” said

OME R9 million of the police budget between 2013 and 2016 has been used to buy 10 vehicles for the wives of President Jacob Zuma, parliament was told on Tuesday. The vehicles, which included Range Rover SUVs, two Land Rover Discovery SUVs and five Audi SUVs and sedans, were necessary “to provide comprehensive protection of VIP spouses”, Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko said in a written reply in parliament to a question by the Democratic Alliance’s Zakhele Mbhele,

according to news reports. The purchase of luxury cars for cabinet ministers themselves has been frowned on by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who has appealed for modest purchases as part of a general belt tightening required by government in order for it to achieve its fiscal consolidation targets. Zuma has four wives, and is divorced from Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is the present chair of the African Union. On the same day, in England, it was reported that British Prime Minister

David Cameron had bought a second-hand Nissan Micra for his wife worth £1,500 (R34,000) as a “cheap runaround”, the car salesman was reported saying. Mbhele was very critical of the expenditure pointing out that the money could have funded 116 university students for a year, or 38 students for the course of a three-year degree. It could also have been used to hire an additional 61 police officers for a year or provide jobs for 1315 workers on the expanded public works programme.

Clinton did not comply with federal email policy —Reports DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Hilary Clinton’s use of a private email server while United States secretary of state broke government rules and was not approved by State Department security officials, according to an internal government

Hilary Clinton

watchdog’s report released on Wednesday. Clinton’s use of the private email server in her home in Chappaqua, New York, for government purposes has prompted several investigations, including an ongoing probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The email controversy has hung over her campaign for months. The report by the department’s inspector general cited

“longstanding, systemic weaknesses” with State Department records that predated Clinton’s tenure, and found problems with the email record-keeping of some of her predecessors. But it also singled out Clinton, the front-runner in the race to become the Democratic presidential nominee, for her decision to use a private email server for government business, apparently without seeking authorisation.

Parajuli. “We could really see the desperation and severity of the situation.” A few weeks ago, the United Nations appealed for $360 million to provide life-saving assistance for more than three million people. The priority needs

are for food, water, health, nutrition, sanitation and protection. Parajuli says $70 million has been received, leaving a gap of $290 million. He says it is critical for donors to respond generously and immediately to this appeal.

Last Zimaniwa feels the broken ground at a spot which is usually a reliable water source that has dried up due to lack of rains in the village of Chivi, Zimbabwe. PHOTO: AP

US elections: Violent protests at Trump New Mexico rally DEMONSTRATORS outside a Donald Trump rally in New Mexico have set fire to campaign merchandise and clashed with police. Protesters threw burning T-shirts and plastic bottles at police outside the rally at a convention centre in Albuquerque. Demonstrators held banners that read “Trump is Fascist” and “We’ve heard enough”, and some waved a Mexican flag. Police responded by firing pepper spray and smoke grenades at the crowd. Protesters also interrupted Mr Trump’s speech at the rally.

New Mexico is the most Hispanic state in the US, and Mr Trump has angered many with his comments on illegal immigration and his plan to build a border wall with Mexico. The protest had begun peacefully outside the Albuquerque Convention

Center a few hours before the rally began. Tensions rose as Trump supporters began to arrive at the centre, the Albuquerque Journal reports. Both sides started trading abuse, including racial insults, and protesters threw water and water bottles.

Demonstrators at Donald Trump’s rally. PHOTO: REUTERS

otherNEWS US: Prosecutors seek death penalty against Dylann Roof

Dylann Roof. PHOTO: REUTERS

THE man accused of shooting nine African American churchgoers in South Carolina last year will face two death penalty trials, after federal prosecutors announced that they would seek capital punishment. Dylann Roof, 22, allegedly joined an evening Bible study class at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, then shot participants

with a 45-calibre Glock handgun in June 2015. Three people survived the shooting. He has been indicted for the killings in both state and federal court. It is not yet clear when the federal trial will begin. “Following the department’s rigorous review process to thoroughly consider all relevant factual and legal issues, I have

determined that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty,” US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement on Tuesday. “The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision.” In a separate filing in US District Court in Charleston, federal prosecutors listed several

aggravating factors that they said justified execution. Roof “has expressed hatred and contempt towards African Americans, as well as other groups, and his animosity towards African Americans played a role in the murders,” read the seven-page filing entered by Julius Richardson and Nathan Williams, assistant US attorneys.

Afghan Taliban announces successor to Mullah Mansour THE Afghan Taliban has announced a new leader to replace Mullah Akhtar Mansour who was killed in a United States drone strike. In a statement, the Taliban acknowledged Mansour’s death for the first time and named his successor as Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Analysts say it is unlikely the group will change direction under hardline religious scholar Akhundzada. Last year the Taliban were plunged into turmoil when Mansour replaced the group’s founder Mullah Mohammad Omar. Mansour was killed in a strike on

his car in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday. Under his stewardship, the Taliban refused to take part in peace talks. Instead, militant attacks escalated and became more daring. Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, a former head of the Taliban courts, was a deputy leader to Mansour.

It doesn’t look as if there will be a major shift in the Taliban’s approach to peace talks under the new leadership. Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada was deputy to Mullah Mansour and held senior positions under the movement’s founder Mullah Omar.

Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. PHOTO: AP

Thursday 26 May, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Yekini’s daughters want dad’s death probed By Ganiyu Salman

Newly-elected Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Niyi Alebiosu (second left); Chairman of Oyo SWANECO, Mr Sola Oladapo (left); Chairman, Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Gbenga Opadotun (third left); newly-elected Secretary of Oyo SWAN, Mr Adewale Tijani; newly-elected Assistant Secretary of Oyo SWAN, Alhaji Nurudeen Alimi; Secretary of Oyo SWANECO, Mr Olanrewaju Agiri and the representative of National SWAN, Mr Alloy Chukwuemeka, during the swearing-in of the new executives of Oyo SWAN, on Wednesday, at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

Mali friendly: Eagles

land in France

NFF to slam Moses for withdrawal

HE Super Eagles arrived in Rouen, France, on Wednesday morning as they face the Eagles of Mali tomorow in a friendly billed for Stade Robert Diochon. The Nigerian delegation of eight players and 10 officials left Abuja on Tuesday night after they were issued visas to the European country. “We are now in France and we thank God for journey mercies,” assistant coach Kennedy Boboye told Goal. “In a bit, we will be addressing the players and head straight for business.” The three-time African champions will face Les Aigles tomorow which serves as a warm up game for the Super Eagles ahead 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia after missing out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria last played Mali in February 2013, when Stephen Keshi’s men silenced them 4-1 in the semi-final of AFCON in Tunisia with goals from Brown Ideye, Elderson Echiejile, Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Musa, while the Malians consolatory goal came through Cheick Diarra at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.

Coach Alain Giresse will be hoping to avenge the defeat and he has called up 23 players for the encounter. The squad is made up of three local-based professionals and 20 foreign -based players without inspirational skipper, Seydou Keita. Nigeria will face Luxembourg four days later at the Josy Barthel Stadium. Meanwhile, Watford striker, Odion Ighalo, became the first foreignbased player to hit the team’s hotel in Rouen. Ighalo who flew in from his base in London, arrived in the evening, and he was received by the Super Eagles team secretary, Dayo Enebi. The players already in the camp from Nigeria are Ogenyi Onazi, Etebo Oghenekaro, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Elderson Echiejile, Umar Aminu, Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Musa Mohammed and Brown Ideye as well as the team’s interim head coach, Salisu Yusuf and interim assistant coaches, Imama Amakpakabo and Kennedy Boboye. Indications are rife that Victor Moses could be

sanctioned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for withdrawing from the friendlies. A source informed AfricanFootball.com that the NFF is crossed with Moses’ attitude towards the Super Eagles. The Chelsea forward, Moses is said to have cited ‘fitness concerns’ as the reason for his withdrawal, but the NFF is unhappy

with him. “The leadership of the NFF is not happy with Victor Moses as he seems to be handpicking the invitations he will honour. This is not the first time he’s withdrawing from games citing fitness concerns even when we’re not sure if he’s injured and we are considering taking corrective measures,” said the source.

FOUR years on, daughters of the late Nigeria foremost striker, Rashidi Yekini have urged Nigerians to unravel the death of their dad. Addressing the press in Lagos on Wednesday, the daughters of the former Super Eagles goal merchant, Yemisi, 21, and Omoyemi, 18, said they were yet to ascertain the cause of their dad’s demise. “To be honest with you I was in Portugal two years ago on vacation and decided to visit Victoria Setubal, the club I heard my late dad played for. After I introduced myself, I was shocked by the warm reception I got and the following week, I was invited to watch one of their matches. “At half time, I was allowed to address the mammoth crowd after the club official had spoken glowingly about him and later presented a huge action portrait of my dad while playing for them. I was also presented a jersey with his name boldly inscribed at the back of the jersey. “Unfortunately when I got to Nigeria for the second time now, I haven’t seen such reception. I haven’t seen anything that shows that this man was really great in his lifetime. ‘‘The most shocking thing is that people were expecting us, the children to ask what really killed our father because till now, we don’t know what killed him. In a normal society, the country is the one to do the finding for us and feed us back. It is painful,” Yemisi, an undergraduate of Cinematography from the

Leicester City University, England told journalists in Lagos. Omoyemi, however, in her remarks relived the trauma she went through after she heard that people began to say that her dad died of mental illness. “There was nothing wrong with my father mentally, I was always with him when I was on holidays and this was a man who always drives himself around and never made trouble with anybody. For him to have been abducted in the name of seeking treatment for him to the extent that he died in the process is still a thing of concern to me and we really want an answer to this,” Omoyemi said. The duo further declared that no pressure from the extended family would make them sell their dad’s house in Ibadan, as it remains the only legacy that binds them (children) together. “We want Nigerians to support The Rashidi Yekini Foundation which is already on the ground and we would love to turn the house in Ibadan to a museum where people can come and visit besides, it’s the only physical legacy left behind by our father for us. We both lived with him in the house during his time and we cannot let go off the property for anyone. “Our father left behind two houses, One in Ijagbo where his mum stays and she has been collecting the rent which we never bothered ourselves with. So why would anyone pressure his lawyer (Barrister Jubril Mohammed) to sell the one in Ibadan which belongs to us?”

Arsenal yet to endorse Iwobi for Rio Olympics —Siasia ARSENAL has made a U turn on the release of Alex Iwobi to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Earlier this month, Nigeria’s U-23 coach, Samson Siasia went to London to speak to his players and secure their club release for the tournament. Arsene Wenger said in April that he would allow Iwobi to join up with his country, even though it would mean that the 20-year-old would miss the start of the new season. But in his latest talks with Arsenal, Siasia now claims that the Gunners are ready to make a U-turn on their decision.

“I went to Arsenal and I saw Richard Law and he said that we still need to look at [the possibilities of the player going to the Olympics or not],” Siasia told Goal. “He said that he wants Iwobi to stay with Arsenal because they are having a new team and Alex is getting to play in the team for now. “He said if he leaves to play for Nigeria at the Olympics how is he going to be a part of the team and maybe someone is going to take his position. “I said, well we have to meet half way because we are trying to give Alex a platform to show himself in the Olympics and he has to look at it that way too.

“He said we should continue to talk and we would see what we would do.” Despite Arsenal’s protests during negotiations, Goal understands that Iwobi is still confident that he will be allowed to represent Nigeria, who will face Sweden, Colombia and Japan in the group stage in August. “The long and short of it is that Alex will be going to the O l y m pics. Wenger gave his words on the matter so there’s nothing to worry about,” a source told Goal.

tribunepools

DR. J.K POOLS – 07039275802 (11XX 12) 4, 8, 21, 40, 47. Last week forcast was just a tip from what I have in stock when my 2 bracket games play (1x 2x) 100%, that made a past mark of 4 draws from the selected games. I was surprised why 15 failed last week number. Now all hands on deck for all to win handsomely. You can now pick 2 bankers from 6, 8, 12, 21, 40 and add to the above bracket games. Goodluck says Dr. J.K Pools. LUCKYMAN 08054 352685 (16XX 17) END OF THE SEASON BONANZA 3 SURE Draws at N40, 000 when you win for all our fans to drab far away fans will send N1000 MTN card for 3 certain sure draws we must put a smile on your face at the end of the season you must win and win well. ROAD IS OPEN KING AUSSIE 2016 - 08166222529 & 09084916233.(NO 1XX BK) Key every wk 46 blue bank first letter home game no 10 to draw wk46 no 1xx plus 3 others #6,000. Wk 46 = 2012 blue no key 13x 11x 23x 32x = 4/4 Wk 46 = 2013 blue key 18x 10x 28x 29x = 4/4 Wk 46 = 2014 blue no key 16x 24x 36x 44x = 4/4 Wk 46 = 2015 blue no key 16x 22x 35x 43x = 4/4 Wk 46 = 2016 blue no key 1 nap nap nap = 4/4 Wk 47 = red key no nap nap nap nap N6000. MID – WEEK OFFERS 8-9 (08087176217) Your juicy Mid – Week International urges all punters to brace up for the Aussie season which starts next week. This week, coupon Nos 8 and 9 will surely oblige us with good draw to prepare us well for Aussie season. Combine them with our 1Bk and get your 2/3. Our 1Bk costs N1, 500. 00, 2 Draws cost N3, 000. 00 and 3 Draws sell for N10, 000. 00 on 08087176217. SHADOW 08087670776 (5 PAIR 6) By the power of God, you will not regret being one of my customers this week 46. With my 3 Nap draws and I hot pair you will be in money on Monday. Just send to me N5, 000 MTN recharge card and expert good result on Sunday. INNOCENT NAP (08095602590) 11 NAP 15=1 NAP 11 AUSSIE SYSTEM BOOKLET= N30,000 WINNER MEMBERSHIP GROUP A.N50,000 4 special draws N6,000 Wk 45 NO 10X 11X 12X 13X 4 special draws N6,000 Wk 46 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP 4 special draws N6,000 Wk 47 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP Two Bankers N3,000 Wk 45 NO 10X 13X PAIR 11X 15F WK 46 NO NAP Stakers try to get Innocent 4 special draw this Wk 46 cost N6,000 Two Bankers cost N4000 Send MTN Card and the game will be sent to you by text message. EASY LIFE – 07010072047 EASY WAY TO SUCCESS— STAP PAIRS FOR WEEK 46— (1 OR 20) or (13 OR 14) OR (21 OR 30) For week 47, 48 and 49. Cost N50, 000. 00. Each week, Australia Key system booklet for the season on sale. For more information Pls call – 07010072047. Goodluck. JOSEPH INITIATIVE WIN – (08167278061) 01X 11X 39XXX - 39X 40

Congratulations on Annual 3 weeks to end of season recorded another successful history in Pools business. But the number of draw saved many Promoters – Our last last week Nap is now talk of the town. Join the People wining initiative movement to 2016 Aussie today. Ride high to Australia 2016. N25, 000= Goodluck. AUSTINE CHUKWU – 08054462577 NAP – 14X 15X 26XXX pair 21 OR 41. Congrats after a while silence, I wish to welcome everyone to 2016 Aussie season with the above sure Nap & Win. Use it well – Goodluck. PROFESSOR ONE BANKER (08055230300) WK 46 NO 16.17 3 bankers N6,000 wk 9X 10X 11X PAIR 1X 3X 3 bankers N6,000 wk 46 NO NAP NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP 2 bankers N6,000 wk 45 NO 10X 11X PAIR 1X 9X 2 bankers N6,000 wk 46 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP Stakers try to get 4 PROFESSOR 3 BANKERS THIS WK 46 COST N6000 TWO BANKERS COST N3000. SEND MTN= 08055230300 AKIN MR AKIN – 07067202291 21 MUST 24 The above pair is a must and other 3 draws as directed and informed by our foreign Experts Our Annual 3years records 2014/15 and 2016 Week 44 – 2x 14x 38xxx 21x Week 45 – 06x 17x 35xxx 24x Week 46 – X X X 21x 24x Let’s smile to 2016 Aussie season with the 2 Experts in one newest/latest winning information. 35,000.

EDITOR’S PLACE 27 - 40

WEEK 46 STATUS EKO – 27, 32, 34 LKO – 1, 5, 8, 10 – 20, 38, 42 SUNDAY –REMAINING –MATCHES VOID – NONE

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE POOLS PAGE

THE WINNERS CHOICE GET A COPY AND WIN

PLEAID DE MAXWELL – 09099968585. REAL MADRID – ATL. MADRID = ? ESTONIA OR PARAGUAY Spain in flame? The city of Madrid will be recorded the largest crowd ever when the two giant teams in the city will be at supremacy battle when Atl. Madrid will be all out to outwit the Ronaldo’s. What a seasoned battle? 90 minutes of same score line is likely. Their last meeting in week 20, match played on 1st Dec. 2012 when Real Madrid trashed Atletico Madrid with two (2) unreplied goals. Revenge mission at Real but Zidan men can’t avoid the 90 minutes stale score line. Albecette, Almeria, Lugo, Malloca, Brondy, Alk to Jonkopping, Start and S.S.S – Santos, Sao Paulo and Sport Recife are likely draws zone. Contact De Maxwell draws clinic for your last week in UK 2016 NAP after surgery and discharged. TOKEN – MANAGER. BAIL OUT DE ISREAL WINNING CONTACT 2015/16 ENGLISH SEASON FINAL WIN YOUR SEASONED EXPERT SURE WIN AGAIN 09085712800 MAN.UTD AWAY NUMBER ONE (1) 3 TIMES SEASONED WIN 5, 12, AND 45 Week 5 – 8x 9x — 12x13x — 39xxx 34x Week 12 – 9x 10x — 12x13x — 39xxx 14x Week 45 – 10x 11x — 12x13x — 39xxx (01 CUP 04 = ALL) Check your good records for perusal. Records are kept by the wise. He who blow the pipper – feels it. We dished out draws to farewell 2015/16 English season. NAZAR MASTER COMMENDS STAKERS FOR THEIR PATRONAGE Nazar Master Pool company Limited, Ibadan, Oyo State. The Pools Company was lauded for its first class services to stakers, agents, collectors and other critical stakeholder coupled with promoters winning and big dividend declared on its Treble chance to end the season. According to ‘NAZAR MASTER’ we are encouraged by the commendation we have been receiving from stakeholder on the Pools industry. We have no choice than to maintain the standard and we shall never lower the benchark. He promised higher dividend in Aussie 2016 and prompt payment on fixed odds. TRIPLE GIVES 17 – 27 (08035324990) This week’s coupon again contains assorted lots from Europe to Brazil in the Americas. This reduces forecasting to mere number guessing as we are not familiar with the names of the football teams. But pools business has elements of luck. Even, next week fixtures has only 16 games from Nos 34 – 49 from the expected Aussie season teams, Yet, mother luck can still smile. Try 17 and 27 for a draw. They will produce a draw this week. Add them to our usual 1Bk and see what happens. Good luck as call 08035324990. OBINYAN SET FOR TOTAL LIBERATION The chairman managing Director of King of George group of forecast papers extend much greetings with joyful heart to all their dear fans, esteemed followers and millionaires club members. He said. “We thank you all for your loyalty and steadfastness at the dawn of 2015/2016 UK/Scottish football league season has proved beyond doubt that it is a prosperous season, especially those that were turned millionaire overnight through our group of forecast papers. He also promised a more fulfilling, rewarding and profitable betting week for all stakers. Shoot pointer gave a cluster draws with Barcelona top strikers in front photo page of Suarez, Messi and Neymar. On 9x 10x 11xxx. Telegraph back page correct corner on 1x 48x 5 wizard pair and the front page magical games compliment stakers success. He therefore advised stakers to stay glue with the group of forecast paper for sure win througout the coming Aussie season. MADAM DE MADAM – END OF SEASON NAPS LAST WEEK NAP – 08023329191 (01XX 04) 13X 39X 46XXX – 32X 40F. Yes! Our annual 3 weeks added mean fully to the finance of our dear stakers/clients. Sorry as promised that week 45 win must cover a season loses but the plenty from of draws made the payment as half or quarter is many places. THE MADRIDS teams formed our tabulated and scheduled draws for week 46 to end the end of 2016 English season winning crusade. Call Mr Joshua for your winning details – N40, 000 – Goodluck.(01XX 04) SUNDERLAND SYSTEM (09038460009) 1 NAP 34 Aussie system booklet out N3000.Membership N50,000 4 special draws N6,000 wk 45 NO 4X 10X 12X 32X WITH. 1X 11 4 special draws N6,000 wk 46 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH. NAP NAP 4 special draws wk47 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP NAP Two bankers N3000 Wk 45 NO 12X 32X PAIR 1X 11X Two bankers N3000 Wk 46 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP Time to win pool this wk 46 Sunderland system 4 special draws this wk 46 will play = 4/4,Correct hurry up to get your copy today two bankers cost #3,000 wk 45 NO 12X 32X 1X NAP. Send MTN card 09038460009. DR. SANJ, WITH GOOD – BYE OFFER TO YOU ALL TRIBUNEPOOLS “WINNERS CHOICE” (A) NOS: - 22, 23, 32, 33. “XX” (B) NOS:- 10X, 11X, 12X. “XX”. AGAINST WK48 TO WK50. 07038878227 or 08189472447 Dear Tribunepools fan’s let all smile to our bank’s on Monday as (a) Bank on Nos:- 33, 22, 32, 23... “XX” (b) Bank Nos:- 10x, 11x, 12x. “XX” the two setting’s come out with last Wk 45 draws against Wk48 to Wk50 of our three Wks special draws. Make sure you perm big it’s 100%.. !!! Many were call few are “CHOSEN” this Jackpot offer, we have done it before surely God help again. (ADD Nos:- 27xx & 46xx) for one draw, in each setting areas for (A)= 4/6.. (B)= 4/5... 100%. !!! Join Dr. Sanj winners (membership fees: N100, 000. 00. First pay N50, 000) our last Wk45, 2f, 10x, 45x, (11x, 1x)= 4/5. Call Dr. San for talks. JACOBSON AUSSIE MANAGER. 07065292905 (39XX 40) Pre Aussie 2016 winning project designed to make you a millionaire = WELCOME to our weeks 45 & 46 to Aussie Nap/ Win. B. DORTMUND and B. MUNICH= Reference Win Week 20 – 2012 – 04x 14x 44xxx – 18x Week 45 – 2016 – 03x 13x 43xx – 10x Away team 1st alphabet minus 1st home alphabet MILLAN, MAN UTD, AND MIRANDES- 03X 01X 32XXX. Again has what it takes to win this week on special highly confidential KEY= Real MADRID and ATHLETIC MADRID on coupon Reference to week 20 2nd cup 2012. of 10 draws Week 20 – 2012 – 07x 18x 49xxx Week 46 – 2016 – X X X N50, 000= Sure winning NAP.

HOPE NAPS & CO - 08107128449. END OF SEASON SURE WIN For wk 46. Bank on No 20xx No 42 for draw on Saturday. We are set to give draws and make you fill alright at all time. Call HOPE NAPS & pay to the First Bank account No 3088328923 in Favour of Mr Gbadebo Stephen, A while the week release will be send to you on phone (message) week 45 cost just N10,000 only. Please make sure that your payment is confirm, for you to get the release. Bank no 20 & 42 for draw on Saturday. God bless.

MAC – ANTHONY AUSSIE BEST CHOICE WELCOME OLD & NEW CLIENTS TO 2016 AUSSIE WEEK 46 NAP XX= 3/3 PAIR 38X 48X - 08069048857

Congrats to Wk 45 Lucky winner on Nap 10x 12x 46x Pair 2x 32x= 5/5. Now Aussie 4Wks operation Nap & Win Full payment. Wk46 Nap full payment= 3/3. Wk 47 Nap full payment= 3/3. Wk48 Nap full payment= 3/3. Wk 49 Nap full payment= 3/3. Each Wk Nap cost N20, 000 cash. UBA – 2029382770. Engr, Michael Akam: Once again welcome Aussie & goodluck.

M.B.A EXPERT (08104694618) PAIR 06XX 17 With the 2 Madrids. Real and Atheletic upstairs for the Champion Cup Final this Wk. 46, the entire fistures have usurped the normal Aussie settings in all 7 segments from the International friendlies, expect draws from the like of Italy, Norway and Mexico as nothing is at stake. The Spanish segunda with ELCHE again on board? Elche in Wk. 45 of years 2013 and 2015 drew its home and away games Real Madrid (1-1) on No 25 and hevante (0-0) on No 17 respectively. Also in Wk 46 2013 26. Now pair Mexico/Norway and Rosenberg/ Sogndal. All 4 matches for reliable tips. Call/text 08104694618. Goodluck.

FORTUNE DONOR DONATES 16 – 17 (08099111828) We welcome all our fans to this week’s fixtures which contain European and Brazilian teams. The La Liga teams on Nos 16 and 17 will give us a sure draw on Saturday while the International friendlies on No 8 and 9 will add to our joy with a draw. Our 1 BK this week comes from a different section on the coupon. Add 16 and 17 to it and get your 2/3. Our 1Bk still sells for N1, 500. 00, 2 Draws cost N3, 000. 00 and 3 drs sell for N10, 000. 00 on 08099111828. Goodluck!

MAGIC EXPERT SET TO DELIVER 3 OVER 3 CALL 08160742266 (WELCOME PAIR 48X 49X) This is your long waited season. Magic is set to add beauty to your portfolio started from this week 46 release. Therefore don’t miss wks 46 & 47 first release. Note:- Weeks 46 & 47 /guarantee Nap 3/3 cost N20, 000 while registration fee is N200, 000 and get our system book (Aussie Key) for free on registered. Please remember, No late transaction in Australia season from week 48 upward Nap shall be release strictly on registration. God bless you all. Amen.

NJOROGE MR. ASSURANCE – (08177474535) 01X 04X 24X 40X 46. 2015\2016 – English season farewell win = Nap cost N10,000 = Good luck. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TEXT MESSAGE OF WRITE UP WITHOUT ADVERT IS REGARDED VOID. PLACE YOUR ADVERT FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLICATION OF YOUR FORECAST. THANKS.

Thursday, 26 - 1 June, 2016 MODUPE – (08033566694) 24X 34X 40XXX — 2 DRS Call for winning details. Goodluck. FRED WISDOM ASSURANCE WIN AT IT AGAIN LAST 3 WEEKS TO 2016 AUSSIE (07088103080) Stated for weeks 44, 45 and 46= winning Table Week 44 – 8x 32x 37xxx 02x Week 45 – 12x 39x 48xxx 03x Week 46 – X X X - 4 must 24. Another guaranted win at fred Wisdom winning place – N50, 000= call & win(04 BONUS 24) MAN CITY SYSTEM 08166222529 = 09038633666 = 12XX 11XX 12XX 11X 3 WKS OPERATION AUSSIE SEASON RELEASE WINNER MEMBERSHIP AUSSIE 2016 N50,000 4 special draws N6,000 wk 45 NO 1X 4X 9X 10X PAIR 1X 3X 4 special draws N6,000 wk 46 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP 4 special draws N6,000 wk 47 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP Two bankers N3,000 wk 45 NO 1X 4X PAIR 23X 25F Two bankers N3,000 wk 46 NO NAP NAP 45 PAIR NAP NAP Stakers try to get MANCITY 4 special draws this wk 46 cost N3000.Two bankers this wk 46 cost N3000. Winner membership Aussie 2016 N50,000 Aussie system booklet N30,000.Key every wk 46. Bank Niger no 11.12 draw plus 4.other cost N6,000. SIR – BRAKA 08179776633 (11 DRAW 12) End the season with our 3 Napable draws send N1500 glo Card and end the season with big fortune act now. 022 CODE 08059580326 39 PAIR 40 This is your last chance this 2015/2016 U.K season to become a millionaire. If you are not a doubting Thomas you nail laugh to your bank on Monday nail your winning on pool staking. My 3 draws and I hot pair cost N10, 000 cash. Call me on account number for payment. Please don’t miss this last week of the season.

ADEOTI SYNDICATE. 07051327960 SEND-OFF GIFT: - 07X 24X 49X (MUST) PAIR :- 20 NAP 31 (MUST) I am coming back again, try the 5 Games above as send – off gift and prepare for weeks 47 & 48 Aussie season 2016 release. My first Banker for week 47 is NUNAWADING C. XN. GEELONG W. (41X 2-2-) with 4 others. Cost N10, 000 cash. Each week, payment to Ahmed Shafiri. A/C Nos. 2001788431. Zenith Bank Ibadan. PETER NAP (28 PAIR 29) 08076546261 Congratulation to all those that got my last week release as they won with 1xx, 4xx, 13xx, another special release this week cost just N25, 000. 00 pay to acct No:- 3023114822 First Bank in person of Mr Onaolapo Peter. G. And call on 08076546261. Win Pools now. KARMARK SUPER STAR – (08186673842) 20X 21XX 8X 9XX. The above is to say bye to 2016 English season with the winning. KEY – CYRSTAL P VS MAN UTD. NO1 Played – 1, 3, 4 Nap. This week winning Key is Real Madrid vs Althico Madrid on coupon to draw 3 direct Nap and permutation. Cost N6500 and N5, 500 payable to Odesola S. B. IBTC Bank No 0001361916. MAGIC KINGDOM – (08056753098/ 07085060512) NAP 37X 38X 39XXX PAIR 27 AND 46 Congrats our last week to Aussie 2016 is scheduled to boost your finance to weeks 47 and 48 special Aussie Naps cost N25, 000 = Payable to Balogun Adesina Kamoru. FCMB Bank no 0279550010, Wema Bank no 0206965116 or G.T. Bank No 0115505082. Goodluck. MISTER – DRAW 08030415683 Mark 1xxx 43xxx 48 for 2 or 3 draws Wk 47 super draws cost N5, 000 cash you must end the season with big fortune. IKE & BROTHER OVER – RIDE PROMOTERS TO 2016 AUSSIE SEASON – 08168157259 (11XX12) 01X 11X 32X 39XXX ALBACETTE MUST ALMERIAScheduled to end 2016 English season and other unveiled fixed matches as NAP – Ike group of compilers are Promoters regret. Join the winners – N50, 000 = unregretable free goodluck CHARITY NAP (08054325929) 4 FIXED 4 Dear customers/fans,This week is very special in the life of CHARITY NAP as we celebrate our birthday. We have good record regards this week nap and it is a must draw xx. Cost N10,000. Good luck. ARMSTRONG AUSSIE PREPARATORY NAP (08154836338) 01 MUST 24 S.S.S. at home NOS. 47,48 and 49 controlled our last week to 2016 Aussie season as scheduled by Book makers and unveiled to our overseas – compilers, N25,000 = free WIN with last LAUGH. WINNING SOLUTION – 08072974729. WEEK 46 FINAL NAP TO AUSSIE 2016. X X X -X A vs. A on No 40 in week 37 – 11 drs S vs. S on No 40 in week 46 – 11 drs Week 34 – 5x 14x 24x 40xxx Week 46 - X X X X Read our advert for details. N70,000 WEEK 46 XRAY. Nigerian Tribune remains the stakers choice with an outstanding performance that makes it the clear leader in all forecasting papers, Dr J.K Pools enriched many stakers with 4 naked draws on 1x 2x 4x 11,Mac Anthony and Sunderland top our 2 bankers series while Sir Braka, Ike Brothers, The Lillies Madam De Madam, 4 members fulfilled their pair promises. Jacobson the Aussie Manager and winnings solution have solution to non-winning menace. All our Experts are now ready to enrich all stakers with 2015\2016 farewell NAP. Call them for sure win, never forget to appreciate them to 2016 ASUSSIE.

MRS HENRY: PAIR 31 & 39 08170779623 & 08071554934

Congratulation! Congratulation!! Congratulation!!!

To all those bought our Australia key on Nos.4xx 13xx 23xx 39xx which played 4/4. African no 1 woman pool compiler use this medium to inform all stakers that this season will be a great season because MR. ROBINSON is fully back to the club. Key: - Brazil at No 1 home in advance coupon open to previous week Bank on Nos. 31 and 39 as pair and two others. Win pool and Laugh. Cost price- N50,000, Call 08170779623 & 08071554934. JACOBSON THE AUSSIE MANAGER - 07065292905. WK 46 WIN ON THE MADRIDS ANNUAL KEY. CALL AND WIN.

DRAW COMMANDER

TWO BANKERS N3,000 VOL I WK 46 WK 47 WK 45 NAP NAP X10X NAP NAP X13X PAIR PAIR PAIR NAP NAP X01X NAP NAP X03X

BEST ENGLISH MAGIC TWO BANKERS N3,000 VOL I WK 46 WK 47 WK 45 NAP NAP X11X NAP NAP X23X PAIR PAIR PAIR NAP NAP X09X NAP NAP X10X

SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590. ISRAEL BAIL OUT WINNING CONTACT – 09085712800 Another winning galore at Israel Winning Contact. Welcome again to the WINNERS’ forum. TEXT MESSAGE WINNING ONLY. ON 2 IN 1 WINNING GAZETTE FOR WK 46. WINNING PROJECT. N50,000. END OF THE SEASON BAIL OUT WIN SURE NAP.

HOPE NAPS & CO – 08107128449 ( BANK 20X 42X) End of season sure nap @ Hope Naps International. Payment to Gbadebo Stephen. A. First Bank acc number 3088328923. Wk 46 -N10,000. Good Luck.

WERRIBEE.C

BALCATTA

MODBURY

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WK 45 BROWN NAP NAP

X01X X11X

X10X X12X

X23X X43X

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SIDELINES

NO 16,509

N150

THURSDAY, 26 MAY, 2016

“I call on the government to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, etc.) Act 2011… It is therefore anachronistic that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, Etc.) Act 2011 would contain the same discriminatory provisions at a time when there are now about 61 private Universities in the country”.

N the last edition, I discussed the role of government in the funding of education. I stated the history of private universities and how governments in other countries have supported these universities with grants. This week I intend to examine the situation in Nigeria with special focus on the discrimination brought about by the provisions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, a fund designed by the government for direct intervention in the funding of tertiary education but which unfortunately has continued the discrimination against private institutions which marked the operation of its predecessor, the Education Tax Fund. HISTORY OF THE FUND I have stated several times how poor funding of the educational sector by successive governments over the years brought about a lot instability to the sector. This culminated in the departure of highly qualified personnel and also incessant strikes amongst other ills. In 1993, in realisation of the inability of government to fund education alone with budgetary allocations, government in the course of discussions with the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) decided to set up a Trust Fund from which, as proposed by ASUU, tertiary education would be funded. This led to the enactment of the Education Tax Act Cap E4 Laws of the Federation 2004. By Ss. 1 and 7 of the said law, 2½% education tax collected on the assessable profit of all registered companies in Nigeria shall be disbursed ONLY to educational institutions at the federal, state and local government levels across six geopolitical zones on primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the ratio of 50%, 20% and 30% respectively. Therefore the government extended the use of the fund beyond that proposed by ASUU. In the ensuing years, the effect of the funds was felt across the country in the form of infrastructure and equipment in almost all institutions and which always

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.Litt

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Role of government in university education (2) bore the inscription of the name of the Fund. However upon realisation that other levels of education were benefitting from other sources of funding such as the Universal Basic Education Commission, an agitation began for the reversal to the original concept of limiting the Fund only to Tertiary institutions. This led to the enactment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, Etc.) Act 2011. By this new legislation, the Education Tax Act was repealed. It is however alarming that government in enacting the new law failed to take into cognisance arguments canvased over the years for the extension of the application of the fund to private tertiary institutions. By virtue of S.3 of the law, the main purpose of the Fund is“the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria.”This is inconsonance with Section 18 of 1979 Constitution which provides that government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate education opportunities at all levels, promote science and technology and free education at all levels. Curiously by the provisions of Section 7(2) of the Act, private universities are excluded from benefitting from the funds collected from companies which are mainly private.It seems clearly that Section 7(2) of the Act contradicts the provisions of Section 3(1) and violates Section 18 of the 1979 Constitution. The exclusion of private institutions apart from the contradiction between Sections 3 and 7 of the law is obviously unconstitutional, unfair and unjustifiable. If government has itself licensed private universities, then reference in section 3(1) to “tertiary education in Nigeria” cannot but include private universities. Furthermore it is incontestable that the fund is collected from private companies for the purpose of advancing education.There can be no justifiable reason for the exclusion of private universities, particularly when the fund is not collected from the federal government companies alone. Since the fund is collected from both public and private companies, it is only fair and proper that private universities should also benefit from the fund. This view is supported by the fact that the emergence of private university is a response to the Federal Government’s admission of its inability to provide full access to education. Private universities were established to support the Federal Government invitation for public private participation in order to provide more access to such education what the Federal Government can do alone. There is therefore no justification for limiting the fund collected for education from private companies to federal universities alone.

In view of the admission of the Federal Government that the emergence of private universities is a logical response to fill the demand gap located by the inability of the governments to meet the number of the universities required, it is only logical that the fund be shared among public and private universities who are providing education to the public. This is more so, if as I have suggested, the proprietors of private universities are not permitted to make or demand profit from University account. If there is any doubt about the legal validity of my submission, there can be no doubt about the logicality of it. To avoid any legal technicality, I call on the government to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, Etc.) Act 2011. The law which it replaced i.e the Education Tax Act Cap E4 Laws of the Federation 2004was promulgated in 1993 when there were no private universities and when the population of candidates seeking admission to universities was less than 10% of the universities existing today. It is therefore anachronistic that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, Etc.) Act 2011 would contain the same discriminatory provisions at a time when there are now about 61 private Universities in the country. I recall that the immediate past administration, through the then Vice President at a public function promised that the government would indeed take steps to effect the necessary amendments. Unfortunately this did not come to fruition. As government is a continuum, It is my hope that the current administration would do that which is necessary in this regard. CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING TETFund BY PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES For avoidance of doubt, it is not suggested that TETFund should be made available to all private universities or to anybody who manifests intention to establish a private university. It shall be a condition precedent that for any private university to be entitled to TETFund, the University must be operating on its permanent site and must have obtained NUC accreditation in the relevant programmes for the fund. (a) Grants should be made for research in specific areas. (b) Grants should be made for further development and laboratory materials. (c) Grants should be available for the enhancement of and further development of hostels, libraries, college buildings and other infrastructure (d) Grants should be available for teaching hospitals, laboratories, diagnostics equipment, etc.

Tribunesport man, Alebiosu emerges Oyo SWAN Chairman By Olawale Olaniyan DEPUTY Sports Editor, Tribune titles, Mr Niyi Alebiosu, has been elected as the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN). Alebiosu, was elected unopposed as he earned all the 20 votes cast after his opponents messrs Akeem Abass of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and incumbent chairman, Seun Ajayi-Obe withdrew prior to the poll held at the Oyo State NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

Mr Adewale Tijani of the BCOS sports desk was also elected as the Secretary unopposed, while Alhaji Nurudeen Alimi also of the Tribunesport desk defeated Yemi Oyeyemi of Odu’a News by 15 votes to five to become the new assistant secretary of Oyo SWAN. The poll was supervised by a National officer of SWAN, Mr Alloy Chukwuemeka, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State chapter, Mr Gbenga Opadotun and vice president, SWAN South-west zone, Mr Muideen Adeleke. Alebiosu, in his post-election speech promised that his administration will

make transparency its watchword, just as he begged all members of SWAN for support. He said there was no winner or loser in the election adding that, his administration is determined to rebrand the association. “My administration would initiate a number of programmes that would improve the welfare of this association and change the face of Oyo SWAN in general,” Alebiosu added. Meanwhile, the national SWAN representative, Chukwuemeka, said the outcome of the election was a reflection of what the members of the association wanted, just as he urged the newly-elected officers to run an

all-inclusive administration. Comrade Opadotun in his remarks, lauded the Oyo SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO) for the peaceful conduct of the poll, jus as he promised NUJ’s support for the newly-inaugurated Oyo SWAN executive council.

Daughters want Rashidi Yekini’s death probed

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. 26/05/2016.

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