26th June 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NO 2,052

SUNDAY, 26 JUNE, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

N200

Nigerian Tribune

Prison break in Abuja, 2 escape •Okah not among escapees, says NPS

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South-West to suffer serious earthquake — Research

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N1.3bn fund: APC leaders, EFCC fight over Omisore

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From left, Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Samuel Bandele; Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Visitor, EKSU, Mr Ayodele Fayose; Bayelsa State governor and awardee, Seriake Dickson; former chairman, Access Bank and awardee, Mr Gbenga Oyebode and Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, during the 21st convocation ceremony of EKSU at the university’s main auditorium, Ado Ekiti, on Saturday.

We’ll bomb pg4 3rd Mainland Bridge, others •Militants issue fresh threat

•Give July 2 ultimatum •Ask Buhari to conduct referendum, visit Niger Delta •We won’t join words with them — Military •They’re joking — Police

Beyond the glitz, glamour ...Lives of Nigerian artistes

PDP, APC trade words over voter registration in Ondo •As govt calls for extension

Aftermath massacre:

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Soldiers take over Ogun/Lagos community •Why the militants are on killing spree

HOPE FOR CONJOINED TWINS... From left, Diana Ekpenyong; Adebanji Ola, both of Arik Air; Ayeni Samuel Olusegun and his wife, Mary, parents of the twins;

Efe Farinre; and Jide Alade, Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Arik Air, during the presentation of return tickets to New York for the conjoined twins, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, at the weekend.

Sheriff, Makarfi at war over Edo primary

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•Ex-chair suspends exco •100 Sheriffs can’t suspend us — Edo PDP

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

life&living

Safety for profit

Why people drown on Lagos beaches

Recently, two postgraduate students of the University of Lagos got drowned at the Elegushi beach in Lagos during a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party. With the state of security lapses noticed at most beaches in the state, danger could just be lurking around the corner for the next unsuspecting funseekers, writes TOLA ADENUBI.

Funseekers on the beach

AGOS is known to be a coastal state surrounded by water bodies, beaches and small islands. For many Lagos residents, the beaches have become fun spots which they often visit for relaxation during festive or celebration periods and special occasions. Among the many beaches that line the Lagos shoreline are Bar Beach, Alpha, Lekki, Eleko, Kuramo, Elegushi, Suntan and many others. With many people patronising these various beaches during festive periods, the Lagos State government has also found it convenient to commercially tap into the natural ambience of these beaches for improved internally generated revenue from collection of fees from beach operators while at the same time regulating their activities. Thus in June 2007, the Lagos State government created the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development to tap the required IGR from the beaches and other natural endowments that serve social purposes. For private beaches like Elegushi, entrance fee could be as high as N5,000 depending on the kind of celebration taking place. If it is during a festive period, and popular musical stars have been invited for live shows, the entrance fees could go

as high as N7,500. On ordinary days, it might come down to as low as N1000. From these fees, the state government gets its IGR while also providing oversight regulatory functions to ensure the beaches

are safe enough for fun seekers. However, the death of two university students recently have opened up a can of worms on how many of the beach operators abandon safety rules for profit makgin.

Safety lapses When Sunday Tribune visited the Continues

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life&living

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Most people don’t ask if there are lifeguards around’

A lifeguard on duty

cause the lifeguards don’t see themselves as part and parcel of the organisation r u n ning the beach.” “ S o many hire lifeguards are on contract basis; and that’s even when there is a show at the beach or if it’s during a festive period. For ordinary days, there are some beaches that you will visit and won’t see any lifeguard on duty. “But most fun seekers don’t ask such questions when they visit the beaches during celebrations. Most people don’t bother to ask if there are lifeguards on ground and how many are they. Once they come to the beaches, you see them jumping into the water because they are carried away. That’s why reports of people drowning at beaches are still very high in this part of the world,” Collins stated.

sometimes, in the thick of the fun, even the lifeguards get carried away and shift their focus from those enjoying themselves on the beach

Funseekers

Continued from

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Suntan beach in Badagry, fun seekers were seen enjoying themselves. However, there were some lifeguards were spotted some distance away. Speaking to Sunday Tribune, one of the lifeguards who simply identified him-

self as Mr. Collins stated that the reason many people drown on the beaches is due to safety lapses on the part of the operators of such beaches and the inefficiency or absence of lifeguards. According to him, “sometimes, in the thick of the fun, even the lifeguards get carried away and shift their focus from those

enjoying themselves on the beach. This is natural, since the lifeguards themselves are humans too and could be sucked in by the general lively mood of such occasions. “However, some beaches don’t even employ lifeguards on a permanent basis. Some hire just for the show and distractions occur mostly in such scenario be-

Emergency lapses According to the South-West spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the absence of lifeguards in most beaches means there is little or nothing anybody could do when emergency issues arises during fun time. “Beach management is statutorily unContinues

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news

26 June, 2016

‘We ’ll bomb 3rd Mainland Bridge, others’ Ebenezer adurokiya - Warri

new militant group, the Asawana Deadly Force of Niger Delta (ADFND), has vowed to bomb the Bonga Oil Field, Third Mainland Bridge and the Onitsha Asaba bridge, among others. The group said it would carry out its threat should the Federal Government refuse to relocate the headquarters of oil multinationals such as Agip, Chevron and Shell to the Niger Delta region where they ply their trade. Included in their request is the relocation of all refineries in the country back to the region, adding that the refineries were all built with “our oil money.” ADFND is one of the numerous militant groups emerging in the wake of the Federal Government’s positive disposition to dialogue with aggrieved militants, particularly

the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). In a statement signed

by its leader, Olomubini Kakarakokoro, a.k.a No Mercy and circulated to

journalists in Delta State on Saturday, ADFND warned that it was not

making an empty threat. The group had earlier issued a statement on

From right, Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and President, Dangote Group; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during the vice-president’s inspection visit to the Dangote Refinery at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, on Saturday,

Sheriff, Makarfi at war over Edo gov primary

•Ignore Sheriff’s directive, Makarfi tells Edo PDP Leon Usigbe and Segun Olatunji - Abuja CLAIMANT to the office of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Saturday, announced the suspension of Edo State Executive Committee of the party. However, in a swift response, the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said “a hundred Sheriffs” cannot suspend the party executive because he had no such powers. A statement signed by Senator Sheriff and the former National Secretary of the party, Professor Olawale Oladipo, said the decision was reached at a meeting of National Working Committee (NWC) which the statement said took place on June 21. Citing Section 31 (2) (e) of the PDP constitution, it said the suspension was sequel to “various petitions deriving from allegations of irregularities arising from the last state congresses that sought to elect state executive committee for the chapter.” It explained that the party’s NWC decided to suspend the committee “instead of outright dissolution to enable it investigate the allegations and come out with a fair and just decision.” The statement also an-

nounced the setting up of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state for three months. It gave the names of the caretaker committee members as Chief Ebenezer Alabi, (Chairman) and Mr Zealiwe Edmund, Secretary. Other members are Ehimekpen Okharedia, Mrs. Melody Ekunne Osagie, Blessing Agbabaku, Negerese Berry, Daniel Ohiole Asekhame and Mr Dan Omozokpai. Orbih, however, blasted the former National Chairman for acting out the script of the government in power to destroy the PDP. He observed that Sheriff’s tenure as acting national chairman ended in May and was not renewed by the party, adding that Sheriff was only arrogating to himself the powers he did not have. “Sheriff’s action has shown that he is not a true member of PDP. By his pronouncements and his actions, he has shown the whole world that he is not a true member of PDP. “He is on a mission designed by the party in government that is being executed by him. “For us in Edo State PDP, we will ignore the rantings of Sheriff and face the business of defeating Adams Oshiomhole and his surrogate, that is, their APC candidate,” he stated.

Orbih recalled: “He (Sheriff) was never elected as chairman of the party and he should stop arrogating powers that he doesn’t possess to himself. “Hundred Sheriffs cannot dissolve the Edo Exco as he is no longer the acting chairman of the party. “The only body that is constitutionally empowered by the party to carry out the functions of the national executives of the party today is that of the Makarfi-led national executive which by law is the national executive that is in place. “The convention remains the highest decision making organ of our party, the PDP. Arising from the decision of the national convention that was held in Port Harcourt, Sheriff stopped to be an acting national chairman.” Orbih noted that the last national convention of the party had dissolved the NWC and appointed the Senator Ahmed Makarfiled National Caretaker Committee as the valid leadership of the PDP. On governorship aspirants from the state who have purchased nomination forms from Sheriff’s faction despite the conclusion of the party primaries, Orbih stated that the action was laughable. According to him, “the claim by Sheriff that he is selling forms is laughable.

“And I want to say very clearly that if Sheriff decides to print forms in his private residence in Maitama and people decide to go there to pick forms, they are not picking PDP nomination forms but they are only engaging themselves in an exercise of Sheriff’s make-belief political-relevance game.” Ignore Sheriff Speaking on Sheriff’s suspension order, the Senator Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the PDP has directed the Edo State chapter of the party to ignore the purported suspension. Spokesman of the National Caretaker Committee, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, said in a statement in Abuja on Saturday that Sheriff had no powers to take such decisions. The statement said the former National Chairman was acting in desperation to orchestrate the desires of his paymasters. The statement said: “The general public, in particular, leadership and members of the PDP in Edo State are advised to ignore the statement as it is completely had neither basis nor authority. “Procedures for taking such far reaching decisions are prescribed in the constitution of the party, so is the organs so empowered to take it.

“It is no longer news that the Ali Modu Sheriff led National Working Committee and indeed all national officers were removed by the party’s convention, which is the highest decision making organ of the party. Senator Sheriff and his cohorts therefore lack the locus to take any decision on behalf of the party. “This purported suspension is clearly part of the desperation of Senator Sheriff and his paymasters to orchestrate confusion that would lead to the failure of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State; an election that the party is otherwise very well placed to win. “The Caretaker Committee recognises, and would continue to relate with the leadership of the party in Edo State that was validly elected at the recent congresses, even as it calls on the members and teeming supporters of the party in the state to remain steadfast and vigilant in the face of the mischief being perpetrated by Sheriff in order to destroy the party.” The caretaker committee also appealed to the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and indeed all security agencies “to call Sheriff to order as well as keep more than an eye on him.”

Sunday Tribune

Thursday claiming that it has replaced the dreaded NDA. “We are bombing Bonga field, Onitsha -Asaba bridge, Third Mainland bridge, and other major bridges across the southern part of the country, on Saturday, 2nd July, 2016. “This is not a mere threat. The only way out is for the Federal Government to relocate all headquarters of major oil companies to Niger Delta. “They are built with our oil money. They must be moved back to the Niger Delta region. “If the Federal Government failed before the said day, we shall surely carry out the attack. “The companies, which headquarters we want back now, include; Chevron, Agip and Shell which have their headquarters in Lagos,” No Mercy vowed in the statement. The statement added that: “In addition, the Federal Government should move all refineries to the Niger Delta. “This is without further delay as we shall meet further delay with corresponding colossal damage in the mentioned places on the said date,” the statement further read. The group vowed to compound the woes of the country, saying: “We want to tell President Muhammadu Buhari that now that the going is getting tough, the tough has to get going.” Meanwhile,, the NDA has asked President Buhari to conduct a referendum to determine whether Nigerians want to remain as one or not. The group posted the demand on their Twitter handle @NDAvengers on Saturday afternoon, making reference to the exit of Great Britain from the European Union on Friday through a referendum which has led to the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron. Avengers, who have been clamouring for the secession of the Niger Delta from Nigeria through destruction of oil and gas installations, said Buhari should take a cue from Britain and allow dissenting regions to go their way without a resort to bloodshed. “President Buhari, borrow a leaf from PM David Cameron, call for a referendum and let Nigerians decide like they did to vote you into power,” the tweet read. In another tweet showing a fragmented pictorial map of Nigeria showing various regions, the group, which has nearly brought the Continues on pg 45

news

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Nigerians call for probe of army boss’s N115m Dubai property •I declared two Dubai properties in asset forms —COAS From Chris Agbambu, Dare Adekanmbi and Ayoade Aderinto

HE revelation of a Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) mansion allegedly traced to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has stirred reactions from Nigerians, with many calling for the investigation of the matter and warning against sweeping it under the carpet. An online news medium, Sahara Reporters, had reported Buratai and his two wives to be joint owners of the N115.6 million property bought from SIGMA III Limited, in January, 2014 and paid for in a single transaction, while he was director of procurement at the army headquarters. The online newspaper reported a petition sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by aggrieved junior officers under the aegis of Concerned Soldiers and Officers from the NorthEast, accusing Buratai of a contract scam through his proxy and calling for investigation into the matter. Nigerians, who reacted to the revelation on the newspaper’s Twitter handle, expressed shock over the revelation, adding that the allegation was too weighty to be discountenanced. But Buratai, through a statement from the army headquarters, said he and his family had two properties in Dubai, explaining that he had twice declared the properties in his assets declaration forms while he was a commander and as COAS. The Army chief said he was at no time a director of procurement as claimed in the report, adding that the only procurement unit in the army was established by him in 2015. Akpan Sunday, via his Twitter handle @ spark4dem274, said more revelations would still come to light about the misappropriation of public funds and that the revelation about Buratai was just the beginning. A comment from Blessed Emma, on @ emanueluchenna, warned of an impending Jerry Rawlings-type revolution in view of the preponderance of corruption in the country, calling for deliverance.

Another comment from @ jhornymega90 called for the investigation to be done with dispatch by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), However, Joe Achibong @jolarchi commented that “some people have worked hard to acquire wealth, except this is investigated and proven otherwise.” Another pro-Buratai commentator responded via @VeeVirgil saying, “Leave Buratai alone!He is a patriot and doing a great Job!” ChiemerieAcho through @AchoChiemerie asked the earnings from which

the money to procure the property was sourced and asking if Buratai did declare the asset as belonging to him when he requested all officers to do so. Mr Sam @samajayi2000 expressed the confidence that Army chief would be fired and the property forfeited if the outcome of investigation proved the petitioners right. He was confident President Muhammadu Buhari would tackle corruption as he had promised, even with the last drop of his blood. Pete, commenting via @ ipglow, said Nigerians were

waiting to see how the EFCC would handle the matter and warned against biased fight against corruption. “But according to a statement from the army headquarters, the latest round of smear campaign the online medium is one of the series of campaigns of calumny by these faceless individuals to malign the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army.” “The allegations contained in the Sahara Reporters write-up are baseless and not correct. It is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties in Dubai that

were paid for instamentally through personal savings three years ago. “This, along with other personal assets, have consistently been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army Staff. “It is pertinent to state that the Chief of Army Staff does not have any account with Skye Bank as alleged, let alone making deposits in the imaginary bank account to the tune of the amount stated in the

write up. Similarly, he has not been involved in any form of shady or dishonest transaction, not to talk of ‘contract scam’. “In addition, General Buratai was never near either Defence Headquarters or Army Headquarters in 2013. “It is pertinent to also note that he was never a director of procurement in Army Headquarters as alleged. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Army never had a Directorate of Procurement till when he established one last year when he became Chief of Army Staff.”

Gunmen attack: Soldiers take over Lagos/Ogun communities

•Residents shun homes despite calm •Why militants attacked Ogun community —Security official •As Ogun police command deploys teams to community From Opeyemi Owoaseye, Oluwatoyin Malik and Olayinka Olukoya FOLLOWING the bloody militants’ attack on Thursday night through Friday morning, soldiers and other security personnel have taken over the entirety of Imushin community, a borderline area of Lagos and Ogun states. The last attack, the third in a row, occurred between 10.00 p.m. Thursday and 8.00 a.m. on Friday. The attack, which spread to four different communities, Ita-Oluwo, Bolorunduro, Ajegunle and Igbo-Olomu community, claimed at least 15 lives. The security agents were said to have been on eagle-eye watch over the communities to ensure their safety, though nearly all the homes in the communities have been completely deserted. It was gathered that the residents who fled from of the communities to other communities they considered safe, are yet to return for fear of another attack. The fear was also said to have been reinforced by the actualisation of the gunmen’s threat to return for more killing. Apart from the initial raid of the communities, the militants had returned as threatened, twice, to wreak more havoc and shed more blood. However, a community leader, who spoke to Sunday Tribune, said that there was no more panic in Imushin area, though the community was still desolate. The source noted that

“people are yet to return to their homes because they are afraid of the militants. Although there is no more panic because the security agents on ground are doing very well. The community is now safe for people to return to their homes, the military are everywhere. “My appeal is that everyone should come back home so that the community can return to its usual shape.” It was learnt that no arrest had been made, while security agents are reportedly on the trail of the gunmen. Meanwhile, revelations on the reason behind the repeated attacks on Ogun communities emerged during the week, as it was gathered that the militants were out to avenge the death of two of their members during a shoot-out with the police, on Friday, June 17. A reliable source, who craved anonymity, told Sunday Tribune that SARS operatives from Lagos State Police Command stormed a hotel in Imushin to arrest some hiding kidnappers, who were said to belong to the militant group. “After the SARS operatives burst the place, there was an exchange of gunfire between them and the militants, resulting in the death of two of the militants, while some of them were arrested,” the source stated. He added: “They (the militants) came on revenge mission later same day. They were angry that they were tackled by the police and their method of retaliation was to shoot indiscriminately and kill innocent people as well as

vandalise the hotel in which they were caught by the police. They were almost 150 in number. They left for the creeks immediately after carrying their revenge mission.” Sunday Tribune also learnt from the same source that the husband of the owner of the hotel was also killed by militants in the past. A top security official, who also did not want his name printed, however, pointed out that the issue of militants was beyond the police. “They are in the creeks and that is beyond the police. Anytime we pursue them, they enter the creeks and disappear. “We used to watch them from afar but we cannot follow them into the creek. If we shoot, it can’t have any effect because of the distance between where they are and the police. “It is the military that can do that aspect. The Navy and the Army are there. Only the Navy has gunboats and the Air Force and the Army can deploy fighting jets. The Federal Government should know what to do,” the security official added. But the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, has stated that his command has put pro-active measures in place to forestall such an attack in the command’s area of jurisdiction and to complement Ogun State command’s efforts Speaking with Sunday Tribune in a telephone interview, Owoseni said “there were threats at Ogun State Police Command by some militants last weekend, but we have

taken pro-active measures in Lagos command. We are doing it together with the military. So there is no cause for alarm.” In Ogun State, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police, told the Sunday Tribune that the command was working with Lagos State Police and other security agencies to suppress the activities of these people. “They are militants and they operate like militants. What we have is a replica of what we have in Niger Delta region. They are armed to the teeth. We have deployed policemen to the area to fortify security. “We are discussing with the state government too, so that there can be proper deployment of relevant security agencies,” the PPRO said He added that the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, had ordered more than five teams comprising operatives from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and state anti-robbery section, mobile policemen and conventional policemen to the area. In a related development, the Ogun State Police Command on Saturday deployed the Area

Commander in charge of Sagamu Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga, to communities in Ogijo area of the state. Also deployed were four teams of policemen which include Police Mobile Force and Special Anti-Robbery Squad personnel and an Armoured Personnel Carrier to the communities. A statement by the command through the Public Relations Office and signed by Adejobi, stated that the directive was given by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Department of Operations, DCP Bello Makwashi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali. He said the deployment was carried out after series of consultations on the necessary measures to be put in place to tackle the activities of the armed militants in the affected communities. The statement had it that ACP Ali would remain in the area of operation to monitor operational and administrative engagements of the policemen deployed to the areas for the special operation in the affected communities which include Elepete, Imuti, kajola, Magbon and Ajegunle.

RAMADAN MESSAGE

[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allah , He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties. If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your unwillingness. Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you. —Surat Muhammad verses 36-38

26 June, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

edited by Oluwatoyin Malik 0807 889 1950, 0811 695 4633 praiseboy01@gmail.com

Confession of international fraudster

I’m troubled by my conscience… but I have to live How I sent my victims to prison in Togo

Some of Taiwo Egbebi’s victims. From left: Ajani Adunola, Ismail Saidat, Yusuf Mujidat and Iyabo Owolabi

By Oluwatoyin Malik

39-year-old welder, Taiwo Lawal Egbebi, who decided to seek short cut to quick wealth bowed his head in shame on Thursday, June 23, at the premises of the headquarters of the Oyo State Police Command, as his victims hollered at him, screaming and clapping: “Oju ole re, ole! (Behold the face of a thief and a fraudster)!” But before they had the opportunity of shaming him publicly, Egbebi had caused untold silent pains to each of his victims by sending them to prisons in Nigeria and abroad over crimes they did not commit. Crime Reports’ investigation revealed that the suspect’s stock-in-trade was to deceive innocent victims into making them believe he was a businessman, after which he would offer them the job of a sales girl. At other times, he would tell those in business that he could take them to countries where they could get goods at cheaper prices. He would thereafter take them on such business trips and swindle bureau-de-change operators and merchants, leaving his innocent ‘sales girl’ or ‘business partners’ to face the music of the crime committed by him. The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, who spoke with Crime Reports on the arrest of the suspect, said Egbebi usually introduced himself to people as Alhaji Kazeem Ade-Alaso and AdeGold, making them to believe he was into the sale of clothing materials and gold. One of the victims, Ajani Adunola, who spoke with Crime Reports, said: “The

suspect cajoled me and another lady, Ismail Saidat, to follow him for business in Lome, Republic of Togo, in November 28, 2012, saying goods were cheaper there. In the guise of changing naira to CFA, he stole from the money given to him by the bureau de change operator we went to and disappeared, leaving us behind. “The money he stole was seven million CFA which is N2.1million. Because of this, we were arrested and were in prison for 17 months. We were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment but after we paid the money, we were released.” On how she came across Egbebi, the lady said she and Saidat were in the same vehicle with him on their way to Cotonou in a commercial bus. “I was discussing on phone with a customer who wanted me to buy some kegs of vegetable oil for her. After finishing the call, the suspect told me that he was a vegetable oil merchant in Lome. “That was how I fell into his trap. He told me that vegetable oil was cheaper in Lome, saying I should go with him. He asked for the money for the business and I told him that I had already changed the currency to CFA. He approached some bureau de change operators in Togo and told them that he had dollars, displaying a bag. After collecting the cash, he left his bag and went out. When he did not return, the bag was searched and we discovered he stuffed it with vegetables and rags.” Lending her voice to her friend’s narra-

The suspect

tive, Saidat said: “My friend and I were on our way to Cotonou to buy vegetable oil, shoes and bags for sale, but the suspect convinced us to follow him to Togo. Along Cotonou and Togo highway, police stopped us and he cajoled me into borrowing him some money, saying he had only dollars. After the police released us, he took us to Lakoji area and people told us that it was Ghana border with Togo. “The suspect approached a Hausa man for CFA. When the man went to bring the money in a Ghana-must-go bag, I asked the suspect to bring out his dollars but he warned me that we needed to be careful, as the Hausa people were wicked and could disappear with the dollars. He had earlier collected N42,000 from us. “As we were counting the money, he smartly removed seven million CFA, after which he said he wanted to charge our phones for us. That

was the last we saw of him. The Hausa man said the money he brought was no longer complete. We searched for the suspect but he had already disappeared with our phones and money. “We were confused: They didn’t understand Yoruba or English and we could not speak French. It was a Yoruba man who was nearby that told the Hausas not to beat us, as he could understand what we were saying. “Police were invited and we were taken to police station. After the third day, we were taken straight to the prison. We spent 17 months in the prison, hired a lawyer and paid back the money the suspect stole before we were released. Our families had to sell properties to get us out because we were given 20 years imprisonment.” Crime Reports also gathered that Egbebi was once arrested at State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, but was released on bail when he was down with tuberculosis. Another victim, Yusuf Mujidat (22), also narrated her ordeal thus: “A friend introduced the man to me when he said he needed a sales girl. He said he had shops at Gbagi, Agbeni and Ogunpa. I said I would do the job and he promised to pay N15,000 monthly, N200 daily transport allowance and N250 travelling allowance. “He showed me a shop at Agbeni but because it was a Thursday, he said the shop would not be opened until 10a.m. He took Continues pg 7

crimereports

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

15-yr-old housewife cut rival’s 2-month-old baby’s genitals Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

15-year-old jealous housewife, Baraatu Rabiu, has been arrested by the Niger State Police Command for allegedly severing the genitals of a two-month-old baby boy belonging to the first wife of her husband. The incident reportedly occurred at about 10:00 p.m last Tuesday at Kuta community in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state. The suspect, who is the second wife of Mallam Rabiu (surname withheld), the father of the baby, was said to have married the teenager about four months ago because his first wife could not bear him children almost eight years after their marriage. Crime Reports gathered that the man married the suspect following pressures on him to take another wife, but a few months into his new relationship, the first wife conceived, and after the second wife (the suspect) moved in, the first wife delivered a baby boy. The suspect reportedly betrayed no ill-feelings towards the new born child, and was even said to have joined both her husband and the senior wife in playing with the baby as well as carrying him whenever the opportunity came her way. A source at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) told Crime Reports that on the fateful day, the unsuspecting mother gave the suspect her baby to hold when he slept, so that she could attend to some domestic issues. The source added that when the suspect noticed that baby’s mother was busy and no longer paying attention, she quickly looked for a sharp knife within the house and quietly took the baby to the backyard where she cut off both his penis and testicles, resulting in a sharp cry coming from the baby. “As soon as Baraatu carried out the act, she left the baby to cry his heart out while writhing in excruciating pains and disappeared into the bush behind the house,” said the

source. Crime Reports further gathered that when the baby’s mother got to the spot where her child was crying, she was so shocked that she fainted immediately. Neighbours were said to have organised a search party, fishing out the suspect from where she hid, while the police who had been alerted came and whisked off the housewife to the police station. The baby was also rushed to the Ibrahim Babangida Specialist Hospital for admission at the intensive care unit and had been receiving treatment since then. In an interview with Crime Reports on Friday, June 24, after the suspect was paraded at the state police command headquarters in Minna, she confessed to the crime, but insisted that she was under the influence of some forces whom she claimed covered her face with a veil and led her to commit the crime. Baraatu stated that prior to the time she committed the crime, she had no crisis with either her husband or the older wife, saying, “the only favour I want the police to do for me now is to bring my husband here (police headquarters) and my senior wife because I have something to tell them”. When asked to disclose what she intended to tell her husband and the aggrieved mother, she refused to utter a word as she did not betray emotions while the interview lasted. The state command’s

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident, adding that the baby was responding to treatment. But he refused to speak on the exact medical condition of the boy.

Elkana disclosed that the suspect would soon be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation of the case.

The baby with his genitals removed

The suspect

‘How I sent my victims to prison in Togo’ Continued from pg 6 me to Asaba in Delta State on April 7, 2013. He bought gold worth N1,046,400 and disappeared on the pretence that he wanted to buy a drink, leaving me behind. “I spent seven days in the police station in handcuffs, and spent one month and three days in prison. My parents spent a lot of money to get me bailed. We paid for surety in the sum of N300,000, a lawyer collected N170,000 as charges, and I still paid back the gold money.” Staring straight as he spoke with Crime Reports, Egbebi confessed: “it is true that I defrauded people and also put my victims in trouble. I learnt welding as a vocation but there was no one to help

me set up the business through the purchase of necessary equipment. I started defrauding people in 2012 to make some money but stopped in 2014. I picked it up again in 2015 when survival became difficult. “What I usually did was to tell people that I needed a sales girl. I would go to a shop, pick my phone and start talking to no one that I needed a sales girl. Such people would recommend known persons to me and they were the ones I was using. “Typically, on her first day of resumption, I would ask the sales girl to follow me to other parts of Nigeria to buy goods. Sometimes, I would stop at a bureau de change to change non-existing dollars to naira. In the pro-

cess of counting the money, I would remove some and leave the sales girl to count the rest, saying that I wanted to buy a drink or ease myself. I would disappear with the money that way. Sometimes, it was goods such as gold jewellery. The sales girl would be held instead of me.” Egbebi said he was arrested in 2014 but was released due to ill health. One of the vehicles he brought from the dubious business transactions was however impounded and is still at the Iyaganku Division. When asked whether he was never pricked by his conscience, the suspect said he was, but since he had no means of repaying what he had taken, he later ignored victims’ families’ calls. He said he

built a house and bought two vehicles, one of which he had sold. He said the total money he collected was about N4 million, though the Commissioner of Police put the money at over N5 million. Other victims are Arije Olabisi who was taken to Kano State; Hamzat Abiodun whom the suspect took to Owerri in Imo State; and Iyabo Owolabi who was taken to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and remanded in prison for three weeks. The Commissioner of Police said that the suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations, while he urged other victims to come forward for more evidences to be taken against him.

Kwara police arrest suspected car thieves, okada rider Biola Azeez - Ilorin

MEN of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested two unidentified suspected car thieves and a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider) at Asa Dam Road, Ilorin last week. The suspects were nabbed at about 5:45 pm while trying to escape arrest after a white Toyota Camry (muscle) with registration number Abuja YAB 784 TA, which they were making away with,

was demobilised. It was gathered that the car and other valuable items, including a Plasma TV, mobile phones, clothes, car battery and bracelets were carted away from residence of one Alhaja Ibiyeye, located beside Al-Ikhlas Nursery and Primary School, Wara, Gerewu area of Ilorin. The victim is reportedly a Deputy Director at Staff Development College, Ilorin. An eyewitness revealed

that the robbers operated for about three hours on victim’s house before they bolted away in the white Toyota Camry. The car got demobilised opposite Hakksat Motors, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin. “It was in the process of fleeing with the stolen items evacuated from the car on a commercial motorcycle that the robbers were apprehended alongside the okada rider that had wanted to convey them to safety,” the wit-

ness said. The suspects were also said to have made an attempt to escape arrest as soon as they sighted men of the Adewole D Division Police Station. It was also gathered that a mob which gathered at the scene of the incident descended on the three suspects and even attempted setting them ablaze, but for the timely intervention of policemen. Despite the plea by the suspected okada rider for

sympathy from the crowd, he was mercilessly beaten and drenched in his own blood. Speaking with journalists, a neighbour of the victim who craved anonymity said that the victim came to her shop to inform her that she had been robbed and her car and belongings taken away. “She requested that I help her call her son also alert the nearest police station,” the neighbour said.

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

life&living

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Most beaches operators can’t afford paying lifeguards’

Continued from

pg 3

der the purview of the state government. However, when it comes to emergency management, we at NEMA have reiterated it to all the beach operators all over the country, not just in Lagos, to ensure adequate emergency response at their beaches. “We have always advocated that lifeguards should always be on standby at all times whenever people come to the beach to enjoy themselves. Even if it’s on an ordinary day and just about five to 10 people are around to enjoy themselves at the beach, the beach operator must provide lifeguards. “But we have noticed that has not been the case because with just five to 10 people at the beach, paying a lifeguard from the day’s proceeds does not make sense to most of these beach operators. Therefore, many abandon safety at the expense of profit margin. “Again, we have asked that all the beach operators should have a medical clinic stationed within the premises of the beach. This will serve as a First Aid point to any victim that drowns while trying to surf the water. “We expect that some of these measures are things that many of the beach operators ought to have put in place.” On why there are incessant cases of drowning at beaches, Farinloye explained that, “What many of them say is that

with just five to 10 people at the beach, paying a lifeguard from the day’s proceeds does not make sense to most of these beach operators

whenever there are incidences of people drowning, the lifeguards are not always around to rush to the scene and save lives. “However, with the drowning of the two UNILAG students about three weeks ago at Elegushi beach, we are aware that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has started going round all the beaches to see that all these safety rules are strictly complied with.”

When Sunday Tribune contacted the LASEMA spokesman, Mr. Kehinde Adebayo, on telephone, he simply explained that he had no powers to speak to the press on emergency issues in the state and referred Sunday Tribune to the LASEMA General Manager, Mr. Michael Akindele. However, efforts to get the GM of LASEMA to speak on emergency alertness of most beaches in the state proved abortive

as he was said to be very busy with emergency related issues in the state. However, a source close to the agency told Sunday Tribune that the LASEMA GM won’t like to speak on such issue because one of the sons of a prominent traditional ruler in the state is a top government functionary and a special adviser to the state governor.

feature

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Eating out at Lagos’ nocturnal restaurants

As night falls, several spots around Lagos begin to spring to life, playing host to customers who dine on an array of foods which they normally feast on late into the night. GBEMI SOLAJA writes on this unique feeding habit and why many residents, patronise such spots.

HE three basic needs of human beings are food, clothing and shelter. Arguably the most important of them all is food, basically because it is predicated on survival of the physical body. Not only is it so for Lagos residents, it is much more than that. Alade Avenue in Lagos is a regular host to the high and mighty; the lowly, the young and the old alike. From 7.00 p.m., Lagos residents are often seen in different spaces across restaurants. Names like Rainbow M, Manedish Africana cuisine, Mama Chuks are spots that become fascinating and active at the later hours of the day Passers-by around the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, during the day often go about their businesses not taking note of anything unusual, except giants pots of different shapes and sizes , spoons and plates, neatly packed as if they were for decoration. From about 8.00 p.m, the usually serene spots jump to life wearing a new look that definitely draws the attention of any passer-by. Chairs and tables are arranged in the whole streets, with men and women of different shapes and sizes being served with various delicacies. “Lagosians continue to eat when others go to sleep,” a regular visitor to one of the night restaurants, who simply referred to himself as Tony said. He was right. There are many factors why residents eat while others are sleeping. “Lagos is known for its hustle and bustle,” Sade, a fashion designer said. “ Lagos life is like no other in the country. People eat anytime in Lagos for various reasons. It is a city, and it is not surprising that such is seen here,” she added. The Place, a restaurant beside Shoprite in Ikeja, is another beauty to behold during the late hours. Oyefeso Titilayo, an accountant, gave her reasons for visiting this particular spot. “Usually, I close very late at work and there is really no way I’m going to get home around 1.00 a.m and still cook; so I prefer this and it is convenient for me to eat out. For instance, I get here most times around 11.00 p.m and I eat good food. “ I’m used to it, it pays me and I get a lot of convenience from it. Besides, Lagos is a moving state, where everyone is kept on their toes; so there is no much time for cooking and the likes especially during the week,” she added. The high cost of goods, and recent hike in petrol price

which has also escalated prices of other commodities, among other things has led to an increase in the number of people who eat outside. An investigation had in fact revealed that many families now eat out throughout the day. Akindele Alabi, a banker, told Sunday Tribune that he rarely eats at home these days, especially at night. “Normally I spend N700 on soup before the increase in the price of PMS, now I spend nothing less than N2000 and as a family, we are already feeling the heat. My children who normally take food to school have stopped doing so because it is better they eat in their school canteen than taking food from home. “What I’m saying in essence is that when it comes to dinner, we mostly buy food at popular restaurants around. Though my wife cooks at times, I can say that since the whole thing about economic meltdown began, things have not been funny. I particularly prefer to eat at favourite spots,” he said. Veronica Orie, a young banker, said lack of electricity is pushing many to patronise restaurants and late ones for that matter in recent times. “Before now, I store my cooked food in small bowls in the freezer, that is what I eat when I go to work and return late at night, but that can’t just happen again. When the power supply was irregular, I manage to power my generator to put on my freezer, now that the power supply is non existent, there is no way to preserve delicacies and soup throughout the week days, so I found out that my eating habits just changed, I have a spot where

Lagos life is like no other in the country. People eat anytime in Lagos for various reasons. It is a city, and it is not surprising that such is seen here

I eat often and it is better that way. I enjoy the meals better than the one I would have to cook at home at that late hour of the night,” she added. Mama Ope is a tomato seller who has her kiosk in front of her house. She told Sunday Tribune that these days “I prefer it and it is more affordable for me to buy ‘amala’ and ewedu with one piece of meat” at a restaurant four streets from her house for about N250 “than to cook soup and make ‘amala ‘ at home.” Oye, a journalist, told Sunday Tribune that “the minimum wage still stands at N18,000 but 10 litres of fuel that used to cost about N860 is now bought for N1,450.” According to him, the minimum wage hasn’t improved, but the price of goods has increased in no small measure. To him, “that automatically means that families would be stopped from eating healthy and comfortably at home and spending less eating out.” At ‘Mama Kazeem pot’ a popular restaurant in the Ijesha area Lagos, the owner disclosed to Sunday Tribune that customers visiting the spot had increased by about 20 per cent. However, when asked about the quality of the food, she said “the quality of our food has not changed, we remain health conscious and cook the regular delicacies, though there is a bit of change in the combination of the pepper and condiments; it is still very delicious and healthy to eat.” “The price of food served is still much the same with just an addition of N50. The quantity of the meals may also have been affected, but all the same, there is no much difference because the food is for many people, so there is still a way we adjust the whole thing, to ensure that we have marginal gain for our efforts,” she said. For the late night food vendors, this is the best time to do business. “Business has never been this bright,” a food vendor told Sunday Tribune, adding “customers get value for their money here irrespective of the changes in the country.” The question remains, despite the economic downturn, will Lagosian continue to flood their favourite spots in the night for food? Mama Kazeem has the answer: “Economic shutdown or not, late night food is common and a way of life due to the peculiarity of Lagos life, the traffic situation and the hustle and bustle in general.”

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

feature One week after, Ogijo still trying to find its peace

Deserted street in Ogijo

By Gbemi Solaja and Lekan Olabulo

TAOLOWO’s environs in the Ogijo area of Ogun State, through to the Imushin community, is no doubt a place known for its energy and vigour. Daily, residents throng the area, going about their usual businesses. However, navigating Imushin through Elegbete community in the area last Wednesday, an unusual calmness could be perceived in the air. Down to Oke Muti area, passers-by were few in number; cars left by the roadside the previous days remained, while small hotels had no guests. A few traders who sat by their goods by the roadside looked dispirited. At this point, everything around the area signalled that all was not well. About a week after the attack by suspected militants, which left no fewer than 15 residents dead, the community is yet to recover from the shock. The streets had been deserted and many residents had fled. The few who remain have become disoriented. A local chief in the area who did not want to be named told Sunday Tribune: “We are gradually being forced out of our community.” A resident, who simply referred to himself as Ayodele also told Sunday Tribune that the community could become extinct if nothing is done in time to reassure the residents that there would be no further attacks. For Imushin residents, attacks by militants on Friday, 17 June, would remain indelible in their memories for some time to come. Many residents have simply described it as a wound that may never heal. An hour before midnight, the characteristic peace of the community was shattered. By the time the ‘invasion’ ended, the whole community was thrown into mourning. Sunday Tribune recalls that on the fateful day, suspected militants armed with guns and cutlasses invaded the community killing anyone they came in contact with. One Mr Oladele was said to be on his way back from work to the community when he was stopped and harassed. Misjudging them to be armed robbers, he offered money which was refused. He was later shot dead. According to investigations, another resident, a Unit Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Ojota, Lagos, Alfa Isiaka, was also returning to the community with his sister-in–law and about three other people in a green coloured Pathfinder jeep. After the other three passengers alighted at the car park located at Ogbo Olomu, unaware of happenings in

the area, Isiaka headed for Elegbete area and just as he was about to turn into the community by the entrance, there was a big bang on the door of the vehicle. Through the mirror, Isiaka saw several men who wrapped their heads in red cloth and wore jeans and t-shirts. Narrating the incident, Isiaka said sensing that the men could be robbers, he tried to avoid being shot at. Several minutes later he discovered that his sister-in-law, Mariam, who sat on the back seat had become silent. The sporadic gunshots had hit her. One eye-witness revealed that the victim was still alive hours after being shot. “We immediately headed for the Owutu Police Station because Isiaka could no longer drive. He was shaking visibly and out of control. We had gone to Sure Hope Hospital, a nearby hospital about three kilometres away, and were refused when we couldn’t produce a police report. From there, we left for the State Hospital in Ikorodu, and we stopped at Owutu Police Station on our way. Even there, we were not attended to until we called one of our neighbours, who intervened and called a police Inspector at Owutu so that we could obtain the police report. Unfortunately, by the time we received the document and we got to Agric, Mariam had died,” the eye-witness told Sunday Tribune. Another resident, simply known as Yah Alau, was said to have come out of his house to the gate with a torchlight when he heard the commotion. The bright light from the torchlight was said to have attracted the attention of the militants who pursued and shot him right by his door entrance. His son standing nearby was not spared as well as he was also shot.

To come back to the community is now a serious problem because no one knows whether the Ijaw youths would return to the community or not

A resident of the area who did not want to be named told Sunday Tribune that whenever the pipeline vandals, popularly known as ‘Ijaw boys’, cross into the area through the swampy area of Elegbete, trouble often emanates. Another resident, Abdulrazak, called on government to see to the bushy and unkempt road which leads to Arepo from Itaolowo, Imushin, which has become a den of rogues. A resident who also spoke with Sunday Tribune maintained that an altercation between the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officers and the Ijaw youths in one of the hotels where they were celebrating a friend who recently returned from abroad, which led to the killing of two of the boys few days before the incident, might have sparked a reprisal. The image maker in charge of the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmus, while speaking on the incident, said “Our men received information that some suspected kidnappers have entered the community. SARS operatives were deployed to the place and they succeeded in arrested one of the suspects, Victor Worimegbe, who took the police to Topkatt Hotel where other gang members were lodging. Other suspects, Ekpokime, Abule and Ebimobese tried to escape by firing at our policemen and the operatives responded.” She added that “Ekpokime and Abule sustained gunshot injuries. They were rushed to the General Hospital where they were confirmed dead. Ebimobese is still undergoing treatment.” Many of the residents whom Sunday Tribune spoke with, pleaded anonymity for the fear of what might happen to them. Someone said that since last weekend, many residents had fled the community. “There is still a lot of fear in the community because some are afraid that the attackers may still be lurking around. As we speak now, only few residents are still in the community and those are the ones who decided to be brave. At any time from now, some may still leave. Some people went to work on Monday and never came back to the community. “Shops and stores have been operating abnormal schedules and activities are slow. To come back to the community is now a serious problem because no one knows whether the Ijaw youths would return to the community or not. Many haven’t returned, only a few have continues

pg 12

feature

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Govt must do something fast to help us or else…’ continued from

pg 11

returned since penultimate Friday,” one of them said. A secondary school student who pleaded anonymity said student population in the schools is now scanty and only few of them had attended classes in recent days. “We were in school on Monday morning around 10’o clock when we heard some people saying that the Ijaw boys were already around and everyone started running helter skelter. I was even pushed into my compound. My compound was filled with not fewer than 100 people. The community is not yet settled, a lot of shops are closed; even the schools are still empty. “There were no students in schools any more though all the teachers were around. The students kept their bags close to themselves so that at any sign of trouble, they could quickly find their way of escape. This is not how a normal country should be; this is not how things used to be. This community is no longer safe for habitation,” he lamented. Another resident charged the government to do something immediately to avoid a situation where the community would be hijacked by hoodlums. Sunday Tribune learnt further that petty thieves who usually steal in the area had returned and had become fullblown rogues who now cart away residents’ belongings in daylight. A resident added that “boys who had been stealing in the community before the incident have now spread their tentacles. They have seized the opportunity and are now breaking windows and getting into people’s houses. They are now harassing people in the community.” One man who was outside his room to put on his power generator was said to have been badly beaten by the

A woman trying to escape with her daughter hoodlums for wasting time after he was ordered to bring some things from his room. Another resident expressed worry that the petty thieves may be some of the militants who had returned to the community, while another insisted that they were just local boys in the area who are now taking advantage of the poor security situation in the community. However, a source confirmed that at about midnight last Thursday, suspected militants engaged in a killing

spree which had left another five persons dead in Ola Imam, and another three in Oke muti, bringing the total number to eight. Sunday Tribune findings revealed that at present, more than 80 per cent of the residents have fled the community. Efforts to speak with community leaders were unsuccessful as they declined to make any comment. This was because another round of violent attacks on the community took place on friday with several casulaties.

13 Continued from

26 June, 2016 last week

HIRD: All the mundane non-spiritual activities of man of whatever kind and description are designed to satisfy the three ultimate wants of man which are necessaries of life, comforts and luxuries. Fourth: All the myriad acts of production, distribution and exchange known to man today, with all their vast paraphernalia of institutions, have been invented by mankind in order to satisfy the three ultimate wants of man. Fifth: Similarly, all socio-political arrangements which have, from time to time, been made by man down the ages, are nothing but devices for regulating smooth intercourse, at various levels and in different spheres, between individuals and between groups in a society or State, for ensuring internal peace, order, and stability within the State, and for protecting the State and its citizens from external dangers. It will be seen that manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first loyalty, however veiled, is to his economic interests; and his secondary loyalty will be given to any organisation or institution which serves to promote those interests. In other words, he is not loyal to a community, society or State for its own sake. Indeed, as a member of a family, he agrees with other families, under an assumed Social Contract, to form a State because by so doing: 1. he will no longer be in danger of hostility from such other families, and his properties will thereby be free from pillage or forcible seizure by them; 2. he will be able, in association with the other families, to defend himself and his properties against an external foe; and, above all 3. he will be in a position to enjoy the fruits of division of labour which is possible when different persons and groups in society cooperate in the acts of production. From the foregoing, we can deduce that, in order to justify the rationale for its evolution and existence, the State has an imperative duty to declare economic; social and political objectives, and through its policies and programmes, to pursue such objectives most sedulously. The objectives must be such, when implemented, as will bring to every citizen, without exception, maximum welfare, social justice and equity, and happiness. These are precisely what the Nigerian Constitution seeks to do.

Awoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

On the campaign trail Whither the poor under the new dispensation*

It has made a declaration of war against all forms of injustice - be they economic, social, or political. It seeks, among other things, to abolish poverty, and to remove and prevent concentration of wealth in the hands of a few individuals. It is, therefore, clear from what has been said that poverty and statehood are antithetic. It is also clear that a State which manages its affairs in such a manner as to make the vast majority of its people unhappy, unfree, and depressed, has failed to live up to its legitimacy. Poverty can be defined and characterised: it is a condition which exists when a person lacks the means to satisfy the necessaries of life. The characteristics of poverty are well-known. They are undernourishment or malnutrition, wretched and degrading shelter, shabby clothing, and total lack of any kind of comfort and luxury. Furthermore, poverty, as defined and characterised, attracts vicious accretions. Because of his malnutrition, and his physically and pychologically degrading conditions of living, he is inefficient; his productivity is hopelessly low; he is technically ignorant; he succumbs readily to disease; he has little zest for life; he has little

Sunday Tribune

or no enthusiasm for what he does; and, in consequence of all these, his poverty persists on an increasing scale. Though there are no statistics on the point, anyone who has been to all parts of our country will readily agree that more than 70 million of our estimated 80 million people live in abjectly poor conditions, and no less than 60 million of them are actually starving. They have; for houses, shelters unsuitable for modern poultry or piggery. The vast majority of our poor live in rural areas which are neglected and almost forgotten. Those of them who live in cities and urban areas are better off than those who live in the rural areas. The former enjoy a comparatively higher standard of life. But even these can have no more than two meals a day, which cannot, by any economic or human standard, be said to be good or adequate. The average income of a poor person in four urban areas enables him (1) to procure food which gives him only 1700 calorie intake per day, instead of 3500; (2) to live in a degrading shelter; and (3) to purchase second-hand clothing. The position, as we have noted, is much worse in the rural areas. Between the rich and the poor, there is a wide stretch of gradations. There are those who have the means to satisfy only the necessaries of life; and there are those who can add comforts to necessaries. As a contradictory of the poor, the rich can be said to be a person who has the means to satisfy all the ultimate wants of man. In a Marxian sense the rich can also be said to be someone who has accumulated capital from which he derives unearned income. By definition, therefore, the rich among us must be very few indeed compared with the poor, the not-sapoor, the well-to-do, and the not-sa-rich. Again, there are no statistics for ascertaining the number of the rich. But, from intelligent observation, there would probably be about one thousand or so of them throughout the country. While the poor and the not-so-poor respectively belong to the peasant class and the so-called lowincome groups, the rich plus those above the ranks of the poor and the not-so-poor are mainly to be found among our businessmen, professionals, civil servants, academicians, tradesmen, traders, and other selfemployed people.

To be continued

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voxpop Which do you prefer: 14

26 June, 2016

Same or separate rooms with your spouse?

Sunday Tribune

IBRAHIM YAKUB I prefer same bedroom and the reason is because for me to call someone my spouse I definitely love the person with everything. So I prefer staying with her because I will like to touch and hold her whenever I wish, and since she is my spouse and not girlfriend, we have to be in the same bedroom together to share everything together.

The bedroom is special for couples. However, it has been found out that some couples don’t sleep in the same bedroom due to some reasons.Temitayo Iliasu and Ayoade Aderinto went to town to seek the opinions of people on this issue.

ISAAC ATAYERO

ABAYO OLOJEDE Why will I have a separate bedroom from that of my spouse when I’ve got nothing to hide from her. Some pastors don’t like sharing the same room with their wives but personally I prefer to share the same room with my spouse because where true love is involved, you will always want to be together always.

I prefer the same bedroom because I think intimacy is very important in sustaining a relationship. Also separate bedrooms are usually a sign that something is not right in a relationship and it could cause an actual separation in a relationship because the relationship would lack intimacy which is very crucial in a relationship.

AMOS KEHINDE OYEDELE I think I prefer the same bedroom with my spouse, firstly because of sex and also to be able to share ideas together and also to discuss issues that we couldn’t talk about during the day or issues we don’t want our children to listen to.

NURUDEEN TUNDE I cannot stay in the same room with my wife because all these women of nowadays are not predictable and they are also stubborn. Most women are very bad, I have so many of them around me and I know what they can do. So I am not willing to take any chance with them. She will have her room and I will also have my room.

FUNKE FOLAGBADE I prefer staying in the same bedroom with my spouse, because since we are married, it is cool to be together and also to have a company around me when anything happens maybe in the night or anytime.

OWOLABI ABIOLA EMMANUEL I don’t think I ever want to stay in a different room from my wife and for no reason will I accept to do that. Firstly, marriage is a collective responsibility that involves both of us making efforts so that we can make it work. Staying in different room from my wife will make me feel like I’m living with my siblings and then I look forward to intimacy in my marriage.

OMOBOLANLE ADEBAYO I think I prefer the same bedroom with my spouse because since he is my spouse, that means I love him and we have to be together as one. Another reason is that couples who stay together last longer in the relationship than those who stay separately, and also staying in the same room improves communication in the relationship because the bedroom is a personal abode and this will enable couples to talk to each other when they are together.

AMINAT OLUWATOBI OLADIRAN I prefer to have a different room and at the same time still stay in my husband’s room because I will always have my room where I can keep things. It also provides me with some privacy that I need. My family can also stay in my own room when they come visiting, so that no one can just walk into the room I share with my husband.

26 June, 2016

children’sarena

Sunday Tribune

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

Puzzle

Swans

Find the hidden words

WANS have grey or brown feathers until they’re about two years old, but they grow up to become the most beautiful of all water fowls. •Adult swans usually have pure white feathers and a long, graceful neck. •Swans eggs are about four inches long. When the babies, known as cygnets, are born, they can swim immediately. •Swans are grumpy, especially when they’re protecting their eggs or babies. They attack other birds that enter their territory. They’ve even attacked dogs or kids that came too close. •After swans scare off other birds, they flap their wings and call to each other in celebration – sort of like a swan high-five! •Socrates thought swans sang the most beautiful songs right before they died. This is why a last performance is

sometimes called a “swan song.” •In England, the queen owns all mute swans. Every year the swans on the Thames River are rounded up. Their beaks are marked with the queen’s brand. The queen sometimes gives swans as a special gift.

What time do you have dinner and when do you go to bed?

Respondents are students of Blessed Kiddies’ Private School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. 1. Makinde Gbemisola, 8 years, basic 4 I love taking light foods such as bread and egg or bread and tea at night and I have my dinner by 7:30 p.m because my mother always prepares dinner very early so that by 8 o’clock I’m already in bed. I always shower before going to bed because it cools my body and also helps me to sleep quickly.

1 4

2. Abiodun Inioluwa, 9 years, basic 4 My mum insists I take light food before going to bed and that is why I take food such as bread and tea or rice for dinner. I eat dinner at exactly 7 pm everyday because my mum makes sure we eat very early so that we can watch cartoon for about 30 minutes then I can start preparing for bed. I must be on my bed by 8 p.m not because I’m forced to but because that is the convenient time for me to sleep. 3. Janlekun Nelson, 9 years, basic 5 I take light food such as pap before going to bed. I have always eaten my dinner at 8 p.m then I go to bed by 9:00 p.m. The reason I sleep by then is that I can wake up very early and at the same time get my eight hours rest. I hate waking up hungry and that’s why I make sure I eat dinner before going to bed.

2 5

4. Jegede Deborah, 9 years, basic 4 After a busy day at school which starts as early as 7:30 a.m and ends by 4 p.m then coming home to face the challenges of doing my home work then also taking little time to play, it is expected of me to take light food so that I will be able to sleep well at night and also maintain a healthy weight. I take fruits like cucumber and also snacks as dinner so by 8:30 p.m, I’m already asleep because I have to wake up early to prepare for school. 5. Olawunmi Emmanuel, 9 years, basic 4 I always take my dinner by 6 p.m; and I don’t take heavy food at night so my mum always prepares light food such as corn flakes or rice for me so that I don’t face difficulty in sleeping. Eating early always helps my food to digest even before I get to bed by 9 p.m.

6. Chukwuma Okafor, 10 years, Basic 5 I always take my dinner at 8:15 p.m because my mum cooks late and I go to bed at 9.00 p.m so that I can wake up early the following morning.

Good and bad children Children, you are very little, And your bones are very brittle; If you would grow great and stately, You must try to walk sedately. You must still be bright and quiet, And content with simple diet; And remain, through all bewild'ring, Innocent and honest children. Happy hearts and happy faces, Happy play in grassy places, That was how in ancient ages, Children grew to kings and sages. But the unkind and the unruly, And the sort who eat unduly, They must never hope for glory, Theirs is quite a different story! By Robert Louis Stevenson

PROVERB

You can’t makebricks without straws – You can’t accomplish something without the right material. Compiled By Temitayo Iliasu

26 June, 2016

HE world has been gasping in a befuddling mix of horror and excitement since Brexit became a reality. That it was, in the first instance, is a testament not to British tolerant democracy, but to the unbindable spirit of man when his soul is out of sync with his situation. The morning after June 23, is the beginning of another odyssey for humanity elsewhere and everywhere. A new direction for EU, UK, allied friends like USA and UN. It should also be the reality of a fresh journey elsewhere; for souls demanding freedom in all places, including Nigeria. Brexit will surely come with immediate cataclysmic effects and long-term boomeranging implications. Already, it has effected change of tenancy at 10 Downing Street, ignited fresh separation cacophony on UK Islands, particularly Scotland which may be taking a new independence referendum, got EU roiling internally for shape-changing reforms and compelling fresh extreme economic measures, all over the West. It will certainly, in the long run, precipitate migration policies that would encourage stay-back-more-in-your-backyard, reshape trade balances with the new world biggest Island (at least for now), get peoples and nations with distinct histories, intrinsic values and cultural affinities demanding intensely to be on their own, among other “casualties.” In a few words, Brexit, in the long run, will get the world, not only Europe, revolting. But it is a mystery victory. A black market kind of. This allusion should not be confused with our corruption-defining lingo. This wasn’t obtained through the back door. It was a close contest, bitterly fought and narrowly won. The losers are mourning the known benefits and liabilities; the victors celebrating a dark tunnel whose bottom-of-the-cone faint illumination is more like a mirage. That is undiluted Yoruba’s frightening “OjaOkunkun” warning. The literal black market allusion here is OjaOkunkun’s verbatim metaphorical interpretation. But who cares? At least, not the victors, reportedly, including the Queen. It is the nature of man when he is past caring for the known. In fact, the unknown with all likely pitfalls and landlines, becomes his fantasy. That fantasy becomes his intoxicant, driving him to extreme swashbuckling. Expeditions, hitherto considered dangerous, become a pastime. Reason may not take flight, but will likely be a unstable canoe in an ocean of emotions, which could be blown away by the slightest of storms. But who cares? Not at the point of no return. Immigration issue, particularly the yet-to-be-resolved refugee crisis,

PERHAPS of more interest to Nigerians is the unraveling of the mystery surrounding the identity of the Aisha Buhari mentioned in Halliburton bribery scandal than the corruption case against Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.Most Nigerians had all thought that the Halliburton case had been laid to rest believing that, as it is the practice in the country, the government had voted to allow sleeping dogs lie, rather than get to the root of the matter and clean up the name of the country in deference to the bigwigs whose names were mentioned in the case. But apparently this Halliburton issue is one ghost that will not rest until its remains are properly interred. And we have Governor Fayose to thank for exhuming this improperly buried case. Following the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze his accounts at Zenith Bank, Governor Fayose wasted no time spitting fire as he came down hard on President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the president has no claim to sainthood because neither he nor members of his family are free from corruption. The governor premised his assertion on the indictment in the infamous Halliburton bribery scandal of one Aisha Buhari, whom he claimed is the President’s wife. Rather than be cowed by the action of the EFCC which, in spite of his immunity as enshrined in the constitution, opted to block his accounts on the grounds that some funds meant for the purchase of weapons had been surreptitiously funneled into them by the former National Security Adviser, Colonel SamboDasuki, for the purpose of financing the governor’s 2014 election, Fayose has been very vociferous in his attempt to pin the badge of corruption on the First Lady. Citing a page in the Sentencing Memorandum issued by the Alexandria Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the governor insists that the difference between the Aisha Buhari mentioned in the Halliburton case and the First Lady is that between 20 and a score. The Presidency swiftly responded that the Aisha Buhari mentioned in the case is not the same as the Presi-

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

Next, Nigexit pls

on which UK and majority of EU members have paid more price compared to Arab countries of shared faith affinity with parties in the Syrian crisis, was the tipping point for the Briticos (the natives). Nothing tells the story of a people tired of carrying the rest along better than the voting pattern in Brexit referendum. In London of all, with an immigrant of minority faith as Mayor, Remain advocates won by encouraging margin. Youth of voting age, born into EU, went by over 70 per cent with the known they know. But Britons who wanted to “reclaim” their country, as Donald Trump serenaded the Brexit victors while in Scotland the morning after, who knew what it was not to be Europe’s Father Xmas and immigrants’ dumping ground, went en mass for their prized fantasy of a Britain on her

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Is there a third Aisha Buhari?

dent’s wife. Similarly, former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, who investigated the Halliburton case in Nigeria, has said that the Aisha Buhari indicted in the case is neither the president’s wife nor daughter. The president’s wife even went ahead to threaten the governor with a court action unless he retracted the statement he made that she was indicted in the case. But all of these cut no ice with Governor Fayose, who challenged the First Lady to take a flight to the USA if indeed she had nothing to do with the Halliburton case. He has refused to refrain

Sunday Tribune

own, that would be courted and well-regarded by the rest of the world. Not even a torrential downpour would stop a record turn-out. The Brextians were so ruthless in their desire that a fantastic Prime Minister gotta go. A sensible politician\leader will and should know when the music is no longer melodious. David Cameron called Trump’s immigration policy signature of banning Muslims from entering America “stupid.” The same thorny immigration issue terminated his administration unceremoniously. He must have realised by now that only the people can determine what is “stupid” for them and not 89 MPs passing a confidence vote. To his eternal credit, however, he was smart enough to accede to the people’s request for a referendum, smart enough to know you can put people’s voice and desire down for ever and smart enough to know when to concede and walk away. Whatever happens to EU, UK and the rest of the West, the winner of Brexit for all, should be lessons offered on a platter. Peoples, nations within nations which are by omission of history, commission of mischief and accident of geography, lumped with unwanted neighbours, are daily demanding their own Brexit. Many of such forced bliss-less marriages are responsible for scattered ethnic strifes that have kept Africa at the base of development. Thankfully, the model used by the colonial masters is now being reviewed by those who own its patent right. A simple question of “In or Out” in Nigeria today will produce a Nigexit landslide. It is not even about Biafra or Niger-Delta alone. Aphoristic voices in the North had even question the House of Commotion full of meat that Nigeria has become. They don’t even mind a lean bread with peace. Referendum in Nigeria will be a hopeless case of massive rigging and inconclusive result. Restructuring appears a more reliable and reasonable approach to our future. Whoever thinks otherwise may be having his illusory paradise only in his mind. It is unlikely the current political leadership in Nigeria will toe Cameron’s reasonable path. Britain has about two years to exit EU. No one is saying it should be “to your tent” tomorrow. But Article 50 must also be in our law book. There should be a window for those seeking exit from the family. It may be contained for a while, but won’t be suppressed forever. It took God Himself to stop men from constructing a tower to His abode for breakfast, because they purpose it in their hearts.

from his refrain that the president’s wife is guilty of corrupt practices, having been indicted of wiring $170,000 to Congressman Williams Jefferson, who was the major culprit in the Halliburton bribery scandal. While many were of the view that the governor, seen to be on a descent into ignominy, was merely looking for companions on the trip, the Aisha Buhari, whose passport had emerged on the social media and had been portrayed by quite a number of commentators as the one who connived with Congressman Jefferson in the Halliburton scandal, spoke from her base in the United States, saying she had nothing to do with the case. She said those who were peddling the rumour of her being the culprit were the ones who stole her passport earlier in the year to perfect their evil design of hanging on her a crime she knew nothing about. The most interesting part of her tirade is that where she asked if anyone who had participated in that kind of infraction would be allowed to stay in the US without questioning. Knowing that there is no hiding place for criminals in the US, that makes a whole lot of sense. But it still takes us back to where we were before she spoke. If neither the president’s wife nor her name sake who is resident in the United States is the Halliburton Aisha Buhari, who is this woman? Where is she? How is she different from these her name sakes? Does she indeed exist or is she hidden inside either of these two Aisha Buharis? Is there a third Aisha Buhari? Methinks that beyond the mudslinging (by Governor Fayose) and mud-ducking (by the Presidency and the First Lady), the real issue now is unmasking the Halliburton Aisha Buhari, which is the responsibility of the Federal Government. The government owes the president, our delectable First Lady as well as the whole nation the duty of unraveling the mystery behind the faceless Halliburton Aisha Buhari. Failure to do this will deal a lethal blow on the president’s anti-corruption effort because the unanswered question of ‘Who is the Halliburton Aisha Buhari?’ may lead some heads turning in the direction of Aso Rock Villa.

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Beyond the glitz, glamour

...Lives of Nigerian artistes By Segun Adebayo and Seyi Sokoya

OTHING is ever as it seems. This trite expression aptly captures the sad but true state of things in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movie industry-both English and Yoruba speaking movies. The industry that is believed to be the second largest industry in the world after India does not appear to have translated to wealth for some of the practitioners, especially the veterans who have worked tirelessly to put the industry on the road map. Nollywood is reputed to be worth over $100 million, but however rich the industry might seem, one aspect that has continued to dominate public discourse among social commentators and lovers of movies

is the condition of living of the practitioners, which is largely occasioned by poor remuneration. Many people find it hard to believe how those who have lived all their lives on the screen, bringing joy to many homes, would live in terrible conditions during and after quitting the scene. In truth, the make-believe industry has made some actors rich and famous, but this does not apply to all the practitioners. Sunday Tribuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation revealed that the cozy world of wealth and glamour they portray on screen is a sharp contrast to what they experience in real lives. A large number of Nollywood practitioners live lowly lives that most of them are not proud of. Recent seemingly sudden deaths of Nollywood actors point at a deeper and more resolute problem. The

glamour and supposed exclusivity that is traditionally attached to fame may not be as a far off from reality as one would think. The fantastic world that they create, revel in and pull their fans to believe in does not usually translate into the same reality for them. The case of veteran actor, Olumide Bakare, readily comes to mind. Save for the quick intervention of kind-hearted Nigerians, who raised a substantial amount for him months back when news filtered into the media that the actor had been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State. Prior to his ailment, which would later reveal that all was not well with him, the actor Continues on pg20

26 June, 2016

Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08075166585

Linda Ikeji denies tax evasion story, insists she owns Banana Island home

Patience Ozonkwo turns pastor By Segun Adebayo NOLLYWOOD actress, Patience Ozonkwo, appears to have found a new calling. The popular actress who is known for her ‘wicked’ mother-in-law roles in most of her movies is taking up her new calling seriously and those who are close to her said that she would soon be coming out to make an official announcement.

Sunday Tribune

The latest move confirming Ozonkwo’s new interest came to the fore in the early hours of Friday when she was seen preaching at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Alaba in Lagos State. The message, according, to those who witnessed the event, was about her life and personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Ozonkwo told the congregation that she was ready to live the rest of her life for God and serve Him with all she has been blessed with. Ozonkwo follows another popular actress, Eucharia Anunobi, who gave her life to Christ years back. According to her, the new calling would not stop her from taking the roles she had been taken before. She had an encounter with God. “I won’t change my roles simply because I am born again,” she said.

By Segun Adebayo

C Mercy Aigbe hits one million Instagram followers By Seyi Sokoya Actress, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry, has expressed gratitude to her fans for their support over the years and making her attain one million

Ebonylife TV to premiere ‘The Governor’ By Tayo Gesinde EBONYLIFE TV is set to premiere a new political drama entitled: ‘The Governor’ with its series premiere airing July 7. The Governor is the tale of Angela Ochello, the Deputy Governor of Savannah State who with no governorship ambitions finds herself suddenly entangled in a web of political intrigue after the untimely death of the incumbent governor. As audiences embark on this journey with Angela, the movie revealed how with the help of her trusted Chief of Staff, she learns how to maneuver through the rough and shark-infested waters of politics whilst balancing the demands of her matrimonial home. The movie is set in Savannah, a coastal state in Western Africa established in 1964 and extremely rich in iron ore. Known for its widely spaced grassland with temperate weather conditions and unique tourist attractions, Savannah has a population of 15 million people majority of who are fishermen and farmers. The rich cultural diversity and political awareness of the people makes it one of the most politically active states in the country. It will take constituents and citizens alike through the shadowy often gruesome corridors of power and promises to be packed with lots of intrigue, drama and sometimes humour. Can Angela stand up to her rivals and assume her place as governor? Will the fear of losing her husband cause her to forfeit this opportunity? Written by Yinka Ogun, Debo Oluwatuminu and Tunde Babalola and directed by Ema Edosio, the lead character ‘Angela Ochello’ is played by British-Nigerian actress, Caroline Chikezie (Aeon Flux, BBC’s Casualty, Channel 4’s As If). Other cast members include Bimbo Manuel, Baaj Adebule, Kachi Nnochiri, Simi Adejumo, among others.

Instagrams followers. This development could be an attestation that the actress has continued to gain more popularity as well as increase her fan base on social media platforms since her breakthrough in the movie industry. In her effort to appreciate her fans and followers, the mother of two captioned a photo of herself on Instagram page saying, “Wow!...1 million followers!...Big Thank you to y’all for the love....I am humbled #1millionfollowers #1million #loveyall.” The steadily rise of the actress has made her favourite of many, especially among her peers, just as her expertise in acting has earned her recognitions and awards.

How unplanned pregnancy forced me into my first marriage —Iyabo Ojo By Segun Adebayo FOR the first time in many years, actress, Iyabo Ojo, has opened up on what led to crash of her first marriage which produced two kids. It is believed that her marriage crashed as a result of her popularity in the movie industry, but Iyabo said her marriage crashed long before she became famous. In an interview monitored by R on Hip TV , she said she got married because of an unplanned pregnancy. According to Ojo, she had a fallout in her marriage long before she became famous as they both didn’t marry for love but because a child was involved. She said, “If I had problems with my marriage, it had nothing to do with my acting profession. I wasn’t even a star when I got married. And when I got out of my marriage, I still wasn’t a star. Up

until I got married, I’d only featured in one film and I pulled out of the industry the moment I got married. I was a full-time housewife and businesswoman. “I actually chose to come back into acting because I had started having issues with my marriage and knew it wasn’t making me happy. I knew that wasn’t the way I wanted to live my life. People tend to marry for specific reasons, and as far as I am concerned, you mustn’t be able to define the reason you love someone to the extent of marriage. Once you get married for a reason, then there is a problem. I got married because I was pregnant. That was a reason.”

ELEBRITY blogger, Linda Ikeji, was in the news last week when a report surfaced that she might lose her Banana Island mansion located at Ikoyi, Lagos State, following an alleged discovery by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that she was evading tax. Since the news filtered in, Ikeji was said to have made efforts to dispel the rumour and set the record straight by insisting that she owns the building and that she was not having issues with the tax angency. Reports suggested that the FIRS slammed her with a N75 million tax bill and some of the tax proceeds are reported to be related to the purchase of her N500 million mansion. Reacting to the report, Ikeji said “Firs go (sic) after companies not individuals. And I was operating as an individual.” Early in the year, there were reports that Ikeji was not the owner of the mansion she claimed to be hers, but the blogger has come out to dispel the report, saying “The Banana house is mine 1000%..lol. Proudly mine and I would never deny it.”

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune With Segun Adebayo &Seyi Sokoya tegbollistic@yahoo.com seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08116954644 08132577840

‘I’m not a happy man, this is

not the level I wished to be’ Continues from pg17

has featured in countless Nollywood movies and people were made to believe that the man who is loved by his fans has abundant of material wealth that can take care of him. But that life only exists on the screen. The poor living condition of Nollywood practitioners are hardly known until they are down with one ailment or the other and have to cry out for financial help. That was the case of Ngozi Nwosu, who entertained many on popular soap opera, Fuji House of Commotion. For many years, she dazzled Nigerians on the show, but was later diagnosed of kidney problems that required N6 million for her to be flown to the United Kingdom hospital for a life-saving operation. Kind-hearted Nigerians raised the money for her and she is now back on her feet. Succour might have come her way, but same cannot be said about others who have suffered similar fate and died before help could get to them. How English-speaking actors cope For English speaking movie actors and actresses, things may be a bit different as a large number of them have many things working for them. They have the highest number of thespians who have the biggest endorsement deals. Apart from that, they have wormed their ways into the hearts of the governors of their states and they get favour from them when it matters most. From Desmond Eliot who is currently a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly to Kate Henshaw, who tested her popularity in politics during the 2015 general election but could not secure her party’s nod to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives, she has remained a big force to reckon with in the industry.Veteran actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, (RMD) was a commissioner in Delta State for more than four years and he was said to have used his position to help better the lot of his colleagues. Rita Dominic, Uche Jumbo, Omoni Oboli, Ini Edo reportedly, enjoy patronage from those who are close to the corridors of power, especially during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan. They seem to be benefitting greatly from the unity of their association, which has helped them to pull through as a team. Genevieve and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde are two of the most influential actresses in the movie industry. Their appearances in any movie fetch each of them beyond N800,000, it may even be more than that in some special cases. For the new ones who are just coming up, the successes of their senior colleagues are a major motivation for them and they appear ready to get past them. Speaking on the financial problem Yoruba actors and actresses are going through,

President of The Golden Movie Ambassador (TGMA), Saidi Balogun, told Sunday Tribune that all that glitters in the movie industry is not gold. According to him, “We can begin to debate this matter from now till next year; we will arrive at the same point where we took off. Many practitioners are poor and may remain poor because they have not been enjoying the sweat of their labour and their leaders who should put things in order have not done the needful. I will blame this on government’s inability to put the necessary structures in place. How can you survive in this industry if not by the grace of God? “I have been around for a while and I can tell you that as much as I am thanking God for how far I have come, I can’t say I am a happy man. This is not the level I wish for my career, but I thank God for the grace to have survived till today. The new government has been showing signs of progress and I believe we will get there. The leadership of the association is not helping the situation. You can imagine an association telling marketers that anybody who is not part of their association should not be recognised. So, if I am not a member of your association, that means I am not a professional? A lot of things are just not right.” According to Sunday Tribune findings, the good life ends on set for every actor and actress. Only the lucky ones whose popularity has fetched them wealth through other sources such as product endorsement and branding can boast of good living conditions. Others are only struggling to survive despite appearing in movies week in week out. They go to locations virtually every day, but majority of them usually return home with empty pockets. Sunday Tribune visited some movie locations days back and was made to understand that many of the thespians on set were not comfortable with their take home fee. Though, none of them was willing to reveal how much they would be paid after the five-day shoot at somewhere around Magodo in Lagos, but it was gathered that the highest paid actor on that set would go home with N15, 000 while the lowest paid would make do with N5, 000. It was, however, observed that the money may be poor but everybody related with one another freely and it was obvious that they enjoyed what they do. In some cases, according to findings, some of them may appear at three different locations in two weeks. They can’t sit back at home as they have to keep up appearance even if their conditions won’t change. Their days would have been

seen to have been made if they could get the chance to appear in at least a movie; even if it is what some of them call ‘Waka Pass Roles’. From Magodo to Surulere, venue of another movie location, the sad tales are the same. Some of them wear a gloomy face and from an interaction with them, one could tell that they needed a facelift. One thing that is also very common among them is what is believed to be ‘pat my back and I will pat yours too’. This literally means you will be treated the same way you treat me on your set. A fast-rising actress, who would not want her name mentioned, told Sunday Tribune during a recent shoot that many actors and actresses are indeed living in abject poverty. “You are right if you say we are not rich. Most of the actors and actresses you see are struggling. That’s why we have to keep producing movies; because that’s the only way you

can make money for yourself and attract some recognition. You can’t make much money if you keep appearing in people’s movies. You have to raise money for yourself so that you can invite people to feature in your movie too. The popular ones may be lucky because they get movie roles more often, but how many people can afford to pay them what they charge? If anybody tells you they are making money in this industry, they are Continued on pg21

26 June, 2016 Continues from pg20

not being truthful”. This is no fault of theirs as findings by Sunday Tribune also revealed that true to the actress’s claim, the Yoruba speaking movie industry is the worst hit in terms of remuneration. What Yoruba movie producers pay is a far cry to what is obtainable among their English counterparts. But one common feature among them is the level of poverty in the industry. ‘Many veterans are living from hand to mouth’ The younger practitioners could hardly complain because the elders in the industry are equally groaning under of poor fee. Some of the elders have stopped going to locations and those who still manage to go usually go back home with less than nothing. This claim was confirmed by veteran actor, Kareem Adepoju, otherwise known as Baba Wande, who said all that glitters is not gold as far as the Yoruba speaking movie is concerned. According to him, many veteran actors are living from hand to mouth while a few of them go cap in hand to feed themselves and their families. “This is the harsh reality on ground. We have toiled over the years to have a beautiful rest when we grow old but reverse is the case for some elders. Even when we struggle to raise money to shoot movies, marketers and pirates will deny you of your proceeds. Things are really hard, but we are hoping that the new government will make amends,” he said. Many of the thespians, Sunday Tribune gathered, have diversified into other businesses. They now use acting to pass the time. This explains why they get involved in other jobs that can augment whatever amount they are paid at locations. It is difficult for them to turn their back against acting totally because they still need the screen to sustain their popularity. Not all of them get to shoot movies every week, except for the few ones whose faces and names will sell any movie at Idumota, Lagos State. According to popular actress, Bimbo Thomas, who has gone into wine business, “Acting pays the bills but not all the bills. I have always been business-minded even when I was still in the higher institution, so delving into wine business was as a result of my passion to have something doing whether acting still pays or not.” Sunday Tribune was informed that most producers now shoot low budget movies, and the reason is not far to seek. A low budget movie will reduce cost, time and does not need any special effect. With N500, 000, any aspiring producer can set up a movie set. Some even go as low as N300, 000. “It is that bad, but we can’t help the situation because that’s what we met on ground when we came in,” said Blessing Adetunji, an up-and-coming actress. This trend is said to be a disturbing development for some professional filmmakers in the industry but lack of regulatory body to check the activities of movie-producers has continued to encourage its rise. When asked what could be done to put an end to the anomaly, President of Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (TAMPAN), Dele Odule, said poverty is not peculiar to acting alone. He insisted that it might be more pronounced in the movie industry because of the people involved. He also blamed it on mediocre actors and producers who have taken over the industry. “This is the sorry state we have found ourselves in the industry, but we will continue to do our best to make sure that sanity returns to the job. It is very sad that we are powerless because even as the

‘Blame mediocre producers for low pay in movie industry’

President of TAMPAN, there is a limit to what I could do. I can’t stop anybody from producing movies with what they have. Mediocre producers have hijacked the job and it will remain so until a regulatory body is set up to flush them out of the business. I believe that with the coming on board of MOPICON, we will start to breathe a fresh air. Until professionals are allowed to do the job, we may not see an end to this sad development,” he said. Sunday Tribune gathered that those who are in the A-list class such as of Jide Kosoko, Femi Adebayo, Saidi Balogun, Muiwa Ademola, Funke Akindele, Bukky Wright, Femi Branch, Odunlade Adekola, Wale Akorede, among others, get jobs regularly. For actors in this category, the appearance fee stands between N100, 000 and N150, 000 per movie. But the same cannot be said about others who don’t belong to this class. For some of them, what

they earn is too meager to tell. Findings also revealed that up-and-coming actors and actresses, especially the wannabes usually get N10, 000 per movie, and others get as low as N3000. US–based Nollywood actress, Judith Mazagwu, popularly known as Afrocandy, said life beyond the glamour of being a celeb has been hustle. “Everyday, I try to get somewhere somehow. Though, I get income from royalties even when I have not released new projects; it may not be much but what matters is that it is coming. For me, acting is rewarding”. According to Yoruba actress, Joke Jigan, nothing is free and she would not give room for any loopholes that would make her look beggarly. Jigan said she does not support the idea of ‘you rub my back I rub your back’. She gets paid upfront before she faces the camera. She said that “It is a beautiful life we have got to live and I live

Sunday Tribune

my life like tomorrow might not come. I do my best and leave the rest for God. Life is sweet and I think everyone deserves to love it to the fullest.” Another Yoruba actress, Omokehinde Bankole otherwise known as Sexy Winger, noted that, “Life as a celeb or an actress has been much interesting and fun. Though it is somehow challenging, especially with some unforeseen problems that may arise and the aspect of the marketers. Above all, we have been trying our best to make sure we get income and also use it to have a good life. Acting is so interesting and I am happy to be an actress. I am confident to say that whatever I am today is as a result of this job. I have discovered that the major problem many people have is that they don’t know how to define their lives. It is not peculiar to the industry. It happens everywhere; we all just need to be focused and design how to make our lives meaningful irrespective of the situation we found ourselves.” Actress Habibat Jinad also noted that “The life of a celebrity is in the hands of fans. Once you are a celebrity you don’t have a life anymore. To be candid, everybody is not meant to be a celebrity, but some of us are not looking at the future. You just have to diversify to something else that could fetch you some money. Anyway, things have changed in Yoruba film industry, not all the producers get income on the movies they produce. Some are just producing movies for awareness and recognition. May God help us in this industry.” Actress, Iyabo Ojo, in a recent interview revealed that acting for some of them is a hobby; they are not always bothered about the remuneration, but the joy and fulfillment they derive from the job was enough to motivate them for another job. She added that she’s usually paid what she deserves, but not all the time. “I understand how things work in the industry because I have been around for some time. You know that fingers are not equal, but you also have to be considerate especially when you know that the project is gulping a lot of money from the producer. If the project is huge, you may want to consider bringing down your pay in order to support the person. But this does not happen every time. I thank God for how far I have come and the success of the Iyabo Ojo brand. I can only speak for myself,” she said. ‘Many actors and actresses may remain poor’ Some practitioners also argued that if the trend continues unabated, many thespians may remain poor. According to Olaiya Igwe, “The trend has remained the same for years because those who have been saddled with the responsibilities of bringing about the desired change have refused to do the needful. Successive governments have not been helpful in terms of putting the right structure in place. Thank God that the new government has set up MOPICON. Hopefully, things will begin to look good for practitioners. Unless things change, we will remain poor and if not poorer.” Brand ambassadorial role to the rescue Until five years ago when telecommunications giants started considering Yoruba actors and actresses for endorsement deals, many of them were at the mercy of marketers who bankrolled their projects and determine what they get at end of the day. Despite the endorsement deals that some of them have signed, it was gathered that they still need the support of the marketers to fund their projects as they are the only ones who can finance them.

26 June, 2016

makeover

Sunday Tribune

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 rosarumese@gmail.com

What your favourite lipstick shade says about you

Lipsticks are a necessary part of a fashionable woman’s makeup collection, and many women have a favourite they can almost swear by. Two fashion experts share their opinions on what a woman’s favourite lipstick shade says about her:

Purple lipstick. Photo:cwemi.org

Berry Your friends always knock at your door when they need a dose of fashion advice. You are frank and instinctive and have this knack for telling it as it is without breaking hearts. You are a risk-taker and never wait and watch. Today, everyone around you just adores your spontaneity and honesty. Plum You are bold and daring, and your style has always set you apart from the crowd. As you age with grace, you know when to rock that gallant all-nighter look and when to tone it down. Violet You are always calm and level-headed, which makes you one of the best people to talk to when there is a crisis. These qualities also make you ace the ranks at work. You are usually easy-going, but can be quite fierce when the situation calls for it, especially when it comes to defending family and friends.

Berry lipstick. Photo:pinterest.com

Coral At the outset, you are a lover and not a fighter. You love the environment and do all you can to preserve it. Nude/gloss/lip balm If you love nude lipstick, you are shy, and people often misunderstand that side of you. However, you are super sweet and extra kind and strive to spread happiness around you. For those who use gloss, you have always dreamed of being famous, and even if that dream has come true, you never stop seeking the spotlight. For the lip balm user, practicality always comes first. You steer clear from petty behaviour and rudeness and are as productive as you can be.

Hot pink More adventurous than classic red, hot pink lips are the domain of a woman who is fun, flirty, bold and outgoing. You enjoy spending time with your girl gang and are not easily cowed. And you keep an eye out for trends. Berry or wine-stained You shy away from being pastel pretty and revel in the power of your sensuality. You also like drama and are an all-or-nothing kind of person. Doing things halfway has never appealed to you. Brown or plum Women who love these deep and moody shades are most likely to have a seriously adventurous streak. They’d rather play risky than safe, love challenges, are ambitious, driven and independent. Purple More layered than red, more mysterious than a bright pink, a purple lip is usually worn by a woman who revels in her power and femininity. She’s strong, confident, sexy, individualistic and a bit unapproachable; not someone who suffers fools gladly.

Coral/Orange lipstick. Photo:pinterest.com

Bright pink You are bubbly and warm, and that makes you extremely social. It isn’t hard for you to make friends at all. No matter what you take up, you give it your 100 per cent and remain passionate about it until it is accomplished.

Red Red is bold, sensual. But you’re not really quite as tough as you’d like to be. In short, it’s the colour of a woman who is fun loving, passionate, energetic, independent and extremely adaptable.

Plum lipstick. Photo:glamazonsblog.com

Red lipstick. Photo:fashionwalkafrica.com

Red You love all things that are old-fashioned. You are extremely passionate and have a zeal for life that makes you go out of your way to be a part of a project. And once you are in it, you give your best!

BEAUTY expert, Anubha Charan of The Beauty Gypsy, an online beauty blog, gives her take on which lipstick to reach for when you want to make a certain impression:

Orange Even though orange looks fun and bouncy, it’s not really an easy colour to pull off for everyone. If you gravitate towards this palette, you’re likely to be carefree, wild, vivacious, whimsical, energetic and adventurous. You don’t mind standing out in a crowd and easily throw caution to the winds. Nude/gloss or clear Nude is simply not a look-at-me colour, yet, very fashionable. For the lady who opts for gloss or no lipstick at all, you look like you don’t care, because you really don’t. You are fuss-free, low maintenance and are cool without caring to be cool. You are a leader rather than a follower, and just want to get on with life!

Pink lipstick. Photo:lipstickalley.com

HIRIN Mehdi, of online fashion blog, Style Craze, says “Research says that lipstick is not just a cosmetic anymore, but an expression of your attitude and personality.” Below is her take on what lipstick says about personality:

26 June, 2016

relationships Photo:www.huffingtonpost.com

around. I’ve had to open another account he doesn’t know about, though, I leave a little money in that account so he can get money to spend. A few of my friends have told me to walk away but sometimes, he looks so vulnerable, and well, I change my mind. He keeps saying he has some project he’s working on that would bring money but after three years, I know better. He just goes out on some days, and comes back with nothing. I really don’t know what to do,” she lamented. For many reasons, women may find themselves in the position of breadwinner. It could come as a result of a partner’s temporary financial setback, a husband’s ill health, a man’s refusal to take responsibility, or even the death of a significant other. According to Dr Tolulope OkoIgaire, sex therapist, relationship and marriage counsellor, and family life coach, “When a woman is in love, she will go the extra mile. Give her your heart and she will give you her world. Even when the woman is the bread winner, she can still maintain her position as the loving and warm woman that she is, only if certain principles are followed.” Dr Oko-Igaire shares five tips for making a marriage work when the woman is the breadwinner:

When she’s the

breadwinner A

S she spoke on the phone, anyone listening could tell she was frustrated. Sandra (surname withheld) sounded sad as she narrated her experience. She broke into tears at a point and it took a few minutes for her to compose herself and continue her narration. According to her, her husband lost his job three years ago and

. . . issues, family, sex

she had been shouldering the responsibilities ever since. “I’m really tired. Sometimes, I think of running away, you know, just to take my daughter and run. I’m so tired and scared. He says such mean things and I have to bite myself to keep from insulting him back. He has refused to get another job. I even tried to find a job for him through my contacts, but he refused to go for

any of the interviews. He accuses me of sleeping around, threatens to walk out of the marriage, and I pray he really leaves soon. Unfortunately, he has stayed put. He demands money from me and God help me if I don’t give it to him. “Of recent, he has resorted to making withdrawals from my account if I make the mistake of leaving my ATM card lying

Trust her According to her, the issue that arises from a woman being the breadwinner has to do mainly with trust. It may be difficult for a man to accept the fact that a woman who goes out to work in the morning and comes back at night can be faithful, especially when she’s the breadwinner and the husband is probably always at home. She needs to be trusted. Do not let the financial problem lower your self esteem as a man; don’t suspect her colleagues and partners. When a woman loves you, she will stay with you all the way. There may be times when she may nag, but trust that she will always come back to her senses. Reading meaning into her every move is very wrong.

Random Fact Love has nothing to do with what you’re expecting to get – only with what you’re expecting to give – which is everything. —Katharine Hepburn

Dr Oko-Igaire

Sunday Tribune

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 rosarumese@gmail.com

It may be difficult for a man to accept the fact that a woman who goes out to work in the morning and comes back at night can be faithful, especially when she’s the bread winner and the husband is probably always at home. She needs to be trusted

Encourage her A woman’s role is supportive and not to carry the whole family burden. However, when a situation like this arises, life must definitely go on, and the only way for it to go on smoothly is to encourage the woman. Making her feel like what she’s doing is not a big deal can dampen her morale; she needs a lot of reassurance and encouragement. Ordinarily, women love sweet words. They are usually moved by what they hear; that’s why smooth talking men always have the best of women. So, it’s important to encourage her, appreciate her and let her understand you know what she’s going through. Assist her As challenging as this may sound, the fact is that a woman on whose shoulders the sole responsibility of the home rest on needs assistance. If you can cook, please do; if you can help with the kids, don’t fail to do so. This will make things run smoothly and not make her feel overwhelmed. It is important that these activities are done out of love. Avoid third parties People will talk, and if you listen to what they say, especially as regards your position in the home as a man, your mind will be polluted. If you can keep what happens in your home between the two of you, it will go a long way. Be the woman that you are This point is for the women; the strength of a woman lies in her softness, not in muscle-flexing like men. As such, do not try to be the man because the husband is incapacitated. Such a move will ruin the marriage.

Sunday Tribune

26 June , 2016

Sunday Tribune

glamour

With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 08054727801

about passed by. One of them noticed me and then told the other excitedly that “see that aunty that we usually see in Life Secret. She is an actress, don’t you know her? The other boy told her that it was not possible, he insisted that I couldn’t be the one. He said that how could an actress be walking on the street of Lagos without a car, adding that how can celebrities be seen on the streets? I felt so sad because at that time in my life, I was seriously struggling with gaining acceptance in the Nigerian film industry. I produced Life Secret myself because no one would give me a role and I couldn’t believe that there could be someone somewhere who could even think that I couldn’t have come up with such a beautiful production or that I couldn’t possibly be the one in the soap opera. It was that bad but I thank God for my life today. God has been good to me. All those who looked at me with contempt back then have a different opinion about me today.

I produced Life Secret myself because no one would give me role and I couldn’t believe that there could be someone who could even think that I couldn’t have come up with such a beautiful production or that I couldn’t possibly be the one in soap opera.

The pains and gains of being a celebrity I have always practiced moderation in everything I do. So the pains and the gains are being properly managed.

beautiful, one can easily win the hearts of directors and producers but the funniest part of this mindset is that, viewers don’t care if an actress is short or tall, they only want somebody who can entertain them. Moreover, I have been a story teller since my primary school days, my classmates back then can testify to that. So, while I was with Alpha Bash Theatre Group as an actress, I knew that someday I was going to launch my career as a writer and film producer. So, since I didn’t really have the statistics that the directors wanted back then in order to go mainstream, this prompted me to start producing my own movies sooner than I thought. That way I could make my own rules. Movie fans started noticing and following my movies and this helped me in getting roles from other producers and directors. From there, I was able to go mainstream. I thank God that things have changed drastically when it comes to casting these days. It is not just about your colour or your height and stature. Now, it is about how best you can deliver your role.

Growing up ROWING up was fun. I was born in Lagos State but I hail from Ososa Ijebu in Ogun State. I am the first born of my family. I have four siblings. My parents made sure we attended very good schools. It was always about discipline and focus. They wanted us all to turn out right and I thank God we did. They are the best parents anyone could ever ask for. I attended Bright Star Nursery and Primary School and Bright Star Comprehensive High School. I proceeded to Babcock University, where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Mass Communications. I am married with children.

My role models in the industry To tell you the truth, I don’t have a role model in the industry but I have a lot of senior colleagues who I sincerely admire for their talents and originality. In Hollywood, I admire people like Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez. In Nigeria, I admire the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Bimbo Akintola, Faithia Balogun, Bukky Wright, Funke Akindele and so on. I must confess there are a lot of them I admire. If I continue to mention names, we will not leave here.

Foray into acting I started doing stage plays right from my primary school days. I however took a bold step in 2002 while still an undergraduate by joining Alpha Bash Music and Theatre Group. We were majorly into stage performances. I scripted and produced my first movie in 2006 entitled: “Life Secret.” I have been an actress but I started Ednawey Productions Ltd 10 years ago.

Where I get inspiration for my stories I get my inspiration from God Almighty. Story telling for me is something I discovered I had in me when I was in primary school. I was very little and I didn’t know where the stories were coming from. All I knew was that I used to pick up pencil and paper to do some illustrations as I tell my stories to almost half of my class during our break periods. I actually learnt how to properly script my stories while I was in secondary school. You can see why I said my inspiration comes from Almighty God who gave me the talent. I give Him all the glory.

Challenges faced I faced a lot of challenges back then. I used to attend a lot of auditions. They used to tell me that I was a very good actress, but I looked very tiny and I am not too pretty. They always expected me to have a big physique as an actress. If one is tall and

My favourite work so far That is a very difficult question. I love all my movies. When I released Kudi Klepto, it was well accepted by the fans and earned me a lot of accolade. When Kurukuru was released, it also got me accolade.

Some fans were shocked seeing me walk in Lagos streets —Kudi Klepto

The name Yewande Adekoya Abiodun may not ring a bell to many lovers of Yoruba home videos but the name Kudi Klepto will. In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, the award winning actress and producer speaks on where she gets inspiration for her movies, how she combines the home front with her career and fashion preferences. Excerpts: Why I shot Kurukuru during pregnancy Around August, 2014, I started preparing for my next movie shoot which was slated for January/ February, 2015. I was already pregnant in August and I was preparing to shoot an epic movie early the following year, I later realised it wasn’t going to work out because I would have been heavy by then and I won’t be able to fit into my character well. So, I had to put aside the script for the time being and then picked up my kurukuru script which ended up being the most appropriate for my pregnant status at the time.

My husband’s reaction to my shooting a movie during pregnancy Yes, He was in support of me shooting Kurukuru. He is my number one fan. Aside from being his wife, he understands my job and the fact that the show must go on. I am always in his prayers and he was with me throughout the shoot in Osogbo. The most embarrassing thing a fan has ever done to me I remember sometimes in 2008, I was walking down the road and two teenagers about 15 or there-

How I have been coping with competition in the industry I am in competition with no one. I run my own race. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone. I just aim to improve to be better than I was before. That’s me, and I’m free. Moreover, fans can’t say because they love Mr A, they won’t buy Mr B’s films. If Mr A, B and C give their fans their best at all times, all their movies will be bought because our fans are insatiable and all they need is quality entertainment. The sky is free for all birds to fly. There is no need for unhealthy competition. Philosophy of life I believe in the Law of Karma. Whatever you sow, you will reap. So, I try as much as possible to be good to myself and to the people around me Definition of style I am down-to-earth and level headed. I am almost a workaholic.

Definition of style Simplicity is my watchword. However, simplicity also encompasses poise, trend and elegance. I wear whatever makes me comfortable. I am not crazy about trend per say. But I always try to use some of what is trending to create my own style Beauty regimen I don’t have a strict regimen. Aside using facial cleansers, I try as much as possible to always wash my face before going to bed. Special treat A weekend getaway with my husband always does the trick. Fashion obsessions I don’t have any. Choice of accessory I don’t have a soft spot for any particular accessory so there is no accessory that is indispensable for me. Favourite designers That is a very hard question to answer. There are so many amazing designers out there. I think I don’t have a specific favourite designer. It’s very common for me to have favourite items or stuff of different designers. Once I am in love with an item, I purchase it. Opinion on toning Our weather here is very harsh, so we have a lot of people with skin discolorations, sunburns and all that which makes it expedient for most people to take extra care of their skin in order for the skin to glow. I am not in favour of skin bleaching. It is very dangerous to one’s health but there is nothing wrong with working towards getting a fresh healthy glowing skin

My take on provocative dressing Everyone is free to dress as they wish provided they are comfortable with it. As for me, moderation is my watchword. What I will like to change about myself Nothing. So I can’t consider cosmetic surgery. Coping with advances from men Thanks to almighty God, I’m coping well. How I have been combining the home front with my career I must confess it has not been easy but I thank God for his grace over my life. It is not by my power at all. God has been faithful. My husband has been very supportive and I am able to successfully combine being a wife and a mum alongside my career. My family has been very understanding and I’m so grateful to them, most especially my husband. Assessment of the Nigerian movie industry We are growing at a very fast pace and I thank God that we are fast becoming a force to reckon with across the globe. Though we are not there yet, there is always room for improvement. Advice for young people who want to join the industry Rome was not built in a day. So they shouldn’t expect to become a big star overnight. It requires hard work and a lot of patience. Words to my fans I want to say a big thank you to my fans for their love and support. I pray God bless them for me. The messages I receive from them all are overwhelming and encouraging.

26 June , 2016

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

AFRIFF, FORD send 15 students to US film school Thirteen Nigerians, a Ghanaian and Rwandan are the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme which began last year

HE Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in partnership with the Ford Foundation reiterated its commitment to improving the skills of young filmmakers on Sunday, June 19 when it sent 15 film students to the Montana State University, United States of America for a month’s training on documentary filmmaking. The beneficiaries, selected from the AFRIFF Talent Development Workshops sponsored by Access Bank and Africa Magic at the 2015 festival held in Lagos, are the second set of recipients of the scholarship. Last year, 35 participants; 15 young film students and 20 upcoming filmmakers, who attended first-hand training at Relativity School, Los Angeles, were involved in the scheme which also has the buy in of Arik Air and Montana State University. Though 20 students qualified for the scholarship, only 15 were granted visas by the American Embassy. They include 13 Nigerians, one Ghanaian and one Rwandan. The Nigerians are: Morakinyo Fapohunda(Lagos); Leke Oyeyinka (Ogun) Kalu Nnamdi Anaga (Enugu); Damian Ashinjo (Benue); Richard Odilu (Delta);

The students at John F Kenedy Airport Tunray Femi (Delta) Kelechi Nduka (Anambra); Dan Ikpoyi (Delta); Adebusola Adeboyejo (Ondo) Kenechukwu Nwatu (Enugu): Alero Okorodus (Lagos); Joy Igbe (Benue) and Susan Akalazu from Imo State. The others are Ghana’s Osei Owusu Banahene and Vanessa Uwase from Rwanda. Speaking at a meeting with the students on Saturday before they travelled on Sunday, Paul Nwulu, program officer with Ford Foundation said the organization’s vision for creative talents fits into AFRIFF’s capacity development program for the Nigerian film industry, hence the partnership.

He disclosed that the first cohort that went for the training in 2015 had a wonderful experience and that Ford has 10 proposals from them. “We are considering funding four of the proposals,” he said, adding that the choice of Montana State University was strategic. He explained that Montana was chosen because of the quality of training it offers on documentary filmmaking and its excellent faculty. “It has one of the best documentary film schools and is right next to the Yellowstone National Park. They have the best teachers and it’s going to be intensive class and field work. The training is going to

Why ’76 took 7 years to make —Tonye Princewill

A scene from ‘76’ THE soon-to-be premiered movie, ’76, followed a painstaking process uncommon in Nollywood. It took seven years to make, is a big budget movie that cost about N100 million and involved deep collaboration with the Nigerian Army. Directed by Izu Ojukwu and featuring the likes of Rita Dominic, Chidi Mokeme, Ramsey Nouah and Ibinabo Fiberesima, the movie centers on a young officer from the Middle Belt who becomes involved in a romantic relationship with an O-level student from the Southeast. Their relationship is however strained by constant military postings and things get worse when the soldier is accused of being involved in the 1976 military coup and assassination of the late eneral Murtala Mohammed. The heavily pregnant wife gets entangled in an emotional dilemma and has to juggle being a woman-

mother and wife. Given its plot and the epoch it explores in Nigeria’s military history, it’s no surprise that the producers had to secure the cooperation of the Nigerian Army before the project could fly. “It took seven years to make this movie. We were not in a hurry at all. We avoided all the errors possible because we set our mind on a global audience from the first day. For close to one year, we were pursuing approval from the authorities of the Nigerian Army. The movie was shot at Mokola Barracks in Ibadan and the story of how the actors were made to fit into the environment should be reserved for another day,” recalls Executive Producer, Prince Tonye Princewill. Given the time it took to make, it’s no surprise that ’76 survived three Chiefs of Army Staff who fortunately, took interest in the

film and gave pointers on how to proceed. In fact, a letter from the Headquarters, Nigeria Army, Department of Civil- Military Affairs signed by Major General R. I. Nicholas for the Chief of Army Staff disclosed why the military desires a collaboration with the creative industry. It reads in part: “This is in furtherance to a need to build a collaborative relationship between the Nigeria Army and the movie industry. We believe that the movie will assist in shaping the current effort at improving the civil-military relations and also educate our people on some of the historic values of the Nigeria Army.” Princewill also feels ‘76 will generate different emotions not only because it is based on reality, but also for its careful combination of acted scenes with real life footage and archival material. “At the end of the movie when the coup plotters were about to be executed at the Bar Beach in Lagos, we moved from a shot scene to a real life scene of when they are being executed. These were some of the tweaks done to give it more authenticity. We actually showed them being executed. We linked a shot scene that was acted to what actually happened. We delivered a smooth transition,” he discloses. Aside this, Princewill also thinks ’76 is a watershed of sorts in Nollywood, being the first time the Nigerian Army would encourage that level of involvement in a movie that comments on military history and an epoch in the Nigerian Army. Having opened the door, he is sure the imagination of other movie makers would be fired to follow the precedence of ’76.

be hard and intensive but you will enjoy it,” Nwulu added. Also speaking, founder/CEO of AFRIFF, Ms Chioma Ude, said she was more excited than the film students because the opportunity is huge. She added that aside from the training, Africa Magic will have jobs for all the students when they return. Reiterating that AFRIFF is not just a film festival, Ude said development of students is also a cornerstone of its activities and that the scholarship is one in a series of its talent development initiatives. She added the initiative was designed to use filmmaking as a vehicle for youth empowerment, more so as it will make them better professionals who will in turn uphold best practices. Ude disclosed that unlike past editions, the 2016 AFRIFF will focus more on training, with two foreign countries set to hold workshops.

How ICT apathy, other factors affected Yoruba literature —Writer A writer, Kehinde Adepegba, has said that advances in Information and Communications Technology and the late adoption of technology, amongst others, have negatively impacted the reading of Yoruba literature. The author of ‘Okele Akobu’, ‘Ogbon Ologbo’n and ‘Eku Eda’ said this at the fourth edition of Yoruba Lakotun, a quarterly live audience participatory programme on creative arts and an interview session with a writer, held recently at Heritage Ethnic Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos. Speaking at the event, Adepegba noted that “the youth of this generation have unlimited access to materials online and they have deserted reading hardcopies of the literatures that have been published sometimes ago.” He enjoined publishers to help writers by publishing electronic versions of their books on various platforms and making it available to the global audience and increasing profitability. Contributing, Adebayo Adegbembo, who developed ‘Asa’ app, disclosed that he and his team have been assiduously working on the preservation of Yoruba language through the app and that they are also working on other Nigerian languages which are being accessed from other parts of the world. He said, “Yoruba in Nigeria should not make the language lose its value because people from other parts of the world, especially those in Jamaica, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, the Caribbean generally, look up to us as the core areas where the language is spoken and we should not let them down in speaking, writing, reading and listening in the language.” Host, Olutayo Irantiola, commended the Lagos State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Mudashiru Obasa for recommending that Yoruba language should be spoken compulsorily in public and private schools to ensure its survival and aid the restoration of dwindling moral values in the society.

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

thepolity Merry-go-round?: As NASS begins another constitution amendment The National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee was in Lagos to kick-start another process of consultations with the members of the public on the fourth amendment exercise. BOLA BADMUS writes on the clamour for a new truly democratic constitution, past failed attempts and the latest effort.

he 1999 Constitution, has, for the most part of the last 16 years, been a controversial document, drawing different comments and perceptions from Nigerians both constitutional experts and laymen. While some see it as an apt-enough document that only needs a few tweaking and reviews to become ‘a perfect’ document for Nigeria’s federal system of government, others describe it as a military constitution, clamouring for wholesale review or even the birth of what they call a pro-people constitution. For people in these two schools of thought, there has been a political ding dong, with the argument becoming almost unending on what should be done with the constitution and how best to move forward in the face several glaring defects in the document despite its sacrosanctity in the all matters and issues that have to do with the governance of the country. For the first school of thought, it would amount to throwing out the baby with the bath if a wholesale review of the constitution is given consideration. This group, it must be noted, have appeared to be stronger and victorious in the arguments since 1999, with Presidency and the National Assembly always taking to their options of piecemeal reviews and amendments in the last 16 years of democracy. The second group, however, has remained unflinching and determined, with their voices remaining ever so vociferous at every point they have the platform of discourse. In what would be a tilt of the balance of victory in the direction of the new constitution advocates, however, the 2014 National Conference was convoked, at the end of which some of the participants agitated for the recommendations of the conference to birth a new constitution, an agitation that was deftly killed by the ruling class, especially the National Assembly, which felt that its place could be threatened. The National Assembly, which had already embarked on the process of reviewing the 1999 constitution before the convocation of the conference, responded with several recommendations for amendments, which could not see the light of day until the end of the government in 2015. In a fresh attempt to see to the remaking of the document, however, the National Assembly, recently, put machinery in motion for a fresh round of review, a development that has begun to generate different reactions in the polity since the lawmakers recently converged on Lagos penultimate Friday for a three-day retreat on the exercise. The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, led senators and House of Representatives members to Lagos for the much-needed groundwork for the review. But this voyage was not the first of its kind; past exercises have resulted in piecemeal amendments of the document1999. And as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman, National Assembly Committee on Review of the Constitution said, the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was informed by agitation for its amendment from members of the public, almost immediately after the birth of the current democratic dispensation. “Sadly, of all the efforts to amend it, only the First, Second, and Third Alterations Bills in the Sixth Nation-

Dr Bukola Saraki, Senate President

al Assembly were successful,” he recalled. Therefore, the gathering at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, venue of the retreat, where Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was ably represented by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adewale Kassim, with international organisations and resource persons such as the Department for International Development (DFID), International Republican Institute (IRI), and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), among others also in attendance, was aimed at sensitising members of the public on the 4th Constitution Amendment, which is to be embarked upon again following its failure to sail through under the regime of immediate former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was said to have refused to assent to the bill to enable it become part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But what was exactly the problem encountered by the 4th Constitution Amendment Bill? According to Ekweremadu, in his opening speech, the Jonathan administration was to blame for the failure of the amendments to become part of the Nigerian constitution. Narrating how the exercise was bungled, the Deputy Senate President recalled that the National Assembly had reliably gathered that former President Jonathan assented to the Fourth Alteration Bill, but was surprised to get a letter from him stating clearly that he was returning it without attaching the original Bill. The three-day retreat tagged “Towards Ensuring Governance Accountability in Nigerian Federalism,” therefore, became a ready avenue for Ekweremadu to bring to the fore the portions of the constitution that the failed 4th Constitution Amendment actually contained. This, he said, included portions such as the one mandating that a presidential assent be sought to a bill to amend any por-

Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives

tion of the constitution, as such bill could not be described as an ordinary bill. The failed amendment bill also sought to prescribe timeline for presidential assent to Bills passed by the National Assembly for them to become laws, with the third alteration being the separation of the office of the Minister of Justice from the office of the Attorney-General as well as the attempt to amend Section 195 to provide for the office of the Commissioner for Justice separate from that of the Attorney-General of a state. The fourth amendment had to do with the issue of financial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly. Speaking on the need for the various amendments, Ekweremadu said that it was the view of the legislature that presidential assent was not needed for a bill to amend the constitution of Nigeria and, therefore, should be removed from the constitution. This, according to him, is because, “it is the only bill that requires the two-thirds majority of each chamber of the National Assembly to pass in the first instance. It is also the only bill that requires the approval of two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly to pass.” He said, “presidential veto of a bill to amend the constitution makes a jest of the philosophy of sovereignty, which is that power belongs to the people, and that the people exercise this sovereignty through their representatives in parliament.” On the issue of prescribing timeline for presidential assent to bills, he said the Fourth Alteration Bill now being pursued “provided for a 30-day grace for the president or a governor of a state to sign bills passed and transmitted to him by the National Assembly/State Assembly or indicontinues

pg 30

Sunday Tribune

inter

26 June, 2016

Buhari’s govt lacks unders problems —Reps member

He has performed excellently

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level is affecting some states of the South-West, with the Lagos St party, speak with BOLA BADMUS on the genuineness of their claims.

OW will you describe the first one year of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration? All governments should be assessed based on some parameters. One of such is that governments are expected to deliver on their promises to the people. The number one expectation of the people from government is to provide security. Next is the provision of social amenities, which include power, road, school, among others. In the first six months, there was serious escalation of the Boko Haram insurgency. There were bombings here and there, but towards the last six months, it seems the tide of Boko Haram, particularly within the Sambisa forest, subsided. If we look at electricity, this government failed on its promises. On education, this government has not made enough provisions. If we look at social security, provision of food, we will discover that food has become more expensive in the one year period. Contrary to the promise on essential commodities like petroleum, the price has jumped from N87 to N145, and before then there was scarcity and long queues for many months. Promises like provision of food, increment in allowances of members of the National Youth Service Corps, provision of three million jobs every year, this government has failed to meet such expectations. The security we have gained in the North-East, we have now started losing in the South-South. All these put together, I will rate this government very low in the first one year. What is your assessment of the first 12 months of the performance of the House of Representatives, to which you belong? This is my first term in the National Assembly and whatever assessments I have been giving about previous assemblies were assessments from an outsider. I have realised that there are some challenges facing the parliamentarians that are unknown to people out there. But if one considers the dearth of resources being experienced by this eighth assembly, we have done wonderfully very well in terms of our resolutions, passage of bills and showing understanding with the executive, even in the face of unnecessary provocations, in the face of throwing a spanner into the works of the parliamentarians and our working processes. Talking about dearth of resources in the legislative arm, don’t you think this can be the same reason why the Buhari-led government has failed to fulfill many of its promises? Yes, we know that the price of oil fell, but besides the fall in the price of oil, there was also the cut in the production of oil, principally due to mismanagement of the crisis in the Niger Delta. Unfortunately, this government failed woefully in the manner it has handled the issue of Niger Delta. Yar’Adua was not stupid to have entered into negotiations with the militants. Jonathan followed suit, but Buhari came in and has been so high-handed on them. The mismanagement of what he met on ground accounted for the drastic fall in production. As of today, we are producing less than one million barrels per day. He should be held responsible for the dwindling income government is experiencing. Talking about what we are experiencing in the National Assembly, it is not about the income of Nigeria; it is about

the deliberate cut in our budget and allowances so that such money can be deployed to other sectors. This is quite different from when looking at a general paucity of funds in the country. This government submitted a budget of over N6 trillion, the highest in the history of the country and he said it would principally be financed by the non-oil sector. The question that comes to the minds of the people is: where is the magic, if you base a budget on non-oil income and the only economic stimulant we have in Nigeria is petroleum? It looks like self-deception. If you say you are financing a budget from a non-oil income that means the budget will be financed through taxation, agriculture, solid mineral, tourism and so on. If we are talking about taxation, it will take a well stimulated economy to propel ability to pay tax. So, this is a self-induced problem by this administration. The government must find a way of how they are going to meet their promises. The argument is that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 16 years in power led the country to its present situation. PDP inherited 21 years rot from the military. PDP met less than $2 billion in foreign reserves in 1999 and we hit the ground running. And because we had nobody to accuse of bequeathing to us the rot, we were prepared. We held Nigeria together for that 16 years. What rot can be more devastating? Is it the rot the APC claims it inherited from a democratiOmogbehin Honourable Mike cally elected government or the one that PDP inherited from a dictatorial government? PDP inherited less Jonthan $2 billion in foreign reserves; APC inherited $38 athan’s. Who is heading the billion in reserves. Government is a continuum. You team of this administration? It is very easy for somebody to inherit the assets and liabilities. The APC-led administra- be in opposition and criticise. It is another thing when you tion ought to have a plan before coming to government. If become the driver and you are holding the economic steeryou have inherited and in 12 months you cannot add any ing. This administration lacks direction, understanding of improvement, you should, at least, sustain the level you the economic problems facing the country. inherited. If you inherited dollar at the rate of N170 and today we have different types of rate for dollar, is it the rot What do you think is the solution to the present they inherited that does not allow them to have economic situation in the country? ingenuity and balancing? For how long will they blame Mr President should settle down. It is good for him and PDP for their failure in government? Nigeria to fight corruption. I support fighting corruption. To many Nigerians, the country is facing this crisis because the APC-led government doesn’t have an economic team like it used to be in the past. Can this be adduced as one of the reasons for the present situation? Of course, it looks to me that the APC was preparing and was ready for war and fighting than it was ready for governance. The leader of the government today contested four times before he won the election. I want to believe that before now, he must have created a particular team that will continuously assess the economic situation in the country and give him a blueprint. Unfortunately, Nigerians did not know that Buhari lacked such. Up till today, this government has no economic direction and they came to tell us they are basing the budget on non-oil sector. How they want to achieve that still remains a mirage. The regime of Ibrahim Babangida had the like of Professor Sam Aluko in his team; we had Okonjo-Iweala heading Obasanjo’s economic team and later

But the problem of Nigeria today is not corruption alone. We must sit down to look at diversification. We must sit down to fashion out other ways of generating income for this country. We must put in place policies that will keep our people busy, policies that will create jobs, allow foreign investors to have confidence in Nigeria. We should stop creating a negative perception about this country, which Mr President has done for over one year. This will scare away foreign direct investments. We have seen a lot of capital flight through the disinvestment in this past one year than we ever had in the history of this country. While he is busy fighting corruption, he should also find time in managing the perception of the country. He must find a way to add to power generation and distribution that will stimulate the real sector, because without that we cannot move anywhere. He should reduce concentration on the vindictive anti-corruption war he is fighting. That war

Continues pg 30

rview

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

standing of Nigeria’s

y —Lagos lawmaker

tate chapter of the party. Mr Moshood Salvador and Mr Segun Adewale, two individuals who claim to be the state chairmen of the

In the last one year in the assembly and against the backdrop of the legislative agenda which you rolled out at the commencement of this session, what would say have been the achievements of the assembly? I can say that within the last one year, we have passed eight bills that have eventually become laws. And as I am talking to you, there are about 19 bills at the second reading, going for a third reading; some are at committee stage. We have also exposed the House to the entire world; the world now is a global village. You can reach the House; you can access the activities of each member of the House on the social media, whether through twitter, facebook or instagram, among many others, and very soon, you will be watching the proceeding of the House live on TV online.

Honourable Olum

uyiwa Jimoh

ECENTLY the Lagos State House of Assembly passed a resolution asking the governor to sack all the former Executive Secretaries of LGs and LCDAsand replace them with Sole Administrators, what informed the House in taking that decision? Firstly, they were appointed for a very brief period and they have exceeded the period. The second is that some of them are aspiring to become substantive council chairmen. So, the House in its wisdom asked the governor to relieve them and let them go and face their campaign and leave the field of governance for those who are not interested in running for elective positions so there can be concentration on administration and governance in the local government. Some are saying that the assembly took that decision based on the claim by people that Lagosians were not seeing their impacts. Are you saying the reason was not beyond what you have just explained? Well, it is not beyond what I said. We are part of the people. We were elected by the people and we have the prerogative by the Schedule 4 of the 1999 Constitution. They were not elected; they were appointed and they have exceeded the period. They can go in their various ways. They have served the states in their various capacities which we appreciated on the floor of the House.

Can you in particular tell us some of the major bills that you have passed into law? All the laws are critical and major. The Lagos State University Amendment Law of 2016 is critical for the amendment of LASU Law, the Education Trust Fund Law, the Empowerment Trust Fund Law, the Security Trust Fund Law and some many others are critical laws that have added value to the lives of people in Lagos. Like the Empowerment Trust Fund Law, you will be given loans by government to cushion the effect of your trade. It has not happened in this part of the country before; we are the first one to introduce it for better governance. Paucity of funds has affected running of government in most states of the federation, what would you say is the magic here in Lagos? It is proper planning and thinking. We think what they called helicopter factor in accounting, which is ability to think above others. We are thinking; we are not sleeping. We are struggling over the social contradiction in the world over. We have to prepare ourselves. Lagos is an emerging mega city; Lagos will compete with any other city in the world. So we have to think ahead to improve our internally generated revenue without frustrating the lives of the people. Now, the economy is so bad? Yes, and it is all over the world and not only in Nigeria. Against that background, people are clamouring for restructuring of the country, why is it now that such call is becoming so strong? Well, restructuring is the midwife that would give birth to what we want in Nigeria. I don’t have doubt about that; but it is not what you earn through theory, you earn it by practice. Restructuring is by practice. The problem is like plant, as Chief Obafemi Awolowo would say. It has roots; you have to tackle it from the roots. So it is not served a la carte. It’s like freedom. Freedom is not free; it has a price. You have to work for it. Restructuring in Nigeria is not go-

ing to be something that is going to be achieved by debate; you earn it. It is not by debate. So that is the fundamental thing that is wrong with the way people are pursuing it. Do you think it is possible to restructure under the system we run now? It is possible; it is even more possible now than before. Can you assess the present government in Lagos State? So far, it has done well, but as far as I am concerned, the reward of hard work is more work. Within the limited time that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has governed Lagos, we have seen the difference in our internally generated revenue. In our approach to issues, he is working silently without making noise over it. It’s encouraging and people like it; but the reward for that is more work. What will you now consider as the major challenges that the state is facing in the current federal setup? One of the challenges is that Lagos should be given the status of former capital; it is entitled to special allocation. As the economic hub of the country, it is entitled to another special allocation and as an intending mega city; it is entitled to derivation from the Federal Government. So these are the major challenges Lagos State is facing and we are requesting that the Federal Government should do something about. To whom much is given, much is expected. The government of Muhammadu Buhari, was one year in office recently. Based on the promises he made, do you think he has been able to fulfill them and what do you think are his challenges? Within one year, he has been fighting corruption, which was one of the fundamentals of his campaigns. He has recouped a lot of trillions for the country from the “comity of looters.” I am not saying all the electoral promises he made have been achieved, but one year is not enough to evaluate thoroughly what the president, especially one that met rot on the ground, has achieved. But within one year that he has served, what he has achieved is excellent, I must be frank with you. A lot of people would say different thing about it, I mean critics, but the truth of the matter is that he is tackling corruption and it will make other works easier. What would you say would be the palliative he should apply to alleviating poverty that is growing in the land? They have introduced loan facilities to one million market women to make them prosper in whatever they are selling. They have introduced feeding to schools, which is part of the agenda and campaign promises. They opened ways for employment minimally, remember, Nigeria is almost bankrupt; Nigeria is broke. This government doesn’t pretend about that; they have made it open to the entire Nigerians. So we are working from that backdrop of deficit and if you have that at the back of your mind, and whatever has been achieved within one year, you know it is a government that is committed to the development of the people. Continues pg 30

thepolity

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Constitution amendment not a routine’ continued from pg 27 cate his decline of assent, failing which it automatically becomes an Act of Parliament.” To this end, he said, “Section 58 and Section 100 were amended in the proposed alteration to this effect.” Speaking on the third alteration, which has to do with the separation of the office of the Minister of Justice from that of the Attorney-General, for which he expressed some concerns, Ekeremadu said it was noteworthy that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice agreed to this proposal at the public hearing. “The truth is that combining both offices in an appointee of the president or governor, as the case may be, is a huge setback to justice and disservice to anti-corruption. We are aware that by simply entering a nolle proseque, the Attorney-General of the Federation or state can technically quash any case, no matter how criminal. “Therefore, we altered Section 150 to provide for establishment of the office of Minister of Justice separate from office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. New Sections 174A-174H were inserted to set out the qualifications and guarantee the autonomy as well as improved powers for the Attorney-General of the Federation. For example, while the National Judicial Council was to recommend, the president was to appoint, while the National Assembly was to confirm. “Likewise, Section 195 was amended to provide for the office of Commissioner for Justice separate from Attorney General of a State. Section 211 was also altered by inserting new Sections 211A-211H to provide for qualifications, improved powers and autonomy of the Attorney General of a State,” he said. He, however, pointed out that it was surprising to the leadership of the National Assembly “when the same office made a summersault when the bill was presented for presidential assent.” While describing the fate suffered by the 4th Constitution Amendment Bill as unfortunate, Ekweremadu, expressed strong belief that all the recommendations contained in the failed document were still intact and would, therefore, form the new 4th Amendment Bill now to be addressed, together with others such as diaspora voting and decentralised policing, which he contended that Nigerians, through their memoranda to the committee, felt strongly about. According to him, “the period between the last amendment exercise and now must have thrown up new concerns or reinforced old ones. Nigerians would have had a rethink on so many matters, dropping earlier-held opinions and accepting or canvassing new one. I am aware that many Nigerians, including former governors who were initially opposed to decentralised policing during the last exercise inundated me with calls, trying to explore the possibility of reintroducing the subject in last amendment after

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, chairman Constitution Review Committee

it was voted out. But it was already too late. “There is also no doubt that we are currently learning the hard way in the face of economic and security realities.” Ekweremadu, while assuring that the new exercise would be driven by the principles of inclusiveness, popular participation, and transparency, disclosed that some lessons had been learnt and experience no doubt gained from the immediate past occurrence to enable the new exercise end in success. “First is the need to always conclude constitution amendment processes far ahead of election season. It reduces the contamination of an otherwise patriotic exercise by personal, political, and other narrow considerations,” Ekweremadu said, even as he also concurred with the directive issued by President of the Senate, Saraki, at the inauguration of his committee to conclude the present exercise by December 2016. Ekweremadu said it was based on this that the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yusuf and Chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Ismaila Kamba, who is also the Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, were to be part of the constitution amendment process from the outset, saying that “it will enable all of us to be on the same page from the onset.” Speaking at the gathering, Saraki, while observing that Nigeria had sought to develop for itself a workable constitution on which her unity could be perfected, recalled that other nations had trodden a similar path. He recalled: “For instance, following the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War in 1776, the original 13 States of the United States of America operated an Article of Confederacy, a necessary but unwieldy document that institutionalised a central government. The Article lasted for eight years before it was jettisoned for the current constitution of the United States.” While noting that constitution-making had always been a

challenging issue in any polity, as it was expected to put together the aspiration, commitment, values and agreement of different communities, he declared that, “this review process must not in any way dent the solemnity, integrity and infallibility that should be ascribed to the 1999 Constitution. “Rather, we are by this process celebrating and affirming the inviolability of our constitution and its integrity. It is in no way a ritual or a routine,” he added. Saraki, therefore, urged the committee to, in this first phase, concentrate on the 4th Alteration Bill and conclusively address it before dealing with other proposals. The Lagos State governor, who was represented by his Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adewale Kassim, described the retreat organised by the Committee on Review of the Constitution as commendable, describing the Senate as a driving force for such initiative in Nigeria. The governor expressed the belief that reviewing the constitution, which the retreat was part of, should have as its focus promoting culture of accountability, justice, fairness and equity that would ensure the practice of true federalism that Nigerians all yearned for. In his remark, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun, who is incidentally the Deputy Chairman, National Assembly Committee on Review of the Constitution, disclosed that both arms of the National Assembly had since inaugurated their relevant committees to commence the amendment to the constitution, pointing out that chairman of keys committees in the two chambers were recruited as members. This was just as he listed other areas that would attract the attention of the committee to include the section that says a presidential or governorship candidate would only become validly nominated until when he is able to pick a running mate, among others. Speaking with newsmen at the venue of the retreat, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, while applauding the retreat, urged that an open mind be kept throughout the period of reviewing the constitution in order to achieve a better Nigeria, adding that there was the need to have a holistic look at the constitution for the betterment of Nigeria. The Senator representing Lagos East, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, in his view, said every democratic government had the sole energy coming from the constitution of that nation or the state, saying to that extent, it was always good to have a regular retreat particularly when a new government came in in order assist such government to perform better, especially now that Nigeria is facing some challenges. Now that the three-day retreat has since being rounded up and also given the recent past experience concerning the failed 4th Amendment exercise, which the now more experienced Deputy Senate President, said was quite instructive to guide the current exercise in order to achieve a resounding success, it is apt to say Nigerians and the international community are indeed watching to see the final outcome of the ongoing exercise.

interview

Why Lagos must be given special status —Lawmaker Continued from pg 28 There is growing restiveness in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, with some people agitating for a sovereign State of Biafra and the Niger Delta Avengers going on rampage, while the Boko Haram issue is yet to be resolved, what will be your advice to Mr. President as a way of resolving these problems? The president is a former general in the Nigeria Army; he knows very well what to do. But he is treading softly so that those who are innocent would not be casualties of the crisis involving those who call themselves the Avengers and Boko Haram. And the Biafra agitators? Those who are making protests are those who fell out of favour when they were voted out in the last elections. There

is no doubt about that. It’s not that they are serious-minded persons. It is not by carrying placards or sticks that would give you the right to self-determination, you have to be subjected to critical discourse. A former militant advised Bu-

hari not to go into dialogue with the Avengers, saying there would be no end to such, do you also support this? Well, there is a merit in what he has said. I don’t see the reason why you will be dialoguing with saboteurs. They sabotage the economy by vandalising pipelines and

they want negotiation so that they would be compensated? I don’t think we should take them serious. What is your advice to the Avengers? They should sheathe their swords and believe in the unity of Nigeria.

This govt lacks understanding of Nigeria’s problems —Reps member Continued from pg 29 seems to be one-sided. All you have to do today if you are corrupt is to just cross to his party and automatically you become a saint. If the effort he has concentrated on probing the campaign funds of the PDP

has been concentrated on managing the economy of Nigeria, the country would have been moving ahead. So, while the president is busy fighting corruption, he should, please, use some energy on how to regenerate our economy. This oil will dry one day. We have seen the experience

now that once there is no oil, Nigeria is nothing. We must go back to the days of the pyramid in the North, cocoa in South-West and palm kernel in the North- East. There must be deliberate arrangements by the Federal Government to achieve this.

opinion

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Overbearing, indolent Nigerian legislature By Omolara Akindeko

HE beauty of democracy is the liberty to choose freely. Its attractive ingredients include seeming representation of diverse views, opinions and tendencies. But perhaps, the principle of separation of power with inbuilt checks and balances among the legislature, the executive and the judiciary is the most cherished aspect of constitutional rule. The Nigerian political structure is largely borrowed from the American Presidential system, where each arm of government takes pride in asserting its roles within the confines of the Constitution. In the United States, Congress’s oversight authority derives from its “implied” powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules. It is an integral part of the American system of checks and balances. Congressional oversight “is oversight by the United States Congress over the Executive Branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight includes the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation. Congress exercises this power largely through its committee system covering authorization, appropriations, investigative, and legislative hearings by standing committees; specialized investigations by select committees; and reviews and studies by congressional support agencies and staff.” Oversight is an implied rather than an enumerated power under the U.S. Constitution. The Congress does not have the authority to conduct inquiries or investigations of the Executive, to have access to records or materials held by the Executive, or to issue subpoenas for documents or testimony from the Executive. Oversight also derives from the varied powers of the Congress in the Constitution. It is implied in the legislature’s authority, among other powers and duties, to appropriate funds, enact laws, raise and support armies, declare war, impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, and other civil officers. The Watergate Scandal, which disgraced President Richard Nixon out of office and the Monika Lewinsky affair, which rattled former President Bill Clinton are remarkable examples of the use of oversight powers by the American Congress. The Nigerian National Assembly is becoming very infamous for trivialising its powers to oversight the Executive arm of government. Rather than spend time on building solid frameworks for good governance, Nigerian lawmakers have become quite notorious in harassing cabinet ministers and heads of government agencies. If the foregoing assessment is debatable, what about the

performance record of the NASS? In its first legislative year ended June 9, 2016, the Senate received 271 bills, four of them from the Executive. In 12 months, only seven bills were passed, giving the Senate a 4.1 percentage score. In the lower chamber, 685 bills were presented, but only 85 were passed while 130 were referred to committees. In concrete terms, the House of Representatives scored 12.4 per cent. With such dismal performance, Nigerian lawmakers are reputedly the highest paid in the world, going by a report published by The Economist Magazine. A Nigerian Senator earns N353, 750,988 yearly in consolidated emolument. This amount is 52 per cent higher than what Lawmakers in Kenya are paid, being the second highest in Africa. Meanwhile, minimum wage remains N18,000 monthly 0r N216,000 a year for most hapless Nigerians. To whom much is giving, a lot is expected. The performance, pronouncements and posture of these over pampered lawmakers must be worrisome to many Nigerians. Hiding under the guise of carrying out oversight functions, they have become a pain in the neck, dabbling into issues that are best resolved at the Executive level. The latest of such infraction is the MTN saga. The Nigerian Communications Commission, in exercise of its regulatory role, had in October, last year, imposed a N1.04 trillion fine on MTN for failing to disconnect unregistered SIM lines. After several representations and negotiations, including a visit to Nigeria by South African President, Jacob Zuma, the fine was reduced to N330 billion. These negotiations, with a court case instituted by the telecoms company, happened over a period of eight months, inflicting a lot of pressure on its business. Meanwhile, the Senate and the House Committees on Communications had called several meetings with MTN and NCC seeking information, more appropriately seeking relevance in a matter that is purely within the purview of the regulatory agency. Many analysts have expressed reservations on the overbearing posture of these committees which duplicate efforts, asking Ministers to come and explain the workings of their office at the National Assembly.

At the last count, the House of Representatives committee had called five meetings, seeking to teach NCC how to discharge its functions by interpreting its enabling law. In the wisdom of the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Saheed Fijabi, the fine on MTN “should have been doubled to about N3 trillion and not even the N1.04 trillion they were asked to pay.” If the committees were diligent enough, they would have found that Section 73 of the NCC Act says: The Commission shall have powers to resolve disputes between persons who are subject to this Act (the parties) regarding any matter under this Act or its subsidiary legislations. The import of the above proviso is that dispute resolution with respect to operations of the NCC is an exclusive Executive function under Section 73 of the NCC Act. There is no room for intervention by the Legislature! These two committees must be oblivious of the issues governing the telecommunications industry. Unlike other sectors that require massive funding from government, the ICT industry is an enabler of economic activities. With right policies and operating environment, it acts as a catalyst for job and wealth creation. The National Bureau of Statistics, reporting the performance of the sector recently said: “In real terms, the telecommunications sector contributed N1,411.74 billion to GDP in the first quarter of 2016, or 8.83 per cent, an increase of 0.5 per cent points relative to the same quarter of the previous year. “In contrast with the economy as a whole which recorded a real growth rate of -0.36 per cent in the first quarter, growth in the telecommunications sector increased to 5.00 per cent in the first quarter, from 3.49 per cent in the final quarter of 2015. The share of telecommunications in total real GDP had declined throughout 2010 to 2014; but for the last five quarters, growth in telecommunications has been higher, meaning the trend has reversed.” The suggestion of the committees for a strict enforcement of the fines on MTN flies in the face of logic. The intention of the penalty is not to raise funds for government, rather it is a regulatory function designed like other regulations, to ensure quality service, protection of consumers’ rights and national interest. Besides, the NCC cannot maintain a rigid position in protecting an industry that is yet to realise its full potentials. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, while signing the settlement agreement with MTN, said the decision to vary the penalty “was taken based on professional and global best practices, in line with the NCC core value ‘to be fair, firm and forthright.’” • Akindeko is Executive Director, The Leaders International Institute, Abuja.

Blame game on power supply By Ibrahim Aliu IN Kenya recently, there was a blackout across the nation for four hours and people wondered what had happened, but not for long . The power generating company KenGen issued a statement that a monkey had accidentally tripped an equipment in an hydropower plant, which triggered the nationwide blackout. The genco said that the monkey survived the ordeal and that Kenya had lost 183 megawatts during the blackout and the company apologised to consumers and promised to secure its facilities from such future power hazards that can cause unexpected blackouts. As a Nigerian and an African, I could not help but admire the way the power company in Kenya handled the explanation of a four-hour blackout so quickly and so efficiently. Of course, most Nigerians will argue that the situation of power supply in Kenya is not comparable with that of Nigeria, because power supply in Nigeria is erratic and we have more blackouts on a regular basis than regular and continuous supply as witnessed in Kenya where people were bothered by a four-hour blackout . I will, without wasting time, agree with them on that score. This is because the Kenyan power company has been allowed to do its public relations without any pressure and without any monkey tricks or interruption from any quarter on the source of power failure. In Nigeria, however, the way blackouts are explained

is completely different. The regular culprit in the public minds are the distribution companies that deliver electricity to our homes and companies and bring the electricity bills for consumers to pay. This has been reinforced by the hostile attitude of the trade unions in the power sector in the way they mobilised consumers against the discos when tariffs for electricity approved for them by the regulator of electricity in Nigeria, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, were announced early this year. The unions went all the way to instigate even the Senate to stop the tariffs increase and NERC went to court to accuse the Senate of usurping its legitimate function as the regulator of electricity in Nigeria. The unions did not stop there, they asked workers to go on strike on the new electricity tariffs as if they are the same thing with the fuel price increase to N145 on which they called out workers on strike to no avail recently. This is despite the well-known fact to Nigerians and the union leaders that discos don’t generate or transmit electricity but only deliver to consumers as and when power is available and bill such consumers for electricity supplied and utilised. Stakeholders in the Nigerian electricity industry include the Nigerian Electricity Bulk Trading Company, gencos, discos and transmission companies. How come then that the Nigerian union leaders are always pointing accusing fingers at the discos whenever there is power failure? As the Kenyan example has shown, it was a genco that explained what happened. It was not a

disco. In Nigeria, it is a well-known fact that pipeline vandalism nationwide has drastically reduced the generation and transmission of electricity, not to talk of distribution of electricity, which is the responsibility of the discos. But then, can the discos distribute what they don’t have? Definitely not. Similarly, the gencos cannot generate when they don’t have the basic ingredients to generate power when sources of such generation have been rendered unproductive or inactive by vandals. In Kenya, the KenGen was lucky that it was a monkey up to its tricks that cut power for four hours only. In Nigeria, it is an army of vandals that are stalling electricity production on a daily and consistent basis and they have even metamorphosed into a virile terrorist group called the Avengers of the Niger Delta, who are daring and tasking the federal might of the state. That really is the core of the matter and that is what the unions should focus on as the cause of irregular electricity supply and not the discos, which are at the receiving end of the poor electricity supply chain and should not be blamed by the unions like the Kenyan monkey for what is not their fault. That is a monkey trick that the unions have used so far and that should just stop immediately to enable Nigerians to enjoy a much-deserved right to regular electricity generation and distribution as quickly as possible. • Aliu writes from Kano.

26 June, 2016

ON THE

lord’sday

Sunday Tribune

With Bolanle Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 07052631058

Has our ‘husband’ run mad again?

“

HOSE whom the gods will destroy, they first make deaf” – Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. Only God knows what we can do without artistes – writers, intellectuals, and critics especially. What would our world be without their artistic talents, creativity, and Bohemian spirit? To my mind, they are the very essence of our existence; the totality of our being. Apart from educating and entertaining us, they interrogate ’knowledge’; speak the truth to power; explore unknown terrains; and fantasise about the future. In doing these, they break barriers and lounge us into new frontiers. They help restrain despots and free a thousand thoughts to contend and thousands more ideas to blossom. These they do at grave personal risks to their own freedoms, liberties, and limbs. In “Writers against rulers,”DusanHamsik extensively discussed the perils of those who frontally confront officialdom, especially vile dictatorship. As editor-in-chief of the official newspaper of the Czech Writers’ Union, “LiterarniNoviny,”Hamsik graphically chronicled how Czech intellectuals and writers confronted the “Berlin wall” of official bureaucracy and autocracy as the writers prepared for the 1967 Congress of their Union. Those were the days of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain when official censorship and authoritarianism held sway against the human spirit which, ebullient and ever effervescent, demanded and forcibly appropriated, at great costs, the freedoms and liberties necessary for rejuvenation, renewal, and rebirth. Whereas the Berlin wall has collapsed and the Iron Curtain torn into shreds in the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), authoritarianism is yet to be defeated across the globe. In many of the nations of the world, dictators, many of them in the garb of elected leaders, still strut the landscape. Our country, Nigeria, no less! Thank God, President Muhammadu Buhari is back from his trip to Britain. Be it holiday or medical treatment, we are happy he is back hale and hearty. Now, he should be better able to devote all attention to the job Nigerians hired him to do. Before now, we have heard very discomforting news that the president was a snob. You can talk for God-knows-how-long and at the end of it; all you get is “thank you”! Now, with the revelation that the president had ear infection, we can understand what might have happened: The president might not have heard them fully or might not have heard them at all! This goes to show that something is still wrong with the way we practise the presidential system here: Too much secrecy still surrounds the business of government and government top functionaries; one of which is the state of their health. How healthy are the men and women who aspire to lead this country? Their health status ought to be in the public purview well before election date for voters to peruse and make up their minds one way or another. In the United States whose presidential system we copy, this is always the case. There is no privacy involved here. Those who choose to offer themselves for leadership positions ought to reveal all the information about themselves – their health and finances especially. While Buhari came out clean on one, he neglected to do the other. I doubt whether his hearing issue is a new phenomenon. Do we assume that the president is well enough now to assume the onerous duties of his high office or must there be the formality of someone with the appropriate authorisation to make a definitive pronouncement on the issue? And who can that be: The president’s personal physician or the Minister of Health or a Medical Board? This issue must not be treated with levity or swept under the carpet as we are wont to do. The president himself

was quoted recently as saying that Nigeria is not easy to govern. Any form of disability can only make that task much more onerous. Have you suffered ear infection/ hearing problem before, you will understand how easily it makes the sufferer irritable and aggressive. This president is a fighter; we have said it before that on issues that should, ordinarily, be settled around the negotiation table, this president sends troops to handle. That is why he is engaged on many war fronts at one and same time and is embroiled in many disputes with friends and foes alike. He should ask Jethro, biblical Moses’s father-in-law: In no time, he will wear himself out and weary the nation as well. This president may have good intentions, but what are good intentions if the right approach to issues is not applied to husband them? It has been said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. This was how Buhari floundered with his good intentions on his first coming as military dictator because his approach was not correct. He promulgated draconian laws with retroactive effects and sent three young Nigerians to an early grave. He enacted laws which criminalised publication of the truth and sent two Nigerian newspaper editors to jail. His craftily-drafted money laundering law trapped and jailed Afro-beat king Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whose prosecution and sentencing were patently flawed and, in the end, led to Fela’s unconditional release from jail. His government ordered a demeaning search on the home of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; ordered the humiliation of three first-class traditional rulers; and looked the other way while 53 suitcases belonging to an Emir entered through the airport against the decrees of the regime. Buhari’s regime also was noted for his preferential treatment: While the ousted President Shehu Shagari was put under house arrest, Vice- President Alex

Ekwueme was hauled into prison. The regime also did not obey its own laws: While it banned minors from pilgrimage to the holy lands, the Number Two in that regime, Tunde Idiagbon, took his 14-year-old son with him on pilgrimage to Mecca. He was on that pilgrimage when the regime was toppled. Nigerians have not forgotten all these dark sides of Buhari. And there are many who have also not forgiven him. This was why thrice he ran for the presidency in 2003, 2007, and 2011 and Nigerians flatly rejected him. And each time the present reminds us of the past, we squirm. In the intervening years between the time Buhari was toppled in 1985 and his election as president last year, he also chalked up more negatives. His statements in support of Boko Haram; his provocative statement of baboon and monkey will be soaked in blood, which many still hold responsible for the mindless butchering of innocent NYSC members and others in the aftermath of the 2011 presidential election; his “arrest me if you can” pugnacious statement after the blood of the innocent was shed; and his seemingly Idon’t-care attitude to the rampage of Fulani herdsmen, who have turned the country into their killing field – all these and many others make Nigerians wary of the man Buhari, including many who voted to make him president in 2015. The choice of Buhari was not an easy one for many to make. It was like we were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Buhari should be grateful that, ultimately, the doubts were resolved in his favour. He should reciprocate with good governance. And good governance starts with treating the man who conceded power to him on a platter with utmost respect. If exPresident Goodluck Jonathan had been as desperate for power as Buhari, Nigeria would have gone to the dogs and whether or not he won the 2015 election, there would have been no country for Buhari to preside over. Good governance is carried forward when Buhari behaves as the president of the entire country and the leader behind whom every Nigerian would feel safe, confident, and comfortable enough to file. But this president has been divisive – and embarrassingly so. Nothing justifies the way Buhari has polarised Nigerians and heated up the polity. At no time in our recent past has this country been so polarised and the polity so much on the boil. Resurgent Biafra, which was timid under Jonathan, has suddenly found its voice. The militants are back with vengeance in the Niger Delta. The economy is prostrate. Unemployment is inching towards 50 per cent. The Naira is going the way of Zimbabwe. Hunger stalks the land. Crime wave is alarming. The Legislature is rebelling. The Opposition is under attack. In all of this, there is no direction from Buhari’s government. The country is like a rudderless ship. Buhari has got to CHANGE and adopt a better approach which will better serve him and the nation; achieve more results and have him exert less energy. He will burn lesser number of bridges while building many more. But should he decide to turn deaf ears – Aah! Those ears again! – he should consider Wole Soyinka’s quote above. Recently, IBB volunteered that they toppled Buhari because he ran a one-man show. It is not wisdom to make the same mistakes twice. Our “husband” must not run mad again! LAST WORDS: FCT, Abuja is not going to be big enough for two presidents – the one of the Senate and the other of the Federation. So, in addition to his CCT trial, BukolaSaraki has an additional forgery case to answer. Buhari, like IBB, wants to totally dominate his environment. The other time, he served notice to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the JagabanBorgu cannot continue to be called “national leader” of APC. Uuumh! “Power corrupts...

interview

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Why I’m the next Edo gov —Obaseki

Mr Godwin Obaseki emerged the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State penultimate Saturday, after defeating 11 others aspirants. Obaseki, who is currently the head of the Edo State Economic Team, speaks with some journalists on his emergence, his blueprint for the state, and other issues. BANJI ALUKO brings excerpts:

hat efforts are you making to reconcile with your co-aspirants, now that you have won the primaries? Immediately after the election, I didn’t go to bed. On Sunday evening, the first person I went to was Dr Pius Odubu. I went to his house with some party officials. I went to discuss him and to extend my hand of fellowship and it was warm and cordial. He expressed his mind as to what he felt and he was very open to reconciliation. He said people were calling him but he wanted to assure us that he was not going to leave the party; that he was going to work for the party. He admitted that he felt hurt and there were things that he felt should not have happened, but he was prepared to work with the party and me. The following morning, I went to see Mr Chris Ogienwonyi, whom I have a cordial relationship with. He too felt hurt. He felt he needed to exhaust the process to convince himself that the primaries were conducted properly and it truly reflected the outcome and decisions of the delegates, which I feel he is entitled to. Later that day, I went to see General Charles (Airhiavbere) and we spoke. He opened his arms and said he was willing to work with me. Some of the contestants, I have called. I have not been able to see Imansuangbon. He sounded very angry with me and I have not been able to see him. I heard he travelled. So, he’s the only one person I have not been able to see. But I guess with time, when he calms down, we will have a meeting. Professor Osunbor shook my hands and embraced me. Peter Esele called and pledged his support, as did Benson Agbomere and Tina Agbarha. Afterwards, we had another meeting with Governor Adam Oshimhole. In fact, it was a success. I don’t know if you have seen some of the photographs. We all went on the inspection together and started the campaign. So, in terms of reconciliation, we are working hard and I’m very optimistic that we will be able to get full reconciliation. As an individual, I am also doing my own part. I expect that at the end of the registration exercise, I am going to have a meeting and we are all going to sit down and see how we can combine forces and be able to put resources together so that we can have a very effective campaign. I have reached out. I have stretched my hand to them. I am inviting all the contestants to come and help the organisation. I pray and hope that all of them accept because each one of us had a plan. Now they will all contribute what they have for the development of APC and Edo State. How do you feel now that you are to face Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP in the election proper? I don’t know if he’s going to be my opponent, but I also sent him a note congratulating him on his victory and to welcome him and advise that we conduct ourselves in this election in a very civil manner. I am going to be the governor of Edo State by the grace of God. Therefore, I’m going to govern every Edo person.

How are you going to deal with leaders such as Chief Tony Anenih, and the Esama, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. Will you meet them to solicit their support? I cannot have any animosity towards anyone. This is a contest and once you are going into a contest, you don’t go to your opponent and say let us talk. I do not expect them (Igbinedion and Anenih) to vote for me. They will have to vote for themselves or whoever is emerging from their party. That is not my priority. My priority is to convince the public, citizens of Edo State why I am the better candidate and the choice. At the end of the day when I win, I will embrace everybody. There is an allegation that you have a case with the EFCC case. How true is that? I don’t have a case with the EFCC. I read the story as you know. I am on the board of several companies. There is a German company that owns rigs in Nigeria and I am on their board. They had a partner who died many years ago and unfortunately his estates have not been properly managed. His other businesses have gone bankrupt and the company got a petition from the person’s children alleging that the company was owing by their father. You will see online that there is a full agreement which the company reached with the estate several years ago. If you have been reading the papers, the family has been having quarrels and internal issues. So, it’s one of those problems. They wrote to EFCC and other bodies. So, if somebody is owing you money, is there not a civil process to go through? Why should it be an EFCC matter? I do not own the company. I am just a shareholder on the board of the company. So, I don’t have anything to do with it. I did not take money from anybody. What about the issue of your deputy, who are you picking as your running mate? I believe it’s a party matter and the party will look at the political configuration and how to zero in on the candidate. We will work together. I will work very closely with the party. The opposition party is alleging that the state’s debt profile is very high. How will you react to this? I think the press has a major role. How do you determine the debt of a state? There is a debt management office in the country. Google DMO, it will give you a profile of all the states and what they owe. Edo State owes about N41 billion. Edo State tax in a year is about N24 billion. So, in two years, we can pay whatever we have outstanding. I don’t know where this whole contraption of debts came from. We don’t owe a bank a dime because all the bank debts have been rescheduled and refinanced. So, all you need to do is go to the DMO website and look at all the states and what they are owing and you will see what Edo State is owing there. It is not a secret or an issue for contemplation. With two years of current

Mr Godwin Obaseki

tax revenue, we can pay out the debt of the state. The money we borrowed from the market, we will finish paying next year so what have we done nothing wrong financially. Unlike people who borrowed, you can see what we have used the money for, you can see the infrastructure we have built; you can see the schools we have refurbished. We met debts from PDP; we cannot see what the money was used for, even their phantom industries you can’t find them. So, we have to be careful that we don’t get people who would misbehave, people who have destroyed us and now come singing Hosanna today. People, who should be in jail, saying they want to come back and govern us. They come, fill up the whole place with lies and we are consuming the lies like they are true. So what are you bringing to Edo if you become governor? I am new and I am bringing new things with me. I come from a background of working in institutions. For me, I look back and look at institutions. When I first came into the race, people were laughing at me, saying all I know is computer and that do I think it is computer that is used in winning elections. However, what we did was we got the names of delegates and their wards. We mapped that data, we tried to understand how these delegates evolved. During the last congress, there were the leaders who brought about the nomination of these delegates. They have phone numbers. So, when I’m going there, I now know that rather than just barging in on these

people, I can call. The key thing I want to do is to use technological information to run government. We have to run a very smart government because we don’t have the kind of money we used to. The first innovation I want to introduce as the governor is the use of ICT so that we can get more efficiency from the little money we have. The other thing I want to do is to focus government mostly on what government should do, which is to provide the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive because we will need a lot more private capital to thrive the economy. Look at two investments we have made in the state. The two projects alone are worth $2billion dollars. If we can bring in a lot more of such types of investments, then the whole issue of unemployment will reduce. I will dedicate a lot more of my time to bring private investments into the state. We need to focus on the economy so that we can take advantage of the unique position of Edo State. One reason why Lagos State is doing very well is the governance model incorporated. When the governor is not the party leader, the governor has time to govern while the politicians can manage the party politics. That is one thing I hope to introduce to Edo under my leadership. There are key drivers for a state economy and agriculture is one. We have two large agricultural institutions in the state. What we now need to do is expand it and modernise it. We already have a basis continues on pg 43

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Rita Okonoboh rosarumese@gmail.com 08053789087

tribunechurch

Anger, regrets trail murder of Catholic priest by kidnappers

Johnson Babajide - Makurdi “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called children of God”. Matt.5:9 he above scripture aptly describes the life of the Vicar General of Otukpo Diocese of the Catholic Church, Very Reverend Father John Adeyi, who lived his life promoting peace and contributing immensely to church growth. Incidentally, it was on this mission of brokering peace, particularly, in his country home, Odoba village area of Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, that his life was cut short by persons accused of making brisk business. His conflict resolution acumen seemed to have impressed the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Bishop Michael Apochi, who directed him to proceed to Odoba to mediate in a crisis between the parishioner and parish priest of Odoba, Reverend Father Peter Ewache Johnson. TribuneChurch gathered that the cause of the crisis in the parish was the refusal of the parish priest to dedicate a new church building built by a politician. The late priest was said to have successfully resolved the crisis, leading to the parties embracing themselves and appreciating God for His intervention through Fr Adeyi. However, on his way back to his base in Okpoga, some unknown persons brandishing weapons on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle, pulled him down and whisked him to an unknown destination. That was the last family members and the church heard of him, only for the suspected kidnappers to establish contact with his family members and they were informed that their son was in their custody and could only be released if N5 million ransom was provided. According to information made available to TribuneChurch, the church authorities did not seem ready to cooperate with the kidnappers, and so, family members swung into action and negotiated for his release with the agreement to pay N2 million. The agreed sum was said to have been paid three days after to the suspected kidnappers, who promised to release him immediately, but to the chagrin of family members, there was no clue as regards his eventual release and all contacts lines were switched off. This heightened the apprehension of the

family members. Search parties were said to have combed many areas with no relief in sight. Security operatives were also reported to have engaged in an intense search of the areas and adjoining places with no sign of his whereabouts. The fruitless efforts prompted the state government to announce a reward of N5 million to whoever had an inkling of the whereabouts of the ‘peacemaker’ priest, all to no avail, until reports filtered in last Tuesday of the discovery of a skeleton dressed in cassock and sandals in a coffin in a bush within Odoba village. Security operatives were immediately deployed and cordoned off the area while the remains were taken and deposited at St. Vincent hospital, Aliade in Gwer Local Government Area of the state. Since the discovery of the body of the priest, there have been speculations on how and why the priest died. There are also questions on how long the priest’s remains had been dumped at the spot it was discovered. While some are of the opinion that he could have died in the hands of his abductors before the ransom was paid, others believe that he was killed so as to avoid the kidnappers being exposed. While these and other related questions are begging for answers, a source had earlier raised apprehension immediately the priest was abducted regarding his health, which was what it was said prompted the family members to hurriedly source for funds to pay the ransom. According to a family source, “when it became clear that the church was not forthcoming when the suspected kidnappers asked for ransom, we had to move fast and raise the money because of his health challenges, with the hope that he would be released but we became apprehensive when days turned into weeks, and he hadn’t be released.”

Bishop charges Buhari on development , commends Aregbesola Pg36

Another version in Otukpo has it that the late priest may have been killed by a kidnap syndicate which has its base in Kogi State. According to one of the sources, the recent release of an abducted medical doctor by the kidnappers may have blown their lead since some of them were said to have been arrested by the police. They were alleged to have quartered their victims at Upu Village in Otukpo and move them out mostly at night to prevent them from knowing their location. However, the medical doctor was said to have listened to an argument between a commercial motorcycle rider and his passenger over fare where the passenger had said that the charge by the rider from Otukpo town to Upu village was exorbitant and quickly concluded that the location he was being kept was Upu. The late priest was allegedly moved to Kogi State after the arrest of some of suspected kidnappers, some of whom were allegedly arrested in Lokoja last Tuesday. When contacted on phone, the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Yakadi, said he would get back to TribuneChurch after contacting his colleague in Kogi state but never did. Days after the body of the kidnapped

He assisted many underprivileged and physically challenged children by paying their school fees and taking care of their needs

How Rev Ayokunle emerged as president —CAN coordinating chaplain Pg37

priest was found, tears still flowed freely at his Otukpo family residence. Silence and grief pervaded the environment. While some muttered words, many gazed into the sky, possibly querying the creator on why such calamity befell a man many in the area looked up to as their role model, peacemaker and a true man of God. Mrs Mercy Onah, the immediate elder sister of the deceased priest, described him as “an epitome of humility.” According to her, “he was the one taking care of our aged mother, including my family. I’m a widow and my brother was the one providing for our needs. Apart from that, he assisted many underprivileged and physically challenged children by paying their school fees and taking care of their needs. Some of the beneficiaries are scattered around the Idoma land.” When asked about the contribution of the church during their travail, the widow said, “In fact, I don’t want to talk about that but it is unfortunate that the church did not do anything since our travail began. I leave everything in the hands of God.” Secretary General of Opihatoha K’ Idoma, Mr Adoka Adaji, described the late priest as an easygoing person, loving and accommodating and condemned the kidnapping and eventual death of the priest, saying, “it shows the level of wickedness of some elements and security lapses in our society. It is amazing that Reverend Father Adeyi was killed within his Otukpa community. “It means we are no longer our brothers’ keeper in Idomaland, otherwise his kidnappers and killers would have been exposed. It is high time we treated the issue of security in our land as a matter of priority.” The group called on security operatives to promptly bring the perpetrators of the act to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

Family planning shrinks world’s Christian population —Bishop Oke Pg36

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

churchnews

Bishop charges Buhari on development , commends Aregbesola By Olaide Sokoya

he Bishop, Ilesa South West Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Right Reverend Samuel Olukunle Egbebunmi, has called on President Mohammadu Buhari and other stakeholders to be proactive in taking this country to the promised land. The cleric stated further that church leaders needed to give the president the needed advice with a view to moving the nation forward. Bishop Egbebunmi made this statement in his charge during the synod of the diocese. He called for a review of the present revenue sharing formula, suggesting that more should be allocated to states and local governments as the duo are closer to the grassroots. To solve the problems confronting the nation, the bishop said a roundtable discussion was necessary, stating that it could not be any other time than now that the country has a president who has integrity. Bishop Egbebunmi also commended President Buhari for taking security seriously but advised that as he fought corruption, corruption was fighting back as people without conscience now join forces with evil. The bishop commended the administrative style of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and appealed to the governor to be proactive in the payment of arrears of salaries to workers and pensioners, as the church of God was

feeling the pinch of nonpayment of workers’ and pensions’ entitlement. The four-day synod of Ilesa South West Diocese also deliberated on the wearing of hijab to schools in Osun State and the court

judgment which allowed wearing of hijab, noting that it merely caused crisis between Muslims and Christians in the state. Bishop Egbebunmi also called on Governor Aregbesola to check the crisis.

The theme of the Synod was “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.’’ While delivering the sermon at the second session of the third synod at the thanksgiving service mark-

ing the end of the synod at the Emmanuel Anglican Church, Oke Ola, Ilesa, right Reverend Babatunde Ogunbanwo from Ijebu South West Diocese spoke on the importance of the Bible. Highlight of the synod

From left, parents of the graduand, Mr and Mrs Henry Adefusi; the graduand, ordinand Kayode Adefusi; Right Reverend (Dr) Abraham Akinlalu, his wife, Christiana and others at the graduation ceremony at the Immanuel College of Theology, Samanda, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.

Clerics and members of Motailatu Organisation Worldwide cutting the cake to celebrate the 52nd Founder’s Day.

CAC publicists lament over violence in Nigeria PUBLICITY Secretaries of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) under the umbrella body of Christ Apostolic Church Council of Publicity Secretaries, Lagos 1 (CACCOPS), have decried the present state of insecurity in the country. They also urged Christians to embark on grassroots mobilisation so as to win more souls for Christ and restore the much-needed peace to the troubled areas in the country. Speaking at this year’s edition of the association’s National Publicity Week/

Conference, held recently in Lagos, the Chairman of the association, Pastor Ola Afolabi, noted that the country was passing through one of the most

difficult periods of its life, especially with the rise in the activities of terrorist groups and the continued decline in the fortunes of the nation’s economy.

According to him, the conference, tagged “Enhancing Great Commission through Grassroot Mobilisation,” was designed to galvanise

Christians to embark on grassroot mobilisation for the church, since those challenges had started taking their toll on the activities of the church.

was award of excellence to the Managing Director of Oba Foot Nigeria Limited, Adelowo Adedeji, who was described as a pillar behind the diocese.

Motailatu Organisation celebrates founder’s day The 52nd Founder’s Day anniversary of Motailatu Organisation Worldwide was celebrated recently in Ondo City, Ondo State, where the headquarters of Motailatu Church of God is situated. The three-day event was attended by members and elders of the church from various parishes. The organisation, founded by Archbishop Isaiah M. Akinadewo on June 14, 1964, celebrated this year’s anniversary, which was presided over by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the church, Senior Superintendent Gabriel Akinadewo. Awards were presented and there were testimonies, miracles and breakthrough events as members of the church moved across Ondo city preaching the goospel. On return to the Mission House of Motailatu Church of God, special prayers were also held at the tombs of the patriarch and matriarch of the church, Archbishop Akinadewo and Superintendent General Apostolic Mother Mary Akinadewo. After the prayers, series of Bible lessons were conducted which dovetailed into a vigil at St. Adekahunsi Motailatu Cathedral, Oke Iwosan, Ondo. In his sermon, Akinadewo urged political and religious leaders to fear God.

Family planning shrinks world’s Christian population —Bishop Oke By Dare Adekanmbi THE Presiding Bishop, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Dr Francis Wale Oke, has said that the practice of preventing conception to limit the number of births is a drive that makes the Christian population dwindle

continuously across the word. Oke spoke in a sermon that he delivered during the 2016 Family Life Convention at the Victory Garden, Olaogun, Ibadan, Oyo State. The cleric noted that the culture of maintaining small family sizes with only one

or two children per family was widespread in the West and among Christians worldwide. He lamented that the culture of family was against the wish of God for mankind, saying that the intent of God was for man to “multiply and replenish the earth.” According to him, keeping

one or two children so as to have a high level of economic comfort was an idea which presupposed that man was wiser than his creator and “such a man will soon find out that he is the biggest fool. “I don’t want what has overtaken them in Europe to overtake us in Africa.

The western culture of selfishness and greed should be throne overboard,” he said. He urged the people to ensure that rather than keeping the number of children low, they should invest time in nurturing the children to becoming responsible adults.

37 tribunechurch

26 June, 2016

Right Reverend (Dr) Peter Ogunmuyiwa is the Bishop of the Diocese of the North and Abuja, The African Church, and the Coordinating Chaplain, National Ecumenical Centre, headquarters of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abuja. He speaks with RITA OKONOBOH on the events of the recent CAN election, the way forward for reconciliation and what government must do to ensure development. Excerpts:

ow did you become coordinating chaplain of the National Ecumenical Centre? I was appointed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) as the first coordinating chaplain of the National Ecumenical Centre. I was appointed in February 2016 and the position is for an initial period of three years.

Weekday and Sunday services are organised at the centre. You are a bishop of the African Church and the coordinating chaplain, how does conducting services work? My appointment is as the coordinating chaplain. We have other chaplains from the five blocs of CAN. I am in charge of coordinating those who would be in charge of services and sometimes, we allocate services to churches. The important thing is to ensure that there are activities at the centre at all times. In the meantime, services are held at the centre every Sunday evening at 4:00 p.m. People attend their respective churches in the mornings and we meet at the centre for interdenominational services in the evening. What is the relevance of the centre to Christendom and national life? The idea of the centre was conceived by the founding fathers of CAN. They wanted a centre for uniformed Christian activities. The centre brings together all Christians in Nigeria for the purpose of propagating Christ and enhancing the unity of the church. That is the idea behind the centre and that is what the centre promotes. Christians all over the world visit the centre as tourists and admire the edifice. On national life, before the construction of the centre, there was no particular place where national services were conducted. So, this centre helps the government to have a central place for Christian activities. The place also serves as a prayer ground for the nation and we do that from time to time. Before the emergence of Reverend

by Tunde Jaiyebo 0803 406 2013

Dealing with fear (1)

How did your name come up for appointment? I have been an officer of CAN for some time now. I was the general secretary of CAN in the FCT between 2005 and 2010. I have also occupied several offices within CAN and the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN). I think my background experience necessitated my appointment as chaplain. I was nominated and after due process by the NEC of CAN, I was appointed. What is the story of the centre? The centre was completed in 2005 under the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration when former Primate of the Anglican Primate Jasper Akinola, was CAN president, for the purpose of ecumenical activities. It was intended to hold interdenominational services, which include national services, Independence Day services, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Democracy Day services, among others, but regular services which ought to have been taking place at the centre were not in place. So, I was appointed to coordinate regular services – during weekdays and on Sundays – at the centre. Before now, the centre was used for other Christian activities. Churches rent the centre for their services but with the chaplaincy on ground, it would be for interdenominational services organised by CAN, under the leadership of the coordinating chaplain.

Your Life Counts

Sunday Tribune

How Rev Ayokunle emerged as president —CAN Coordinating Chaplain (Dr) Samson Ayokunle as CAN president-elect, according to earlier media reports, only two blocs, , the TEKAN/ECWA and the OAIC, presented candidates. Reverend Ayokunle’s nomination was from the CCN. How did he eventually become the president? The constitution of CAN guides our conduct. The constitution provides that the leadership of CAN be rotated among the five blocs – the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN); Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN); Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN)/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN); Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) and the TEAKAN/ECWA Fellowship. The same constitution, however, does not state that it must rotate in a particular order among the blocs. It only provides for rotation. In the wisdom of those who drafted the constitution, the constitution was also drafted to cater for such a situation as when a bloc did not have an acceptable candidate for presidency. With the incumbent CAN administration, it was assumed that because the CSN, CCN had been president and the PFN was presently in administration, the presidency would automatically go to a candidate from TEKAN/ECWA or OAIC, but that is not in the spirit of what the constitution states. The constitution states that whenever the CAN presidency seat becomes vacant, four other blocs, apart from the current administration’s bloc, can nominate candidates for presidency. So, any of those four blocs can become president, in the spirit of rotational presidency. Also, under the spirit of give and take, we could agree to let a bloc that hasn’t featured in the CAN presidency take up the position, which is a decision that can be taken by the NEC. However, with the situation that we found

ourselves, that would have been in conflict with the provisions of the constitution. Following the above, the TEKAN/ ECWA were said to have had some sort of internal crisis about choosing a consensus candidate. Couldn’t CAN have given them more time? It wasn’t that they weren’t given more time. By the provision of the constitution, each bloc can nominate one candidate. So, what the blocs do is to conduct internal election and whoever wins is recommended to the NEC as a candidate for that bloc for the office of CAN presidency. The CSN didn’t show interest. CCN had the slot of outgoing vice president and still had the opportunity of going for another term, and in that understanding, they nominated a candidate. The OAIC also presented a candidate. In the case of TEKAN/ECWA, there was an internal election but they couldn’t agree on a consensus candidate because at the time of the internal election, the TEKAN leader was abducted. So, some people felt the election took place at the wrong time. When the abducted TEKAN leader was released, the feelers from TEKAN was that it was unfair to have conducted the election in his absence. The matter was brought before CAN and they were given one week to resolve the issue. They couldn’t resolve the issue in one week, so they came back to CAN to ask for more time. They were given two weeks to agree on a consensus candidate. After two weeks, they still couldn’t resolve the matter. This present administration had a fixed time for rounding off their tenure and it seemed unfair to hold CAN to ransom over one bloc, in the spirit of fair play. That was what happened and the election was held.

Continues on

pg 38

These days there seems to be so many things to be afraid of. There is so much insecurity of lives and property that not to be afraid might sound abnormal. Fear now seems to be a part of life. The issue of fear is not a strange thing as fear is “common to man”. We cannot stop fear from coming but we can control how we respond to it. Our attitude and response to fear is critical. Succumbing to fear will limit us but plunging on in faith will take us to greater heights. “There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid.” Frederick W. Cropp We must not let fear have control over us. We must resolve to handle fear properly if our lives will count. “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” Frank Herbert Fear is a killer of dreams and if we do not deal with it decisively it will kill our confidence and eventually our dreams. “You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” Mary Manin Morrissey Many times, fear is the product of wrong approach to obstacles. A wrong response to fear can be disastrous. Most times, if we do not understand how to handle fear we will either be pressured to do the wrong thing or be paralyzed into inaction. “Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them... they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight.” Orison Swett Marden We must not allow fear to graduate to the level of phobia. Wikipedia defines phobia as “a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation the affected person will go to great lengths to avoid, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed.” Let us see some interesting list of phobias I came across on the internet. Abluthophobia: Fear of bathing. Achluophobia: Fear of darkness. Acousticophobia: Fear of noise. Amathophobia: Fear of dust. Amaxophobia: Fear of being in or riding in vehicles. Ambulophobia: Fear of walking. Androphobia: Fear of men. Chronophobia: Fear of time. Claustrophobia: Fear of confined spaces. Cleptophobia: Fear of thieves or loss through thievery. Clinophobia: 1) Fear of going to bed. 2) Fear of beds. Kakorrhaphiophobia: Fear of failure or defeat. Katagelophobia: Fear of ridicule. Kenophobia: Fear of empty spaces. Kleptophobia: Fear of thieves or loss through thievery. Laliophobia: Fear of speaking. Ligyrophobia: Fear of loud noises. Logophobia: Fear of words. Lunaphobia: Fear of the moon. Lygophobia: Fear of darkness. Lyssophobia: Fear of becoming insane. Macrophobia: Fear of long waits. Maieusiophobia: Fear of childbirth. Maniaphobia: Fear of insanity. Mastigophobia: Fear of punishment. Fear of flogging. Melophobia: Fear of music. Phenogophobia: Fear of daylight . Philophobia: Fear of falling in love or being in love. Phonemophobia: Fear of thinking. Phonophobia: Fear of noises or voices. Photophobia: Fear of light. Fear of (strong) light. Pluviophobia: Fear of rain or of being rained on. Pogonophobia: Fear of beards. Poinephobia: Fear of punishment. Politicophobia: Fear of politicians. To be continued For enquiries/comments please email charismokola@yahoo.com

38 tribunechurch

Reverend Popoola

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Reverend Sanni

Reverend Felix-Adejumo

Apostle Anayo

Apostle Nkechi Anayo of Faith Revival Ministries World Outreach, Lagos, spoke on “Breaking Emotional, Psychological and Generational Barriers.” According to her, sometimes curses transcended generations because parents focus on the negative part of their lives and pass same to their children. She identified three actions to break barriers as change of mindset; faith in God’s grace and prayer. According to her, “Moving from one point to the other searching for miracles is wrong. Dwell on God’s word and with faith, fasting and prayers, you can break barriers. As long as you see yourself as a victim, you cannot be victorious. You need to allow yourself to be established in God’s grace.” Reverend (Mrs) Funke Felix-Adejumo, in her presentation, spoke on the the topic “Woman on the Move,” in which she identified geographical, ethnic, cultural, religious, financial and mind barriers as a few of the barriers that work against women. She spoke on the need to acknowledge help, stating that people need help to break barriers. According to her, “there are no

strong women, only helped women,” stating that women should always pray for their children and grandchildren, Citing the example of Abraham, Sarah and Haggai, she cautioned on the need for women not to forget their helpers, noting that “while some people are present and cannot help, there are people who can help but are not present. Jesus is the only present help. The greatest tragedy of life is to be surround-

ed by people irrelevant to your destiny. The important thing is to work hard, seek help and most importantly, please God.” The convener of the conference, Reverend (Mrs) Omowumi Popoola, also spoke on the need to always testify to God’s goodness as she celebrated with those who gave testimonies received, including the rescue of Senator Veronica Iyabo Anisulowo, who was kidnapped recently in Ogun State. There was also a health talk on fibroid, blood pressure and arthritis presented by Dr (Mrs) Abiola Kila of the Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation. There were testimonies, raffle draw and health screening, as well as a session for teenage girls and children and special song ministration by the Rare Gem choir. Also present at the event were wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, represented that Mrs Bolanle Ali; wife of the Oyo State deputy governor, Mrs Janet Adeyemo; Apostle Sunday Popoola; Chairperson, Board of Trustees of WOCOM, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo; Evangelist Toun Soetan, among others.

Empowerment, breakthrough, testimonies at 2016 Unique Woman Conference By Rita Okonoboh

t was a day of spiritual breakthroughs, financial empowerment and ministration of the word at the Unique Woman Conference of the Word Communication Ministries (WOCOM), hosted by Reverend (Mrs) Omowumi Popoola, and which was held recently, at WOCOM centre, Onireke, Ibadan, Oyo State. The event, which had as its theme, “Women on the Move, Breaking Barriers,” attracted women of all ages and professions, girls and even men were not left out. The first in the programme of events was a panel discussion on domestic violence which addressed marital issues, especially as it relates to violence against women. Ministering at the event included Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), United Capital PLC, Pastor (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Sanni, who spoke on the topic, “Breaking Financial Barriers.” She spoke on the biblical principles of tithing, stating that there was no limit to what a woman could achieve if she was well informed on tips for financial success.

The greatest tragedy of life is to be surrounded by people irrelevant to your destiny. The important thing is to work hard, seek help and most importantly, please God

‘Government should avoid religious matters’ Continued from

pg 37

Now that the election has been held, what would you suggest as the way forward? In a situation like this, the way forward is for the incoming administration to put in place reconciliatory machinery to reach out and bring all together. The present administration is also doing its best to reconcile all interests and we expect the new administration to continue in such efforts. We are one family. Besides, it is not a paid position. It is a position of sacrifice to God and humanity, and as such, should not be a do-or-die affair. Let’s just forgive and let go. With the rumours that the CSN delegates staged a walkout and some aggrieved members of the TEKAN/ ECWA bloc protested during the election, do you foresee any crisis? Nobody staged a walkout. Delegates of the CSN participated at the meeting throughout, even till the announcement of the results, but they did not vote. In fact, one of the leaders of CAN from one of the chapters from one of the Northern states, who is a Catholic bishop, voted during the election. The TEKAN/ECWA is made up of two groups: TEKAN made up of 19 churches and ECWA which is one church. The TEKAN group, made up of six delegates, participated actively in the election and voted, but the ECWA group,

made up of four delegates, were present throughout the process, but did not vote. It’s just a matter of reaching out. It would be wrong, however, to state that because they seem like a minority, they should be left out. We must reach out to them, as the Bible states in the parable of the lost sheep. So what next after the election? There will be a General Assembly where the election will be ratified and the new administration will take over, and that should take place next month. No actual date has been fixed yet. With the gradual wind down of the present CAN administration led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, how would you assess their performance so far? Pastor Oritsejafor has demonstrated

I would advise all Christians and church leaders to support the incoming administration in the spirit of love, forgiveness, oneness and service, so we can show to the world that the church is one and to politicians that politics is not a do-or-die affair

courage, and has done his best to defend the church in Nigeria. He has spent his personal funds to alleviate the suffering of Christians in the North and he lends his voice whenever the church is being persecuted. Pastor Oritsejafor has done a lot to improve the lot of the church in Nigeria and the legacy he is leaving behind will speak volumes. The present administration has really helped to take the church to another level. He has been very involved in developmental projects for CAN that would help to generate funds for CAN activities. He has also used his connections to help CAN. There is also a programme the administration introduced, I.C.A.N., which is also an avenue to raise funds for CAN. What is your advice for government in the face of the current economic realities? While I commend the vigorous fight against corruption, it must not be selective. Government should also concentrate on making life better for Nigerians, through welfarism and developmental projects. On government appointments, President Muahammadu Buhari should be fair and understand that he is first and most importantly a Nigerian in charge of a nation. Government officials should concentrate on governance and leave religious issues alone. Take the example of Osun State. The religious issue of hijab and Christian robes is a distraction and such should not be brought into governance. In fact, I

would suggest that government hands off every religious matter and face governance squarely. Pilgrimages, for instance, shouldn’t be sponsored by government. Unlike what obtained when we were growing up that we didn’t live by the dogma of identifying ourselves by religious tags, now such is promoted and that is very dangerous. As such, I would advise the president to do what he can to play down religious sentiments so that Nigeria can move forward. What would be your advice regarding the new CAN administration? I would advise all Christians and church leaders to support the incoming administration in the spirit of love, forgiveness, oneness and service, so we can show to the world that the church is one and to politicians that politics is not a do-or-die affair. The Bible says we are the salt and light of the world and this is an opportunity to portray that part of the scripture. We want to plead with church leaders to cooperate with the new administration led by Reverend (Dr) Ayokunle. We must be united to fight our common enemy, the devil. There is nothing for us to fight about. We must be examples to the world. I would also advise the new administration to be magnanimous and operate an open door policy. They should reconcile and treat everyone equally so that the church can move forward and the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church.

tribunechurch

26 June, 2016

dawnofanewera

livingword

with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa

By Bishop David Oyedepo Call 7747546-8; or e-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

A distinguished man The most important part of the story of distinguished people is what they did while they were in obscurity. Integrity while in obscurity is the recurrent decimal in the lives of those who have made great impact for the kingdom of God, and that lesson must never be lost on us. For example, let us ask ourselves; what was Daniel’s take-off point. The Bible says in Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. It was from this point of refusing comfort (or convenience, or compromise), and embracing pain or discipline, that Daniel started his trajectory towards prominence. To better understand how Daniel’s story of greatness started, let us see that statement in other versions of theBib1e: itr MV: 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, The New Living translation: But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, Amplified Version: But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile (taint, dishonor) himself with the king’s finest food Amplified Version, Classic edition: But Daniel determined in his heart Joseph was one child out of twelve. Irrespective of what was happening to him and around him, Joseph resolved to live a truthful and holy life. After he had been sold into

slavery, and at a time when a life of compromise would have been ekcusable, Portiphar’s wife tempted him. To escape from servitude, Joseph could resolve to enjoy the pleasure of sin in the secret. However, the Bible says, Genesis 39:8-9 But he refused, and said unto his masters wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? It is easy to see Joseph the prime minister, and to desire his post - to desire the chariot, the fine cloth, the fat pay, and all the wonderful things that Joseph got as prime minister. But who is ready to emulate his resolve - his determination to live a holy life? Who is ready to flee from a naked woman who has offered you sex and other goodies free of charge? Joseph stayed true to his resolve/ decision in his time of obscurity, and the God who sees in the secret rewarded him openly (Matt6:4-6) Beloved, it has been said that those who stand for nothing will fall for anything. What do you stand for? Daniel stood for God in his generation, and each time his back was against the wall, God showed up for him. Great miracles happened, not really because Daniel had great spiritual power, but because Daniel had great spiritual convictions. To be continued next week

Sunday Tribune

Unveiling the miracle power of thanksgiving! (4) In concluding this four-party teaching series on the miracle working power embedded in thanksgiving, we shall explore two other benefits of engaging this mystery which include: Thanksgiving a platform through which our inheritances are delivered: It is written: Oh, clap your hands all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the people under us, And the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us. The excellence of Jacob whom He loves (Psalms 47:1-4). The word “choose” here means to release our inheritance to us, which includes our deliverances, breakthroughs, etc. That means the more thankful we are, the more our inheritances manifest. It is also important to know that thanksgiving is not just what we do casually, but a mystery that facilitates amazing access to what pertains to us in Christ. That is why the Psalmist said: For God is the King of all the earth; sing praise with understanding (Psalms 47:7). In other words, we must understand what to expect when we engage the mystery of thanksgiving and praise. For instance, the Bible says that at the instance of thanksgiving and praise, we begin to see and hear our desires upon the wicked that has stood against us. It also states that thanksgiving empowers us to grow like a cedar in Lebanon and flourish like the palm tree (Psalms

92:1-2, 10-12). It also engenders our access to Health and Vitality: The Bible says: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones (Proverbs 17:22; see also Proverbs 18:14). Again, Prophet Nehemiah said: …for the joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). This helps us understand that thanksgiving insures our health and vitality on earth. In addition, we must recognise that if we have ever lost anything in life, God is the reason we have not lost everything. That is why we must give Him quality thanks from the depth of our hearts. Remember, it is timely and heart-rooted thanksgiving that provokes His continuous manifestations in our affairs. I pray that you will never have a better yesterday as you engage this mystery in Jesus’ precious name. Remain ever blessed! Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord. If you haven’t, you can say this prayer and you will be born again: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

theapostolicmessage By Pastor (Dr) G.O. Olutola JP.

Seven hidden treasures which God has provided for us

From left, Venerable Sunday Wusa; his wife, Janet; Bishop Michael Oluwarohunbi of Yewa Anglican Diocese and Chief (Mrs) Oluremi Amore, during the dedication ceremony of St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Owode-Yewa, Ogun State.

Vatican’s envoy, Aregbesola, bishops, Imams for bishop’s ordination Oluwole Ige-Osogbo THE Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, on Friday, hinted that arrangements had been concluded for the episcopal ordination of the new Bishop for Osogbo Diocese next Thursday, stating that the Vatican Ambassador to Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine kasujja, was expected at the event. Bishop-Elect, Monsignor John Oyejola, was named new Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Osogbo on April 2, replacing the elevated Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin, who was promoted into the post of Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese. Addressing a press conference as part of the preparation for the event, scheduled to hold on Thursday, June 30 at Sainthood Vicar General of the diocese, Reverend Father Mike Okodua, said over 50 archbishops and bishops from various dioceses in the Catholic church in the country would

grace the episcopal ordination. He further explained that the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Musa Animashaun, over 300 priests and 200 women religious groups were expected at the event. In his address titled: “The Dawn Of A New Era,” Okodua said the entire faithful in the diocese had been offering prayers since April 2, 2016 for a new bishop, stressing that God had answered their prayers. While observing that Osogbo diocese had witnessed tremendous developmental changes during the reign of the former bishop, he said with its creation 21 years ago, Osogbo had 14 indigenous priests and 16 parishes. “Today, the diocese has 70 indigenous priests and 34 parishes as well as 9 quasi parishes. That’s a great development within two decades,” Okodua remarked

Continued from last week Wealth transfer The riches and treasures of the enemies will be given to us. Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is none else, there is no God.(Isaiah 45:14). All forces raging against our blessings will be pulled down. All our enemies will bow down to us and surrender all their arms to us. Return of children lost to others Our children who have deserted Apostolic Fold will come back to the Fold. When they come back they will confess their sins that where they had gone to had not been profitable to them hence their coming back home. The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, the place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwel. (Isaiah 49:20). Victory over enemies They that bow down to idols shall be confounded while those who are against us will be put to shame. Also those who put their trust in idols shall be put to shame and confounded. They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. (Isaiah 45:16). Offer this prayer now, that

the Lord our righteousness should vindicate our cause and let those who are against us be ashamed (Isaiah 45:24). Availability of the Lord The saints will not seek the Lord in vain. God had spoken in the secret and in the dark places of the earth that He has not asked the seed of Jacob to seek Him in vain. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. (Isaiah 45:19). Therefore we will not seek the Lord in vain because the Lord is around to grant our requests and to sanction our petitions. Although there will be fear in the world for those who do not know God but all the forces rising against us shall be confounded. All the governments and kingdoms of the world shall expire and be no more, but the government and kingdom of God are everlasting and are not subject to earthly kingdom (Isa 45:22), so all the goodness and booties of God’s Kingdom are for us the children of the Kingdom. Let us put our trust in God. Whatever the confrontation and assault of the enemies against us we should not be afraid of them but put our trust in God who is powerful than all our enemies combined and who is able to deliver us from them all. They shall all be confounded. The Lord is our secret place, the place of our refuge and succor and comfort. He is the place of our spiritual and physical wealth.

26 June, 2016

language&style

by Samson Dare 0805 500 1770 samsonadare@yahoo.co.uk

Harmless,harmfulandarmlessrevisited(II)

ODAY, we present the concluding part of the discussion of the word armless started last week. To properly contextualize the discussion we present the excerpt that serves as the springboard for the analysis. We thereafter offer for scrutiny a text message sent in by an anonymous reader after reading last week’s presentation. Sample 1: “An eerie peace pervaded as armless youths, who were mainly the souls found in the communities already deserted by some of the aged and women for fear of an offensive by security forces, busied themselves with various activities, albeit with a measure of suspicion and caution.”(The Hunt for Tompolo, The Sunday Sun, April 3, 2016) The discussion which started last week was inspired by the use of the word armless which occurs in the phrase: armless youth. We thought it would not be a bad idea if we illustrate the usage of the following words: harm(less), arm(less), arm (verb), arms (and ammunition), alms. Before we were cut short by space limitation, we were illustrating the usage of arms and ammunition. Now read the following sentences which illustrate the usage of the verb form of the word arm: Now the verb form: 1)It is the duty of the government to arm the police with sophisticated weapons. 2)We are told that powerful politicians are arming the thugs.3)Armed policemen are patrolling the streets. 4)Armed robbers were terrorizing the state.5)He armed himself with the knowledge of current affairs in preparation for the interview. 6)Armed with the facts, he was now ready to face the judicial panel of enquiry. Obviously, the word arm(s) is about weapons and their use or readiness for their use. Now arm—a part of the human body or anything similar to it in an object: 1)Children have damaged the arms of the chair. 2) The three arms of government are: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. 3) The lady carried the baby in her arms. 4)One of the thug’s arms was cut off during the riots. 5)God is stretching out his arms to save the lost. 6)It is not very comfortable sitting on an armless chair. 7)During the hot season, I like to wear armless shirts. 8)The arms of the motorcycle are rather short. 9)The soldier lost one of his arms during the civil war. 10)The two arms of our business are headed by two different people. Finally, we illustrate the usage of the word alms---money, food, materials given to needy people. 1)Some religions prescribe the percentage of a person’s income that should be given out as alms. 2)There are people whose pride will prevent them from accepting alms no matter how difficult their situation may be. 3)Alms-giving is often regarded as a religious obligation. 4) Are there spiritual and emotional benefits associated with giving alms to the poor ? 5)Are beggars the only people who are entitled to receive alms ? 6)Without the people who are in need, there can’t be any opportunity to give alms. Now let’s read the following sentences: 1)There can’t be any harm in giving alms to people who have no arms or legs for doing so will prevent the desperately needy people from taking up arms against the rest of the harmless members of the society. 2)Armed criminals carry harmful drugs and sell them to harmless citizens and then give the proceeds as alms. 3) Wearing armless shirts, the protesters, armed with stones and sticks, blocked the main entrance to the Governor’s office. Could the reporter have meant unarmed youths? Please read the following sentences: 1) How could the police have fired at unarmed citizens? 2) It was foolish of the soldiers to have approached the criminals’ den unarmed. 3) Unarmed militants made themselves available for dialogue. 4) The policeman killed by the thugs was unarmed at the time of the incident. 5) It is unthinkable for a Christian to be spiritually unarmed at any time. 6) Unarmed women and children became easy targets for the militants. Perhaps the reporter’s phrase would be better as unarmed youths. Reaction from a reader Before this concluding part of the discussion had a chance of appearing, a reader had sent in a message based on his impression of our discussion last week. Here is his reaction: You are dead wrong and worse still, presumptuous in saying that the ‘writer’ does not know the difference between arm and harm (armless as in childless). The problem is childless is in the dictionary while armless/weaponless are not. Headless/help-

less are in the dictionary. The writer erred in inventing a word not in use in standard lexicon. Harm/harmless are not germane to the writer’s desire to focus the reader’s mind on weapons. First, I notice that the message is anonymous. This may be deliberate on the part of the writer. Actually, there is nothing wrong or unethical about sending anonymous messages provided the contents are not criminal or insulting. The writer pointedly puts it to me that I am ‘dead wrong and worse still, presumptuous.’ This provides me the opportunity to say that I am neither afraid nor ashamed of being wrong or dead wrong or presumptuous or any descriptive adjective that conveys the idea of human fallibility. It would be worse than presumptuous for me or anybody else for that matter to claim infallibility. As humans, we are all prone to error. Perfection is a stranger to human nature, conduct and activities. The writer’s stricture also provides the opportunity for me to say something about the practice on this page. We do point out reporters’ errors and analyze them without any intention to ridicule anybody. If the language is sometimes harsh the intention is to shock us into the realization of the seriousness of the error, not to put the writer down. There is yet another aspect of our practice that demonstrates that we are not merely obsessed with errors. I refer to our habit of selecting all the words and expressions relating to the errors and illustrating the usage of each of them. So even if we have wrongly accused a writer of committing an error, the wrong accusation will be compensated for abundantly, I believe, by the extensive discussion and illustrations from which all readers will, hopefully, learn. To return to the substance of the message, the reader notes, quite correctly, that the word armless, like harmless, childless and helpless, falls into the regular morphological pattern in which the negative meaning of a word is formed by the addition of the morpheme –less. Other words having that form are: careless, hopeless, fearless, defenceless, graceless, faceless, homeless, clueless, etc. Obviously, that this is a regular, productive pattern in English is not in dispute. What is in contention as far as the reader is concerned is the status of the word armless. He claims that although the word is not in the dictionary, it suits the context created by the reporter; it serves the purpose of the reporter well. For him, the only problem is that ‘the writer erred in inventing a word not in use in standard lexicon.’ Let me say that the word armless is actually in the dictionary, but the word does mean something completely unrelated to what the reporter employs it to mean. When the reporter offers us the phrase armless youths, he intends us to decode it as ‘youths carrying no arms’. But that is not the meaning of armless: This word means ‘having no limbs, no hands.’ Let me give you two similar examples from the English lexicon. The word priceless falls into the regular morphological pattern already noted. The word does not mean ‘without price.’ Rather, it means extremely valuable. In other words, it would be wrong to say that a commodity is ‘priceless’ in the sense that it has no price tag. The same is true of the word ‘invaluable’. This word is not the opposite of valuable. On the contrary, it means ‘so valuable that its value is incalculable.’ Users of English should get used to aspects of its arbitrariness. There are aspects of its morphological processes that are not completely amenable to logic. Similarly, there is not always a systematic relationship between words and their meaning. In these areas, users have to tread carefully and make their choices with restraint and caution. Of course there is always room for creative and adventurous use of language as we find in poetry and other forms of literature. But literary writers use language with the full consciousness and awareness of the grammatical rules so that the informed reader will not fail to see that the writer is working from a position of strength and not of weakness. In other words, the context will make it clear that the literary writer is familiar with the rules. If a journalist or any other writer is using a word in a special or unconventional way, he should help his reader by graphically highlighting it: use italics or quotation marks or underlining. I failed to see that in the reporter’s use of the word armless. I urge my readers to please continue to help to let me have the benefit of their opinion. I remain your humble servant.

Sunday Tribune

line

life

with Niyi Osundare

Random Blues (They say the Poet insulted their crimes IV)

. . . . .Continued from last week Vicious robbers, habitual bandits Light-lipped gobblers of the common feast Say, vicious robbers, habitual bandits Light-lipped gobblers of the common feast They loot our treasury, they steal our votes They have turned Nigeria into a leapless monkey Babaa jaguda Omoo kolekole Agbaga, Babaa jaguda Omoo kolekole Won di’gun gbade, fote j’oye Won foye loju, won s’olu daatan Thieving father Marauding son Sioo, thieving father Marauding son They snatch the crown with evil hands And turn the country into a dunghill Mo korin k’aye gbo Won lawon ni mo nbu Ani, mo korin k’aye gbo Won lawon ni mo nbu Arimadake Akewi lo so f’awon ojelu pe Laise aniani, e si maa fewon logba I sing for the world to hear They say I insult their crimes Yes, I sing for the world to hear They say I insult their crimes Arimadake the Poet tells the nation-wreckers Without a doubt, the prison is your last abode

41 news Serious earthquake likely in South-West before 2020 —Expert By Tunde Ogunesan

preliminary report on the earth tremor that had been occurring in Saki town, Saki West Local Government, in Oyo State is an impending signal to a damaging earthquake in South West region of the country in the next four years, precisely before 2020. This was disclosed in a report by Dr Adepelumi Adekunle Abraham of the Department of Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in a report entitled “PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF EARTH TREMOR OCCURRENCE IN SHAKI AREA, SHAKI WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OYO STATE,”

which was made available to Sunday Tribune. Adepelumi had carried out a research after a similar tremor occurred in Abeokuta, Ogun State, September 11, 2009, suggesting that the risk of the quake in South West region was 2.8 per cent, but stated that the risk had risen to 91.1 per cent. In recent months, residents of Saki, especially Medinat, Veterinary, Salam salam, Abimbola layout and Ogbooro areas, had been living in palpable fear over the recurring sound of a earth tremor, which had been brought to the attention of the state and federal governments. Recently, a state government delegation led by the

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Teju Ishola who visited the scene, appealed to the residents to remain calm, adding that government both at the state and federal level would proffer solution to the problem. Before then, member representing Saki-West/ Saki-East and Atisbo local governments at the House of Representatives, Honourable Olajide Olatubosun, had also raised the issue at the floor of the House under matter of urgency. Olatubosun in a letter dated June 9, 2016, which was addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and entitled: “Matter of urgent public importance

(standing Order VIII rule 46) urgent call on the Federal Government to investigate the persistence earth tremor currently being experienced in Saki, the headquarters of Saki-West local government area of Oyo State,” called the attention of the House and Federal Government to the “persistent vibrations/tremor in Saki.” According to him “anytime the earth vibration/ tremor occurs, the building and other physical structures in the affected areas would shake violently and this, he said was responsible for a large army of internally displaced persons (IDP), as they had to vacate their homes, farmlands and their places of business.”

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘We are well equipped against B/Haram’ Chris Agbambu-Abuja

THE Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Leo Irabor, on Saturday said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, since assumption of office, has provided various quantities of ammunition, vehicles and other equipment to the Theatre to enhance the battle against Boko Haram, contrary to recent speculations. He said that Buratai had equally provided uniforms and boots for all troops involved in the battle. Irabor, while reacting to an allegation of fraud in purchase of equipment for the soldiers in the North East, stated that the army boss had taken the affairs of Operation Lafiya Dole to a level that showed unparalleled commitment to the operational effectiveness and good welfare of troops. According to him, payment of allowances and other requirements had been regular and, in most cases, up-front, while the aggregate impact of the efforts was the huge operational successes being recorded in the Theatre.

Mile 12 market: Arewa youth leader tasks Ambode on fair treatment Bola Badmus-Lagos LAGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has been enjoined to take appropriate steps in ensuring that justice prevailes in the issue of relocation of Mile 12 Market to make sure that affected traders were treated fairly. The National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, made this call on Saturday in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, while expressing sympathy to the affected traders. Shettima, while speaking on the role played by former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in the heat of the Mile 12 Market crisis, said it had since been discovered that the senator’s “jump into the issue was a desperate attempt to score cheap publicity by pretending to be the only superman for Northerners in Lagos.” He also said it was an indication that the former governor was desperately seeking attention ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Kogi NDLEA arrested 94, seized 2 tonnes of Indian hemp in 6 months —Commander

Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Atinuke Osikoya (fifth right) representing wife of the Oyo State governor, Chief Mrs Florence Ajimobi in a group photograph with recepients of food items sent by wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari.

NPS confirms jailbreak in Kuje Prisons •Says Charles Okah didn’t escape Clement Idoko -Abuja, with Agency Report

THE Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), has confirmed that there was a jailbreak at Kuje Medium Prison on Friday night. The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Francis Enobore, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that there was an “incident” at the prison on Friday night, adding that it had nothing to do with Charles Okah. “We are yet to find out if any inmate escaped or not. “However reports making the rounds that Charles Okah, the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), escaped during the jailbreak is false. “Yes there was an incident yesterday, but Okah was not involved; he is still in custody. “I have been in touch with

our men in the prison facility and there is nothing like that,” Enobore said. He said that the Controller of Prisons had ordered an investigation into the matter. An online media report had quoted a prison inmate to have said that Mr. Okah, who had been on trial in Abuja for the 2010 Inde-

pendence Day bombing that killed 27 people, escaped on Friday night by simply scaling the walls of the prison around 7:30 p.m. Nigerian time. However, two inmates were reported to have escaped from the prison at about 1930hrs though not through jailbreak.

“The inmates in question were awaiting trial for culpable homicide and have no relationship with Charles Okah in what ever manner as it’s being speculated. “Efforts are on in collaboration with sister security agencies and relevant bodies to recapture the fleeing prisoners,” prison official said.

Ethnicity, favouritism, bane of Nigeria police —Acting IGP Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

THE Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Saturday, in Ila Orangun, Osun State, has identified ethnicity and favouritism as part of the challenges confronting the Nigeria Police Force. He said ethnicity and favouritism were more pronounced in the Mobile Force Unit. Speaking at the passing out of Squadron Commanders, Operation Course Os/2016,

held at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Forest Camp, Ila Orangun, Idris cautioned Squadron Commanders against creating any form of disunity among their squadrons. He declared that stern disciplinary action awaits any commander reported to be involved in unwholesome act of favouritism and ethnicity, stressing that all hands must be on deck to sustain and preserve the unity in the Nigeria Police Force.

While disclosing that he would ensure effective restructuring of the Mobile Police, Idris tasked policemen in the country to redouble their efforts at tackling the rise in criminal activities in the country. Commenting on his plans to combat corruption within the force, Idris said he had already directed that all officers from the rank of the Assistant Superintendent of Police must declare their assets in line with the demands of service rule.

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi State Command, said on Saturday that it arrested 94 suspects, including seven women, over drug related offences between January and June. The commander of the agency in the state, Alhaji Idris Bello, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, the state capital. The statement was issued in commemoration of the 2016 United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme “Listen First,” scheduled for today. Bello said that the command also seized two tonnes of Indian hemp and other psychotropic substances like Tramadol, Diazepam, Rohypnol and Codeine. He said that nine drug law offenders were sentenced to various jail terms in prison upon conviction. According to him, the prosecution of a suspected gang leader, Al-Hassan Idris, alias 40-40, on the orders of the Office of National Security Adviser is on-going. Bello said the command also impounded six vehicles, counselled 58 drugs users and rehabilitated seven drug addicts, including a girl, during the period.

Buhari’s wife distributes Ramadan gifts to Oyo women By Dare Adekanmbi WIFE of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari has called on Nigerians to embrace peace and selflessness, especially in this holy month of Ramadan. This was the message of Mrs Buhari to Oyo State women as she gave out rice, vegetable oil, custard and garri to women in Oyo State, to exemplify a life of giving in the spirit of the season. Distributing the food items at the Government House in Ibadan, on Saturday, wife of the state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi,who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, urged the Muslim faithful to emulate such act in the remaining days of the fast and beyond. Mrs Ajimobi thanked Hajia Buhari for her benevolence to the women of the state, stressing that it was the first gesture from the federal stratum.

news

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

ALGON wants FG, EFCC to eschew tyranny, intimidation in Ekiti Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike (in sky blue), inspecting ongoing preliminary works, at the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park, on Saturday. With him is Mr Simon Okpu of Julius Berger.

Osinbajo, Ambode, Dangote express confidence in Nigeria’s quick economic recovery Bola Badmus -Lagos

HE Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Africa’s richest man and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Saturday, expressed confidence that Nigeria’s ailing economy is on the road to quick recovery if the current efforts aimed at revamping it are sustained. Osinbajo said this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after undertaking working visit to the ongoing construction of Dangote refinery, petro-chemical, fertiliser plants and pipeline producing plant, at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, pointing out that Federal Government was harnessing the potentials of the private sector to accelerate the growth of the country’s economy. “This is the largest industrial undertaking in Nigeria. There we have seen the

refinery, which is meant to refine 650,000 barrels of oil per day. That is by all projection the largest in the world. There is also the petro- chemical and fertiliser plant, which is also projected to be the largest in the world. “There is also a pipeline production plant here. I think it is an incredible in-

dustrial undertaking in the country and most ambitious in the continent today. It is really inspiring,” the vicepresident said. Also speaking, Governor Ambode noted that the Dangote Group’s decision to embark on four significant projects that would have great multiplier effects on growth and economy of Ni-

geria was aimed at boosting economic prosperity of the country. According to Ambode, “what this tells us is that Lagos is on an expansive growth both on the east and west sides of Lagos. There is nothing we can do as a government than to commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote and thoroughly support him.”

Resident doctors suspend nationwide indefinite strike THE National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its nationwide indefinite strike, which commenced on June 20. President of the association, Dr Mohammad Askira, made the disclosure on Saturday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the association’s National Executive Council meeting held on Friday, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said that the strike was suspended to enable the Fed-

eral Government to implement the agreement reached with the association on or before July 14, adding that the doctors would resume work on June 27. He said that the meeting also resolved to review the progress of government intervention at the next NEC meeting of the association scheduled for July 25 to 30 in Keffi for appropriation action. Askira expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his promise to

implement all the agreements reached between the association and the government. He commended the president for directing the Minister of Health to resolve the impasse in the best interest of Nigerians. He also expressed gratitude to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), among others, for their interventions to resolve the crisis.

THE Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ekiti State has asked the Federal Government to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tread softly in the state, saying “it is unwise to watch the anti-graft agency commit illegal acts in the name of fighting corruption.” This is just as the association and the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole lauded the workers in Ekiti for agreeing to suspend their four-week old strike and return to work “for the progress of the state.” ALGON said at the weekend in a statement that the EFCC was “creating unnecessary confusion in Ekiti State by submitting itself to politicians who have turned it to a tool of oppression of opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country.” In the statement by its chairman, Mr. Dapo Olagunju and secretary, Mr. Adeyanju Adeyeye, the umbrella body of elected local government chairmen in Ekiti State, said “for example, the EFCC acted unlawfully and undemocratically by freezing the personal account of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.” According to Olagunju and Adeyeye, “it is a trite that a sitting governor should enjoy immunity from harrassment and intimidation by any individual or agency until the end of his or her tenure but the action of the EFCC against Governor Fayose has showed that this agency is not obeying the constitution in this regard.”

Arik Air sponsors conjoined twins to New York for surgery Shola Adekola -Lagos ARIK Air has sponsored the return tickets to New York for conjoined twins, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, to enable them to have immediate access to medical care and surgery that they require. The airline is offering the support in partnership with Linking Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, which has secured free medical treatment for the twins at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Arik Air said it would be sponsoring the twins as the airline’s own little way of not only ensuring that the Ayeni twins got needed medical treatment speedily but also to assist the family in reducing some of the financial burden associated with the trip. The founder of Linking Hands Foundation, Efe Farinre, while thanking Arik Air for accepting to fly the twins and their family abroad, said Miracle and Testimony were born on 16th November, 2015, at St. Patrick Hospital Enugu, to Mr Samuel Olusegun Ayeni and Mrs Mary Abiodun Ayeni, both of Kogi State, Nigeria. The twin girls who are conjoined in the pelvic region were taken to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu immediately after delivery. They were moved to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on 22nd April and have been under medical supervision.

interview

‘I’ve reached out to all APC gov aspirants’ Continued from

pg 34

basis to start from. We have a tradition of commercial farming in Nigeria; we just have to leverage on that significantly. There will be employments in my government. The past PDP administration destroyed the civil service of the state. In their stupidity, they took out a whole layer of people, who were trained, out of the civil service, believing naively that they were saving money. They forgot that those people were going into the list of pensioners and they did not pay what was due to them. If I forgive the PDP administration for what they did to the state, one thing

I cannot forgive them for is what they did to the civil service of Edo State. The experienced civil servants were taken out, leaving the amateur ones to rise through the ranks without anyone to train them. That is the surest way to destroy a system. So, the problem we have now is to get people into the civil service and to rapidly retrain them to cope with the challenges of modern government. Eight years ago, the transportation in Edo State was bad, but today you can drive from the beginning of airport road straight to Ugbowo, you can drive around the city. What we need to do is to make people passing through Edo State to stop, to create the environment

for businesses to thrive. What we need to do is to create businesses. We need to encourage people to invest in business facilities. When people come for business purposes, they would want to go out to see the tourism spots in Edo State. Some people seem to have the fears that you may sell Edo State to your friends such Aliko Dangote and others? I have spent most of my last 30 something years in investment banking, and the only people I deal with are people who have capitals. There is nobody in any big business today that I have not interacted

with. Dangote is the most successful of them. The house I am using now was given to me freely for my campaign by Hakeem Bello Osagie. He is the chairman of Etisalat. I have worked with almost everybody. Finally, God has woken us from our slumber. How can a country that is endowed with people like you and I and all the resources we have spent $30 billion importing goods and services we can produce because we have oil? We have been talking about diversification but as time goes on, we always stray from the plan. Out of the ashes, the phoenix will rise again. Nigeria will rise again and that is one of the reasons I am running for governorship.

26 June, 2016

‘Our students performance made us to introduce A’ Level programme’ Reverend (Dr) Remi Awopegba is the Senior Pastor of Oritamefa Baptist Church, Total Garden, Ibadan, Oyo State. He spoke on why the church has decided to introduce Advanced’ Level programme in the school. Excerpts

RITAMEFA Baptist Model School (OBMS), is set to commence Advanced Level Studies. What informed

this? It is true that Oritamefa Baptist Model School (OBMS) is set to commence the ‘A’ level studies in the month of July, 2016. This is informed by the leading of the spirit of God; it is part of the vision God has given to this administration. However, the vision is being supported and encouraged by many other factors which are very obvious to both present and past students and parents of OBMS. It has to do with our track records of excellence in all that we do. For instance, we are recipients of the following awards: • First position in Oyo State, in the WASSCE 2015 • 3rd Best Result in Nigeria, in the NECO SSCE 2015 • 1st Position in Southwest Nigeria, in the WASSCE 2014 • 6th Position in Nigeria, in the WASSCE 2014 • 1st Position in the DEFI Publishers Maths Competition, 2015 both Jnr and Snr • 1st Position in Thinkquest Quiz Competition 2014 • 3rd Position in Nigeria in the Cowbell Maths (Snr) Competition 2014. • 1st Position in the Cowbell Maths Competition (Jnr) Oyo State, 2012 • Overall best male student in WASSCE 2011 • 1st Position in Cowbell Maths Competition (Jnr) 2011 • Best female WAEC candidate, 2010 • Outstanding private school award 2014 (by House of Rep) and many more, the list is almost endless. Over the years, our students who have had the privilege of going elsewhere for their ‘A’ Levels have always come out as outstanding candidates. There have been high demand by parents and students that if ours is also extended to the ‘A’ Level Programme, the results will be extra-ordinary, given the high level of commitment, dedication and the grace of God around us. Is the school in some form of partnership or collaboration with any foreign institution in this regard? The arrangements are on in this regard for partnership and collaboration with foreign institutions. They will only be fully concluded when there is a formal take-off.

What is the level of preparation in terms of course contents and personnel? We are already through with preparation of course contents while that of the personnel has reached an advanced stage and the training of the personnel specifically for this programme will soon commence. We have highly experienced lecturers, a very conducive learning environment, well equipped science laboratories, well equipped computer laboratory and we are still moving on to improve on all available facilities. How pocket-friendly will this new offering be? We are very well-known for our generosity and high academic achievement at low cost. The ‘A’ Level Programme is also not an exception. From our survey, what we are taking is among the cheapest. For the pioneer students, we are giving a rebate of N150,000 across board. In addition, students of OBMS are given automatic

Reverend (Dr) Remi Awopegba scholarship of N50, 000, implying that they will only pay N162, 000; N187,000 for Arts and Sciences respectively. All other candidates from outside will enjoy the rebate or the initial reduction of N150, 000.00, hence will pay only N212,000 and N237, 000 for Arts and Sciences respectively. The number of institutions offering ‘A’ Level courses in Nigeria is increasing steadily. What do you think is responsible? The increase is in consonance with the general population growth in the country, as well as the increase in the number of secondary schools in Nigeria. The capacity of the universities cannot cope with the numerical growth of the applicants for the inadequate available spaces. These factors have resulted in a glut. The best way to take care of the situation is for more ‘bridges’ in the name of Advanced Level (A/L) institutions to be established. This is what we are witnessing. Is OBMS joining the bandwagon to profit there-from or what value are you seeking to add? Oh! Far from joining the bandwagon for the purpose of profit. OBMS is reputed for excellent academic output. As earlier reflected, it is in line with our vision as led by the spirit of God. Just as we have made a lot of difference in the state and the nation at the Ordinary Level (O/L), we are out to make a difference at the international Advanced Level (A/L). If profit is the goal, the fees will not be this low. The future of millions of students who have not got placements in the universities immediately is our great concern. When these students stay at home, for too long, their lives are vulnerable to all manners of distractions and evils. Many of them will begin to depreciate academically. This A/L programme lasts just about ten months, but it is capable of thrusting them into the realm of their destiny. It is also a sure source of solid foundation for higher studies. As an international certificate, they will be exempted from admission examinations.

Sunday Tribune

news

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Alleged N1.3bn fund: EFCC, APC godfathers fight over Omisore By Moses Alao

silent war may have begun between some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the attempt to prosecute the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, for his alleged collection of fund from the Office of the National Security Adviser. There were allegations at the weekend that the APC topshots were the ones forcing the EFCC to go after Omisore, whom it declared wanted for allegedly collecting and misappropriating N700 million, while the commission is said to be skeptical, because it “has seen the weakness of the charges” against the Osun State former deputy governor. It is recalled that a Federal High Court, Abuja, had granted the senator’s prayer for an order to protect his fundamental human rights through a suit FCT/HC/CV/1456/2016, in which the court restrained the EFCC or any of its agents from arresting him. It was, however, gathered that APC chieftains hellbent on getting at Omisore allegedly forced the EFCC to come up with a fresh allegation that Omisore received N1.3 billion from

the ONSA, in order to render the earlier court order and all processes relating to the N700 million charge useless and “deceive the public into believing that the commission is after Omisore for fresh offences,” a source within the commission, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said. He said the fresh allegation was, indeed, not new and that it was the same as the N700 million for which the commission declared the politician

wanted. Omisore had earlier sued EFCC for defamation of character for declaring him wanted. The EFCC source said the fresh N1.3 billion allegation was an improved effort to get Omisore arrested by all means. Also speaking with Sunday Tribune, Senator Omisore maintained that he had always known that EFCC’s fabricated lies would not stand, “because you cannot build something on nothing,” saying that he was not sure why

some people were after him “for no just cause, despite doing my legitimate businesses and not looking for troubles.” He reiterated that he didn’t take money from former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), contrary to the allegation by EFCC, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC “to go search for crooks, election riggers and government money embezzlers elsewhere.” “EFCC operatives are truly in disagreement with

economy of the country to its knees through its activities, said: “Nigerian president should call for a referendum to enable every Nigerian to vote if they want to stay as Nigerians or not, just like David Cameron of Great Britain.” The two tweets have been shared for 179 and 190 times respectively with comments supporting and denouncing the suggestions as of the time of filing this report. @legendury_L£X, in his tweet, said “President Buhari, borrow a leaf from PM David Cameron, call for a referendum and let Nigerians decide like they did to vote you into power.” Another respondent reacted thus: “referendum can only work in a country

aware of plans to prosecute him on baseless and trumped up charges, hence his effort to enforce his fundamental human rights, the Ife-born politician maintained that though he was not opposed to being tried lawfully and legally, the way the APC and its agents in EFCC had been going about the matter “is an express revelation of its diabolical, devilish and irresponsible agenda to gag me and other opposition leaders across the country.”

Over 2 million Britons demand another referendum on exit from EU

A petition calling for a second EU referendum has topped two million signatures - more than doubling the highest signed in parliamentary history. The petition, which was started on Saturday, attracted so many signatures when it first opened, such that the government’s website crashed, according to Daily Mail. The enormous surge followed the initial 100,000 signatures which were created in a bid to get London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, to declare the capital as independent. Protesters are hoping that Khan will call for London to be classed separately from the UK and therefore be able to apply to join the European Union. The petition, which by Saturday morning was being signed by more than 1,660 a minute - 100,000 an hour, has so far exceeded the number of signatures needed to trigger a debate on the topic in Par-

liament by 1.9 million. Eager protesters took to Twitter urging people to sign the petition and assist in calling for a second chance. One said: “The petition for a second referendum hit one million in just a day. We can do this, guys!” Another wrote: “The petition for another referendum now has almost 2 million signatures WOW.” Physicist Brian Cox said: “A rather mischievous question ... what happens if over 17 million people sign the petition for a second referendum?” Broadcaster Mary Portas said: “Please sign. Let’s change this madness.” The petition was set up by William Oliver Healey who states: “We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum.” On Thursday 51.9% of

votes were cast to leave the EU, versus 48.1% for remaining part of the bloc. A map of the signatures indicated that most activity was in England’s major cities. The highest number of signatories came from London, where most boroughs backed Remain in the referendum. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn rejected calls for a second vote. He said: “The referendum has taken place, a decision has been made, I think we have got to accept that decision and work out our relationship with Europe in the future. A House of Commons spokeswoman earlier said the site had temporarily been taken out of action on Friday due to “exceptionally high volumes of simultaneous users on a single petition, significantly higher than on any previous occasion.” “UK Parliament and the

Militants plan to bomb 3rd Mainland Bridge, others Continued from pg 4

their political APC godfathers. That is one of the reasons for dodging court summons, as I exposed on AIT on Thursday. Nigerians are hereby alerted to the killer democracy, abuse of human rights and utter disrespect for the rule of law by this illegal arrests, back-door detention warrants and tyranny. I want to assure Nigerians, especially suffering Osun masses that I won’t abandon them even in the face of persecution.” Noting that he was quite

where you have database to know how many of the so called citizens there are” @SaintyMartins, on his part, says: “I think this is a way to go let the zones decide. I’m sure nobody will vote against breakup.” The NDA, have also challenged President Buhari to pay an on-the-spot assessment visit to ascertain the level of environmental degradation orchestrated by oil multinationals in the Niger Delta region. The group, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Moduch Agbinibo and posted on their website Saturday afternoon, said: “Mr President, come and see for yourself what the host communities are going through at the hands of Nigeria government and the multinationals.”

They challenged the president to visit Ugborodo, Ogulagha, Bonny Island, Ibeno and Brass to behold how the people are suffering in the midst of plenty. “The Nigerian President should visit Ugborodo, host to Chevron crude oil Export terminal/EGTL gas plant, Ogulagha host to Shell Forcados Crude Oil Export terminal/tank farm, Bonny Island host to Shell Bonny Crude Oil Export terminal/NLNG gas terminal; Brass host to Agip/ENI export terminal and Ibeno host to ExxonMobil Qua Iboe crude export terminal. “These are just the export terminals not talking about the numerous oil and gas flowstations and the oil wells that criss-cross the length and breadth of the Niger delta,” the statement laced with pathos, read.

Defence information reacts When contacted, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Robe Abubakar, said the military would not trade words with militants “because they are our brothers and sisters and it is not everybody that is a militant.” According to him, the military has the responsibility to maintain security in that region and protect lives and property. The defence spokesman said that as good citizens they have the responsibility to join hands with government in the development of the country and should not resort to criminality. Police react to threat Nigeria Police, Delta State Command, have warned members of the AADFND to steer clear of the Onitsha - Asaba bridge

Government Digital Service are aware of the issue and are working hard to resolve the problems as quickly as possible.” The parliamentary petitions system is overseen by the Petitions Committee, who consider whether petitions that receive more than 100,000 signatures should be raised in the house. The committee is due to sit again on Tuesday. A separate Change.org petition calling on Mr Khan to instigate the secession of London from the rest of the UK gathered more than 100,000 signatures by Saturday morn-

ing. The page, set up by James O’Malley, stated: “London is an international city, and we want to remain at the heart of Europe. “Let’s face it - the rest of the country disagrees. So rather than passive aggressively vote against each other at every election, let’s make the divorce official and move in with our friends on the continent. “This petition is calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to declare London independent, and apply to join the EU including membership of the Schengen Zone (Umm, we’ll talk about the Euro...).”

Grazing reserves: Southern Kaduna kicks against land seizure Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

SIXTY-FIVE ethnic groups under the aegis of Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) both at

or be ready to face the music. The militant had, on Saturday, vowed to bomb the Bonga Oil Field, Third Mainland Bridge and the Onitsha - Asaba bridge among others in the southern region in a statement signed by its leader. Newly promoted Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Celestina Kalu, in a chat with Sunday Tribune on Saturday, said the threats of the militant group were jokes taken too far. “Our men are always on standby at both ends of the Onitsha - Asaba bridge and we are ready for them, she said. The police spokesperson assured membears of the public to go about their normal business, but report any suspicious movement around their vicinity to the police and other security agencies.

home and in the diaspora have said they would resist any attempt by the state government to donate their lands for the proposed grazing reserves in their communities. This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday and signed by the National President of the association, Mr Solomon Musa. The statement frown on the hasty manner in which the state government donated 5,000 hectares of land belonging to the communities to the proposed federal government grazing reserves. ‘We ordinarily would have wholeheartedly been in support of the scheme which is capable of halting the unwarranted attacks on our people by suspected herdsmen and their accomplices, but the idea of bringing in a suspected aggressor to the midst of his victims would be viewed as continued assault on our people,” he said. The statement noted that no inch of their land is a ‘no man’s land.’

26 June, 2016

SUNDAY

Sunday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salnan 08053789060 tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com

Awoniyi misfires as F/Eagles beat Dream Team THE form of Liverpool forward, Taiwo Awoniyi must be of great concern after he spurned chance after chance as the Nigeria Olympic team fell 4-3 to their U-20 counterparts in a test game on Saturday in Abuja. “He is going through a slump,” admitted a top Nigeria Olympic official. Awoniyi’s misses summed up the poor finishing of Awoniyi (right) coach Samson Siasia’s side as they lost for the second straight time to the Flying Eagles. For the first 20 minutes, Dream Team pegged the Flying Eagles to their own half of the pitch with Godwin Saviour failing to hit target from inside the box. Saviour then set Awoniyi up on goal only for goalkeeper Amos Benjamin to make a point-blank save. It was therefore against the run of play when Orji Okonkwo opened scoring for the Flying Eagles, before Saviour drew the Dream This is our game, qualifying Team level. for this (2018) World Cup is Okonkwo then regained possible.”

2018 World Cup qualifiers:

It’s a tough draw

—Kalusha F By Ganiyu Salman

ORMER African Footballer of the Year (1988), Kalusha Bwalya has described the African qualifying series for the 2018 World Cup group B which pitched his country, Zambia alongside Nigeria, Cameroon and Algeria as indeed a tough

draw. Kalusha, who captained Zambia when it lost 1-2 in the final of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia, while reacting to the draw released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Friday in Cairo, through his twitter handle, pointed out that the approach of his team at the

...First game will decide —Cameroon coach COACH of Cameroon, Hugo Broos has predicted the opening match days will go a long way in determining how the World Cup qualifying ‘Group of Death’ involving Nigeria, Algeria and Zambia will shape up. The Indomitable Lions have been the most successful African team at the World Cup having made seven appearances, but face a most daunting task to now qualify for a third straight World Cup in Russia. ‘This is the ’Group of Death’,

it’s a very difficult group, especially with a team like Algeria, you also have Zambia and Nigeria, three very good teams,” Broos remarked. “It will be very difficult for each team in the group. “We will see what happens on the opening days in October and November.” In October, Cameroon will play away in Algeria, while Nigeria will be guests of Zambia. In November, Nigeria welcome Algeria and Cameroon host Zambia.

start of the campaign would determine its fate. “Tough draw but can be managed. All three (countries) known to Zambia. Depends how you start the race.” the former president of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) tweeted through @KalushaPBwalya. Former Nigerian international, Peterside Idah, in his reaction urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to do the needful for the Super Eagles to come out tops in the ‘group of death’ and grab the Russia 2018 ticket. The former Moroka Swallows of South Africa goalkeeper who tweeted through@IdahPeterside said “We need to put our heads together and qualify for this World Cup @NGSuperEagles we need to consult.” In another tweet minutes later, the former BCC Lions goalkeeper said: “I have said it @thenff should consult and carry everyone along.

the Flying Eagles, before Samuel Chukwueze made it 3-1 going into the interval. In the second half, Oghenekaro Etebo pulled a goal back for the Olympic team only for Victor Osimhen to power home a fourth goal for the Flying Eagles off a diving header. Portugal-based Shehu Abdullahi pulled another goal back for the Nigeria U23s in the closing minutes, but it was too little, too late for them to redeem themselves against their younger opponents. Meanwhile, the Dream Team will leave in two batches for a training camp in the United States of America from Tuesday, officials have told AfricanFootball.com The first batch will leave Abuja with the second batch flying out the following day. The Nigerian team is due in Mexico for a friendly on July 2. Coach Siasia has already named a provisional 35-man squad for the Rio Olympics in August.

Oyo commissioner begins overhaul of sports sector By Nurudeen Alimi NEWLY-appointed Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State, Mr Abayomi Oke, has expressed his readiness to commence what he described as total overhaul of the sports sector in the state, with a call to stakeholders to join in the quest. He made this known during his maiden press briefing in his office last weekend, saying things will no longer be done the old way, as he plans to return the state to where it rightfully belong in the world of sports. Oke, a former Special Assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi stated that he was interested in the development of all the various sports in the state and not only football. He urged sports associations and stakeholders to

come up with proposals which can midwife the desired development. “I am interested in youth and age-group sports, particularly the U-13 and U-17. I want to see sports development through organisation of competitions at the ward, local government and state levels. “This is going to be with private sector involvement. We will leverage on contacts, contributions and support. “We will imbibe the sports development model of Lagos State. I have linked up with Lagos State to garner such ideas and we will implement such here too to develop sports in Oyo state,” he said. He further held that the ministry was ready to partner with stakeholders in bringing investors to develop infrastructures and the various categories of sports

across the state. Oke, also hinted that the ministry was seriously working with the management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Crown FC, Oyo State Football Association and the supporters’ club on how to rebrand the two teams. “We have met with the supporter’s club and we discussed how we can run football through self-funding. We have identified that government cannot do it alone. “We will ensure that we develop our football and other games to taste. We won’t leave out the female football in this. “We are appealing to sports stakeholders and enthusiasts to support us in the development of sports across the state. The support is not limited to football but any sports,” Oke said.

sport

26 June, 2016

Sunday Tribune

EURO 2016 SPECIAL:

France is the team to beat

Lloris in a world of his own. PHOTO: EPA.

F Ireland gave us a fight—Bale WALES star Gareth Bale said his side had been happy to win “ugly” after they edged British rivals Northern Ireland 1-0 to reach the Euro 2016 quarter-finals on Saturday. Bale is the tournament’s top scorer with three goals, but he was kept at bay by Michael O’Neill’s side at Parc des Princes in Paris until the 75th minute, when his cross produced an own goal by Gareth McAuley. “What can I say? We knew it was going to be

Gareth Bale celebrates with his daughter after the victory over Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. PHOTO: EPA.

an ugly match,” Bale said. “Northern Ireland made it difficult to play. There was not much space up front. You can’t ask for anymore. It’s incredible.” Wales will now play either Belgium, who they faced in qualifying, or Hungary in Lille on Friday for a place in the semi-finals. “It’s amazing,” said Wales manager Chris Coleman, whose side finished above England—another British foe—as winners of Group B. “First and foremost commiserations to Northern

Ireland. We showed a lot of heart and courage. The good thing about these boys when we’re not playing well is that they have spirit. “And at times we were hanging on. I’d rather be standing here in the quarter-final not playing at our best. “We have to give credit to Northern Ireland -- they made it very difficult to play against. They were the better team. We have to plan for the next game, whoever it is. We’ll enjoy this tonight.”

Jakub breaks 1982 q/final jinx for Poland GOAL scorer Jakub Blaszczykowski was delighted his midas touch helped make history, as Poland booked its Euro 2016 quarter-final berth by beating Switzerland 5-4 via penalties on Saturday after a 1-1 draw at regulation time. Blaszczykowski proved again he produces when his team need him most as he gave his side a firsthalf lead in the last-16 clash. The Borussia Dortmund winger, nicknamed ‘Kuba’, then drilled home Poland’s fourth shot and his nation was sent into delirium when Grzegorz Krychowiak nailed the crucial fifth kick. It is the first time Poland had reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament since the 1982 World Cup. Adding to their joy, this is the first time they have reached the knockout stages at a Euro finals. And the result meant Poland preserved their record of never having lost in all 18 games when Blaszczykowski has scored. “Let’s hope it continues until the final,” said Blaszczykowski, who spent last season on loan at Fiorentina.”

—Lloris

RANCE captain, Hugo Lloris has warned his team-mates that the Republic of Ireland will be more intent on making their name at Euro 2016 by dumping the hosts out of the competition than exorcising the ghost of Thierry Henry. The two sides meet in the last 16 in Lyon today almost seven years after Henry’s handball at the Stade de France broke Irish hearts and denied them a place at the 2010 World Cup finals. Both camps have sought to play down talk of revenge despite intense media coverage - the 2009 World Cup play-off second leg was shown in its entirety on French television on Friday night - and Lloris, who played in the game, insisted Ireland would have bigger fish to fry. He said: “I don’t know if the Irish are necessarily out for revenge. That’s part of history, that’s in the past. “Sunday’s fixture is part of the European Championships at home and we have noticed since the start of the tournament, we are a little bit the team to beat. That does give the opposition added motivation to try and bring down the host nation. “That is no doubt going to be another aim for the Irish, but we’re not focussed on that at all, we’re preparing very calmly on our side of things and on Sunday we need to make sure that we are ready for the battle.” A controversial 1-1 draw in St Denis that night secured France’s passage after a 1-0 win in Dublin in the first leg, but the Republic of Ireland were the better side on the night. However, Lloris denied there was over-confidence in 2009 and insisted there would be none today either as the possibility of a quarter-final clash with either England or Iceland looms. He said: “If I’m honest, I don’t think we are over-confident at all. We have a lot of respect for the Republic of Ireland. We have been able to watch them on video. Despite the second half against Belgium, they have shown a lot of good stuff against Sweden and especially against Italy. “They are perhaps even a little bit more excited because they went through in the last few minutes against Italy. They are where they are. I think they are very motivated, but we will also be up for it too.” Whatever the result, it is likely to be a landmark day for Lloris, who will captain his country for a record 55th time, in the process overtaking the total managed by his manager Didier Deschamps. Lloris said: “Of course it’s nice, but to be honest at this moment in time, I’m more focussed on competition as a whole and what matters for me and my team-mates is to try to go as far as possible in the European Championships. “I have no desire at all to compare myself to Didier Deschamps, what he might have represented as a player or captain, nor indeed Michel Platini. Football evolves, as do people’s mentalities.” When asked about the feat, Deschamps joked: “Maybe. He could play, but he might not be captain. I ultimately am the one in charge.”

SIDELINES NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

NO 2,052

26 JUNE, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

N200

One Mr Cornelius Ugo has stated that he borrowed money to pay his wife’s bride price and that he and his wife worked to repay the loan together. Such an example of true love! It is no wonder their marriage has lasted 50 years. A lesson for younger couples on the importance of understanding that marriage is a partnership, not a competition.

We Yoruba say it again: We demand meaningful change (I)

ERTAINLY, President Buhari, who promised Nigeria change, deserves commendations for daring to embark on a war against corruption in this country. But it is obvious that he must perceive change much more widely. The anti-corruption war itself is fumbling, Boko Haram is still causing serious trouble, and we now have murderous Fulani cattle herders (accompanied by Libyan mercenaries) killing and destroying across most parts of Nigeria. The poverty gripping the lives of most Nigerians is getting worse. The senseless accumulation of power and resources in federal hands still stunts development initiative all over Nigeria and therefore guarantees the continued escalation of poverty. But we Yoruba take it that there is now some hope. We take it that we can now speak up and let our federal rulers know that federal policies, and the general structure and orientation of Nigeria, have been hurting us very terribly – and hurting most other Nigerian peoples equally terribly. We dare to say that the status quo is untenable and unsustainable. I am a member of the Yoruba nation of southwestern Nigeria. I can testify to the sad record of my people’s devastating experiences in independent Nigeria since 1960. I was already a teenager and a high school student when Chief Obafemi Awolowoand his contemporaries became the managers of the affairs of our Western Region in 1952. I remember how, under him and his team of leaders, our Western Region bounced from development to development, from progress to progress. We saw many of our roads widened and solidly surfaced. We saw totally new roads

constructed. We were given pipe-borne water in many of our towns. Then there were the big Regional development programmes – the first Free Education programme in all of Africa, the first television in all of Africa, a mighty stadium in Ibadan, an industrial estate in Ikeja (the first of its kind in Africa), the Western Nigeria Development Corporation with holdings in industries, banks,

cocoa exports poured money into the life of our Region, provided most of the money for our Region’s development programmes, and supplied much of Nigeria’s foreign exchange. Needless to say, in other Regions, regional and local authorities were helping their farmers to produce similar successes in other export crops – like groundnuts and cotton in the North, and palm produce in the East.

real estate, etc (the largest accumulation of African-owned investment capital in Africa), extensive plantations of rubber, palm trees and citrus in parts of our southern forests, farm settlements for nurturing a new class of modern farmers, experimental farm centers, etc – altogether, the beginnings of a great modern economy and society. We saw well-designed and well implemented prorammes for helping our cocoa farmers – programmes which made their cocoa farming very profitable to them, brought much pride into their lives, and turned them into the most productive indigenous farmers in Black Africa. Their

Very importantly also, our Region’s political life was stable and orderly. None of our leaders (of any party) tried to rig our elections. When elections approached, it was never certain which party would win, and even our topmost politicians (like Chief Awolowo himself, or the Leader of Opposition, AlhajiAdegokeAdelabu) were confronted by strong opponents in their home constituencies. We heard news of candidates of opposition parties being molested and arrested by Regional and Local governments in some other parts of Nigeria, and of elections being rigged there, but we were sure that such things could never come to our Region. We were

Eagles will get new coach in 2 weeks —Dikko THE Super Eagles will get a permanent coach in two weeks, according to a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). This is coming on the heels of the draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. “The target of the technical committee and the NFF is two

weeks so we can get down to preparations,” Shehu Dikko, second vice-president of the NFF said. “It is better now that we know the draws and the countries we will play, so we can decide the kind of coach we need to get the right results,” he added.

The three-time African champions have been without a substantive coach since February when Sunday Oliseh quit the post, and they have now had four coaches in

the last one year alone. The draw for the Russia 2018 World Cup sees Nigeria in group B alongsiden Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

the Games, but he said he is not disappointed. “I am not disappointed not to have made the provisional list of 35,” Osimhen told AfricanFootball.com. “The coach knows what he wants for the team and I am okay with the decision and I wish the team a successful outing at the Olympic Games.”

NPFL Results

El-Kanemi 1 Lobi Stars

Heartland 2 Akwa United

Euro 2016 Rd of 16 Wales

1 N. Ireland

Poland

5 Switzerland

4 (pen)

Today’s NPFL fixtures Shooting Stars vs IfeanyiUbah

Osimhen takes Olympics snub in good faith NIGERIA U-20 striker, Victor Osimhen has maintained he habours no hard feelings after he failed to make the country’s 35-man provisional list for the Olympics. Osimhen, 17, was part of the team when they qualified for the Olympics, courtesy of their win at the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal last year, but has not made the provisional list of 35 for

confident that our Region was developing into a strong modern democracy. All in all, our Region was the leader, and the pace-setter, in virtually all spheres of development and modernization in Nigeria. We the youths proudly called our Region “First in Africa”. We were proudly confident that we were going to become a highly developed part of the world – and that we would contribute mightily to the development and prosperity of Nigeria. But since the independence of Nigeria in 1960, we Yoruba people, like all other peoples of Nigeria, have been continually robbed of initiative and progress – as a result of the vicious manipulations and distortions of Nigeria’s affairs, the senseless accumulation of power and resourcecontrol in federal hands in this country of many different nationalities, and the deliberate obstructions of Regional and local initiative by the all-powerful Federal Government. We have been relentlessly pushed backwards and downwards. Most of our roads (especially the so-called “federal” roads) have disintegrated, and so have water installations in most of our towns. To pull us back, the Federal Government seized our cocoa economy and put it in charge of a federal board, resulting in the collapse of the government support systems that had served our cocoa farmers so well. Discouraged and denied their usual profits, most of our coca farmers abandoned their cocoa plantations, and our cocoa economy virtually died for years – and has never fully recovered. Similar disasters were made to befall other export crops in the other Regions – palm produce in the East and Midwest, groundnuts in the North, gum-arabic in the Northeast, etc.

Sunshine Stars vs MFM, Lagos Ikorodu United vs Enyimba Heartland

Osimhen

vs Akwa United

Kano Pillars

vs Abia Warriors

Plateau Utd

vs Wikki Tourists

Nasarawa Utd vs Niger Tornadoes

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