NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,179
SATURDAY, 26 NOVEMBER, 2016
Money changers go underground
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Nigerian Tribune
SPECIAL TREAT
pg22
•Security clampdown on forex black market continues
What to do when your baby has skin problems pg12
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Bishop charges pg3 Nigerians to emulate Awo, HID’s virtues
Ondo gov poll holds amid threats
pg5
INEC is compromised — Mimiko
He should stop inflammatory statements —INEC
Women need education on domestic violence
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—Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye
PDP faction pg6 suspends Buruji Kashamu, others
•Nobody can suspend me — Kashamu
FG to lay 1,000km pipeline from Niger Republic to Kaduna —NNPC GMD pg3
Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran (second right); Co- Chairman, ANN Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (second left); Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, The Most Reverend Michael Olusina Fape (middle); Area Superintendent of the Apostolic Church, Remo, Ogun State, Pastor Zaccheus Olugbenga Odugbose (right) and Mrs Wemimo Anifowose (left), at the first posthumous birthday of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, held at the family chapel, Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, on Friday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.
Customs, NAFDAC launch search pg8 for plastic rice
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
FIRST POSTHUMOUS BIRTHDAY OF CHIEF (MRS) H.I.D. AWOLOWO PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE & D’ TOYIN
From left, Mrs Wemimo Anifowose; Co-Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and Chairman ANN Plc, Revd. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, at the first posthumous birthday of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, held at the family chapel, Ikenne, Ogun State, on Friday.
From left, Revd. Sesan Adebajo, Olori Yemisi Onakade and the Alakene of Ikenne, Oba Adeyinka Onakade.
The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Most Revd Olusina Fape, delivering the sermon at the occasion.
From left, Consultant/Director, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Pastor (Dr) Segun Olatunji; Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, Mr Folu Olamiti and Editor, Sunday Tribune, Mr Sina Oladeinde.
Alhaji Isiaka Ajetunmobi (left), Chief (Mrs) Comfort Olutunda and Alhaji Aruna Onasanya.
From left, Sales Manager, ANN Plc, Dr Tayo Lewis; Manager, Internal Audit, Mr Peculiar Adegbite; Senior Manager, Human Resources, Mrs Bukola Ezeamaka and Editor, Sunday Tribune, Mr Sina Oladeinde.
Chief Accountant, ANN Plc, Mrs Oluremi Olufisayo (right) and Credit Control Manager, Mrs Yinka Oladayo.
A cross section of clergymen at the occasion.
3 photo FIRST POSTHUMOUS BIRTHDAY OF CHIEF (MRS) H.I.D. AWOLOWO PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE & D’ TOYIN
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As family, friends, well wishers celebrate first HID Awolowo posthumous birthday
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Most Revd Fape, blessing the well wishers at the occasion.
Mr Taiwo Akinola (left) and Lady Evangelist Mercy Sonubi at the occasion.
From left, Business Development Controller, ANN Plc, Mr Fola Oke, Elder Sunday Awobajo and Revd. Adesina Adeniyi.
Saturday Tribune
Our leaders should emulate Awo, HID —Fape Olayinka Olukoya Abeokuta
Chairman, ANN Plc, Revd (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, welcoming well wishers to the occasion.
26 November, 2016
he Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, His Grace, Dr Olusina Fape, has assured Nigerians that the economic downturn currently facing the country would soon be a thing of the past if the nation’s leaders set their priorities right. He also urged Nigerian leaders to emulate the virtues of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and those of HID which endeared them to the people. He said this in his short sermon during the order of Holy Communion Service for the first posthumous birthday of the co-founder of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, held at the family chapel, Ikenne -Remo, on Friday. Fape explained that the country had all it takes to be economically viable, and urged the leaders to put the interest of the masses at heart. The cleric said that some nations of the world had at some points in their history, passed through these difficult times and survived it, because their leaders were not self-centered. “Recession is not a new thing. It has always been there from time immemorial, but at this period, we can only look upon God. At this time, God still has a way of ministering to his people, and people should not because of recession be doing somethings that are immoral. “Other nations had been in economic recession and they came out of it. I believe that with the dedication of our leaders, by placing our priorities right, we will come out of it very soon. “If we are less concerned with ourselves, just like the sages of the old, just like Pa. Obafemi Awolowo and other political icons of this nation, who fought very well for this nation, definitely, we will overcome this period. The country has all that it takes to be an economically viable nation. “The welfare of those they are governing should be uppermost in the minds of leaders. If some of our leaders are thinking about those people they are serving, they won’t want to be appropriating billions of naira to themselves and put those people at their mercy. “We have all that it takes to make Nigeria a great nation, so our leaders should be more concerned on the wel-
fare of the people that elected them, to be what they are, “ he added. The Bishop of Remo, who took the text of his message from the book of Luke Chapter 1 verse 28, said Mama was a blessed woman and mother like the biblical Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. He said that no one would believe that the late HID Awolowo could be known to the world, being the only child of her mother with a humble beginning. Fape added that the Yeye Oodua was a blessing to her generation which according to him, made her to be a reference point to her generation. He added, “Who will ever believe that a single child of her mother, later became a mother of five children, and 11 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Who will ever believe that single child of a humble background, would be the cynosure of all eyes, as the wife of the best politician Nigeria has ever produced. Although, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, did not govern Nigeria as a president, yet politicians till today and even till tomorrow, have always canvassed to rule this nation by the political ideologies of the sage. Whether they knew the vision, or not is another issue entirely.
“We are celebrating HID Awolowo today, even though called home almost at 100. Who will ever think that the woman born of the humble background will become a reference point in the politics of the country, today. “She was a blessing to her generation and she would continue to be a blessing through the HID Awolowo Anglican Church, a living monument. The church exists today through her to bring the message of salvation to those that have been saved. Of all the contributions that Mama made in her lifetime, the one that has eternal dividend is the church. We thank God for the day she was born and we will continue to celebrate this day”, he said. The ceremony was attended by Mama’s children, Rev (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Mrs Wemimo Anifowose (grandchild). The Alakenne of IkenneRemo, Oba Adeyinka Onakade and his wife, former Editor-In-Chief of ANN Plc, Mr. Folu Olamiti, Consultant, Dr. Segun Olatunji, Managing Director/EIC, ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, Honourable Omosanya Solaja, among others, were also in attendance.
NNPC to build 1,000km crude pipeline from Niger Republic to Kaduna —GMD Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alhaji Maikanti Kachalla Magu, has said that work would soon commence on the construction of a crude pipeline from Agadaz in Niger Republic, to Kaduna. He disclosed this on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir Elrufai, at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House. Magu disclosed that the construction of the pipeline would seek to address the fuel situation in the Northern part of the country. According to him, the current production output in the nation’s refineries is not bad in spite of the vandalism of pipelines and militancy in the Niger Delta. The GMD remarked that Kaduna is very strategic to the operations of KRPC as it houses the refinery,
depot, retail outlets, zonal office as well as the Petroleum Institute. “KRPC was established to serve the Northern region. So far, the company is trying its best to ensure that it meets its obligation. “However, the major challenge facing the company is that people are now tapping water from KRPC pipelines, thus hampering the running of the company since the water used is derived from Kaduna river. Responding, Governor El-Rufai said the nation’s refineries were safe under the watch of the new GMD because of his track record and integrity. El-Rufai said governors were now happy with the GMD on how he has been able to turn the fortune of the corporation around. “We are now seeing an improvement in revenue generation. We also have a president who is determined to see things done the right way”, the governor said.
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Nollywood actress, Kiki Omeili, known for her role in Blessing Egbe’sLekki Wives, a TV Series, has etched her name on over forty mainstream movies, winning awards and nominations locally and internationally since her emergence in 2011. The Lagos University Teaching Hospital trained physician-turned-actor in this interviewed by NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA bares it all out.
Saturday Tribune
’Cos of my medical training, many didn’t believe I could act —Kiki Omeili
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OW has this year been for you? We learnt you recently landed an international nomination? Yes o. It’s been a very good year. I won the 2016 GIAMA Best Supporting Actress Award for my role in Sting. I also won the City People Award for Best Supporting Actress. I won the Best Female Act award at the “Lagos 30 Under 40” Awards. I have other nominations from the SCREAM Awards and the Most Exquisite Lady Awards. My first international nomination was the Berlin International Film Festival in October for my work in Deluded for the Best Actress in a short film. All in 2016? Yes. All in 2016. This year has been very successful for me career-wise. 2016 saw my directorial debut for my short film “Unprotected”. Before now, I had never produced a movie.
You have also been doing a lot of comedy skits lately. How did your romance with comedy begin? Yeah. [Smile] You know, in this industry, not many role interpreters like to be stereotyped. And speaking personally now, I like to do all genres of film. I like people to see the different sides of my skills; you know, to see that I am a well-rounded actor; that I can pull through any role – be it drama, comedy, romance, trailer or action. When Yomi Black reached out to me to do comedy skits. At first, I was quite skeptical. You know, comic actors are almost always being stereotyped. I didn’t want to do it at first. But because I wanted people to see that I can do any role that’s thrown at me, so I got in and did Sunday and Lolade. And ever since, the skit has taken a life of its own on social media. The views are crazy. Needless to say, people love it. Do you want to continue in this path, or it ‘s just a phase? Like I said, it is not a phase. However, I don’t want to be a comic actor, because that’s not who I am. Doing comedy is just to show that I can do anything. As to your question, Yes, I will continue the skits definitely. It is loved by so many people. I guess it brings happiness to them. For instance, I have gotten so many messages from people who say they got better after watching my skits from their hospital beds. Some also tell me that they got out of depression and sadness after watching the skits. These are the things you hear and you know that you are impacting positively on people’s lives. I will continue doing that. And will also continue doing my drama and my health advocacy. We also know you were a doctor before being an actor. Does your medical background in any way influence the way you undertake your job
as an actor? First, I must say that the medical field in Nigeria still has a long way to go. It has grown, yes. A lot of the things that were not available ten years ago are now available. There were so many surgeries, tests, procedures that people had to travel abroad for that are now being done in Nigeria. Regardless of that, we still have a lot to do. Apart from people in the medical field, we as a people, also have a role to play. A lot of people are uninformed about how to live healthier and better lives. People do things that endanger their lives on a daily basis. Why? Because they are ignorant of how dangerous these things are. So for me, I try to use my experience to pass some of these pieces of information across through drama. I try to fuse my knowledge of medicine into role interpretation, into everything I do. I call it Health Advocacy. Apart from films, I give health advice on social media, participate in awareness talks like breast cancer, cervical cancer, dyslexia and other health causes. You know, any means to get the message across. Your producing debut, Unprotected, was health related. How much did you borrow from your experience as a medical doctor in producing the short film? The story was someone else’s story. But I witnessed it as a medical student. When you’re working in a hospital you see so many stories, you come across so many situations. The truth is there aren’t too many of them that stay with you the whole hog. That particularly story really stayed with me. I have always said that if I had the opportunity to produce a movie, I will do it first. That’s what I did. It was basically to tell people about how their actions hurt other people, regardless of how
they think their actions affect them alone. The short film was a way of telling people that actions have wider impacts. Do you intend to do more health -focused stories in the future? Oh yeah! But here is the thing, the focus will be to educate people about the basic things that can help them prevent even life-threatening diseases. It is not really about sermonising the message, but also infusing a lot of entertainment in it. Some of your posts on social media address the challenges faced by the girl child. At this time, what will be your message to them? I think what the children, especially the girl child, needs in life is some kind of mentor, someone to look up to, someone that will always be there for them. Girls in the process of growing-up and discovering themselves go through much. And it does take too much for someone to suppress them or for someone to make them not have the feeling of self-worth and self-esteem. Depending on those around them, they may be convinced to go into early marriages, and not make much out of their lives. The truth is that women have the capacity to do so much. We recently saw a woman running for the president of the most powerful nation in the world. I am passionate about the girl child because there are so many outdated practices that shouldn’t be done to the girl child that we still see. Things like female circumcision, early marriage should not be heard in 2016. I want to encourage girls especially to believe in themselves, Continues on pg14
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26 November, 2016
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Ondo election holds amid threats
•We’re ready for troublemakers —Police •INEC is compromised —Mimiko • He should stop making inflammatory statements —INEC •INEC should have postponed election —PDP Reps caucus From Hakeem Gbadamosi, OluwoleIgeKolawole,Daniel, Biola Azeez
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MID threats from security forces ahead of today’s election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said the stage is set for eligible voters to choose the next governor of the state from among the 28 candidates participating in the election. While the police and INEC warned troublemakers to stay clear of today’s election, the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko at a press conference talked tough, claiming that the system had been rigged against his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Segun Agbaje, said all sensitive materials had been dispatched to all the 18 local government areas of the state while the officials and ad hoc staff of the Commission would move to their various local governments and units. He said that every eligible voter shall be accredited and immediately receive the ballot paper and proceed to vote without a break while he maintained that the means of accreditation remained through the use of Smart Card Reader ( SCR). He said “ we have been assured of adequate security by the Nigerian Police as the lead agency in election security. We had a meeting of the inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security where elaborate deployment and operational plan was agreed upon. “This involves early and adequate deployment for general security as well as specific deployment for the protection of staff and material from our state Headquarters to the 18 local governments. “We have been assured by the security agencies that any act contrary to the provision of the Electoral Act will be promptly dealt with. This is without prejudice to the right of citizens who may wish to stay some distance away from the polling units after voting to witness the counting of ballots,” he said. According to a record made available by the electoral commission, about 1.2m voters will participate in today’s voting exercise across the 18 local government areas in the state, saying over 55 percent of the voters are youths between the age of 18 and 50. In terms of security, the state Police Commissioner, Hilda Harrison said that robust and elaborate security arrangement was being implemented to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election. Harrison said the Inspector General of Police had approved the deployment of additional 26,000 conventional policemen
to the state,with 2,000 Mobile Policemen, 10 cells of counter terrorism unit, Marine police and sniffer dogs and horses as part of efforts to ensure that the election is free of crimes and other criminal activities. The police boss also said that three helicopters, (one for each senatorial district) would be used for surveillance during the election while about 20 police gunboats, 12 additional Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and 300 patrol vehicles would be used for the election. He added that the police will be working in collaboration with other sister security agencies in the state. Also speaking, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRo) Femi Joseph, said the Inspector General of Police has provided everything required to ensure the success and peaceful conduct of this election. He said anything that had to do with security measures has been put in place, disclosing that the DIG Operations, Josak Abila had been drafted to the state for the special assignment and would be assisted by two AIGs and three Commissioners of Police, one for each senatorial district. Joseph said the borders of the state would be closed by 8pm while men of the command would be stationed around the state to conduct stop and search to ensure that nobody entered the state with any incriminating item. He said “ I want to warn the people, most especially those who have negative intents that we are out for them and we will not hesitate to deal with anyone trying to truncate the process of this election. “By 12am Saturday (today), there will be total shut down of the boundary, movement of vehicles will be restricted during the election too, from 6am to 8pm, because we realised that election at times usually drags into the night.” Ondo election: Mimiko alleges plot by INEC to declare preconceived results Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Friday raised the alarm that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was about to foist injustice on the people of the state, allegedly by preparing to declare preconceived results in the governorship election. Addressing a press conference in Akure, on Friday, the governor accused INEC of acting the scripts of some forces within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent the emergence of a credible and electable candidate for PDP in the state. Mimiko further alleged that some ad hoc staff of INEC
had been imported into the state to perpetrate illegalities in the election, allegedly in favour of the candidate of APC, Rotimi Akeredolu. “We have just been told that the same team of election ad hoc staff, which masterminded the largely controversial Edo election, have been sent to our state to deliver a preconceived result for Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the APC candidate. “I have to state this here and now, that our people will not accept the method and process unleashed on Edo. We reject unequivocally the mission of this team in our state. “The Edo team did not only call off collation by 9pm on election day, party agents, monitors and journalists were ordered out of the collation centres, allowing for final subversion of the will of the electorate. We shall not allow such an ungodly process to be repeated in our dear state. “But we must say that the above is not all that INEC and those who want a particular candidate to emerge have done. Efforts have been concerted by INEC and forces within the APC to prevent the emergence of a credible and electable candidate for the PDP in Ondo State”, he said. Recalling the genesis of the said plans, the governor alleged that the APC forces connived with the party to edge out the PDP candidate “in flagrant disregard of extant laws governing elections, removed the name of Eyitayo Jegede on the basis of a Justice Okon Abang order that has since been declared as a fraud by the Supreme Court.” He said there was no justification in seeking to substitute the name of the PDP candidate by INEC in the first instance, saying Jegede, who emerged through a party primary conducted under a free, fair and open environment and witnessed by INEC, was removed as the candidate of the party and substituted his name with Jimoh Ibrahim. Mimiko said, this was done despite all the advice from the consortium of lawyers in the legal department of INEC, and urged the commission not to substitute Jegede’s name. “Several other hurdles were placed on the ways of the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, to the extent that he did not become a candidate until about 48hrs to election, on the directive of the Court of Appeal”, he alleged. Mimiko said the voters register in the election was presented to Jegede some 48 hours to the election, contrary to the Electoral Act which stated that the register should
be presented to all candidates 30 days before the election. “INEC did not release the list of voters register to PDP until yesterday (Thursday), in clear infraction of its own laws and against its advertised ‘Time Table and Schedule of Activities’ for the Ondo election. INEC refused to publish Eyitayo Jegede’s name for 30 days as stipulated in Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010”, he said. Mimiko, however, urged the people of the state to monitor their votes and should not allow APC and INEC to perpetrate illegalities in the state, adding, “We shall not take this injustice staring at our face. We have been treated like slaves in our own country. INEC is being foisted to subvert its own electoral process.” He said the electoral commission was empowered by the Electoral Act to postpone or shift the election, adding that the commission can conduct the governorship election a month to the expiration of the current administration in order to assuage the feelings of those who had been injured. Mimiko should stop making inflammatory statements —INEC Reacting to the allegation by Governor Mimiko that INEC was biased and sentimental by refusing to postpone today’s governorship poll, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr Ousegun Agbaje said: “INEC has no interest in any particular candidate and it is wrong to say we are protecting the interest of anybody. I don’t know Akeredolu, Oke or Jegede”. While chiding the governor and asking him to desist from making inflammatory statements, he asserted that “ PDP ought to have put its house in order before now. What of the other 26 political parties, should they share in the crisis of the other. If a footballer has injury, will the match be changed”. Agbaje continued, “how can one political party hold us to ransom?. We even mediated in their internal crisis, but to no avail. It is not our fault. They are only whipping up sentiments. It is not good for the Chief Executive of a state to make such a statement. He should create an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Also, a civil society organisation, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has said political parties calling for the postponement of the election are running
against the electoral process. The convener of the group, Clement Nwakwo, said there was no justification for the shifting of the election, noting that all political parties participating in the election have shown their readiness for the election. According to the group, all the political parties were given adequate notice of the election saying the internal crisis within a party should not be allowed to affect the timeline for the election. The group, however, urged political parties and their candidates to conduct themselves in a way that would not trigger violence or obstruct the conduct of the election. INEC should have postponed election —PDP Reps caucus The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus of the House of Representatives (PDP House Caucus), on Friday, said that votes of the electorate should count as the governorship election holds in the state, today. The caucus, however, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should have postponed the election to give ample opportunity to the PDP flag-bearer to appeal to the electorate through campaigns. INEC, it will be recalled had earlier recognised Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP candidate for the election before the Court of Appeal, in Abuja, ordered the electoral body to list Mr Eyitayo Jegede as the party’s candidate. A statement issued by the leader of the PDP Caucus, Minority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor said, “We had hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission would consider the logical reasons being advanced for such an extension, in the strict interest of fair play and justice”. On the need for votes to count, he said, “Nonetheless, we find it necessary to draw attention to needless shenanigans, desperate scheming and unimaginable manipulations that had been engineered by the ruling APC, its known appendages and its unseen hands towards crushing the will of the people in Ondo state by all means”. The PDP Caucus then commended the three-member panel of Appeal Court judges, led by Ibrahim Salauwa, for pointing out that the ruling by Justice Okon Abang, on October 14, on the PDP crisis in relation to Ondo was a complete “fraud”. The PDP caucus equally applauded the Supreme Court’s assertive decision that all pending cases relating to the dispute over the leadership issues of the PDP be referred back to the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Kwara PDP prays for Eyitayo Jegede Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have thanked God for the judicial victory of the party’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede. In an interdenominational thanksgiving prayer session in Ilorin, on Friday, the PDP members praised God “for not allowing evil to prevail over good in this country.” Speaking with journalists after the prayer session, the factional chairman of the party, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said that Nigerians needed to be prayerful to avoid a repeat of political crisis of the past. “Given the benefit of hindsight, we knew what happened in 1983. A replica of the same is about happening in Ondo State, if not that God has given the judges of the Supreme and Appeal Courts the courage to be able to adjudicate with the fear of God, we don’t know what will be happening in Ondo state now. May be anarchy would have broken out and that can truncate this nascent democracy,” he said. Speaking on the role of the Federal Government in the PDP crisis, the PDP chairman said, “Even a blind man would know that the voice was that of Jacob while the hand was the hand of Esau. We have seen clearly that there is connivance between the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that they muzzle PDP and if possible they want to get it into extinction which God has not allowed”. Prince Fagbemi, however said the two factions of PDP in the state would soon be united, adding that a lot of things were being done. “We have seen now that Senator Modu Sheriff and his group are almost being part of history. It is the same thing that will happen here in Kwara state. But you will see that I have exercised extreme restraints to make sure not to say anything that will make our coming together difficult. I know we are members of the same family and even others have been wanting to join us. But if one refuses to be a sheep and the other behaves like a goat we will not be able to come together. But I know that God who is doing what is happening in Nigeria will do ours in the state”, he said.
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Ogun PDP suspends Kashamu, seven others for anti-party activities Nobody can suspend me from pdp, says kashamu Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Maikanti Baru (4th right) and some directors during the 2016/2017 NNPC Crude Term Contract Tender Opening in Abuja. PHOTO: NAN.
Why Senate has not confirmed Magu’s appointment We’ll start the process soon —Senate
not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police he Senate has quietly or equivalent,Possess not less commenced a process than 15 years cognate experithat will lead to the ence.Apart from other ex-ofscreening and con- ficio members of the commisfirmation of the appointment sion provided for in section 2. of the Acting Chairman of “The Act also provides for four The Economic and Financial eminent Nigerians with any Crimes Commission (EFCC) cognate experience of the folMr Magu Ibrahim Mustapha. lowing that is finance, banking, The senate spokesman, law and accounting. Section 2 Senator Sabi Abdulahi ( APC (3) further provides that chairNiger North) told Satur- man and members of his comday Tribune on Thursday that as soon as the process is concluded, the confirmation is guaranteed. He did not explain what the process was about. Magu’s confirmation request was sent to the senate Sunday Ejike - Abuja almost six months ago by the presidency. However, the The absence of Justice Gadelay has generated concerns briel Kolawole of a Federal and speculations among the High Court in Abuja on Friday general public. stalled the judgment in the Magu’s name and four oth- suit filed by the leader of the ers were sent to the Senate Islamic movement in Nigeria, through a letter dated June 17, Ibraheem El-zakzaky, for the 2016 signed by Vice President enforcement of his fundamenProfessor Yemi Osinbajo to tal rights.The judgment was the Senate for screening and earlier slated to be delivered confirmation as members of yesterday but was botched the Economic and Financial owing to the absence of the Crimes Commission (EFCC). trial Judge. The names sent for confirAn official of the court told mation are : Magu Ibrahim the counsel and members of Mustapha as chairman, Nda- the movement who were in sule Moses, Lawan Mamman, court for the judgment that Galadanci Imam Naji and the court will not sit and that Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu as judgement had been shifted members. to Friday December 2, 2016. The letter reads; “The EcoRecalled that the date nomic and Financial Crimes for judgment was fixed afCommission (EFCC) Act of ter parties in the suit ar2004 established the commis- gued and adopted their sion and makes it responsible processes filed in the suit. among other things for the During the trial, counsel to coordination and enforcement the Shi’ite leader, Femi Falana of all Economic and Financial (SAN), told the court that the Crime Laws and Enforce- continuous detention of his ment functions conferred client by the federal governon any person or authority. ment violated his constitu“Section 2 (1) of the Act also tional rights. provides that the CommisCounsel to the Federal Govsion shall consists of a Chair- ernment, Tijani Ghazali, in man who shall: Be the chief his submission told the court executive and accounting that El-zakzaky is being held officer of the commission, Be under protective custody due a serving or retired member to intelligence report that his of any government security life is under threat. or law enforcement agency After listening to argument from counsel, Justice Kolawole advised parties in the
Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja
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mission other than ex-officio members shall be appointed by the president and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation of the senate. “Section 3 of the Act provides that the chairman and members of the commission other than the ex-officio members shall hold office for a period of four years and maybe reappointed for further term of four years and no more. However, a source in the Sen-
ate indicated that Magu would be screened but the lawmakers “are only taking their time to sieve through some political interests that are entangled with the process.” The names are supposed to be sent to the committee on Anti Corruption which will scree and recommend the nominees to the whole house for confirmation. They are yet to be sent to that committee.
llegal detention: Judge’s absence stalls judgement in El-Zakzaky’s case suit to explore the possibility of resolving the suit through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and adjourned the case for judgement, if parties are unable to reach an agreement. Specifically, the Shi’ite leader who has been in detention since December 14, 2015, applied for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, dignity of human person, right to private and family life and private property. The court is among other things, prayed to declare that, “the detention of the applicant at Abuja by the respondents since December 14, 2015, is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental rights to personal liberty as enshrined in section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”. Falana is contending that the continued detention of his client without being charged before a competent court is in violation of his right to fair hearing as enshrined in section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. He said that his client had since lost one of his eye ow-
ing to the treatment meted out to him by security agents acting on behalf of the federal government, adding that the detained Sh’ite leader was denied access to his medical doctors, family members and relatives. Insisting that his client’s rights to health and association as enshrined in Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights was violated, Falana wants the court to declare that detention of the applicant “without access to his family and friends was not only illegal but in violation of his rights to freedom of association as enshrined in section 40 of the Constitution”. Likewise, he is praying the court for, “An order directing the immediate and unconditional release of the applicant from the custody of the 1st and 2nd respondents”, among other prayers. It will be recalled that Zakzaky’s arrest and detention followed a violent clash that occurred at Zaria in Kaduna State on December 14, 2015, between his followers and detachments of the Nigerian Army accompanying the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T. Y Buratai. The clash had resulted in loss of lives of members of the Shi’ite sect, among whom included the applicant’s wife and son.
The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Prince Buruji Kashamu. Others suspended were the factional chairman and secretary of the party, Bayo Dayo, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, respectively; a member of the House of Assembly, Bowale Solaja, former national auditor of the party, Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju, the PDP zonal secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu, Honourable Daisi Akintan and Mr Segun Seriki. This was contained in a statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Honourable Sikirulliah Ogundele, and made available to the Saturday Tribune, in Abeokuta, on Friday, that the suspension is with immediate effect. Ogundele said the decision was sequel to a report of a panel constituted by the party to investigate allegations of financial improprieties and anti-party activities level against them and capable of bringing the name of the party into disrepute. He explained that those suspended failed to honour several invitations extended to them by the panel, to defend and acquit themselves of the allegations levelled against them. “Based on the preliminary report of the panel however, submitted to the executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogun State chapter, we found merit in the allegations and hereby adopt the report and findings of the Panel which include recommendation to suspend the above-mentioned. “In the exercise of the powers vested on the State Executive Committee, in accordance with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, the above names are hereby suspended from the Ogun State chapter of the PDP with immediate effect. Their names have been forwarded to the national secretariat of the party for necessary further appropriate disciplinary action,” the statement read. Meanwhile, Senator Buruji Kashamu has said that he could not be suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke in response to a statement issued by one Sikirulai Ogundele who claimed to be the Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the party that he and seven others had been suspended from the party. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by his media adviser, Mr Austin Oniyokor. “The purported suspension of a Senator and others who are members of the National Executive Committee by some impostors is at best a comic-relief of no consequence whatsoever. Today, they are in talks with the All Progressives Congress. Tomorrow, they are in talks with the Alliance for Democracy. Only God knows where they will go the day after. “Besides, their purported action shows that Ogundele and his backers are either strangers in the party or ignorant of the party’s Constitution, or both. Otherwise, they would have known that Section 57 Sub-section 7 of the Constitution of PDP states, ‘Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly’.” Kashamu added, “The alleged diversion of party funds is most laughable because it is common knowledge that I use my personal funds to keep the party afloat even when people like ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel and Ladi Adebutu left the PDP for Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and then for the Labour Party (LP) until they returned to PDP in the build up to the 2015 general election”. The senator appealed to members of the party to remain calm and law-abiding knowing full well that the national leadership crisis had no effect on the Makanjuola Ogundipe-led Zonal Working Committee and the Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the party.
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Kachikwu sees crude rising just above $50 if deal is reached
Producers due to meet on Nov 30 to allocate output quotas
From left, :Honorary Life Vice-President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Joan Maduka; President, LCCI, Dr. NikeAkande; Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Energy, Mr. Deji Williams and Chairman,Power Sector Group, LCCI, Mr. Effiom Edet, during the annual roundtable session of the LCCI Power Sector Group in Lagos, recently. Photo; Sylvester Okoruwa.
N4.7bn laundering: Court refuses to order
arrest of Ladoja
A
Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, refused to issue a warrant for the arrest of a former governor of Oyo State, Sen. Rasheed Ladoja, following his presence in court, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. At the last adjourned date on Nov. 21, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Ladoja for failing to appear in court, to answer to a N4.7 billion money laundering charges preferred against him. Ladoja’s counsel, Mr Bolaji Onilenla in his reactions to the application for a warrant of arrest, had told the court that he was not aware that the business of the day was for arraignment. He had argued that this was so because there was a pending appeal before the Supreme Court. Onilenla informed the court that after the decision of the Court of Appeal, Ladoja had changed his counsel, and then, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court. He said that neither the accused nor their counsel was served with any court summons to appear in court. Onilenla had also challenged the prosecutorial powers of the prosecutor on the grounds that the fiat to prosecute was exclusively given to Fetus Keyamo. He said that such a fiat could not be transferred to any other person in his chambers. The counsel also disclosed that the Supreme Court had earlier dismissed Ladoja’s appeal pursuant to Order 6; Rule 3 of the Procedure Rules, but that the application had been filed to restore the appeal. He added that to continue with the trial would amount to showing disrespect to the
apex court and it would be an infringement on the rights of the accused. The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, delivering his ruling on the issue on Friday, held that he would not make any orders as to arrest since the accused was present in court. The judge also turned down the request of defence counsel for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal challenging the prosecutorial powers of the commission under the Money Laundering Act. According to the judge, the request was against the provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which allows speedy hearing of criminal cases. Similarly, Justice Idris also dismissed the objection of
defence counsel, challenging the appearance of the prosecution’s counsel, Olabisi Oluwayemi (from Festus Keyamo’s chambers). The court, thereafter, fixed Dec. 14 for arraignment. The EFCC had in November 2008 arraigned Ladoja along with his former aide, Chief Waheed Akanbi, before Justice Ramat Mohammed, who was then serving at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court. The anti-graft agency alleged that the two men conspired to convert properties and resources derived from an alleged illegal act, with the intention of concealing their illicit origin. The anti-graft agency also alleged that Ladoja used N42 million out of the proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted
about 600,000 pounds to one Bimpe Ladoja in London. Ladoja and Akanbi had both pleaded not guilty to the charges at the trial court, and had urged the court to quash them. The lower court had refused the prayer to quash the charges. Dissatisfied, Ladoja had appealed against the decision of the Federal High Court. But, the Appellate Court in its judgment delivered by Justice Sidi Bage had disallowed the appeal and ordered the former governor to continue his trial at the lower court. Bage in his lead judgment, which was unanimously adopted by two other justices, had held that the EFCC had statutory powers to prosecute under Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004.
5m people in North-Eastern Nigeria urgently need food —UN The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that Boko Haram insurgency and rising inflation have left more than five million people in North-East Nigeria facing acute food insecurity. AccordingtotheNewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) The UN agriculture agency has appealed for 25 million dollars through May 2017 to support irrigated vegetable production and micro-gardening in the dry season, as well as rebuild livestock systems. In a situation update, FAO said the urgently needed funds would tackle food insecurity among returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities. In addition, the agency is seeking funds now to provide critical agricultural inputs to farmers in time for the 2017 main rainy season. “We must act now to rapidly restore food security and com-
bat severe hunger and malnutrition,” FAO said in the update. It noted that inflationary pressures in the national economy have pushed the prices of staple food crops extremely high across the three northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. According to it, prices of food crops are expected to rise further, requiring “immediate intervention.” In addition, FAO reported that the security remained volatile, particularly in Borno, as Boko Haram activities continued to impact the security situation in some areas. “In Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, there are currently nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) categorised as ‘restricted’. “Also, 27 LGAs are categorised as having ‘limited’ access due to a high level of insurgent activity,” FAO said. In a related development,
the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (October 2016) showed for the first time since August 2015, a total number of IDPs below two million. The UN agency said 97 per cent of the IDPs declared that their displacement was due to the Boko Haram insurgency. “One-quarter of these was displaced in 2016, with the majority displaced in 2014. Almost half of those surveyed noted food as their biggest unmet need. “Since August 2015, a total of 958,549 returnees from within and outside Nigeria have been recorded, with an increase of about 48,000 returnees since August 2016. “This further emphasised the need for increased attention towards sustainable agricultural livelihoods support to the returnee process,” IOM said.
As the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) prepares for talks on eliminating a global crude glut, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, has said that he is more concerned about the potential for the United States shale suppliers to replace the lost barrels by ramping up their own output, quelling any price rally the producer club might achieve, Bloomberg reported on Friday. “The challenge is less with OPEC and more with the outer forces we don’t control,” Kachikwu, said Thursday in an interview in Tokyo, Japan. “The US is beginning to ramp up volumes again.” Nigeria is among nations at the sharp end of the global crude surplus. Prices are below its fiscal break even and surging US shale production restricted its biggest export market to a fraction of what it used to be. The country has also had to grapple with militant attacks on its oil infrastructure this year. OPEC meets November 30 in Vienna, Austria, to assign output quotas after agreeing on a framework deal in September. “My greater worry is less than OPEC’s ability to find unity in these issues, which I think we will, and more the fact of how much even a decision we make impacts the pricing issues,” Kachikwu said. Oil may rise only slightly above $50 a barrel if a consensus is reached, and could fall as low as $44 without a deal, he said. Benchmark Brent traded at $48.50 at 9.04 a.m. in London. OPEC members have called for production cuts to boost prices that remain below half their level of mid-2014. They’ve been holding preliminary talks on how to share the burden of cuts to bring the group’s supply to as little as 32.5 million barrels a day. Nigeria itself would be exempted from a deal since its production has suffered from a wave of militant attacks. The country aims to boost output to 2.2 million barrels a day by the end of the year from 1.9 million now, Kachikwu said. Militants damaged the Forcados pipeline this month and the minister said the incident was the only recent disruption that he knew of. That would cast doubt on claims published on the website of the Niger Delta Avengers that the group struck the Nembe Creek Trunk Line earlier this month. The trunk line feeds the Bonny export terminal. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the operator of that facility, said Nov. 21 that it wasn’t under force majeure, a measure that would allow it to miss contractual deliveries. The company confirmed that Forcados, which it also controls, was subject to force majeure. Of any OPEC nation, Nigeria was perhaps the hardest hit when US shale production surged because, in addition to the price plunge that ensued, the country also lost its biggest export market. Having once sent more than 1 million barrels a day across the Atlantic on tankers — more than half its total shipments — that dropped to zero in the middle of last year, US Energy Information Administration data show.
200 CSOs to meet on implementation of FoI Act By Dapo Falade
ABOUT two hundred Civil Society Organisations (csoS) are expected to meet in Abuja and Enugu, simultaneously, next week, on increased use of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Participants from the northern part of Nigeria were to meet in Abuja, while those from the southern part of the country would meet in Enugu. The 2-day roundtables are being put together by the Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC), in collaboration with the Freedom of Information Coalition-Nigeria, with support from Justice for All (DFID) and the aim was to increase the usage of the Act by Nigerians. Chairman, Board of Governors, Freedom of Information Coalition, Nigeria, Dr Walter Duru gave the hint in a statement made available to Saturday Tribune, on Friday. According to Duru, the events were aimed at engaging the stakeholders in the media and the civil societies across the country on issues relating to increased use and implementation of the FOI Act. “Recall that Nigeria’s FOI Act was signed into law on May 28 2011, after the longest legislative debate in the history of Nigeria. The law was passed to enable the public to access information from government and its institutions, in order to ensure transparency and accountability.” “The FOI Act aims to make public records and information more freely available. It enables citizens to hold the government accountable in the event of the misappropriation of public funds or failure to deliver public services.
8 newsfeature By Tola Adenubi
T
HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have launched a search for alleged fake/plastic rice from China which is said to have found its way into some African countries, including Nigeria. The search is coming on the heels of the alarm raised by some stakeholders over the influx of unmonitored and unregulated rice into the country through its various borders. In an interview with Saturday Tribune, NAFDAC’s Director of Special Duties, Mr Abubakar Jimoh, said: “Immediately we read in the papers that plastic/fake rice was being shipped to Nigeria through our borders, our Acting Director General, Mrs Yetunde Oni, gave a marching order to all our NAFDAC formations scattered across the country.” According to him, “at NAFDAC, we have what is called the Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate which is in charge of going round local markets to confirm the standards of foods that are being sold there. So, even if this rice beats Customs checkpoints at the border posts and gets into the markets, our men can still go there and seize them for destruction. This directorate goes about sniffing for substandard food and drug items in our markets. The Acting DG has given our officers a marching order and they are currently combing markets all over the country for this plastic/fake rice.” The Nigeria Customs Service has also intensified seizure of toxic rice illegally imported into the country. The fears of consumers about the toxic/ plastic rice particularly stemmed from the fact that Yuletide, known for the heavy consumption of rice in many homes, is here. Nigeria shares major borders with Benin Republic at Seme Border (Lagos State), Idiroko (Ogun State), Saki (Oyo State) and Chikanda (Kwara State), and it is on record that all sorts of rice have passed through these routes into many Nigerian markets unnoticed. Although the existence of unhealthy and toxic rice in many Nigerian markets has been confirmed by NCS and NAFDAC, the agencies said they had not found a grain of plastic rice in any local market.
Toxic rice Many of the bags of rice brought into West Africa’s Francophone countries are mostly destined for Nigerian markets. The storage and handling procedure these bags of rice pass through before getting to Nigeria is the reason why the Customs service declared them unfit for consumption. According to findings, smugglers of this commodity, in their bid to evade eagledeyed security operatives, store them in poor facilities, sometimes exposing them to rain, weevil and other toxic hazards. In some instances, grains of rice are also poured into various crevices of vehicles just to beat security and Customs checkpoints. Many of these bags of rice end up in local markets in Nigeria. The spokesman of the NCS, Wale Adeniyi, told Saturday Tribune that: “We have warehouse in Idiroko. We have warehouse in Abeokuta and we have warehouses also in Lagos. You need to visit these warehouses to be able to ascertain the amount of bags of rice that have been seized by the Customs. “As long as they (smugglers) keep bringing in this rice through illegal routes, we will keep seizing them because these bags of rice are not fit for consumption. Although there is no doubt about the fact that some of them will escape Customs seizure but that will not stop us from seizing the ones we lay our hands on. “If you visit those warehouses I mentioned to you and see the quantum of rice that has been seized, then you will know what I am saying.
26 November, 2016
Customs, NAFDAC launch search for plastic rice
Saturday Tribune
Nigerians should beware of toxic rice during X-mas —Customs Customers now test rice before buying —Sellers
“NAFDAC has already told us that Nigerians need to be wary when they see rice coming in through the border. NAFDAC raised this alarm in a joint press briefing with the Customs for so many reasons which include the way and manner this rice was brought in; the way it was packaged; how many days it waited under the sun; how many days it stayed in the bush; the storage conditions; NAFDAC alerted us at the Customs headquarters. “But there is no way Customs can seize everything because some will escape seizure. It is, however, left for Nigerians to determine whether it is their health that is more important or some other gains. Plastic rice Since the uproar over the influx of
plastic rice greeted the Nigerian media landscape, the two government agencies saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and regulating what comes into the country as food – Customs and NAFDAC – are yet to stumble on any grain of plastic rice. In a chat with Saturday Tribune, Mr Jimoh, who is also in charge of media at NAFDAC, stated that even though the agency was yet to stumble on any grain of the so called plastic rice, the lookout for the harmful commodity was still on. “We are yet to stumble on any plastic rice but that does not mean we are not going to continue sniffing for this commodity. Our men are in many large markets scattered across the country to
The Acting DG has given our officers a marching order and they are currently combing markets all over the country for this plastic/fake rice.
ensure that if the rice exist, we nip it in the bud before it gets into the homes of unsuspecting consumers,” he said. Agitated consumers However, despite the fact that the government agencies are yet to impound the now dreaded plastic rice, Nigerians are becoming more wary as Yuletide draws near. Speaking to Saturday Tribune at the Iyana-Iba market in Ojo, Lagos, a market woman explained that many people now demand testing of rice before paying for the commodity. “Now, before anybody buys rice in the market, they ask you if they can have little of the commodity of the bag they intend to buy in some water. They want to see if some of the rice will stay afloat. It is because of the alarm over plastic rice. “They (buyers) tell us that if it is plastic rice, it will float in water while original rice will get submerged in water. That is what we rice sellers face in the markets now. If you don’t agree to test your rice before selling, the buyer will simply walk away to another seller that is ready to test rice before selling,” the market woman, who identified herself simply as Iya London, stated.
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9
quisite
26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Editor Tayo Gesinde 08054727801 temiligali03@yahoo.com
Women need to be educated about the harmful effects of domestic v i o l e n c e —Esther Ijew
mum&child —12
What to do when your baby’s skin suffers
kids&teen —24
What we consider the most difficult chore at home style —10
Life threatening fashion trends
ere-Kalejaiye
See pg29
Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye is a woman of many parts. She is an activist, author, columnist and the Executive Director of Rubies Ink Initiative for women and children, the Editor-in-Chief of Women of Rubies, a platform used for celebrating exceptional women with inspiring stories and the national convener of the Walk Against Rape Campaign. Being an emerging leader, Esther is the youngest recipient of The Idea Builders Women Mentoring Women Award, winning for Mentee of the year 2010 and also a Fellow with Vital Voices Global Leadership, an organisation founded by Hillary Clinton and aimed at empowering young women change makers all over the world. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on her love for advocacy.
food&drink—30
Unripe plantain with cowtail: Great for diabetes and weight control
Crew
Blessing Gbarada Kate Ani Oyeyemi Okunlade
10
xquisite
25 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Saturday Tribune
style
With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com
Life-threatening fashion trends
M
ANY women think of the old adage, “beauty is pain” everyday. A friend recently told STYLE about a trip she took to Abuja. While making her way down the narrow steps of a prestigious five-star hotel, one night, wearing six inches pump heels, she lost her footing and landed wrong-side-up, flashing her red thong to a crowd rivaling that of a WWW wrestling match. The fall required twenty stitches on her forehead and going for physiotherapy. Though she still grimaces when recounting the episode, she hasn’t sworn off high heels yet. High heels may be the most glaring example of a treacherous fashion trend, they certainly don’t stand alone. Oversized earrings, trending choker neck-piece, squeezing into breath-constricting skinny jeans, big bags, high collar shirts, waist trainer, make-ups made with dangerous chemicals, and so on, are all potential perils. Here are some fashion trends that could lead to maiming, discomfort and even death.
STIFF high collar shirtsWhile most of the fashion trends on this list were reserved for women, the stiff high collar shirts are trending for men. If not careful, these tight collars could cause asphyxiation.
SKINNY jeans- If your jean is so tight that you have to lie on the bed and take a deep breath just to zip up, it could affect your muscles and nerve fibers in the leg.
OVERSIZED earrings- When you are combing or brushing your hair, you can inadvertently catch the earrings in the teeth of the comb or brush and tear your earlobe.
HIGH heels- It is important to note that high heels restrict one’s ability to run if caught in a dangerous situation. It can also cause foot pain, bone and nerve damage, restricted blood circulation and damaged tendons.
Being a beauty queen has transformed my life —Miss Western Nigeria Bankole Oluwatobi Martins, a graduate of Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye, Ogun State was crowned Miss Western Nigeria 2016 in May this year at Kakanfo Inn, Ibadan, Oyo State. In this interview with RUKAYAT ODEWALE, she speaks on how she won the maiden edition of the beauty pageant and her pet project. Excerpts: ABOUT the Miss Western beauty pageant It is a new beauty pageant aimed at bringing Yoruba people together. I contested because I wanted to be part of the process of uniting the Yoruba race. Though I didn’t believe I could win because I didn’t know much about competition, I decided to give it a trial.
LIPSTICKS- cadmium, a metal found in the majority of lipsticks, is known to cause cancer and is found in many breast cancer biopsies.
Choker neckpiece-This statement neckpiece that is taking the fashion scene by storm, as the name suggests, has the possibility of choking or strangulating you!
31
My experience so far It has been easy and at the same time not too easy. I have had to interact with a lot of people and I have done some things that I could not do before. For instance, I am at present working on cervical cancer, I am not a medical student but I have to work with medical personnel, so as to know more about the disease so I can educate people about it. I chose to work on cervical cancer because the awareness for this type of cancer is not as much as that of breast cancer. So, I am working on it so that people can know more about it. What I have done so far We have shared bills, but we still have to do some campaigns so we have sent letters to some people for support. We are still expecting their response so as to move on to the next step. How being a beauty queen has transformed my life It has changed my way of life; the way I relate with people in public has changed. Before, everybody was not my friend but now everybody is my friend. What I hope to achieve at the end of my tenure At the end of my tenure, I want a lot of people to know about Miss Western Nigeria because it is a new beauty pageant. Also, I want people to have known more about cervical cancer.
WAIST trainer- waist trainers make the hips look curvy and voluptuous due to its extreme waist cinching result. It is important to note that in addition to restricting movement, waist trainers can cause indigestion, constipation, frequent fainting from difficulty breathing and even internal bleeding.
FASHIONABLE big bags- you might be eating healthy and working out regularly but, the unlikely trigger for your health problems could be your choice of over-sized handbags. These stylish bags, of course, look glamorous but in reality, can cause severe damages to muscles and joints.
On the allegation that you have to sleep with the organisers before you can emerge the winner Actually that was my belief too when I was growing up but when I got to camp nothing of such ever happened; the pageant went the normal way it should. The organisers were friendly; they took us like their children and educated us. Advice to young people Life is all about trial so always give something a trial.
11 healthandfitness I am too fat
I have been trying to lose weight for the past few years to no avail. In addition to my daily exercises, I have also reduced my food intake. I now weigh 90kg and I am just 25 years old. Please help me. Felicia (by SMS) Losing weight can be a very slow and difficult activity which needs a lot of patience and sacrifice. It is not only enough to reduce
your food intake. What is important is the reduction of the amount of fried food, sugar and carbohydrates in
I have a low count sperm I have an infertility problem due to a low sperm count. The only drug I was given in the hospital was Enhanze. Kindly advise me on what to do Chiedu (by SMS)
Dr. Wale Okediran
your diet. In addition, the type of daily exercises you undertake must be the ones that will thoroughly help you to reduce your weight. If as you say, there has not been any improvement in your efforts, you may need to consult a dietician in any Specialist or Teaching hospital nearest to you. Once the issue of the right kind of food to eat has been tackled, exercise will just be an additional activity.
Can okro cure my diabetes?
My son has no teeth at 8 months MY eight-month-old son is yet to bring out any teeth even when I was told that a normal baby should have his first tooth at 6 months. Kindly advise me on what to do as I am getting very worried. Iyabo (by SMS)
Cholesterol and heart disease Which one do I believe? George (by SMS) While it is true that medical science keeps bringing up new scientific information over the years, what remains true is the fact that cholesterol in the bloodstream comes from two sources, the liver and the food we eat. And
waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk
08055069356 (sms only)
view of this, you will need a medical expert (Urologist) in a Specialist or Teaching Hospital to carefully confirm the actual cause of your ailment and suggest the correct treatment.
A low sperm count can be due to many reasons such as swelling of the testicular veins, testicular tumors, hormonal imbalances and blockage of the sperm ducts. Other causes range from infection to the excessive consumption of alcohol, cigarettes , steroids among other causes. In
I recently came across some information that it is not true that Cholesterol and saturated fats in the diet are the cause of blockages in the heart. The article said that we need a lot of cholesterol and that it is now safe for us to eat eggs, butter and meat. This is contrary to previous information.
Saturday Tribune
26 November, 2016
while it is true that our body certainly needs cholesterol to carry out many essential activities in the body moderation in the consumption of whatever we eat such as meat, butter and eggs is very important. This is the only way we can keep healthy whatever any new scientific information may say.
While it is true that the average age for the eruption of the first tooth in a child is six months, it is also on record that delays of up to 10 months or more is nothing to worry about. In view of this, I will therefore advise you not to let this delay in the appearance of your child’s teeth bother you.
I am a 40-year-old man who has been controlling my diabetes for the past 10 years with drugs and diet. I recently read that if I drink the water from pieces of okro that had been kept in a bowl of water overnight, my diabetes will disappear. How true is this? Babatunde (by SMS) There has been a lot of medical claims in the news recently. Unfortunately, due to lack of scientific evidence, it has been difficult to confirm many of these claims. Although there is no harm in trying new suggestions as long as those suggestions are not harmful, the belief in a ‘quick cure’ to the problem of diabetes is very worrisome. It is up to you to try this new ‘wonder treatment’ but I still prefer the medically accepted approach of using drugs and diet to control your diabetes.
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MUM&CHILD
ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639
may contain small clear fluid. It is caused by anything that overheats your little one—hot, humid weather; overdressing him in tight clothing or overly warmly. The best way to prevent it is to avoid overdressing the baby; rather use loose cool clothing. Cool baths or sponge baths may help. Avoid overheating the environment. You may apply some cool prickly heat powders. Please, don’t use minty (hot) powders on infants.”
By Blessing Gbarada
A
baby’s skin can be very satisfying to stroke and cuddling a baby is something most people enjoy doing. This may be as a result of their smooth, velvety skin which has earned a popular comparison where a smooth surface is compared to be a baby’s bottom. However, sometimes, certain situations can arise that wreck havoc on the baby’s skin. From the genetic dispositions to skin disorders, the weather, use of certain soaps and creams, clothing material, to unexplainable reasons, a baby’s once-silky skin can slowly become a shadow of itself. It is important that caregivers spot these disorders early and visit the paediatrician or dermatologist for treatment. As with all that concerns health, self-medication is not advised. Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis (ISD) More commonly known as Eela in Yoruba or Nla in Igbo, this skin disorder appears in babies as early as a few weeks till about six months. It is important to note that this disorder is different from ringworm (known as lapalapa in Yoruba) or eczema (known as Ifo in Yoruba). According to Dr Chika Ngozi Olomukoro, Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Dermatologist, “the cause of this disorder is unknown. This rash may be due to child’s response to some organisms in the oily areas of the body namely the scalp, eyebrows behind the ears, or on the neck, cheeks, chest skin folds and diaper area. It is characterised by scalyness. The skin appears fairer and may be reddish. On the scalp, there may a crusty or paste-like thick dandruff on the scalp (where it’s known as cradle cap).” With cradle cap, experts say the baby’s scalp would have flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or thick, oily, yellowish or brown scaling or crusting patches. Although the cause is unknown, it has been established that poor hygiene is not a causative factor. In some parts of Nigeria, ISD is treated with a herbal mixture derived from the Hibiscus leaves. However, experts recommend a visit to a paediatrician for proper diagnosis and prescription. Impetigo This skin disorder is commonly known as alefo in Yoruba. Dr Bamidele Owolabi, a medical practitioner, points out that “impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. There are two kinds: non-bullous impetigo and bullous impetigo. Usually, the bacteria infects the baby through either a break in otherwise healthy skin – such as a cut, insect bite, sting or other injury – this is known as primary impetigo or through skin damaged by another underlying skin condition, such as head lice, scabies or eczema – this is known as secondary impetigo. “It first appears as blisters around the baby’s nose and mouth, but it can spread to other parts of the body. Depending on the type of impetigo, the blisters may be tiny and burst easily, or be larger and take a few days to burst. Impetigo isn’t usually painful, but it can be itchy “A baby could easily have picked up the bacteria if she was in close contact with someone who has impetigo. She could also have got impetigo by touching toys, clothing, or towels that an infected person has used. “A child that’s infected should be taken to
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What to do when your baby’s skin suffers a paediatrician as with proper treatment, the baby should get better in a week to 10 days. If impetigo isn’t treated, other more serious conditions can sometimes develop. “To reduce the risk of impetigo returning, make sure any cuts, scratches or bites are kept clean. Ensure any condition that causes broken skin, such as eczema, is treated promptly.” Intertrigo Intertrigo is a common skin disorder that is found mainly in a baby’s skin folds, especially in the neck. Dr Olomukoro said, “It usually appears in chubby babies under six months. It is caused by rubbing of moist skin surfaces. Excessive moisture in these areas result from drool and spit-up that collect in your baby’s creases, which don’t get any air. It looks red, raw, and weepy. It is worse inside the skin creases. It may cause some pain, depending on the amount of skin-to-skin friction in the affected area. Where a baby already has this, wash out the inside of your baby’s skin folds with water and apply a zinc-oxide barrier cream, sudocrem or petroleum jelly to protect them. Keep this area clean. Change clothing including the bib when wet.” Prickly Heat This is another common rash in babies and may occur on the face, neck, back or bottom.
Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis (ISD)
Intertrigo
Impetigo
Heat rash
Some mothers mix Funbact-A with their baby’s ori (shea butter). Some now add ampiclox, tetracycline etc also to the baby’s body cream... These are drugs with dangerous side-effects, especially the steroids which are easily absorbed into the bloodstream from the fragile skin of the newborns and babies, leading to serious side effects on the long terms including gastritis (stomach ulcers), wounds, poor growth and other sinister side effects. Medical experts suspect that it is caused by blocked sweat glands. According to Dr Olomukoro, “it looks like tiny red bump and
Diaper dermatitis Commonly known as diaper rash, this disorder is caused mostly by the skin’s prolonged contact with urine and faeces. Dr Olomukoro stated, “it is more common from seven to 12 months when urine volume increases. Redness and tenderness is noticed in the areas of the body in contact with the diaper. In this state, the skin can become infected with bacteria or fungi, then redness is more and it can spread into the skin folds. When this occurs, there should be frequent change of diaper. Keep this area dry and free from irritants. Apply ointments such as Vaseline, Sudocrem. If no improvement in a few days, please see a doctor for further treatment.” Dr Gbemisola Boyede, a Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician, adds that though some mothers apply engine oil and powder, especially native red powder, on the baby’s diaper area, the practice is not safe. “Powder is not advisable in the diaper area. As for engine oil, it may work because oil acts as a protective barrier against the irritant but it isn’t that decent. Please use Vaseline with a blue seal (unperfumed).” Precaution in treatments for skin diseases in babies Although, most of the aforementioned disorders may be harmless with only discomfort and unsightliness as the fallout, a visit to a paediatric dermatologist can ease the worry of concerned parents. Medical experts have raised concerns on self medicating, especially with dangerous chemicals, in a bid to treat affected babies. Dr Gbemisola Boyede said, “there is this culture of mixing regular baby’s body creams with prescription-only medication creams. Please, stop if you are doing this. Some mothers mix Funbact-A with their baby’s ori (shea butter). Some now add ampiclox, tetracycline etc also to the baby’s body cream. All these creams are medications and not routine body creams. A mere perusal of the packs of some of these medicated creams will show words like “antifungal,” “antibacterial”, “anti-inflammatory”. The constituents are drugs – antibiotics, antifungals and steroids! They are often prescribed for specific skin diseases and usually for a short duration only, not usually more than two weeks. “In the insert (leaflet) for most of these creams, it is expressly stated not to be used as cosmetics. These are drugs with dangerous side-effects, especially the steroids which are easily absorbed into the bloodstream from the fragile skin of the newborns and babies, leading to serious side effects on the long terms including gastritis (stomach ulcers), wounds, poor growth and other sinister side effects. “As much as possible, use natural products for your baby skin care like Vaseline, Shea butter, Olive oil and other routine baby care products. Use any of these medicated creams only on doctor’s prescription and for the duration recommended only. If your baby has any skin issues, please see your paediatrician or dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.”
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26 November, 2016
ntertainment News
Society Gist
Saturday Tribune with Joan Omionawele and
Newton-Ray Ukwuoma jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08059793705
Celebrity Interviews
Something new
from Mercy Johnson By Joan Omionawele
F
rom the birth of her third child to her ever-rising profile, it’s safe to say that Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson has had a good year.
The actress who is ever ready to entertain her fans is set to stage reality show with a fun
kitchen show where everyone can learn new recipes and talk positively admist the drama, love, laughter and issues we face as women . The actress, who has since resumed acting after she gave birth to her 3rd child, Angel, has been on the set of the GLO
sponsored TV series, Professor Johnbull, is exited about the TV show and has promised to teach women new culinary skills. She also added that the show will be viewed across TV stations in Nigeria and will see a different part of her which no one has ever seen before.
American singer, T-Pain hosts Heineken ‘Live Your Music’ party by Newton ray Ukwuoma The official after-party for Heineken LFDW 2016 captioned ‘’Live Your Music’’ party, was an ultimate musical experience for most music buffs as the event was hosted by Multiple-award winning
American R ‘n’ B singer, T-Pain. T-Pain performed some of his hit tracks such as “Buy You A Drink”, “Panda”, amongst others during his first session. Dotun of Cool Fm kept the show rolling with his grand mastery of the crowd, and together with the DJs, he took the audience down memory lane with tracks that have ruled the airwaves over the past decade being churned out to the delight of the crowd. These included hits from artistes like Da’grin, 2face, 9ice, Eedris Abdulkareem, Awilo Logonba, Remedies, Styl Plus, Dr. Sid and many others. T-Pain and his crew were also challenged to show their
dancing skills to Nigerian dance steps including; galala, shoki, yahoozee amongst others. The crowd went into another frenzy as T-Pain hijacked the Shakiti bobo move, dancing and shaking as vigorously and entertainingly as possible. One of the numerous interesting parts of the party was the music Takeover, an interactive Heineken Live Your Music feature that involves a programmed system that proposes two songs for audience to choose from using a wristband. The crowd went into a frenzy as they selected between green and red lights on their wristbands to vote the song that eventually played.
Mercy Johnson
Mr 2kay set for 4day tour by Joan Omionawele IN a bid to connect with his ever growing fanbase, Grafton records music star, Mr 2kay is set to embark on a 4-day media and appearance tour of Ghana. Organised by Blaccc Ent, the tour is scheduled to begin on the 30th of December and will see the singer host a meet and greet session with his Ghanaian fans as well as visit top radio and TV
stations across Ghana. Aside his fans meet and greet session, Mr 2kay is also billed to make guest appearances at A-list clubs including Club Onyx and Ghanaian star owned club at Cantonment, Club Plot 7 and finally round off his tour with a major gig at an award ceremony. This will be Mr 2kay’s first time in Ghana and he is extremely excited to meet his growing Ghanaian fan base.
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26 November, 2016
BON AWARDS 2016: Alex Ekubo,
Ebube Nwagbo, others slug it out Stories By Joan Omionawele
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HEAD of Bon Awards, 2016, Organizers of the Best of Nollywood Awards have released the list of nominees for the 2016 edition. The nominees’ list was unveiled in Lagos to an exclusive audience comprising entertainment editors and select stakeholders in the movie industry. According to Niran Adedokun, president of the BON jury, the release followed weeks of screening of over 120 entries made up of feature films in English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, ten short films, five documentaries and seven television series. Aimed at recognising and promoting the best of films and filmmakers in Nigeria, the BON Awards, in less than one decade of its existence, has become the most authentic home grown platform honouring the richness and ingenuity of Nigerian cinema. This year’s edition shall be hosted by the Executive Governorof Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ipkeazu. Notable actor, Wale Ojo leads
Awilo Logomba to storm Nigeria in December CONGOLESE music legend, Awilo Longomba is set to storm Lagos, Nigeria on December 1st for the biggest football party in Africa- Merrybet Celebrity Fans Challenge. He will join Olamide, Falz TheBahdGuy, Tuface Idibia, Mr.P of PSquare, Burna Boy, Orezi, Banky W, Akpororo, Mayorkun, Humble Smith, Seyi Law, Timi Dakolo and many other celebrities as they lock horns on the 3rd of December in support of their favourite football clubs. Awilo, who is a Barcelona fan will perform some of his hit songs and also engage in football activities to thrill fans at the event. Merrybet celebrity FC is a bi-annual event that showcases celebrities engaging in some football challenges to prove to the audience and their fans that the team that they support is the best.
the list of nominations for the best actor award, while Alex Ekubo, Patrick Leonard and stan Eze are also nominated in this category. Femi Adebayo, Adeniyi Johnson, Muyiwa Ademola and Yomi Fabiyi also lead the pack for the nominations of the award of Best Actor in Leading Role (Yoruba) For the best actor in leading role (Igbo) category, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Amadi Magnus slug it out, while Judith Audu, Belinda Effa and Ebube Nwagbo have been nominated. While congratulating the nominees, Adedokun, also a popular Punch Newspapers columnist, acknowledged the resilience of Nigerian filmmakers for defying the current harsh economic
TJ sax returns with ‘amen’, celebrates with children living with cancer SAXOPHONIST TJ Emore, better known as TJ Sax is out with a brand new song Amen, an original ditty about thanksgiving and trusting in God for blessings yet to come. Produced by frequent collaborator, Mystro, Amen is a mid-tempo aural delight, one that makes use of traditional drums, soothing vocals and TJ Emore’s signature superior saxophone melodies to send its message home. As part of activities celebrating his 15th birthday, TJ Emore will, on November 26th, visit the oncology ward of the Paediatric department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in the company with his family and friends, to celebrate with and encourage the children living with cancer.
realities to sustain their creative activities.
Saturday Tribune
Sunny Ade promises lifetime experience in December concert AHEAD of his grand 70th birthday concert on December 11 tagged, ‘Sunny On Sunday’, a fresh set of photos of Nigerian music icon, King Sunny Ade has been released. The very stylish photos, were released by talent management and event company, Temple Management Company, as they portray a side of the juju maestro that has never been seen before. KSA pulled off varying looks and donned a bespoke suit, regal Agbada and even had time to look leisurely in tracksuits. King Sunny Ade has promised to give fans the performance of his life at the concert scheduled to hold at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Other acts featuring at the concert include Congolese icon, Awilo Logomba, Onyeka Onwenu, Sir Shina Peters, Darey, Omawumi, Niniola, Terry Apala, Jeff and Tyson Noir. KSA who has been performing on
PHOTO:Logor
stage for over 50 years will also be honoured as the first Nigerian to join the Hard Rock Hall of Fame at induction ceremony scheduled to hold on Wednesday November 30th at Hard Rock Cafe, Landmark Village, Oniru, Lagos.
Minjin ‘boogies’ down in new single AFRO pop Act , Minjin has just dropped a new single in time for the end of the year. The single, titled Boogie is produced by ‘Chillings’ and is mixed and mastered by Suka sounds. A follow up song to ‘Jare” which hit the air waves earlier in the year , Boogie is a dance track that is sure to get people on the dance floor during this festive period. It is expected to also be a listener’s delight on radio, and an extension to the hit jams that is offered this year. According to Minjin “You know, we live in a country where no matter
what we are going through, we still find time to make ourselves happy. We find time to Boogie. We are getting close to the festive season and I feel it’s a good time to drop a single like this” says the CEO of Swaga Records Speaking on the release of the new single Minjin said “It’s been a while since I dropped my last single and I know my fans have definitely been expecting something new. I know my fans will be hitting different clubs and parties to celebrate what they have achieved during the year.
So, the song is necessitated out of the need to give my fans something to celebrate with” Born Minjin Adewale Junior Lawanson, Minjin is a versatile entertainer whose music career started in 2010 after winning the High School Musical competition in Nigeria by Walt Disney and the Centage Superstar contest. Minjin is signed to Swaga Records. He is involved in different genres of Arts. His new single, ‘Boogie’ will definitely set parties grooving and excite dance aficionados.
‘I am ready for international role’ Continues from pg4
to seek ways of adding value to the society. You have been in the movie industry for how long exactly? For five years. How many movies have you done so far? If I have to give a round figure, I will say about forty. Was it easy breaking into mainstream movie production? Initially, it wasn’t easy. I had a lot of trouble convincing people that I was talented enough to be here. When people heard I had a medical background, they just felt like,“what is a doctor doing here?” But I have been lucky enough to be given the opportunity to prove my craft. Now, I have comfortably cemented my place in the movie industry. In the process, what were the challenges you encountered? There were so many challenges. You have the challenge of people believing certain things about actors. People think you are what you portray in movies. Actors are almost always seen as the extension of their roles in real life. That is not so. Then, can we talk about loss of privacy and private life? That’s already peculiar to the industry. There are other challenges here and there. If you are to pass across a message to producers about yourself, what will it be? I will tell any producer that I am a versatile actor, a well-rounded actor. Also because of my background, a little bit more aware about several things than the average person. I have the ability to interprete any role that is being thrown at me. It will be of great value to your production to cast me in your movie. Have you played your most challenging role yet? I always say that I have played challenging roles. But the truth is we don’t know what is ahead of us. GbomoGbomo
was very challenging for me. The character was nothing like me at all. To be able to play that character, an uncouth person who does not speak any English except Pidgiin with the mannerism, believably was very challenging. Sting, the one that won the 2015 GIAMA for Best Supporting Actress, equally gave me a lot to chew. It was emotionally and physically challenging because I played a rape victim. But have I played my most challenging role yet? My answer is I can’t say until the challenge comes. Looking at your international nominations and the skits that have been on social media platforms, would you grab international recognitions if they come? Is it possible? Yes. And if they come, will I take? Of course. I think every actor will welcome the challenge of showcasing their crafts beyond their comfort zones. I will definitely.
15 entertainment
26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Celebrities stand still for AFFRIF 2016
•Bimbo Akintola, Ramsey Nuoah shine at closing Gala
Winners of the cash prices showing their cheques
Hosts, BBA winner, Uti Nwachukwu and Actress, Lala Akindoju on stage By Joan Omionawele
T
HE grand finale of this year’s African International film festival was all shades of colourful as it exuded an ambience of fun and elegance as several delegates and movie enthusiasts stormed the convention centre of Eko Hotels and Suites during the week. The film festival which was anchored by Uti Nwachukwu and Kemi Lala-Akindoju, also welcomed iconic performances by Nollywood actor, Gideon Okeke and dancers
who mimed to songs by the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Adesua Etomi and A’rese, it was a sight to behold as guests could not afford to stay glued to their sits as they gave the perfomers a standing ovation. Tagged The Broadway Show, the closing ceremony thrilled guests to breath-taking shows, including duets and a mind-blowing tribute to the late Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, led by actor Gideon Okeke. It was also a moment of celebrations for winners, as the festival’s Closing Night Movie, ’76, a movie about events that heralded and
succeeded the Military coup d’état which led to the demise of General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, and directed by Izu Ojukwu, won four awards including – Best Screenplay, Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Director. Renowned Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, won Best Lead Actress for her role in the movie, 93 Days. ‘Green White Green’ by Abba Makama won the Oronto Douglas Award for Best Nigerian film, while Ghanaian filmmaker and animator, Agorkoli Francis Brown, won Best Animation with a price tag of N200,000.
FitFam Fest to organise largest fitness festival in Africa By Newton-Ray Ukwuoma NIGERIA is waking up to the importance of healthy living through exercise and physical fitness as FitFam Fest, a fitness outfit, is billed to organise a comprehensive fitness festival in Lagos. The festival which has been scheduled on the 11th of December in Victoria Island, Lagos, will become the first in Nigeria and largest fitness festival in Africa. Themed “Healthy Fun for Everyone,” the campaign is said to converge top-notch trainers and fitness enthusiasts in celebration of an array of fitness, wellness and beauty activities for men, women and children of all ages.
Over 7,000 fitness pundits and fans from different parts of the world including International and local fitness celebrities, are expected to participate in the debut event For the first edition, FitFam™ Fest will have a showcase of 50+ Healthy Food vendors, 50+ Fitness Exhibitors, 20+ Fitness Events, 10+ Fitness and Wellness speakers, 50+ Fitness and Wellness Conference sessions and 5 Nutrition Chefs at the FitFam Nutrition Masterclass. The Festival will have an assortment of gears, kits, apparatus and equipment to demonstrate various physical activities. The activities will in-
clude Live Product Launch and Demonstrations on Stage, FitFam Assault Obstacle Course, FitFam Strongman Car Pulling competition, Strength and Agility Training classes, Health checks, Fitness and Wellness Conference sessions, VIP After party, Mr. FitFam 2016 and Miss FitFam 2016 competitions, FitFam Ultimate Frisbee, Pickup games and for the kids: a Kids Arena where age appropriate equipment and games will be available.
Other recipients include the beneficiaries of AFRIFF/ Ford Foundation scholarship to the University of Montana, United States, for further training in different aspects of filmmaking. Speaking at the glamorous event, Founder and Executive Director of AFRIFF, Ms. Chioma Ude, noted that the crucial component of the festival is the training it provides to the young minds of Africa. “We’ve trained over 1,300 of those minds in our free workshops, as we continue to emphasize that AFRIFF should, and must EDUCATE as much as it ENTERTAINS. AFRIFF has
cultivated a space in which entertainment and education can cohesively co-exist and I’m proud to say that we have watched several members of the AFRIFF family go on to develop in the industry with the skills they have acquired from their training,” she said. According to Ude, AFRIFF, in its 6th year continues to be at the forefront in showcasing African cinema. “Over the past six years, we covered three cities and we have had over 20,000 visitors of which 30% have been foreign. Each year, our global invitation to the world fixates on exhibiting the large diversity of ethnicities, cultures and
languages on our continent and combatting the absence of authentic African subjects in film.” She thanked the Ministry of Information and Culture as well as sponsors such as Access Bank and Air France for what she described as their incessant support. “With AFRIFF, we will continue to infiltrate the minds of both the young and the old, illustrating the significance of the film industry as a profession in Africa, and we will remind our global audience that WE ARE HERE and as long as we live we have a story to tell,” she concluded.
I have the solution to combat recession —Actress, Wini Lazarus
Wini Lazarus, one of the great potentials in Nollywood has a big dream for Nigeria a n d has announced her intentions to partner with the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige the Presidency, and the National Assembly, including the governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Edo State governor and other State governors that are willing to create jobs and empower Nigerians. The actress who is also
a producer and a farmer, is of the opinion that agriculture is one of the ways out of the current problems Nigeria is facing. According to her, there is no reason why most people shy away from farming, as far as she is concerned, most of our parents in the sixties, seventies were farmers and were able to cater for their families, including those who are still farmers. “Why should Nigerians run away from the farm,” she asked? However, the actress, who has introduced a project tagged ‘Back to the Land Project” while urging all the first ladies in Nigeria to support her, including all those who wish Nigerians well, from the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo and other first ladies. Speaking on why she is calling on the top shots in
Nigeria, Wini said farming is a huge project, as many that are willing to farm, the government must also be willing to empower them in whatever capacity they want. She admonished Nigerians to embrace the Back to the Land Project, saying, it does not stop them from being who they want to be, ‘’ I’m an actress, a producer and a farmer, the Minister of Agriculture is a farmer and also a minister, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is a farmer and President of Nigeria’’. Most of her friends call her Willy Winning Wini, ( WWW ) because she knows Nigerians are willing and will win the battle over the current economic recession. Wini said she is dedicating her time and energy to serve Nigeria and Nigerians because she can understand what most Nigerians are going through because she has been there.
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018
Gani Shonubi relocates EVER wondered what’s behind the sudden absence of the Casa Lucio boss, Gani Shonubi from the party scenes lately? The rich man, who also owns the Gaso Furniture company in Ibadan, Oyo State, has relocated from Nigeria to Cote d’Ivoire. Citing the current economic situation in the country for his decision, he is now a big player in the Ivorian Real Estate sector where he constructs waterfront villas at the highbrow Gulf area of the country. The businessman also acquired a new company, Jet Express in, Warsaw Poland. His new venture has taken the biggest part of his time as he shuttles between Europe and Africa to stabilise his investments.
Folorunso Alakija’s new love
Zahra Buhari lights social scene with December wedding
J
UST some weeks after the wedding of Fatima, one of President’s Muhammadu Buhari’s daughters to Gimba, another of the President’s daughter, Zahra is toeing the matrimonial path as she weds Hammed Indimi on December 3. The high society is agog with the news of a wedding expected to be the biggest society event to close the year considering the status of the couple’s parents. Ahmed Indimi is the son of
billionaire oil baron, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi. The groom-to-be is the Head of Crude Marketing at the Oriental Energy Resources. Zahra Buhari needs little intro-
duction. She is the most vocal of President Muhammed Buhari’s children. The lady is very active on social media where she bares her mind on various political matters.
Between Sayyu Dantata and Ahmed Uhwubetini UNKNOWN to many, there’s a strong bond between the Managing Director of MRS, Sayyu Dantata and socialite, Ahmed Uhwu-
betini. Those in the know claim that Sayyu was a solid rock behind Ahmed following the closure of his nightclub, 11:45 in Lagos and since then both maintained a budding friendship. The two businessmen are said to have floated a joint venture in the name of a new hangout in Atlanta, United States. Sayyu, who is said to have become a regular in that side of the world for some unknown reasons has a property that presently houses the new 11:45 nightclub which sources said is doing very well as one of the hottest African owned nightclubs in the city. Insiders claim that Ahmed Uhwubetini is the face of the business, while Sayyu is the quiet one that likes to remain in the background.
IF you are on the long list of admirers of the Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil, Folorunso Alakija, this may not be a surprise to you. Africa’s second richest woman has found a new love which she doesn’t hide. The founder of the Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International has gradually become a wedding counsellor who now hosts thought provoking and insightful marriage conferences, the recent is the one themed ‘Are you enjoying your marriage?’. At the event, she explored topical issues in marriage, where she equipped newly weds and other married people with the ingredients of a successful marriage and also tips on how to cope with the challenges of a married life.
Folly Coker moves on LA Casa boss and the former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Folly Coker has placed the odds behind him. The owner of Browns Cafe who is a protege of influential politician, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has now gone back to his entertainment business after his removal from Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s cabinet. The man got people talking when he stormed musician, Wizkid’s All White Party in Lagos some hours after he was disengaged. His friends said he didn’t show any sign of disappointment as he was spotted taking photographs with comedian, Ayo Makun and Korede Bello. Folly has done well for himself as a businessman, aside his ownership of the Browns cafe and La Casa beach club, he is said to be a major shareholder in Mavin records.
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26 November, 2016
Divorce
Court & Crime
My wife is a flirt and a party freak, man tells court He’s troublesome, beats me constantly —Wife
My mum died because of her callousness, husband tells court I have begged him and his family —Wife By Oyeyemi Okunlade
A
45-year-old man, Julius Olubolade, has dragged his wife, Caroline, before the Grade ‘C’ customary court, Inalende, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, saying that his mother died as a result of the callous treatment the old woman was subjected to when she had to stay with her during her illness. “I want to break up with my wife because she behaved inhumanly to my mother and that led to her untimely death. When my mother took ill and I had to take her into my house for proper medical treatment, my wife declined that she could not live with us. The only option she gave me was to rent a house for her and I did. “After a year, she told me to bring my mother back into the house not knowing she had a hidden agenda of torturing her. She would beat and tear her clothes until the old woman died. I did not expect this from her because I care for her parents with
everything in my capacity. My mother died as a result of her ill-treatment and I’m tired of her. I reported her actions to her parents but they did not intervene. That’s why I took this court action,” Julius told the court. Bewildered by what her husband accused her of, the mother of five, Caroline asked him, “you said I killed your mother?” Then the husband replied, “Yes, because of the ill-treatment you gave her.” However, Caroline said: “I have begged him and his family but I still want the court to plead with him; I have changed. I cannot give in to his request because there is nowhere I will go with our five children,”
inside
Saturday Tribune
the defendant pleaded. The court president, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, declared the marriage between both parties, which was contracted about 19 years ago dissolved because there is no more love between them. “The first four children to be under the custody of the plaintiff, while the last child of the marriage should be in the defendant’s custody. The plaintiff is to be paying the sum of N3, 000 as feeding allowance monthly for the last child. He is to take care of her education, health, moral and financial grounds. The defendant is to vacate the house on or before seven days of the judgement and both parties should maintain peace. Copy of the judgement is to be served on the defendant through the court Bailiff,” Olafenwa ordered.
She’s is taking my grandson to her new husband —Mother-in-Law Her son is not interested in the child —Wife’s mother
See pages 18 & 23
AN Agege Customary Court in Lagos State, has fixed December 15 for judgement in a divorce case filed by a woman, Bilikisu Jamiu, over irreconcilable differences with her husband. President of the court, Mr Philip Williams, fixed the date after the petitioner’s husband, Tanimola, told the court that he was not against the divorce. Williams urged the couple to maintain peace and have a re-think about the divorce as children from broken homes were always stigmatised. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the petitioner had urged the court to dissolve her marriage citing irresponsibility, lack of love and proper care for her and their two children. She alleged that her husband was troublesome, beat her constantly and always accused her of dating different men. “Whenever he returns home late and l do not open the door for him on time, he will descend on me and turn me to a punching bag. “He beats me to the extent that I always sustain injuries,” she said. She claimed that her husband constantly reminded her that her mother was not initially in support of the union and beat her repeatedly. “My husband is irresponsible, violent and too temperamental,” she said. The petitioner urged the court to dissolve the 13-year- old union and to award her custody of their children. The respondent, Tanimola, told the court that his wife was a flirt and a party freak. He said trouble started when he saw a bird tattoo on his wife’s backside and told her that he was not in support of such a thing. “She refused to listen; instead, she increased her waywardness by partying a lot and keeping bad friends. “Whenever I advised her to distance herself from the type of friends she keeps, my wife will insult me and tell me to mind my business. “I reported her to her mother but she told me not to disturb her daughter, saying as her mother, she still goes to parties,” he said. Tanimola alleged that there are nude pictures on his wife’s phone which she refused to delete after he had asked her to do so. “She talks to strange people on phone at ungodly hours,” he said. He further alleged that whenever they had any misunderstanding at home, the petitioner reports to her mother, who encourages her to pack out of his house. “I wholeheartedly agreed to the dissolution of the marriage,” he said.
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courtandcrime
She’s is taking my grandson to her new husband —Mother-in-Law
Her son is not interested in the child —Wife’s mother
M
RS Deborah Ekundayo has dragged her daughter-in-law, one Ikeoluwa Adelugba and her mother, Risikatu Adelugba, before the Grade C Customary Court, Agodi-Ibadan, Oyo state. The mother-in-law had alleged that Ikeoluwa wanted to abandon his son for another man. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the plaintiff, who filed the suit on behalf of his son, Kayode Ekundayo, prayed the court to grant her the custody of the only child of the union. In her testimony, Ekundayo narrated how his son impregnated Ikeoluwa in 2015 and the couple wanted to abort the pregnancy. “I quickly intervened when I heard that my son and Ikeoluwa wanted to get rid of the pregnancy by taking the defendant to a hospital where she registered for her ante- natal. “She was safely delivered of the baby and I spent about N50,000 during delivery. “But Ikeoluwa started following other men to hotels to commit adultery two weeks after her delivery. “Her easy virtues made me to conduct a DNA-test to confirm that my child was the biological father of the baby and the test was positive. “I got information recently on the Facebook about a proposed wedding between Ikeoluwa and another man, and I will not want her to take my grandson to another man. “I pray the court to allow me have the custody of the only child of the marriage who is six months old, so that I can take good care of him, “ she said. The defendant, Ikeoluwa, was not in court but her mother, Risikatu, who was also joined in the suit, was present to defend the case. She admitted that the testimony of the plaintiff was true but told the court that her son in-law, Kayode, was not interested in the child’s welfare when her daughter got pregnant. She also pleaded with the court to continue to allow her be in possession of the child saying the child was too young to be given to the plaintiff. In his judgement, the president of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, ordered that the child should remain with her mother till when he is one-year old. After then, the plaintiff could be allowed to have the baby in her possession, Balogun said. He warned both parties against causing any troubles but that they should allow peace to reign.
He is so stingy, he insists on going to the market himself —Wife She dresses like a harlot and not like a married woman —Husband By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanye A trader, Mrs. Titilope Azeez, has pleaded with an Agege Customary Court in Lagos State, to end her twenty-year-old marriage to her husband, Ademola claiming that her husband beats and maltreats her. She told the court that her husband beats her at the slightest provocation. “I got married to him five years ago but we have lived together for close to eight years. My husband is very temperamental. He finds fault in virtually everything I do. “ He complains about my cooking and my mode of dressing. You cannot please him. He beats me as if I am a small child. I am tired of his attitude. “Last month, he refused to give money for the upkeep of our two children claiming that I don’t know how to spend money. He is also stingy and insists on going to the market by himself. I am tired of being treated like a child. I am tired of the marriage and I want this court to end the union,” she
said. However, responding to her claims, the estranged husband refuted the claims and allegations made by his wife. “My wife is a serial cheater. The main reason she is filing for this divorce is for her to go and be with her lover. I did my findings well and discovered that she is into an amorous relationship with a man in Obalende. “ I tried to correct her about her mode of dressing. She dresses like a harlot and not a married woman. She is also a lousy cook. She is so untidy that I end up doing most of the house chores by myself. “She doesn’t care about the well-being of our two children. She would rather buy food from roadside vendors than prepare a home cooked meal for the children. I can’t remember the number of times that I had to treat typhoid in the children because of her careless attitude as a mother. “ I am also not interested in this union anymore as I can’t take her attitude anymore. I would rather the court grant me the custody of the children as I know very well that she
She almost succeeded in ruining my ministry —Husband I’ve challenged him to do deliverance for me —Wife
He and his family did not accept me as her wife —Wife
We never agreed to be husband and wife —Husband By Oyeyemi Okunlade A woman, Oluwaseun Akinrinade, has asked the Ile Tuntun Customary Court, Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, to dissolve her five-year-old marriage to her husband, Saheed, who she claims is irresponsible and a cheat. The plaintiff said: “Our marriage is blessed with a two-yearold child, but my husband is not responsible at all. He had a wife before I married him but she did not accept me as a junior wife. My husband’s parents too are also playing a role in not allowing my husband to accept me as his second wife. That is all, Oluwaseun said.” According to the defendant who did not agree with the claim, he affirmed that both of them did not have an agreement to marry each other but she told him that she was pregnant. “The pregnancy was not up to nine months when she was delivered of it. On the eight day, we
did the naming ceremony. After the christening, her mother told me that she wanted her to go back to her first husband. I was short of words. Then I flashed back to some of her strange behaviours which I have not been able to cope with. She is a wayward woman. I don’t understand her anymore,” Saheed lamented. After considering evidence of the two, the court said it noticed that there is no more love between them and court cannot force them to live together. The
presiding judge, Chief Agbaje Henry Olasunkanmi, gave an order for them to cease to be husband and wife. He instructed that the only child produced by the marriage should stay with his mother and that N4, 000 is be provided for feeding allowance of the child from November, 2016. Olasunkanmi also warned that there should be neither threats nor molestation between both parties whenever they meet on the road. The defendant, Saheed is also expected to take care of his child health and education wise.
My ears are full with stories of how she sleeps around —Husband He’s the one who slept with 2 of my friends —Wife
A Grade “C” Customary Court sitting in Iseyin, Oyo State, has dissolved a ten-year-old marriage over allegations and counter allegations of infidelity. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the president of the court, Chief Adelodun Oyegbenle, dissolved the marriage, which had produced three children due to irreconcilable differences between the couple, Mr Johnson and Mrs Esther Iyanda. Johnson had approached the court in July to seek dissolution of the marriage over his wife’s alleged infidelity. “My ears are full with stories of how she sleeps around with different men without shame or fear that I may get to know about it. “The situation made me to send her packing and now I want
it to be official that she is no longer my wife,“ he told the court. In her response, the estranged wife denied the allegation of cheating, saying “he is the one that is not sincere with our marital vows. “I have never done anything like what he says, instead he is the one who has slept with two of my friends. “He sent me out and brought another woman two days after to take over my room,” she added. In his judgement, the court’s President, Oyegbenle, said it was obvious that love no longer existed between the couple and could not resolve the crisis. He dissolved the union and granted custody of the two children to their mother. Oyegbenle ordered Johnson to pay N10,000 monthly allowance to the court registry for the upkeep of the children.
A man, Gideon Johnson, has accused his wife of poisoning his driver, who then allegedly ran mad after eating a meal she prepared for him to eat. Gideon said this at a Grade C Customary Court sitting at Agodi-Ibadan, Oyo State, where he had gone to seek the dissolution of his 17-year-old marriage to his wife, Oluwatoyin. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that he accused his wife, who has four children for him of bad character and threats to his life and other members of his family. Gideon in his testimony told the court that he gave the food his wife prepared for him to his driver to eat. “The innocent driver ran mad few hours after he had eaten the food and was chained before we could take him to his family for solution. “She intended to make me mad, she is fetish, diabolical and a threat to my life; in fact, she killed my elder brother and my father through her fetish ways. “She almost succeeded in ruining my ministry when she ganged up with my enemies to spoil me before the big personalities that usually come to my church for prayers,” he said. He also told the court that he had not slept with his wife in the last 11 years because of her bad characters. Gideon said that he would kill his wife if the court should decline his request to separate them. However, Oluwatoyin Johnson, in her defence, objected to the allegations levelled against her and denied ever killing his father and brother- in-law. The mother of four told the court that her husband abandoned her 11 years ago when he married another woman who bore three kids for him. “He neither cared for me nor for the four children of the
marriage but was always abusing me whenever he is preaching on the pulpit in the church. “He accused me of being a witch and possessed spiritual power and I had challenged him to do deliverance for me since he is a pastor,” she said. She, however, pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage for the sake of the children. President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, dissolved the marriage and ordered the two children to be with the plaintiff, while the custody of the remaining two children should be with their mother. Balogun also ordered the plaintiff to be paying N8, 000 monthly as maintenance allowance for the two children that are in the custody of their mother. He also directed the plaintiff to pay N12,000 as house rent and N5,000 as transport fees for the defendant to pack her load from his house. He warned the parties to maintain peace and steer clear of anything that could bring disharmony.
AN Oja’ba/Mapo Grade ‘C’ customary court, sitting at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State, has granted divorce to a mother of two, Adetomilola Olanrewaju. According to the woman, she demanded divorce because her husband, Gbolahan was a perpetual drunkard. She told the court that he always came home very late at night and beat her on a regular basis. She spoke further: “He’s a habitual smoker. He doesn’t take care of me and the children. He is also troublesome. There’s no love between us again. I’m fed up with him,” Adetomilola told the court.
He has been lacking in his responsibilities —Wife She’s misbehaving because she already has another man —Husband By Oyeyemi Okunlade AFTER several adjournments for the parties to resolve their differences without success, a Mokola Grade ‘C’ Customary Court sitting at Inalende, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the six-year-old marriage between Asimowu Dauda and her husband, Fadipe. According to the plaintiff, her husband had been lacking in his responsibilities as the head of the family. He was adamant and also lacked respect for his in-laws. She told the court that in spite of her efforts to make him change from his bad attitudes, even sending people to him in the area have proved abortive. “I want a divorce,” Asimowu told the court. 31-year-old Fadipe, while responding to the charges against him asked his wife, “Are you not the one who said that my family should not go to your parents?” Asimowu replied “Yes.” “I comply with her request but all she has said before the court are lies. She’s misbehaving because she already has another man whom she wants to marry. “I got to know that she is having an affair with a man whom she met through our Alfa, who used to pray for us and even named our children. It’s as bad as whenever I go to her shop, she sends me out with an excuse that she would soon have a visitor. That is all.” Having gone through the evidence of both parties, the court said it sees that there is no more love between them, while their home has broken down irreparably. The presiding judge, Mr Olafenwa Ramoni, declared their marriage dissolved. He ordered that the two children of the union be taken care of by the defendant, while he pays N5,000 monthly as their feeding allowance until they reach age six.
‘My wife is troublesome, stubborn, arrogant and not submissive’ His friends tried to caution him about his attitude toward me —Wife A man, Taiwo Oladepo, has prayed an Agege Customary Court in Lagos State, to dissolve his 11-year-old marriage over alleged lack of care and submission by the woman. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he claimed that his wife, Biola, was troublesome, disobedient, not submissive and not caring. “My wife is too troublesome; she is stubborn, arrogant and
He doesn’t take care of me and the children —Wife If she says that she wants separation, I’m ready —Husband By Oyeyemi Okunlade
will be more than happy to drop them off so that she can continue her life,” he told the court. President of the court, Mr Williams adjourned the matter to December 13 for possible settlement, while he asked them to bring two members of their families each.
The respondent, Gbolahan, said: “I do not accept the allegations because of our children. If she says that she wants separation, I’m ready, but I want to take custody of my children.” President of the court, Chief Odunade Ademola, in dissolving the marriage said, “Having gone through the evidence of both parties, divorce on repayment of no dowry is hereby granted. Custody of the children is given to the plaintiff. The defendant should be responsible for their education and health services. He should be paying N6, 000 monthly as feeding allowance for the children until they grow up.”
not submissive. She is also lazy and wayward. “There has been no peace in this marriage; we live like cat and mouse,” he told the court. The petitioner submitted that his wife went out and returned any time she liked, adding that each time he asked her where she had been, she would tell me: “Go and ask Google. “I am no longer interested in the union,” he submitted. Responding, Biola, denied the allegations. She said that the petitioner lacked respect for her and beat her regularly. “There was a time his friends tried to caution him about his attitude to me. “The beating is unbearable but l kept bearing it because of my children,” she said. She added that Taiwo had illicit affairs with different women. Biola consented to the dissolution of the marriage, but appealed to the court to give her the custody of the children, urging that Taiwo should be responsible for the children’s education and healthcare. President of the court, Mr Philip Williams, adjourned the case till January 31, 2017 for judgement.
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637
e: olanreade@yahoo.com
Anti-narcotic personnel at work
Revealed! New Lagos drug routes
D
RUG traffickers are drawn to some new routes through which they now bring drugs into Lagos with what appears to be a good measure of ease. Among the routes is an island under Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State. The features of these routes that make them attractive for the movement of the banned substances and more will be interrogated in the course of this article. Lagos seaports and airports have been targets of drug traffickers in recent years. Despite the continued arrests of suspected drug traffickers in these airports and seaports, it has been gathered that this criminal trade is still being pro-
pelled by the economic principle of demand and supply. With the high demand for drugs and the large amount of money being made, drug barons and traffickers are ready to increase the risk level. Some years back, drug trafficking was almost an abomination in Nigeria which no family would want to be associated with directly or indirectly. In other words, anyone caught trafficking in drug was then seen as a black sheep because of the stigma the act carried. With time, however, the illegal trade has not only become a part of the society but a serious crime that is giving the country a bad name. Every day, the crime spreads to the nooks and crannies of the country
with its effect on old and young in the society. Before now, many couriers, with the support of their barons, had succeeded in making fortunes out of the trade. The attractions Factors like poverty, unemployment, peer influence, ignorance and disregard for consequences of drugs on humans have been advanced as some of the factors responsible for drug trafficking. There is also a decline in societal values as people are becoming more materialistic to the detriment of uprightness. Stakeholders have repeatedly urged agents of socialisation like family, schools, religious bodies and civil society groups to redouble their
SHOLA ADEKOLA and TOLA ADENUBI got investigative in tracking drug routes in Lagos. Their findings should interest all genuine stakeholders. efforts towards building a healthy and safe society. Recently, a journalist was contacted by drug barons in the Akala area of Mushin to help traffic drug out of the country. According to the journalist, the offer was too tempting but he only declined on religious ground. “They promised me money, depending on the weight of what I could carry. They showed me some vehicles around Akala and promised to give me any one of my choice. There were many t’okunbo vehicles waiting for whoever was ready for the deal”, the journalist said. Continues on pg20
Eko Akete
Chief security officer’s sedative
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26 November, 2016
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Saturday Tribune
Weekend Lagos Continued from pg19
Bumper arrests According to the image maker of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDLEA is working very hard to dismantle these drug trafficking cartels. In the past five years, the agency has discovered 11 laboratories used for the illegal production of methamphetamine in the country. Search is ongoing to detect more even as regular seizures are being made at the airports and other points. The NDLEA arrested 63 suspected drug traffickers in Lagos between January and June, 2016. “The suspects were arrested with a total of 484.11 kilograms of drugs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja. The suspected drug barons also abandoned 336.09kgs of the seized drugs. Those arrested are 46 males and 17 females while the breakdown of drugs are cocaine, 35kgs; heroin, 8.460kgs; methamphetamine, 54.4kgs; ephedrine, 6.12kgs; cannabis, 5.47kgs and psychotropic substances, 374.63kgs. “Twenty suspects were nabbed while attempting to export drugs while 25 were caught importing drugs into the country and 18 suspects were apprehended during follow-up operations. Three abandoned seizures, including 25 kilograms of methamphetamine billed for South Africa, 311 kilograms of tramadol originating from India and 0.09 grams of cocaine from Brazil, were made during the period. “The monthly breakdown of arrests and drug seizures as at January, 12 suspects with 6.30kgs; February, 10 suspects with 54.76kgs; March, 13 suspects with 39.49kgs. In April, 13 suspects with 28.04kgs; May, 13 suspects with 353.95kgs while June had two suspects and 1.59kgs”, Ofoyeju said. Why Lagos deals persist despite arrests Many reasons have been attributed to the rise in drug trafficking through Lagos airport in particular. For Mr Segun Babatunde, who works in one of the local airlines, apart from its commercial status, a reason for the high rate of the crime in Lagos is the population of the city and the existences of different races and the zeal to do all manner of businesses and make wealth. The icing on the cake is said to be the presence of an international airport, which the peddlers see as the easiest and quickest means of smuggling out their stuff. Drug barons, it has been gathered, are not relenting because drug trafficking is a money-spinning crime. They
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdulah (retd)
Megacity, mega drug problem
have a large pool of unemployed youths to recruit as mules. While some people are desperate to smuggle drugs for money, others see drug trafficking as a way of getting capital for their businesses. NDLEA speaks According to the NDLEA, Lagos airport is the busiest airport in the country. There are numerous flights connecting different continents, especially the preferred destinations of drug trafficking syndicates. Lagos having two seaports, an airport and an international border, it was learnt, also makes the city attractive to drug syndicates. A strong stimulant drug like methamphetamine is now produced in Nigeria. The drug is in high demand in Asia, Europe and America so, the syndicates are struggling to satisfy demand in those markets. Going by a statistics released by
the NDLEA, there has been an increase in drug trafficking through Lagos more than other parts of the country in view of the arrests made on a daily basis. Drug peddlers take advantage of Lagos’ porous border. The country is said to operate many porous borders. The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Martin Abeshi, said recently that the nation had about 1,400 unmanned illegal entry points that lead into the country. In Lagos, drug peddlers have consistently taken advantage of the Seme axis of the nation’s border post. The border has become a free entry and exit points for terrorists and smugglers of all manner of contraband goods. In order to further assist stakeholders in unravelling the drug mystery, Saturday Tribune examined major routes for the trade.
Tolgegi Island From Badagry, drug peddlers and smugglers bring in drugs from routes like the Tolgegi Island. With the increased surveillance of eagle-eyed Customs operatives on the land borders, which has resulted in the arrest and seizure of various amounts of drugs along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, drug peddlers have shifted focus to this island, which allows them to access Lagos by canoe and barges. Tolgegi Island is located just beside the Nigerian/Benin Republic border and is under the control of Badagry Local Government Area. However, because it is an island, drug peddlers bring drugs into Lagos without having to make use of the road. Drugs are loaded in water crafts under the cover of darkness and brought into the
country through many unmonitored jetties. Oto/Ijanikin jetty
There are also unsecured jetties like the Oto jetty, located in the sleepy village of Oto-Awori, near Ijanikin town. The Oto jetty affords drug peddlers the luxury of cutting off many Customs and military checkpoints located along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway at least up to Agbara town. “Oto jetty is just after Agbara and can be accessed from islands like Tolgegi under the cover of darkness. Speaking to Saturday Tribune, a student of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (ACOED), who also resides in Oto-Awori town, explained that students notice movements at night from the jetty area into the town.
According to the student, who refused having his name in print, “once it is dark, we students don’t like going to the jetty. It is not advisable to do so due to security concerns. We notice movement of people from the jetty carrying bags at night. Where they are coming from, I cannot really say. But I know some students who smoke Indian hemp always talking about getting it very cheap at the jetty.”
Why peddlers are unrelenting NDLEA has continued to arrest and prosecute drug couriers across the airports, particularly in Lagos. Hardly does a day pass by without a drug suspect being caught at the Lagos airport. The arrests are said to be made possible by the sophisticated gadgets installed at the airport to expose any narcotic
inside luggage. Developed countries like the United States, Britain, Germany and France have assisted the NDLEA in the fight against drug peddling. Despite the resilience of officials of the NDLEA and other security agencies, the drug suspects have continued to come up with new devices capable of beating the security network at the Lagos airport. Findings, however, showed that the further the suspects go to achieve their aims, the more the NDLEA officials overtake and catch up with them as witnessed in the criminals’ daily arrests. The desperation to continue with dangerous business has been attributed to the level of poverty which the barons often lure their victims with mouth-watering offers. The majority of those arrested had, during confessions, cited the need to make ends meet as reason for engaging in the
crime. While some of them have managed to get away or caught in Nigeria, others have paid the supreme price in countries where convicted drug peddlers are executed. The desperation of the peddlers in the face of death at the Lagos airport has continued to be a source of concern for airport users. The NDLEA officials have vowed to continue the hard fight even as they warned the drug traffickers to turn away from their evil ways. Many are quick to blame the increase in drug trafficking to the state of the economy and the high unemployment rate in the country. NDLEA not doing enough –Retired officer Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu said efforts to arrest and prosecute sponsors were inadequate. He said: “Before the Abdulmutallab case in 2009, lsrael came out with some intelligence reports that about 70 to 80 per cent of drugs getting into the
Once it is dark, we students don’t like going to the jetty. It’s not even advisable due to security concerns. However, we notice movement of people from the jetty carrying bags at night. Where they are coming from, I cannot really say.
United States through Europe was coming from Nigeria. I do not think that he trend has significantly changed. “The problem is not necessarily about how to intercept the couriers or arrest the sponsors as most are probably known to the law enforcement agencies. The fear, as the Israelis and, indeed, Aviation Security watchers put it, following the experience of the Abdulmutallab debacle, is that the terrorists could use the couriers of these drugs as moles to carry explosives on board. That was why the Abdulmutallab case did not come as a surprise to some AVSEC experts”. According to the anti-narcotic agency, with the present security network at the places, it has become almost impossible for anyone to smuggle drugs through the Lagos airport and even the seaports without being detected. Why it is difficult nabbing barons “Drug barons are the drug kingpins that coordinate the illicit production, sales and distribution of narcotics. Unlike the couriers, they try to distant themselves from the business but we have succeeded in penetrating their wall of defence and brought many of them to justice. We are partnering with other security agencies because drug control demands collective effort of all. Some of the agencies are cooperating but there are a few cases of bottlenecks that need to be perfected. There are instances where some stakeholders are infiltrated by drug syndicates. The Arik Air crew member, who was arrested with cocaine and recent seizure of 144kg of ephedrine at the Abuja airport involving five suspected staff of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) are good examples. The agency will continue to build on the benefits of platforms such as Airport Com-
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munication Programme (AIRCOP) that involve inter-agency cooperation in deepening her working relationship with other stakeholders”, NDLEA said. The agency has vowed to continue the fight, saying it was undeterred. The chairman of NDLEA, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), said: “We must continue to develop integrated programmes in tackling the problem of drug trafficking and related organized crimes at various levels. Deliberate steps should be taken to improve regional and international drug control measures aimed at dislodging drug syndicates. These include robust collaboration, increased funding, use of modern technology in drug crime prevention and exchange of criminal intelligence.”
Eko Akete
Chief security officer’s sedative
It is generally assumed that as a chief security officer of a metropolitan state, he would not be falling asleep easily like other mortals, but the man has confessed that he does but only on one condition. This tough top security agent was trying to implore a group of journalists to honour one of his senior police officers who was appointed to supervise a newly-established security outfit when he described the officer as “a sleeping pill”. The journalists insisted that they had honoured the police officer, whose first two names start with letters ‘O’ and ‘D’ but the security chief insisted that he be honoured again and again. He stated that the man was not only doing well but he was also the only sedative that could knock him off to dreamland. “I have confidence in him. With him around, I can go to bed”, the security chief said. With the issue of his humanness settled with the free confession, the question is: what will happen to this security chief if his “sleeping pill” is eventually deployed out of the state? Did I hear someone say “insomnia”?
22 feature
26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Lagos’ money-changers are going underground Govt continues clampdown on forex blackmarket
By Paul Wallace and Emele Onu (Bloomberg)
O
n the teeming streets of Lagos, the Nigerian mega-city of 15 million people, the once omnipresent money-changers are going underground. They’ve become the latest target of authorities desperate to bolster the naira and crush a black market for foreign currency that’s boomed since the crash in oil prices strangled the inflow of dollars and battered the economy. This month, the central bank capped prices that non-bank dealers can charge their customers for foreign exchange, effectively pegging the black-market rate, with intelligence agents threatening to jail anyone who doesn’t comply. That’s creating a parallel market within the black market, according to analysts at Lagos-based Afrinvest West Africa Ltd. One trader in the Lagos suburb of Surulere, who asked not to be identified as he feared arrest, said he would continue using the old rate with trusted customers and refuse to sell dollars to others. Anyone he doesn’t know may be a government spy, he said. New Level “The black market will go further underground,” said Omotola Abimbola, an analyst at Afrinvest. “The fact they went as low as getting security forces on the streets shows a new level of desperation.” Nigeria’s interbank market sets the naira’s official value and is meant to serve businesses. But the scarcity of foreign-currency has forced many to go to licensed bureaux de change and the unofficial, or black, market of informal street traders, both of which sell dollars at a higher rate. The central bank has made several attempts to defend the naira after it plunged in late 2014 along with crude prices. Governor Godwin Emefiele tightened capital controls and restricted banks’ ability to trade foreign-exchange, then tried a currency peg that deterred foreign investment
and worsened the shortage of dollars companies need to pay for imports of raw materials and equipment. As the economy shrank and inflation soared, Emefiele relented, devaluing the inter-bank rate in June and saying he would let it float freely. The naira slumped 38 percent within two months, prompting central bank intervention that has since held it around 315 against the dollar. Stock and bond investors are staying away from Nigeria, pointing to the wide gap between the official exchange rate and the black-market one of about 470 as evidence that the central bank is still manipulating the currency. Forward prices suggest the naira will depreciate further on the official market, with 12-month contracts trading at 441 against the greenback. Hoarding Dollars On Nov. 9, Nigeria’s intelligence arm, the Department of State Services, raided bureaux de change and black-market
It absolutely won’t work,” said Manji Cheto, senior vice president at Teneo in London. “This is akin to a person in a room that’s caught fire just slamming every panic button they can find because they don’t know which will open the door.
traders and instructed them to cap their rates at 400 per dollar. As a result, people with hard currency are hoarding it rather than selling at an artificially low rate, according to Haruna Usman, a money-changer in Lagos. “It’s a struggle even to get someone to sell us $200, whereas before they’d often sell us $1,000 or $5,000,” the kaftan-clad Usman said from the mosque compound where he trades. “Now, they’re only exchanging when they’re desperate.” The central bank is in no mood to back down. Emefiele said this week that “the security agencies should sustain their checks on the activities of illegal foreign-exchange operators in order to bring sanity to that segment of the market.” It’s another signal to foreign investors that Nigeria’s currency policy is broken, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. “The Central Bank of Nigeria is clearly not ready to embrace a truly free-floating exchange rate and arguably has further undermined the confidence in the exchange-rate regime,” Yvette Babb and Sonja Keller, analysts at the New York-based lender, said in a note to clients on Nov. 18. “These events are likely to deter inflows.” Panic Button Nigeria isn’t the first country to clamp down on blackmarket trading. Egypt also arrested street dealers while pegging its currency’s official rate, until a dollarsqueeze forced it to devalueon Nov. 3. Nigerian authorities are running out of options and they probably won’t be able to enforce their clampdown beyond this year, according to Teneo Intelligence. “It absolutely won’t work,” said Manji Cheto, senior vice president at Teneo in London. “This is akin to a person in a room that’s caught fire just slamming every panic button they can find because they don’t know which will open the door.”
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com
What we consider the most difficult chore at home Pupils of Stepping Stone Private Schools, Sango, Eruwa, Oyo State.
2. Oyedun Stephen, JSS 2 I find it demanding fetching water. One uses a lot of energy to draw water from the well and gets very tired afterward. I fetch water very early in the morning; I wish fetching water could be as easy as washing plates.
enjoy that chore at all because of the pain it leaves after I am through with it. 4. Inioluwa Ojenike, JSS 2 I hate to wash the toilet because of the smell that ooze out of the closet. I usually prefer chores such as sweeping and washing of plates. 5. Gladys Adisa, JSS 1 To wash my socks among clothing is a difficult task as I have to use extra strength to remove dirt from the socks.
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Instruction for the first aid box
8. Huldah Kolawole, Basic 5 I find washing of clothes difficult because my younger brother and sister’s clothes are usually very dirty. It would have been better if I wash only mine but it’s my duty to carry out theirs no matter how long I stay on it. I ensure they are clean.
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Answers
a) What is the name of the box below? b) Do you know what it is used for? c) Where can it be found and what are the items that can be found in it?
Riddles
1. The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it? 2. What book was once owned by only the wealthy, but now everyone can have it? You can’t buy it in a bookstore or take it from a library.
7. Testimony Kusimo, Basic 4 If I have a choice, I would not even like to touch a waste bin not to talk of going to dump refuse at refuse site. The site is far. I prefer to follow my father to the farm or washing clothes instead.
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3. What gets whiter the dirtier it gets? 4. What happened in the middle of the twentieth century that will not happen again for 4,000 years?! 5. What does no man want, yet no man wants to lose?
6. What is everything to someone, and nothing to everyone else? 7. What has feet and legs, and nothing else?
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As you prepare for examinations DEAR children, as your examination approaches, I encourage you to study hard in order to come out with good results. While you’re studying, avoid the following so that you can have full concentration and also digest whatever you are reading. • Lying down while reading could lead to falling asleep at the long run. • Eating /chewing or thinking of food. If you feel you are hungry, ensure you eat before picking a book to read. • Watching television. • Listening to music while reading, etc
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GET INSPIRED
3. Grace Olabisi, Basic 4 My fingers hurt whenever I wash clothes. I don’t
6. James Jeremiah, JSS 1 What I consider as the most difficult chore at home is washing of clothes because I usually feel pains at the tip of my fingers and my palms also peel. Another
annoying part of it is that oil stains is not easy to remove from clothes even after using some stain removal.
1. Darkness 2. A telephone book 3. A chalkboard 4. The year 1961 can be read upside down and that won’t happen again until 6009! 5. Work 6. Your mind 7. Stockings
1. Enoch Olatayo, Basic 5 The chore I find most difficult is washing of clothes because I feel irritated whenever the dirty soapy water splashes on my feet. I prefer chores such as sweeping and clearing of bushes in the compound.
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a r t O O n
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26 November, 2016
weekend cartoons
Saturday Tribune
Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638
Just a Laffing Mata
POLITICO
C o l o ur i n g
A primary school teacher handed out a colouring page to her class. On it was a picture of a goat holding an umbrella. The teacher told her class to colour the goat black and the umbrella green. However, Segeluulu, the class rebel, coloured the goat red. After seeing this, the teacher asked him, “Segeluulu, how many times have you seen a red goat?” Segeluulu replied with, “The same number of times you’ve seen a goat holding an umbrella.”
Segeluulu undergoes surgery
Segeluulu opened his eyes after a surgical operation and breathed, “Thank God it’s over.” A man on the other side of his bed said, “Don’t be so sure, they left an injection in my belly and had to open it again.” Another patient added, “Same with me, but mine was a pack of cotton wool.” Almost immediately, the doctor who performed the operation stormed in and asked, “Has anyone seen my watch?” Segeluulu fainted!
FUNOLOGY
Segeluulu in Lagos
DETAINED IN THE US BECAUSE OF HER BREASTS?
Segeluulu travelled to Lagos after his WAEC results were out so that his Uncle would help him secure admission into the University of Lagos to study Medicine and become a medical doctor… The following conversation ensured between them: Segeluulu: Uncle, I learnt it’s difficult to get admission into the university these days except you are well connected… Uncle: That’s true… Segeluulu: Since you are connected, I came to ask you if you can help me get admission into the university after my JAMB. Uncle: That’s true… I’m connected and I will help you. Segeluulu: Thank you, Uncle. Uncle: You are welcome…so how is your result, is it WAEC or NECO and how many credits did you get? Segeluulu: Uncle, it’s WAEC, I had only two credits in Agric and Yoruba language, but I failed the rest… Uncle: Well, that’s not bad… you can still be a doctor, not a medical doctor really but native doctor (babalawo)… You will use your credit in Agric in collecting herbs from the forest, and Yoruba language for incantations…
CANDID SHOT
When fetching water becomes a burden for a minor. PHOTO: ADEREMI DAVIES
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Saturday Tribune
26 November, 2016
outofthisworld T Hotels built HEY look scary but these hotels are deliberately built deep inside the forests so as to bring guests closer to nature. These hotels are innovative architectural masterpieces built on the hills, in valleys and other areas close to nature. According to Daily Mail of UK, some of these hotels are built vertically with some having up to 20 storeys and one unusual thing about them is that all the rooms were covered with trees to clean the air and to ensure guests
feel like they are really living in the wild. According to reports, the designers of these structures aimed at slowing down climate change, reducing CO2 emissions and making living sustainable and in harmony with nature. So if you love the idea of sleeping in a forest and escaping from the cities filled with stress, tension, and an endless race against time, then these hotels could be for you.
WITH FEMI OSINUSI
osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292
in the deep forests
A casket meant for a cake maker.
Soldiers waist-deep in the river.
Bosco Verticale Hotel, Milan, Italy.
Forest Park Hotel, Cyprus.
Mountain Forest Hotel in Guizhou, China.
Carmel Forest Spa Resort - Haifa, Israel.
Dome hideaway in South Carolina, US.
The Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada.
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26 November, 2016
The South-West Edited by Kehinde oyetimi | 08074626431
Saturday Tribune CREW
sari Tunde B9u3530 081275 ndare nga - Ogu Yejide G8b1e16706853 0 unesan Tunde O9g54634 08116
t: r us; contac Got news fo bune@yahoo. ri tt es hw sout bune@ uthwesttri co.uk or so ail.com gm
Why we had no monarch for 17 years, 17 days —Oba Ayeni, Akinla of Erin Ijesa
Oba Isaac Adeyemo Ayeni, the Akinla of Erin Ijesa, in an interaction with KEHINDE OYETIMI, shares his thoughts on developing Olumirin waterfall, recommendations for ensuring harmony among SouthWest monarchs and the role of traditional institutions in national development. Excerpts:
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OW would you describe growing up? I grew up in Erin Ijesa and was born here January 22, 1964. My parents were peasant farmers. If I was told that I would be a monarch today, I wouldn’t have believed it because I didn’t have any inkling of that when I was growing up, in spite of the fact that I knew I was from a royal family. It never occurred to me that one day, I would be beckoned upon to assume this position. What challenges have you found most tasking since you ascended the throne of your forebears? Not much. However, what has confronted me most is dealing with people. One has to learn the politics of dealing with people, both low and high. Both good and bad people are all your subjects and one has to learn how to manage them. It is popularly stated that Ijesa people are very stubborn, hard and difficult to control. How true is that? I don’t agree with that opinion. Ijesa people are very principled and hate being cheated. They also know how to demand for their rights. Your jurisdiction was without an Oba for 17 years and 17 days. What really happened? That’s correct. Generally, in the SouthWest, these days, when the position for an Oba becomes vacant, you see people showing interest, whether they are qualified or not, unlike those days when it was through the oracle. When the former Oba passed on, a lot of people expressed interest in the position. However, it was clearly stated that the Obaship wasn’t for sale. We went to court and a committee stepped in to prevail on us to withdraw the case from court. A reconciliatory committee was set up but the issue could not be resolved because they were trying to persuade some contestants to step down for others. At that time, it was discovered that the main contestant wasn’t even from a ruling house. So, it was advised that the process be started all over and as such, the king makers had to restrict their search to the main ruling houses for candidates. When that major contestant realised what had happened, he was trying to play underground in order to instigate some of the other candidates to go to court. At that time, in 2012, I had been selected to be king. Of 13 king makers, I had ten votes, while the other three abstained. Two of the three ruling houses went to court. However, we thank God that this year, it has been resolved. One of the cases was thrown out for lack of merit, while the other case was
ruled in my favour. After that, the governor approved my appointment and we started the process of installation. I was installed on March 25th and I thank Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his support in breaking that jinx of not having an Oba for 17 years and 17 days. Since you became the Oba, have you been able to reach out to other contestants? Yes. We are trying to reach out but some of them are still unrepentant. The ruling house whose case was thrown out has accepted to sheath their sword. The other ruling house has appealed the judgment. So, the battle goes on. Olumirin waterfall, Erin-Ijesa is in your domain. What steps have been taken to ensure that the place is developed? My ancestors settled here because of the waterfall and they left Ile-Ife in 1140 AD. The only daughter of Oduduwa founded Erin-Ijesa. Olumirin means ‘Oluwa Imiran’, that is, ‘another god.’ It was a marvel in the eyes of the first settlers. Olumirin waterfall has suffered under-development. Successive monarchs have tried their best to bring the waterfall to the attention of government. A windmill can be installed at the Abake community situated on top which can generate electricity. We have a huge deposit of feldspar mixed with quartz. This raises the probability of finding gold. We’re also working on reaching out to private investors to extract the minerals. Government has been trying their best and we will continue to appeal to them to do more. I learnt in 2012, government allocated N300 million to develop this place but as I speak, we don’t know the whereabouts of that money.
The ruling house whose case was thrown out has accepted to sheath their sword. The other ruling house has appealed the judgment. So, the battle goes on.
What is your vision for the area? My goal is to showcase this place to the world and I believe that it begins with the people. We need to work together to develop this place. People should come home to build. Many people have bought land over the years but nothing has been built on them. If we see people who are ready to build, we will allocate such lands. When those who bought the lands earlier are ready, we will give them somewhere else. That’s how we can develop. I’m also trying to reach out to those outside Nigeria, in the form of a convention, to sensitise them on ways we can develop this place. I’m also working on reaching out to Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, who is a son of this town, so he can sanctify this place spiritually as well, and we can move forward from there in development. It wouldn’t be bad to have a branch of Anchor University of the Deeper Life Bible Church here. Or even a Bible College. There is no doubt Pastor Kumuyi is a renowned man of God but he is not known here because his impact has not been felt. So, I would want him to show support. The traditional institution is very important for the growth of any country. What are you doing to ensure harmony among Yoruba traditional rulers of the South-West? Basically, what we’re doing is engagement, that is, we need to keep talking. I’m happy with what the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, is doing. He has been reaching out to
Obas in the South-West to let them know that he is ready to work with them. We also have the council of Obas and we have been meeting and reaching out to ourselves. There is no need for conflict. We need peace. Although, that does not mean crisis will disappear completely. Even between husband and wife, there is conflict. The management of such disagreement is what matters. So, we will continue to manage it so it doesn’t cause much disharmony among South-West Obas. Many people are clamouring for Obas to be given much recognition, especially in relation to consulting them on national issues. What would be your take on that? In the days of our fathers, Obas were referred to as the Igba Ikeji Orisa. Even witches then consulted Oba for permission before carrying out their activities. However, when the whites came, much power was taken from the traditional rulers. Then, an Oba could ask a person to bring his mother to the palace and she could be killed in the child’s presence and nobody would dare to challenge such action. However, if you try that now, such a monarch would go prison. All the same, I don’t think any government that wants to succeed can do without the Obas. We are at the grassroots and we know the domain more than any other person. Most of us are still well respected. If government can engage monarchs in advisory roles, things would get better. However, Obas are not meant to play partisan politics.
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xquisite INTIMACY
26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
STRICTLY FOR ADULTS
Money issues that can kill your marriage G ETTING married is one of the happiest experiences in this life. Whether young or old, newlywed couples are excited to start a new life and look forward to the good times they will have together. They expect that there will be times of disagreement. But they rarely expect money, which is one of the biggest factors in divorce, to be the culprit. They are coddled by their naivety and end up being caught unawares when issues — past, present or future — start coming out of the woodwork. Arguing about money is the top predictor of divorce, especially when those arguments happen early in marriage. Otherwise happy marriages can disintegrate quickly when couples are unable to reconcile differences on habits and personality traits that were deeply ingrained long before the “I do.” Some of those marriages don’t end in divorce, but constant fighting about money problems and the tension that ensues can kill whatever happiness the couple once hoped for. Debt Whether it is student loans, credit cards, an auto loan, or a gambling habit, most people have some sort of financial baggage that tags along with them to the altar. This can cause problems when discussions about budgeting and paying off debt comes up, especially if one spouse brings in more debt than the other, or even if one came into the marriage debt-free. Debt can act like an anchor that keeps your financial plan from moving forward, sometimes for years. Personality Your personality is one of the biggest influences on how you manage money. It’s something that has been deeply rooted in you since childhood and is difficult to change. A couple might be completely debt-free, but can still run into trouble if one is a saver and the other a spender. This happens especially when the couple didn’t take the time to truly get to know each other before tying the knot and weren’t able to see anything but their spouse’s “best face.”
Yours, Mine and Ours Sometimes money habits are so divergent that a couple decides to split their expenses and maintain separate bank accounts to avoid future arguments. While this is not always the worst solution to such a problem, and it allows each spouse to spend what they have left as they see fit, it can still build resentment over extraneous purchases either spouse makes. It can also cripple the couple’s saving power, making it difficult to reach future common goals such as retirement, traveling, etc.
Solutions. When you’re not on the same page financially, the best solution that can be applied in all cases is communication. Couples need to learn to communicate openly and honestly, while also trying to understand their spouse’s point of view rather than taking a “my way or the highway” stance. If you aren’t yet married, it’s very important to communicate about money so that you know what you are getting into. Getting to know your partner’s personality, debt and family situation can give you a good idea of what to expect and what it will take to work together. Take the time to get to know your own money personality, as well. This can help you understand
Income If only one spouse is working, or one spouse earns more than the other, it can be easy for the spouse with more income to initiate a “power play” and dictate how the money is to be spent. Some have called it financial bullying. This can be multiplied when a spouse is unemployed or underemployed, adding insult to injury. It is easy to rationalise the idea, but it undermines the importance of the couple working as a team toward common goals. Extended Family His family wants to take a trip to Disneyland, while her brother needs a place to stay for a few months. His sister needs gas money, while her parents keep pressuring her to visit more often since you’ve moved out of state. Before you know it, one spouse is agreeing to things because “family is most important,” while the other spouse is wondering why “our” family and needs aren’t most important. It can also go the other way when one spouse’s parents are able and willing to pay for vacation expenses and extravagant Christmas gifts, while the other’s aren’t. And with that, extended family relations can reach their meddling fingers into your wallet.
Money is generally not the root of money problems in marriage, rather there is an underlying selfishness and pride that needs to be addressed
why your spouse may disagree with your decisions and give you direction on how to improve. Along with that, too many couples spend so much time planning their wedding day that they forget about the actual marriage. Take the time to talk before marriage about how you plan to deal with money. Be aware of what the future may look like financially, and talk about common goals that can help you work together to be successful. If you are already in the thick of things, avoid marginalizing or patronizing your spouse, no matter which side of the coin you are on, especially in a “power play” situation. The resentment that is bred by being made to feel inferior may go on long after the money issue itself is resolved. When it comes to extended family, decide early on that the family you created at marriage is the number one priority. Have a policy on what you will and won’t do when it comes to extended family. Never agree to something regarding extended family without speaking with your spouse first, and be sensitive to any apprehension your spouse may exhibit during the conversation. If debt is an issue, recognize that when you were married, you chose to marry that person along with his or her debt. Unless the debt was concealed, it’s not helpful to discuss who brought how much into the marriage. Rather than laying blame, work as a team to get rid of it. If things are so bad that you are considering separating your finances in order to avoid future problems, it may be a good time to seek professional help. After all, money is generally not the root of money problems in marriage, rather there is an underlying selfishness and pride that needs to be addressed. Working with a professional counselor can help you identify the problems and find meaningful solutions. In all things, remember the worth of your marriage. Money issues can wreak havoc and replace love and happiness with hurt and bitterness. In most cases, the issues themselves are marginal in comparison to the importance of your relationship. Be willing to compromise in order to preserve happiness, but don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of. Be open and honest, but refrain from being condescending or inconsiderate. Rather than focusing on the problem, focus on the solution and how you can improve your relationship. As you do so, you will see changes that may surprise you for the better. Culled: www.familyshare.com
x ‘Women need to be educated about the harmful effects of domestic violence’
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ORAY into advocacy I decided to go into advocacy because of my passion for humanity and affinity for change. I love when everyone is given a chance to be heard in the society. That was why I started Project Capable, a youth mentoring initiative geared towards creating a can do mentality in the lives of secondary school students, the programme comes up annually at the national stadium in Lagos, using celebrities and accomplished individuals to inspire and motivate youngsters to rise to greatness. I am also the brain behind W.A.R-Walk Against Rape, an advocacy initiative created to lend a voice for the victims of rape and demand justice for the perpetrators, an initiative endorsed by Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs. I am also a public speaker to youths in the country and have been to several secondary schools, giving them counsel and sharing with them messages of hope for a greater life. One of my major interests is advocacy and counselling on issues surrounding child sexual abuse, family values, and youth empowerment. Role models My mum, because she had every reason under the sun not to bring me to the world, but against all odds she did and made sure I become the woman I am today. Another person is Kate Henshaw. She is one of the very first people who believed in me, she made sure I got more tutelage from more experienced women in my line of work and she also became a mentor in the process. Aunty Kate as I fondly call her is one of my biggest support systems in the industry. Her selflessness and humility inspire me a lot. I also admire Remi Shonaiya, the presidential candidate for Kowa Party for daring to be different and standing up tall, for showing that a woman can contest and one day sit at the highest level of authority in the country. I am inspired by her courage and the way she has positioned herself even after losing the election. Challenges Funding was one of the biggest challenges I faced when I started out, because of the nature of our work, which is mostly advocacy and developmental work, it was hard to gain corporate support because most organisations would tell you they don’t want to support a “negative cause” and others say it doesn’t fall under their core corporate social responsibility, I had to use my personal money for most of our projects in the beginning. Why I wrote a book on rape and domestic violence To educate the society on rape and also encourage victims to speak up and report such cases, knowing full well that help is near and there is no shame in “breaking the silence, the book contains lots of information about preventing and coping with rape and sexual assaults. It also dwells on the subject of care-centres for victims and rape survivors. Stemming the rising tide of rape and domestic violence Women need to be properly educated about the harmful effects of domestic violence and sexual abuse. There are women and girls out there who are being abused every time since they refuse to voice out due to fear, shame, and wrong orientation. They should be encouraged, not discouraged. Abusive people should be dealt with and used as scapegoats. We need to stop encouraging and defending abusive people. Combining activism with the home front It has not been easy but I learnt to strike a balance between the two. God has been there for me. Motivation The need to see positive change in the society drives me. The joy of making sure justice is served always.
Funding Personal funds and also donations from individuals and in recent times, support from corporate organisations. Other things I do aside activism I counsel women and young ones, I write, both for my online platform and the Guardian newspaper. I am also a PR expert and I consult for several organisations and corporate bodies and help handle their media (online and offline) related issues. Favourite pastimes Spending quality time with my children and researching. Advice for young women out there Women, stand up! Go out there and be all you want to be. Be strong and bold. Don’t let anybody talk you down and don’t give anybody the chance to belittle you.
There are women and girls out there who are being abused every time because they refuse to voice out due to fear, shame, and wrong orientation
26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Causes, effects and tips on how to overcome domestic violence By Tayo Gesinde
VIOLENCE against women, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, according to World Health Organisation (WHO), are the major public health problems and violations of women’s human rights. The November, 2016, global estimates published by WHO indicates that about 1 in 3 (35%) women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. WHO said most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner in their lifetime. Globally, WHO said as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner. As a result, the world health body said violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health, and may increase vulnerability to HIV. Factors associated with increased risk of perpetration of violence include low education, child maltreatment or exposure to violence in the family, harmful use of alcohol, attitudes accepting of violence and gender inequality. Factors associated with increased risk of experiencing intimate partner and sexual violence include low education, exposure to violence between parents, abuse during childhood, attitudes accepting violence and gender inequality. For those who may be living with abuse or know someone who is, Lynn Fairweather, MSW, author of Stop Signs: Recognising, Avoiding, and Escaping Abusive Relationships, offers pieces of advice on how to overcome domestic violence: • Knowledge is power: When it comes to preventing domestic abuse, learning to recognise the distinct patterns and behaviours associated with intimate partner violence can be lifesaving. Most abusive partners choose, test, and prime their future victims before they ever lay a hand on them. Learn their tactics, watch for red flags, and always follow your instincts, it serves to protect and guide you in potentially dangerous situations. • Don’t compare: Abuse is abuse, even if you were assaulted but not physically injured, even if you hit back in self-defence, or even if it happened when there was alcohol involved. Abuse is not defined by the severity of injuries or by the number of police reports made. Avoid comparing your experience to that of other people, and instead ask: do you feel safe in your relationship? • You are worthy: Believing yourself to be valuable, capable, and deserving of happiness may help give you the strength to leave a relationship that turns out to be dangerous. When we recognise ourselves as worthy of a healthy, respectful love we can better identify the partnerships that do not reflect that right. • Don’t walk in unless you are willing to walk out: When searching for a romantic match, you must make up your mind beforehand that you are comfortable ending the relationship if your needs are not met. Decide early in the process that you will never be so attached to an outcome that you end up sacrificing your principles or your safety. • Beware of isolation: One control tactic used to separate victims from supporters that might otherwise identify the abuse or assist the victim is isolation, which can be accomplished by physically moving the victim to a remote location, disabling their communication devices, or turning the victim against their connections. • Assess threats: When assessing verbal threats from an abuser, consider context, purpose, ability, and content. As a general rule, the more detailed the threat, the more likely it is to be followed through with. Remember, too, that the absence of threat does not equal safety. • Know if it’s high-risk: Some types of abuse are more highly correlated with intimate partner homicide than others. For example, strangulation, threats with weapons, and sexual abuse are all high-risk markers in a domestic violence situation. Use extra caution when exiting the relationship. • The abuser is not your responsibility. An abuser’s job is made far easier when his victim believes they can stop the downward spiral of violence by being a better partner, fixing the abuser’s many problems, or making excuses for his behaviour. It’s not your responsibility to save a damaged partner. • Develop a safety plan. If you have decided to leave an abusive relationship, the most important thing to do is make a personalised safety plan with an experienced advocate. Leaving ushers in the most dangerous time for many victims of abuse, and exiting without preparation can increase the chances that you will have to return out of fear or economic necessity.
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26 November, 2016
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interview Why Buhari can’t take us out of recession
Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference in 2014, Senator Femi Okurounmu, in this interview by KATE ANI, bares his mind on the state of the nation.
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You are very opinionated. Have you always had that in you when you were a child and what prompted you to join politics? I had the good fortune of studying in the United States and I would say that country transformed me and my personality. Before I went to the United States, I was strictly focused on the academics. I attended Government College, Ibadan. I was the best student in my class and I got a scholarship to study at Harvard University. I was strictly academically focused but my experience in the United States transformed me in the sense that then, the Civil Right movement was very strong. There was a firmament of black people fighting for their rights and the discrimination against black people. I felt as if I was part of the struggle and I participated in that protest. When I returned home, I was already fired up with a political ambition and vowed that I must do something to bring about change in my country too. There are claims by interest groups in the South West that the Yoruba race is being sidelined in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. What would you say to this? When people ask me this question, I feel a little irritated because every educated Yoruba man who is in politics should have studied a little bit about history on the Fulanis and Hausa politics. The Fulani have one ambition and that
Saturday Tribune
the Yoruba lost Ilorin. This man [Buhari] has a particular grouse against us. He wants to punish the Yoruba. He hates the Yoruba. The Fulani normally hate the Yoruba and have always wanted to persecute and dominate the Yoruba in Nigeria because they feel we are the obstacle in their bid to take over the country. At a recent meeting, you Afenifere leaders were urged to support Senator Bola Tinubu so that he doesn’t get trampled upon by the powers that be. You shunned the idea and stood your ground on not supporting the cause. Why? Senator Bola Tinubu doesn’t have a good relationship with Afenifere leaders so, I don’t understand why they suggested we should rally around for him not be ridiculed by President Buhari. People should just ignore him and let him go into political irrelevance. We should not rescue him. He is getting what he deserves from Buhari. That is why I am against Chief Ayo Adebanjo trying to rescue him. He should allow him to just go into a quiet irrelevance so that the rest of the Yorubaland can regroup and strategise for a true and selfless leader. Look at what is happening now. I can point my fingers at those who supported President Buhari and tell them I told them so.
—Femi Okurounmu
ou have always described the late Sir Olaniwun Ajayi as your leader, how would you describe his death? Of course, when one learns of anyone’s death, one would be shocked and feel a sense of loss. But then, one would realise that sooner or later, all of us will have to also tread the same path. Besides, one cannot say Sir Olaniwun died at a young age. I was at his 90th birthday celebration and I consider myself lucky to have celebrated that day with him. He was a man who had` a deep sense of history, especially Yoruba history, and I will miss that about him.
26 November, 2016
is to rule, dominate and Islamise Nigeria. The only people who have always resisted them are the Yoruba. The SouthSouth and the Igbo are not a threat to them. The problem of Nigeria has always been the Yoruba versus the Fulani. And [Chief Anthony] Enahoro once warned that the day the Yoruba give up the fight, Nigeria will be finished. Would you subscribe to the notion that the South-West erred in supporting Buhari in the last presidential election? Before you leave, I will show you the series of advertisements that I placed in the national dailies then that Yoruba must not vote for President Buhari. I am not one of those people who would hide their feelings or deny something they knew they once said. If they want to kill me, I will still stick to my guns and stand on what I believe in. I said it openly, why the Yoruba should not vote for Buhari. Yoruba people should learn from history, which was how
But if he is ready to implement the resolution of that conference, it will take our country to where we want it to be. It will solve a lot of problems that Nigeria is facing today. It will solve the problem of marginalisation because each of the states will become more autonomous and run its own affairs.
What is your take on the recession that the country is currently grappling with? We will not get out of this financial mess if we have people like Buhari there leading us. We will move from recession to depression. Would you attribute this situation to the president’s inability to implement the report of the 2014 national conference? It is not that alone. Generally, the president has no clue about how to run a government. He does not have a clue on how to run a good economy, how to get people jobs. Because of poor electricity supply, factories are closing down. He has no ideas on how to get our factories working and manufacturing. Most people would say that the national conference was a waste of tax payers’ money as it was just a move by former President Goodluck Jonathan to get support from the South West, since the call for the confab had been the yearning of the geopolitical zone… It only becomes a waste of money and time if the president fails to implement the recommendations. Of course, if President Buhari throws the confab report and recommendations to the archives — which is what he said he has done — then it would have been a waste of money and the president will bear the responsibility of that waste of money, and time. But if he is ready to implement the resolution of that conference, it will take our country to where we want it to be. It will solve a lot of problems that Nigeria is facing today. It will solve the problem of marginalisation because each of the states will become more autonomous and run its own affairs. That is why there is unrest in the Niger Delta. Their case can be likened to the proverb, ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’. Oil belongs to the South-South but if you look at those who have been allocated oil blocks by the government, 90 per cent of them are northerners. And when you have an oil block, you are a billionaire in your own right. There are so many of them that were given what belongs to the people of the Niger Delta. Do you now expect the people (Niger Deltans) to fold their arms and say ‘yes, we are being treated fairly’? How do you think the political tension in Ondo State will affect the outcome of Saturday’s [today’s] election? The people of Ondo State should go out and vote for the candidate of their choice. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a state of confusion as regards its candidate which is, of course, a well calculated plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over the state by hook or by crook.
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26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
NOWA decries violence against Women Anthony Ubong - Calabar
Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment & Physical Planning, Engr. Ashiru Oyekan; Chairman, Anchoria Investment and Securities Limited, Dr. Olusola Dada; Patron, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole; President, Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, Alhaji Shafari Aremu Sule and Publisher, Oriwu Newspapers, Alhaji Monsuru Olowosago during a state reception in honour of the late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi by the Lagos State Government at the Lagos House, Ikeja, recently.
Amnesty International Report: S/East Senate caucus demands probe over killing of IPOB members By Taiwo Adisa
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HE South East caucus in the Senate has said that the Federal Government should immediately constitute a judicial
panel to probe the report of the Amnesty International, which indicated that no fewer than 150 innocent and defenceless members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), have been killed by security opera-
tives. A statement by the chairman, South East Senate caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, indicated that the report by the Amnesty International, which painted a very chilling picture of the
NDLEA secures conviction of 299 suspects, recovers 37, 651 kg hard drugs in Kano Kola Oyelere-Kano
THE National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State command, said it has secured conviction of 299 suspects, both male and female suspects and recovered 37.852kg of hard drugs from suspects between January and November, 2016. The command further disclosed that three young men were recently arrested on their way to Malaysia with 56.6 kg of methamphetamine, carefully concealed inside cartoons. Disclosing this at a press conference, on Friday, the Kano NDLEA commander, Alhaji Hamza Umar, said the command, as a result of the arrest deemed it necessary to inform the public of its activities within the period, including arrests, seizures, prosecution, counseling and rehabilitation. According to him, the arrested three young men confessed that the substances recovered were for export to Malaysia, via the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
Giving a breakdown of the arrests and seized dangerous drugs, Alhaji Umar said the total number of suspects arrested were 761, including 755 males and six females, adding that the seized hard drugs weighed 37.851kg (cannabis sativa, 2,822.913kg; psychotropic substance, 34,971.418kg; cocaine, 118.1grms; heroine, 7grms and ephedrine, 24.8kg). He further disclosed that the total number of drug users counseled were 542, including 534 males and eight females.
“It is important to note that NDLEA had discovered about seven clandestine laboratories in Lagos and the Eastern part of the country, where these substances are produced and arrests were made, including foreign nationals. “It is pertinent to note that where these substances cannot leave this country, they would be consumed here. We thank God, they (the drug suspects) were apprehended and are currently under investigations, including their sources and sponsors”, he said.
killing of peaceful protesters allegedly by the Nigerian Army, is not only embarassing, but one that cast doubts on the operational modus of the military in handling civil protest in a constitutional democracy “It is not enough for the military to debunk the report, we, as a caucus, demand an independent inquiry in the mould of a judicial panel and urgently, too. “It is our candid view that such panel would reassure the Igbo that the Federal Government is alive to its responsibilities one of which is the protection and respect of the fundamental rights of all people irrespective of tribe or religion. “Unraveling the authenticity of the report would help to prevent a re-occurence, just as it will engender unity in our country. But the most important to us now is that the report must be probed and those implicated must be made to face justice.”
FG warns MDAs against rejecting corps members THE Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) not to reject corps members posted to them by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). A statement signed by Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, the NYSC Director of Press, said Mr Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), gave the directive in a circular sent to MDAs. Aderibigbe said the circular, with reference number SGF.15/T/745, criticised the
growing incidence of rejection of corps members posted to government establishments. The circular reads in part: “To put an end to this undesirable development, it has become necessary to reiterate that the directive that MDAs should not reject youth corps members posted to them for their primary assignment is still in force. “Engr. Lawal said government’s directive was imperative in order to maintain the objective of the NYSC scheme which includes involvement
of Nigerian graduates of specific age category in national development and integration,’’ Aderibigbe said. She said that government establishments were also directed to ensure that corps members were actively engaged during their primary assignment. Aderibigbe said that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the NYSC, was expected to monitor the level of compliance of MDAs and give periodic reports to the government.
WIFE of the Chief of Naval Staff and President of Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA), Theresa Ibok-Ette Ibas has decried the escalating rate of violence against women in the country. The NOWA President stated this on Friday during the commissioning of NOWA Secretariat named ‘’ Theresa Ibas Centre’’, constructed by the Flag Officer Commanding(FOC) the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole. Mrs Ibas, however, called on women to always report cases of violence against them to appropriate authorities. She said, ‘’ Women should always come out to report cases of domestic violence against them. They should not keep it secret so that the issues should be addressed and people found guilty will be punished and so that others will learn.” Earlier, Mrs Ibas commended the FOC for constructing a befitting secretariat for NOWA, stressing that it would provide a functional base for NOWA activities such as seminars, skills acquisition, Teaching and human capacity development in the naval command. She further applauded the FOC and his team for the landmark achievement and hoped that it would be replicated in other commands in the zone. “Wife of the Flag officer commanding the Eastern Naval Command had earlier brought the idea of NOWA having a secretariat and it was a good idea. Today the secretariat had been completed and I must say it is a landmark achievement which would contribute in no small measure in boosting the activities of NOWA”, she added. Also speaking, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole said the secretariat was constructed in fulfillment of his earlier promise of NOWA with an operational base. The FOC said the gesture was also in recognition of the pivotal role women played in the development of the society. He added: “Without men we can’t be where we are today because while we are away working they are there to take care of the home front. I have done this to honor the Chief of Naval Staff and the women and I hope it would be put into good use.”
Scholarship: Bayelsa gov pays backlog of students’ fees abroad Clement Idoko - Abuja
THE Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson has approved the sum of £300,000 and $450,000 for payment of tuition fees for students of the state on scholarship abroad. The State Commissioner for Education, Deacon Markson Fefegha, who made this known on Friday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen, explained that the fund was to offset outstanding fees for Bayelsa students studying in various institutions overseas. He noted that Governor Dickson was committed to lifting the education sector in the State as well as providing adequate support for students from the studying abroad on scholarship. Fefegha, who gave breakdown of the payment, disclosed that the release of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds was made to offset tuition and other fees of Bayelsa students studying for their PhD degrees in the United Kingdom. He also revealed that the sum of $150,000 was also approved for Bayelsa students studying at the Lincoln University in the United States, as well as the payment of forty thousand dollars to some Bayelsa students studying in Ghana. According to him, Governor Dickson had earlier approved the sum of $42,000 to students in Kursk, Russia a month ago. The state government also used the opportunity to thank all beneficiaries, their parents and guardians for their understanding and appreciation of the plight of the government during the period of the delay in the payment.
ACGS class of ’83 reunion
THE organising committee of Aisegba Community Grammar School class of 1983 invites members to a Reunion gettogether which is scheduled to hold on Friday, the 16th of December 2016. Members will also pay a visit to the Alma mater on Saturday, the 17th of December 2016. All Members are encouraged to attend both events.
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26 November, 2016
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With Kate Ani 08071080888
anikate92@yahoo.com
How would you handle a boss making passes or sleeping with your wife? KATE ANI asked some Nigerian men what their reactions would be if they found out that their boss is making passes or sleeping with their wives. Below are their responses: Deji Fayemi Well, if discovered that my boss at work is sleeping with my wife, instead of confronting my boss, I will confront her and demand for explanations and if her response is genuine; let’s say if she slept with him to solve some family’s financial problems, I will forgive her. As for my boss, I will also forgive him, but he would lose all respects I have for him. And as a way of retaliation, I will do my findings to know if his wife looks desirable. If she appeals to my fancy, I will make it my life mission to lure and eat her ‘yam’ too! Two ma ge four nii!
Henry
Henry Mba Well, it is not an official matter so reporting my boss to the appropriate quarters is just a waste of time and a thing of embarrassment even to me. Even if I have the effrontery to confront my boss, I will not because there are some bosses that one may not have the audacity to confront. The simple truth is that if I get to know that he is making passes at my wife, since he hasn’t gone all the way further in sleeping with her, I would caution my wife.
Kunle
Tito Hakeem Over-reacting or embarrassing my boss in the office will not solve the problem. I will only make him realise that his monkey activities are well known to me. In a situation like that, if my boss becomes aware that I know his antics, with time, he would be embarrassed and desist from such. Bayo Banjo I will let go of two of them; I will sack myself at the office and will equally sack my woman at home. When one door closes, another would open because, if I should continue with the job, my boss could get me killed so as to pave the way for frolicking with my wife the more. In the Bible, If Uriah knew that King David was after his wife, he wouldn’t have accepted the promotion of him being his commandant. David killed him and took his wife. So, it is best to let go of two of them and be at peace with myself. Wale Sodipo First, I will confront my wife and ask her what led to that arrangement because if I confront my boss, I may lose my job, which is my only source of livelihood. It’s not only my wife that depends on me for living but also family members and, of course, my children. If her reasons are not convincing enough, I would divorce her. That means
Lanre she doesn’t love, nor has any respect for me. I would rather prefer to lose my wife than to lose my job. Lanre Idowu I will confront my boss! Gone are the days when your boss or someone in high authority can intimidate you and get away with it just because you are afraid of getting sacked. With this age of social media where any little story will become major and go viral, armed with enough evidence, while confronting him, I will make sure I record our conversation and then upload it on the social media. He will be ridiculed or even be sacked, if the owners of the company can’t grapple with the scandal. Hopefully, I will
Banjo get to keep my job, since it is an injustice to me. Qudus Ibrahim I only have control over my wife, not over my boss. I will face my wife and discipline her. If she had behaved properly, the situation would not have happened; after all, he didn’t rape or force himself on her. I won’t fight with my boss, I will continue with my work as if nothing ever happened. Bosun Lawal If I beat up my boss and, in the process, lose my job, I will become jobless and the man will, at the end of the day, take advantage of my not providing for the family to
Qudus inherit my wife totally. So, what I will do is that I will send her packing, alongside with her children. Kunle Taiwo If the case is that my boss was making passes at her, descending on my boss is like killing a mosquito with a sledge hammer. I will caution my wife and make sure I monitor her activities.
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A preface to Tony Anenih’s life and politics… By Sufuyan Ojeifo
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tarting from 12.30 pm today (Saturday, November 26, 2016), in the African Hall of the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, the autobiography of the acclaimed political godfather, Chief Anthony Akhakon Anenih, simply titled: “My Life and Nigerian Politics”, will be presented to the public on an occasion that has been deliberately organised to reflect the mood of the times. However, regardless of this deliberateness, the caliber of guests that have been carefully invited has, undoubtedly, elevated the essence of the event: to celebrate the life and times of the political icon; and, perhaps, his expected withdrawal from active partisan politics. Therefore, while the Planning Committee of the event may have succeeded in solemnising its atmospherics and nuances, the gravitas associated with the personas of some distinguished Nigerians who would be present at the event may have, to some extent, spun it out of control in terms of the intended air of sobriety, which the celebrant desires. And, this should be understandable when one considers the compact, yet impressive list of invitees. Nevertheless, the event would not come near his 80th birthday, held three years ago, at the same venue, with pomp and ceremony, yes, with grandeur. But, I sincerely doubt if anybody can do much about discounting, on occasions such as this one, the presence of the likes of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, who would chair the ceremony; former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who is a special guest; former defence minister and foremost philanthropist, Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, who is the Chief Presenter of the book; the president of Dangote group and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga; and former vice president, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, among others, who are special guests. Only their presence would serve to electrify any gathering. That is the truth. Nothing can also diminish the status of Anenih who is the central focus of the event, not even the planned low-key nature of it. The fact that he has decided to put, in the public
domain, pieces of information about his participation in politics and government, which he has documented for posterity, helps to accentuate his relevance and the seriousness of the event. He created for himself a reputation as a taciturn politician, a man of few words but remarkable actions and practicability, such that he came to be widely regarded as “Mr. Fix It”. It is therefore expected that watchers of the political scene should enthusiastically relate with his opening up on events and developments that have shaped his individuality in the last thirty eight years in order, perhaps, to fill in some gaps, confirm what they have already known or get introduced to new facts. By opening up at this time, as a godfather of sorts, since
political friends and foes are wont to refer to him as such, Anenih has purportedly broken his own silence code. That he has resorted to documenting the story of his participation in government and party administration is evidence of this. He has been very reserved, neither granting press interviews, nor taking to the public space to ventilate his positions. But, then, Anenih, political strategist and tactician, is just a good father (read godfather) of political interactions, whose passion is to reward loyalty and spurn disloyalty; and this he has done creditably. Therefore, Anenih’s autobiography, from the snippets ferreted, thus far, from it, is unapologetically and truthfully presented in a lucid prose to sustain attention of readers who are desirous to catch up with some new information concerning the intrigues that underpinned, for instance, the June 12, 1993 presidential election debacle. He was the national chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) on which platform, the late business mogul and presidential candidate of the party, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, won the June 12 presidential poll. He is, at all material times, well placed to talk about what happened: how Abiola, won the election; how the announcement of the results of the poll was halted midway and the unofficial final result which saw Abiola win the election was annulled by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida; and how General Sani Abacha (now late), who was Defence Secretary in the Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, sacked Shonekan purportedly on the prompting of Abiola and appropriated power rather than relinquish it to Abiola. How and why did Abacha get to sack Shonekan? What role did Abiola play in the overthrow? There are so many other questions, which, as learnt, are answered in the book. There are also many other issues that the narrative, which traverses the entirety of Anenih’s life and times, deals with. Members of the public, especially the politically-oriented, should consider reading the rich account of the life and politics of a man of few words through his singular book. Mr Ojeifo, Editor-in-Chief of The Congresswatch magazine, sent this piece via ojwonderngr@ yahoo.com
The South West and politics of development By Dr Tunji Olaopa The recent gathering of the Southwest governors of Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Osun states in the Oyo state capital for a crucial meeting on the economic development of the South West, seems to signal a new dawn of progressive reflection on the economic development of this region. Initiated at the instance of the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, it was stated categorically that if this meeting had anything to do with politics at all then it is certainly to outline a viable political dynamics of development that will empower the life of an average south western citizens in any of the six states. This is a significant move, and we should not in any way undermine the optimism that such a gathering generates. I am a reformer, and so I have never been one to shy away from optimism. Optimism, for me, is the very first condition for the possibility of progress. This is because, to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, the dream of the future is always better than the history of the past. The future enables us to put the ambivalent achievements and failures of the past into proper perspective in order to craft a better blueprint for tackling the remaining challenges to our well-being. So, why not be optimistic? And within the context of South Western Nigeria, there is even a better reason for optimism. Just some few days ago, I published some commentaries on the precarious status of the Yorùbá in Nigeria. Essentially, I called out the Yorùbá leadership and elite around a regional agenda that will serve as the arrowhead for a solid development blueprint in the South West. In those commentaries, I argued that the South West is most suitably endowed to initiate and develop a regional agenda that would constitute the basis for laying a solid foundation for rethinking federalism in Nigeria. The challenge, however, is for the Yorùbá leadership to break down party differences and coalesce around some tangible agenda for development, anchored around the Odua Investment Company and the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). And here we are — the south west governors are taking the most fundamental step in jumpstarting this very agenda. The politics of development requires a joint action coalition at two levels — the administrative and the local development levels.
Both would be needed to facilitate a deeply entrenched and sustainable development. Whether we like it or not, the politics of development is essentially political. It requires the deployment of political influence, political will and resources for policy implementation. But this politics of development requires, in the first instance, the recognition of the need to translate the existing political differences into a platform for strength. Geographical contiguity already gives us an advantage that is accentuated by immense mineral and human capital, and an agricultural and industrial potential unequal anywhere else in Nigeria. In this commentary, I will outline briefly what I consider to be the high points of any regional agenda for the South West which could be the focal points of all the high-level meetings that would be facilitated by this significant coming together of the south west governors. I will begin with the traditional institutions and the imperative of local governance and development. There is no doubt that there is a significant level of social illwill against the functional relevance of traditional structures, like the role of traditional rulers, in Nigeria. For one, these structures have been so politicised, and hence corrupted, that their traditional preeminence and authority have been eroded. But this is not an argument that nullifies what the traditional authority can still be made to achieve, especially within the context of the South West Yorùbá societies where tradition and traditional structures of governance are still formidable. The imperative of local governance therefore demands that these structures of local governance be called out for the overarching task of democratic governance in the South West. Development anywhere, for it to have any significant meaning, must first be deployed within a grassroots context where the people are. For Paul Wellstone, “There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change…: good public policy, grassroots organising and electoral politics.” He made this statement with regard to America; it is more relevant to developing states of the third world, and even more so for the south western states in Nigeria. There is no doubt in my mind that the future of the South West lies in the positive developmental combustion of the grassroots. The grassroots development of the South West, as far as I can determine it, will rest on the stabilizing tripod
of agricultural development, land reform and traditional policing. First, development becomes a futile endeavour where the society is chaotic and security is not assured. Development therefore requires policing, and this security framework must be outlined and implemented within the context of the cultural dynamics of the South West. Policing is a community affair. And a community benefits from the cultural dynamics which facilitates the governance and progress of the community itself. This is one solid reason why local policing must be one of the planks in the regional agenda for the South West. As policing touches on constitutional and legality, innovation around existing local contraptions like the Vigilante et al might be worth exploring in the short-term. Agricultural development is the soundest counterpoint to the dominance of oil in the Nigerian economy. And the South West is the most major centre for agriculture in Nigeria. Nigeria’s oil economy has impacted negatively on Nigeria’s productivity profile. This is because it engenders what has been called “negative production”—a weak productive capacity that ensures that, in order to feeds its growing consumptive pattern, a state must import what it possesses the capacity to produce. Internal production is then incapacitated by the growing level of importation and the enormous amount of money that goes into its facilitation. In the South West, agriculture and agro-allied industries ought to become the centerpiece of grassroots development. Indeed, agricultural development constitutes the most fundamental element in any concerted effort to answer the social question. The social question is the question of how to alleviate poverty and raise the living standard of the people. Agriculture is a primary industry in this regard. This implies that, apart from its own specific development dynamics, it has the capacity to generate infrastructural boon bothering on healthcare, road networks and electricity. While the South West has the second lowest incidence of poverty in a 2012 statistics (37.9 per cent), this cannot be seen as a reason to rejoice. This is because the South West is endowed with an enormous expanse of arable lands that lie critically underutilised.
Olaopa is Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP).
37 sport
26 November, 2016
Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State chapter, Mr Niyi Alebiosu (right), presenting a plaque to Dr Gbade Ojo, the Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi during his investiture as SWAN patron. With them are the vicepresident, South-West SWAN, Mr Boye Ajayi (left) and Mr David Oyewole, during the event.
Sports promotes international peace —Ojo By Niyi Alebiosu
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r Gbade Ojo, the Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described sports as a tool for the promotion of international peace and physical well-being of the people, just as he pledged support for the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State chapter in its quest to achieve greatness. He made the remarks on Thursday in Ibadan, when he was decorated as the Patron of SWAN, Oyo State chapter in his office. “When you see national teams play, either at the AFCON or World Cup, the trophies at stake are to promote peace. “Wherever you witness sports activities, there are diverse spectators on the basis of towns, state, countries and even skin texture, who forget their problems and hatred. “Even at homes, people forget their problems when they are glued to their television sets offering special prayers for participants,” he said. Ojo stated that sports sector has become big business across the globe, saying that sports in Nigeria was still at the pedestrian level. In his remarks, Mr Niyi Alebiosu, the Chairman, Oyo SWAN stated that the association had carefully picked Ojo as the patron, having considered his usual support and numerous contributions to humanity and sports development in the state. Alebiosu said that the new leadership of SWAN,
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Kufre Udoetuk Udoetuk now MRS WILLIAMS KUFRE OKON. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public to take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly Samuel Adebukola Omotayo now AINA ADEBUKOLA OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.
both in the state and country have developed laudable programmes to move sports to greater heights. He said that sports in Oyo state needs to be improved upon and as such the asso-
ciation would not relent in its efforts at reviving it, hence; its proposed sports summit scheduled to hold next Wednesday at the Wallan Hall of the D’Rovans Hotel, Ibadan.
Saturday Tribune
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sport
26 November, 2016
Saturday Tribune
Rooney deserves respect —Ibrahimovic
Mikel being challenged by an opponent.
Shanghai offers Mikel mega deal
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uper Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has been offered an incredible $212,000-a-week deal by Chinese club, Shanghai SIPG. According to OwnGoalNigeria, the offer was made to the midfielder’s agent, after Nigeria’s 3-1 win over
Algeria in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, where he scored the second goal. Mikel is yet to play a single minute under new Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte and has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in January. Shanghai SIPG is rated
I’m not the lord of Barca —Messi Lionel Messi has denied that Barcelona’s fate is determined by his presence in the team. The Argentina forward scored both goals in Barca’s 2-0 Champions League win at Celtic on Wednesday, days after they had been held to a goalless draw at home to Malaga in Messi’s absence. Yet the weekend stalemate and Messi’s brilliant double on Wednesday, which took his Champions League total to 92 goals, including nine in this sea-
Messi
son’s group stages alone, reignited the debate about his role in the team. “It’s not like that,” he said at an Adidas event in Barcelona. “I’m in the best club in the world, it doesn’t depend on one player. We have a great team and I don’t think about that.” In Messi’s eyes, tactical discipline and team structure are more important than individual talent. “Everything starts with order,” the 29-year-old said. “In today’s football more than ever. You need a team that is organised, that knows how it has to move on the pitch. Order is the most important thing.” Messi’s double strike helped Barca reach the Champions League’s last 16 as Group C winners and allowed them to refocus on domestic duties, starting with a fixture against in form Real Sociedad on Sunday. They then host Real Madrid in this season’s first ‘El Clasico’ on December 3. Sociedad have won four games in a row and are fifth in the table while Barca are second and four points adrift of Real Madrid.
third in terms of wealth and revenue in the Chinese league and the club is currently managed by former Chelsea coach, Andre Villas-Boas.
Mikel last season rejected a move to another Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua, where former Nigeria striker, Obafemi Martins currently plays.
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has leapt to the defence of club mate, Wayne Rooney, saying the Manchester United captain is a “perfect” player who does not get enough respect in England. Rooney has been under the spotlight since apologising after being pictured last week socialising late at night while he was on international duty as England captain. “I think when you’re a person like that, when you’re famous like that, people are interested, they want to know everything. I don’t know what has happened,” Ibrahimovic told British media. “I didn’t even ask him because it’s not important for me and I’m 100 per cent sure the media doesn’t know what really happened. I think we should appreciate him for the player he is, what he did. “I don’t see many players from England who have had the same career as him. I feel a little bit sorry of the
situation because we should show more respect for him.” Rooney put in an inspired performance in Thursday’s 4-0 Europa League victory over Feyenoord, scoring United’s first-half opener from an Ibrahimovic through ball to become the club’s alltime leading scorer in Europe with 39. The goal also put him just one behind Bobby Charlton’s overall club record of 249. “As a person he’s fantastic, I have the luck to get to know the person. As a player, there are no words to not say about him – he’s the perfect player,” Ibrahimovic added.
LOSS OF CERTIFICATE
The Acknowledgement Letter, Payment Receipts, Re-Certification Letter and all documents relating to G. C ONWUDE, File Number 10387, Plot located at Asokoro Extension 4, Abuja, are missing. 08028602878
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ons come late 1990s, when the sisters wore enus and Serena some more champi colorful beads in their hair. Williams made a from these courts.” year 84an f, “At that time, black people, we Thelma LeBeau rare visit to their Angeles, weren’t into tennis,” LeBeauf told childhood home- old fan from Los her plastic bag filled with The Mail, who attended with town, where their half- clutched a “I’ve ter. ugh dda sisgran the and r ut abo ghte dau cles arti sister was killed in 2003, newspaper clipped and saved learned from watching them. I like to have tennis courts dedi- ters she has .” over the years. She pulled out the style they play cated in their honour . the from to pho a The sisters wer e gre eted by che ers from a few hun dre d peo ple whe n the y arri ved at Lue dring their Smalling in their smartphones du ers Par k, not far from Injured defender Chris out the ncee day out as they checked the ir form er hom e in the hit the Manchester shops with fia of the d ea recov- city centre’s shops ah city viol enc e-p lagu ed oke as he continues his Co m Sa busy festive period. of Com pto n loca ted 17 ery from a broken toe. d a green n ntow the dow of for th Smalling, who combine t sou mil es ing, who will be absen all d black an Sm ns jea rk Los Angeles. y not play jumper with da ma d an – s ek we r fou m figure as he “We literally lived right next was pictured trainers, cut a glu – as tm ris Ch e for be recovery. down the street so we again continued his road to y’s centre. cit the d un aro g us lin Ven bb left embarho could walk there,” Jose Mourinho was his model partner, by d nie pa com d. Ac crow told the decision to question ited centre back rassed by his “We are really excited the Manchester Un after the des in Selfridges Smalling’s fitness to be here,” Serena said. spent over three hour for at least a ou fender was ruled t t . ugh bro ols ch here Ni y g rve ivin “Dr and Ha re interested month. told back so many memories. Mourinho The couple seemed mo see to t ited wan ly Un We definite MUTV after y Cit sea beat Swan the t tha this month lfriend Pilar Rubio England star ‘doesn’t gir his d an s mo Ra Sergio iternational break by vis feel that he can play made the most of the int r cent without t. las ing London since 100 pe ip sh on ati rel a in en The pair, who have be e- pain’. to document their exp However, it later 2012, took to Instagram rience. se emerged after further perfect weekend becau e Th . g.. lin cal on nd ‘Lo d a tests that Smalling s wrote as they share of you, my love,’ Ramo has broken a toe so . kiss on Carnaby Street pre n sio evi badly in two places orter and tel Rubio, a Spanish rep n: tio cap the th wi n that he will be abher ow senter, shared a snap of get ’t sent for the next four cial. With you, it can ‘London is always spe weeks. any better.’ en, Sergio (two), and ldr chi two ve ha ple The cou first birthday recently. Marco, who celebrated his
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Williams sisters back to roots
Smalling, fiancee shop in Manchester
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Smalling (left) and Cooke
Ibe wears new look t by Stree o on her phot Thepair pairshare shared kissasasthey theypose posed foranot another photo onCarna Carnaby Street d for d aakiss The
Bournemouth star Jordon Ibe has ensured he’ll look the part by getting a fresh trim. Ibe, the former Liverpool winger, sporting a new hairstyle after ditching his short afro and opting for curly locks, which he coloured. In a video posted on Instagram by personal barber Nenenikita, the
Saturday Tribune
England Under 21 international can be seen changing his look. The video shows the process of Ibe’s transformation as he swapped his messy afro for a fresher look. At the end of the clip, Ibe appears delighted with his new hairstyle, which was dyed light brown and curled using hair product.
Ibe
We will fight Falcons with our best —Kenya coach By Ganiyu Salman NO 1,179
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SATURDAY, 26 NOVEMBER, 2016
NIGERIA’S Super Falcons should not expect an easy game when they file out today against Kenya at the ongoing 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Limbe, Cameroon, as the coach of the Harambee Starlets, David Ouma, says his players are bent on making a statement. The match holds simultaneously with the other group B game between the Black Queens of Ghana and the Malian Ladies in Yaounde. Nigeria top the group with four points and plus six goals advantage ahead of their West African rivals, Ghana, also with four points and two goals advantage. However, Ouma insists that the Starlets will play
Moses wanted by Barca
Roberto as right back. Youngster Marlon was included in their squad instead of Vidal for the Champions League victory at Celtic in midweek, with the Chilean set to depart in January. Moses has emerged as the surprise option for Barcelona but the club will find an unwilling negotiator in Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte who is a big fan of Moses. Conte is desperate to keep the in-form ace in his first eleven as the west London outfit close in on the title. But a switch in the summer could be on the cards. And what a turnaround that would be for Moses – a man so often forgotten around Stamford Bridge since his arrival in 2012. His team-mate Branislav Ivanovic has also been watched by Barca, although he would be seen as a more short-term option.
By Oluwabunmi Ajayi
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FIXTURES
Moses
PANISH giants, FC Barcelona are plotting a January move for Nigeria’s Victor Moses to resolve a problematic right wingback role. A report in Spanish publication, Sport, claimed Barcelona have watched Moses on three occasions and are convinced he is the player they need. After spells on loan at Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham, the 25-year-old has finally established himself in the Blues line-up this season. Playing at right wing-back, the ex-Crystal Palace youngster has excelled and become a firm fixture in the starting XI for the Premier League leaders. And his performances have not gone unnoticed. Barca have taken a fancy to the rejuvenated star and are Burnley exploring a number of options Hull City due to Aleix Vidal’s struggle to Leicester adapt to life at the Nou Camp Liverpool – forcing them to use Sergi
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for pride despite losing their first two games 1-3 to Ghana and Mali respectively to crash out of the competition. “We are the first casualty and have not met our target in our maiden appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. “Our aim is to take the most from every game. We still have a game against Nigeria and there is nothing like resting key players. “The players who are fit will play against Nigeria. We have to throw in what we have in the last game,” Ouma told cafonline.com.
Trainer reveals secret behind Anichebe’s top form
VICTOR Anichebe’s recent form with Sunderland is no fluke, according to his personal trainer, Nicky Holender. Anichebe scored two late goals in Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Hull last weekend to take his tally to three in two games. ‘Those goals, that was exactly what we’d worked on all summer,” Holender, a former footballer, model, singer and actor, tells Sportsmail. ‘I had a plan where I’d put him through hell for 20 minutes. I annihilated him. Then we’d start working on finishing, one-on-ones, explosive bursts so that his body would get used to doing that when tired. Doing it 20 times over. “When Victor gets tired and he’s carrying that weight, his body gets into a situation where it can’t cope — that’s when you break down.”
Anichebe
Chelsea V Tottenham 1:30pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm
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6.30 pm
Watford V Stoke City 1.00pm Arsenal V Bournemouth 3:15pm Man U V West Ham United 5:30pm Southampton V Everton 5:30pm
Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 26/11/2016.