27th August 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 1,166

SATURDAY, 27 AUGUST, 2016

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Ondo APC crisis: Akeredolu warns APC pg9 leaders pg9 100 houses sealed off in Ibadan over land dispute pg7

Zamfara killings:

Burnt victims were looters —Police

Forex crisis:

Prices of drugs skyrocket pg4

Millions of sick Nigerians in danger

Our members dying daily —Pensioners Naira falls to 412/$ It was tough making Nigeria’s Ebola story into film

pg3

—Bolanle Austen-Peters, movie producer

Weekend Lagos A story of sex and scam

Lagos sugar mummies’ ‘lucrative’ offers From right, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the new president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), at the swearing-in of Mahmoud, in Port Harcourt, on Friday.

Waste disposal trucks turn health menace PDP crisis: We are ready to fight Fayose, Wike —Babatopepg9 on Lagos roads My relationship with Osun Obas, Omisore —Oyinlola pgs19&22 pg5

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Bolanle Austen-Peters is the founder of Terra Kulture and Bolanle AustenPeters Production, two outfits that have consistently promoted Nigerian arts and culture for over 13 years. Bolanle is also a UK trained lawyer and an alumnus of the University of Lagos. She is also responsible for great theatre musicals such as Carol-the Musicals, Wakaa – the musicals and a host of others. Recently Mrs. Austen-Peters co-produced a movie titled 93Days, a true-life account of what happened in the First Consultant Hospital Obalende and Lagos during the Ebola Virus crisis. NEWTON-RAY UKWUOMA had a chat with her during the week and brings the excerpts.

OU are hardly known as the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). [Cuts in] Well, because I am married. If I was single you would have known by my surname. But there is really no basis to talk about that. Though you are a trained lawyer, you also are the founder of Terra Kulture, a theatre art company. You once told a reporter that it was to celebrate the Nigerian culture and to tell the best stories. Beyond that, what did you see ahead of you? I had seen Fela on Broadway, the musical. And I was challenged by it. This was a Nigerian story being done by foreigners and sold back to us. That challenged me. I said to myself, ‘If there is anything we can do best, we can dance, we can sing’. The content of the musical was also Nigeria. That was how I started. In addition, I realised that we have very few entertainment that caters for families. We had music for 18-year-olds to 38 years; we had jazz night; but very little events for families to be entertained. Then I realised that theatre was the missing link in Nigeria. That was why I incorporated theatre. And having run theatre for over seven years, we decided to revamp the whole theatre space and make it more relevant to present day pop culture. We realised that music was the missing link apart from technology. And then musical was added. This should be the natural thinking process of someone who read Theatre Arts, not Law at university. How did you close the gap? Honestly I have no idea. I think the fact that I had Terra Kulture, which was promoting visual art at the time made it easy to think ahead. We have an auction house, a 2KMG Auction House. We have a book store, where we promote Nigerian literature; a restaurant, where we serve all Nigerian cuisines. Having had all of these forms of art in place, the next phase was obviously theatre. And we started very tentatively. There was no grand plan. If you are serious about any business you want to make it better and bigger. We saw that there was a gap. We also saw that theatre attendance was waning, people weren’t coming. I felt that there was something missing in our performances. That was why we added the musicals. And since we revamped it and changed the look and feel, we have seen that clearly that we were probably not producing what people wanted to see before that time.

g n i t t u p h g u o t s a w It Nigeria’s Ebola story intoetferis,lm movie producer

Clearly I am still trying to understand how and where the love for theatre and art came into the law profession; was it from dad or mum? No. I worked with the United Nations in different parts of the world-Geneva, Namibia, Ethiopia and various places. I got back to Nigeria because I was married and wanted to relocate. I studied International Law in the university. My type of Law was not relevant here. So I told myself that I wanted to do something I liked and enjoyed. Literature, music, history were the things I really liked. They were probably innate to me. So I started Terra (Kulture). It grew gradually. It is an art environment. When you open your mind you realise that you have a lot more embedded in you that you didn’t realise. Because I had given myself the opportunity and freedom to express myself, I began to come up with the crazy ideas. I guess it was always there [my love for the art]. I am sure there are a lot of closet artist(e)s in banks, hospitals and all the different sectors. Most of the people that come near me are engineers, doctors, whose first love is art; be it theatre, performances or singing. But because these profession were more lucrative than the theatre art, they had to study them.

—Bolanle Austen-P

Until recently in Nigeria, art in general was not considered a lucrative. And with the dearth of schools for artistry and other opportunities to grow creative artist(e)s, what would you have to say about the future of budding creative artist(e)s? The truth is I don’t think there is much we can do for now. As long as the industry cannot sustain people’s lifestyle, not many people would encourage their children to go into them. However, if those of us that have been able to brave it are able to change the landscape and make

sure that the industry becomes much more viable, it will impact on the future generation. For instance, people were not making money from music ten years ago. Look at what it is today. Actors, six years or so ago, were not better paid. Things have changed. Just imagine what will happen in the next 10 years with theatre. Things are going to change. It is just that the present media people would have to bear the brunt of getting the industry moving. I believe that once it starts, it will be very difficult for us to slow down. Continues on pg26

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27 Aguust, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Forex crisis: Prices of life-saving drugs skyrocket

•Millions of sick Nigerians in danger •Our members dying —Pensioners •Diabetics demand subsidy on imported drugs •Naira falls to 412/dollar Taiwo Adisa - Abuja, Biola Azeez - Ilorin, Newton-Ray Ukwuoma and Ademola Adeleke

ith the nation’s worsening foreign exchange crisis, prices of life-saving drugs have skyrocketed in recent days, investigations have revealed. Indeed, essential multinational drugs have mostly vanished from the stores. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), in a communiqué released by its National President, Ahmed I. Yakasai and the National Secretary, Gbolagade Iyiola, after its recent National Council meeting in Kano, warned of the dangers of scarcity of life-saving drugs in the country as a result of the forex crisis. It was discovered that hypertensive and diabetic patients are most hit by the development in the health sector with reports of daily casualties. The National President of Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Dr Mohammed Alkali, on Friday confirmed the situation and called for subsidy for imported diabetes drugs. Alkali, who spoke to Saturday Tribune over the phone, said that the hike in the price of diabetes drugs due to the dollar-naira exchange rate has become “unbearable” for patients, who depend on the drugs for sustenance. Affirming that most of the drugs used by diabetic patients are sourced from other countries, he urged the Federal Government to consider introducing palliative measures in order to ameliorate the effects on patients, including the local production of pharmaceutical drugs. He said, “Most of the diabetes drugs are imported. The current foreign exchange situation in the country has affected almost all the drugs. This is one of the reasons we are pushing that local production should be considered because as long as the drugs are going to be imported, the price of these drugs will continue to go up and the effects on diabetic patients will be unbearable. “The association will continue to advocate lower profit on imported drugs so that patients can buy them. But there is a limit to which these prices can go down especially due to the forex situation. Our constraint now is sustaining the minimum price of the drugs.

“There is no official subsidy on diabetes drugs. We are advocating that the government to consider subsidizing diabetes drugs and encourage local production of drugs”. The association had also, a few days ago, disclosed that a disturbing 1.56 million new cases of diabetes were discovered in 2015 while about five million people live with the disease. Diabetics use daily doses of special drugs which are imported. According to a pharmacist, Mr. Adewole Atanda, the reason behind the high cost of the drugs and injections taken by the sufferers of these diseases to lessen their hazards, is that most of the drugs like the diabinese tablets among others, are not produced here in Nigeria because the materials needed to manufacture them are not locally available. The drugs, according to him, are only imported into Nigeria from other countries, hence, making them very expensive and scarce to come by. A doctor, who did not want his name in print said that people were dying like chickens in the hospitals as the prices of drugs have doubled in the last few months. Checks with medical practitioners indicate that prices of essential drugs are not only getting out of hand, most of the drugs are not available on the shelves. It was gathered that most multinational drug companies are finding it difficult to import drugs into the country as a result of the forex policy of the administration, while the persistent drop in the value of the Naira is also constituting another crisis. There are twin issues, said a doctor, who did not want to be mentioned. He stated that his discussions with major drug companies in the last one week had confirmed that the companies were finding it difficult to import essential drugs. He said that the companies have been bombarded with various orders for the drugs but it has been difficult to import drugs for treatment of hypertension, heart diseases and acute gastro-intestinal issues. Checks in the markets indicated that such drugs have had their prices doubled in the last three weeks. A doctor told Saturday Tribune: “The situation is taking a huge toll on the health situation in the country. The prices of most referral drugs that are effective have skyrocketed in the last few months. The in-

crease in the price of petrol is not matched by increase in salary and that is taking huge toll on those of us in the health sector. “Many of the patients will come into the clinic and only secure hospital cards and after the necessary tests, they would say they have no other money for drugs and that the only money they had had been used to secure hospital card.” In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Mr. Oyekunle Wahab, a retired teacher who suffers from diabetes, said that ever since the doctor diagnosed him with diabetes, 50 percent of his monthly pension is always spent on his medications “Out of the N30,000 I receive monthly as my pension, I spend over N15,000 on buying strips for my blood sugar test and the insulin injection to regulate the level of sugar in my blood. But of late, government has been paying our pension once in three months and this has stopped me from checking the level of sugar in my blood because my strips have been exhausted and to buy another one now, I will need N3,000. Just last week, I was feeling dizzy and I knew it was because of the Insulin injection I stopped taking, so, I hurried off to the hospital and complained to my doctor who later injected me for free,” he said. Similarly, Salami Abimbola, an Ibadan boy in his early 20’s who suffers from migraine, expressed his parents’ frustration on his drug (sudrex tablet) worth N100 per card and which gets exhausted two days. “My parents say they are tired of buying the drug every day, therefore, I go through pains whenever my dad doesn’t have enough money to buy it,” he said. Speaking on the risks of not using these drugs as prescribed, a medical expert, Dr. Oyewale Durojaiye says that if a patient who suffers from one of these diseases, e.g. hypertension, fails to take the proper dosage of his drugs, it may result in hypertensive retinopathy which damages the retinal and in most cases, it can lead to cerebrovascular disease, mostly known as stroke. The PSN, in its communique, said it, “after a careful evaluation of the impact of the current paucity of Forex in the country which is gradually grinding operations in drug manufacturing and importation outlets to a halt in the days ahead, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene to prevent an impending national

calamity which will lead to morbidity and outright mortality of consumers of health in Nigeria.” It warned that warehouses of pharmaceutical companies were becoming empty due to inaccessibility of Forex to directly buy drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other products, a situation it said, would breed out-of-stock syndrome in the inventory of life saving drugs with dire consequences “in the days and weeks ahead” as most drug companies were exhausting their leftover stocks from last year. The Council argued further that pharmaceutical products bought at the rate of $1 to N400 would not be affordable thus defeating the goal of the National Drug Policy which advocates the availability of safe, efficacious and affordable drugs in the health system at all times. “Flowing from the above, council called on the Federal Government to facilitate better access to Forex to pharmaceutical companies as a matter of priority in view of the security dimensions of the out of stock syndrome which has a propensity to boost the fake drug syndrome as charlatans will certainly exploit the vacuum created by a lack of basic drugs,” it said.

We are dying one by one —Pensioners

The Kwara State chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Olamitola Phillip, the vice chairman, Elder Tunji Aransiola and the secretary, Comrade Ayobamidele Ajibola, in Ilorin, on Friday, said that hundreds of them had died in the last six months from ailments ranging from high blood pressure, diabetes, urinary infection, glaucoma, arthritis, stroke. Phillip, who said that no fewer than five deaths had been recorded every week among members of the association, added that one of the highest title holders and kingmakers in the Ilorin emirate, the Balogun Fulani, Alhaji Durosinlorun Ayinla, who died last week, was a member. He said pensioners, because of old age, nurse one ailment or the other and live on life-saving drugs, which have become so expensive in the market while the pensions are not paid. He added that part or the whole of their monthly pay goes into the buying of drugs, depending on the type of ailment they are treating. “Others who died in the last few weeks include assis-

tant secretary of the union, Alhaji Agaka, who had been on drug for a long time. He just slumped and never recovered. He had hypertension. Others are Elder Kolawole J. O. from Shao; Alhaji Ayinla Fate from Ilorin; Faseyi Moses from Obbo Ayegunle, chairman NUP in Offa Local Government, Pa A. B. Olasinde, Pa Oye Alawe from Obbo-Ile, J. K. Abolarin, J.J. Buraimoh from OmuAran, Peter Adebola, Micah Temidayo, Bola Aribalusi from Koro, Ekiti Local Government Area. He died two months ago,” he said. The secretary of the NUP in the state, Comrade Ajibola, said that pensioners that retired in 1980 receive as low as N3,000, N4,000, and N8,000 monthly pension add that most pensioners in the state are in the age bracket of 60 and 75 years with various ailments to attend to. He said those that retired in 1995 are badly hit, adding that pensioners in the state survive daily on the blessings of God. “You will pity many of us when you see them. Some of us have turned to beggars, while others have become hangers-on to politicians who they follow about to survive. The state pensioners receive regular pension but same can not be said of teachers and local government pensioners who are the worst hit in the state. Only those who retire recently get monthly pension of about N100, 000 and above. “Our legal case on payment of our pension and entitlement, started in 2008, is still at the Supreme Court. We have been sending death certificates of deceased members to the Supreme Court to buttress our argument of increasing death rate among us,” he said. The pensioners, who called on the state government to pay the N1.68 billion owed them as pension and gratuity, said the payment would avert untimely death in their midst. They also want the state government to implement every five years, review of pension as provided in the constitution.

We are not owing pensions —Kwara govt

Meanwhile, the Kwara State government has said that it is not owing pensions, stressing that it is up to date with payment of salaries and entitlements to state workers and retirees. Speaking to Saturday Tribune in Ilorin, the Se-

nior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said the clarification became important in view of claims in some quarters suggesting that some pensioners in the state had died since April 2015 as a result of unpaid pension allowances. The state government emphasised that local councils are responsible for the payment of allowances to the Local Government retirees and not state government. “Local government councils in the state, which receive separate allocations from the Federal Government, are responsible for their pensions and have varying degrees of staff and pension arrears,” he said. He also said that the councils had been unable to pay their workers and retirees regularly for the past few months due to the sustained drop in federal allocations accruing to them. According to the government, the nonpayment of salaries and pension is not peculiar to local government councils in the state as most local governments are facing similar challenges which are reflective of the current financial situation in the country. The government, however, noted that the State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is working with local governments chairmen to resolve the salary and pension crisis at the local governments level, including the recent release of N162m to augment allocation for the payment of July salaries, adding that the government was considering other strategies to assist them within its available resources. The government, therefore, called on pensioners and labour unions as well as the opposition to be considerate and show understanding. Naira falls to 412/dollar The naira was quoted at an all-time low of 412 per dollar on the parallel market on Friday as a dollar shortage persists, traders said. Traders told Reuters that some bureaux de change operators had been finding it difficult to access their forex account and get dollar supply after the central bank suspended nine commercial lenders from the market, putting further pressure on the local currency. On Thursday the naira closed at 409 per dollar on the parallel market. On the interbank market it traded at 315 compared with 305 the precious day.

5 news

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

My relationship with Osun obas, Omisore —Oyinlola

From left, Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Adei Abu; the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi; the World Bank Country Director, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud and Chief Bayo Awosemusi, during a capacity review visit to FRSC by the World Bank.

Militants are crippling economy —VP By Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba

ICE-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday decried activities of Niger Delta militants, lamenting that their actions have greatly led to the reduction of oil and gas output which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. According to him, the country’s revenue has fallen to 60 percent of what it was before the resurgence of militancy led by the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in February this year. Besides, Osinbajo stated that the power sector could no longer work as envisaged as activities of militants had affected every aspect of the nation’s economy. Professor Osinbajo stated this in Asaba, Delta State, while declaring open a twoday economic and investment summit organised by the state government as part of activities marking the 25th year anniversary of the creation of the state. He said one of the ways that the country can get of the present economic crisis and ensure efficient service delivery is for the nation to build institutions, insisting that without strong institutions, economic delivery and development would fail. According to Osinbajo, “There is dividend for the economy when there are strong institutions. We need to strengthen and beef up our institutions so that we can have good leaders. Strong institutions will lead to producing good characters in leadership. “Strong institutions will lead to strong leaders that could be trusted because if people can’t trust leadership, it has failed. “A well-established organisation is capable of delivering good services. It depends on the quality and character of people in the positions of authority. We need strong institutions to drive economic development.” He said the Federal Government has not been short of ideas but the challenge has been the ability and the will to

get things done. Reacting to the overwhelming criticism against President Muhammadu Buhari over perceived lopsided appointments into federal agencies and parastatals, Osinbajo noted that merit should be considered ahead of the constitutional provision of federal character system. He insisted that appointments made by the present administration were based on merit as that would make more provision for productivity and good service delivery. Osinbajo also emphasised the need for credible leaders who could be trusted by the people as one of the needed criteria to earn the goodwill and trust of the Nigerian people. He explained that trust plays critical role, adding that “we must build trust by ensuring

that we are trustworthy. Trust plays critical role but it must be earned by leaders. So far trust has decreased in Nigeria. People don’t believe those in leadership because they are no longer trustworthy.” Earlier, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had explained that the summit was organised to showcase Delta to the outside world as a haven for investment, adding that it was also to chart a way forward to the diversification of the state’s economy. Okowa told participants drawn from various sectors that an executive bill for the establishment of Delta State Investment Development Agency was being sponsored to create an investor-friendly climate and healthy business environment. He explained that the bill set out the “institutional framework for public-private part-

nership, establishes guidelines to enable easy access to land for private investors, and envisions the creation of working committees/teams that proactively engage with the private sector to actualise their investment and business plans. “Our objective is to remove the opaqueness usually associated with government business. The provisions of the bill will help facilitate business decisions for the private sector and, because every prospective investor knows what to expect, outcomes can be predicted.” Participants at the summit which had former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo as keynote speaker, were drawn from banking and finance, education, media, health, academia, ICT, entertainment among other sectors.

NBA will fight judicial corruption —President Calls for reformation of EFCC Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt THE new president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Abubakar Mahmud SAN, has declared that the association, under his leadership, will fight judicial corruption and make the legal profession unattractive for corrupt lawyers. He made the declaration while delivering his inaugural speech at the just-concluded 56th Annual General Conference of the NBA in Port Harcourt, on Friday. This is as the new NBA helmsman also called for the reformation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), advising that its role should be limited to investigation. He said NBA would advocate urgent reforms that would reposition the judiciary and make it play crucial roles, adding that a clean, efficient and knowledgeable judiciary was pivotal to building an orderly, peaceful and prosperous society. “The NBA, under my watch, will fight judicial corruption. We shall make the legal pro-

fession unattractive for corrupt lawyers. NBA will advocate for urgent reforms the will reposition our judiciary and equip it to play it’s future role. “A clean, efficient knowledgeable, effective and transformative judiciary is at the foundation of building an orderly, peaceful and prosperous society. It is the only way we can guarantee the rule of law and an egalitarian society for our people. “The notion that a judge could be bribed, either by a lawyer or litigant, is completely obnoxious and unacceptable. In many countries, it is unthinkable. The NBA, under my watch, will fight judicial corruption. “We shall also make the legal profession unattractive for corrupt lawyers. We will ensure that the NBA does not become a date haven for miscreant lawyers”, he declared. Mahmud admonished that the association should take active interests in the happenings in the North-East and Niger Delta Region, adding that NBA would set up task forces in the two zones to assist members affected by conflict

in the zone, provide legal services to individuals and communities who were victims of the conflict and monitor human rights issues and to also enhance environmental protection and quality of life The NBA president said while EFCC should concentrate on investigation, the mandate of prosecution should be handled by an independent and highly resource prosecution agency. “The critical institutions involved must be repositioned, re-equipped and retooled to confront the problem of corruption on a consistent and sustainable basis. “As a start, we commend the efforts of EFCC for the work it is doing and for its modest achievements. However, going forward, NBA must demand the reform of the institution itself. We need to define its mandate more narrowly and more clearly. “In my view, its broad objective as an investigative and prosecutorial agency should be reviewed. I recommend strongly that EFCC be limited to investigation”, he said.

FORMER governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has identified unnecessary politicking as the cause of rivalry among some first class traditional rulers in the state. Prince Oyinlola, while answering questions on Rave 91.7 FM, Osogbo, as part of activities marking the state’s 25th anniversary, said history and tradition guided his actions and decisions on the institution of obaship while he administered the state. He was asked why he gave the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, so much respect and authority over others, which some other first class obas found unacceptable. “It was the introduction of politics into royalty that brought differences among our royal fathers. I was not too small to note that for the 50 years that Oba Adesoji Aderemi reigned in Ife, no oba ever challenged his authority. And that brought about a kind of harmony among the kingdoms of our land. If we know and refer to one person as the leader, then we will get to go in the right direction and, by the way, if we say Ile-Ife is the source of every Yoruba man on this planet, why can’t we honour our source?” he said. The third civilian governor of Osun State said his administration made the welfare of civil servants paramount while also balancing it with necessary infrastructural development, describing the civil service as the pivot on which development in the state rests. He said the decision of his administration to have the Osun State University as a multi-campus was based on the quest to have even development in the state as envisaged and agreed by the founding fathers. The former governor listed some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state as contributing to his exit from the party, saying those he considered as his political fathers from the state were used in Abuja. “They went before the press to say that after a meeting they just held, Oyinlola was expelled or suspended. If I may remind our people, it was the removal of Oyinlola as the National Secretary that led to the movement of those five governors that left the party and led to the downfall of the PDP and I warned them. “I made a press statement on the 13th of November, 2013 and I told them clearly that if I didn’t return as the National Secretary of the party, that party would stop being the ruling party,” the former governor said. On his strained relationship with his former political associate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Prince Oyinlola said he advised Omisore not to contest as the governorship candidate of the party in the state in 2014 but he refused and listened to those who wanted to gain from him. “As a leader, I advised him that he should shelve the ambition of running for governor, because I believed he had an albatross on his neck that would not allow us to sail through. I advised that he should look at going back to the Senate. Well, I think he bought the idea and told me at a point that he was no longer running, but some people for their own political ambition went and persuaded him to change his mind. “Then I said, ‘Okay, if you have changed your mind, The president said the NBA I know what I know and it Anti-Corruption Committee would be mandated to may not be expedient for our develop clear recommenda- party to present you now.’ tions towards enhancing the They ignored my advice; fight against corruption and they went ahead and they improving the effectiveness of got the result they deserved,” Oyinlola added. the agencies involved.

Buhari appoints Adesoye NPA chairman Clement Idoko - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the composition of the Governing Boards of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). While the 11-member Governing Board of NPA has Mr Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye as the Chairman, the President also appointed Major General Jonathan India Garba as the Board Chairman NIMASA. The composition of the Governing Boards of the two agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation was conveyed late Friday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal.

Other members of NPA Governing Board as contained in the statement are: Mr Supo Shasore, Suleiman Ibrahim Halilu, Constance Harry Mashal, Umar Shu’aibu, Charles Efe Emukowhate Sylvester? and Hadiza Bala Usman. Others include, Mohammed Bello Koko, Dr. Sekonte Davis, Professor Idris Abubakar and Mrs. I. J. Uche-Okoro. The statement also listed the following as members of the Governing Board of NIMASA, Mr Asekomhe Oaakhia Kenneth, Mohammed Gidado Muazu, Hon. Barrister Ebele Obi, S. U. Galadanchi and Ms Nene Betty Dike. Other members are: Dakuku Peterside, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, Joseph Oluwarotimi Fashakin, and Gambo Ahmed.

news

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

EFCC arrests 5 undergraduates over N16m internet fraud

From left, Publicity Secretary, Barrister Ayo Sogbesan; member, Mr Charles Thomas and the Treasurer, Mr Alex Ohale, all of Maryland Club of Lagos, during the Annual General Meeting of the assocation, held at Keblat Suites, Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently.

At 25, Osun is in a state of coma —PDP

As Kwara Speaker canvasses good governance Oluwole Ige, Osogbo

S the activities commemorating the 25th year anniversary of the creation of Osun State commences with a calesthenic display today in Osogbo, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday said it is disheartening to note that Osun is in a state of coma. The party lamented that socio conomic development of the state has been halted with poverty and deprivation ravaging the people. In a statement signed by the chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr Soji Adagunodo, the party contended that, “25 years is significant in any life but that cannot be said about Osun State”, noting that a look at other states created alongside Osun indicates that the state had retrogressed through bad governance and huge debt profile, precipitated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. According to the statement, “no infrastructure has been added to the ones the APC met, rather most companies have been fold-

ing up with no tangible presence of government in Osun State”. The party, therefore, challenged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to point to a project that he had commissioned while advising him not to claim glory over the construction of mega schools because it was done during the PDP-led Federal Government and it was funded by SUBEB. The statement reads in part: “A cursory look at the last WAEC results shows the abysmal performance of

students in Osun State. Similarly a visit to our hospitals and health centres reveals a pitiable state of medical service, while our economy has been grounded”. Adagunodo, however, assured the people of the state of better days ahead, stressing that “2018 is just around the corner and PDP will send the foreigners out of Osun State. What we need now is prayers on everybody’s part so that the dry bones of Osun State can rise again.” Meanwhile, the Speaker, Kwara State House of As-

We’ll recognise Clark as our leader —MEND We need permanent peace, not ceasefire in N/Delta —Kachikwu Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri MEMBERS of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have agreed to work with elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark and his team of stakeholders from the Niger Delta region to initiate dialogue against the backdrop of insurgency. Secretary of MEND, Mr Timipa Jenkins Okponipere made the disclosure on Friday at a meeting in

Clark’s house in Warri, Delta State. The group, however, made six demands for a harmonious work with the Clark’s dialogue team. It agreed that Clark be leader of the group, all dialogues should be centrally located and coordinated and the group should have six leaders of proven integrity from the region. MEND also requested the secretary slot for its members and also added

Rivers rerun: Stop giving excuses, give definite date, INEC told Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt THE deputy governor of Rivers State, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come out with a clear-cut date and modalities for the legislative rerun elections in the state. She gave the advice in a statement issued by her press secretary, Mr Paul Damgbor and made available to Saturday Tribune in Port Harcourt, on Friday. The National Commis-

sembly, Honourable Ali Babatunde Ahmad, on Wednesday evening called for a strong relationship between the legislature and the media, with a view to engendering good governance. He made the call while delivering a lecture titled: “The role of the legislature and media in democratic governance” during the celebration events of ‘Osun at 25’, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Osun Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo.

sioner (Operations) of the commission, Mrs Amina Zakari, had, during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Port Harcourt, last week, disclosed that the election would be held before the end of October. The deputy governor, however, said INEC should give a concrete date and also stressed the need to commence arrangement by displaying names of ad hoc staff, a month ahead of the supplementary election as a mark of transparency to avoid a repeat of the shortcomings in the suspended

March 19 exercise. She said the admonition became necessary to demonstrate the genuineness of the electoral body to conduct a free and fair election, adding that it must resist the temptation of playing according to the dictates of the ruling party at the centre. Banigo further alleged that INEC, under its current leadership, had resorted to excuses and blame game over the inability to conduct and conclude several inconclusive rerun elections, particularly in the PDP-controlled states.

that the dialogue should be named Niger Delta Peace and Development Group. Clark, in his response to the request, accepted the request but added its implementation was subject to the approval of other stakeholders. “From today onwards, you’re part of us, “ the octogenarian noted. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has said that what the embattled Niger Delta region needs at present is not a ceasefire but a permanent peace. He said without this being achieved, the $80 billion investment fortune he has raised from China to be pumped into the gas sector might not materialise. The minister made the disclosure on Friday at the home of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark during the emergency meeting of Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders Group in Warrior, Delta State. Kachikwu, who spoke emotionally, said President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to solving the present crisis through dialogue.

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office, has arrested five suspected undergraduate scammers. Four of them are from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) and one from Adekunle Ajashin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State. According to a press release signed by the zonal spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr Ayo Oyewole and made available to Saturday Tribune, they were picked up at an off-campus residence, located at Anuoluwapo Close, Stateline Hotel Road, off FUTA South Gate, Akure, Ondo State. The suspects are between the ages of 20 and 23. The commission said it got wind of their activities through series of intelligence gatherings. The suspects according to the EFCC went about with the name Tsunnami Gang and Young Pablo Money and allegedly swindled unsuspecting foreigners and others to the tune of N16m recently by engaging in fraudulent activities of obtaining money by false pretences through scam mails. One is a 300-level student of Building Technology, while two others are both 400-level students of Agricultural Resources and Mathematics respectively.

Dam tragedy: Victims not World Bank officials —Ekiti govt THE Ekiti State government has cleared the air on the status of the four persons that died during the week at Egbe Dam in Gbonyin Local Government Area of the state, saying the victims were neither World Bank officials nor staff of Ekiti State government. In a statement on Friday in Ado-Ekiti by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the government said though the Third Urban Water Sector Reform Project was sponsored by the World Bank, the contract for the bathymetry surveying of the dam was awarded to Enviplan Nigeria Limited, whose staff were involved in the unfortunate incident. The statement said the company was to work on Ureje, Egbe, Itapaji and Ero dams. “The sad incident happened because some safety measures were not adhered to by the deceased who refused to wear life jackets and those who survived wore life jackets provided by the company. The victims are staff of Enviplan Nigeria Limited which is a consulting firm to the World Bank.”

Monarch advocates effective mentoring programme for youths THE Aare of Ago Areland in ATISBO Local Government of Oyo State, Oba (Dr) Kofoworola Abodunrin Oyetunji has called for an effective mentoring programme for youths in order to face challenges of life. Oba Kofoworola gave the call during his official investiture as the premier president of Oke Ogun Scout Division of The Scout Association of Nigeria. Oba Kofoworola maintained that education, either formal or non-formal, is key to life towards bringing out the full potentialities of the youth. The monarch pledged his commitment to service to humanity through scouting, noting that he would do everything possible within his power to support the growth of the Scout Movement globally. Earlier, the Assistant Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Nigeria, Apostle Tola Adenekan, who coordinated the investiture on behalf of the Chief Commissioner, Olori Omooba Olusoga Sofolahan, had urged the monarch to use his vast experience as an educationist to improve the lot of scouting which is an educational movement for youth aimed at creating a better world.

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27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ibadan City Polytechnic, a hidden gold just discovered —Mrs Ajimobi By Olaide Sokoya

SEALED UP: A technician welding a gate to one of the buildings seized in Ibadan, on Friday. PHOTO: TUNDE OGUNESAN

100 houses sealed off in Ibadan over land dispute •Residents given 1 hour to pack out By Tunde Ogunesan

ANDLORDS and tenants of over 100 houses in Ibadan were on Friday given one hour to pack out of their residents over a land dispute. The houses located at Peluseki area, Akala Expressway, Ido Local Government Area,Ibadan, Oyo state were sealed off following a warrant for possession obtained by one Durojaye Omoleke Aransi & others against Alhaji Raufu Gbadamosi & others, in a suit number I/704/2007 over 6.777 hectares of land. The affected landlords described the case and the judgement as ‘judicial ambush’ because they became aware of it very late even as one of them told Saturday Tribune that one of the defendants in the suit was a dead man. The affected residents were only given one hour to pick anything they could from their houses. Those who came to effect the court order were led by a Chief baliff, who identified himself as Mr Adeyemo

Gbolahan and some police officers from Oyo state Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan. The team came in more than two vehicles as Adeyemo led a group which also has a welding team in their blue Peugeot 504 saloon car with registration number Lagos BDG 817 DB. As soon as they arrived, they informed the residents that they only had one hour to pick whatever they deemed useful to them and leave their respective houses because they were on a mission to seal every house on the affected portion of the affected land. As soon as that was made known, the entire neighbourhood began to make contact for way out. But that did not stop the team from carrying out their mission. The team members having divided themselves into sections sealed off entrances to the houses by spraying a X mark with red ink on gates, pasting the two pages of photocopies of warrant for possession in front of each house and some uncompleted buildings, while the welder on board completed the mission by welding the

gates. Adeyemo said: “the court order must be obeyed after one year without any formal or legal response from the people. I am a Chief baliff of the court and we are here with Police officers from Eleyele, (Oyo state Police Command headquarters), what we are doing is backed up with legal documents.” In a telephone interview with Saturday Tribune, the chairman of Peluseki area, Mr Adegbola Adeboye though admitted that they learnt about the case very late, added that the family which sold the land to them had assured them that they would protect their interest since they bought the land from them lawfully and fulfilled all necessary obligations requested of them. He, however, expressed concern that the plaintiff did

Kaduna community protests incessant attacks, killings by herdsmen THE Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), in collaboration with Coalition of Professionals in Southern Kaduna, on

FG, states, LGs, others shared N493.828bn in July —Ministry of Finance Sanya Adejokun - Abuja A total of N493.828billion has been shared as Federal Allocation for the month of July 2016 by the federal, state governments and local government councils. A statement issued on Friday by Mr. Kate Offie, Deputy Director of Press in the Federal Ministry of Finance, the figure is higher than the N443.663 previously reported from the communiqué issued at the

end of the meeting of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting on Thursday night. Gross statutory revenue including solid minerals is N275.102 while the net allocation is N258.151billion. The gross value added tax is N66.987 billion and the total distributable revenue is N335.759 billion. The shared amount comprised the Month’s Statutory revenue of N258.151 billion, Value Added Tax of

not give them enough time for negotiation, adding that the names on the warrant of possession were strange to the residents. He said “ we learnt that it involves the family members but they assured us that ‘anyone who had settled’ them will be defended anytime. “Later, we learnt Alhaji Abass owns the land and that it involves four families and that they once agreed to settle the matter amicably. When we confronted the family they confessed that their fathers sold some pieces to Alhaji Bolaji. we were on that to meet the family and Alhaji Abass before he told us that he (Abass) was going to Mecca that we will resolve it when he returns. “Surprisingly, we just saw them this morning and they threw all of us into this mess. This is unfair, “ Adeboye said.

N66.987 billion, Exchange gain of N70.037 billion, Exchange Gain differential claim of N36.494 billion for the month of May 2016, additional distribution of N50.165 billion from excess PPT and N1.373 billion as excess bank charges recovered from 2008 to 2012. There was also a N6.330 billion refund to the Federal Government by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Friday staged a peaceful protest in Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area, over “incessant attacks by herdsmen”. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that many communities in the area had come under attacks that claimed scores of lives. The attackers also destroyed crops and livestock in Ninte, Angwan-Ayu, GadBiyu and Angwan- Mada villages in Jema’a and Sanga Local Government Areas. The protesters, who were led by SOKAPU President, Mr Solomon Musa, and the Chairman, Coalition of Professionals, Mr Mark Jacob, condemned the “systematic and continuous killings of innocent people” in the areas.

WIFE of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has commended the management of Ibadan City Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, for creating a conducive academic environment that will enhance learning by putting up beautiful structure and equipment at the institution. Mrs Ajimobi gave the commendation during a working visit by her team to the institution in Ibadan. In a message read by her representative, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Due Process, Mrs Rose Oyedele, Mrs Ajimobi said she was encouraged by the school’s vision of modernised technical education. “With what I have seen at the Ibadan City Polytechnic, Oyo State is proud of it; I can see great students here who will become exceptional scientists, engineers and statisticians in future. “Ibadan City Polytechnic is like a diamond that has not been seen by many but is waiting to take Nigeria by storm.”

Ambode approves N5m support for family of dead petroleum tanker driver Bola Badmus - Lagos LAGOS State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved N5 million as support for the family of the late Mr. Adamu Salisu Dangwari, a tanker driver, following moves made by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTDA). Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi, made the presentation of the cheque to the State Chairman of PTDA, Mr. Tayo Abejoye. Elegushi observed that the money was to mitigate the effect of Dangwari’s death on the family, adding emphatically that investigation was still on-going. Elegushi stated that continued engagement between the ministry, its sister agencies and the PTD would go a long way in dealing with issues that could lead to altercations, added that the governor’s magnanimity had ensured that relief came to the family of Dangwari.

Buhari congratulates NBA over Mahmoud’s inauguration Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the inauguration of its new executive led by Mr. Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN) at the 2016 Annual General Conference held in Port-Harcourt. According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday, the President commended the outgoing executive led by Augustine Alegeh for the resourceful exchange of ideas, commitment and support for national development. He urged the new President of the NBA to use his vast experience in private practice, and public service, garnered over the years to build on the legacies of his predecessor, and contribute to reforms across the country.

FG won’t relent until Nigerians enjoy good roads —Fashola By Tunde Ogunesan THE Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola (SAN), has revealed that there is no respite yet for the Federal Government until Nigerians are happy about the state of roads comparable to the best infrastructural facilities available anywhere in the world. Fashola, who was accompanied on the tour by the state Federal Works Controller, Mr. Anya Omorekpe and other top government officials, stated this during an unscheduled inspection of the ongoing construction of section two of Oyo-Ogbomoso road in Oyo state which was formally flagged off last week. He then expressed President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to ease peoples’ sufferings through the government’s unwavering commitment to the construction of quality roads that can stand the test of time.

news

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF NEW EXECUTIVES OF THE MOTOR DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, OYO STATE CHAPTER

1 From left, Alhaji Majeed Lawal Alausa, the new chairman Oyo State Motor Dealer Association, Apostle Taiwo Akanbi Adewale; National Deputy President, Chief Coke Owoeye; Elder Ayodeji Oludele and Chief Olugbenga Babajide, during the swearing-in ceremony of new executives of Oyo State Motor Dealers Association at All for God House Monatan, Ibadan, recently.

From left, Otunba Lekan Jaji, Chief Joseph Sowumi, Mr Olasunkanmi, Mr Niyi Olawuwo, Alhaji Ahmed Akera and Mr Ahmed Daudu at the event.

3 From right, Evangelist Akanni Bilesanmi, Pastor Jowel Adegbaju, Alhaji Rasaq Abanise, Alhaji Rafiu Iretiayo, Alhaji Olayanju Kamar, Aihaji Lateef Adiamo and Alhaji R.A Olagunju at the ceremony.

4 4. A cross section of the newly sworn-in executives at the event.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Ogun council poll: ‘OGSIEC reject PDP candidates from Kashamu’s faction’ By Dare Adekanmbi

HAIRMAN of Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honourable Sikirulai Ogundele has said the controversy surrounding the two lists of candidates submitted to the state electoral body for the October 8 council poll has been laid to rest with the release of cleared candidates which did not feature candidates from the Senator Buruji Kashamu group. OGSIEC, according to him, on Thursday, cleared all the PDP candidates presented to it by him. The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee of the PDP had, through a letter addressed to OGSIEC and published in an advertorial in Saturday Tribune, informed the commission that the authentic list of candidates for the council election would be submitted by the Ogundele-led executive. Speaking on preparations for the election, which will be conducted into 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas, OGSIEC chairman, Mr Mutiu Agboke, said the body had cleared 207 chairmanship candidates and 784 councillorship candidates for the election. “So far, we have 903 candidates that appeared with a view to contesting the election and we have others whose names are still pending because of one irregularity or the other,” he said, promising a free and fair election. But Ogundele, while reacting to the development, called for unity of members and leaders to achieve

“a resounding victory” at the council election and take over governance to fix the “mismanagement of the councils over the years under the All Progressives Congress administration.” A statement signed by the publicity secretary of the party, Mr Malik Ibitoye, noted that the list has finally resolved the controversy surrounding the exercise and rested anxieties about the internal rancour among members of the party in the state. “Following the recent pronouncement of OG-

SIEC approving the list of the candidates we submitted for the October 8 local government elections, I wish to congratulate all our candidates in the state and encourage all to be steadfast so that we can have victory in the election. “The journey has just begun. We must, as a matter of urgency, embrace all our brothers and sisters on all sides of the divide. The desired victory cannot come with divisions and envy but by unity of purpose and steadfastness,” he said.

CNN African Voices focuses on music, beat makers MUSIC and percussionists are the focus of this weekend’s edition of Globacomsponsored African Voices on CNN International, the telecom company has said. The programme had last week featured Africa’s “Strong Women” with particular attention paid to South Africa’s first African female pilot, Asnath Mahapa, Uganda’s media personality, Flavia Tumusiime, and Ghana’s social media curator, Nicole Amarteifio. In a statement issued by the grandmasters of data, Globacom, this weekend’s edition of African Voices will focus on artistes and musicians across Africa, who are constantly seeking ways to impress their audience with their creative work. Those who will be featured include Ghana’s Frank Kissi, who is believed to be “one drummer who has taken his love of drumming to greater heights by creating a unique beat that has caught the attention of an international audience.” The other two guests on

the programme are Deltino Guerreiro of Mozambique, “a dreamer ready to do big things with his distinctive voice,” and Uganda’s Keko seen as “a rising artiste whose path to success has come from finding her voice on controversial topics.” Keko’s story is particularly inspirational in all ramifications. Born Jocelyne Tracey Keko, her rise to fame began in 2010 with the release of ‘Fallen heroes’, where she featured other established Ugandan artistes. Her single ‘How we do it’ took the Ugandan charts and MTV Africa by storm, making her an instant household name in East Africa. Her success led to an endorsement deal with Pepsi and saw her lead Mountain Dew’s advertising campaign in East Africa. African Voices airs on CNN International at 9.30 a.m. on Fridays. It is repeated at 1.30 p.m. on Saturdays, 11.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Sundays. Viewers can also watch the show on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays at 4.30 a.m.

Brief Apostle Akanbi sworn in as Oyo motor dealers’ chairman APOSTLE Taiwo Akanbi Adewale has been sworn in as the chairman of Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter. The swearing-in ceremony took place at All for God House, Monatan, Ibadan. Adewale, after taking the oath of office administered by the association’s legal officer, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve and thanked the members of the association for their support and commitment Adewale promised to contribute his quota

to the growth and development of the association. “I am so happy, it is a challenge but my plan is to work harder,” Adewale said. The new chairman emphasized the association had taken a new direction with the new officers and all hands must be on deck to reposition the association for greater achievements. This, he said, was with a view to ridding the association of theft with regard to their daily operations and the need for anti-

theft data machine which is already in place. He, therefore, enjoined all members to get the new national identification card and the sticker of the association for proper identification. President-General and life patron of the association in the state, Chief Samuel Olawale Olorunloye, a.k.a All for God Motors, while eulogising the new chairman and other executives, urged them to be good ambassadors of the association.

news

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Zamfara killings: Burnt victims were looters —Police Two arrested Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

HE Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, Mr Adaji Gabriel, has said that he will lead the team to investigate the case of an alleged blasphemy against a student of Talatan Marafa Polytechnic in the state which led to the death of eight people. The police chief also disclosed that the eight victims were suspected looters of the property of the owner of the house which was attacked He said two persons were arrested in connection with the incident. Speaking at a news conference in Gusau, the police chief disclosed that the embattled student was not dead as being insinuated. According to him, he is recuperating from the wounds he sustained in a hospital. “He is safe and is being given adequate protection by the police,” he added.

Gabriel claimed that the eight people that were killed in the house of one Taju had come to loot the house and met their death in the process. “Before the mob came to his house, he got information that they were coming to set his house ablaze, so, he hurriedly evacuated his family. His wife and chil-

dren are safe,” the commissioner said. He said one of the survivors of the mayhem, who is recovering from wounds, gave the names of the eight that died and would assist the police in their investigations as soon as he recovers. From preliminary findings, the commissioner said, the crisis emanated

from a missing toilet soap and resulted in the crisis that caused wanton destruction and loss of lives. He said the student, from Kogi State, who was alleged to have committed blasphemy, had converted from Islam to Christianity. “We have arrested his roommates, Haruna and Zubairu. We have equally ar-

rested others but I wouldn’t like to tell you the number now. His roommates are helping the police in their investigations. In fact, because of the nature of the case, I am taking charge. Some students of the polytechnic had, last week, gone on the rampage on the grounds that a new Christian convert made

PDP crisis: We are ready to fight Fayose, Wike —Babatope Bola Badmus - Lagos A former Minister of Transport and Director-General of the Olabode George for national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has vowed to confront some chieftains of the party, led by the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose. He accused the chieftains of preaching a generational change, which, he said, is aimed at ridding the party of old and experienced poli-

ticians. Babatope, speaking to Saturday Tribune in Lagos in a reaction to the failure of the party’s national convention to hold, again on Wednesday last week in Port Harcourt, stated that those canvassing such a generational change, including the Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, will be the ones to leave the PDP for the so-called old generation members. “What these boys are doing now is a new problem

for the PDP and which we are going to fight in greater proportion. We will not leave PDP for them; they will leave the PDP for us. But we are going to fight them. It’s a monstrous problem,” he said. The former minister who recalled that the failed convention was put together by those who saw themselves as young folks and were opposed to old and experienced politicians having anything to do with the PDP, said the target was to impose a simpleton and

robot as the national chairman of the party. “They came with dangerous propaganda that there must be generational change. What do they mean by generational change? Ayo Fayose has been canvassing that all old people in PDP must be pushed aside. “Whoever is a good Christian or a good Muslim who has his senses correct knows that God would never, never be involved in any matter that is detrimental to the cause of mankind.

Ondo guber: Akeredolu warns APC leaders Hakeem Gbadamosi, Akure with Agency Reports A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said that he was not imposed as the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state in 2012. Akeredolu, who was the ACN candidate in the 2012 governorship election in the state, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Friday. He also spoke on Adaba FM, where he asked APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, to stop his rumoured endorsement of one of the aspirants, Mr Segun Abraham. 23 aspirants will participate in the APC governorship primary in the state scheduled for September 3, 2016 ahead of the November 26 election. “How l emerged as the governorship candidate of ACN in 2012 in Ondo State was not an issue of imposition because all aspirants of the party then submitted themselves to a process. “At meetings, all aspirants told the party leadership that we were all prepared to abide by whoever they chose as candidate. The party, ACN, did not conduct any primary. “We had the leadership of the party who sat and used democratic process to choose the candidate. “The leadership was not Senator Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande alone, but we had governors and other

some blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad. The accused student escaped lynching. The man called Taju, who rescued him, was, however, unlucky as his house was burnt down with the eight people in it who have now been identified by the police as looters.

leaders of the party. “It was a collective decision of the leadership of the party then and nobody imposed me as the ACN candidate in the 2012 governorship election in Ondo State,” he said. Akeredolu, who was the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state between 1997 and 1999, condemned alleged plans by some APC leaders to impose one of the aspirants as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming primary. He said that any of the party leaders could only endorse the candidate that emerged through primary but not impose an aspirant as the candidate before the primary. “I am against imposition of candidate, but when it comes to the issue of endorsement, I am not against endorsement. “Let us know how endorsement operates outside. Let us look at the example of Hillary Clinton and Sanders, who ran under the Democratic National Congress in America (DNC). “Barack Obama, as the president and leader of their party, did not endorse Clinton until she became the presumptive candidate of DNC. That is what is expected of any leader. “As a leader, l will not endorse any aspirant, more so when you have given your word to all the aspirants that you will not endorse anybody, and that anybody that wins the primary, you will support. “Doing so as a leader, you

are betraying the trust people reposed in you and it is condemnable when you are using the party apparatus to impose the aspirant you are supporting,” he said. Akeredolu, on the radio programme, said the rumoured endorsement of one of the aspirants contesting for the party’s ticket by Tinubu was the beginning of the failure for the party in the forthcoming election in the state. The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) appealed to the party delegates not to be influenced by money or cajoled by some leaders, but to vote according to their conscience. Akeredolu, who appealed to the national leadership of the party to ensure transparent, free and fair primary process, said he was confident of winning the party’s ticket at the end of the exercise. “I think the delegates should listen to the voice of the people of Ondo State who are clamouring for Akeredolu as their governor. Akeredolu is a name they do not need to preach about because it is already known by all and sundry in the state,” he said. The party’s primary was initially slated for August 27 but was shifted to August 31 with the party’s leadership citing logistics challenge before it was postponed to September 3. Speaking on the shifting of the date of the primary, the party’s Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said the national leadership of the

party had communicated a new date to the party. He said the exercise would be held at Democracy Park, Akure. However, aspirants and supporters of the party have expressed mixed feelings over the postponement of the primary. While some are of the opinion that the date would af-

ford the national leadership the opportunity to put the party in order, others said it was to give “the anointed candidate” the opportunity to worm himself into the hearts of the delegates. No fewer than 3,000 delegates will participate in the primary to pick the party’s standard-bearer for the November 26 election.

“If they think, with their age, power, money and everything, they can triumph over us, they are wasting their time because no matter how great any young man is, he can’t be greater than the older man who has experience. “No child must toy with experience, status and age. Any child that does that would be destroying himself. “So we are waiting for them. We are prepared for war and God Almighty knows that they have already established the very basis for war in PDP and we will never allow miscreants, vagabonds to dominate our party and destroy our party,” Babatope said. It will be recalled that the party resolved to extend the tenure of the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee by one year following the blocking of the convention centre by security operatives who were acting on a ruling of an Abuja high court.

PDP candidate, Jegede unfolds economic blueprint, plays down federal allocation

THE Peoples Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) has promised to initiate economic policies that will make the state less dependent on federal allocation even as he wants to ensure the recently approved Ilaje Free Trade Zone is made a springboard for the economic development of the state. Insisting that the Ilaje Free Trade Zone is a priority for him, Jegede while speaking with newsmen in Akure on Friday on his plan to improve on the state’s economy, said the potential in the southern area which include the Olokola Free Trade Zone, Omotosho power plant, the bitumen and the deep sea port will be utilised by his government. According to him, creating industry has been an issue that has been on for some time, adding that the problem is not in establishing industries, but in its sustenance. “ The big issue is in sustaining them and making them to run. To build an industry is a very simple thing; it is easier than to build a school. Just build a

warehouse, import machines, and then get people who are technical to start operating it but you need power, you need the raw materials, you need to sell at a competitive price before you can sustain the industry,” he explained. He said Ondo as a civil service state will disconnect financially from the centre . “ It will take some time but it can be done and the industrial base will also be created in the southern belt, especially with the Omotosho power plant that will ensure power supply to the area. “ We have been talking about free trade zone, we now have Ilaje industrial zone. “There was a licence that was given to the government in May 2013. So we must concentrate heavily on where we think the industrial base of the state should be and it is in the southern belt; it is because they have the longest coast line. Go to Ilaje, you will see their sands; if you stay up and there is sun, it will be shining like gold. You take it and use it for glass and as soon as you take a dip and leave it, few

hours later, it will come back. “The place will fill again with the types substance. Those are the kind of economic strengths that we want to leverage on and it’s in the south and at Ore axis, 250,000 vehicles pass through that axis in a week at a minimum and you cannot go to the north without passing through Ondo State; it is not possible. You cannot go to the east without passing through Ondo State; it is not possible. You must pass through Ore and go to Benin. You either go through Awka and go to the north or you go through Benin and go to the east. “In all these instances, you pass through Ore. So, we must learn to build a political economic advantage from that zone. Even if it is only small eating areas you are going to build, if you are going to find a way, legally you can regulate it and bring in more money and get employment for our people. Those are the kind of things I am thinking about. It is not so much about the old things. There must be new ways to solve these problems,” he canvassed.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

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HE body harness is a chic, silhouette-defining piece that has been quite popular in the style scene. For a waist-whittling appeal, this multi-belted number can be worn over a baggy short dress or blouse. Also, because it straps across half your body, STYLE suggests that it be paired with a long maxi dress to edge out

the simplicity of the dress. It would also work over a bodycon mini-dress; that is, if you are into very clingy outfits. The body harness, if properly worn, can be very sexy, yet chic. The body harness trend also comes in the form of chain-like jewellery, which normally hangs around the neck and drapes across the waist or torso.

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Lydia Akpan

27 August, 2016

HE recent story of 35-year old Nigerian drug baron, Izuchukwu Ezimoha, executed after being sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia but who was given heroic burial by his people at his mansion in Ezigbo village, Ihiala LGA of Anambra state on Thursday, August 18, 2016 is provoking this piece. A banner announcing his burial which claimed Ezimoha was “a hero” has courted diverse commentaries on the social media. Hero? Whose hero? Pardon this personal reminiscence as a kicker. This writer was on his way to Davis Sacramento airport, from Denver Colorado, United States a couple of years ago and the highly burnished American patriotism hit him like a pleasant thunderbolt. It was like Bob Marley’s warning about reggae music; that when it hits you, you feel no pain. This time, the writer’s head swelled from the punch. We had been waiting for our flight on the Northwestern and then, the hostess announced the arrival of a group of young folks, donning the grey khaki dresses of American soldiers, to board the flight first. And pronto, they filed out, their rucksacks sitting regally on their backs, as they chatted like high school kids into the aircraft. Even when the plane was airborne and it was time for announcement, they were objects of acknowledgment, and the bla bla bla of how America was grateful to them for fighting in Iraq and all that. And my head swelled beyond proportion. Since then, I had a proper perspective of the American patriotism and heroism. America and many of the advanced democracies do not joke with their citizens. The country abides by the biblical story of the shepherd who temporarily leaves his flock in frenetic search of one single one who strays off. Even when that lost sheep is a recidivist, who lives the life of constant relapse crime in a foreign land, America meets with the country of crime, seeking the probability of the national serving out their time on her soil. There is a fiduciary relationship between America and its nationals which is religiously and piously observed to the latter. This is reflected in every respect. America bends over backwards for her citizens’ quality existence. In return, Americans give her complete and unalloyed loyalty and the process of heroism is easily forged. Heroes are brought out from this relationship and their lifestyles become examples to be copied by the upcoming youth. Nigeria has been on a comparative keel for this writer, vis a vis these advanced democracies. Why is it that the quality of patriotism in Nigeria is at an abysmally low level? Why is it that Nigerians have receded from Nigeria and Nigeria literally has no meaning for Nigerians except, as Obafemi Awolowo opined, as a geographical identifier? Why is it that Nigerians do not have explicit or implicit trust in Nigeria and they are in fact very wary of and indeed, very disdainful of Nigeria? Put more succinctly, why are there no heroes in the land and the converse of the class of people others make heroes are those who tickle us and have become emblems of our society? Or is it that these dross and scum of other lands

Saturday Tribune

Saturday With

ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com

Executed hero, Ezimoha and Nigeria’s Dube train

are emblematic of our society and we would be upturning nature’s moral codes if we have proper heroes as they do in societies that are properly and morally structured? What readily comes to mind is that Nigerians do not matter to Nigeria because humanity has receded from our midst and replaced by a capitalist hanker after national survival which ultimately does not endure and which sees humanity as mere demographics. Pardon me, this may actually be insufficient or misleading an analysis, after all, can a society be more capitalist than the American and British societies? Yet they value the lives of their nationals and do not treat them as a mere number. Could it be that Nigeria has dehumanised Nigerians for too long a time that we have gone beyond the borderline of care and we have lost our humanity by so doing? Could the millions killed during the Biafran war by soldiers who later occupied leadership positions, be

responsible for the gradual and ultimate zenith of insouciance that they have for the people they lead? Remember that then certain officers were fingered in the massacre of Igbo in Asaba, while many of the Igbo soldiers were also responsible for the revenge massacre by drowning of Nigerian soldiers at the Onitsha bridge? Scholars should please help research this connect. I like to garnish stories of departure of humanity from the human body with the Dube Train by Can Themba. Setting was the apartheid era of the 1950s and inside the third class carriage of a train heading for Johannesburg from Dube Station in Soweto. As the train travels on and gets to Phefeni Station, a young woman enters the train carriage and sits next to the narrator. Not long after, a tsotsi (tout) launches a verbal assault on a girl, apparently trying to woo her. This harassment continues and when the girl gets to her stop and is about to get off the train, the tsotsi stops and slaps her. She struggles with him in bid to get away but the tsotsi was yet in her pursuit. And no one can and dares to challenge him. This was until a woman dares all the men in the train by her singeing words: “If there were real men here, they’d pull his pants off and give him such a leathering he’d never sit down for a week.” The tsotsi charges at the woman, setting off the anger of a huge man who sits opposite the narrator. He stands to his feet and charges towards the tsotsi and the latter pulls a knife, cutting the huge man in the chest. The big man then lifts the tsotsi up and tosses him off the moving carriage, ostensibly to his death. Everyone continues without a whimper, Themba apparently seeking to state how banal murder and killing of fellow man were in apartheid South Africa. This is what you can liken the relationship between Nigeria and Nigerians. The truth is that, the Nigerian state is no longer anybody’s template for heroism or humanity; neither its people. Peter Eke’s locus classicus on the two publics tried to rationalise why. I sincerely don’t have any proffer on how we can get back our Nigeria.

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27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

r t O O n

Life during holiday

2. Oluwatamilore Aremu, 10 yrs old, JSS 1 Life outside school is usually interesting as I engage in various activities that make me quite relaxed. These include travelling. In the last few weeks, I have really enjoyed myself. I travelled to Bowen University, Iwo, in Osun State for music workshop to learn about musical instruments. I also attended Royal Ambassador Camp in Awe, Oyo State. It was strange but fun to be in a bush for four days. I was very happy to meet with a lot of young ones from various places at the two events. I have had time to catch fun, I have now settled down to start preparing for my new class. 3. Tomilayo Alabi, 11 yrs old, JSS 2 Whenever we are on holiday, I enjoy it but I miss my friends. I wake up at will without disturbance from my parents or siblings. During this time, I also miss my pocket money. I read my books anytime I feel like. I gain more experience and I get more mature. Another thing I find pleasure in during holiday is going with my mum to her shop.

Pupils in a primary school were asked by their class teacher to list three diseases. A boy was the first to submit. He wrote: 1. Polio 2. Cancer 3. / The teacher said: ‘Abu, what did you write as number three?’ Abu replied: ‘stroke ma’

4. Samuel Oyedokun, 13 yrs, SSS1 Life outside school is fun. Each time students are away from school, it’s usually for one break or the other, meant to be free from school activities and also to rest. Holiday period is full of fun for us. I remember a saying that, “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.” This means that after a period one must have worked, there is need to rest. Although we’ve been given a period to rest, I also dedicate some time to study in preparation for the new class. In addition to this, I have dedicated some time to study my Bible.

GET INSPIRED

1. Betty Adebayo, 11 yrs old, JSS 3 Being away from school for the purpose of holiday often comes with a lot of freedom. At such time, no waking up early, washing and ironing school uniforms and extra study for tests and examinations. As interesting as this holiday period is, I miss my food package. This makes me feel hungry sometimes and I wish the holidays are over now. All the same, students cannot afford not to go on break; it a time we are free to use our time the way we want, especially engaging in activities that will make us happy with friends.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCES

27 August, 2016

food&drink

Speaking with RUKAYAT ODEWALE, Oyo State Nutritional Officer, Mrs. Kadijat Alarape provides insights into proper dietary habits and gives the perfect tasty meal that best burns belly fat.

HAT is the most important meal of the day? THE most important meal of the day is breakfast. This is because breakfast provides the body with glucose. When there is not enough glucose in the body, it can lead to a condition known as hypoglycemia which can cause headaches and can also make one fall into a coma. Also, one is likely to be a bit sluggish or slow. This doesn’t mean other meal times should be skipped. Lunch and early dinner are also important. How does the timing for dinner affect one’s health? Eating late at night is not healthy. When one eats late, digestion does not properly take place. If for any reason one must eat late, make sure you engage in some exercise or do some physical activity for at least three hours. Eating late at night also contributes to one having belly fat. What are the best kinds of food for late night dinner? Very light food such as pap and milk with vegetables, light spaghetti or three slices of bread. Are there certain foods that can help to help burn belly fat? Yes; foods that are high in fiber — both soluble and insoluble fiber — are best for burning belly fat. For a person that intends to lose belly fat, it is not advisable to eat much of fried food. This is because

Burn belly fat with

ofada rice and veggies

it is very slow to digest. If at all fried foods would be eaten, they should be combined with vegetables, roughages and fruits. Can you share one of such foods? Rice, preferably local rice called ofada, served with beans and lots of vegetables. Potato served with cucumber and carrot. It is also important to note that leafy vegetables should not be boiled before

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cooking. You can just wash it with salt and cool water and cook directly. Nowadays, there is so much canned food such as tin tomatoes, sardines, corned beef, sweet corn, etc in most kitchens. How safe are these? It is dangerous to health and we should not be added to our dally meals. What do you prepare as special treat for yourself? Rice. But I make sure I combine it with fruits in the form of cole slaw. However, I prepare this without adding salad cream. What is the best time to eat fruit salad as a meal? For breakfast and lunch. If you take it at night, it’s likely to affect sleep. It is generally believed that eating foods that contain lot of sugar causes diabetes. How true is this? It is not entirely true. Ordinarily, when one takes sugar, the pancreas processes it and everything is fine. But in individuals who are prone to diabetes (for instance if there is a family history of diabetes), taking too much sugar can increase their chances of developing the disease. In such people, sugar intake should be reduced or eliminated. Generally, too much sugar intake is not healthy.

27 August, 2016

intimacy R

Saturday Tribune

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

egular sex relieves stress A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction, according to researchers from Scotland who reported their findings in the journal Biological Psychology. They studied 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. Then the researchers subjected them to stressful situations — such as speaking in public and doing verbal arithmetic — and noted their blood pressure response to stress. Those who had intercourse had better responses to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained. Another study published in the same journal found that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure in cohabiting participants. Yet other research found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure in women. 2. It boosts your immunity Good sexual health may mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Scientists at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., took samples of saliva, which contain IgA, from 112 college students who reported the frequency of sex they had. Those in the “frequent” group — once or twice a week — had higher levels of IgA than those in the other three groups — who reported being abstinent, having sex less than once a week, or having it very often, three or more times weekly.

Why you and your wife should have sex regularly 3. Regular sex burns calories Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions. “Sex is a great mode of exercise,” says Patti Britton, PhD, a Los Angeles sexologist and president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists. It takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well, she says.

4. Regular sex improves heart health While some older folks may worry that the efforts expended during sex could cause a stroke, that’s not so, according to researchers from England. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, scientists found frequency of sex was not associated with stroke in the 914 men they followed for 20 years. And the heart health benefits of sex don’t end there. The researchers also found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.

conversewithyemisi

5. Regular sex boosts self-esteem Boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex, collected by University of Texas researchers and published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. That finding makes sense to Gina Ogden, PhD, a sex therapist and marriage and family therapist in Cambridge, Mass., although she finds that those who already have self-esteem say they sometimes have sex to feel even better. “One of the reasons people say they have sex is to feel good about themselves,” she tells WebMD. “Great sex begins with self-esteem, and it raises it. If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it raises it.”

08055001741 (sms only) yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

My sexual urge is killing me

Dear Yemisi, am 18 years old. I got admission into the university not long ago. Long before now, I seemed to be having issue with having relationship with ladies. I have never been into any relationship and I have never had sex, but I have a very strong sexual urge. My not having sex till date has to do with my background. I am from a Christian background, coupled with my environment. But now, I am so confused. One of my parents is the hard type who is always complaining of my not being social and the talking type which they want. I find it difficult talking to people around me. The truth is, I don’t trust anyone around me enough to discuss such a thing with. Now, I believe I am in an environment where I can get what I want. My sexual urge is killing me. I have tried talking with the opposite sex to relieve myself of the burden, but to no avail. Sometimes, my interaction with girls gets worse, so I separate myself. I have always tried to do the right thing and I don’t know what to do. Should I get someone to get it over with? I don’t know how long I could take this because some of my friends don’t see anything wrong with it. What do you advise please? Victor, 0*09*****3*.

Dear Victor, If I got you right, all you are yearning for is having a sexual partner. Though you did not come straight to hit the issue on the head, but I can understand your predicament. Victor, you cannot be an island unto yourself just because you don’t have confidence in people around you. Isolating yourself from your environment and people will add to your issues because the tendency for you to stay aloof is very rife. Thank God for your admission, but you were not admitted to the university for the sole aim of having the independence to lose your sense of thinking. The situation you have found yourself in is one that is common to teenagers like you and it is not a crime for people of your age not to get confused on certain issues that are features of transition from adolescence to adulthood. It is a phase that you have to go through. You cannot afford to abuse this stage of your life by not being in control of your affairs. From now on, you have to learn to live and communicate with people around you. You need to

de-emphasise self from your thinking as well as first believing in yourself. If you don’t do this, you cannot see good in others. Otherwise you will become an object of ridicule that others will be avoiding. Your friends who are already vast in the trade will want you to join them, but do you have to join the multitude to do evil? Wanting to satisfy your sexual needs now will only land you in trouble. What if you end up impregnating whoever relieves you of your long standing desire just at your shot at sexual intercourse? Are you ready to bear the consequences? It will be in your interest to do a thing at a time. You have to cultivate friendship with the members of the opposite sex before you introduce what should be a future matter than satisfying your immediate need. The moment you go about this carelessly, you are not likely to have it smooth with ladies soonest. Victor, please, in the quest to establish a mutual relationship with any lady, you must not be guided by your peers attitude of ‘peck and go’. Right from onset, have it at the back of your

mind that you are not sexually hungry so as not to build your future on a shaky foundation. Having just a fling goes beyond a five-minute affair! For now, you need members of the opposite sex more as friends than lovers. The purpose of your admission should be established before any frivolity is introduced. If you ask me, your academics are your number one priority. Gaining admission is not just for the fun of it, but the ability to justify that you were not admitted to that school in error. Your friends are not likely to be there when the chips are down. Continue to be the good guy you have been. Pray alongside for God’s guidance.

For Him

BJ, 35, Muslim, public servant, needs a God-fearing Muslim lady aged below 35 for marriage. Call 08034069812. Olaide, 49, banker in a reputable bank based in Lagos, needs a God-fearing, attractive, financially independent woman aged between 45 and 55 years for a relationship. Call 08093688092.

15 interview

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Buhari’s government inherited an economy on life-support —Jigawa gov

Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, recently spoke to journalists in Dutse on a number of issues. ADAMU AMADU brings the excerpts.

OW would you react to the alleged poor socioeconomic policies of the Federal Government that are making life difficult for the citizenry, particularly the common

man? Well, I believe the Federal Government has done remarkably well considering the situation we found ourselves in after we were sworn in on May 29, 2015. People tend to forget that the economic downturn actually started manifesting in 2014 due to a growing mismatch between the profligate and reckless spending by the previous government, fuelled by high oil prices and the resultant shock to the system when prices started to fall. Nigeria’s case was worsened by the fact that with the falling oil prices, our production targets were affected by militants’ activities in the Niger Delta and outright theft of the nation’s crude on a massive scale, perpetrated with the full backing and sanction of government officials. By 2015, the country’s economy was on life-support and was literally handed over to the APC government on a stretcher. If you bother to add up all the billions that were stolen in the name of security and the rot in the oil sector, you will appreciate the fact that these people were not running a government in the last eight years, but [were] simply supervising the organised sharing of public funds amongst themselves. It is actually a miracle that the Buhari administration has been able to come this far without a complete collapse of the economy and the government such as we are seeing in Venezuela, which had the same toxic combination of a collapsing mono economy and an uncaring administration. Without the massive operation to plug the leakages in the system and sending a signal that it’s no longer business as usual, Nigeria would not have lasted up to July 2015 with a 70 percent drop in revenue and the unsustainable recurrent expenditure that continues to take the lion’s share. President Buhari has very few options with the way he was dealt with the situation and the inevitable road to economic diversification that he is leading the country is the silver lining in the Nigerian economic cloud, because even if oil prices rebound subsequently, the commodity will only be one of the several pillars of a decentralised economic model. It has not been easy and nobody is pretending that it will be, but Nigerians have to understand that we must pass through this very difficult phase before things get better and macroeconomics is no respecter of persons or regimes. It took President Obama the whole of his first term to reverse the tide of the economic downturn brought about by the fiscal recklessness of the Bush administration to fund the Iraq war and the global recession, and it was only halfway through his second term that the outlook turned positive. Even when people talk about the falling naira, exchange rates are largely a reflection of the confidence people have in any particular currency and rates are not dependent on what President Buhari or the CBN governor decrees them to be. The indices are your foreign exchange reserves, your trade balance or imbalance and the perception of future outlook, so there is no way to support a N160 to the dollar rate that was prevalent in a $110 per dollar oil price regimen and $60 billion reserve scenario with what we have at the moment. We need to diversify our economy and push towards a basket of export commodities that will shore up foreign earnings while concurrently weaning ourselves off foreign nonessential consumer goods that continuously put pressure on the naira, otherwise demand for dollar supply and perception will continue to hold sway in rate determination. We are on the path to recovery and the outlook is very good, with focus and reorientation, we are seeing a three-fold increase in rice yield per hectare this harvest season and in a lot of states like Kebbi and Ebonyi, the story is the same, if dwindling oil prices force us back to the farm and this in turn ensures food security in two to three years, Nigeria will be back to the glory years. But there are doubts from experts who question lack of any visible short, medium or even long term policies that they think could seriously guide this nation to economic stability. Do you think lack of these clear policies may not hinder this optimism you are expressing about the economy? I just told you that with the best policies, economists and largest fiscal footprint in the world, it took the United States almost six years to turn the tide from the economic meltdown that manifested at the end of the Bush administration, the economy does not respond to lamentations or criticism or

It is not fair to castigate the president for refusing to interfere in the process of the legislature choosing its leaders and then turn round to blame him for not intervening because they have issues with the judicial arm. political chicanery and it took eight years of systemic maladministration under an atmosphere of unprecedented oil wealth to bring it to this sorry state, why does anyone expect Buhari to wave a magic wand and suddenly shore up the value of the naira, reflate our foreign reserves and crash food prices countrywide? Have you counted the zeros behind the numbers coming out of the reports on stolen funds? Are you aware that our inherited foreign reserves are only slightly more than the amount in private domiciliary accounts? Do you know that illicit funds traced to a few individuals can fund several months of foreign exchange auctions? I think we should thank our stars and heave a collective sigh of relief that a change at the helm has probably brought this country back from the brink of collapse, because a continuation of the former government would not have exposed the mess we were in; we would just wake up one day and find that they have taken their private jets and handed over what is left of the country to Boko Haram. It is not a question of policy, the fact is the bleeding and wastage has to be stopped and a clear signal sent out that it cannot be business as usual and I think what has been achieved in that regard in the last 12 months is nothing short of a miracle and there was a simultaneous push towards a strategic refocusing of the economy back to the real sector which in Nigeria’s case is agriculture and manufacturing, both of which have suffered abject neglect because we chose to use the oil earnings to import everything, including ironically, petroleum products from countries that have no oil but have the refining capacity. It’s very sad. As a businessman, are you then confident that these policies can reverse the mass loss of jobs and inject opportunities for the teeming populace who

are struggling to have access to jobs? Definitely, the current trend is paying off. Look at states like Jigawa and Kebbi and many others that are diversifying their economies through a complete restructuring of the agricultural landscape. The truth is, our only mainstay is fertile agricultural land, which, through a combination of archaic cultivation and production methods and a preference for importation, has remained stagnated. Nigeria is the only country I know that doesn’t place food security on the same pedestal as the security of its borders, and we have 160 million mouths to feed. The mantra was to import everything we eat using oil dollars to the detriment of local production so there is no incentive to localise production and increase our competitiveness. How do you expect a farmer tilling his land with a hoe and getting an average of three tonnes per hectare of rice per season to compete with his Thailand counterpart getting eight tonnes twice a year? By sheer dint of focus we have achieved a three-fold increase in outgrower farm rice production this season with farmers averaging 6 tons per hectre with less input utilization. We are expanding this program through harnessing 50 hectare clusters across 287 wards in the state. Our agricultural productivity has been so dismal that with appropriate focus and best practices we can double the output of almost every staple crop without increasing the land under cultivation and this is the only way we can throw away the shackles of food importation and provide employment opportunities through the complete agric value chain. APC governors recently intervened in the seeming crisis within the party between the legislature and the executive. What is really causing these frictions within the party? I do not see any serious crisis within the APC or between the National Assembly and the executive. People are just mischievously trying to blow things out of proportion and bring a political angle to every mundane administrative issue. We are running a presidential system of government with three independent arms whose roles have been spelt out by the constitution. Since the constitution cannot envisage every foreseeable scenario, the judiciary has been saddled with the responsibility of interpreting it in case of dispute or overlap and its decisions are binding and final. Because we are coming from an era of near anarchy where the executive had its finger in every arm and had bastardised the system, people were expecting business as usual. It is not fair to castigate the president for refusing to interfere in the process of the legislature choosing its leaders and then turn round to blame him for not intervening because they have issues with the judicial arm. The truth is that even those advocating the so-called political solution are asking the president to call the Continues pg35

16 healthandfitness My menstrual pains

Dr. Wale Okediran

I have been having menstrual pains for a long time. Please, I need your help. Sakirat (by SMS) Menstrual cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea or period pains, can be caused by several factors such as endometriosis - the tissue that lines the uterus develops outside the uterus. Uterine fibroids - noncancerous tumors and growths in the wall of the uterus adenomyosis - the tissue that lines your uterus grows

08055069356 (sms only)

Eczema is “a general term for any superficial inflammatory process involving the skin primarily, marked early by redness, itching, minute papules and vesicles, weeping, oozing and crusting. The specific cause of eczema remains unknown, but it is believed to develop due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Some of the things

waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

Rashes on my buttocks

into the muscular walls of the uterus. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) - a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium. Cervical stenosis the opening of the cervix is small and limits menstrual

flow. It is, therefore, important for you to undergo a thorough medical examination in order to know the cause of your painful menses so that the attending doctor will know how to treat you.

Eczema on my face I am 37 years old. I have been having eczema on my face for a very long time. All efforts to remove it have been unsuccessful. I need your help. Okoye (by E SMS)

Saturday Tribune

27 August, 2016

you can do to help control your eczema include a daily skin care routine made up of frequent washing of the face with soap followed by the use of anti-eczema creams which can be purchased across the counter. It is also good to avoid and reduce any form of stressful situation.

Equally important is the reduction of the frequency of scratching and rubbing of the skin as well as limiting contact with materials or substances that may irritate your skin. Dress in soft, breathable clothing and avoid itchy fabrics like wool, that can further irritate your eczema.

I live in a ‘face-me-I face-you’ apartment. A few days ago, my neighbour’s younger brother had a fit in the corridor and was twitching and foaming from the mouth. He even urinated on himself. Some people said that what the boy had was epilepsy and that we should pack

out of the house to avoid contracting the disease. Please, I need your advice. Oluseye (by SMS)

I have rashes on my buttocks and even on my private part. I have used all kinds of medications in both the native and conventional ways without any improvement. Please help me as I am tired of the disease. Gladys (by SMS) Rashes on the buttocks can be due to many causes

medication that will adequately cure the rashes can be identified.

My mother’s addiction to tobacco MY 70-year-old mother is addicted to tobacco that is grounded with potash (taba). She always puts a pinch on her tongue several times a day before spitting out the debris after a while. Apart from the smelly brownish spit which she produces every

Is this epilepsy?

From your description, what the boy has is most likely epilepsy. However, contrary to the belief that the disease is

such as Scabies, worms as well as sexually transmitted diseases. To make a correct diagnosis of any kind of rashes requires that a doctor to examine the rashes with naked eyes. That way, the kind of

contagious, epilepsy is not. Therefore, there won’t be any need for you pack out of the house. What you should do will be to advise your neighbour to take his brother to hospital. With proper care, epilepsy even though cannot be cured, can be well controlled.

day, her tongue has been blackened by the black stuff. Every effort to make her stop the habit has failed. Kindly help. Onoje (by SMS) Any form of addiction be it to tobacco, alcohol or marijuana is always difficult to stop. However, you need to firmly

explain to your mother that apart from tobacco, the potash in her ‘taba’ is very harmful to her tongue and body. You can also help her to get a harmless replacement for the ‘taba’ such as chewing gum or peppermint. With these efforts, she will stop the habit sooner or later.

Could mouthwash combat gonorrhoea? By Michelle Roberts (BBC News online) “A gargle a day keeps gonorrhoea away” is an unlikely slogan, but researchers believe it could hold some truth. Recent studies have shown people can carry the sexually transmitted infection in their throats for weeks or months without symptoms. And they could spread it to others through unprotected oral sex. So investigators are looking at whether regular mouthwash might help stop the silent spread and experts think it is an idea that is worth exploring. The ‘clap’ Gonorrhoea is a bacterium and it can live in secretions in the throat as well as the penis and vagina and is spread by oral, anal and vaginal sex. The disease - which was common in the first half of the 1900s until the discovery of an effective antibiotic treatment - is seeing a resurgence. Doctors are worried that the number of new cases have been rocketing in recent years. Latest figures from Public Health England show that between 2012 and 2015 gonorrhoea infections rose by 53%, from 26,880 to 41,193. Medics are increasingly concerned that the infection may eventually become untreatable, following the emergence of “super-gonorrhoea” - a drug-resistant strain that can dodge the usual antibiotic used to treat it. Super gonorrhoea Public Health England recently detected an outbreak of azithromycin-resistant gonorrhoea in northern England. Fortunately, the strain can still be treated with another antibiotic called ceftriaxone, but PHE says there’s no room for complacency and it’s monitoring the situation carefully. If azithromycin becomes ineffective against gonorrhoea, there is no “second lock” to prevent or delay the emergence of ceftriaxone resistance and gonorrhoea may become untreatable, they warn. Cases were first spotted in Leeds in November 2014.

It then spread to the West Midlands and the south of England, with five cases found in London. By April 2016, the total number of people identified with the infection had reached 34 and included heterosexual couples and men who have sex with men. Condoms are the best way to stop gonorrhoea spreading, but some experts believe there may also be another opportunity - mouthwash. Studies suggests the throat could be a breeding ground for hard-to-treat bacteria. Gonorrhoea can persist here without symptoms and swap DNA with other throat microbes that already know how to dodge certain antibiotics. Prof Christopher Fairley from Monash University has been testing the mouthwash theory in 58 male volunteers. All of the men had detectable levels of throat gonorrhoea at the start of the trial. He asked half of them to gargle and swill for a minute with saltwater while he gave the others a branded antiseptic mouthwash, bought from a supermarket, to use instead. He retested them five minutes later to see if the gargling had helped. It appeared to, reducing the detectable amount of bacteria significantly more than the saltwater rinse. Prof Fairley says more studies are needed to check how long this effect might last and what protection it might

offer. He’s now recruiting more volunteers to take part in a three-month trial to see what impact daily gargling might have on gonorrhoea throat carriage. Dr Anatole Menon-Johansson is an expert in sexual health and clinical director for the charity Brook. He says Prof Fairley “could well be on to something”. “I heard his presentation at a medical conference and I was really impressed. It’s obviously still only a hypothesis. There’s lots more to do and explore. But it’s interesting, and it’s got everybody thinking. “If you could use a mouthwash there’s a chance at the population level that it might make a difference to infection rates.” Men visiting his sexual health clinic are offered pharyngeal testing for gonorrhoea. If the test comes back positive, the clinic runs extra checks to see what treatments the bacteria will respond to and which ones are doomed to fail because of drug resistance. “These organisms have been with us humans for thousands of years and will continue to be. The challenge is working out ways to control transmission and make sure we have drugs that can still treat it.” Dr Gwenda Hughes, Head of the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Section at Public Health England (PHE), said: “Gonorrhoea infection in the throat usually has no symptoms but both men and women can get it by having unprotected oral sex. “The only protection is by using condoms when having sex with new or casual partners and it’s important to have regular check-ups at a sexual health clinic. Sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men should get tested for STI’s at least every three months. “PHE continues to monitor, and act on, the spread of antibiotic resistance and potential gonorrhoea treatment failures by investigating identified cases, sexual history and treatment to make sure they are managed promptly.”

27 August, 2016

Divorce

Saturday Tribune

Court & Crime

He’s irresponsible, comes home whenever it pleases him, woman tells court

She encouraged me to marry another wife —Husband

My mother-in-law told me they wanted to give my wife to a rich man —Husband No, It’s a lie —Wife

man, Jeremiah Ibrahim, has told a Jikoyi customary court in Abuja that his mother in-law and his wife must produce his son dead or alive. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Ibrahim, who resides in Nyanya, said this when he testified in a divorce petition filed by his wife during the week. “My mother in-law and my wife must produce my son dead or alive, because when my wife ran out of my house with my son to her parents’ house, my son was alive and healthy. “My mother-in-law called me on phone to come and collect the bride prize I paid on my wife that they are going to marry her to a rich man. “When I asked her about my children, she told me not to worry that my children would be okay, only for my wife to bring me before the court now, telling me that my son is dead,” he said. He told the court that he would have travelled to the village to see his children but with the way his mother-in-law threatened him, he decided otherwise. The respondent said that he suspected a foul play, therefore, he wanted to see his son dead or alive. Ibrahim also told the court that for the

five years he had lived with his wife that it had been like hell. “We have been married for five years, and all these years, it has been hell on earth for me. She does not follow instruction, she goes out and comes in whenever she wants. “She leaves the house even at midnight and when I confronted her, she asked me if I married her as security to be guarding my house. Ibrahim told the court that his wife was in several relationships with different men. “My wife has a lot of male friends, she is always hiding them from me. One day her phone rang and she was not around. “When I looked at the phone, it was a female name that I saw, but when I picked the call, it was a man’s voice that I heard. “Then I investigated some other female contacts she had on her phone and realised that they were all her male friends,” he

inside

said. He also told the court that a day after their traditional marriage that he caught his wife with a man who confessed that “my wife lied to him that she was not married. “I wanted to end it all then but because of my Christian upbringing, I decided to forgive her,” he said. Grace, a businesswoman, who was present in court, denied all the allegations. She also told the court that her husband had initially said that he was not the father of the boy, and had no right over the boy. Grace told the court that the boy fell sick and died when they got to the village. She also said that she called her husband’s uncle and told him about the death of the boy. President of the court, Labaran Gusau, said that the court had a duty to ascertain the circumstances of the burial of the boy. Gusau told the petitioner to call the hospital doctor where the boy died and the uncle to her husband who she allegedly called after to come as witness to the case. He adjourned the case till August 25 for continuation of hearing.

He’s not normal, he used to See pages 18 & 23 forcefully have sex with me —Wife I forced her ’cos she denied me sex and I didn’t have a girlfriend —Husband

A businesswoman, Folake Ayinde, has urged an Agege customary court in Lagos State to dissolve her 13-year-old marriage to her husband, Timothy for alleged constant battery and irresponsible behaviour. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Folake, 38, who resides in Ibafo area of Ogun State, also cited threats to life and lack of care for her and their three children. She told the court that her estranged husband lives with his parents in Sogunle in Lagos and comes to their matrimonial home whenever it pleases him. The petitioner claimed that Timothy kept harassing her by sending his colleagues to assault and beat her for ‘no just cause’. “My husband does not take care of me and our children. “I am the one responsible for the upkeep and paying school fees of our children,” she said. Folake urged the court to dissolve the marriage as she was no longer interested in the marriage. In his response, Timothy denied the allegations and said that “I still love my wife.” Timothy said that his wife encouraged him to have another wife outside of their marriage. “She stopped me from having sexual intercourse with her. “My wife comes home late from her business where she sells wine and beer and always abandon our last child with our 13-year-old daughter. “I reported Folake to her parents, but instead of reprimanding her, they supported her, they gave her nature of business as excuse. “Her parents told me that her business sells mostly at night, therefore, she cannot come home early,” Timothy said. He alleged that whenever he gives his wife money for feeding and upkeep, the petitioner usually diverts it to her personal business. The respondent added that, “she moved out of the house with the children without my knowledge. “I tried reaching out to her, but she kept insulting me on the phone. “From the day l told her that I earn N30, 000 salary monthly, she took advantage of that and started embarrassing me publicly,” he said President of the court, Mr Phillips Williams, adjourned the case till September 1 for mediation.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

courtandcrime

He’s not normal, he used to forcefully have sex with me —Wife

I forced her ’cos she denied me sex and I didn’t have a girlfriend —Husband By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin

NSATISFIED with her marriage, a trader, Folake Adewale, has pleaded with an Alakuko customary court in Lagos State to dissolve her seven-yearold marriage, over allegations of frequent beatings and forceful sexual intercourse by her husband. Folake 42, told the court that she does not think her husband is normal. “I don’t think my husband is normal because after beating me, he comes back to his senses and tells me that he did not know he beat me. Many times, he has forcefully made love to me. “There was a time that he returned from his village and insisted on making love to me that night and I turned down his request. I did not sleep for three days for him not to have his way and because he is fond of charms and he is dangerous. I don’t trust him.” Folake further told the court that her husband burgled her wardrobe and stole all her money. She also said she had always been paying for their rent and feeding her child. “My husband has threatened to kill me uncountable times; so, I want the court to dissolve the union for me to have peace,” she pleaded. Her 45-year-old husband, Kehinde Adewale, admitted that he used to forcefully make love to his wife because she was denying him his right. “My wife used to starve me of sex at times for a month and since I don’t have any girlfriend, I’ll force her whenever I am at the peak.” The estranged husband also added that he was always paying the rent and providing for the family. Adewale said he never stole her wife’s money and had never beaten her. He insisted that he still loved his wife. President of the court, Chief Awos Awosola, adjourned the case till November 25 for further hearing.

I beat her mercilessly, then took her to hospital —Husband By Oyeyemi Okunlade A Grade ‘C’ customary court sitting at Inalende, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the marriage of Musbau Fatai and his wife, Sofiat. The plaintiff, Musbau had filed a case of divorce against his wife on the grounds that she is a liar and unruly. Musbau, 43, sworn to an oath before the court that he wanted to divorce his wife because when he met her, she already had three children from her former marriage while their own marriage is blessed with a child.

“I married her after my wife died,” Musbau said. “One of the three children from her former marriage was a sickler. I told my wife to inform her father but the man refused to show up. At that point, I took it upon myself to take the child to a herbalist who treated her and her health condition started improving. Unfortunately, the child later died. “After the child’s death, I persuaded my wife to take her to her father for proper burial but she refused. I reported the case at Ologuneru police station where we were assisted to call the child’s father and he was ordered to bury the child,” he told the court.

My pastor husband is a liar and a violent person —Wife She’s a party freak, does not take care of our child —Husband

He ran away when I told him I was pregnant, woman tells court ‘I abandoned them ’cos she had an affair with a colleague’ By Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin TIRED of being lonely, a 27-year-old woman, Regina Uchechukwu, has prayed the Alakuko customary court in Lagos State to dissolve her six-year-old marriage to her husband, Sharafa Adeyemi, for allegedly abandoning her and their children. “My husband is a furniture maker. I met him in my hometown, Ogoja, in Cross River State when he was producing some furniture items for a bank. A few weeks after, I told him I was pregnant and he ran away. I was so destabilised because I knew nothing about him or his family members. When I was delivered of twins, I called my husband to name the children, but he declined. To my chagrin, he said I should spend the money I was using to make phone call business to take care of the children. “Four years after, I traced my husband to Lagos, when the situation became unbearable. My husband abandoned us in his hometown, where his brother lived. The suffering, however, worsened after my husband’s brother said he could no longer fend for us. “I had to remarry because I could not put up with my husband’s nonchalant attitude. My current marriage is a blessing. My husband takes care of my children’s upkeep, except

their school fees because he says their father is still hale and hearty. So, all I want from Sharafa is to be responsible for the education of his children.” However, Adeyemi denied the allegations, saying he gave Regina money when she was pregnant. He said: “She informed me of her pregnancy during a phone conversation. I asked a colleague who was still in her hometown to give her the sum of N10, 000 for her upkeep. I made

her realise that I was experiencing a lull in my business. Even when she traced me to Lagos, I gave them N400 daily. I had to avoid her because she later told me she and my colleague had an affair. I was also told she was fond of returning home with men at odd hours. Consequently, I had to abandon her and the children when I realised she was expecting another child.” President of the court, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered Adeyemi to pay N32, 000 outstanding balance of the children’s upkeep and advised the parties to obey the law. The case was adjourned till October 23.

A housewife, Oluseyi Mark, has sought the dissolution of her five-year-old marriage to her estranged husband, Jonathan Mark, a pastor, over alleged violence and longtime separation. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Oluseyi, a resident of Osola Street, Ifako in Agege, Lagos State, urged an Agege customary court to terminate the union on grounds of violence, lack of love and longtime separation. The petitioner alleged that her husband, a pastor with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), was fond of beating her constantly over minor issues. “When I was pregnant with our only child, my husband beat and punched me in my stomach. “This made our son to have a scar on his mouth from birth. “Since my husband is a pastor, I reported him to his church so that the elders there could caution him and had a change of attitude. “But, he has refused to change from his violent act,” Oluseyi said She alleged that her husband was also envious of her and would turn violent whenever he saw people around her or trying to hug her. “My husband lies a lot and keeps a dagger at home which he uses to threaten my life,” she said. The petitioner said that she had been living separately from her husband since December 2014. “He has stopped providing for me and our child; I am the one responsible for the education and the upkeep of our only child,” Oluseyi said. The respondent, Jonathan Mark, however, denied all the allegations levelled against him. Jonathan said that his wife was a ‘party freak’. “My wife cannot do without attending parties at the expense of taking proper care of our four-year-old child. “She was, unnecessarily, demanding from me and liked giving me conditions. “Whenever l wanted to have sexual intercourse with my wife, she would give me conditions that were unimaginable and this used to lead to a series of misunderstandings between us,” Jonathan said. He further said that, “whenever we had any quarrel, my wife

and our son will pack out of the house.” The respondent urged the court to grand the dissolution of the marriage as filed by his wife. He, however, asked the court to order his wife to allow him access to his son. The magistrate adjourned the case till September 20 for mediation.

A 32-year-old student, Ayoka Emmanuel, has told a Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa that his girlfriend’s mother, Vivian Izuakor, is hiding his 11-monthold baby from him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Emmanuel said that Izuakor’s daughter, Chilota Lucy Ugochukwu, who was his girlfriend, gave birth to his daughter. He said his relationship with the defendant’s daughter led to pregnancy in which they had a daughter, named Beatrice. “On August 8, I went to the defendant’s house to see my daughter and she told me that she would travel to the village with my daughter for August meeting. “Five days later, I went back to check if she was back, I saw her but she told me that she did not come back with my daughter and all efforts to know where my daughter was proved abortive. “I asked my girlfriend if she knew where her mother took the baby but she also told me that she did not know where her mother took the baby to. “I am pleading with the court to assist me and compel the defendant to bring back my baby and hand her over to the mother (my girfriend) where I can always see her,” he said. Izuakor, however, was absent in court, and the presiding judge, Ibrahim Shekaru, adjourned the matter till September 2 for hearing.

“When I asked her about the car, she lied to me that she only packed it in the pastor’s house. “But surprisingly the pastor and his family came to my house in the car thinking I travelled. “I came back from work one day and she told me that the pastor had an accident with the car and when I confronted her that I did not give the car to the pastor, she slapped me. “I received the beating of my life from her for asking, to the extent that she grabbed my sex organ and tried to kill me,” Alexander said. He also told the court that it had been over a year he last had intercourse with his wife because of the injury he sustained when she grabbed his sex organ.

Biola Azeez - Ilorin A man, Ismail Tunde, has told the magistrates’ court sitting at Centre Igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, that he does not have a problem with his wife if she wants a divorce from him, but insists that she must refund the dowry paid on her and which was collected by her father before their marriage. Asiyata had dragged her husband, Tunde before the customary court presided over by magistrate Ibrahim Abdulkadir, saying she is no longer interested in her marriage with Tunde, because she no longer loves her husband. She has thus begged the court to dissolve the childless marriage. When the magistrate asked Tunde to respond to what his wife said, he said that he also was no longer interested in the marriage, but he had some things he wanted to collect from his wife before the dissolution of the marriage. Tunde said he wanted to collect all items he used in paying dowry for Asiyata, totalling N36, 000 and the sum of N2,000 he spent on Asiyata on their wedding day, including the dress and footwear Asiyata adorned on their wedding day before he would allow her to leave the marriage. Asiyata, while responding to all allegations said that she was not the one that collected all the items Tunde said she collected, adding that everything Tunde said was a surprise to her, because Tunde had said he gave them to her father. Magistrate Ibrahim Abdulkadri Umar adjourned the case till September 20, to allow Tunde substantiate his claims of how Asiyata collected money from him before the court.

I want my daughter released by my girlfriend’s mother, student begs court

My wife gave her car to a pastor, another came to warn me —Physically challenged man tells court A 46-year-old man, Ogah Alexander, has told a Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State that his wife Helen, disrespects and beats him to pulp. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Alexander, of Aso C Mararaba, told the court that “my wife beats and disrespects me because I am deformed in one side of my hands”. He urged the court to dissolve his 13-year-old marriage to Helen contracted in 2003. The marriage is blessed with four children. The petitioner said he once bought a car for his wife but he discovered that she gave the car to a pastor of a church called Ark of Dominion without his knowledge or consent.

‘She must refund the dowry she collected before she can leave the marriage’

“She has been going from one church to another and there was another pastor of a church called World Harvest Church who came to warn me to leave my wife for him. “I was so angry that I had to send him away. Her parents are aware of the situation and all efforts made by them to settle our rift were unsuccessful. “I am pleading with the court to separate us because I can no longer tolerate what my wife is doing to me, the marriage has broken down irretrievably,” Alexander said. Helen, however, was not in court in spite of the court’s summon on her. The presiding judge, Ibrahim Shekaru, adjourned the matter till September 2 and ordered that fresh summons be served on the respondents.

The plaintiff further explained that after the child’s burial, his wife began another round of trouble in the form of blackmail. “She started blackmailing me, saying that I killed her daughter, Ayisatu. She packed out of the house on July 7, 2015, but has not stopped coming to request for our wedding pictures. When her pressure was becoming unbearable, we had to burn the photographs,” he said. Musbau also told the court that Sofiat went to meet his mother to abuse and also beat her. Musbau also alleged that there was a day his wife visited him to foment trouble as usual but that he was provoked so he had to beat her mercilessly. “I was provoked so I beat her and as well carried her to a hospital. After treatment, I paid her hospital bill. This woman wants to kill me,” Musbau said. According to him, Sofiat started misbehaving following his stoppage of her monthly allowance of N6000 after she left his house. Sofiat was said to have moved part of her belongings out of the house over a year ago. The court, however, asked Musbau if he at anytime reported his wife’s misdeeds to her mother, he said, “Her mother came to talk to her in our house and we’ve also gone to meet her in her house about five times.” President of the court, Mr Ramoni Olafenwa, in his judgement, held that, “all efforts to reconcile both parties have failed after a number of adjournments and more so that the plaintiff swore to an oath that the defendant had packed out of the house over a year ago, hence, there is no more love between them. “The court pronounces the marriage between Musbau and Sofiat Fatia dissolved henceforth and the child of the marriage be given N2, 500 every month as food allowance. The money is to be paid to the court. The plaintiff to take care of the child on health, education, moral and financial grounds,” the court ruled.

He abandoned me 3 times but always came back to beg, woman tells court AN Alimosho customary court in Lagos State has dissolved a 14-year-old marriage between a 40-year-old businessman, Abraham Jokotola, and his wife, Adekemi, over adultery and abandonment. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the president of the court, Alhaja S.O. Mumuni, in her judgement, said that it was obvious from available testimonies and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court that the marriage had hit the rock. “Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour the court’s summons. Therefore, the court has no other choice but to dissolve the marriage. “The marriage between Adekemi Jokotola and Abraham Jokotola is hereby dissolved from today in accordance with the Lagos State Customary Law 2013, Cap. 19. “Both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to marry any other partner of their choice, without any hindrance or molestation,” she said. The petitioner, Adekemi, 38, a businesswoman, had approached the court to end her 14-year-old marriage for alleged infidelity and abandonment. She said her husband did not respect and obey their marital vows by abandoning her to marry another woman without her knowledge. “In 2005, after three years of our marriage, my husband packed out of the house to an unknown destination, telling me that he was done with me because I was yet to give him a child. “In 2007, he begged me for forgiveness, I accepted him back. We solemnised our wedding in the church. He abandoned me again in 2009 only to resurface again in 2013,” she said. Adekemi said that when she was tired of his disappearing acts, she called for a meeting of both families. “It was there he confessed that he had married another woman who had a baby for him,” she said. Adekemi urged the court to dissolve the marriage which produced no child, saying, “I do not love him anymore; he is a traitor and a cheat.”

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos Editor Lanre Adewole m: 0811 695 4637

e: olanreade@yahoo.com

‘Filth’ in motion

•How waste disposal trucks turn health menace on Lagos roads For ages, Lagos has been battling with waste disposal, as the state government is combating the menace with a measure of success recorded. But years after the state adopted the Private Sector Participation (PSP) in dealing with its mountains of refuse, residents still feel the state has a long way to go. AKIN ADEWAKUN, CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA and TUNDE DODONDAWA report.

A story of sex and scam

Lagos sugar mummies’ ‘lucrative’ offers By Naza Okoli

long major streets, on pavements beside the roads, on pedestrian bridges, and on notices posted on buildings and walls around the metropolis, there is almost always a note asking you to call a particular number or visit a website should you need a “sugar mummy”. Even though initial information gathered by Saturday Tribune identified Ebute Metta and Gbagada as the major hubs for the business, residents in those areas who were contacted last week said they were not aware. “I have lived in this area (Ebute Metta) for more than twenty years now,” said Thomas Nwike who owns a fashion shop close to Alagomeji. “I know there are sugar mummies everywhere in Lagos; but I don’t think that this place is their headquarters or anything like that.” Covert affair It is not often possible to reach a sugar mummy directly, as many of them are

represented by “agents.” It is the responsibility of these agents to “screen” prospective “sugar boys” and present them to the women. According to findings by Saturday Tribune, the boys are expected to be handsome, reliable, trustworthy, and “durable” in bed. The more influential women prefer university students or recent graduates who are unemployed. The sugar boy’s fee is negotiable. Where the sugar mummy takes extra interest in him, she usually “buys” him off, by paying a large sum of money to the agent. For one-offs, however, payment is made per night, and it ranges from N80, 000 to N180, 000, depending on the status of the sugar mummy and the “quality” of the sugar boy.

agos and its environs were daily becoming submerged in its own wastes, and it was ‘glaringly’ obvious that this once beautiful city, which prides itself as the nation’s Centre of Excellence, was fast losing aesthetics. Managing the waste generated by residents was becoming increasingly difficult, constituting an embarrassment and a major disincentive to whoever is saddled with the responsibility of marketing the city. But the hope and plans of those saddled with the task of presiding over the affairs of the state are not only to exude excellence, but for the city to be able to stand tall in the comity of mega cities around the world and become a prototype of what a decent city should look like. And, for them, that could not be achieved in a filthy environment, which the city was fast turn-

Continues on pg20

Eko Akete

Of street trading and abandoned trucks A Reporter’s Diary

Organised fraud Our investigation, however, shows that this “venture” has been infiltrated by a large network of fake agents who, on a daily basis, con unsuspecting “sugar boys” out of thousands of money. Continues on pg22

ing into then; hence the advent of the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA). LAWMA, an agency saddled with the responsibility of cleaning up the city and ensuring its hygiene created by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in the state, was seen by many as something urgently needed if the city was to regain its lost glory. Interestingly, as a way of ensuring that those mandates were fully delivered, one of the first steps taken by the agency was to introduce the Private Sector Participation (PSP) initiative, which allows individuals or operators outside government to collaborate with the agency, in its task of ensuring a cleaner Lagos. Not a few believe the agency actually started well, in the task of ensuring a cleaner Lagos, as evidenced in the enhanced aesthetics of the city today.

Photo: Courtesy exclusivemummy.com

Hilarious video sparks newsroom row

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Weekend Lagos

Eko Akete Of street trading and abandoned trucks

Lagosians not used to paying refuse collectors —Chair, House C’tee on environment

•We are making interventions —LAWMA boss

Continued from pg19

The usual spectacle of wastes on every nook and cranny of the city, including its highways, are suddenly disappearing. For instance, major highways such as Agege Motor Road and Awolowo Road in Ikeja, where heaps of refuse and human faeces, used to be a common sight, today wear a new look. But in spite of these positives, not a few, however, are still of the opinion that the quality bar is being gradually lowered by some of the PSP operators. It is a common sight to see the waste disposal trucks, which, ordinarily should have served as a tool for cleaning up refuse in the state becoming a refuse themselves. For instance, in spite of having close to 500 PSP operators involved in that cleaning business in Lagos, it’s obvious that a sizeable number of these operational vehicles are ill-maintained. While expressing his views about the operations of PSP operators in his area, a resident who lives on Omotola Street in Ikosi Ketu area of the city who gave his name as Bolaji believes a lot still needs to be done in the area of ensuring that PSP operators keep to the terms of the agreement. “In this area, you hardly see any of these trucks in good condition. They break down easily, even while on duty. And once that happens, you can be sure that the area that ‘hosts’ such broken down truck is in trouble. What oozes out of the truck is always unpalatable,” he stated. Bolaji, however, added that since the PSP operators’ birds had learnt to fly without perching, the residents’ hunters too are fast learning to shoot without ceasing. ‘Interestingly for the past one and a half years now, they no longer come to this area, because the people

are not really paying since they are not satisfied with their service,” Bolaji stated. While Mr. Gbadebo Ezekiel would still readily pardon the operators over their inability to maintain their vehicles, one thing he finds unsavoury in the activities of these waste disposal agents is the way the heaps of refuse are moved from one point to the other. “It is totally unhygienic, otherwise, how do you explain a situation where those wastes are exposed, with some flying around as the vehicles move from one place to the other within the city? Ideally, those wastes are not supposed to be seen, they should be in the enclosure at the back of the trucks. But, what we witness in most cases is the exact opposite. The trucks themselves have become filth in motion,” he stated. Other communities have not fared better too. Some residents of such communities in Lagos have continued to decry how heaps of refuse generated in their communities have continued to pose serious health hazards to the people there, with no PSP operators in sight. Some have even attributed the increase in the number of rats in such communities to the ineffectiveness of these operators. For instance, Saturday Tribune’s investigation in some communities such as Adura, Salolo and Meiran, in Agbado Ijaye area of the city, Orile Agege, Ijora Badia, parts of Apapa-Ajegunle and Makoko, revealed that the people are gradually devising other means of getting rid of their wastes. While some simply leave the heaps of refuse along the roads, in front of their houses and in other unwholesome places, others prefer to wait for the rains, to enable them to empty the contents into nearby drainage systems, open gutters and other waterways. Quite recently, in a community called Salolo in Ag-

bado-Ijaiye (widely regarded as one of Lagos’ most densely populated communities), piles of refuse were seen close to an open drainage, awaiting the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) and their private service providers (PSP) to come and pick them up. Investigations showed that the refuse had been in that state for about five days. When briefly interviewed by Saturday Tribune, a middle-aged man in that community, said that residents had adopted this method of getting rid of their wastes because of the slow response of the agency entrusted with the responsibility of evacuating and managing waste in the state, LAWMA-PSP. “For close to a month, nobody saw LAWMA people here. My refuse kept piling up and had begun to stink and had also started producing maggots. We cannot burn our refuse because there is no space for that, so we had to opt for this idea. Nobody should vilify us, because we do not have any other choice,” he stated. The man’s statement may not be far from the truth as physical observations made during similar visits to a few other suburbs and even some communities in the main parts of Lagos suggested that a lot of residents were also having a hard time disposing off their wastes. For instance at a section of Agege, just metres away from the popular Pen Cinema, an entire drainage was observed to have been virtually taken over by refuse. Similarly, once in a while, a mountain of refuse can be spotted at a market and car park at Mosalasi Alhaja area of Agege en route the popular Oba Akran Road. According to information gathered, the failure of LAWMA trucks to regularly pick up the refuse generated by traders in the market often leaves the traders with little or no choice but to dump their refuse in that section of the market, hoping that the refuse so discarded would be eventually picked up by the authorised trucks. One of the traders in the market, a certain Mallam Audu, argued that being a market, it should be expected that traders would generate huge amount of refuse on a daily basis. He, however, wondered why the refuse collectors sometimes disappear for days, thus leaving traders with little or no option but to find a solution by themselves. “We pay our LAWMA fees regularly, so I don’t see any reason we should spend days without having our refuse picked. Those in charge ought to know that whatever attention they give residential apartments for the disposal of waste should be doubled in the case of markets,” said Mallam Audu, who sells grocery at the market which is just a few metres away from residential apartments. But in its bid to sanitise the state, the Lagos State government, through its relevant bodies, especially the Ministry of the Environment, is known for its massive clampdowns on those who wrongly dispose

off their wastes. This has given rise to a massive clampdown on some individuals who for a token always help people dispose off their wastes with the aid of carts. Such refuse cart pushers, often referred to as ‘abokis’, have been accused of discarding the refuse collected from various houses into unauthorised locations such as drainage systems and waterways. A visit to Alimosho Local Government Area revealed several broken down LAWMA trucks, awaiting repairs, parked around the local government secretariat, with residents having a hard time coping with pungent odour emanating from the trucks. Residents of buildings situated at Raji Oba and other adjoining streets in Alimosho complained of not seeing any of those trucks for days. Residents of Apatira Street in the same local government area also had such sad tale to tell when Saturday Tribune visited. Curiously, a LAWMA-certified PSP operator in the area, Mr. Jamiu Owolabi, would not want the community to see PSP as the root cause of the present situation the community had found itself. He would rather blame the whole thing on the refusal by the residents of the area to settle their waste collection bills. According to him, “several houses you see here have defaulted in paying their bills. Some houses owe as much as N200,000 while most houses owe N50,000. The bills we collect are supposed to be used to pay salaries of workers that are faced with potential health hazards. “We have observed that Lagosians are not used to settling their bills promptly, that is why we’ve decided that any of those buildings that refuses to settle their debt won’t be serviced,” he argued. On the issues of rickety trucks belonging to LAWMA,

Several houses you see here have defaulted in paying their bills. Some houses owe as much as N200,000 while most houses owe N50,000. The bills we collect are supposed to be used to pay salaries of workers that are faced with potential health hazards.

Owolabi insists that the trucks do not belong to LAWMA but its agents who are solely responsible for its repairs. “I don’t work directly with LAWMA but I am an agent. We are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of our trucks. Poor revenue generation may also be responsible for rickety trucks you see and until Lagosians settle their bills promptly, the scenario may continue,’ he stated. LAWMA responds But when contacted, the Executive Chairman of LAWMA, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejokun, who spoke through the public relations officer of the agency, attributed the problem largely to the inability of residents to pay their bills promptly. “Actually, the PSP operators are trying their best in getting rid of waste in every nook and cranny of the state, even under very difficult situation. But residents are also not helping matters, because when they don’t pay their bills they make life very difficult for the operators,” he said. “There have been instances where PSP operators are owed money for up to three months and even more. If they are not paid, how do you expect the operators to maintain their trucks let alone break even?” Adejokun said. But the LAWMA boss noted that despite all these, LAWMA always comes in with various interventions, including the formation of various monitoring and advocacy groups, to help PSP operators do their job, so that residents will not be at the receiving end. “For example, we have provided a toll-free line (5577) which residents can call at anytime they are faced with any form of difficulty,” he added. “We also have our own trucks that are sent out to work anytime a PSP operator cannot carry out their duties. We do all these because we don’t take waste issues lightly,” the LAWMA boss said. Speaking in an interview, the chairman, House Committee on the Environment, Hon. Saka Fafunmi, pointed out that the attitude of some PSP operators in the state had given rise to the suggestion that a state of emergency on the environment should be declared if Lagos truly hoped to realise its megacity status dream. Fafunmi, who represents Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 1 in the Assembly, however pointed out that the problem could also be attributed to residents’ unwillingness to pay their PSP fees, which he said often made PSP operators to do their duties half-heartedly.

“What is happening now is the human factor. What we are experiencing now is because people are not willing to pay for their refuse disposal fees,” he said. “We have seen a very sharp decline in the activities of the PSP and that informed the decision of the Environment Committee of the House to want to hold a summit on the environment as a whole family,” he added, saying there’s the need for the Assembly to find a way of bringing stakeholders on PSP together. “We need to set standard for the PSP operators. Most of them complain that since we (the government) stopped paying them directly, they’ve been finding it difficult to collect money from members of the public and as a result, domestic operators are seriously suffering, but truly, some operators are not just competent,” Fafunmi added. “Most of the PSP operators have one truck, some of them don’t even have any, while some of them don’t even have business being PSP operators at all and they all claim to be PSP operators. “What I have found out is that some of them even collect refuse once in a month and they would go and knock on the doors of the people for money for service that was not rendered and the people would not want to pay. “So, what we need to do is to declare an emergency on waste collection in Lagos State if we want the state to be the state of our dream. We need to do something to forestall the spread of diseases. If wastes are not properly managed, it could be so disastrous and we would start spending a lot of money to cure rather than to prevent the spread of diseases,” Fafunmi added. The lawmaker’s views seem to buttress the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare’s recent remarks, where he restated the state government’s resolve to ensure a refuse-free environment in Lagos. Therefore, as part of ways to protect the environment, the commissioner appealed to the residents not to patronise cart pushers who improperly dispose waste illegally collected in unauthorised places. Interestingly, as the blame game continues, one thing that is crystal clear is the fact that it is not yet uhuru in the area of refuse management in a city that generates more than 10,000 metric tonnes of waste on a daily basis in the state. And it is obvious that Lagosians would not mind declaring a state of emergency to ensure that some of these identified lapses are rectified.

Lagos, the commercial capital city of Nigeria, no doubt is a place with its own challenges, which government tackles through one form of legislation or the other. Following the recent fiasco at Maryland area where a street hawker ran into a moving truck that eventually crushed him to death as he was trying to escape arrest by the officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), a development that led the victim’s colleagues to attack and destroy a total of 49 BRT buses with the repair cost put at N139 million, the Lagos State government reinforced its commitment to zero tolerance on street trading. But what has been the situation on the ground as being witnessed in the state is that it is perhaps going to be difficult to carry out the order. This is because on major highways in the state, hawkers still have free day doing their businesses as if the law does not exist, while buyers who have so much got accustomed to doing their shopping on the streets or highways still don’t care a hoot on what the government is saying on prohibition, and the law enforcers appear to be helpless in such circumstance. So if those alleged abuses are happening on highways under the gaze of the operatives who have been put in charge to apprehend the offenders, what excuse can one then offer if such becomes the order of the day around the secretariat in Alausa, the seat of power in Lagos where street trading is being conducted unrestricted? And this is more so when such venture is taking place in an area very close by the headquarters of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), an agency primarily put in charge of enforcing ban on street trading in the state. Come to the front of the police station at Alausa on the Obafemi Awolowo Road at a place where the traffic light is situated, you cannot fail to see hawkers of groundnuts positioning themselves, waiting for the traffic light to flash red to send signal that it is time to jump on the road to ply their wares to the motorists and passengers alike. It is indeed a strategic spot to make their money on a daily basis, while others still ply their various wares as they move around the secretariat unchallenged. Again, it appears that the frontage of the police station at Alausa is becoming a spot for abandoned vehicles! No, don’t let one jump into conclusion yet because sometime ago when a truck was abandoned on the same spot for several days, maybe months, and a picture of the affected vehicles was flashed on Lagos Metro page of our sister paper, the Nigerian Tribune, the authorities quickly rose to the occasion and removed it in a jiffy. This time, one can find more than one truck abandoned on that same spot and it is absolutely the only spot on the entire stretch of Obafemi Awolowo Road down from Ikeja to the Secretariat where such abandoned trucks could be found. So we believe the authorities would rise up fast like they did in the past to remove them without any delay.

27 August, 2016 Continued from pg19

Most of these agents are active on the internet, where several websites are dedicated entirely for this purpose. Indeed, information gleaned from a number of general dating websites showed that requests for sugar mummies and sugar boys are dominant. For example, on adsafrica.com. ng, as of midday on Thursday, the category “Women Looking for Men in Lagos” had 1,344 requests, while “Men Looking for Women in Lagos” had only 667. To understand better how this business operates, Saturday Tribune, posing as a prospective customer, contacted one of the agents and requested help to meet a sugar mummy. The first agent who identified herself as Mrs Ruth spoke briskly, above what sounded like generator sounds in the background. After she had determined that the person on the phone was unemployed, young, handsome, educated, and could last a minimum of four hours in bed, she said: “I will get you a sugar mummy. She is a fine woman who is very rich. You will like her. Just send me N500 recharge card. I will use it to call her and arrange for the two of you to meet. The money you will get from her is N80 000, per night. After this call, send me a text message. Include your name, age, location, and the recharge card I told you about. I will call you after I have talked with the madam, ok?” When she did not immediately receive the text message she had asked for, she called, and when she was told the whole plan was still being considered, she lost her cool. “You’re not serious. You think I have your time, abi? Nonsense-man!” A second agent whose mobile number appeared up to eight different times on a website identified himself as Mr Mark. Most of the questions he asked were similar to those asked by Ruth. But when Saturday Tribune observed that N500 was too much for him to use to set up the meeting, he brought it down to N400. “You see, I want to help you,” he said. “You said you’re not employed, and I just want to help you. Just send the recharge card. Then

Saturday Tribune

Sugar mummies as new Lagos scam Photos: Courtesy exclusivemummy.com

Young guys actually wake up in the morning and go to their place of work which is a sugar mummy’s apartment.

send your full name, location and the hotel where you want to meet your sugar mummy. I will call her and you can meet her, even tomorrow. She will pay you N180,000 for the night, and you can pay us N40, 000 from it.” Mr Mark seemed the better choice; and so, the recharge card and all the information he requested were promptly sent to him. Two minutes after, he called back, and sounded quite pleased. “I got your text message,” he said. “Thanks. But there is a form you have to fill. It’s eight thousand naira only. I will send you my account number. If you can pay early tomorrow, I will meet you at 12pm at the hotel with the form. The sugar mummy will be there too. She is a rich woman;

just tell her what you want; don’t be afraid; she will help you. She has companies, and since you said you’re a graduate, she can even help you get a job.” Asked if it would be possible to pay him upon receipt of the N180, 000, he said, “No, this N8,000 must be paid before you meet her. It is for your form. The sugar mummy will bring the form to the hotel for you to fill. But because I know you are not employed, I can take N5,000 from you and I will use my N3,000 to complete it for you.” There were several contradictions in his story. At a point he said the form would be brought to the hotel by him; at another he said it would be brought by the sugar mummy herself. Meanwhile, his

text message which arrived minutes later read: “Maneger details: Uzoya, XXX acc 0049288XXX. XXX Bank plc.” Strangely, it did not contain the name “Mark.” Even more puzzling, a caller-identity application (Truecaller) identified the owner of Mark’s mobile number as “XXX Adebayo”. When he was never contacted again nor paid the agreed sum, he continued to call throughout the day. When, however, he was finally contacted later in the day on Thursday and confronted with all the conflicting facts, he flared up: “I was just trying to help you, and you are talking rubbish. You have to be a man… you have to be a man... What are you talking…? You have to be a man…” He spoke mostly the same words for a long time, repeating “You have to be a man” many times. Caring mothers There is, it would seem, a variant of this practice which, observers say, is beginning to gain ground in parts of Lagos and beyond. Mr Kola Aderibigbe, an engineer who

A Reporter’s Diary Hilarious video sparks newsroom row By Chukwuma Okparaocha

Perhaps, you have watched the hilarious video of a song entitled: “Change Blues,” which made the rounds recently and was largely circulated via the social media, especially whatsapp. The song, which is apparently a caricature of the original “Reggae Blues” a blockbuster by fast rising music act, Harrysong, was written by a certain Kuro as his own way of speaking against what he deems not right in the system. The comical song has somehow become a cult song of some sort among different cadres of people, including journalists, and thus repeatedly generating heated arguments among them. On a number of occasions, it has led to debates among colleagues in the newsrooms, where pro and anti government elements engage in heated arguments that would ensure their voices are heard blocks away.

But once in a while, the arguments might want to turn awry and would require a quick intervention of people around to help put an end to it. I had such an experience when I visited a friend of mine who works for another newspaper company in Lagos. Right from the gate of the company, I knew something was wrong, as there was a loud argument emanating from the company’s newsroom. When I got there, I was stunned to see my friend being held back by about four men from pouncing on a colleague of his who was also being held back by another team of journalists. As later gathered, problem started when my friend, who is a die-hard pro government felt slighted by the other guy who I was told had repeatedly taunted my friend by playing the song in question very close to my friend’s work station. This friend of mine was however not in the mood for such, especially as he was already having a bad day. Therefore, he angrily grabbed

lives at Ogba, Lagos, on Wednesday, told Saturday Tribune that this type (called “caring mother”) revolves around a woman whose husband has abandoned “because she is richer and arrogant”. “In a way, their husbands have set them free,” Aderibigbe explained. “It may be because she is proud, or because she is running after other men, or so many other reasons. So what the woman does is to find a young man who will move in with her. The man plays the role of father to the woman’s children, while the woman takes care of him financially.” New world order? Observers might say that there is something disconcerting about this turn of events. Has the growing influence of women in politics, business and other fields wrought a situation where men have become more willing to sacrifice their traditional position as the “dominant sex”? However, Joshua Omidire, who recently completed a postgraduate programme in English at the University of Lagos, attributed this shift to the economic situation in the country. “We all know that the boy has no need for enjoyment of sex with those older women; his girlfriend will give him that. What is important is money. So, unemployment is one of the factors that lead these young guys into it. Young guys actually wake up in the morning and go to their place of work which is a sugar mummy’s apartment. “What is the shame when you can’t feed your belly and an older woman offers you sexual pleasure and money? People don’t write it on their foreheads. Many of the big boys in town are sex slaves of sugar mummies.”

the phone from where the song was being played and hurled it into the dustbin. This didn’t go down well with the other guy, who used some foul words on my friend. There were heated exchanges of expletives, followed by a short moment of fisticuffs, before the pair was eventually separated by other colleagues. Thank goodness the two are back to being friends again and the unfortunate incident appeared to have been put behind them. I have since learnt that: “never play a taunting song from your phone to a man who is having a bad day.” In the meantime however, for those who haven’t watched the video of the song yet, and who may be wondering what it’s all about, they may want to get prepared to see a group of apes singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, while pointing out some of the perceived signs of poor governance in the land.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Toluwani Olamitoke 08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com

‘My husband and I resolve issues in the bedroom’ Mrs Comfort Morenike Sowale is the wife of Right Reverend Olubayo Sowale, Bishop of Ilesha Anglican Diocese and the president, Ilesa Diocesan Women’s Organisation. In this interview by OLAIDE SOKOYA, she speaks on her background and marriage. and here we are today.

same bed.

What was the attraction? Then, I had many suitors but I could see Christ in him. He was very handsome and I cherished him so much. In fact, I didn’t want anyone to move close to him then so I kept a close eye on him.

Do you agree that couples should run joint account? It’s not a bad idea for couples to run joint account but I don’t buy into it. What if the woman wants to carry out something personal, does it mean she would have to wait for the husband to give her a go ahead? When a family runs a common purse or joint account, one will be a slave to the other when there is no free access to the account and if care is not taken, this can lead to disagreement between both which can tear the family apart. I think a couple can have a common purse where they can put a percentage of their income, either monthly or yearly and can easily take out of it based on agreement or mutual understanding of both parties.

Can you tell us how he proposed to you? He came out straight that he wanted to marry me. But in order not to look cheap, I told him I would go and think about it. Then no Ijesa parents would allow their children to marry from Ogun State so I knew it was going to be a big task convincing my mother about our relationship. But after much pressure my parents agreed that I marry him. This I believe was as a result of our fervent prayers. We got married and today we are blessed with beautiful and Godfearing children.

an you please tell us about yourself? I was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Olatunji Woborode in Ijebu-Ijesa, in Oriade Local Government, Osun State. My parents, during their lifetime, were popularly known as Osomaalo; my father was a fabric seller while my mother was a businesswoman, going from one town to another. I come from a polygamous family and I am the second child of my mother and the seventh child of my father. I went to St. Mulumba Catholic School, Ile-Ife, where I later followed my brother who was working at Kanji Dam, Niger State. I later came back to Commercial Grammar School, Ikirun, Osun State. After my secondary school education, I proceeded to Methodist Teachers Training College, Sagamu, Ogun State. After some years, I got wedded to my husband, Right Reverend Olubayo Sowale. What lessons did you learn as a child raised in a polygamous home? My father showed all his children equal love, he didn’t discriminate while all the children loved one another. My elder brother who I went to live with in Niger is my stepbrother and even till date, he still relates to me as my full brother and

father and that applies to my other siblings. Though, there were some challenges within the family, that didn’t affect our relationship. What are those lessons you learnt from your parents which you have inculcated in your children? I learnt a lot from my parents, especially my mother. My mother was very hardworking, holy and trustworthy. She wouldn’t condone any unlawful act and would call a spade a spade. When we were young, each mother would take her children to various places for prayers for spiritual security against evil. My father was an Anglican to the core but our mothers would go to all these white garment churches and different mountains for prayers and fasting just because they wanted to secure the lives of their children. My mother taught me the efficacy of prayers. Though, my mother didn’t know how to read and write, she was nevertheless knowledgeable. How did you meet your husband? I met my husband at Iragbiji,[now in] Osun State in 1977. He was posted to my church as a priest while I was the church’s Sunday School teacher and a choir member. One thing led to another, he saw me

There is no marriage without its challenges, how do you resolve your disputes? My husband is a man of his words, very conservative and gentle, while I love to move with people and have them around me due to the polygamous background I had. My husband always admonishes me to be careful due to the position he holds as a bishop. But nevertheless, whenever we have disagreement like that, we end it in our bed. Our bedroom is our courtroom; we end everything there. I always counsel couple not to have a separate room; couples must sleep together on the

Our bedroom is our courtroom; we end everything there. I always counsel couple not to have a separate room; couples must sleep together on the same bed.

Do you still cook as a bishop’s wife? I don’t allow anyone to prepare my husband’s food. I love cooking and I make sure he eats good food all the time. You have a good sense of fashion, what does fashion mean to you? Fashion is anything simple, classy and comfortable. A woman must be fashionable but this must be in moderation. Your style or outlook tells people who you are. Do you have any favourite colour? The colour I can’t do without is purple since my husband is a bishop. In the Anglican set up, purple is the colour for the bishop and his wife. A priest’s wife can use other colours except purple. What advice can you give to women? Women should respect and love their husbands. Women who are looking for libration are deceiving themselves because women are not under bondage. It is now common having some women say they want libration. Libration from what? Since we are not caged, why are we looking for libration? The only thing we need as women is to respect our husband. In the olden days, whenever our mothers wanted to set the table for their husbands, they would kneel down to set the table whether their husbands were there or not. But no woman would do that now. Let us come back to the drawing board, men are the heads of the home and they are the heads of their wives, whether we like it or not and we must honour them.

27 August, 2016

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Celebrity Interviews

as Kaffy releases nude pictures Joan Omionawele

T came as a surprise during the week when celebrity dancer and fitness coach, Kafayat Shafau-Ameh, aka Kaffy posted two nude pictures of herself and tagged her body as an artwork of God’. The picture which showed the actress backing the camera with only pants on was captioned ‘‘My body is my art, my canvas. my paintbrush. my instrument of expression. #beinspired #fitmom #dancemom #dancetrepenuer.’’ She further wrote: “Be happy In you (sic) I celebrate this body as it’s a testimony of God’s ingenuity . A production factory, an abode for passion, a chamber for motherhood, a masterpiece.” While some praised her for keeping fit after two children, it did not go down well with some fans who chastised her for posting such a picture, especially as a muslim and a mother. One of her fans, Quadri Tunde wrote: “she is supposed to be a muslim? She doesn’t need to be naked to drive her point home.”Another fan, Geraldine Igwe said, “this is just stupidity at its peak. Seriously what’s up with celebrities and nude or semi nude pictures.” Yet another angry fan wrote: “Is that why you are almost naked? Even if you are a dancer try understand and know the fact that you are a wife to someone. This is absolutely stupidity....’’ For Instagram user “uniqhedz,”people only reacted negatively because it wasn’t Beyonce. He defended the iconic dancer, saying “this is a subtle topless photo, you can only see her back for crying out loud, this myopic Naija mentality is not cool, if it was Beyonce, it would be OMG (Oh my God) that’s so sexy but because it’s a Naija lady who happens to be a national treasure/ dance icon, the Naija hypocritical factor comes into play with some of these misguided rants. Common guys it is the 21st century & it’s also the digital age. This photo is merely a risqué work of art by the number 1 photographer and the number 1 dance choreographer. Kaffy & Kelechi are simply gurus & both of you rock.

Also, another fan, @saintyelnats wrote, “Truly my sister, if you are truly convinced that dressing this way is a form of inspiration...Carry on! BUT PLEASE. Don’t associate it with God. Don’t say it’s testifying to the Glory of God. You have no basis for that and shouldn’t be saying it. God bless you.’’

Why I turned down many roles for 3 years —Omotola FOLLOWING Saturday Tribune’s report that Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is back in the movie mostly after four years, the actress has explained the reason behind her absence from Nollywood. She explained in an interview with Hipt: “For a very long time, I couldn’t find a script that appealed to me.” I got to a point in Nollywood and filmmaking where the more I went out of the country and mixed with my colleagues internationally, I began to understand how much people respected my brand and what they expected of me, because when you’re back here you just get caught up in your normal stuff. You don’t really understand how big, or should I say, how much people expect of you, and so

you are in your feelings.” ‘‘So every year I had someone asking me, Omotola, are you not doing movies again? Why are you not in movies?” But I said to myself until I find that project. It doesn’t have to be a multimillion naira project, but when I find that movie, that setup, that character that inspires me, I don’t mind even investing in it, but I will do it. ‘‘And luckily, after three years or more, ‘Alter Ego’ came along. I had to work with them on the script, but that was something there. I saw a crew for the first time. In a long time I haven’t seen that in Nollywood, everybody is kind of like set in their ways. But I saw these guys who are ready to just push boundaries, and I am ready with them.”

But another fan @ojimaj, who was engrossed with her skin colour amidst all the heat wrote ‘‘I no believe abeg @kaffydance, see as your skin is glittering! That alone makes me love you, What are you using? I don’t want to bleach biko, I just want to maintain my colour.....tell me now.’’

entertainment

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage, Aka, Diamond Platinumz slug it out for AFRIMA Awards

By Joan Omionawele

FTER rigorous deliberations by the jury of the All Africa Music Awards, journalists, during the week, converged for the official announcement of the nominees for this year’s edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). And it was announced that the likes of Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage, Aka and Diamond Platinumz are up for this year’s awards. The star-studded award ceremony will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria for the third

consecutive year and this will be the last time that the ceremony will be hosted in Nigeria. Some of the nominees for the Best Female Artiste in

West Africa include Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, Yemi Alade, Aramide, Josey, Temi Dolface, while nominees for the Best Male Artiste in West Africa include Brymo, Fla-

vour and Sarkodie, Competing for the royal diadem of the Best Female Artiste in South Africa are Lira, Lizha James, Sally Ross Madam, Aka, Black Coffee, Anati and Casper Nyovest. For East Africa, Victoria Kimani leads the nominees list, followed by Irene, Ntale, Cindy Sanyu, with Bebe Cool, Diamond Platnumz, Alikba and others featuring in the male category. The list of nominees for the event were announced by various members of the jury who represented the various regions in Africa. Only ten of the thirty categories were unveiled, while the remaining nominees will be released later this week.

Psquare back to the studio Newton-ray Ukwuoma— Lagos

AFRICA’S biggest pop group, Psquare are currently spending some hours in the studio on a new song soon to be released to yearning fans. The group who nearly grounded their dynasty after rumours, accusations

2Baba, Sauti So rattle music industry with ‘Oya Come Make We Go’ video release Newton-ray Ukwuoma— Lagos

NIGERIA’S music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has dropped the video for his highly rated pan-African single, ‘Oya Come Make We Go’, which features Kenyan

superstar pop group, Sauti Sol. The highly entertaining video was shot in Kenya at several locations, including the exotic Lake Magadi in the Great Rift Valley, Nairobi, by ace director, Unlimited L.A, bringing to

live the inspirational lyrics of the song that will encourage intercultural learning, self belief and hard work. The J Sleek-produced single is one for all ages, and its video will surely resonate with audiences across the world regardless

of culture and demography, particularly because of the positive messages it carries. The video features cameo appearances by Trip N Treat winners–Amy Ojuigo, Bakari Rotimi, MC Captain, Princewill Samuel, and Peace Odey.

‘Passion is important to thrive in Nollywood’ Continues from pg3

Having got to the stage you are in the industry and in retrospect, what message would you have for people who are art enthusiasts in hiding? Passion is important. If you are passionate enough, it will feed you. It is just that the industry right now is so slow; so in the beginning it will be tough. But if you can weather the storm and deal with your passion as you would any other profession, you will come out smiling. See it as a business. Artist(e)s often get into the mindset that because they are creative they do not have to be business-minded. Your creativity is your skill, is what you’re selling. As the doctor sells his medical skills, you are selling your artistry. And for as long as we rate ourselves cheaply people will also pay cheaply. For a young person who is coming into the industry, the first thing to do is to be extremely passionate and seek excellence. If you become the best in what you do people will recognise you over time. It’s just that it is not as easy as in other professions. You recently ventured into a national-cum-history movie production on Ebola Virus in Lagos, tell us about that. We did the Ebola movie because we wanted to add value. I didn’t want to do just any movie. Was it your first movie? Yes. However, I have co-produced a smaller movie called, “No Good Turn.” This is the first feature film I have done and in partnership with two other gentlemen, Steve Gukas and Dotun Olakunri. It was an interesting journey because first, obviously I learnt the art of movie making; second, we told a story that needed to be told. I felt that if we did not tell that story, foreigners, as usual, could come and tell of the brave and courageous people who fought against the Ebola virus to save all of us. For me it was very important that the story was documented for posterity. Unfortunately, some of them (those who

were directly involved during the Ebola virus crisis) have departed us. One of the lessons I have learnt, because I love history, is to learn from the past. It is very important that we document things. 93 Days [the title of the movie on Ebola] is of educational and historical significance. That is why I feel in some ways we have added a lot of value. We have been accepted at the Toronto Film Festival. We have also been accepted at the Chicago Film Festival. It is clear that the movie has had some mileage.

and bad-blood between them and their brother Jude Okoye thawed,, told a news website that nothing short of the best should be expected of the group after their July 28, 2016 “reunion”. Psquare, who spoke through their media aide, Bayo Adetu, said: “Expect the in-expectable from us soonest. Very soon we shall release the first re-union song under this same label.” He also said that the artistes are already in the studio for their latest release which they promise will surpass their previous achievements. “You can quote me on this, the boys want to give their fans something massive and it will soon be ready,” he added.

A movie that attempts to tell the story of Nigeria’s encounter with Ebola virus would bring some nostalgic feelings. Do you think 93 Days captures the collective feelings and ordeal of the experience with Ebola in Lagos? I don’t think one movie can do that. But what we tried to do was to give people a sense of the true story of what happened at First Consultant Hospital, Obalende. The movie was based on a true story, though there were some dramatic effects in there. The bottom line is that we got the story from First Consultant Hospital, from the doctors that survived and from colleagues, families of those who died. It was a very fascinating and difficult journey even to tell the story. We had to be very sensitive of handling it. The Lagos State government did a tremendous job to support the movie. They were also celebrated as well as the Federal Government. They are the ones who fought with the brave doctors and nurses. You said you were sensitive in handling the story, I would like you to throw some light on that. We had to be sensitive of the way we portrayed a story of that magnitude. We had to be cautious of the fact that some people actually did pay the price. We were not doing the movie for the sake of the movie. We had to represent the story in the most delicate and respectable manner possible. Some believe that the government was not well represented inthe movie. What do you have to say about that? I don’t think so. I think both governments were very well represented. I think that people would always have their views. If you are to listen to everyone in this world you will get nothing done. My dad tells me something. He would say, “There are many views in the worlds as there are people.” If we are over 6 billion people on the planet, I expect about the same number of views. What I tend to do these days is to mind my own view. Otherwise you will get so confused with other views that you get nothing done. The important thing is that we did what we had to do. Besides finances, what were the other challenges you encountered while shooting the movie?

27 entertainment

27 August, 2016

Kiss Daniel, Francis Duru

set for Nollywood Film festival Germany

Ex-beauty queen tasks Aisha Buhari, Odumakin, Chimamanda, others on feminism

By Joan Omionawele

By Segun Adebayo

FORMER beauty queen, Adigwe Precious, has called on prominent Nigerian women to join the movement for the protection and empowerment of the female gender in the country, adding that the art of feminism is becoming isolated due to its wrong connotation. Adigwe, in an exclusive chat during a media parley in Lagos State during the week explained that feminist is beyond gender equality, saying that the bravery and intelligent quest many females embarked upon in the past give them the feminist tag. While adding that representing one’s true sexuality should not be a problem, Adigwe pointed out that feminism is the cry to be heard, for justified political participation, liberalised parental care on female children, family co-existence, respect in marriages and serenity in working environment and to dignify human experience. “This is what we stand for and this is what we are preaching. If I can give birth to a male child, my son must respect a female like me with love and care. If my elegance can create vibes of admiration from other gender, then my view must be heard.” The beauty queen who is also the president of The Black Children Initiative said that creating dominance amidst of oppression is synonymous with raising new evil at condemnation of pains, adding that “the males are indispensable anchor, our meticulous aid to victory and our victory amidst the songs of triumph.’’ “This is why I am using this gathering to call on women in power; wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, Mrs Remi Tinubu, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, Mrs Amina Doherty, Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche, Mrs Mo’ Abudu and others in the position of power that this is the time to breath their strength in the lives of younger women. We need their support and encour-

Saturday Tribune

Adekunle Gold thrills fans in London By Joan Omionawele FANS of Adekunle Gold will not forget in a jiffy, the album listening which the musician held in London recently. The event which was graced by music industry personalities from top institutions like Not just Ok, Factory and

78tv among others was reported to be legendary and unforgettable, as his fans screamed and danced with excitement, as he performed songs like ‘Orente’, ‘Pick up’ , ‘Nurse Alabere’, ‘Sade’, ‘No Forget’, all from the GOLD album, which was released a few weeks ago.

Adekunle Gold with his fans in London.

Issi searches for love with ‘Tease Mi’ By Joan Omionawele DELTA State-born singer, Isioma Charles, better known as Issi, is working on putting touch of class and elegance in her performances and delivery making her a force to reckon with in the music scene. After taking a break from the music scene shortly after dropping ‘Jangolova’ Issi has returned with yet another dance hall tune titled ‘Tease Mi’. With Tease Mi, Issi is one of the fastest ris-

ing female musicians to change the face of music in the entertainment industry. Directed by Mattmax, ‘Tease Mi’ is a certified song for music lovers across the country as it showcases good lyrical content spiced up with the infusion of proper Jazz/afrobeat tunes making it a crossover song. Tease Mi is currently enjoying massive airplay. The live band performer will be performing her new song this weekend at Shadez Lounge, Victoria Island.

HE German city of Frankfurt will come alive again as Nollywood Film festival Germany and its sister event, Nollywood Europe Golden Award will be heldsfrom September 8 to 10, 2016. The yearly event, organised by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment, which will take place in Frankfurt which includes film shows, interactions and networking by filmmakers and other entertainment and culture merchants, will premiere a new movie ‘Diplomatic Strings’, shot in Germany and Lagos and written and directed by Paul Julius Obomokhai. It is produced by Isaac Izoya and Queen Blessing Ituah for Ehizoya Golden Entertainment. The N30 million production movie features top Nollywood stars like Francis Duru, Uche Ogbodo, Cassandra Odita, Gorge Eyo and Cynthia Agholor with German and American stars. According to the organisers, the show is set to celebrate Nigerian films in Europe by honouring contributors to the progress of society apart from providing entertainment. Ace TV producer, Kunle Aborishade, will grace the occasion, alongside screen actor, Francis Duru who will be joined by Charles Inojie, by popular demand, to anchor the NEGA Awards event. Also, a delegation of members of Association of Movie Producers (AMP), including its vice-president, Joy Chinasa Onyechere, are also expected at NEGA/NIFF 2016. Speaking further on the event, the organisers added that “Woju crooner, Kiss Daniel, will be on his first tour of Europe courtesy of Isaac Izoya, the President of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment.

28 feature

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Globacom: Clearly the innovational leader in voice and data at 13

Globacom, Nigeria’s second national operator will be 13 years in the country’s telecoms sector on August 29. BODE ADEWUMI traces the history of the emergence of this octopus in Nigeria’s telecoms sector and how it has impacted positively on the sector and in the lives of Nigerians as well as other subscribers to telecoms services in the past 13 years since it commenced services on August 29, 2003.

HE success story of Globacom in the country is known to all and sundry, but what many may not really know is that it boils down to a relentless hard work and a focus-driven leadership with eyes on perfection and continued innovations and a passion for the best. These attributes came to the fore very early in the life of the company and in the telecoms sector when Glo introduced the Per Second Billing which many Nigerians were made to believe could never happen. Shortly after, it crashed the price the SIM card to just N1 at a time other companies were selling at exorbitant prices. It is on record that it was Glo that made a lot of Nigerians, particularly low income earners as well as artisans and many others, owners of mobile lines in the early days of the advent of the Global System of Mobile communications (GSM) in the country. Of course, only a few would have failed to follow the story of Globacom and how it has continued to spread the good news in the sector in the last thirteen years and how this has turned into bounty rewards for subscribers alike. A quick reminder here shows that Glo positioned itself as the most innovative telecoms company in the market. The company had enough grounds to lay claim to that positioning as it came into the market with a 2.5G, GPRS network, while others were running on the legacy 2G infrastructure. With this, Globacom could provide value added services like M-banking, text2email, Magic Plus, Multimedia Messaging Service, vehicle tracking, among other avant garde and revolutionary services that others could not offer. Instantly, it imbued Nigerians with a sense of immense pride. A homegrown company had risen to liberate its people. The emergence of Globacom tickled and added fun to subscribers’ daily network experience. The launch of the Blackberry in 2006 was a game-changing move that gave the network a golden gilt edge. The network continued to blaze the trail and went on to launch the 3G network. The other networks eventually followed suit as they also launched both the Blackberry and 3G services. The era of 3G communication saw the explosion of data-based telecommunication and mobile internet services. However, one barrier existed between the subscriber and this modern and vast resource – cost. While the bandwidth was available, customers often could not afford the cost of many services over the World Wide Web. Audio streaming, not to mention video streaming or heavy data usage for most internet data users was out of the question. Not many data customers could afford to buy up to 1 Gigabyte of data bundle. Many depended on small plans that gave 100 or 200 Megabyte and at most 500 megabytes. Then Globacom stepped in with Glo-1 in 2010. The infrastructure addressed the inadequacy of SAT-3 that could not guarantee the required speed and capacity for the emerging bandwidth demands of Africa. The landing of Glo1 translated into much faster and more robust connectivity for voice, data and video. This development and the launch of other submarine cables like Main One made bandwidth available and facilitated a drastic fall in the cost of doing data/Internet services. Globacom led the way to liberalise access to data, thereby making not only fast internet connection available, but also making such services pocket-friendly. Innovation and service quality have been the motivator of Globacom’s growth in the sector. Last year, Globacom invested huge resources to significantly upgrade its data network. The network upgrade ranged from massive integrations of thousands of Node Bs to the nationwide network infrastructure to the upgrading of many sites from 2.5G to 3G, making the Globacom network the largest 3G network in Nigeria. The upgrade was complemented by Globacom’s 20,000 km nationwide optic fibre infrastructure seamlessly linked to the Glo 1 international submarine cable which connects Nigeria to Europe, America and the rest of the world. The result has been a much better service quality and reliable connectivity. To cap it all, the company recently introduced a new plan tagged, Data Overload, with subscribers to the network

From left, Student Union President, University of Ibadan, Olateju Aliyu Oladimeji; Senior Manager, Events, Globacom, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo; Glo ambassador and Nollywood actress, Ini Edo; Glo ambassador, Ego Ogbaro, and SUG President, Lagos State University, Sulaimon Wasiu Adeyemi, at the launch of Glo Campus Booster in Lagos, recently.

receiving up to double the data volume previously available on every plan. A breakdown of the offer shows that the N1, 000 plans which used to give the subscriber 1.5GB of data now gives 2GB, while the N2, 000 plan which hitherto came with 3GB of data now has 6GB data. Similarly, subscribers will now get 10GB of data for N2, 500 plans instead of 5GB and 12GB for N3, 000 instead of 6GB data which the plan offered before. For the N4,000 data plan, the subscriber will now get 18GB instead of the old 9GB, while the N5,000 subscription will give the customer 24GB. The biggest offer is the N8, 000 subscriptions which, instead of the old 24GB, now gives the customer a whopping 48GB of data.The new Data Overload is currently the most attractive in the market as no operator offers anything near it. Little wonder then that Globacom is the leader in the data sector of the industry just as the telecommunications industry report for the first quarter of 2016 indicated that the next generation network has strengthened its position as Nigeria’s preferred network for new data subscribers. In the report covering the first three months of the year just released by industry regulator, Globacom recorded an additional 1,448,354 new internet subscribers on its network during the period. The figure is made up of 354,178 for January, 248,593 for February and 845,583 for the month of March. Globacom’s total internet customers at the end of the quarter stood at 26,530,420. Again, Globacom beats other operators to the top position in the segment of acquisition of new internet subscribers in the month of June. This was conveyed in the latest figures released by the industry regulator for the month of June. According to the figures, Globacom ended the month of June with a total of 26,628,065 internet subscribers up from 26,355,391 in May. This showed that the operator added a total of 272,674 new subscribers during the month. The figure represents a remarkable improvement from the total number of subscribers gained between April and May. Glo recorded 49,124 new subscribers in April. The closest operator to Globacom had 45,334 new internet subscribers by recording a total of 17,325,423 subscribers in June, up from 17,280,089 recorded in May. The coronation of Globacom as the data master in Nigeria has taken years of preparations and tonnes of investments. From all indications, the 2015 trend set by Globacom in the data market will continue in 2016 as the January figures have shown. Rather than relenting, Globacom is digging deep as it has firmed up all arrangements to launch Nigeria’s first nationwide 4G LTE, a further improvement on 3G. Also in the voice segment, the company’s movement has been meteoric as available statistics shows that the operator has emerged the first choice of subscribers in voice services. The company recorded 68 per cent of all additional GSM lines in the country in the last 12 months.

Telecoms industry statistics published on the website of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that a total of 7,477,977 new lines were activated between June 2015 and June 2016, with Globacom recording a whopping 5,063,895 new subscribers, representing 68 per cent, while others followed. Details of the NCC report showed that, with the feat achieved by Globacom, the data grandmaster has now grown its market share from 21 per cent to 24 per cent with 36.3m subscribers by the end of June, 2016. Globacom has also emerged the most generous of all networks in the country and this may have earned it millions of customers apart from quality network services. For instance, the operator has been offering new prepaid subscribers eight times recharge value with ‘Glo Jollific8” (Jollificate), a tariff plan specially designed to give new prepaid customers eight times more value on every recharge made on the company’s network. ‘Glo Jollific8,’ which offers the subscriber eight times more value on every recharge from N100 and above, also gives additional benefits including access to call all local networks, browse, upload, download and stream internet content freely. It also gives subscribers free data that can be gifted to other subscribers. Some subscribers who bared their minds on the array of superb services and the reliability of Globacom in every segment of the industry reveal the simple reasons why the operator has become the darling of subscribers. Alhaji Opeyemi Aminu, an engineer in Lagos, commended Glo data services. “I ported from another network to Glo a few months ago because of my dissatisfaction with my previous service provider. I am now enjoying my internet services with Glo. The speed is fast and the connectivity is steady and reliable. “Both in my house at Arepo and the office in Maryland, the Glo voice and data service is fantastic. I used to complain a lot about my former network provider, but since I ported to Glo I have nothing to complain about any more,” he told newsmen in Lagos recently. In the South-South part of the country, the response is the same. Samson Pepple, a school principal in Onne, Rivers State, said, “I enjoy the Glo tariff more, compared to competition”. He also encourages his staff to use Glo data packs because they are “the best when it comes to data offering.” Also, the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, recently commended Globacom for liberalising the country’s telecommunications space. The minister, who made the remarks when he paid a courtesy call on the management of the company at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently said the company revolutionised telecoms services in the country by making GSM services available to the vast majority of Nigerians. At 13, the sky remains the limit for this pace setter in the telecoms sector where it is currently leading the pack with innovations and quality services.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

27 August, 2016

weekend cartoons

Saturday Tribune

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

Just a Laffing Mata

FUNOLOGY

POLITICO

Z oo job

NIGERIAN COMEDIAN NAMES DOGS IBB, OBAMA, ABACHA AND OBJ

A Nigerian university graduate was having difficulties in getting a job. He saw an advertisement in one of the daily newspapers for a job at a zoological garden. Then he decided to go for it. In the interview, the manager told him that their gorilla, which had been tourists’ attraction, had died, so they needed someone to dress up and pretend as a gorilla. The graduate was embarrassed, but since the salary was attractive, he accepted the job. The first day, he put on the gorilla skin and entered the cage, he started to jump up and down, beat his chest and roar like gorilla. The next day, he put on the gorilla skin and started moving around the zoo again. He mistakenly entered another cage and found himself staring at an angrylooking lion. The lion roared and rushed towards him. The scared graduate quickly forgot that he was a gorilla and started shouting, “Help! Help!” The lion leaped at him, knocked him to the ground and whispered in his ear, “Ebuka, it’s me Joseph, your course mate at the university.”

From the prison

An old farmer wrote a letter to his son in prison. The letter reads: “Son, this year I will not plant cassava and yam because I can’t dig the field. I know if you were here you would have helped me.” The son replied his father saying: “Dad, don’t even think of digging the field because that’s where I buried all the money I stole.” The prison warden, on reading this letter went early in the morning to the farm, dug the whole field in search of the money but nothing was found. The next day the son wrote to his father again: “Dad, you can now plant your cassava and yam. This is the best I can do from here.” His father’s reply read: “Whaoo! My son you are too powerful. Even in prison, you still command wardens to work for me. I was so surprised to see their boss and his team holding hoes and shovels, digging up my farm. I will write to you when I want to harvest.”

CANDID SHOT

RESILIENCE... A one-legged chick trudges on in the journey of life. PHOTO: ADEREMI DAVIES

27 August, 2016

The South-West

Why an oba mustn’t eat, drink in public

Editor Wole Efunnuga | 08111813056

—Oba Abolarin

You seem to have a soft spot for senior citizens of your town, what is the basis for this? My soft spot for senior citizens is not restricted to my domain. It is what I believe in and it is beyond my town. Whenever and wherever I see any aged man or woman on the street, I look at him or her with deep sight. I don’t really sympathise with them but I think of their days as young, energetic people. I see them and give glory to God for His power of transforming His creatures from the womb through adulthood to old age. It is a grace to grow old because so many don’t and won’t make it through the three stages. Some die before naming ceremony. Others die in childhood. This is the work of God, credit for which no other person can claim. So, my soft spot for the aged is borne out of my fear of God. Have you noticed that the aged in your town are abandoned? I have not only noticed; I also know that this is the case everywhere. It is unfortunate that our youths behave this way. How can you just forget your past like that? It is not enough to send money to them through drivers or whatever means and

say you have done something. No! They need more than that at the stage they are. They are back to where they started as a kid. They need the same attention you give to your newborn babies. They are no more mobile. Their organs are fast losing strength. Nothing is too much to do for them to end their life well. But reverse is the case. That is what Ila Eka festival is about. It is about showing gratitude to the aged among us. Don’t they deserve our appreciation for all they have done for us? My son, they deserve it as you can see how we are interacting under a friendly atmosphere. Some of them have since missed one another, but are meeting again here at the palace. They are happy to reunite and share the moment together. In other words, we are using our culture to affect public policy. Government should take the matter of our aged more seriously because any society that abandons the aged would not be blessed. The aged have lots of blessing. The better they are treated the more the society is blessed. If we want blessing in this country, we need to take good care of the aged, the weak and the disabled. We don’t know what happens to us tomorrow. They are part and parcel of the society. So, they deserve more than passive attention. Your Abolarin College is quite innovative. Why should a traditional ruler be a school proprietor? It is another passion I am expressing. Without sounding immodest, you know that I have done my bit in terms of acquiring education. Not only that I was once a school teacher at the former Oyo State College of

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t: r us; contac Got news fo bune@yahoo. ttri es hw ne ut so bu @ uthwesttri co.uk or so ail.com gm

Oba Abolarin

The Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin needs no introduction, in terms of his erudition on the throne. He speaks as if he were in a classroom. Hence his respectable position among his fellow royal fathers. In an interview conducted by TUNDE BUSARI in his palace, Oba Abolarin speaks on. Excerpts

ALKING drummers are permanently seen in the palace vicinity. What value do they add to the palace? They are part of the palace. The role they play is so important that you have to be one of them to play it. Drumming is their specialty and they are skillful in the art. They communicate with the monarch through the sound of their drum to praise, instruct, warn or alert the Kabiyesi. They are also chroniclers of history. They know all that is needed to know about the origin of towns and important events that occurred in the past. Our culture is so rich that we cannot just exhaust it. Unfortunately, we are being careless about it. Unfortunately again, foreigners are showing serious interest in it and are making progress.

Saturday Tribune

Arts and Science in Ile-Ife. Given this background, you can say again that I am academically inclined. This offers me opportunity to see beyond my reach. But to God belongs all the glory. Back to your question. The school is my own little contribution to the improvement of human beings. I have long had this model in my mind and prepared to give it all I have to make it a reality. I am happy that the dream of yesterday is now manifesting for all to see. It is one of the things that make me happy every day. There is nothing as fulfilling as seeing those young ones learning under the same roof and under a conducive atmosphere. There is no stress of school fee or any other encumbrance. They are all happy by mixing together.

result of the effort. What does yam festival symbolise in your town? Yam determines the end of every season. Before the Gregorian calendar, our forefathers relied on this calculation. It is the season of vacation. It is the time farmers return home to enjoy themselves and engage in some social events they cannot do on the farmland. It is a period of entertainment, wedding and other occasions. It is the time they take stock and plan for another year.

As a lawyer and an extrovert, what difference is the palace making on your lifestyle? We are talking of two different worlds in the true sense of it. A traditional ruler is supposed to maintain high ethical standard because by right, you are the custodian of the tradition. An oba must therefore prepare himself for this world. He must not be seen jumping into a restaurant or drink joint and eat and What is the population of the school? drink and dance like others. A traditional I am glad to tell you that our figure has hit ruler is above that lifestyle. He is sup72. Again, to God is the glory for where He posed to be seen as a representative of has taken us. That is something about intenGod on earth. tion. When you have a very good and clear intention to improve the life of others, things Are you then comfortable with the will naturally work together in achieving it. restriction? That is the summary of the story. I am happy Have I a choice but to make myself seeing those children. I am building a new comfortable with it? This is the standard generation. I am building future. I am buildthat has been there for a long time. That ing a better society. And I will continue is what makes the throne a respectable to work hard to ensure that illiteracy is place. That is what distinguishes the palreduced drastically. Illiteracy and poverty ace from personal residence. go side by side. We must do all within our capability to reduce it for a better society. You must be missing your suits and ties, are you not? Is it safe then to call you a philanI am missing them. I could not imagine thropist monarch? doing away with them but I am happy That description is your discretion. What people say I am not appearing badly in is important is not the effort alone but the the traditional attires. I am a royal father who must be seen in attires that add to the respect of the throne. We have one of the best attires in the world, without sounding immodest. Foreigners admire us a lot abroad. They like to snap shots with us. If an oba wears something less, he makes no difference to the foreigners. In fact, he does not represent what he claims, and they won’t accord him respect a monarch deserves.

Illiteracy and poverty go side by side. We must do all within our capability to reduce it for a better. society.

interview

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

How the seed of PDP crisis was sown under the Obasanjo administration —Senator Olu Alabi

Senator Olu Alabi represented Osun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 1991 and 1992. He was once the chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja and Pro-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. In this interview by OLUWOLE IGE, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain speaks of the genesis of the crisis rocking his party, the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari, economic recession, among other issues.

INCE President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, he has demonstrated his resolve to remove corruption from the body politic. But the impression in some quarters is that his anti-graft war is targeted at the opposition members. What is your take in this? That is quite obvious. You cannot tell me that a PDP governor in the last regime who defected to the APC at the twilight of his tenure has suddenly become a saint. I have not seen anybody who defected from the PDP to the APC probed by the EFCC. The same thing goes for the ministers. It is now even the practice of some elder statesmen who think they might face probe for one thing or the other to abandon their political party for the APC. It is very glaring. I don’t know whether the anti-graft agencies have no information on other governors and the ministers. If we are going to fight corruption, let corruption be fought thoroughly without any form of political discrimination or targeting the PDP members or people who are sympathetic towards the PDP. That is my submission. AS a businessman and former lawmaker, what do you think is the way out of the present economic recession in the country? It is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this situation. The first major issue we have to address is how we can increase our income. Unfortunately, our economy is monolithic with heavy dependence on oil revenue, even though the incumbent government is trying to diversify. But no matter the kind of diversification we want to do, it would not generate result overnight. If you look at the agricultural sector, it has a gestation period. Even if you establish factories and resuscitate moribund ones like the steel rolling mills, it will still take some time before they can generate any form of income. The first thing the Federal Government should do is to appease Niger Delta militants to stop bombing and destruction of oil facilities so as to stem loss of revenue from oil. This is because no matter how much we reduce our expenditure, if the income remains down, it would be impossible to make a positive difference. Lucky enough, the Federal Government has blocked most of the loopholes through which the government’s finances leak otherwise the so-called budget we have put up this year, we would not have enough funds to implement. The crisis we have in the manufacturing sector is due to lack of foreign exchange. Right now, naira has been devalued beyond expectation and the costs of goods and service have increased accordingly. The government has to come up with urgent and potent measures to shore up our revenue. Some of the economic policies of Buhari’s administration have come under criticism, particularly the last increase in the price of petrol. Since then, prices of goods and services have skyrocketed. Do you think Nigerians deserve this kind of policy at this point in time? It is quite unfortunate that this is happening. Even President Buhari said that devaluation of naira could not solve our problems. He said it at every forum he attended that he did not believe in the devaluation of naira. Naira has been devalued and that is why prices have gone up. I have a water factory. The price of nylon with which we pack pure water has increased from N500 per kilogramme to N1,200 and you cannot say you want to double the price of pure water. So, what we are doing is downsizing. If your factory employed about 50 people before, you will reduce

them to about 30. So, President Buhari is pursuing a policy which he naturally does not believe in. He said they put a lot of pressure on him when he was military head of state and that nobody could convince him on the need to devalue naira. No sooner was he overthrown than naira was devalued. He said he never saw the advantage. So, if he held that view and still holds it now, I don’t know why the theoretical economists should be allowed to push the naira to the level it is now. Unless something is done fast, this would be the beginning of the downward movement of every sector in this country. Recently, the Director General of Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry said in economic policy formulation, there are two sets of people who must come together, namely, the theoretical economists and the empirical economists who deal with the practical aspect of the economy. We have the theoretical economists in quantum

As a medical practitioner, when a patient dies in your hospital in the North, the general belief is that it is an act of God. But in the South, when the terminal cancer patient dies in your hospital, it is the old woman who sneezed yesterday that must have killed that patient. They must find a fault and cause.

in our universities. But the practical economists are those involved in the manufacturing sector, banking and financial institutions. Those are the people who know where the shoes are pinching. I really cannot see light at the end of the tunnel unless the president goes back to what he initially believed in. You cannot allow a free fall of naira in a country like ours that has no statistical data on almost anything, where our taste for luxury items is limitless and where our culture, social and religious, is uncontrolled. You want to get married, you spend millions of naira. Instead of spending N2 million on a hall to have a successful wedding, I am sure the couple would be very happy if you give them N1million to take off in life. But the impression of some people is that my son or daughter is getting married, I must do it in grand style. That is a part of our culture that must be changed. We have to change our orientation towards a lot of things, including governance and religious undertaking. In some churches, they would say we need N10 million and they want just five people to contribute it and you would see cashiers of some companies making donations and the elders in the church would not ask what is the source of the money. We have to change our orientation even in dressing. Go to our neighbhours in Ghana, they dress simply but in Nigeria, we dress to kill! Our economy cannot sustain this kind of governance where almost 60 percent of our budget is going on emoluments and allowances, especially for my colleagues in the National Assembly Recently, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), emphasised the need for legislators to be operating on a part-time basis to reduce the funds being expended on them? I agree with ex-President Babangida completely. Firstly, if they make legislature part time, two things would happen. We would save money and those who genuinely want to serve the country would emerge. This is because fights for elective posts or public appointments in Nigeria are laced with highest level of desperation. See what happened in Britain recently. The Prime Minister lost the Brexit vote and he had to resign. It was a tug of war to get somebody to replace him. In Nigeria, to become a prime minister or president without election, people will kill themselves over it. In the United Kingdom, there is accountability. You cannot become rich overnight and people will not ask question. You cannot go and buy two houses in Saudi Arabia or Dubai and claim the money is from your allowance as a civil servant. These are things we must change. Those who want to serve this country genuinely would contest election and serve the people. The primary business of service would be there. But, you see, somebody who resigned or who was sacked from a bank would go and borrow money to contest election and become an honourable member or senator. The first thing he would do after winning the election is to recoup the money the electorate collected from him when contesting. In our culture here that when you want to contest election, you must look for money and sell your properties to get cash otherwise nobody would vote for you. The last delegate election we had in PDP about two weeks ago in Osun State, those of us they voted for as delegates when we were Continues pg35

interview

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Corrupt officers have no place in police —Oyo CP, Adegbuyi The new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Samuel Adegbuyi, assumed duty on August 8, 2016, having served as Commissioner of Police in Edo State and Maritime commands. In this interview by Deputy Editor, OLUWATOYIN MALIK, he speaks of his mandate and expectations.

are subjected to orderly room trial and punished accordingly if they are found to have involved in malpractices. Many have been dismissed that way. If it is an officer from Assistant Superintendent of Police and above, he will be issued an official query and one of the agenda of the Inspector General of Police is zero tolerance for corruption, which I emphasised in my maiden address to officers. I told them that any officer found through petition or caught in the act will not be spared. I have an anti-corruption squad, X-squad and other squads within the state watch the performances of the officers. We are conscious of complaints from members of the public and from time to time, we organise lectures. We have advised the DPOs to send people to check their men at pin-down points to be sure that they don’t use the points for corrupt enrichment. You can also check the leadership. I am not praising myself but you can check on the type of person I am from the commands I have worked before. If the leadership is not corrupt, there is no basis for the subordinates to be corrupt. It is leadership by example.

T is a common knowledge that state police commands have their peculiarities and measures of crime control. What are your plans towards ensuring peace and security in Oyo State? The foremost thing for me is to continue the good work of my and to study the different areas of operation very well for re-engineering. I intend to adopt methods that will ginger the officers to be more alive to their responsibilities. They have been doing a very good work but I believe they can do better with motivation.

Oyo has links with many other states and neighbouring countries which makes it easy for robbers to escape with snatched vehicles. How do you intend to address this situation? You will find out from history that most states in the SouthWest originated from Oyo State, which was the headquarters of the Western Region in those days. There is hardly any part of the country that is not associated with Oyo State in one way or the other. We have all the ethnic groups in the state as well as foreigners. The state harbours all and sundry. What we intend to do is to blend the various ethnic groups and make them work in harmony. We place much premium on border areas because we want to control crimes in all its ramifications. We don’t want to limit our surveillance or intelligence gathering to the state alone; we want to checkmate the influx of these people that have been driven from Arepo in Ogun State and Lagos State. We are sharing information with sister agencies and we urge members of the public to have trust in the police and give us useful information to fight crime and criminality. How would you assess crime rate in your new place of assignment? Comparatively, crime rate in Oyo State is lowest I have seen, but we don’t to take this for granted, especially with people displaced from Ogun and Lagos states. We don’t want them to breach the peace that is currently being enjoyed in the state. My advice to everyone is to be our brother’s keeper. If you observe any strange person or movement, alert the police or other security agencies. The issue of security should be seen as a collective responsibility. Everybody should be security conscious. How do you want to curb stop criminals who use motorcycles to dispossess people of their belongings and attack bank customers? On the issue of motorcycle riders, on August 10, I summoned all their chairmen to a meeting and they turned up in their numbers with their members. We put heads together and they pledged to fish out the bad eggs in their midst. If you compare the atrocities being perpetrated by okada riders in some other states, you will discover that what we have in Oyo is manageable. We have given them some assignments which I will not disclose. By the end of this month, the executive members are coming back. We will be having meeting on a monthly basis to assess the security situation and the activities of okada riders. We believe that by working with them, we will able to achieve success, security-wise. We have equally told them not to carry more than a passenger at a time. I hope they will cooperate with us and educate their members. We have given them the opportunity to put their house in order and we intend to assess the agreement by the end of the month to see the level of compliance and success achieved. Talking about those displaced from two neighbouring states, it has been noticed that there has been an increase in the number of beggars on the streets and at traffic light points. With cases that had been handled in the past involving some armed robbers who were working with some of the beggars, how will you ensure that this set of people will not constitute a security risk? They are human beings like us. We should handle their case very carefully so that we don’t create more problems. But for the few of them that may be using begging as a means to commit crime, we will fish them out. Begging is not something that anyone will be proud of. Many of them have no choice. They have to survive. We must respect their dignity as human beings. The issue of land grabbers is rearing its head in Oyo State. Land issues are civil but where is the line drawn between their being civil and criminal? And how do you intend to curb their activities so that those escaping from a state like Lagos will not find a haven in Oyo State? It is very easy to differentiate between the civil aspect and the criminal aspect. The court is there for those fighting over the

What are the security challenges you have noticed and how do you intend to tackle them? The security challenges that I have noticed so far are not alarming. There has been single case of kidnapping recorded since I came, but we had one or two cases of cut-to-size weapons found with okada riders during stop-and-search. Sometimes the motorcycles are stolen or snatched at gunpoint and we have recovered two or three of such. We have recorded a case of okada rider going to an eatery to disturb those taking their meals. That is the reason behind the meeting with okada riders’ leaders. I appeal to members of the public to provide useful information to the police. Traditional rulers, religious leaders and various ethnic groups in the state should collaborate with the police in checkmating criminals by providing information that the police can work with.

The issue of cultism is beyond students from tertiary institutions as we have seen primary school pupils getting involved. It is also not limited to the academic environment. We appeal to parents and guardians to watch their children carefully. These cult members don’t fall from the sky; they live with their parents. ownership of a parcel of land through civil litigation. If there is certificate of occupancy issued to a particular person pertaining to a piece of land, the ownership has already been established. But if it is proved that the C of O is obtained fraudulently, that is another issue. In a situation where land grabbers are fighting themselves, it is no longer a civil matter. If you are armed or you injure someone, or death occurs, it is criminal. Since I assumed duty in the state, there has been no reported case of land grabbing. I am not saying it is happening or not happening but I have not had any complaint that land grabbers are fighting in any part of the state since I came. There have been complaints from members of the public on the attitude of some policemen in relation to corruption and extortion. There have also been cases of policemen conniving with criminals. How do you intend to instill discipline to stop this? The Nigeria Police Force is the only organisation I know in this country that does not condone indiscipline or cover its men where there are issues of corruption. We have so many units within the police. We have the Inspector General of Police’s monitoring unit, X-squad, anti-corruption squad to monitor officers and men. If it is established that a police officer has used his office to extort money, the punishments are there. The rank and file

In recent times, cultism has been an issue in Ibadan, resulting in the killing of suspected cult members during clashes and reprisals. It has been revealed that most of those involved were not students. How are you going to ensure that cultism does not thrive in the state? The issue of cultism is beyond students from tertiary institutions as we have seen primary school pupils getting involved. It is also not limited to the academic environment. We appeal to parents and guardians to watch their children carefully. These cult members don’t fall from the sky; they live with their parents. Parents should monitor their children’s activities and the people they are associating with. It is a pity that nowadays, parents don’t even ask their children where they got money to purchase expensive things they see with them. When the child of parents that are not working is seen with a handset worth over N100,000 or comes home with a vehicle worth between N3 million and N5 million, such parents should know that something ugly is happening. Charity begins at home. The role of law enforcement is to monitor; carry out surveillance. But there is equally freedom of movement. Except there is a tip-off, we may not be able to get this group of people. That is why we are appealing to parents, religious leaders, traditional rulers and all well-meaning Nigerians to assist in crime prevention. Is bail still free? Bail has always been free. Has there been any time that bail has not been free? People have complained that they were made to pay before they could bail suspects at police stations. In Oyo State? Yes. No. That is why you have the Police Public Relations Officer’s office. The Commissioner of Police’s office is also accessible. I have even directed all the DPOs to make their phones accessible to members of the public in case they have complaints. We have monitoring unit; we have the X-squad. Anywhere such a situation is being experienced, members of the public should get in contact with my office. Bail is free and will continue to be free. What I believe you want to talk about is the issue of surety. In some places, the erroneous impression is that a woman cannot stand as surety for a suspect. But this is not so. A woman can stand as a surety just like a man. However, before you stand surety for a suspect while taking him on bail, you should be conscious that the suspect is expected to appear at the next appointment, either at the police station or in court, you should be ready to produce him or her.

interview

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

For Nigeria, there is no light at the end of the tunnel unless... —Senator Olu Alabi Continued from pg33

going to Port Harcourt, many people were expecting us to give them money. You can imagine if it were to be on a bigger scale. Gone are the days when people would contribute money for you to be elected, so when you get elected, your primary interest is to see to the welfare of these people. As it is now, corruption starts right from the grass roots. As they say, when you do the same thing the same way, you get the same result. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a recent report, said there is the possibility of Nigeria’s economy collapsing before December. What do you think we can do to prevent this from coming to pass? Some of these international agencies don’t mean well for us as a country. The moment you don’t swallow their pills, they predict doom. You will recollect that before the 2015 general election, they said the disintegration of Nigeria was imminent. The election came and was gone but Nigeria did not disintegrate. Although there are indices that at the rate our economy is going, the tendency of its collapse is quite imminent, our economy is monolithic and we have to see how we can sustain our mono economy in such a way that we enhance our revenue generation. Some people are saying taxation is the solution. It is like a tired horse that you are beating. It will still run but the increase in speed would not be much. The rate at which the governments tax people now is unprecedented. There is multiple taxation. This one would come and say it is local government taxation, next minute, the state would come for its taxes. The fire brigade, the tourism board would also demand for taxes. At the end of the day, even the so-called SMEs, where I belong, would spend all our income, even business capital on taxes. For them to be concentrating efforts to rake in taxes from SMEs and women selling pepper on the streets is like aggravating an already bad situation. That is why the government must appease the Niger Delta Avengers to stop the bombing and destruction of oil pipelines. I am happy that President Buhari has directed that search for oil in Lake Chad should be intensified. Even though this might be an exercise in futility, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Some people are of the view that the protracted crisis rocking the PDP is a ploy by some powerful elements to use Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to destroy the party. Do you subscribe to this position? That is one of the common things I have experienced in life. As a medical practitioner, when a patient dies in your hospital in the North, the general belief is that it is an act of God. But in the South, when the terminal cancer patient dies in your hospital, it is the old woman who sneezed yesterday that must have killed that patient. They must find a fault and cause. If you ask me what has led us to this crisis in the PDP, I would tell you the whole thing started in the PDP of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s days. The downfall of PDP started during Obasanjo’s period, when our great party decided that the sitting president would be national leader of the party, while the state governors would be the leaders of the party in their respective states. I personally met Baba Obasanjo that this law or rule or directive wouldn’t be sustainable. I was then the chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in Abuja. I told him that the party should allow leaders to emerge in each community. I said a time would come when an incumbent governor might not accept a past governor as a leader due to local rivalry. That is what is playing out now. For example, Godswill Akpabio smoked out Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State, Sullivan Chime chased out Chimaroke Nnamani in Enugu State, Uzor Kalu pushed out Idi Kalu in Abia State, while the most interesting situation is happening in Kano State right now, where [Abdullahi Umar] Ganduje, a former deputy to [Rabiu] Kwankwaso and, in fact,

the first deputy to succeed his boss, has now formed a parallel executive in Kano and is giving Kwankwaso the fight of his life. [Rotimi] Amaechi should not attempt to enter Port Harcourt in daytime because of ravaging [Nyesom] Wike, his former aide. This shows the transience of power and our current PDP governors who are now power drunk must learn a lesson. Some of the governors are quite mild, like Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State. There are three types of people in the PDP. The first are those who are ready to cross to the other party at any time when things are not rosy again. The second group comprises people who are too honourable to jump to another party in the face of frustration. They will just stay put and siddon look like the late Chief Bola Ige would say. The third group is where I belong. I will not siddon look. I will not cross over to any other party but stay until we can redeem the party. The way forward has manifested. Thank God, the last Port Harcourt convention ended in a fiasco, even though Governor Wike and his gang said it was successful. We could have ended up with a fresh complication, another ‘baby’ chairman, who has no respect for his geopolitical zone and whom nobody in the South West could have recognised but already ordained by some ‘powerful’ despots. Governors Wike and Fayose took Senator Ali Modu Sheriff for granted while they went ahead to ride on the back of ‘Tiger’ Sherriff and both of them ended in his (Sheriff’s) stomach. The way forward is to set up a joint reconciliation committee comprising nominees from both Sheriff’s group and Makarfi’s group under the chairmanship of an elderly member like Pa Alex Ekwueme or Pa Tony Anenih or any experienced and respected elderly politician who still believes in the survival of the PDP. This reconciliation should go down the line from the zones to the wards. A lot of our members believe in this. The PDP still enjoys the goodwill of the people, compared to the current clueless APC. Even all the world wars ended on a reconciliatory roundtable.

Presently in Osun State, we have two groups of executives of the PDP. Is it the crisis at the national level of the party that has led to this? The leadership crisis at the national level has contributed to the crisis in Osun PDP. But the dual chairmanship situation is peculiar to Osun. In Osun, it is a case of one member against the rest of the PDP members. When it comes to factional issue, if you create a faction, some people would line up behind you. It was unfortunate that we had some controversies when we had the congress where the state executives were elected. Right from the time, the former executive of the PDP zoned the chairmanship position, according to our constitution, to Ife/Ijesha axis so that that the governorship candidate can come from Senatorial 1or 2. That was the beginning of the problem. Somehow, we were able to resolve it. The two aspirants for the chairmanship position came from Ife/Ijesha zone. Trouble started when a member of our party, who was the last gubernatorial candidate of the party, decided to pitch his tent against the congress we had at the Osogbo Township Stadium. When we were one, we could not win election. It is my wish that all the members of the PDP in Osun should come together. Anything that is causing division should be sorted out. We have two factions in Osun PDP. In one faction, almost all the elders of the party are there. All the members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) are in this camp. Most of the who is who in Osun PDP are in this camp. All efforts to come to a roundtable conference have been rebuffed. Left to me, the only thing we could do is for Adagunodo and Faforiji factions to come together and explore political option to resolve the differences. It can’t be resolved through court. Political solution remains the best option. What is irritating is to say a congress was not held. It is not right. The congress was witnessed by INEC officials and security agencies. The party sent a retired judge from Taraba State to supervise the congress. Those of us supporting Soji Adagunodo, who was elected chairman during the congress, are ready for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The arrowhead of people who support Dr Bayo Faforiji is Senator Iyiola Omisore. Omisore is a very important member of the PDP. He is a man we cannot do without. We cannot afford to lose more important members of our party. That was what happened to us during the last governorship election. At the twilight of our campaign, we lost Senator Isiaka Adeleke to the APC and we knew the result. So, we cannot afford to allow Omisore and his followers to leave the party. How would you describe your experience in dealing with the powerful elites in the North where you practise medicine, in Kaduna? I lived in the North for almost 40 years. There is hierarchy in the North. There are people who take decision at the top echelon. There are the middle class, who are the foot soldiers. They understudy their leaders and they carry out the instruction of elders as much as possible. We have the third and last stage of people. They are the younger ones learning the ropes. That used to be the practice in the South West. But of recent, the youth don’t want to see any elderly man in politics. They would say why these old people again?! In politics, there is a minimum age but no maximum age. You practise politics until you die. There are too many ambitious young men and ladies in the South West these days. My experience in the North is that there is respect for the elders. That is not to say that there are not one or two exceptions to the rules. When you talk of my late friend, Junaid Mohammed, he was a radical of a special class. Fortunately, most of the times he talked, he made sense. The only thing is that he was too radical for the system, from which he was operating. That is the difference between the North and South West on political setup.

No serious crisis in APC or between National Assembly and the executive —Jigawa gov Continued from pg15

judiciary and instruct them to hands off. This was the order of the day in the PDP administration but it negates the rule of law and makes nonsense of the sanctity of separation of powers. The governors as leaders of the political space within their states need to ensure that sanity prevails and our role is simply to douse tension that is being generated unnecessarily by political pundits, especially from the opposition who will tell you that “during our time, oga would have intervened.” Has your intervention settled the seeming crisis between the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the presidency? The relationship between the National Assembly and the presidency has always been cordial. There was, of course, some misunderstanding with the party when it sought to assert its supremacy on some issues but even that has been sorted out with the series of discussions held at the behest of the governors.

The APC governors have been working with some foreign countries on the issue of borrowing. What is the progress on this issue? The efforts by APC governors to collaborate with some foreign countries to borrow is in line with our national borrowing plan and is being looked at by the federal budget office and the other relevant organs to ensure the plan is in line with our overall national plan and the projects that will come out from the states and the federation in general are in conformity with our collective short and medium term developmental plans. How would you assess yourself in terms of performance? Well, I believe I cannot assess myself but the best way is to go out there and ask people how they assess my performance since my inception. I really don’t like it when states are being benchmarked and assessed on their ability to pay salaries, which is a basic recurrent expense but the indices are so bad that a lot of states are technically insolvent and it’s unfair to

blame a governor who found that situation thrown in his lap on assumption of office. In Jigawa, we are trying to ensure that all recurrent obligations are met and not just state salaries but local government and teacher’s salaries, including all allowances, pension and gratuity liabilities, examination fees and scholarships including almost three years backlog we inherited and so on. There is no secret formula for this we simply borrowed a leaf from what the president was doing at the national level and cut all unnecessary expenditure, plugged fiscal leakage and put prudence and efficiency in the driver’s seat. You see just like Nigeria a state like Jigawa is a mono economy and if you disrupt the injection of the salary component on a monthly basis it will translate into a crisis. This is why our focus is to create an alternative economy that impacts on the entire populace and the Agricultural sector being the predominant activity has the capacity to achieve this. We inherited huge liabilities, especially infrastructure projects that have been committed but unpaid, but as I speak to you close to 80 percent of them are now re-mobilised and ongoing.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

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Lessons from the failed PDP convention By Sola Adetola

HE inability of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold the election of new national officers of the party following the takeover of its convention venue in Port Harcourt by security agencies on August 17 was yet another manifestation of the disorientation it suffered since it lost the central gpvernment last year. The failure of the convention has been attributed to the confusion created by the conflicting court judgements obtained by warring party leaders on who had the right to hold it and where it should be held. The uncertainty generated by this conflict made the action taken by the security agencies inevitable in the interest of law and order. However, that singular action did not only ensure public peace; it turned out to be the saving grace which averted the disintegration of the party. Much more than the leadership struggle, the uncanny and blatant moves by some governors elected on the platform of the party to foist their own choice of candidates on the members during the scheduled election of national officers had already set the stage for a great conflagration. Few days to the convention, the hopes of many members that it would herald a new beginning of internal democracy and unity within the party, with the election being free, fair and credible, began to wane as it became apparent that some governors, led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State were preparing to relive the dark days of impunity suffered by the party during the Jonathan presidency. In particular, the news was all over the media that they had anointed one of the five candidates for the position of national chairman in the person of Jimi Agbaje, a new member of the party who had never served at any level of leadership in the party. No attempt was made by Governor Wike who was

chairman of the National Convention Committee and the umpire of the exercise to deny the reports in defence of the role of impartiality conferred on him by that responsibility. If this was worrisome, the fact that Agbaje was running against far more experienced leaders with track records of service to the party made the governors’ reported preference for him suspect. It seemed to have a sinister undertone and certainly not in the interest of the party. The contest had featured five contenders, including Chief Olabode George who had served in the past ten years as national vice chairman, deputy national chairman and currently a permanent member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Executive Council (NEC). The other contestants, namely Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Professors Tunde Adeniran and Taoheed Adedoja were well known leaders of the party having contributed to its develop-

Civil servants as public liabilities? By Femi Babatunde TIME it was when the nation’s civil service could boast of the finest traditions of service. Not anymore. It is a shadow of its old self today. As an institution, it is now largely enmeshed, rather ashamedly, in a cesspool of corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and all the similar negatives adjectives you could get. Ever heard the sobriquet ‘Evil servants’? That is how far we have come! It is very regrettable that while the more serious nations of the world are busy entrenching dynamic institutions that would advance national interest, our leaders seem to have perpetually chosen the pathway to mediocrity in nation-building. Globally, the civil service as a fundamental institution of government provides the solid foundation upon which societal yearnings, aspirations, dreams and vision are realised. It is that statutory enclave volunteered by the people to coordinate the day to day running of the people’s commonwealth. Unlike the political class whose operation and place in government is tenured, the civil service enjoys the rare thrust of permanence that enables it to provide administrative stability. Hence, the progress of nations of nations is tied to the operations of the institution of the civil service. It should not be surprising that many of the leading nations and economies of the world have some of their brightest brains retained in the civil service with work ethics that naturally wire them to truly serve the people. It is indeed worrisome that in this era of vaunted ‘change’ the civil service is still a loose uninspired institution in need of urgent reform. For, without this it cannot provide the requisite intellectual and moral base upon which the evolving dream of a greater nation can be built. But do those in authority realise the centrality of an urgent revolutionary reform in the civil service? Nigeria is what it is today because of the active connivance of the civil servants and the often clueless political class to rape the commonwealth of the State. Anyone familiar with the bureaucracy of the civil service would know that it is absolutely impossible to consistently thrive in plundering the nation without some civil servants actively showing the way! As it has been severally argued, the incursion of the military regime in Nigeria meted a great damage to the patriotic spirit the Nigerian civil service was known. Of particular reference here was the 1975 mass purging of the service under General Murtala Muhammed regime and similar subsequent attacks, that have only dealt monumental damage to the moral recti-

tude of the civil service; in that, as Ambassador Dapo Fawora, one of the nation’s finest diplomats and intellectuals argued in his memoir, ‘Lest I forget’, it occasioned the lowering of standards and loss of morale and commitment of civil servants. Meritocracy was utterly sacrificed while mediocrity, nepotism, tribalism and corruption were entrenched. However, one could also safely argue that the return to the civil rule in Nigeria since 1999 has not in an anyway left the civil service better. It has even left it worse, I would submit - So much so that the Service today has become most unattractive to some of our brightest brains, as it did decades earlier. As a matter of fact, the reason many citizens associate with many agencies and ministries of government today is that they are one bunch of necessary evil. To carry out even the most minor transactions in some offices without greasing the palms of attendants is almost unthinkable. Bribery has become a lifestyle in many offices supposedly established to serve the interest of the public. You don’t need to be told that the rest of the world has since left us to our own ways in a wholly digitally-driven knowledge economy! The estimation of civil servants by the political class is obscured. For them, the civil service is only a tool for shrill political advantage during elections and thereafter. In many instances, the civil servants are only seen as tools in the hands of unscrupulous politicians to advance their flawed interests. Of course, they also serve as compass tools when it is necessary to steal and also cleverly cover the tracks. In many states of the federation and even at the federal level, it is disheartening to note that merit has given way to ‘man-know-manism’. What you get in the system is no longer what you deserve but how well-positioned and aligned with the political party in power. Promotion, in many instances, is now a Herculean task that only the ‘connected’ can pull. The non-partisan code is only a reality on the pages of paper and without relevance in practice. For those at the federal level, your tribe, not your competence and track record is a determining factor, at least not with the federal character doctrine. The age-long saying that a labourer deserves his reward no longer holds true in our case. And that is why workers are owed several months of salary in many states. The economic recession has only worsened things. The result is that the defining attribute of service for the good of the nation is now being jettisoned by many a civil servant. They seem to have discovered that it does not make much sense after all serving the nation when the nation consistently fails to meet your needs. You should not be surprised to know that

ment in varying capacities. How on earth did the governors think the imposition Agbaje on the party over and above these experienced leaders would have been accepted by all and sundry without protest? The Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party which organised the convention should be grateful to God for the divine intervention which prevented the party from collapsing on its shoulders as a result of the shortcomings of the convention. Fortunately, it has been given one year to put the house in order and organise another convention. However, it can only successfully do this by learning from the embedded mistakes of the failed convention as well as ensuring a far departure from the lingering past mistakes of the party that seemed to have refused to go away. The most important lesson to be learned from it all is the sacredness of the party constitution and the indispensability of internal democracy. No individual or group, no matter how powerful, wise or good-intentioned, should ever again be allowed to subvert the rules laid down by the constitution for any reason. Wike and Fayose have no right to dictate the direction of the party aside what the constitution stipulates. This is the kind of aberration for which the party paid dearly in the 2015 elections. More than half of the current governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were PDP leaders who left the party when they were unjustly denied the ticket to run and unpopular candidates were imposed. Finally, the Makarfi Caretaker Committee must learn to assert itself in defence of what is right and backed by the party constitution. The point needs to be stressed that the committee derives its existence from the members of the party as represented by their delegates who affirmed its nomination at the previous convention. It should not be at the mercy of any governor. It must therefore strive earnestly to sort out the leadership crisis with Ali Modu Sheriff and move on to move the party forward. Adetola sent in this piece from Lagos.

several civil servants today are ‘proud’ saboteurs of government programmes and activities. I was in an office recently and I saw a woman hawk ‘panla’ (smoked fish) to the office. I was alarmed when her colleague told me that the woman was a worker in the same government establishment, but now uses the time that ordinarily should have been devoted to serve the government to pursue her own business. Would you blame her? How else is she expected to survive when her employees have refused to pay her salaries? This is the typical situation in many government establishments today. The civil servant who ordinarily should be an advocate of change and continual progress of the collective good and dreams has become a public liability. In many of the states where salaries are not paid, people hardly go to work regularly, knowing their salaries will not be paid anyway, or at least, not any time soon. And when the salaries are eventually paid, as the labour unions consistently demand, even when no work is done, the country is the biggest loser. But really, which society actually progresses this way when money is paid for the work not done? Where is the dignity of labour in this? What we seem to be entrenching by the day is the culture of waste, impunity and laziness. The recent news by the Imo State government that workers are now free to come to work for only three days a week while they may engage in farming or do whatever they like for the remaining two days, is to say the least, worrisome. As seemingly ‘innovative’ that may sound the legality of it is still in doubt. The 1999 constitution indicates that employees of the state are expected to put in a minimum of 40 hours weekly. I am convinced that it is high time we all demanded for the complete overhaul and restructuring of the the nation’s civil service in its entirety. A state of emergency on this must be declared forthwith. The last show of shame with the controversy generated from the imbroglio that resulted from the 2016 budget preparation is a good case in hand. Any reform embarked upon by the government at this point that leaves the operation of the civil service out is only a charade. The current composition of the civil service in Nigeria is not yet sufficiently wired to bear the ‘weight’ of revolution that the nation is urgently in dire need of, not to talk of spearheading it. Hence, constructive attention must now be channeled towards the rebuilding the civil service. A flag-off could be signalled by the harmonisation of all the reports earlier produced on the restructuring of the civil service with definite actions taken. Failure to do this is to court bigger disaster for the nation. Babatunde sent this article from Osogbo.

27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Ikorodu Utd picks MKO Stadium as new home ground

KORODU United has shelved the idea of returning to the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, for its remaining home games in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season and has opted to remain at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta. The Lagos club was sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC), for crowd trouble in one of its recent home matches against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and was directed to play its next three home matches in Abeokuta with the last two

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ruth Omachi now RUTH AUDU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Makinde Jimoh now MAKINDE JIMOH AKANNI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

suspended provided the team's supporters show an improvement in their behaviour during and after games. However, Ikorodu United in a letter to the LMC defended its decision to remain in Abeokuta for the rest of the season. The Oga Boys stated in their letter to the LMC to approve the MKO Abiola Stadium as their home for the rest of the season on the grounds that "the unruly fans" who disrupted their game against 3SC are unknown to them. “We will not be able to

guarantee the full control of the crowd and general safety at the Onikan Stadium as the unruly fans at the Onikan Stadium are not known to us and neither can they be identified should there be any form

of fracas,” the club's general manager, Dele Gbajumo, wrote to the LMC. The LMC has granted the request of Ikorodu United and directed them to work with the Ogun State Football Association on match-

day security and crowd control. Ikorodu United has won just four matches this season to occupy 19th position with 22 points. Two of those wins were recorded away from their Onikan

Stadium home. Last weekend, Ikorodu United won its first game of the NPFL second round by defeating Niger Tornadoes 1-0 through Adeshina Oduntan's dying minute's goal at the MKO Stadium.

Saviour signs 3-year contract in Belgium NIGERIA U-23 star, Godwin Saviour on Friday signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year with Belgian club KSV Roeselare after passing a medical. “He has signed his contract with Roeselare after passing his medical,” his intermediary Bertram Ekenwa disclosed. “He has signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year.” Last season, he featured for another Belgian club,

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KV Oostende on a season-long loan. Meanwhile, the CEO of KSV Roeselare, Johan Plance, has expressed satisfaction over the professional manner Saviour’s transfer was conducted. “The transfer was professionally handled by both parties. We are hugely indebted to Mr Ekenwa for how he professionally conducted himself throughout the negotiations,” Plance remarked. “We believe this is the beginning of future collaborations with him.”

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27 August, 2016

Saturday Tribune

Rio Olympics review: Team Nigeria,

77 athletes, one medal

TEAM Nigeria had only a medal to show at the just-ended Rio 2016 Olympics after parading 77 athletes at the quadrennial showpiece which started in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The ‘golden’ bronze which was won by the soccer team, the Dream Team placed Nigeria on the medal’s table among 78th joint-placed winners with nine other countries. Group Sports Editor, GANIYU SALMAN, in this piece examines the circumstances which led to the umimpressive performance of Team Nigeria, which at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics finished 32nd on the medal’s table with two gold, one silver and three bronze medals even ahead of Great Britain which then finished with one gold, eight silver and six bronze medals to occupy the 36th position and now finished second at Rio 2016 with 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze medals.

Members of the Dream Team celebrate their bronze medal at Rio 2016.

NARGUABLY, the saying that ‘if you fail to plan, you have planned to fail’ indeed played itself out for Team Nigeria at the just-ended Rio 2016. Before their departure, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, had projected that the nation awaited at least 15 medals or at worst, five medals from the contingent. Poor preparations took its toll on the athletes at the Games occasioned by paucity of funds. The majority of the athletes were unable to go on training tours before the Games and also lacked the world-class facilities to prepare for a competition of the Olympic magnitude. Also, another controversy hit the Team Nigeria before its departure to Brazil as John Mikel Obi, a first timer, was named the flag bearer, while six-time Olympian, Funke Oshoniake was named his assistant. This appointment made by the office of the sports minister raised dust among stakeholders, as the appointment in the first instance was supposed to have been made by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). Interestingly, this blunder was later tactically corrected as Oshonaike’s name appeared on the list of flag bearers released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), just as the table tennis star led her colleagues during the opening parade at the Maracana Stadium. High jumper, Doreen Amata eventually turned Nigeria’s flag bearer during the closing ceremony as the Nigerian table tennis team had already returned home after its event. Also, the kits that were supposed to be used by the athletes arrived in Brazil late as the athletes who were originally scheduled to put on attires to promote the rich culture of Nigeria before the outside world had to make do with tracksuits during the opening parade. Two-time Olympian, Eniefok Udo-Obong even faulted the arrival date of Team Nigeria to the Games, which was August 4, saying the 15-medal target by Dalung was unrealistic. “We should be realistic. The question should be, ‘are we prepared to challenge the best athletes in the world? The answer is no. I am not trying to put the minister down, but winning medals is not something you wish to accomplish. You must work towards it. “Based on the Nigerian spirit, we can win some medals if everything works for us, but nobody can beat his chest right now to say that Nigeria has the materials or has worked hard for medals in Rio,” the Sydney 2000 Olympics gold medallist had said.

The Dream Team captained by John Mikel Obi against all odds got to the semi-final before losing to a more formidable German side 0-2, but gave Nigeria its lonly medal after a breathtaking 3-2 victory over Honduras in the third place match. A Japanese surgeon, Katsuya Takasu later rewarded each member of the Dream Team with cash award of $10,000. He had promised each player a cash award of $30,000 if Nigeria wins the gold and $20,000 if it loses in the final. Takasu also rewarded Samson Siasia and other members of the technical crew with cash incentives. The highlight of his gesture remains the decision to present the cash awards to Obi on behalf of the players and Siasia on behalf of his crew totalling $390,000. The Dream Team was stranded during its training tour of Atlanta, USA and could not arrive at Manaus, venue of its first group game against Japan, until six hours to the kick off, following the intervention of the Federal Government which brought in Delta Airlines after the initial arrangements to fly the team to Brazil failed to materialise. Nigeria managed a 5-4 win over Japan and pipped Sweden 1-0 to land in the quarter-final but lost the last group game 0-2 to Colombia. Denmark joined the list of Dream Team’s ‘victims’ in the quarter-final, with goals from Mikel and Sadiq Umar, who finished the tournament with four goals. Etebo Oghenekaro, who scored four goals in the 5-4 win over Japan in the group’s opener also sets a record of becoming the first player to score four goals in a game after West Germany’s Bernd Nickel 44 years ago. Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers coached by a German, William Voigt, failed to advance beyond the group stage as they could only record a win in the tourney beating Croatia in what was regarded as the biggest upset in the game in recent times. D’Tigers lost their first three games to Argentina 66-94, Lithuania 80-89 and Spain 87-96 before beating Croatia 9076 and also lost the last game to the hosts, Brazil 69-86. Nigeria’s performance was similar to the London 2012 episode as D’Tigers also finished 11th on the table at Rio 2016, one ahead of China. In 2012, its only win was against fellow African side, Tunisia also in five games. This time, Nigeria went to the Olympics as reigning African champions having won the 2015 AfroBasket championship, while all nine members of the team made it to Rio 2016 with the exception of captain, Olumide Oyedeji, who opted out of international duties a few weeks to the Games and the

Segun Toriola, by his participation in the Rio Olympics, made history as the first African to feature in seven Olympic Games. duo of Portland Trail Blazers’ Al-Farooq Aminu and Festus Ezeli after the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) failed to sort out insurance matters with their club. However, to some basketball stakeholders, D’Tigers were still impressive at Rio 2016. A former coach of D’Tigers, Ayo Bakare, who led the team to their first Olympics appearance , London 2012 through a social media account writes “The players gave a good account of themselves, it was a painful loss but we will always be proud of them for their performance.” That D’Tigers impressed in Brazil was also confirmed as they are now rated 16th, nine places up according to the latest FIBA world rankings released during the week. Based on this development, Nigeria is the only African team among the top 20 teams as its closest rival, Angola, is ranked 23rd. Seven wrestlers represented Nigeria at the Games but despite the efforts by the president of the NWF, Daniel Igali, none of his wrestlers was able to win in Rio. On arrival of the wrestlers in Rio, they had no partners to train with until Igali sent an emissary before the sports ministry could send some training partners to Brazil, a belated move which had no positive effect at the end of the day. Igali was so disturbed that he was unable to come to terms with the results posted especially by the women wrestlers. In the freestyle event, Mercy Genesis lost 0-4 to Poland’s Nina Matkowska in a 48kg bout as Aminat Adeniyi lost 2-8 to Maarit Olli of Finalnd in a 58kg bout, while in the 69kg category, Amuchechi Reuben lost 1-11 to Canadan Erzsebet Yeats. Blessing Oborududu was beaten also in round one of the 63kg clash by Battsetseg Soronzonbold of Mongolia, while Odunayo Adekuoroye in the 53kg failed to avenge her loss to Swede Sofia Mattson when both clashed again in Rio. The two men wrestlers in the team who fought on the closing day did not fare better as Amas Daniel (65kg) and Soso Tamarau (97kg) were beaten by their opponents. Amas, lost 1-2 to Georgia’s Iakobishvili Zurabi, while Tamarau lost 0-13 to Uzbekistan’s Ibragimov Idrisovitch. In athletics, Blessing Okagbare who was heavily relied on prior to Rio 2016, this time failed to live up to the expectations. Okagbare lost in the semi-final of the 100m when she finished third in a time of 11.09 seconds, while she finished fifth in the 200m heat with a time of 22.69secs and 13th overall in the category. The reigning 100m and 200m Commonwealth cham-

sport

27 August, 2016

We have to celebrate ‘golden’ bronze — Dalung pion who withdrew from the long jump event however, proved her mettle when she inspired the women’s 4x100m relay race to the final, but she alongside Gloria Asumnu, Jennifer Madu and Agnes Osazuwa, failed to make it to the podium finishing last in a time of 43.21 seconds. Also, another athlete who commanded attention before the Rio 2016 was the high jump national record holder, Doreen Amata who made her third Olympic appearance in Brazil. The 2007 and 2011 All Africa Games gold medallist, who finished 16th in the overall ranking at Beijing 2008 Olympics and 17th at London 2012 Olympics, with a personal best of 1.95m, however, was unable to go past the qualifying round at Rio 2016 following her inability to reenact her devastating form occasioned by injury. “I was ready for the Games. I have cleared 1.95m this year and looks good to make my first final in the high jump. I even brought my coach here but things didn’t go as planned,” she submitted after her Rio debacle where she jumped 1.89m. African triple jump champion, Tosin Oke, also failed to deliver in Rio as he made a jump of 16.47m, to finish 23rd in the final rankings. Oke at the London 2012 finished seventh, the best Nigerian result of the Games. However, despite the challenges faced by Team Nigeria to Rio 2016, some athletes still made indelible marks given their heroics at the Games despite not making it to the podium. Segun Toriola: The 41-year-old table tennis player became the first African to feature at seven Olympic Games. He also created an upset when he sent 79th world rated Czech Republic’s Dimitrij Prokopcov packing with a 4-2 score at the Riocentro Pavilion 3 before he lost to the 22nd world ranked Koki Niwa. Toriola was also at Rio 2016 inducted into the 7’ Club at the Olympic Games by the International Table Tennis Federation where the ITTF president, Thomas Wiekert, described his feat as “a fantastic achievement that needs to be celebrated.” Thomas at a colourful ceremony witnessed by three other table tennis stars who have competed in seven Olympic Games; Zoran Primorac (Croatia), Jörgen Persson (Sweden) and Jean-Michel Saive (Belgium). added that “We have enjoyed watching you play and we look forward to watching your more.” Aruna Quadri: He became the first African to play in the quarter-final of the men’s singles of the Olympics. The reigning African champion first created the biggest upset at Rio 2016 when he dumped Chuang Chih-Yuan (6th) and Timo Boll (10th) before he lost to world’s number one, Ma Long of China in the last eight, the first time ever by an African. Efe Ajagba: He was the only Nigerian boxer who qualified for the Rio 2016 and he didn’t disappoint despite his inability to make it to the podium. Ajagba in his first bout stopped Nigel Paul of Trinidad and Tobago in the first round. The Delta Stateborn Ajagba however, lost by unanimous decision to world’s number two Kazakhstan’s Ivan Dychko in their quarter-final super heavyweight bout. Chierika Ukogu: The American-born rower was impressive in the women’s rowing Singles Sculls as she finished fifth in a time of 7:54.44 secs. The graduate of Human Biology of Stafford University, USA,

emerged Nigeria’s lone entrant after earning the Rio 2016 ticket at the trials held in Tunisia where she finished third. Her modest feat in Rio was wildly celebrated by Nigerians as she almost made it to the podium. Ese Brume: The Delta State-born athlete did not disappoint despite her inability to make it to the podium at Rio 2016. She finished fifth in the women’s long jump final with a leap of 6.81m. The reigning Commonwealth champion emerged the only African who made it to the final and one of the 11 athletes who for the first time had jumped 6.58m or farther in an Olympic final since 1980 edition. Brume with a personal best of 6.83m finished ahead of top jumpers like Estonia’s Ksenija Balta (6.79m); Australian Brooke Stratton (6.74m); and Britain’s Jazmin Sawyers who completed the top eight with a best of 6.69m. Divine Oduduru: Arguably, his story was a success as far Rio 2016 was concerned. Oduduru announced his arrival on the athletics global stage when he finished second behind world record holder, Usain Bolt in a time of 20.34secs. He however, placed seventh in the semi-final with a time of 20.59 seconds also in a race dominated by Bolt. The Delta State-born Oduduru though finished 21st overall among the 24 athletes on parade, but left the Samba City proud as one of the future stars to watch out for. To the Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medallist, Ene Franca Idoko, maladministration and inadequate funding must be addressed to take Nigeria back to where it belongs in the world of sports. “Our administrators are not doing what they are supposed to do. There must be adequate funding by the government too for the athletes to excel and not that we will wait till the last minute for footballers to win our only medal at the Rio Olympics,” Idoko said. Udo-Obong in his submission said that some athletes did their best in Rio, but noted that adequate investment in sports by the government would help the athletes to post better performances at the global stage, as he traced the rise of Great Britain which finished second at Rio 2016 from the 36th at Atlanta ‘96 to proper funding. But to the sports minister, Rio 2016 was a success story after all, Nigeria came back with a medal won by the Dream Team unlike at London 2012 which brought zero medal. “On the overall, Nigeria placed 78th out of 207 participating countries. We could have done better but we will now have to go back home and bring all stakeholders on board to begin planning and preparations for the next games. “In the recent history of Nigeria’s participation at the Olympics, we went with a smaller contingent of 77 athletes who participated in 10 sports, including a few coaches and ministry officials who were in Rio for administrative purposes in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives. “The players and athletes can attest to the unprecedented level of transparency. Camp allowances were paid directly to the athletes even before the end of the Olympics which has never happened before. Admittedly, there were administrative lapses here and there but we will make up for that in subsequent competitions. For now, we will savour the victory of our ‘golden’ Bronze and celebrate our athletes,” Dalung had declared.

Saturday Tribune

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SATURDAY, 27 AUGUST, 2016

NO 1,166

English Premier League Fixtures Saturday, August 27 Southampton V Sunderland 3:00 Tottenham V Liverpool 12:30 Watford V Arsenal 3:00 Chelsea V Burnley 3:00 Hull V Man Utd 5:30 C/Palace V Bournemouth 3:00 Sunday, August 28 Everton V Stoke 3:00 West Brom V Middlesbrough 1:30 Leicester V Swansea 3:00 Man City V West Ham 4:00

Can Ighalo net first EPL goal against Arsenal?

Bolt enjoying his time off the track.

By Olawale Olaniyan

Bolt throws caution to the winds

Jamaican hero celebrates with women

HE fastest man on earth and Olympic gold medal winner, Usain Bolt has never had it so goodwith women. On Thursday night, it was reported in the British media that the Jamaican hero partied until 5am on FOURTH night of wild celebrations as he invites a bevy of girls back to his Tape Club London hotel. Earlier, Bolt was pictured with another mystery woman on one-night stand. Since celebrating his 30th birthday on August 21, the Olympic champion has been pictured partying with a bevy of mystery

ladies, none of whom were his reported girlfriend, Kasi Bennett. Rather than attend the Rio Olympics closing ceremony, Bolt was seen partying at a nightclub in the city to celebrate his big 3-0. The sprinter was pictured twerking and kissing a mystery brunette on the dancefloor despite claims he has a “first lady”, Bennett, at home in Jamaica. The fastest man on the planet is alleged to have later found himself in the company of another woman, Jady Duarte who is said to have leaked a photo of her and Bolt in bed together after reportedly enjoy-

ing a night of passion. Duarte is believed to be the widow of Brazilian

Iheanacho is fit again —Guardiola

MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Kelechi Iheanacho will be available for selection against West Ham United tomorrow. The forward looked to suffer a hamstring in-

Falcons static in FIFA rankings NIGERIA’S women national team kept their 37th position for the third time in a row this year in the latest FIFA rankings for women released by the global soccer body on

Asisat Oshoala, Falcons star

Friday. The reigning African champions also maintained their spot at the summit as the best women national side in Africa. Despite failing to attend the Olympic women’s football event, Florence Omagbemi’s side are unmoved as they hope to defend their African title at the 2016 African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Reigning world champions the United States retained their place as number one women side in the world, followed by Germany while Olympic bronze winners Canada moved up six places to fourth. Sixth to tenth places have

drug lord Douglas Donato Pereira, also known as Dina Terror.

NIGERIAN international, Odion Ighalo, will be looking forward to scoring his first goal this season in the English Premier League when Watford takes on Arsenal today at Vicarage Road. The Hornets are yet to record a win this season in their past two EPL games, while Ighalo who played in all games had fired blank against Southampton (1-1) and Chelsea (1-2). Ighalo though scored during the week in the English Football League Cup’s 1-2 loss to visiting Gillingham in a game which dragged to extra time. The Edo State-born forward became a super substitute when he replaced Adlene Guedioura

and put Watford ahead in the 57th minute, but he and his team-mates surrendered the lead to bow to the lower division side following goals from Mark Byrne (82) and Bradley Dack (102 Minutes). Ighalo, who finished last season’s as Watford’s highest goal scorer with 15 goals, it will be recalled, scored one of the two goals at the Emirates Stadium which ended Arsenal’s reign as FA champions in March this year. The former Nigeria’s U-20 captain is likely to play along compatriot, Isaac Success today though coach Walter Mazzarri, is yet to sanction the debut of the latter, who has not been fielded since his £12.5m record move from Spanish club, FC Granada earlier in the summer.

Australia, Sweden, Japan, Brazil and Korea DPR completing the top 10 best women teams in the world. In Africa, top three places remained unchanged with Ghana [46th] and Cameroon [47th] holding sway in second and third respectively, but South Africa moved up four places to 48th in the world to fourth in the continent. Equatorial Guinea [52st], South Africa [52nd], Cote D’Ivoire [62nd], Tunisia [71st], Morocco [73th], Egypt [80th] and Algeria [82st] occupy the fifth to tenth places on the continent respectively.

jury after going down in pains after attempting to chase a ball through in the Citizen’s 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucuresti in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off. Having missed Thursday’s drill, Iheanacho returned to Manchester City

training on Friday and the Spaniard says the prodigy has no injury scare and will be set for the Hammers. “No injuries from midweek. Kelechi was almost nothing so it was a scare but he’s fine,” Guardiola told journalists at his pre-match

press conference. “Everybody’s fit and ready - we trained with 30 players today.” City are in dire need of a win against ninth-placed West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium to remain at the summit of the English topflight.

Iheanacho

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. 27/8/2016.