28th August, 2016

NO 2,061

SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

SILVER JUBILEE! Calisthenics Display commemorating 25th anniversary of Osun State with 4,000 children making the above formation at the Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo, on Saturday.

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N200

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Boko Haram victims will be fully rehabilitated, Buhari pledges pg4

Army goes after Avengers, others

pg5

•Kills 5, injures many, recovers arms, ammunition •As ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ begins in the creeks •Buratai assures Olu of Warrri, communities of safety

PIC1

Pix 1 & 2: Arms and ammunition, generators, a speedboat seized from militants by soldiers involved in Operation Crocodile Smile in Rivers State. INSET: A militant killed in the operation.

PIC2

My experience

with a—Keira stalker Hewatch FG may probe Sanusi, Soludo’s tenures at CBN

pg3

How we shared Reps’ money —Jibrin pg4

•Says he got N650 million

Agency seizes 17,650 cartons of rottening panla fish pg41

Sept 10 WAEC/election date:

Students, politicians face pg3 uncertainty in Edo •Police, INEC insist WAEC can’t hold

Allegation of delegates’ ‘kidnap’ rocks Ondo APC •Allegation unfounded, say Boroffice, Akeredolu, Oke, others

pg4

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

news Students, politicians face uncertainty over Edo election 3

Banji Aluko - Benin City

S

TUDENTS writing Mathematics in the 2016 General Certificate Examinations (GCE) of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) slated for September 10 in Edo State may be moved to neighbouring states to write the paper, Sunday Tribune has gathered.

The option is one of the few on the table following the clash in the timetables for the conduct of governorship election in Edo State and that of Mathematics paper in the examination as released by WAEC. In order to resolve the conundrum, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officials of WAEC and security agencies in Edo State have been meeting but with no agreement reached yet.

Speaking on the issue, spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, DSP Theodore Okafor, said the matter was extensively discussed when the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operation, Joshak Habila, visited the state police command on Thursday.

He said at a meeting which had in attendance the visiting DIG, state Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, and officials of INEC and WAEC, the DIG made it clear to WAEC officials that the police was not disposed to having the election and examination the same day as the conduct of the examination may jeopardise security that was being put in place for the election.

“The DIG spoke on the issue when he visited, and WAEC (officials) asked him what they needed to do. One thing is how come WAEC did not address the issue with their national head-

28 August, 2016

quarters in Ghana since the election date was fixed for September 10?

“There was no conclusion per se (during the meeting).

The DIG asked them why not make arrangements to move the students to nearby states because there is no way the police can guarantee (the WAEC examination) as election will restrict movement.

“The DIG said, on his own, he cannot guarantee that examination will

hold that day and that they (WAEC) should go and do their homework and see if students could be moved to neighbouring states.

“He said it was impossible as it amounts to giving police double duty that day.

He said criminals could infiltrate Edo and cause problems.

“Election and examination cannot take place on the same day because examination means movement and we cannot know the

country is aware of that. We have met with WAEC and we have given them some advice.

“We don’t know exactly how they are going to tackle it but elections will certainly hold. I can only comment on election and not examinations.

“We will hold election on the 10th (September). They (WAEC) have met with the security agencies, the DIG of Police and INEC commissioners.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (right) with the Commercial Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, Mr Tobias Meletschns, during the minister’s inspection of the rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of the Sagamu section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday.

FG may probe Sanusi, Soludo’s tenures at CBN To exhume FRCN’s report on Sanusi Taiwo Adisa - Abuja A probe of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2007 to 2014 may be underway if the push by some forces within the government sails through, sources close to the administration have said.

The probe, if the authorities finally put a seal on

it, would investigate the printing of naira notes under the watch of Professor Chukwumah Soludo and the management of CBN’s “surplus” finances under the watch of the incumbent Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.

The duo had managed the CBN at relative periods

Lagos-Ibadan expressway: Fashola urges contractors to speed up work THE Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend undertook an inspection tour of the ongoing dualisation of the Oyo-Ogbomosho road and the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He urged contractors on the latter to speed up work in order to guarantee smooth journey experience for travellers across the country during the coming festivities.

Fashola, who undertook the inspection tour of the roads while returning from Ilorin where he attended the fifth National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development, said although the contrac-

people moving around that day,” he said.

Speaking on the clash of the timetables, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that INEC was not considering shifting the election because of the WAEC examination and that the examination body has been advised to explore avenues to conducting the paper.

“For us, we are doing election that day and the whole

tors were faced with some constraints such as unpredictable weather and the fact that they have to work while also managing traffic, they must plan their work in such a way that would ensure a more tolerable driving experience during the festivities and general safety on the roads.

“You must plan your work in such a way that you’re able to accommodate that traffic and also help to make the journey time of commuters better during that period.

They will be travelling home and coming back, and I also will like you to improve the safety signs on this highway,” Fashola told the contractors.

Noting that the Muslim festival, Eid-el-Kabir, was around the corner and that the end of the year festivities like Christmas and the New Year were fast approaching, the minister urged the contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to consciously plan to accommodate the expected high volume of traffic from the events.

“Start calibrating your activities to prepare to take in that traffic, it will come, but the big one will come, I think, sometime in the end of the year when everybody is moving back from home. The target is to make that experience better than last year’s,” Fashola said.

of boom but forces in government said that the policies they instituted did not appear to help in the fight against corruption in those eras.

Sources close to the administration stated at the weekend that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would not close its eye to any perceived unwholesome practices in government notwithstanding the length of time.

“We believe that questions that have not been completely answered must be brought forward and clarified as a way of ensuring that the nation’s institutions do the right thing at all times.

The duo of Sanusi and Soludo had spoken against the drift in the economy last week, asking the administration to take immediate steps.

But a source said that the planned probe did not have anything to do with the current postures of the former apex bank bosses.

“If certain questions are left hanging by the past administrations, this should be the time to clear such issues since this administration is determined to fight

Sunday Tribune

“They offered them some advice. I sympathise with them because the examination is an international examination. We have offered them some concession and we hope they will take a decision.”

Asked if INEC could shift ground, he said: “that INEC should shift ground, how?

I’m talking about 1.9 million Edo citizens, who are qualified to vote. The total figure of students writing the examination in Edo is about 122,000.”

In a reaction, Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Orbih, said his party was not bothered about a likely change to the election, saying “anytime the election is conducted, we are certain of victory.”

Also speaking, the publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Godwin Erhahon, said “whatever INEC asked us to do and whenever they asked us to go for the election, we are okay.”

Meanwhile, there are also fears that the September 10 date may clash with this year’s Sallah celebrations which is further compounding the anxiety among politicians in the state.

PFN condemns Enugu, Zamfara, Kaduna killings Banji Aluko - Benin City

corruption and corrupt tendencies. The move would also help any of the past officials to clear their names of any perceived wrongdoing,” the source said.

While Soludo’s tenure is to come under searchlight for the process of printing new naira notes, the tenure of Sanusi is to come under the searchlight over the distribution of forex earnings to bureau de change operators as well as the report of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) which raised several allegations against Sanusi.

The 13-page report of the FRCN which was relied upon by the Federal Government to suspend Sanusi from office in 2013 had alleged that the former CBN governor spent N1.257 billion on lunch for policemen and private guards in 2012.

The council also alleged that Sanusi as CBN governor made huge payments to airlines for currency distribution, while also allegedly holding an account balance of N1.423 billion for an unidentified customer since 2008.

THE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has condemned the death of some Nigerians in Kaduna, Zamfara and Enugu states, regretting what it described as the helplessness of security agencies to curtail extremist elements carrying out the attacks.

National President of the PFN, Reverend (Dr) Felix Omobude, in a press statement issued in Benin, Edo State, on Saturday, urged the police and other security agencies to move swiftly to get to the roots of the incessant attacks and bring the perpetrators to book so that Nigerians will not assume that the perpetrators are above the law.

The PFN also expressed concern that while efforts wee being made to build a united Nigeria, some people seem determined to pull back the hands of the clock, cause division and hatred on account of differences in religious beliefs and ethnicity.

Omobude said, “We urge the government, at all levels, to prioritise the safety of all and security of everyone, irrespective of what they believe or where they hail from.”

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news

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

How we shared Reps’ money —Jibrin Says he got N650m

By Dare Adekanmbi

F

ROM 2003 till date, takings by each of the principal officers in the House of Representatives range from N650 million to N1.5 billion, immediate past chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has alleged.

There are nine principal officers in the House, in-

cluding Speaker Yakubu Dogara, while the Senate has 10.

In a series of tweets on his personal handle on Saturday, Jibrin, who has been having a running battle with Dogara since his removal from office, said the revelation became necessary to provide clarification on the “controversial members’ allowances.”

Entitled Disclosure on

We’ll ensure full rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims, Buhari assures Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, in Nairobi, Kenya, assured the international community that Nigeria would diligently ensure full rehabilitation of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency and find lasting solutions to the threats posed by terrorism.

The president spoke at a two-day sixth Tokyo International Cooperation for Africa (TICAD) attended by Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe and 34 other African leaders to address efforts to roll back the negative effects of terrorism in Nigeria and other African countries.

In his remarks at the plenary session of the summit, Buhari spoke of the successes of his administration in degrading the Boko Haram terrorist organisation, noting that life was returning to normal in the areas the insurgents previously occupied.

President Buhari said with Boko Haram degraded, the reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country would receive immediate attention.

He acknowledged Japanese assistance through UNICEF in the rehabilitation of the victims and commended development partners for their work geared towards improving the lives of some two million IDPs in the country.

“The bottom line is that these problems are our primary responsibility. We must tackle them and find lasting solutions for ourselves,’’ he said.

President Buhari told the summit, also being attended by chief executives of at least 80 major companies from Japan, that international cooperation with Nigeria was central to the decimation of Boko Haram terror group.

According to him, ‘’I took over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria when the Northeastern part of the country

was being ravaged by Boko Haram. ‘’However, soon after assumption of office, our administration, with the support of our immediate neighbours - Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin- and international partners including Japan, faced the challenge frontally. ‘’As I speak, the terror group has been decimated and life is beginning to return to normal in the affected region.

“The challenge we currently face which is also being addressed, is that of the IDPs which number over two million, to get them reintegrated with their families and their original homes.’’

Controversial Members’ Allowance: Clarification and Addendum 1-14, Jibrin in the statement alleged that Dogara, who has been in the House since 2007, has received N1.5 billion as allowances till date.

According to him, the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, who has been in the House from 2011 till now has received N800 million as allowances.

House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, for his member-

ship of the House since 2003, was said to have pocketed N1.2 billion as allowances. Deputy House leader, Umar Jibril, got N1.2 billion from 2003.

“Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, who has been in the House from 2003 [received] N1.2 billion. Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa has been in the House 2007date, [got] N1.2 billion.

Deputy Whip, Pally Iriase, has been in the House 2011date [got] N700 million.”

He disclosed that he him-

self got N650 million as allowances from 2011 till date, explaining that the manner he spent every penny had been documented and published.

“Deputy Minority Whip Binta (2011-date) N700 million; Minority Whip Yakubu Umar Barde (2003-date) N1.2 billion. Deputy minority Leader Chukwuka Onyema (2007-11) and (2015date) N800 million “Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema, from 2007-2011 and 2015-till

date pocketed N800 million allowances. Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, N1.2 billion from 2003,” he said.

Jibrin, who said he had been uncomfortable all along with the ‘jumbo allowance,’ challenged any of the mentioned officers to controvert his claims and publish their versions.

“I have never been comfortable with the money!

Thank God the allowances have reached their Waterloo! The country and House will be better off,” he added.

Destruction caused by rain storm in Tudun Yan-Dogo village of Dange-Shuni Local Government, Sokoto State on Saturday. PHOTO: NAN

Allegation of delegates’ ‘kidnap’ rocks Ondo APC •Abraham accuses other aspirants Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure AS the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State prepares for its governorship primary election, an aspirant of the party, Dr Olusegun Abraham, on Saturday, raised the alarm over camping of delegates for the election in a secluded area by some aspirants.

Abraham, who made this allegation in Akure while featuring on a live programme of a private radio station in the state capital, alleged that some aspirants whom he said wanted to win the party’s ticket have camped the delegates in an area.

According to him, the action was taken out of desperation and fear of losing the primary of the party.

Abraham said “These delegates who never knew the intention of the desperate aspirants, went for the meeting but only to be confined and never allowed to go home.”

Condemning a comment

•Allegation unfounded —Akeredolu, Boroffice, Oke

credited to one of the aspirant, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), against a national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, Abraham described the comment as unfortunate and an ungrateful act.

“The national leader was being accused of imposing me. I was not imposed. Endorsement is different from imposition. Those who regarded the two as the same do not what they were saying.

Reacting, Akeredolu, who described the allegation as time wasting, said apart from the financial implication, the party’s delegates are not jobless individuals who could be camped in an hotel or anywhere for a whole week because of party primary.

He, however, expressed optimism that he would win the ticket next Saturday, saying “they can take all the delegates away from the state, but they know who to vote for.”

Similarly, a media aide to Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Kayode Fakuyi, described the allegation as unfounded,

adding that all the aspirants had worked on the delegates and there was therefore no need to kidnap them for any purpose.

He said Boroffice remained focussed and would not want any distraction or join issue with any of the aspirants.

Also speaking through Rotimi Ogunleye, his media aide, Chief Olusola Oke, said the abduction of delegates was not possible.

Ogunleye said “ I am not

aware of this. But all I know is that every aspirant has his pocket of delegates that will vote for him during the primary election.”

Meanwhile, another governorship aspirant, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, has appealed to members of the party against losing the chances to win the November 26 governorship election in the state.

Alasoadura, who is the lawmaker representing Ondo Central Senatorial

District, said the people of the state had shown their desire to have an APC-led government in the state. having been disappointed by the current administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

He, however, appealed to the delegates for the primary election to choose the best among those jostling for the party’s ticket, saying only a grassroots and popular candidate could win the state for the party.

Jegede promises friendly tax regime in Ondo THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has promised what he described as a friendly tax regime if elected as governor.

He said people would be charged small amount as tax to encourage positive response.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the weekend, Jegede said the time was challenging eco-

nomically, adding that his government would adopt a friendly measure to make people pay their dues to encourage government serve them well.

“To tax people is not an easy task. But then if NURTW and okada riders can collect money and you see them, drivers having jeeps with customised number plates and I’ve seen them, it is because they have a little bit friendly way of collecting taxes, friendly in

the sense that the money they pay is small, and they also have effective ways of enforcing because they have people who are enforcers.

“My position is that we should make the tax minimal so that it can be a little bit friendly. And you don’t have to wait to collect taxes once in a year; you can do it every month; you can do it every quarter, and you can make it as small as possible to encourage positive response,” he said.

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news

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Army launches attack on militants •Kills 5, injures many, arrests 23 From Chris Agbambu and Ebenezer Adurokiya

T

HE 133 Special Forces Battalion of the Nigerian Army troops has carried out a precursor operation, code-named Crocodile Smile, to get rid of all forms of criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

In the course of the operation, five militants were killed, while many others were injured. Twentythree suspects were also arrested.

The operation, which was conducted on Friday, was carried out by the special forces at the militants camps, a statement by the army said.

Items recovered from the camps included two AK-47 rifles, 11 pump action guns, a locally-made pistol, 292 cartridges of live ammunition, 199 rounds of AK47 rifle ammunition, four generators, a camp gas cooker and a boat left by the fleeing criminals.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, has confirmed the

killing and the recovery of arms.

Buratai made the confirmation in Sapele, Delta State on Saturday.

He said that some suspects were arrested following a raid of the militants’ camp on Friday evening by the Battalion.

The suspected militants had attempted to interfere with the training conducted for formations and units in the Niger Delta.

“As you move into the creeks to conduct the exercise, I urge you to be professional in your conduct and clear any obstacle interfering with your job,” he said.

Tukur Buratai, however, urged troops to ensure they catch militants alive in order to make them face the law.

Over 500 troops have been stationed at the military formation.

He charged the troops to defend the country with every sense of duty.

“You are here to defend your fatherland. I urge you to be of good conduct, courageous, patriotic and highly professional in your

•It is one Nigeria or nothing —Olu of Warri

chosen career,” he admonished.

The army boss said that during a breakdown of law and order in the course of their engagement, they should apply minimum and maximum forces where applicable.

“Ensure that you should first try not to inflict bodily harm on militants. Try to take them alive so that they can have the opportunity to face the law.

“This you must do, even though you may apply force for your self defence,” he noted.

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammadu Bello, on Saturday said that he met a capital that was heading towards chaotic service delivery and traffic management.

Speaking at a congress organised by the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the minister said he inherited a city whose infrastructure was grossly overstretched and whose planning was eroded and bypassed.

The minister, who was yet to appoint key officers to assist him in delivering his mandate, said that by the time he assumed duties, contractors had already stopped work and laid off their staff.

He remarked that this was why his administration might never appoint mandate secretaries and retinue of aides, as he is more concerned about strengthening institutions and allowing civil servants to run the system as it obtained internationally.

Musa however, said the territory was well conceived and planned, with first-class infrastructure, although it had grown exponentially more than any other city in Africa.

“We encouraged contractors to come back to site.

For 11 months, funds were not released for capital projects, so we requested for extension of our budget by three months so as to mobilise contractors.

That is why you see that semblances of work have returned.

“The focus of this government is to upgrade the slums in Abuja through urban renewal programme and not to demolish them;

A former senator who represented Osun West senatorial district at the seventh assembly, Senator Mudashiru Husain, has felicitated with the government and people of Osun State over the celebration of 25 years of existence.

He made this known in a congratulatory message.

“We salute the doggedness, resilience and the vision of our founding fathers, the positive contri-

but demolitions will have to be made for roads and to control diseases,” he added.

Musa lamented the level of vandalism of government infrastructure that was ongoing in the territory, including that of the yet-to-be completed Abuja light rail project.

He said: “Abuja light rail project, which is now 70 percent done, will be completed by December 31, 2017.”

Abia govt reduces tuition fee for indigenous students Celestien IhejirikaUmuahia ABIA State g o vernment,yesterday announced a reduction of N10,000 for Abia indigenes schooling in the state-owned Abia State University (ABSU) Uturu, to cushion the effect of the hardship faced by parents.

The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Comrade Bonny Iwuoha, who disclosed this, said for students to benefit, they would provide evidence of tax receipts from their parents, adding that only those identified as genuine indigene with biometrics

and that his subjects and all Deltans believe in one Nigeria.

It will be recalled that in its logistics build-up to the commencement of the exercise, the military had embarked on a free medical outreach for Sapele communities in Delta State.

Despite reassurance from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Chief of Army Staff on the safety of life and property, residents of Gbaramatu Kingdom have expressed their displeasure over the deployment of military hardwares in recent

times, describing it as a ploy to intimidate the people of the area.

Acting secretary of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said Ijaws were being targeted for annihilation.

“Despite the plea of leaders of the Niger Delta to the military high command to shelve the idea of militarisation of the Niger Delta, the army is still going ahead to carry out their purported military drill exercise in the region,” he alleged.

Ex-senator, Omowaiye congratulates Osun at 25

I inherited territory developing towards chaos —FCT minister Christian Okeke-Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff, after flagging off the exercise in Sapele, paid a courtesy visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli 1, in his palace to reassure him and the people that the army meant well during the operation.

The army boss appealed to the people not to exercise fears as the troops were in the creeks to secure and provide safety while going about its training exercise.

The Olu of Warri, in his response, said that Nigeria remained indissoluble,

would be considered for the reduction.

He stated further that Faculties of Law and Humanities would relocate to a new campus in Umuahia, while that of Engineering would also be relocated to Aba campus as soon as it is completed.

On the recent free meal programme introduced by the state government, the commissioner said it had been tested and successfully implemented in the three senatorial zones of the state, adding that other schools that were yet to benefit from the programme would enjoy it as soon as school reopens.

butions they have made, and the milestones they have completed in the last 25 years. Exceptional are the giant strides and monumental legacies of Rauf Aregbesola in the last six years, which have placed Osun and her people on the world map of progress, peace and prosperity,” he said.

Hussain added that the road to a more prosperous Osun was in safe hands while the blueprint for her expansion was ongoing,

enjoining all citizens and residents to collectively partner with the administration to attain her greatness.

Similarly, an aide of the governor of the state, Mr Remi Omowaiye, has lauded the initiatives and accomplishments of Aregbesola in the last six years of assumption of office in road construction, massive schools’ infrastructural development, peaceful co-existence, educational and agricultural interven-

tion programmes, which make the state to stand out among her peers created at the same period.

Omowaiye attested to the positive feats of all former governors but eulogised the efforts of Aregbesola in reshaping the entire landscape of the 30 local government areas in all spheres of life within 6 years, which he described as clear manifestation surpassing the 19 years prior his emergence on the political scene.

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28 August, 2016

crimereports

Sunday Tribune

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

Lawrence, forgive me o

Cries man who lured businessman to residence, killed him

By Oluwatoyin Malik

T

HE Okoh family of Ubulu-Uku community in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State is currently in sorrow over the way one of them, Lawrence Okoh (51), was murdered by his business partner, one Agbaire Kingsley, who lured him to Warri under the pretext that he should supply vehicle spare parts.

Crime Reports learnt that Okoh, a vehicle spare parts trader, was allegedly murdered by Kingsley at about 1:00a.m on August 4, two days after his arrival in Warri. Okoh reportedly left his base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for Warri on August 2, after Kingsley called and asked him to supply some motor spare parts such as injector nozzles and caterpillar rings. He reportedly gathered the spare parts from fellow traders because he didn’t have so many. A friend of his in Port Harcourt where he lived and had his business before his death, Callus, was said to have helped him to get the spare parts.

On getting to Warri, Lawrence was said to have called Kingsley that he had arrived, asking for direction to the place he was, but Kingsley told him to wait, saying he would come and pick him. He eventually did at about 8.00 p.m, from where he took the deceased to his family house at Ovwian area of Warri where he slept and eventually met his death.

A member of the Okoh family who brought the deceased up, Mr James Okoh, told Crime Reports that the family believed that Kingsley killed Lawrence and removed his body parts for ritual.

Narrating how his brother was murdered to Crime Reports, the elder Okoh, who is an Ibadan, Oyo State-based businessman, said: “In the morning on Wednesday, August 3, Lawrence was surprised

The deceased, Lawrence Okoh, his wife, Nneka and their twin children before his death. when he woke up and discovered that four of the items he brought were missing. He also noticed that Kingsley and his friend were no longer in the house. He put a call through to Callus and told him what he discovered.

“On hearing this, Callus reminded him of his warning that people from that particular area were very dangerous. He asked him to return with the remaining goods. But Kingsley and his friend returned and asked him to be patient, saying that they were going out to look for money.

“Lawrence waited for them until they returned at night. That Wednesday night at about 8pm was the last time he spoke with his wife. His wife said he had stayed too long in Warri, asking Kingsley to send the number of the man he went to, which he did. He also sent the number to Callus through text message. He later sent a message to his wife that Lawrence and his friend had collected his ATM card, shoes and clothes. That was the last time his wife and friend heard from him as he became unreachable after that.

“At about 12.30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4, I was called and informed that

they had not been able to communicate with Lawrence. Callus and Lawrence’s wife, Nneka, said when they called the number he gave them, the voice at the other end kept saying ‘wrong number’. Callus also continued calling but Kingsley kept terminating his calls.

“This raised Callus’s suspicion and he called me that he suspected something had gone wrong.

“After raising some cash, my younger brother and I left Ibadan, Oyo State for Warri on Monday, August 8. We went to Warri Area Commander and narrated what happened. He gave us a team which started work immediately. The detectives were able to locate Lawrence’s residence and they arrested him.

“During police investigation, Kingsley confessed that he broke his SIM card when he was being pestered with frequent calls from Lawrence’s family.

When they asked him of my brother’s whereabouts, he said Lawrence left his house in annoyance when he told him that the goods he brought were not genuine parts.

“That was how we started trying to unravel what happened to Lawrence. Callus came from Port Harcourt

and we went to the spare parts market in Warri.

Fortunately, Callus has a brother within the market who said some of the goods described by Callus were brought to him, though he did not buy.

“The brother was the one who went round the market to ask those who purchased the spare parts to get the person who sold to them because the owner was missing. The buyers went to the police station and when Kingsley was brought out, he only stared, as he could not utter a word.

“The people identified him as the one who sold the spare parts to them.

When asked whether the people’s claim was true, Kingsley admitted, folding his arms on his head forlornly. The police asked for Lawrence’s whereabouts again but all he could say was ‘please, have mercy on me.’ This happened on Friday, August 19, 15 days after Lawrence had been killed.

“We were taken to the Area Commander and he asked him again: ‘where is Lawrence?’ Kingsley replied that he should be given two days to produce him. Lawrence’s wife knelt and begged him to disclose her husband’s where-

Agbaire Kingsley abouts and he promised a week again.

“That was when we told him he was lying. The Area Commander asked all of us to leave his office except police detectives; that was when Kingsley confessed that my brother was dead.

When asked how he died, he confessed that he and one other man, Kennedy (surname withheld) killed him.

“He said they killed him by smashing a bottle on his head. He spoke further that his victim could not cry for help because he was weak by then. He did not disclose what he did to render him weak. He said after the killing, they buried Lawrence at the backyard of the building beside his house, and that

his partner in crime fled to Ghana afterwards.

“That was how Kingsley killed my younger brother for nothing. We are suspecting that they removed his body parts which were taken to Ghana by his partner in crime.”

Crime Reports learnt that the goods the deceased took to Warri were worth N1.6 million. Okoh was said to have known Kingsley about eight years before his brutal killing and had supplied him spare parts while the latter was in Lagos State and the former resided in Ibadan.

It was gathered that the exhumation of Lawrence’s remains was carried out last Wednesday and the Continues on pg7

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crimereports

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Kwara police nab man who led killing of Tsaragi people Biola Azeez - Ilorin

T

HE Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected mastermind of the killing of five men in Tsaragi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, early this month.

It will be recalled that the murder of Nupe and Tsaragi people at Obadare village in Share community was attributed to communal clash.

The death of the victims, identified as Aliyu Issah, Mumini, Alhaji Saba, Madu Issa and Kadiri, reportedly created panic again in the two communities, leading to imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew by the state government.

But Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusola Amore, who disclosed the arrest of the mastermind of the killings in Ilorin, said the man from Share community,

in Ifelodun Local Government Area, had carried out the act with five of his friends, now at large, in revenge against the killing of his brother and destruction of their property in December 2015 during the clash between Tsaragi and Share communities.

Amore, who said his command had established a 12-man Eminent Persons Group from the two communities to handle issues relating to the recurring conflicts between them, absolved the people of Share in the latest killings, adding that the suspect in police custody had told investigators that he was on a lone mission to revenge a perceived wrong.

“You people reported recently that five people were killed in Tsaragi. Well, we have been able to arrest the ring leader of that dastardly act. We also recovered all the guns they used.

Five others are on the run but we have the ring leader with us.

“The person arrested is from Share community. He felt that he was wronged by the killing of his brother and destruction of their property during the December clash between them and the people of Tsaragi. He alone called for his friends and went on the revenge mission.

They were never backed by the community and that is why you notice it happened when there was no disagreement between the two communities.

“We have been able to manage the conflict between the two communities to a very considerable level. We have set up a 12-man Eminent Persons Committee, six from each side, and they are going to be meeting with the police regularly on issues about

This is my first time of putting on military uniform Says fake military officer Biola Azeez - Ilorin

THE Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa, has paraded a suspected fake military officer, Salami Olalekan Wuraola and his accomplice, said to be a serving soldier.

The commandant of the school, Navy Captain Ibrahim Doko Nurudeen, while parading the suspect before journalists within the school premises, said the suspect and his accomplice had been handed over to the army authorities, in

The fake soldier

Ilorin, the state capital.

He said the suspect and his accomplice, whose identity was not revealed, were arrested at the Offa branch of Union Bank following information from members of the public.

“We got the suspects arrested after a long trail.

They went about as newly recruited soldiers seeking financial assistance from well-to-do members of the public.

“A wealthy man gave them N20,000 and it was at the point of collecting

the money at the bank that they were arrested,” the Commandant said.

The suspect, while responding to questions from journalists, said the military uniform belonged to his late brother who was a soldier.

“I am from Ondo State and a school leaver; this is the first time of my involvement in criminal activity. I am not a soldier.

I have not put on the uniform before; this is the first time. I did not know the influential person who gave the N20,000. It was the soldiers that I met that knew the man. I only went along with them and sat down somewhere. The soldiers were the ones that went to meet the man.

“It’s a big mistake. It was the soldier that took the money. I regret my action.

If I escape from this, I will not go back to it again,” he said.

In his own comment, the representative of Offa community, Mr Jare Olatundun, attributed the arrest of the suspects to the existing synergy between the community and the Navy on security.

“We owe the peace being enjoyed by this town to God and Navy. They have been very helpful in ensuring security in Offa,” he said.

the two communities,” he said.

The police boss, who also paraded a suspected armed robber, Lekan Bello, who allegedly robbed Walex Pharmacy, Gaa Akanbi area, Ilorin on August 10 at about 9.30 p.m with others (now at large), said that the

suspect was arrested with a locally-made pistol and a live cartridge.

Also paraded was a suspected kidnapper/armed robber who was arrested along Ilorin/Offa road.

“On investigation, various charms were recovered from him, while he

confessed that his father in Shao town, Moro Local Government Area, gave him bullet-proof charms and another that would prevent his arrest after operations,” the police commissioner said, adding that the suspect would soon be arraigned in court.

cannabis found on him was not his, claiming that he had stopped smoking hemp for some time,” said the NSCDC boss.

Mr. Ayuba however explained that the suspect pleaded for clemency, just as he also confessed that he had just been recently

released from the prison custody in Minna.

The civil defence boss said that the suspect would soon be handed over to the Niger State command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

15-year-old arrested with fake currency notes, Indian hemp Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

NIGER State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 15-year old Umar (other name withheld) along Gidan Mangoro-Bida road.

The state commandant, Mr. Philip Ayuba, stated this on Friday in Minna, in a press statement obtained

by Crime Reports, adding that the suspect was arrested with fake currency notes and substances suspected to cannabis.

He stated further that the suspect had confessed to the crime during investigation by his operatives, as he confirmed he had been spending the currency, unaware that they were counterfeit.

Umar was further quoted as saying that the fake currencies in N1,000 and N500 denominations were payment made to him by an unidentified person for a service he rendered.

“Umar also said the

The teenage suspect with the exhibits recovered from him

Lawrence, forgive me o

Cries man who lured businessman to residence, killed him Continued from pg6

deceased’s body was discovered to have decomposed. The remains which were mainly bones with bits of rotten flesh were covered with faeces as the suspects were reported to have buried him in a shallow grave on a dump site face down.

At the burial site, Kingsley was reported to have begged the police to loosen his handcuff so that he could help in the exhumation. He was quoted to have said that he wanted to use the opportunity to seek forgiveness from his victim. He reportedly said that he could see the spirit of the deceased in the midst of the people.

At a point, Kingsley cried: “Lawrence, forgive me o.”

When asked what Law-

rence did to be killed, Kingsley replied that he did nothing, saying that it was the devil that pushed him to do evil. He said his initial denial was as a result of fear.

The deceased, who had been married for years without children until his wife delivered twins, a boy and a girl, in 2015, was said to have graduated from the University of Ibadan and had Master’s degree.

The deceased’s brother also told Crime Reports that Lawrence had resided in Ibadan and had a spare parts shop at Agodi Gate area, but also had another in Port Harcourt.

“He settled in Port Harcourt finally when his wife delivered in 2015, but his shop was being run by someone in Ibadan till his

death,” he added.

He told Crime Reports that the deceased’s remains were immediately gathered in a cellophane bag and put in a casket, after which they were taken to the deceased’s family quarters at Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha West Local Government Area of Delta State for burial immediately after exhumation.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State Police Command, SP Celestina Kalu, confirmed Kingsley’s arrest, saying that efforts were on to arrest the second suspect at large. She added that the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Asaba for further investigations.

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

travelogue Germany: Home of bread, bikes and coffee

A snack shop in Postdam

After a two-week trip to Germany, BAYO ALADE reports on his impression of a country with a rich history and passion for excellence, bikes, coffee and dogs.

T

HE flight was meant for 6.30 a.m Nigerian time that Wednesday morning. Destination was Berlin, Germany with a stop-over and connecting another flight in Casablanca, Morocco. It was wise to sleep over at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, but there was nowhere to sleep. Thankfully the weather was cool and the air-conditioners were working!

I began to understand why the Lagos Airport was considered one of the worst in Africa, not necessarily in terms of infrastructure alone but taking into consideration the comfort of the regular air traveller. The intending passengers, like vultures, simply decided to be patient until all the demarcated areas which serve as offices became vacant late in the night. Then they moved in and occupied everywhere available, just to have a nap before checkingin time in the wee hours of that morning.

It was not a comfortable rest for most people but endurance was the watchword; 6.30 a.m. the following morning was still several hours away.

By 4.30 a.m the Air Maroc Airline counter opened for business and the airport formalities began in earnest. Inspection and checking-in of luggage began with Immigration, Quarantine, Customs and other officials standing in a row, “doing their jobs.” They often allow passengers to go with their garri, ground pepper and egusi, but they let them know that they have to “take care” of them.

As one moved into the inner areas of the airport, on the way out, other ‘begi- begi’ officials asked for one favour or the other, after all you must have been well loaded to be checking out.

The aisle linking the aircraft was pitch-dark. Many of

the travellers were not surprised. After all this was Nigeria and blackouts and darkness was not strange. Many shook their heads in amusement.

Less than five hours later, Casablanca came into view after several minutes of viewing the Atlas Mountains which looked like floor tiles from the air. From the air, the city was beautifully set with its rich agricultural fields looking like unmarked Wimbledon tennis courts. Its roads were equally well set, a beauty to behold.

Crossing the Mediterranean Taking off from Casablanca after about one and a half hours, the flight finally headed for Europe. From the air the Mediterranean Sea looked like a stream separating

We exited the airport to a strong smell of coffee and cigarette. It was as if everybody was smoking and drinking coffee at the same time. Both young and old were fully into this pastime

North Africa from southern Europe.

After a few more hours, Berlin here we come! A thick fog hung over the city and it was raining. As one would come to discover later, rain does not really fall here in the sense of rainfall back in tropical Africa with thunder and lightning. It is better described as drizzling.

It was here that Africa was partitioned during what came to be known as the Berlin Conference between 1884 and 1885.

All airport formalities over, we exited the airport to a strong smell of coffee and cigarette. It was as if everybody was smoking and drinking coffee at the same time. Both young and old were fully into this pastime – boys, girls, young men and women, old men and women. An elderly woman stood near with her travelling bag. Her pet a little dog was in a compartment specially created for it in the luggage she was carrying. She kept puffing away at her cigarette.

Intermittently, she stooped to have a look at her pet and patted it on the head. Reassured that it was safe, the little dog settled down snugly in the compartment. I was to learn later how deeply Germans love their pet dogs. I thought of Nigeria. Most “dog lovers” here love them to keep out unwanted visitors and robbers. There in Germany, their owners take them for a walk and everywhere they want to go, even on a train or bus ride.

Efficient transport system In two weeks I almost became a Berliner. As a first time continues

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Still a long way to go

Berlin city centre continues

pg 8

visitor, I noticed that the underground railway system is superb with excellent timing. If one enters an underground train station and it is very easy to determine when the next train will come around, and it comes exactly at the time you see on the electronic screen. I became acquainted with almost every part of Berlin U-bahn and S-bahn as their underground and surface rail system is known.

Turmstrasse, Zoologische garten, Spandau, Paracelsus bad, Alexander Plaza, Osloer strabbe, Potsdam became as familiar as Maryland, Palm Grove, Fadeyi, Oshodi, Mile2, Festac, Okoko etc.

One could obtain a ticket for a week or a whole day as a group of visitors or as an individual, which one can use to ravel round the city in trains, including buses. In the whole of the two weeks spent in Berlin, I did not come across any one checking for tickets, ticket controllers they call them. Yet everybody bought their tickets without being told.

Just when I was wondering what a similar situation in Nigeria would be, I was told by one of my hosts that some people actually fail to comply with buying tickets but if caught, the offender is taken to the station where he or she would be made to cough out 40 Euro and further sanctions.

Germans also love their bikes. They take them everywhere – inside the train, on the street wherever possible.

They also love bread. It is said that there are over 200 varieties of bread in Germany. It depends on whichever one you want to have. There is hardly a day that Germans don’t eat bread in one form or the other.

An aspect of the conference which I was attending was a trip to a village called Buckow. While waiting for the train to Buckow, I was pressed so I asked of the gents. To my surprise I had to pay one euro to be able to use the gents.

I quickly made a simple calculation. One Euro was then about N410. Wow, N410 just to pee? Not even in Lagos would I pay such an amount, but I had no choice and normal adults like me don’t wear ‘pampers.’ So I complied.

A train eventually came but we soon discovered to our chagrin that we went to a wrong Buckow; there are in fact two Buckows. The wrong one has residents of about 400 in number, so they virtually knew themselves. So when this group of mostly Africans, carrying all manners of luggage and other items “invaded” their village, a picture of a recent ‘invasion’ by refugees who crossed over mostly from Syria must have crossed their minds. Dogs began to bark, breaking the quietness of the village. It was late evening but thankfully, in summer 8p.m is like 5p.m in Nigeria. Some of us said they noticed a man with a gun.

Surprisingly an ‘angel’ emerged in form of a man who could speak both German and English fluently. He was the one who told us that we were in the wrong Buckow and that the other Buckow was in the opposite direction, two worlds apart. We were in the soup but thank God for an efficient transport system. As late as it was and as far away from Berlin as it was, a bus was coming to take us back. It was late to get to the right Buckow that day. We had to get there the following day.

When it is getting late in the day, time of arrival for buses in the remote areas starts getting longer; One hour interval, instead of maybe 15 minutes. As remote as the two Buckows are, buses do ply them till late in the night.

Emperor Friedrick II’s summer palace

Graves of Emperor Friedriek the great and his eleven dogs. Inset is Emperor Friedriek.

Bike park

Here the rest rooms are in darkness. No running water, as if no one is in charge of the airports.

It was summer, so a lot of people were looking round the city. We made a trip to Potsdam, a former capital of the German empire where Emperor Friedrick II made the seat of his power. Relics of his palace are still preserved on a ground said to be over 10 kilometres long.

Friederick was said to be a lover of dogs, music and the arts. He would rather live with his eleven dogs than his wife, Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelBevern whom his father forced him to marry. As a young man he loved music and philosophy instead of learning the art of war as expected of a crown prince which did not go down well with his father. He so much loved his dogs that he requested that they be buried with him when he died and it was so. Beside his grave today could be seen the grave of his eleven dogs also.

He was also credited with introducing potatoes into Germany, a food item which has come to be one of the staple foods in the country today. On his grave could be found some potatoes dropped there in memory of his “foresight.”

What’s this?

At a holiday Hostel where I stayed, many young people from all over Europe came to lodge. They were mostly on holidays. As soon as they checked in the next thing is to demand for the map of Berlin. With that it was possible go anywhere, once a visitor knows where he or she was going. In the hostel one could bring in his own foodstuffs to cook or in the alternative eat from the food prepared in-house at a fee.

Myself and the other participants at the conference decided to buy food and cook. One particular evening my friends and I decided to cook beans and garnish it with garri which we took along on the trip. As soon as we fin-

ished from the kitchen and set the plates of beans on the table I noticed one lady sitting nearby was fixated on my food. I was wondering what the attention was all about.

I concluded the oyinbo girl was just interested in the ‘strange’ African food. My friends and I settled down to our meal.

The lady kept watching as we started to garnish the beans with garri. She was forced to ask some questions.

“Which country are you from?” she asked. “Nigeria.” “Oh, that’s interesting; this is just like the food we eat in Brazil, exactly so,” she said. We told her about the beans varieties we have in Nigeria. The brown, white, black beans, they have the same varieties in Brazil too.

Concerning the garri, we told her briefly about cassava and how to process it. In Brazil it is called Farinha. She was not too familiar with the word cassava, so she consulted her phone for translation. Mandioca! she exclaimed, with excitement on her face. Sometimes, food connects.

The home stretch It was an eventful two weeks. From Berlin we took a surface train to Frankfurt, about five hours away and from there we took a flight bound for Lagos, via Casablanca. It was an evening flight and we landed in Lagos about 5.30 a.m. the following day.

As soon as we landed I was reminded again why one of the best airports in Nigeria is one of the worst even in Africa, not to talk of the world. Thankfully we emerged from the belly of the plane this time the aisle was lit, not dark as it was while we were leaving. A particular new generation bank had an advertisement board on which was written something like: “temporary setbacks are stepping stones to greater achievements” or something like that. I agree.

Travelling out of the country in the dark was a temporary setback and arriving in bright lights is an ‘achievement.’

In saner climes power supply is taken for granted, it is no longer an achievement. As we entered the arrival hall, the air was beginning to be filled with odour coming from nearby toilets with no running water. So it was while we were leaving. An important airport like MMIA has no running water in its rest rooms. Where we were coming from, everything was perfect. There were liquid hand wash containers at every rest room in the public, everywhere. Just put your hands under the tap and water runs. If you want the water warm, just turn the tap to the desired position and you get your warm water; ditto for your bathrooms.

After washing your hands in the rest rooms, you dry them with a tissue paper, there is hand lotion available and you smell nice.

Here the rest rooms are in darkness. No running water, as if no one is in charge of the airports. In the private homes of those in charge water runs, the restrooms smell nice. But in the public entreprises they manage, they care less. It is as if the land is under a curse. How come doing the right things become a herculean task for those in positions of administration, after seeing how things were done elsewhere. Excellence seems too hard to be replicated here.

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

specialreport

N A I R A Travails of a troubled currency

The sliding value of Naira in the money market in relation to Dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling has become an issue in the country.

Prices of goods and services have soared so much that even pepper sellers now attribute the high cost of their products to Naira’s poor exchanged influence. CHIMA NWOKOJI in this report sought experts’ opinions on how the Naira can be saved.

By Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria is hoping that the Naira will eventually settle at N250 from its recent average weekly levels of N310 to a United States dollar at the parallel market. Foreign investors and offshore financial analysts, however, are saying that the Naira is yet to find its true value and needs to be devalued below N400/$, whereas Nigerians are groaning that cost of food items has risen beyond manageable levels.

All these expectations point to a currency under serious pressure. In fact, when the Nigerian Naira took a dive on Thursday July 14, 2016 at both parallel and official markets, Bloomberg in the data it released indicated that Naira was showed as the worst performing local currency in Africa in 2016.

Naira at the interbank market began trading that day at around N283 to the dollar. It depreciated to 284/$1

to become the third worst performing currency in the world for 2016.

According to Bloomberg data, the Nigerian Naira came ahead of only two currencies in the world – Ven-

It may take some time before we see some adjustments but definitely we shall see the reduction in the spread between the interbank and the official market as well as the parallel market

ezuelan Bolivar and Suriname Dollar.

What then went wrong with Naira, a currency that was stronger than the dollar in the early 80s? As of today which position does it occupy among global currencies?

To answer the question, Sunday Tribune sought the views of economists and financial experts who offered constructive insight to the plight of the Naira.

However, it is pertinent to recall that the parallel market rate on that day fell to its lowest level since the start of the new foreign exchange regime, trading at 363/$1 and N485 to the pound in Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The Euro traded above N390 in Lagos and under N380 in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

But as of Thursday August 25, the story had become even worse. The Naira took its deepest daily interbank dip as fewer banks were allowed to trade on the official and non-official side of the foreign exchange market. continues

pg 11

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Govt is still carrying too many baggages’ continues from

pg10

It fell by about nine per cent in less than 24 hours to initial trade at N342 to the dollar, but closed the day at N 316.84 after interventions by the CBN. This was 0.29 per cent better than N318.25 to a single dollar which it traded for on Wednesday.

The local currency remained relatively stable at the parallel market, where it traded between N402 to N405 to the greenback – near its closing price on Wednesday. This performance was apparently worse than the July 14 levels that earned it the third worst performer in the world.

The Naira even exchanged for N409 to the dollar at the parallel market on Wednesday August 24, 2016 while it also traded at N505 and N440 against the Pound Sterling and the Euro, respectively same day.

On the flip side, Bloomberg data showed that the best performing currencies in Africa are South African Rand, Zambian Kwacha, Somali Shilling and Botswana Pula, which have gained 8.88 percent, 8.69 percent, 5.54 percent and 4.95 percent respectively. At the base of the African currencies are the Naira, Mozambique New Metical, Sierra Leone Leone, and the Angolan Kwanza.

Incidentally, the story of the Naira’s performance can better be told and understood through the experience of the Ohuakanwas. Narrating his ordeal to Sunday Tribune, Mr. Damian Ohuakanwa, an economist and former banker, who applied for admission in a Canadian University in 2014, said his brother promised to give him $10,000 if he was granted visa. This amount when converted to naira at N160 official exchange rate then amounted to N1.6million.

Unfortunately, Damian said he was not granted visa.

“Just last week, I reminded my brother about his promise, as I prepare for another interview with the United States embassy, he told me that I would have to take the dollar equivalent of N1.6 million which was the value of dollar to Naira at the time he made the promise, stressing that even if he were to get a dollar at spot rate of N300, he did not have N3 million ($10,000) to give me today; an additional N1.5million. This means that the exchange rate is also forcing people to renege on promises,” Ohuakanwa stated.

How did Naira fall to N400/$?

The fall of the naira is an opportunity to learn something new and move forward. First of all, how did Nigeria get into this mess? How can we get out of it? The attempt to answer these questions is the learning curve that will take Nigeria to a greater height.

The Director, Monetary Policy Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Moses Tule, tried to answer the questions during the last CBN seminar for Finance correspondents and Business editors in Ibadan.

For him, every Nigerian has a case to answer. He was of the opinion that everybody should examine himself as truthfully as possible. He observed that over 80 per cent of what most people who attended the programme wore were imported, leaving local content at less than 20 per cent. Clearly, under that scenario, he had queried why would the naira not be under pressure? How about the recruitment attitude of Nigerian companies to prefer a foreign degree to a Nigerian degree? This situation has led an average Nigerian to send his children and ward overseas for education. The issue of affluent people and even government officials going abroad to treat even headache and fever has dominated public discourse for a long time and often cited as one of the reasons the demand for dollar is high.

Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh was recently quoted to have revealed that demand for dollars from Nigerians is $2.5billion a week.

“I was reliably told, but we don’t have it, we don’t print dollars and people are angry we don’t make it available,” he said.

Available records show that foreign exchange utilisation amounted to $921,352,549. The amount was the total allocation for March to 17 commercial banks in the country, by the central bank for March. Analysis show that Forex allocations in the month of March

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor ranged from fuel, machinery and pharmaceuticals imports, all the way down to school fees and personal travelling allowances. Allocations for the payment of tuition fees overseas were the most numerous items.

Also, other invisibles such as business and personal travel allowances, repatriation of capital, and divestments by foreign portfolio investors from the equities and bond markets accounted for a large chunk of forex purchases, in terms of volume. Based Sunday Tribune computation, Zenith Bank Plc got a total of $102,279,505 from the central bank, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) was allocated $102,565,144, Stanbic IBTC got $100,590,015, while Standard Chartered Bank of Nigeria got $69,088,105 to meet their various customers’ demands.

Economists are emphatic that foreign exchange rate, like every other good or service is driven by the law of demand and supply. Demand for dollar in Nigeria is higher than supply especially now that the country earns less foreign exchange from oil exports. Currency and business analysts have equally given reasons why the Naira is continually under pressure.

Bismarck Rewane, Finance analyst and Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Limited, said: “As oil prices dipped, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has prioritised stability of exchange rate in the official market. It has drawn an exclusion list of avoidable imports from being funded in the official market. With the foreign exchange demand for the items transferred to the parallel market, rates in that market have soared.”

But until it does there will not be any significant investment going into naira assets, because who wants to invest in a currency that may have to fall further? So this creates uncertainty and this is probably unavoidable, until trust can be built.

Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister Besides, other factors like terms of trade, inflation differential, public debt, current-account deficits, interest rates, political stability and the overall economic health determine the exchange rate of a currency.

The fall in crude oil prices has reduced Nigeria’s dollar earnings, making it difficult for the apex bank to fund imports. Record oil prices had helped Nigeria to build the largest currency reserves in sub-Saharan Africa. The price peaked at $63 billion in September 2008. But, after attaining a record-high of $147 in July of that year, Nigeria’s crude oil prices – bonny light, have plummeted.

On February 20, 2014 Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an international investment Bank predicted that the new CBN governor, expected to take over on permanent basis from Lamido Sanusi, may devalue the Naira. RenCap said this before Mr. Sanusi’s suspension. In its risk case scenario, the firm said “Although our base case is for no devaluation in 2014, there is a risk that the new Central Bank governor may devalue the naira, as Kazakhstan’s new central bank governor did in February 2009.”

Nigeria draws mainly from the forex reserves to help the Naira from falling helplessly. But data from the CBN showed that as of August 16, 2016, the forex reserves have fallen to $25.78billion. This means that from $49 billion before the global crisis, the nation’s reserves have fallen by $23.22 billion.

“We believe they will likely fall further in 2014 on the back of subpar oil production and higher imports due to election-related spending. We think the cumulative deterioration in Nigeria’s external position in 2013 and 2014 implies devaluation in 2015, after the elections; a devaluation before the elections would be unpopular for an import-dependent nation. We think a N160-170/$1 target range is likely. One upside for the government from a weaker naira would be more naira from dollar oil tax revenue” Renaissance Capital said in its outlook on the nation’s foreign exchange.

President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, spoke on yet another area that he believes contributed to the pressure on the local currency. He was quoted as saying: “The issue with subsidy is that government needs to block all loopholes. If there’s no subsidy, it will affect our foreign exchange; we’ll end up buying a dollar at N500, because there’s no Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products. That’s why the import of petroleum products is taking about 30 per cent of our foreign reserve. We just need to make sure that there’s continues pg 12

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘Failure to attract foreign investment affecting naira value’

Moses Tule

Jurgen Hecker

continued from pg 11

no siphoning of money.” Today, the Buhari government is being vilified and praised for virtually removing subsidies.

Also, acting president of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, once confirmed that a majority of the buyers of foreign exchange were from neighbouring countries of “Ghana, Chad and Benin Republic who wanted to take advantage of the low dollar rate.”

Jurgen Hecker, Paris, France-based financial expert believes that the problem is that Nigeria imports almost everything. He added that the floating exchange rate regime is an official devaluation, which means that importers will need to pay many more Naira for the dollars that they need.

“And this will feed back into prices that Nigerian consumers have to pay for everything that is imported which, as we know, is almost everything. And that is what I mean that Nigeria has become poorer,” the financial expert said in an e-mailed message.

Andra Omogbolahan, a financial analyst explains that the exchange rate of dollar at the parallel market is purely not in the interest of people with love for ostentatious lifestyles and that Naira depreciation in the black market doesn’t have any effect on common masses. To him, apart from the certain directives of the CBN which has evidently affected the services of BDCs, anybody who likes to go abroad for holiday, buying fairly used cars or sending their children to school abroad are always in desperate need for dollars in exchange for such luxury, hence high in dollar demand against supply.

Position of foreign investors The Paris, France-based financial expert, Jurgen Hecker, bringing the perspective of foreign investors believes that what is happening to Nigeria also happened in Europe, too. For example, he recalls when France in the 1980s tried to avoid devaluing the Franc against the German Mark because of national prestige. This he describes as ‘economic nonsense.’

“The longer you maintain such a fiction, the higher the price. You can compare this kind of situation to a man who has lost his job and now has to work in another job for much less money. But he is afraid to tell his family that they can no longer afford a holiday, or a car or

Nigeria, today is like a man saddled with debt trying to make a fresh, honest start. It’s not going to be easy their house. So he pretends that he still has the old job and borrows money from the bank to keep up the old lifestyle. Until one day he can’t pay off the loans and bank wants all the money back at once and the truth comes out and now he and his family are poor.

“For the ‘job’ you can substitute ‘oil revenue’ and for the ‘family’, the Nigerian people, and for the ‘borrowing’, the naira peg, and for the ‘bank’ foreign investors, and you get an idea of what has been going on.”

Hecker explains that the man (Nigeria in this case) has accepted to tone down his lifestyle but he has to convince the bank (foreign investors) that he means it, he has to build trust. Maybe then the bank will start giving him credit again so he can feed his family.

This analogy, he said, also applies to Nigeria. “Does President Buhari really mean it? Is the Naira really where it should be or are there still hidden controls; is there still some pretending going on?

“Investors suspect that there is and maybe the currency has not hit rock bottom. But until it does, there will not be any significant investment going into Naira assets, because who wants to invest in a currency that may have to fall further? So this creates uncertainty and this is probably unavoidable, until trust can be built. The pain was quick, the recovery will be slow.

“It will take time to build export industries that can profit from selling cheaply abroad because of the weak currency.

“It will take time to deal with the inevitable surge in inflation that follows such devaluation. And it will take time for investors to want to return. Think of it as the crossing of a desert. But the thing is, there was no alternative to this. If there had been, President Buhari would have chosen it, he had run out of choices,” the analyst stated.

Aminu Gwadabe How Naira can be saved Robert Omotunde, Head of Investment Research at Afrinvest West Africa Limited in a telephone conversation with Sunday Tribune said the question of how to save the Naira is a one million dollar question. By this, he suggests that a lot of issues are involved. To save the Naira invariably means to save the economy because it is only a strong productive economy that is less dependent on import, with deep reliance on diversified and non-oil sector that will have a strong currency.

According to Omotunde, to have upward appreciation of the Naira, there should be foreign exchange inflow. But having adopted the floating exchange regime, and given the level Naira exchanges at the moment, such inflow ought to have been coming in “but the investors are still afraid. They are not confident over the stability of government’s policies,” he added.

The finance and economic analyst further said that the federal government and indeed the central bank are going about the issue of non-oil sector development the wrong way. To him, one would have expected that after adopting the floating exchange rate regime, the ban on 41 items not eligible for foreign exchange transactions would be lifted. However, he noted that it is still a concern that some of those items are still banned.

According to him, ban can only continue to induce pressure on the local unit at the parallel market and may not encourage local manufacturers, some of whom needed most of the items as raw materials, Omotunde explained.

“In our view, that may still create some form of market distortion but in any case what they have done now is just to bring in some respite into the market and we would expect that this new market which the CBN has guided will help address most of the concerns around the imbalance.

Speaking on how Naira can be saved, Hecker said hope is not lost. To him, there may be a few bright spots. “One of them is that the oil price has recovered and prospects for oil are better than at any time in the past two years. The International Energy Agency predicts that demand will match supply worldwide before the end of this year. This may not lead to a huge rise in the oil price because there are still big inventories to be wound down. But it’s a start. This is like a man getting a better job with better income in the middle of a crisis. It’s

Robert Omotunde a great help.

“And hopefully for Nigeria the government will have better successes against rebel attacks on oil installations, which are the equivalent of a man not being able to get to his job every day because his car keeps getting vandalized. It’s got to stop.

“There is also a chance that foreign governments and institutions like the IMF will help if they see real change.

Nobody wants to see Nigerians suffer if it can be helped.

“Nigeria today is like a man saddled with debt trying to make a fresh, honest start. It’s not going to be easy, but in the end it will pay off. Or so we hope,” he submitted.

Renowned economist, Dr Ayo Teriba, said the fall in value of the naira is attributable to the inability of the country to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in critical infrastructural sectors.

Much as he agreed the fall in oil prices contributed to the slide, he said Nigeria should have cushioned the effects by offering some of its shares in the whollyowned parastatals to foreign investors.

According to him, “If you look at the oil and gas sector, you find that the government is still in charge of many subsectors 100 per cent. Our refineries are still owned by government 100 per cent.

If we sell off a part of our owning, we will attract dollars to the economy because it is a dollarized sector. We own pipelines 100 per cent too. We have to consider shedding some of those shares to earn foreign exchange.

“Look at the power sector too. The government is wholly in charge of generation and transmission. Many foreign countries want to get involved but we are shutting them off. If we allow them in these areas, they will bring dollars and also develop infrastructure for those areas.”

Teriba also said the rail sector offers veritable opportunities for the country to attract FDI and earn dollars. “Rail is particularly an interesting area we should consider. If we bring in foreign sectors, we can get dollars in circulation in return and they will build infrastructure. The era of keeping everything to oneself is over. Government has to start allowing FDI to boost and galvanize the economy,” he explained.

Teriba also said that for example, Saudi Arabia offered 10 per cent of its national oil group, Saudi Aramco, through Initial Public Offer (IPO) that fetched over $1billion to the oil rich nation just recently.

13 Continued from

I

28 August, 2016 last week

N all the circumstances, the best that can be said for the Nigerian Bench is that some sections of the Judiciary, possibly unknown to them, have been used as stalking horses in an electoral adventure which has received widespread and unmitigated condemnation, both at home and abroad. The electioneering campaigns are over.

But the political race - with all its contests and contentions - continues. If we may press the analogy a little further, an electioneering campaign may be likened to the last lap in a marathon race when the winning post is in sight. In this continuous race, there can, for us of the UPN, be no question of going to sleep; or relaxing or relenting in our efforts to be ahead of all other competitors when the first quadrennial bell rings in 1983. In this connection, we must bear in mind, closely watch, and do certain things.

From what I had said earlier on, and from all that has so far been written on the subject by many other people, it is clear that the NPN has acceded to power by fouling the electoral process. We have seen that, in fouling the process, the NPN was not alone - indeed by itself alone there was very little the NPN could do which would have made any noticeable impact. But the FEDECO and practically all the organs of government were involved in the foul game. It stands to reason that, having fouled the game once to advantage and with impunity, the NPN will want to try it again to perpetuate itself in office as its National Chairman has recently given the whole world to understand.

In this respect, it must be remembered that some of those who played a prominent role in the blatant, colossal and widespread rigging of election in 1965 are today among those who are equally prominent in the leadership of the NPN, and in the rigging of the last elections. We are all witnesses to the dire and tragic consequences of the fraudulent acts of 1965 including the long, painful and distressing abeyance of democracy and the rule of law.

I am sure that we of the UPN and all the progressive elements in the country are determined that, from henceforth, the practice and all the processes of democracy shall prevail in our fatherland, and that no political party shall ever again accede to power in this dear land of ours, except through the votes of our people truly and freely given to such party.

It is not enough to desire free and fair election; it is not

Awo’s thoughts PATH TO NIGERIAN GREATNESS

Under the new dispensation Charter of stability and progress*

enough to talk about it; nor is it even enough to adopt just those methods which are acclaimed because they have been attested to ensure free and fair election in other Democracies. We need to evolve some new methods which, while they are in accord with the norms of free and fair election, can cope with the known peculiar circumstances of Nigeria. Indeed, we need to evolve such methods as will make it very, very difficult for the FEDECO with its officials or the party in power or both of them to tamper with, let alone foul, the electoral process to the prejudice of the other contending party or parties.

It is imperative that we should tackle and evolve solutions for the problems of rigging now, because the continuing marathon political race will not be worth anybody’s effort unless there are detailed provisions in our electoral law which are seen to be capable of guaranteeing a truly free and fair election when the time comes in 1983.

New Electoral Proposals It is my submission that provisions on the lines of the proposals which I now proceed to itemise will go a long way if not the whole way to cure the kind of electoral mischiefs and frauds which we witnessed in the last elections.

Sunday Tribune

Nomination of candidates shall be done by the 1. submission, in writing, by the President or Secretary of the Party concerned, to the Electoral Commission, of the names, addresses, symbols, and other requisite information of his Party’s candidates for elections. The application shall be supported by a receipt or receipts for nomination fees paid by or on behalf of the candidates. The names of the candidates shall be published in the Gazette by the Electoral Commission within a stipulated period of time. The nomination of every candidate shall be regarded as valid on the receipt by the Electoral Commission of the list supplied by the Party concerned in the manner aforesaid. Once nominated, it shall be unlawful for a candidate to withdraw his candidature.

2.

Polling Agents (who may not be registered voters) shall be issued with identification cards supplied by the Electoral Commission. That is to say, on the receipt for nomination the Electoral Commission shall direct that the appropriate Electoral Official shall supply each candidate with a sufficient number of identification cards for two polling agents per polling station.

Each candidate shall identify his polling agents to the Presiding Officer by signing the identification cards issued by FEDECO. 3.

Voting shall, from its actual commencement, be continuous for eleven hours. In other words, if for any reason, poll begins late, then voting shall continue unbroken for eleven hours from its commencement. Those who are already on the queue, at the time the poll is scheduled to close, shall be allowed to cast their votes and the closing time shall be extended accordingly.

4.

Where, for any reason, voting is delayed for three hours in a rural area, and for five hours in an urban area the poll shall be postponed to commence at the statutory time of 7 o’clock the following morning.

Instructions to election and polling officials or 5. any other official connected directly or indirectly with the conduct and supervision of an election shall be laid, for at least three months before the election, on the tables of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly, otherwise they shall be of no effect.

Alternatively, instructions to electoral and poll6. ing officials or any other persons connected directly or indirectly with the conduct and supervision of the election may take the form of Regulations which must be approved by the National Assembly.

To be continued

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14

feature

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Attakwu: Despite our outcry, herdsmen still came to attack us —Catholic bishop Jude Ossai - Enugu

U

NTIL last Wednesday, the people of Attakwu Ndiagu community in Nkanu-West Local Government Area of Enugu were relatively living quietly in their ancestral land going about their normal businesses. Unexpectedly they were woken up in the middle of that fateful night by invaders who had sneaked into their communities to unleash terror on them.

In a twinkle of an eye, a catholic seminarian and several others were captured and injured by the invaders suspected to be herdsmen. The Seminarian, Lawrence Nwafor from Imo State, who was on Apostolic work in the community, was not so lucky as he died from the injury he sustained.

“The irony is that the herdsmen have been living harmoniously with members of their host community for over two decades,” one of the villagers told this reporter.

Indeed, the attack was a throwback to the earlier one which occurred only four months ago during which several residents of Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state were killed.

Just like the Nimbo killings, the attack of the Attakwu Ndiagu, Akegbe-ugwu Awkunanaw would have been averted if the call by the Catholic authority questioning security lapses was heeded.

Catholic cleric, Bishop Onaga who rarely talks to the media, told reporters that few weeks ago, both the clergy and the laity gathered to show their displeasure over the activities of the Fulani herdsmen.

“We were able to calm people down; we said let us give government a chance; but you can see the climax, a student has just been butchered; it looks like we are being targeted every year,” he said.

To the cleric, the authorities are not doing enough in terms of protecting lives and property, appealing to government to put more efforts. “The government should do something about this; it is very painful; it is very sad. This is not the way to do things; all of a sudden these people have assumed another level of effrontery, they have assumed another level of boldness. If they cannot live with us, let them quietly go; this is our land, we cannot pack out of this place.

“We are pleading with all the security agencies to look into this because at a time, people may not hold their patience again, there may be free range of anger and violence. Of course we are not prone to violence but at sometimes we can really be stretched so much that we will have no option than to defend ourselves. Life has been lost and to replace it is impossible.

“So, we are really sad; we are really in pain and I need to really summon the courage to address the Catholic Faithful on what happened; how would I explain it? Look at where they came and did these things; go there you will see butchering, blood everywhere.

“Their cows were not killed; they themselves were not touched; just that they scared away their cows in the day time.

“Why would they kill an innocent boy just at the peak of his vocation? I pray and hope that our people will be restrained from overreacting,” Bishop Onaga said, adding: “It is so painful; when I got this news, I was totally disorganised.

Meanwhile, Governor Ugwuanyi on Thursday morning moved swiftly to the troubled community where he condemned the invasion of the community by the suspected herdsmen, saying that government will do everything necessary to bring the culprits to book.

Inside source in government circle revealed that the major headache of Governor Ugwuanyi is that the last Wednesday attack occurred just few days after the commission of inquiry on Nimbo killings submitted an interim report and is about to complete its assignment.

As a matter of fact, there is growing anger in the troubled Attakwu community as many youths in the area threatened fire and brim stone in the presence of their representative at the House of Representatives, Dr Chukwuemeka Ujam, who visited the community on Thursday.

Sunday Tribune who was in entourage of the Lawmaker, observed the presence of armed security opera-

Ifeanyi Agbo...a victim

Umaru Isah, suspect tives including soldiers in the community.

Dr Ujam, who was also furious, however, appealed to the Federal Government and the security agencies for greater protection of the people of his constituency from further attacks by the invaders.

Dr Ujam, who later visited the injured ones at Mother of Christ Hospital, Enugu, told reporters that he was in the community and the hospital to pay his condolences and sympathise with his people.

The lawmaker who is also from the community, and was accompanied by his colleague, Kingsley Ebenyi representing Isi-Uzo/Enugu East federal constituency, and the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Gregory Ugwu, called on the community to hold the peace.

“My colleague and I are here to see for ourselves what happened in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday).

Let me refresh your memory, I was quite vocal on the floor of the National Assembly when a similar act happened in Nimbo community and we stressed that this should stop.

“We have come here today, painfully, yet again to we hear same story. I will put on record that our people are peace loving people. I want to thank them so far for maintaining the peace. There has been no reprisal and I pray it continues that way.

“But I call on the Federal Government, I call on the security agencies to step up, it is their responsibility to protect the lives and property of the Nigerian citizen. No life is worth losing for any reason whatsoever and when you hear the story about how this happened.

This was simply an unprovoked attack. Cattle came into a farm and cattle were just chased away, does that warrant murder in cold blood?

“My people are pained, they are agitating but we are appealing to them to hold the peace, two wrongs should not make a right. So I once again call on the federal government and the security agencies to protect my people, we do not want to take laws into our hands, we are grieving,” he said.

“The government should do something about this; it is very painful; it is very sad. This is not the way to do things; all of a sudden these people have assumed another level of effrontery

Igwe Ugwu speaking with reporters Earlier, the traditional ruler, Igwe Ugwu while receiving the lawmaker in his palace, said the attack was planned and well-executed. He said he was shocked by the attack because they have been living peacefully and managing the Fulanis for many years despite the fact that their cattle destroy their crops, farms and streams.

He also thanked Governor Ugwuanyi and the security agencies for quick intervention, urged the National Assembly to rise to the occasion and address the menace of herdsmen across the country.

At the Mother of Christ Hospital, Enugu, one of the victims, Ifeanyi Agbo, who was not coherent in greater part of his speech because of the severe pain, told reporters that he was astonished by the attack, stressing that only God saved him.

It was learnt that prior to the attack, the private security apparatus in the community was largely in the hands of the Northern folks as virtually most rich men in the community had their houses by Fulani guardsmen.

Further checks showed that the anger of the herdsmen might have stemmed from the fact that their cattle were chased out by a woman who used musical instrument called “Ogene’, hence they plotted the invasion.

Already, the police efforts in tracking the killers are yielding fruits as the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu said that a teenager is helping the security following his alleged involvement in the attack.

“The Enugu state command of the Nigeria police force in its resolve towards unmasking those behind the dastardly act perpetrated at Ndiagu Attakwu community of Akegbeugwu in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state in the early hours of last Wednesday which left one person dead and four others critically injured, have nabbed a suspect identified as one Umaru Isah from Gusau, Zamfara State over his alleged involvement in the incident.

“His arrest came through intelligence information gathered. The said suspect who claimed that he is 20 years old revealed that he came in from Gusau to Enugu recently for the purpose of rearing cattle but has none to rear till now.

“Investigations have commenced in full scale into his alleged nefarious activities and with a view to unmasking his gang members so that they can be brought to book.

The state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu has vowed to unmask all those involved and bring them to book,” the police image-maker added.

15

28 August, 2016

children’sarena

Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 0807 449 7425

Why the hawks carry off chickens

O

NCE, the Sun said to the Hawk, “I need some money.

Please give me some.

I shall give it back to you very soon.”

The Hawk gave some money to the Sun. A week passed. A month passed. But the Sun did not give back the money. At last the Hawk decided to go to the Sun and ask for his money. He went to the Sun when he was high up in the sky.

“Do you remember

that you must give me back my money?” He said to the Sun. The Sun answered, “Yes, I do. But I am in the sky now and the money is at home.

Please come when I am at home and I shall give the money back.” “All right,” said the Hawk.

He decided to go next morning. But the next morning he was too

late.

T h e S u n was already in the sky. The Hawk went to the Sun’s house another time and again the Sun was not at home. He went many times. But he never found the Sun at home.

One day on his way to the Sun, the Hawk met his friend, the Cock.

“Why do you go to the Sun every day?” the Cock asked.

“I gave him some money a long time ago and I cannot get it back! The Sun says that when he is in the sky, he cannot go

Peacock “Peacock” is the name for the colorfully plumaged male peafowl only. The females are called peahens, they are smaller and grey or brown in colour.

•The name of a baby peafowl is a peachick.

•Peacocks are best known for their amazing eye-spotted tail feathers or plumage. During a display ceremony the peacock will stand its tail feathers up to form a fan that stretches out nearly two metres in length.

•This colourful display is believed to be a way to attract females for mating purposes, and secondly to make the peacock look bigger and intimidating if itfeels threatened by predators..

•White varieties of peacocks are not albinos, they have a genetic mutation that causes the lack of pigments in the plumage.

•Peacock feathers accounts for 60 per cent of the bird’s total body length and with a wingspan measuring five feet, it is one of the largest flying birds in the world.

•A peafowl can live for over 20 years, the peacock plumage looks its best

when the male reaches the age of five or six.

•Peacocks have spurs on their feet that are primarily used to fight with other males.

•Peafowl are omnivorous, they eat many types of plants, flower petals, seeds, insects and small reptiles such as lizards.

POEM

Pop, Goes the Weasel All around the cobbler’s bench The monkey chased the weasel.

The monkey thought ‘twas all in fun.

Pop! goes the weasel.

A penny for a spool of thread, A penny for a needle.

That’s the way the money goes.

Pop! goes the weasel.

Up and down the City Road, In and out of the Eagle, That’s the way the money goes.

Pop! goes the weasel.

Half a pound of tuppenny rice, Half a pound of treacle, Mix it up and make it nice, Pop! goes the weasel.

home to get the money. And I can never find him at home.”

Sunday Tribune

“I can help you,” the Cock said. “You stay the night with me. I always get up earlier than the Sun does.

I shall wake you up very early. Then you can run quickly to the Sun and get your money.”

So the Hawk stayed the night with the Cock. In the morning the cock woke him.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Get up, Hawk! Run to the Sun! He is at home now.

He is not in the sky yet!”

The Hawk got up,

thanked the Cock and went to the Sun. The Sun was at home. He was sleeping. “Good morning, Sun!” the Hawk said. “It is time for you to get up. And I am here to get my money!”

“Good morning,” the Sun said. “Who told you to come to me so early?”

The Hawk did not answer. “If you want to get your money, you must tell me who told you to come to me so early.”

And then the Hawk said, “It was the Cock.”

The Sun was very angry. He said “Now the Cock will pay for it with his children! Now all the Cock’s children will be yours!” And from that day the Hawk began to carry off chickens.

History of bells

A

bell is a hollow vessel that rings when struck.

Bells are one of the oldest percussion instruments which managed to spread across Asia, Middle East, Europe and the rest of the world with incredible speed and popularity.

Their unique ability to produce strong sounds that can reach vast distances was used by numerous cultures and ancient civilisations as a means of communication and later on as a musical instrument.

Earliest examples of bells can be traced to ancient China, some 4000 years ago. Because bells are made from metal, their first appearance in modern history started in the 1st millennia BC. During that time, Chinese metalworkers started binding together pairs of tiles, creating an enclosed chamber with opened door that can amplify the sound that is bouncing inside.

In the beginning those bells were used only as a means of spreading information, such as notifying workers that their work day is done. By 3rd century BC metallurgic process

had advanced in such a way that the production of the “two note bell” or “musical bell” became very popular.

This design had a special shape that can create two notes, which enabled bell to become part of various musical performances.

Rise of the popularity of the bells in China soon en-

abled it to become a status symbol. Elaborate designs of bells started appearing all across the country with royals and nobility viewing it as a symbol of power (Emperor had four bells on each side of his residence, duke or prince had three bells, minister had two and government official one).

Quote

“You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”

16

28 August, 2016

Y

OU will know it when they want to make a deliberate statement in the delivery of their considered opinions (judgments), particularly justices of the two appellate courts; Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

That is when they go for the jugular of the trial judge at the lower court in a case on appeal. Nothing would explain such outing as not being a premeditated voyage. First, if there isn’t an axe to grind with the personality involved, the judgment of a lower court judge could be reviewed and faulted solely on the basis of law, legality and constitutionality, without any reducing reference to the professionalism exhibited in such judgment. One common legal commodity being employed in such “clean” circumstance is “err.” The appellate judges would simply say that the trial judge “erred in law” by coming to certain conclusions and his/her verdict would be upturned.

Two, appellate courts are meant to correct “limited” legal understanding of lower court judges as it were, so there should ordinarily be no big deal to a judge of a lower court erring in law, in arriving at certain conclusions.

Three, cases are primed to start from the lower courts, no matter how “big” the heart of the matter, except constitutional cases between layers of government i.e. federal vs. states or arms of government; the kind that took place between the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the 7th National Assembly. This is to give parties opportunities for justice to be perceivably done and that also accounts for the order of ascension of judicial officers, starting with the supposedly least knowledgeable.

Four, appellate courts are also deliberately made not to be a one-man show like the trial lower courts, since two heads are always considered to be better than one. In the case of the Court of Appeal, it is three heads and five for any Supreme Court normal sitting and even seven during constitutional logjam!

So, why would three heads at the Court of Appeal in Abuja decide to simultaneously and unanimously knock Justice OkonAbang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over his judgment sacking Abia State governor,OkezieIkpeazu so hurtful, to make him a play-thing on the social media? A head still wigged!

Without subjecting Justice Helen Ogunwumiju’s appeal panel’s worst of Abang to any morality, objectivity or subjectivity scrutiny, the message, I hold, should not be passed alongside the messengers who arguably didn’t spare “a learned comrade” for “someone” to know.

The riddle to unravel, is “know what”? Abang was so battered in the appeal overturning his judgment that such deDIRECTOR-General of the Nigerian Law School, Professor Olanrewaju Onadeko, stunned the whole nation, last Thursday, when he said that some lawyers had been caught writing the bar examination for students. The DG, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, while presenting the school’s report to the annual general meeting of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), called on the body to take action against the affected lawyers to preserve the sanctity of the legal profession.

It is quite disturbing that this ugly trend of students seeking external help to write examinations has crept into one of the most revered academic institutions in the country. It is a thing of concern that those who are ministers in the temple of justice are colluding with those being prepared for serving in the same temple to thwart the course of justice. If a trainee-lawyer resorts to self-help to scale an examination hurdle, what will he not do to pervert justice when he starts practising?

As unsettling as this development is, perhaps more disconcerting is that the Law School authorities chose to keep the matter under wraps. Examination malpractice is not a matter that should be obliged any secrecy. It is not an issue for the NBA annual meeting; it is a matter that should involve the police. Those caught perpetrating the act should have been handed over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution. Apparently this was not done. Examination malpractice, even when it occurs within the premises of the Law School, is not a matter that should be left solely to the NBA Disciplinary Committee to handle because it is not just an infraction against the ethics of the legal profession, it is an affront on the nation’s constitution and should have been treated as such.

Why should the authorities of the Law School make a matter that should have been handled by the police a subject of discussion at an annual NBA meeting? Well, this is Nigeria where abnormality is the new normal. Things have turned topsy-turvy and disorder has become the order for us as a people.

How else can one explain the arrival of kits to be used by athletes at the just concluded Rio Olympics more than 10 days after the commencement of the event such that rather than being clothed in our national attire at the opening ceremony of the event, our representatives were

0811 695 4647

olanreade@yahoo.com

The bang on Abang

meanisation (accept my neologism) could have gone unchallenged only in the judiciary of full respect for seniority, ethics and order. It would be unheard of, for a lower court judge to reply a Court of Appeal. Rebels like Justices Ayo Salami and OkechukwuOkeke, who challenged higher authorities, didn’t exit service comfortingly.

It is not unlikely that Ogunwumiju’s panel was only speaking to a perceived systemic rot, expected to be cleansed by the somewhat-docile current leadership, but the “bombing” had more devastating effect in the public sphere, mostly the social media. Twitter creation; #IfJusticeAbanghadthepower trended like a sizzling Nollywood closet scoop. Crude conjectures, not worthy of repeat here, were fathomed. Creativity exceeded its limit. But as Nigerians gave vent to the limitless mischief their fertile imaginations could birth, a disturbing trend was

With Sulaimon Olanrewaju 08055001708

lanresulaimon@yahoo.com

Abnormality as the new norm in Nigeria

clad in track suits, an Olympics abnormality? How do we explain the three-day humiliation that our Dream Team VI members were subjected to as the charter flight that was supposed to take them from Atlanta in the United States refused to airlift them to Rio because of a payment

Sunday Tribune

very clear. Every listed plausibility against the embattled judge, had the pecuniary as motivation. That was Nigerians’ crude interpretation of the Appeal Court outburst.

With a Judiciary behaving, thought and seen as becoming a worthless hireling of the political class, Justice Abang and a couple of others, especially of coordinate jurisdiction, have now become a major part of the political problem to be solved in the main opposition PDP. The activities of the said judges, particularly Abang, in matters, crossing ruling APC and PDP, are making many, including INEC, to wonder if the nation’s judiciary, particularly the Federal High Court, isn’t on auto-pilot.

I’m privy to an on-going discussion to phase-out the Federal High Court, leaving its state counterpart with the main trial and the two appellate courts, doing “superior” justice.

There was a tension-soaked discussion at the National Judicial Institute late last year, where senior judicial officers, particularly State Chief Judges, pointedly accused judges of the Federal High Court of sickening corruption, only stopping short of mentioning names of the alleged corrupt judges who were in attendance.

There was also a memorable drama of a CJ describing an alleged corrupt judge to the skin of his teeth, making reference to his trademark “bowler hat, long suit and walking stick.”

Well, the “bowler” judge defended himself at the meeting because the description was too poignant to be ignored. But pray, which ethical judge go about dandy like a gangster, cowboy or movie villain!

Recently, for hours, I was guest of this “bowler” judge.

(To be continued) Wale Bolorunduro @50 There was a buzz in Osun political firmament when he became the Commissioner for Finance at 44 in 2010. Many were dazed he was achieving such a dizzying height at that age, considering his portfolio as the juiciest, going by the current public service mentality of “one for the people, 100 for me.” The truth however is, apart from countless Nigerians achieving greater milestones at much younger ages, Dr Wale Bolorunduro, came to the job as a made banker.

Well, my Ijesa-brother has done his bit and best for the state. Posterity will situate his contributions. His coming autobiography should also speak to burning issues about his stewardship vis-a-vis, the state’s finances.

While this O.A.U First Class metallurgical and material engineer-turned- financial banker may not be able to answer affirmatively if he is still in government, he can at least tell you that on September 7, he will toe the golden path. Here is a toast to an authentic home-grown brand. gap? How do we explain the defence put up by the Minister of Sport over the messy handling of the whole saga?

In Nigeria absurdity is the norm and perversion is a way of life.

Last week, for allegedly blaspheming Islam and Prophet Muhammad, a student of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Marafa, Zamfara State, was beaten to coma while the residence of the man who rushed him to a hospital was reduced to ashes by a mob with eight people killed in the process. While blasphemy is condemnable and should not be condoned, the act of the mob is contemptible of the nation’s constitution. They resorted to self-help instead of taking the matter to the police. The result of their action is loss of eight lives and wanton destruction of properties. But the most saddening part of the whole incident was the statement credited to AbdulazizYari, Zamfara State governor, that those killed in the mob action were not Christians as it was being reported. I am at a loss whether Muslims are allowed to kill Muslims. The aim of the attackers was to kill and they achieved their mission.

That was bad enough. That the victims were Muslims was just accidental, the mob had achieved its aim.

I am sure that life has returned to normal in TalataMarafa and everybody is going about their business as if nothing happened. The governor has not apologised for what he said. He does not see anything wrong with it. Is it not Nigeria where abnormality is normal?

Herdsmen struck again in Enugu last week killing a seminarian, ripping open the stomach of a pregnant woman, injuring many others and sacking a whole village. Herdsmen attack has become a normal feature of our national life. Whenever it happens, government reaction is predictable; a vow to arrest the culprits. But the culprits never get arrested. The people are left to bury their dead and count their woes. Nothing else happens until the herdsmen strike again.

In Nigeria, we celebrate abnormality as normal. We have been shocked beyond shock, surprised beyond surprise, abused beyond abuse and nothing matters anymore.

The stage we are in is the prelude to descent to anarchy.

The government needs to swing into action now and save this country before the Chinua Achebe’s prediction of Nigeria as ‘There was a country’ finds fulfillment.

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

My experience

with a stalker —Keira Hewatch ‘Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless:

Expect the unusual’

My career suffered when I took break to raise my kids

—Omoni Oboli

What my pastor’s daughter once told me

—Destalker

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28 August, 2016

Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

Seyi Sokoya seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08075166585

AFRIMA nomination excites Aramide

AFROSOUL diva, Aramide, has been nominated in the forthcoming edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2016.

With her new single, Funmilowo featuring Sir Dauda, receiving positive accolades, Aramide is gradually becoming a household name in the music industry but the singer said she wanted to make her mark and put her name on the lips of many music lovers.

Sunday Tribune

Speaking on her nomination which was announced on Tuesday, the songwriter, who won an award for the Best Vocal Performance (Female) for her song “Iwo Nikan” at the Headies 2015, said she was yet to get to the point she had envisioned, adding that with God and hard work, she would soon hit the top.

“I feel honoured to be nominated. It shows that people are

getting to love the Aramide brand despite the fact that people said my brand of music was not popular and would not be acceptable.

Last year, I won the Headies and this year, something big is coming from AFRIMA, and we are all excited,” she said.

On how she feels about the misconception about her music, the Baseline act said: “I feel it pays me more to stick to what I know.

It is not as if I do not like trying new things out but I believe that in sticking to what you know, you can always try new things out.

I have always been a soul singer from the outset and I feel I can do a fast song in that same genre.

I don’t need to branch out into something I am not comfortable with or something that does not best describe my personality and my music.”

Superstory partners SFH on malaria

Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless:

Stories By Segun Adebayo

O

RGANISERS of Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless: The Disruption concert have promised to showcase the best of all gigs when the headliners of the event, 2face Idibia and MI, take to the stage to thrill their fans.

This was disclosed at a media parley at the Koga Studios in Lagos State on Tuesday where the organisers revealed that the people should expect the unusual as they insisted that history would be made.

The parley witnessed the presence of the major headliners of the event- 2face and MI as well as other headliners of the concert and the members of the Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless team.

The CEO of Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless Media Network, Mr Efe Omorogbe, said that the concert would be nothing short of extraordinary, a fusion of what he described as ‘power of music put together by the greatest acts to come out of Nigeria.”

‘Expect the unusual’

He said the concert would combine theatrical performance, dance and music, telling the tale of Nigeria’s world-class talents2Baba and MI, who have collaborated on major hit songs and have journeyed to fame by hard-work and raw talent.

“We will ensure that the concept of Disruption revolves around the delivery of more when it comes to the standard of concerts in Nigeria and to prove that concerts from Nigeria can scratch beyond the surface. It promises to be a concert in both word and act as the head-

liners will be in harmony and will deliver world class performances.”

Notable industry top shots who were present at the unveiling include Sound Sultan, Vector, Kelly Handsome, Cohbams Asuquo, Djinee and the major headliners, 2Baba and MI Abaga.

FAMILY entertainment TV, Wap TV, producer of Superstory TV drama, has entered into a partnership with Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria to produce a special season, entitled: Free to Live.

The new TV drama will afford prospective actors and actresses to star in a new The new programme is aimed at increasing awareness on malaria prevention and treatment and to this end, an acting audition has been announced.

Wale Adenuga, producer of Superstory, revealed that Wale Adenuga Production (WAP) was excited to be working with SFH. “SFH has been doing an awesome job across Nigeria for over 30 years. We are excited with this partnership and have put together this fantastic Superstory: Free to Live script. All we need now are the right actors and actresses; and this audition is the perfect opportunity to discover some fresh talents to portray certain characters as they begin their journey to worldwide stardom.”

TheatreMania unveils Akin Lewis, Maseko, Norbert Young, others as ambassadors THE International Central Working Committee (ICWC) of the TheatreMania Africa Festival has named the ambassadors of the project for the forthcoming edition scheduled for March, 2017 in Nigeria.

Theatremania Africa Festival (TAF) is the first all-encompassing All Africa Theatre Production/Creative Industry Awards and Festival, evolving from the African root aimed at rewriting the African story to the world in a positive way.

The eight names released by the organisers of the awards are combination of thespians/actors/ theatre practitioners across Af-

rica. From Nigeria are Akin Lewis, Norbert Young, Doris Simeon and Owen Gee while South Africa has Thandekile Grace Maseko and Sibongile Maria Phakathi. Ghana representative is Uncle Ebo Whyte and Malawi’s representative is Zani Michelle Chiumia a.k.a Zani Challe.

According to the creative and content director of TAF, Ms Eppie Maunza, “the ambassadors went through scrutiny and screening of a four-man panel set up for the purpose of ensuring that TAF 2016/17 has quality and worthwhile representation and importantly capable theatre stakeholders to project the

theme for the forthcoming event in Nigeria dubbed “Peace in Africa” she averred.

The unifying factor among all these ambassadors irrespective of their countries is that in their own right, they are all lovers of theatre arts, stage production, music, arts and anything creative that promotes the African culture and heritage.

According to Akin Lewis, “we are first and foremost honoured to be appointed as ambassadors of this great festival. Let me say on behalf of the other ambassadors that we are committed to ensuring the promotion of African theatre, mu-

sic, dance, folktales and culture using this platform to positively spread the African heritage, peace and unity.”

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

‘M & C radio will propagate Yoruba culture’

By Ayoade Aderinto

My career suffered

when I took break to raise my kids —Omoni Oboli

By Segun Adebayo

N

OLLYWOOD actress and producer, Omoni Oboli, seems to be enjoying every moment of her career this year.

The mother of three has released three movies that have been box office hits – “Wives on Strike”, “The First Lady” and now “Okafor’s Law” which is set to premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, in Canada.

But the actress has hinted that her career might look rosy today, she had gonbe through some troubled moments during her early days in the movie industry that she almost gave up on herself at a point.

She revealed that she had to take

a couple of years off acting to raise her three sons and when she came back, the competition was tougher.

Shortly after she returned, Oboli starred in two movies that had weighty impact on the movie scene and established her return for good.

According to her: “I did Figurine and Anchor Baby shortly after I came back, the two movies made weighty impacts in the then return-

ing cinema culture. I decided to take the more difficult but surer route to where I wanted, which is the route of ‘only good quality jobs’.

“I decided with my husband and team then that if the movie production did not spark my interest in terms of a good storyline and high production value, I won’t do it. It cost me a lot as I wasn’t doing as many jobs as many of my colleagues then. Often, even when the money offered was very attractive, I turned down roles because the movie production was not what I wanted.”

Sani Danja, Bimbo Akintola, Bidemi Kosoko re-enact impact of love triangle in Professor Johnbull GLOBACOM-sponsored TV drama series, Professor Johnbull, this week treated its viewers to an exciting time as it dealt with the issue of love fraud among youths of marriageable age in Nigeria.

Episode 6, entitled “Half bread and Puff-puff”, starred Patience Ozokwor as Madam Christiana, Sani Danja (Malik) who played the serial lover boy and Bimbo Akintola (Ufuoma), the yam seller who got propositioned by Malik.

While Ufuoma. who had previously been romantically scammed by another Europe-returnee, took the proposition with measured caution, Jumoke (Bidemi Kosoko) who was impressed by the ‘beento’ quickly gave in when Malik shifted his love gaze to her, thereby jettisoning love overtures by Flash (Charles Odimgba).

As Jumoke and Malik sat at Olaniyi’s restaurant to discuss their marriage plans while savouring “nkwobi”, Ufuoma resurfaced to quibble with Jumoke for snatching Malik from her.

As the feuding duo took their battle to the erudite professor to adjudicate, new developments reinforced the fact that Malik was

a fraud, though Jumoke had earlier described him as “Puff-puff” which is better than “half bread”.

In the same vein, Madam Christiana stepped in with her daughter to relate the daughter’s bad experience in the hands of another Europe-returnee. She subsequently berated eligible but desperate girls and their latest preferences for young men who bamboozled them with love overtures while masking their status as married men who already had wives abroad.

Bimbo Akintola (Ufoma) and Bidemi Kosoko (Jumoke) subsequently realised that Malik was

merely out to deceive both of them.

The duo eventually wriggled out of the love triangle by condemning the fake suitor while Professor Johnbull concluded by admonishing young ladies to be wary of being ensnared in the craze for Europe-based spouses.

Globacom, in a statement in Lagos, enjoined lovers of the TV drama series to make it a date with the professor and other stars in the exciting series which is broadcast on NTA Network, NTA International Channel 251 on DSTV and NTA on StarTimes at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.

BUKOLA Ayenimowa, the marketing and special events manager of Music & Culture (M &C) radio station, has said that the King Sunny Ade-owned outfit will propagate Nigerian and African culture, and not just Yoruba culture.

In an interview chat with R on Thursday, he said “as much as KSA is a Yoruba man, he is more than Yoruba.

KSA has become a global brand and pride of not just Ondo State and Nigeria, but also Africa.”

On how it handles competition with other radio stations from Ondo, Ayenimowa said the station was already making wave beyond Ondo State, especially with its Hausa news, Yoruba news, Igbo programmes and Ebira programmes and other cultures.

“You know KSA is always ahead and we have directors like Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Mr Dejo Olugbodi and Mr Clement Ige on board. They make things happen here,” he asserted.

Asked why the station is more about culture, and not music that King Sunny Ade is known for, he stated that music cannot be divorced from culture. According to him, “King Sunny Ade preaches Nigerian culture through both music and culture.

That is why he put the two together and got the station’s name.

The station happens to be the first music and culture station in Nigeria where we listen to different languages and music.”

COSON to holds stakeholders meeting in Ibadan

By Seyi Sokoya COPYRIGHT Society of Nigeria (COSON) will hold a major stakeholders’ Forum for copyright owners and users in the South-West states of Nigeria in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday, September 8.

The event, which will be held at the main hall of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre is promised to be a historic gathering of top artistes, songwriters, composers, music publishers, performers, record companies, broadcast stations, hotels, night clubs, restaurants, transport companies, advertising and activation companies from Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara states.

The event will also be attended by top government officials including representatives of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the Federal Government agency that regulates copyright in Nigeria. The forum will be preceded by courtesy visits to key personalities and media organizations in Oyo State.

Speaking on the the event, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony

Okoroji, said, “We are getting ready for the big event in Ibadan.

It is an important opportunity for us to interact with and listen to the people on whose behalf we work.”

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Segun Adebayo and Seyi Sokoya tegbollistic@yahoo.com, seyi_sky@yahoo.com 08116954644 08132577840

an on stage. So, he must try to redeem himself by retaliating. Creating a joke is not a joke. In every creative joke, there is an iota of truth. What we do is that we exaggerate the truth with humour which makes it a joke.

Oghenekowhoyan Onaibe Desmond, known in entertainment circle as Destalker, is a stand-up comedian, compere and motivational speaker.

In this interview with TAYO GESINDE, the Warri, Delta State-born humour merchant, speaks on why comedians are fond of insulting people when performing and why he doesn’t have a mentor. Excerpts:

What is your philosophy of life?

Life is a joke. I also believe that life becomes how you see it. As I usually say, I joke for a living but I don’t joke with my living.

What informed your choice of career?

HE Bible says that “the gift of a man makes a way for him.” I was born a comedian. It runs in my family. My dad is a comedian.

He is the first Urhobo comedy film actor in Delta State. His name is Ewaraye Augustine, but he is popularly known as Ekwetakufia.

T

How did you come about the name Destalker?

I have answered several names like I Don Die when I was in school but coming to Lagos exposed me to branding. So, I decided to look for a suitable name that can be used in the corporate world. That was why I decided to go for Destalker. It was coined from Desmond + Talker (Destalker). And there is something about the name, that when you hear it, it sounds like a Chris Tulker. I’ve come to understand that names really play a major role in our life because since I started answering that name, I talk a lot of sense!

What were the challenges faced when you first started?

In life there are challenges. Challenges make life interesting. I started doing comedy in Enugu but not professionally.

Coming down to Lagos was my biggest challenge. There was no accommodation, no friends and no colleagues. When I was much younger, I made up my mind that I was not going to work under anybody. I think that was where not having a mentor mentality originated from. I decided to build myself. It has not been easy but God saw me through. It was tough at first but after a while, I started getting invitations from colleagues. I thank God that all the challenges I faced then are all now in the past. I believe the name Destalker is now a brand to reckon with in the entertainment industry.

How have you been coping with competitions in the industry?

If there is no competition, it won’t be interesting. However, I am not in competition with anybody because I am on my own BRT lane.

What will you say distinguishes you from other comedians?

I talk about day-to-day activities. I do reality jokes; some comedians are tagged gospel comedians, some corporate comedians, some secular comedians, but I do all.

Some comedians have been accused of recycling jokes or even stealing other comedians’ jokes, what is your take on this?

On the issue of comedians recycling jokes, it has become so rampant that even we comedians now see it as a normal thing to

Can every funny person be a comedian?

Capital No. That is the more reason we have a lot of wannabes comedians in the industry. For example, when someone says something that is funny, his friends will tell him that “guy you funny die, why you no join these comedians.” The truth is that comedy is a different ball game. That is why some selfacclaimed comedians will crack five jokes but nobody will laugh. Meanwhile, it was the same thing he said at home that made his friends to encourage him to go into comedy. There is a book entitled: Talent is not enough

by John Maxwell. Yes, talent can make someone succeed as a comedian but understanding the environment you find yourself, will usher you into a frustration-free life. In everything you do in life you need training. As for me, I do research and try to read books about everything.

What my pastor’s daughter oncetoldme —Destalker

do. However, it is not really all your jokes that could be recycled. For example, I do some life story jokes with motivational talks by the side. It might be very funny to you as a comedian but you can’t deliver it like I would because I am versatile.

What has been the most defining moment of your career so far?

The most defining moment of my career was when I travelled to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to anchor a wedding ceremony.

What will you say is the secret of your success as a comedian?

Giving and forgiving. I give gifts unconditionally and when you hurt me, I forgive without resentment. That is my secret because I have come to understand that our life is a gift from God and what we do with our life is our own gift back to God. Why are comedians fond of insulting people when cracking jokes?

It depends on your definition of insult.

We comedians don’t see it as insult, we call it slapstick comedy and most times, the audience attacks first. For example, someone in the audience will tell comedian; “comot joor you are not funny.”

It can be very disheartening to a comedi-

motivation.

What motivates you as a comedian?

Seeing people happy is my

What are the pains and gains of being a celebrity?

Like the saying, no pain, no gain. Being a celebrity is fun but there are little things you will be deprived of when you are a celebrity. One of them is eating in Mama Put (roadside restaurant). Also, when strolling on the street, fans expect you as a celebrity to give them money. Another pain is when you have issues with your car on the road, especially when you are in an area where you can’t find a cab and you now decided to board public transport, your fans will disturb you till you have no other choice but to drop at the wrong bus stop.

What is the relationship between you and other comedians?

I have a cordial relationship with them to the extent that when they miss my calls, they will return the call.

Have you had situations where people didn’t take you

serious because you are a comedian, how do you handle such?

Not taking me serious is like an everyday thing and it is very painful, so, I have made people to believe that when I am speaking in English, I am very serious.

What is your marital status?

Since I am not married, I consider myself to be single but I am in serious relationship.

What are the qualities you want in a woman?

All I want from a woman should be the opposite of my strength. For example, I am an extrovert so I want an introvert. I am a very complicated person so I need a woman who is patient, understanding, slow to anger, forgiving and accommodating.

How do you handle advances from female admirers?

As for female admirers, most times, I don’t take note of them. I remember a day one of them told me that I am not sensitive. Making them your friends is better than trying to have an intimate relationship with them.

How do you handle negative publicity?

Most times, the best thing to do about negative publicity is to pretend you don’t notice it.

What is the most embarrassing thing a fan has ever done to you?

Just one and it happened in 2010 when one of my pastor’s daughters told me on his birthday that I should look for something better to do with my life.

Favourite pastime?

I relax by playing snooker and PS with friends.

What is your fashion obsession?

I am so obsessed with fashion that I don’t wear one dress twice in a month.

What is your favourite car?

My favourite car is Toyota.

What about your favourite team?

I like playing soccer game like PS but I am not a football fan.

What advice do you have for young people out there?

Live life without any limit, because you will never know when your time will come.

So, live, laugh and most importantly, be happy.

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28 August, 2016

with Segun Adebayo tegbollistic@yahoo.com 08116954644

PEOPLE

places&parties

Olori Wuraola’s new project W HILE it may be too hasty to describe Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as a feminist, what you can’t take away from her is her uncommon frankness, particularly on issues that are dear to her heart.

Recently, while speaking at the Emerging Women’s Forum in Maryland, United States, she declared, matter-of-factly, that she did not believe in the clamour for gender equity,adding that ‘‘we can’t be equal, we can’t be men. We have our roles to play here, a very pivotal one.”

To underscore her conviction and seriousness, she highlighted the powerful roles women play and urged them to tap into their innate powers to reach ‘‘extraordinary heights’’, rather than fighting for power with their male counterparts.

Although her call was received with mixed feelings, those close to her maintained that she had only given the world a slice of her sterling qualities.

PPP gathered that the woman of substance had, on several occasions, exhibited her humility in the public to the amazement of all.

In such a short period of time, Olori Wuraola founded her Queen of Ile-Ife Foundation, an organisation that has already put the women of Ife to work through what she called Project Siwaju.

Funke Akindele:

Married or not?

MARRIAGE tales trailing Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, for some time now have refused to go away and the lastest news reaching PPP suggested that the actress, who celebrated her 39th birthday on Wednesday, was said to have given herself the ‘perfect’ gift.

Those who should know informed PPP that Akindele and Abdul Rasheed Bello, better known as JJC, an Afro Pop singer, were said to have got married secretly in London on the eve of Akindele’s birthday.

For months, Funke and JJC have been rumoured to have taken their closeness to a new level after Funke reportedly moved into JJC’s Lekki home in Lagos State weeks after the latter proposed to her.

Travelbeta boss, Nazy takes another big step TECH space big boy and founder Oya.com. ng, Nazy Egbuonu Nnazilim, is not new to taking big steps that have turned Travelbeta and Tours Limited, the controlling company of the flights and hotel booking platform, his company into a big brand in Lagos State.

After floating one of the leading online traveling agencies in the country, Oya.com and sold it to Wakanow a few years back, the former consultant to Ape Planet Entertainment, who manages Nigerian singing duo, Bracket boys, did not slow down. His deep knowledge of the online business earned him the dominance he currently enjoys in the tech space business.

Sometime last year, the company announced that it landed a $2million online travel business barely six weeks after its website went live.

PPP gathered that Nazy, who lost his father last month is set

to quit bacheloorhood.

Those who are in the know informed that the he and his lover are not

leaving any stone unturned to make their day memorable even as the day promises to wit-

ness the large turnout of celebrities, high society and business executives.

Lord Bishop gets Kogi appointment THESE are happy times for banker turned gospel musician, Benjamin Atomode, otherwise known as Lord Bishop as the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has appointed him as board member of Kogi State and Loans Limited.

The news came to Bishop as a surprise and he was quick to appreciate the governor for the opportunity to serve in that capacity.

Bishop, who himself was in the banking industry for years before venturing into music is excited about his new job. He has established himself as one of the leading gospel musicians with popular songs to his credit.

Bishop confirmed his new appointment in a brief in-

Bisoye Fagade makes bold statement IF the true definition of life is to discover one’s purpose and help others to discover theirs, then PR and marketing expert, Bisoye Fagade, has not been found wanting in making life meaningful for many people, especially the young ones who are inspired by his lifestyle.

With a strong resolve rarely found in among men in his age, soft-spoken Fagade has conquered lack and has grown into a man of his own.

Fagade, a former media professional , has demonstrated his abilities as a leading brand in the PR industry. His company, Sodium Brand Solutions,

Sunday Tribune

manages the accounts of top brands in the country and was the brains behind the popular Coca-Cola ‘Share a Coke’ campaign while it lasted.

Known for his hatred for lack, which inspires him to make life easier for the needy, the dark, handsome dude made a bold statement weeks back when he organised a youth summit through his OSMD youth platform that reportedly attracted over 500 youths from many places.

The summit afforded the young minds to learn from professionals who have excelled in their chosen fields.

teraction with PPP and said the board has been given the mandate to revive the banks towards the achievement of the goal of Governor Bello.

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28 August, 2016

makeover

Rita Okonoboh 08053789087 tribunemakeover@gmail.com

Why children need quality school shoes —YNorth

Oluwaseun Babalola Bamiro holds a diploma in Computer Science and is the brains behind YNorth Store, Ibadan, Oyo State. He speaks with RITA OKONOBOH on the best time to shop for school shoes, tips for choosing the right shoes and why picking the right school shoes is quality investment.

Excerpts:

T

HE passion for shoes Right from school, I’d always been in business. Even in school, people called me businessman because I sold a lot of things then.

School provided the training ground. So, I had it in mind that when I left school, I would not write a CV. That had always been my dream.

My passion for shoes developed when my girlfriend, back in the days, who is now my wife, bought a pair of slippers for me. Some of my friends liked the footwear, so we contacted the shoemaker to make the type for them. So, through me, about five or six of my friends patronised the shoemaker.

And I thought that I could sell directly to my friends.

That was how the idea for making shoes developed.

The name, ‘YNorth’ The shoemaker then who made that slippers was using a foreign name, and I asked him ‘why not a local name?’ Then I decided that I would adopt the name ‘Why Not?’ When I decided to start my shoe making business fully, we reworked the name and that is how we got ‘YNorth.’

Passion for business a family trait?

No. I come from a family of educationists. In fact, when I started making shoes, my family members didn’t understand why I would drop a degree in Computer Science for shoe making. However, I was looking beyond what they saw at the time because I had a dream and I wanted to create a niche for myself.

Why school shoes?

When we started in 2010,

three years down the line, many parents spoke to me about making school shoes, because of the challenge of getting quality shoes that would last long. In 2014, we started the school shoe project, making research on what making quality school shoes would entail.

We found out that many parents had issues with the upper part of the shoes, but the soles were good. Also, environments differ. We discovered that children’s school shoes survive better when made with pure leather, especially because of the activities they engage in as school children. We also found out that Nigeria has quality leather but couldn’t produce the kind of quality soles that would be best for school shoes. As a result, we had to conduct another research on how to get quality soles, going as far as outside the country to places like China. So, to cater for the Nigerian weather condition and the children’s activities, we asked that a space be put between the sole and the upper part, so that we can sew it round, as additional protection to ensure durability.

Our shoes are very durable and can be passed from one sibling to the other, and for parents who would not want that, they could give the shoes out to those in need, and even after long use, they would still look as good as new.

When is the best time for parents to shop for school shoes?

This is the best time because this is their season and there are ongoing promos. That’s also why we launched the new line of shoes now and we are also offering discounts.

Sunday Tribune

ensure that the shoes are comfortable and will last for a long time. A good pair of school shoes should last for a session.

Message to parents on choosing school shoes I would encourage parents to patronise made in Nigeria shoes. If we can sustain that for the next five years, a lot of things will change. When we started YNorth, I interviewed older men who used to be in the business on why

they left and the reason they gave was that foreign products flooded the market and they could not sustain their businesses. The only way we can develop the nation is to buy made in Nigeria products, especially if the quality is the best you can find.

We have a lot of customers already for the school shoes, and we encourage more people to go into it. When we patronise our products, we are making the change we want to see in Nigeria.

Features of school shoes

Photo: www.theathletesfoot.co.au

CHILDREN’S feet grow in spurts, and they require new shoes every three to four months. Most early toddlers (under 16 months of age) grow more than one-half a foot size in two months. Toddlers from age 16 to 24 months grow an average of one-half a foot size every three months. The young child, 24 to 36 months old, grows approximately one-half a foot size every four months, and children over 3 years of age experience increases of one-half a foot size every four to six months.

You should examine the depth of the shoe to make sure the top of the shoe doesn’t press on the toes or the toenails. Look for shoes with rounded toe boxes to give the toes more room for movement.

Remember, shoes should be comfortable from the start. If new shoes need to be “broken in,” it means either they were not properly designed or not properly fitted for your child’s foot.

Shoe Construction Shoes consist of four parts: the upper, the insole, the outer sole and the heel.

Fitting children for school shoes If possible, I would advise that the child is brought along for fitting. We discovered now that children are growing bigger than their ages so it is not easy to guess the size of a child’s shoes.

It is not easy to assume a child’s size unless you already know it. The best bet is to bring the child for fitting.

Affordability This is my country and I understand that things are not easy, especially with the state of the economy. So, our prices are very affordable. We are also running a back-to-school promo, that is the ‘I Deserve New School Shoes’ promo and we offer a discount to those who patronise us.

Tips for choosing school shoes With our environment, parents should look out for solid, pure 100 per cent leather shoes. Very good soles are also important.

Also, many schools use black, so they also have to invest in quality shoe polish. They should avoid liquid polish because it spoils shoes easily. You know the shoes are polished on an almost daily basis and frequent use of liquid polish will shrink the leather.

Buying new school shoes If a shoe is of good quality, honestly, you shouldn’t have to renew school shoes every term. For the average child, because they grow fast, when shopping, go for a size an inch above the normal size of the feet. This will

Upper Part The upper part of the child’s shoe should be made of leather, canvas or the newer mesh materials. Children’s feet perspire heavily, and the upper part of their shoes should be made of breathable materials. Leather or canvas allows the foot to breathe. Avoid man-made material, such as plastic.

Insole Make sure the insole is made of absorbent material.

You may want padded insoles. Most children do not need a special arch support. All toddlers younger than 16 months have flat feet and only fully develop an arch by the age of 6 to 8 years.

Outer Sole The outer sole provides traction, cushioning and flexibility to the shoe. Some very sticky and thick outer soles can make young children clumsy and cause falls and should be avoided.

Heel Toddlers do not need heels on their shoes. Flat outer soles make it easier to begin walking. Older children can wear shoes with heels, but they should not be too high (taller than one inch), as tall heels can cause the foot to slide forward and cramp the toes against the inside of the shoe.

Source: American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society website.

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28 August , 2016

With Akintayo Abodunrin akinjaa03@yahoo.co.uk 08111813058

Kenyan curator, Lydia Gatundu Galavu, appraises the inappropriate showcasing of African arts by Western museums in a presentation at the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation

T

HOUGH Western museums profess love for African art and have spent time and money collecting them, the way most of the artworks are displayed leaves much to be desired. In fact, a number of the museums lack awareness about the context and history of the works, hence they showcase them inappropriately.

This was among the submissions of Kenyan curator, Lydia Gatundu Galavu, who concluded her fellowship recently at the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF) in Lagos.

In a presentation entitled ‘Displaying Traditional Art in Contemporary African Time: A critical analysis on the best practices for contextualizing traditional art within its home environment’ last Wednesday at the OYASAF headquarters in Maryland, Lagos, the Curator of Contemporary Art at the National Museums of Kenya made some interesting observations on how western museums are more interested in Africa’s tribal arts than contemporary arts.

Sadly, the tribal art they are more interested in, she noted, is “displayed outside its original cultural context thereby losing or distorting its full identity and meaning.”

Citing the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington DC as example,

Western museums need to display African arts better —Galavu

Lydia Galavu during her presentation Galavu noted that it is “located in the underground galleries of the Smithsonian together with the Freer and Sackler galleries that hold art from non-Caucasian nations with history of collection put together by people in colonized contexts.

“As an African, it is a difficult collection history to face. On one hand, the works of

art are very beautiful, and one can appreciate that history took them to Western museums.

On the other hand, it is difficult to forget that this history was unpleasant and that because of it information about the art works has mostly been lost.”

Going to specifics, the curator whose study is part of a larger ongoing research for an up-

‘Why we didn’t use Fela’s abusive song against military in ‘76’

A moment of leisure in ‘76, the movie AHEAD of its screening at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), a question some critics that have seen ‘76 directed

by Izu Ojukwu ask is why one of Fela’s songs criticising the military is not used in the movie instead of his 1971 hit, ‘Buy Africa?

‘Buy Africa’ signposts an era when the military government announced Africa as the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy but as everybody knows, Fela had a history of rebellion with the military and never held back in his songs against the institution.

Explaining why ‘Buy Africa’ was chosen, executive producer, Tonye Princewill said:“We had a very good working relationship with the Nigerian Army. The Army may have wanted us to make them less brutal, but that would have been unrealistic. Having a good relationship with the Army did not make them immune to criticism. ’76 shows it as it is. A good working relation-

ship involves mutual respect. Interestingly the army sees the movie as a platform that would further cement understanding between the military and civilians, even admitting that times are different now.”

But Fela is not the only Nigerian musician whose song is used in the film. There is a rich and interesting parade of the golden oldies.

Though a couple of them have passed on, their memories are still alive through their timeless works. Of the featured soundtracks in the movie, only Miriam Makeba’s ‘The Naughty Little Flea’ and ‘Where Does it Lead’ are sourced from an artiste outside Nigeria.

Explaining how they got the rights to the songs in the movie, Adonijah Owiriwa who shares credit as executive producer with Princewill said they had to deal with a number of publishing companies within and outside the continent.

Their first port of call was the Copyright

Society of Nigeria (COSON). He said, “COSON was very helpful and assisted with linking us up with publishers that had rights to some specific songs. COSON also assisted with negotiating fair deals with the publishing companies on our behalf.”

However, some rights were obtained directly from the owners of the songs. The administrators of Fela’s Estate in Nigeria, according to Owiriwa, “were gracious enough to give us the right to use one of Fela’s greatest songs in the movie without charge. In fact, the representative of the family that attended to us during the discussion said: “This is indeed a laudable project, preserving our music and culture. I am sure Fela would have even offered to perform live in your movie if he were alive today.”

Four of the artistes featured in ’76 have passed on. They include highlife music giant, Cardinal Rex Lawson who led the Port Harcourt –based Majors Dance Band. His hit ‘Jolly Papa’ is relived in the movie. Released in 1976, the year that the movie is set, Nelly Uchendu’s ‘Love Nwantinti’ makes it all a bit noteworthy.

Prince Nico Mbarga’s, ‘Sweet Mother’ also helps to create nostalgia in the movie. Mbarga has the privilege of having another song, ‘Aki Special’ in the movie.

With Mbarga and Makeba, ’76 has the distinction of being a celebration of Africa and the resilience of the African spirit.

The two Victors - Victor Olaiya and Victor Uwaifo also register their presence with their creative works, ‘Baby Jowo’ and ‘GiodoGiodo’ respectively. Olaiya’s song has been recently remixed with popular Nigerian pop artiste 2Baba as ‘Baby Mi Da’.

coming permanent gallery of art in Kenya used three artworks to prove her point. The first, a carved wooden mask, has no useful information at all. “The formative information about this artwork is not provided on display at the museum; the name of the artist, or the culture and time period in which it originated, or what the intent behind its creation was,” she said.

It’s the same with a commissioned piece clad with motifs illustrating European interaction and an early 20th century Efik mask from Nigeria attributed to a different country.

Shamefully, it is not only Western museums that are displaying African art tardily as Galavu found out at Kenya’s National Museum and Nigeria’s flagship museum at Onikan, Lagos.

She notes: “Just like the Nairobi National Museum, the displays of traditional artworks at the National Museum Lagos tended to be alienated from their cultural context; objects displayed in space without adequate information in much the same way as you would find them in a Western museum. Ironically, with training on best museum practice coming mainly from the West, African museums have tended to adapt similar display methods at home.”

But unlike the Western museums that have no information on artworks they exhibit, Galavus notes that: “The advantage in African museums is that the information for these objects is not lost. The problem is that only a little bit is provided such that in the absence of a guide one cannot interpret the object meaningfully.

Galavu’s presentation wasn’t all about criticisms, however. The curator also suggested ways of displaying traditional art in Africa to ensure that its full meaning is well understood. The Kenyan scholar recommended applying strategic cognitive attributes in the display; applying emotional/ affective attributes; apply behavioural attributes in the display and real life curatorial process. All these, she noted, are evident in the display of works in the OYASAF Garden.

Galavu also touched on how Africa can use her fast growing art establishments to reform current African art history. She highlighted the place of scholarship, patronage and museum donation (as exemplified by OYASAF) and education. But the most important factor, she stressed, is cooperation.

Contributing to the discussion, popular artist, Dr Kolade Oshinowo concurred that the West always tries to downplay the achievements of African artists. The issue, he noted, remains making the West realise that African artists are just as creative and endowed like their Western counterparts.

For the architect and blogger, Jess Castelotte, collaboration is the way forward. He noted that most artists and scholars don’t relate and that institutions in different nations have to embrace public-private-partnerships.

Shyllon, on his part advised: “We owe it a duty to incoming generation that our identity as Africans is not obliterated. We have comparative advantage in arts and culture and we need to invest and promote the African identity. African identities needs re-awakening but let’s forget about government. Whatever we can do individually, let’s do.”

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Sunday Tribune

Sunday Tribune

28 August, 2016

glamour

My experience with a stalker I

Foray into acting Acting was something I had always wanted right from the time I was a girl, because I was a very artistic child. However, it was when I watched the Sound of Music that I know acting what I wanted to do. So I knew at the age of five that I was going to be an actress and I never changed my mind. I joined the entertainment industry in 2007. My first movie was Kajola, it was a cyber movie, it didn’t do too well because the audience didn’t receive it. They felt that we were trying to go beyond our capability.

I really enjoyed working on that project.

I want to believe that my claim to fame was Two Brides And A

Marital status I am single. I won’t say I am searching because I believe a man should find a woman.

What I will say is that there is no one right now.

Qualities I want in a man Honesty, patience, integrity and someone who is willing to work hard for his relationship as much as his woman is willing to work for the relationship as well. These are not larger than life expectations but it seems as if they are really difficult to find these days.

Definition of style Whatever makes you feel comfortable and beautiful without being trashy, that is style. Sometimes people mistake a particular style for sexiness, but it easily comes off wrong. I think style is something that flatters your figure and makes you feel comfortable. If you are not comfortable in something, then it is not stylish. So, it should be comfortable, affordable and should make you feel beautiful.

Keira Hewatch is an award-winning Nollywood actress who has featured in movies like Lekki Wives; Two Brides And A Baby; Couples Games; Lies Men Tell; After The Proposal, among others. The graduate of Travelling and Tourism and Hospitality Management from the Graduate School of Management Studies, Ghana, in this interview with TAYO GESINDE, says she made up her mind to become an actress after watching Sounds Of Music at age five. She also spoke on how she has been coping with stardom.

Baby. I have done other impressive works like Lekki Wives Season 1 to 3, In the Name Of Trust, Couples Games, Lies Men Tell, After The Proposal, among others.

Challenges faced One major challenge was having to go to a lot of auditions without anything coming out of it. You had to be patient. And even when you got the job, it would not really pay so well because you were just starting out. The challenges were basically what people face when they are just starting out in any job.

The journey so far It has been thrilling, exciting and rough. At some point, it had been great and at other times, it was not. It has not been a smooth road.

Role models I don’t necessarily have role models. The reason is that I believe everyone is unique in a certain way. You can appreciate a person for who they are but not try to be like them.

How I have been coping with competition I don’t think about it because I believe that whatever is yours is yours.

If there is a project that four or five of

Beauty regimen I am basically not a make-up person when I am not working because I am always working and there is always make-up on my face so it is a relief when I am at home and I don’t have to use it. I take care of my skin, I drink plenty of water, I exfoliate and I try not to put too many harsh chemicals on my skin.

my colleagues are vying for and at the end of the day, I don’t get it, I won’t feel bad about it in the sense that I know it wasn’t meant to be mine because we are all good at what we do. And at the end of the day, it is who best fits a character or fits a project that will get the job. I don’t even see it as competition in the real sense of it.

What I can’t be caught dead wearing Fishnet because it is just ridiculous. Nobody ought to put it on, it doesn’t look nice. It is a no, no.

Description of self I like to think that I am a very simple and straightforward person in the sense that I don’t like drama. I am not an overly dramatic person unless it comes to love. I like simplicity, honesty and I like to be straightforward. I think that sums me up.

Special treat I like to fill up the tub, put on some bubbles, light some candles and drink Chardonnay. I might even fall asleep right there.

My opinion on provocative dressing I don’t necessarily have an opinion because everyone is her own person, so whatever you feel like doing, even if I do not have to agree with it, it is your life. Most women feel if they dress provocatively, it will attract the opposite sex but I believe that if you have confidence in yourself, you don’t have to overly expose yourself just to attract people but that is my opinion. Whatever makes people comfortable, they can wear, I don’t judge people.

Philosophy of life “Do unto others what you want them to do to you.” It is simple, everybody is innately selfish but if you want the good things of life, the best thing to do is to treat the next person beside you the way you want to be treated. If we all could adopt that philosophy, this world will be a better place. I also have a personal saying, honesty is the best policy. No matter how smart you want to be, at the end of the day, honesty will get you farther than deceit or manipulation Most embarrassing thing a fan did to me I have never had any embarrassing experience with a fan. I have had slightly scary experiences. I had a stalker one time that followed me all the way to my house, it was my gateman who discovered him and threatened to call the police. Also, a couple of months back, I had a social media stalker.

I had to block him at some point because he was obsessive. He was all over me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even LinkedIn that I had not been on for years.

I always respond to my fans on social media, especially if what they are saying are sensible. I started talking to him and after

With Tayo Gesinde temiligali03@yahoo.com 08054727801

ing that people think that I am taken so they are very nice and official. Sometimes, I meet eligible men and think why don’t you just say something, but they are very nice and polite.

—Keira Hewatch

Growing up t was a normal childhood experience.

You play, make friends, run around, climb trees, you skim your knees and so on. I was a tomboy because I grew up around boys. I was a really bad tomboy as a child.

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What I will like to change about myself At this point in my life, absolutely nothing.

I will like to improve upon myself and not change myself.

a while, he started becoming too heavy. So I stopped responding. He then became venomous. I had to block him. That was a bit scary.

Handling advances from male admirers Funny enough, I have not had any advances of late, so there is nothing to handle because there are no advances. I have a feel-

Pains and gains of celebrity The pain is that it is tedious when you have to smile all the time because nobody ever feels happy all the time but your fans expect you to do that when they meet you.

They don’t care that somebody just pissed you off or something, they expect that you should be happy the way they are happy to see you. It can get tedious but you do it because people love you. We are basically doing the work for them anyway. Also, there is really no privacy, people always want to know what is going on in your life, and they

want to know your business. It is like the fact that they watch you on TV means they have a right to your life, they want to know who you are dating, they want to know your friends, where you are going and so on, but I am a private person, I don’t want to put myself out there but I had to learn because of the job. The gain of being a celebrity is that you get preferential treatment. For instance, banking is like a breeze, if I walk into a bank, people give me preferential treatment.

Assessment of Nollywood We’ve grown in leaps and bounds that is the truth. I have seen some productions

I like to fill up the tub, put on some bubbles, light some candles...

this year that are jaw-dropping. Looking at where we started from compared to now, I think we are growing and eventually I believe we are going to get to a point where the world will view our work the same way they see Hollywood and Bollywood. I am really proud of that.

Advice for up-and-coming actors Be sure exactly why you are coming into the industry, if you are coming because you want fame or because you want to be on the red carpet or because of the paparazzi, that is a big mistake you are making because it involves hard work and dedication. If you don’t have passion for it, you will be frustrated or you may end up doing something you will regret in life. My advice is work hard, be patient because it doesn’t work overnight. If you want to do it the right way, it won’t happen overnight.

To my fans This is a message of love to all my die-hard fans. I have fans who have shown me love from 2007 till date, it is incredible. I want to say that I love you guys so much. You are the reason I have a job in the first place and I hope I never let you down and keep churning out good work for your entertainment and enjoyment. Keep loving me as I love you guys.

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opinion

28 August, 2016

Amosun and the Famished Roads

By Adejuwon Soyinka

HE was said to have once witnessed a fatal accident around the Mobalufon end of the Sagamu-Benin expressway. On that fateful day, an articulated vehicle rammed into a 14-seater commercial bus and left no survivor.

For many people who were conversant with that spot on the expressway, this was not a strange happening. It was routine.

The road, especially that junction, was famished and therefore, year after year, it claimed the lives of many Nigerians, particularly Ogun State indigenes and residents.

Like the unrepentant spirit child who makes nonsense of the medicine man and his trade, this deadly spot seemingly defied all logic. Government after government appeared to have resigned to fate about the Mobalufon junction and watched on, apparently helpless, as the daily carnage continued.

This was the scenario that led to the accident that Senator Ibikunle Amosun witnessed on this particular day. As of that time, he wasn’t a politician. He was just travelling on the Sagamu-Benin expressway. And like other good spirited Nigerians, he joined in the rescue effort that eventually couldn’t save any of the passengers in the ill-fated bus.

Moved by what he had just witnessed, Amosun told those travelling with him that if God ever gave him the opportunity to serve his people, he would not hesitate to put an end to the daily carnage at the Mobalufon junction.

That became a mission statement. And it was therefore not surprising that when he eventually emerged governor of Ogun State in 2011, Amosun was a man on a mission to, among other things, fixthe famished roads in Ogun.

And there were quite a number of them. Not too far from the Mobalufon junction, there was the Lagos garage junction.

This was yet another famished spot. It was regular, back then, to witness fatal accidents at this junction.

As it turned out, the famished roads and junctions were not limited to Ogun East Senatorial district. In the Ogun Central Senatorial District, places like Sapon and Iyana Mortuary, were equally famished. These were intersections often responsible for fatal accidents. They had their counterpart in the Ogun West Senatorial District around the Akute junction along Sango-Ojodu Abiodun road.

Not long after he assumed office, the state governor took on the challenge posed by these famished roads, junctions and intersections. The trick was to put in place what in civil engineering circles is called grid separators. In other words, the Amo-

sun government brought to reality the Mobalufon overhead bridge in Ijebu Ode. With that singular move, Senator Amosun literally put an end to the frequent accidents that occur at the Mobalufon end of the Sagamu-Benin Road.

That was a promise kept. A similar approach was deployed at the Lagos garage junction. It also took the bloodthirsty road demons hitherto operating at that junction out of business.

Other overhead bridges in Sabo, Sagamu, Sapon and Iyana Mortuary in Abeokuta have been completed and commissioned while work is ongoing on those at Ijebu Igbo, Ilaro and Akute.

Indeed, fixing the famished roads is a critical component of Governor Amosun’s ‘Mission to Rebuild’ in the state. Apart from putting an end to daily carnage on the roads, the administration’s focus, in this respect, is to create an environment that supports industry and commerce as well as inclusive economic growth.

Over the past five years, several hundreds of kilometres of roads have been constructed, expanded and resurfaced. For example, the Amosun government constructed the IbaraTotoro Road, the first international standard six-lane road in Ogun State. It also built the flyover at Ibara, Abeokuta, the first constructed by any administration since the creation of the State in 1976. The first 10-lane boulevard, which begins at Sokori and opens up into the elaborate Itoku Bridge, is a stamp of modernisation affixed to the state capital by the current administration.

The Amosun administration also constructed the longest road, cutting across four local councils in Ogun West Senato-

Sunday Tribune

rial District, the 107kilometreIlara-Ijoun Road. In the same vein, the administration ended the distress of commuters in and across Ado-Odo Ota Local Council through massive reconstruction of the strategically located and commercially important Ilo-Awela Road and the modernisation of Ota through the provision of modern township roads.

There is also the ongoing construction of the 32-kilometre Sango-Ojodu-Abiodun Road, which comes with five bridges, three of which are over water. Indeed, the state, under the current administration, is one huge construction site.

Expectedly, the famished road demons are fighting back.

Their most potent weapon at the moment is the current financial crunch the whole country is going through. This, no doubt, has had the impact of slowing down the pace of work on some of the ongoing road construction projects.

But it is not strong enough to overcome the determination of the Ogun governor to rebuild the gateway state. Through a carefully designed economic diversification effort as well as prudent management of scarce resources, the state is soldering on in the face of the current challenges.

Right now, in spite of scarce resources the likes of Awokoyastreet, Bonojo road, New road, Osinubi street, Awujale street are under rehabilitation in Ijebu Ode area, while places like Oke Owa-Ilese road; Degun street; Sabo Ososa road; ItaAlapo street and Ondo road all in Ijebu Ode are being restored with hard core filling.

In Abeokuta, the Governor Amosun administration has recently rehabilitated Ibara-Adigbe road; Lafenwa-ItaOshin road; GRA road network; IsaleAke-Oke Lantoro road; repaired the damaged 3rd River Ogun bridge; constructed a major culvert across Adigbe road at Opako; restored Lafenwa-AgokaAsero road with hard core filling while the Abeokuta-Sagamu road is currently under repairs.

Elsewhere in Ota the administration is restoring the LagosAbeokuta federal highway with hard core fillings in places like IyanaIlogbo; Plaza junction, Joju junction, OjuOore and Singer among others.

Similarly, the rehabilitation of Sagamu-Iperu-Ode-Sapade road is ongoing while the 13km Ibiade-Abigi road in Ijebu Waterside has just been rehabilitated alongside IjebuImushin township roads.

And the governor is not done with the famished roads yet.

“By the time we are through, we would have about 24 to 25 flyovers in Ogun State,” Governor Amosun said.

Soyinka is Senior Special Assistant (Media) and spokesman for Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Darts from familiar quarters

By Jackson Udom

A

DAMU is an indigene of Campordi in Republic of Togo. For him and his siblings, growing up was not a bed of roses. However, through dint of hardwork, perseverance, and divine intervention, Adamu fought his way through to prominence.

The challenges, no doubt, acted as the catalyst which propelled him into vowing that, if he would ever become a ‘somebody’ in life, those conditions and situations that stood between their success in life would be tackled head long so that those coming after them will not be bugged down with such difficult conditions in future.

In the later part of his life, Adamu found himself in position of authority, and true to his promise, he ensured that those obstacles were addressed. He ensured that his people lacked nothing good in the area of education, which he believed was the bedrock for the future emancipation and development of his people. His efforts saw a renewed consciousness, selfrecovery among his people, and gradually, they began to find their voices in the commity of states.

Like the Biblical shout of Hosanna today, crucify him tomorrow, Adamu was vilified, persecuted, condemned, abused, insulted, criminalised and even wished dead, by the very people whom he strove to better their lives when he had the opportunity.

But some genuine elders of the community, rose in stout condemnation of the actions of the very few narrow-minded, but vocal minority, pointing out to them the possible outcomes of their selfish, retrogressive and parochial agenda, while other elders supported the agenda The elders argued that wanting Adamu down, was like destroying the protector and defender of the community, saying,” if you all succeed in pulling our only voice down, who will fight for our rights, and speak for us on the day of needs and persecution?

The above scenario aptly captures the current ordeal of the former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio left office as governor over a year ago, and this is one fact his traducers have failed to realise. They still don’t believe the Ukana-born politician had since moved up the political ladder, as the representative of the people of Ikot Ekpene

Senatorial District in Abuja, and yet, they won’t remove their legs on the hate pedal. Apart from wishing that he falls, they upped their satanic wish list by wanting him or his wife dead, as if they are God. Akpabio governed Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 and during his period, it is there to be seen that he transformed the state from a pedestrian one, to investors haven and a destination, through the the provision of world class and enduring infrastructure, an effort, which later became known nationally and internationally as the Uncommon Transformation.

These landmark achievements earned him several awards from the academia, the media, corporate organisations, traditional institutions and even beyond the shores of the country.

The Akpabio era witnessed a renaissance in the area of infrastructure, human capital development, a new consciousness and awareness among the people, which before his assumption of office, was lacking.

He brought the state into the world map through his life changing programmes, like free and compulsory education from primary to secondary levels, free medical care for the aged, children and pregnant women, while his wife, Mrs Unoma Akpabio handled the women angle, through her welfare package for abandoned children, the destitutes and widows among other vulnerable citizens resident in the state.

The period between 2007 and 2015 can best be described as the golden moment of the state. The houseboys/girls syndrome which the indigenes of the state were known for both locally and internationally was exterminated by the Akpabioled administration, through the introduction of the free and compulsory education.

One need not mention the Five Star Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, the World Class Olympic Size Stadium, the Ibom Power Plant, Ibom International Airport, the Gas Pipeline, the E- library, a world class referral hospital and several dualised federal and state roads with concentric flyovers, as some of the numerous projects executed by the former governor.

In spite of these landmark achievements, Akpabio’s traducers, particularly those who have vowed not to see anything good about him believe they could achieve their hate and jaundiced agenda by striving to elevate propaganda, cheap blackmail, complete falsehood and lies to the level of truth and rational consciousness.

They have however, forgotten to learn or imbibe the Bibli-

cal story of David and his being the person after God’s heart, despite his condemnation by his friends and foes.

Akpabio is not the only former governor in Nigeria and will definitely not be the last, so why are his people out to pull him down, especially those who once sang his praise, dined and wined with him, and benefitted one way or the other from his administration?

Few weeks ago, national newpapers hit the news stands with screeming headlines, “FG SET TO PROBE EX-GOVS Saraki, Ladoja, Akpabio, others”. The following day, no media organisation both online or conventional made mention of the story, especially in the southwest which hosts most of the very serious minded media houses.

But that was never the case in Akwa Ibom State. The story was feasted on by registered and unregistered news outfits owned by the indigenes, for close to a week through re-angling, just to satisfy their paymaster.

But they had forgotten that even while the Wikileaks was busy exposing the alleged corrupt activities of public office holders allover the world, what it could only leak concerning Akwa Ibom State under Godswill Akpabio was that “ Akwa Ibom State under Governor Godswill Akpabio is a state that should be watched because of the plan by the governor to unleash unprecedented development on the state”. I know they won’t remember because it praised Akpabio. If it had gone the other way, one is sure they would have made a mountain out of it. Or may be Akpabio paid Wikileaks for the expo on his plan then for the state.

His acceptance cuts across political, religious and ethnic divides. None Akwa Ibom people are often at a loss, when they see the kind of opposition, all be it, from the vocal minority, who have access to the media, being targeted at Akpabio, whom they often pray to have as a leader, because of his achievements in the past and what, as Senate Minority Leader, he has been able to do to stabilise the Senate for the APC- led government.

Akpabio and his numerous travails while in and out of office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State, reminds me of the statement in my dialect that says,Wot Uko, tua usen nnaneyin, literally meaning, destroy your pillar and defender, and weep on the day of afflictions.

Udom is Special Assistant on Media to the Senate Minority Leader.

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Sunday Tribune

interview Edo gov election: We are roaring down to victory —Odigie-Oyegun

still continuing with development projects. The state has remained one of the fundamental ones that have tremendous development in the field of infrastructure and he [Obaseki] was at the head. So, what kind of man do we need to lead the state through this hard time? The person of course is Obaseki who was very successful in the private sector and then came to Edo to help out and has distinguished himself by making the state one of the very few that are keeping their obligation and at the same time continuing to work in developing the economy. So, we are lucky that we have Obaseki available for us in the state and my appeal has been clear. There is no choice at all apart from Obaseki. Ize-Iyamu, everybody will tell you, was even as influential as Lucky Igbinedion in the past administration. They ran the state economy down and practically crippled the entire asset of the state. So, is that the man you want for Edo people? No way. We are aware they want to come back through the back door. Our people are happy today because even the poor in Edo have been given a sense of belonging. The rich, yes they will cry because they don’t want to pay taxes and they are using that to deceive the masses who have nothing to do with taxation.

Every body has seen what the tax money has done in the state and we want that to continue and Obaseki remains the answer, not Ize-Iyamu or any other person from PDP.

Chief Odigie-Oyegun

National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John OdigieOyegun, speaks with newsmen in Benin City, Edo State, on the chances of his party’s governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in the September 10 governorship election in the state and the crisis in Ondo APC, among other national issues.

Excerpts:

T

HE Edo election is less than two weeks.

How optimistic is your party?

Our campaign has been very good. There was a period of drama, but all that is behind us and the arguments are very clear, irrespective of whatever individual issues there must be and there have been. The issue is simple. We have had the APC in government for seven years plus. Before that, we had the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in government in Edo for 10 years and the little I have been around, you can hardly see anybody who can point to any single substantial development in the 10 years of PDP compared to the almost eight years of APC under Adams Oshiomhole and that in fact decides the issue. When you ask people: what is your preference? Do you want the good times to continue or do you want to revert to the bad old days? The issue becomes very clear and then you get a resounding “Let the good days continue.” And that is where the debate rests and the result has been very good. Yes, there was a bit of time when there were all sorts of discordant tunes as a result of group and personal interests, but all that have been sorted out now. I think we are roaring down

to a very substantial victory. No doubt at all.

But people see the PDP candidate as a politician who can create upset and give your candidate a run for his money?

Again, we are back to the same odious comparison. For most of the 10 years, Ize-Iyamu was at the heart of the misgovernance of the state. For a period of eight out of the 10 years of non-performance, at a time also when funds from the excess crude account were being disbursed, there wasn’t a single and I stand to be challenged, solid development in Edo. He was one of the most powerful people in that administration. Now that times are hard, is that the kind of person anybody would want to bring back to manage the affairs of the state? The answer is clearly no. Meanwhile, you have anObaseki who has been at the heart of the management of the economy of thee state throughout this hard time and everybody attests to that. The result is that out of the 36 states in the country, over 22 are unable to pay salaries and Edo is not one of them. Edo state is one of the states that are

But there is this fear among APC members that the national economic hardship may affect your party.

Again, if you stretch it down, it is the same argument. One thing that pleases me today is that Nigerians and the ordinary voter are more perceptive than we think they are. Yes, the APC, at the national level, has been in office for one year plus. But everybody knows that the problems we have today could not have been created in one day. We have come to fix the problems. Otherwise, as a people, we would have been going through a struggle for existence and a great challenge would have been confronting the nation. These were issues and challenges that were inflicted on the country by years of mis-governance at the national level. Unfortunately, as if that was not enough, we also took over at a time when the crude market collapsed from a $100 to sometimes $140 to a barrel to a time when sometimes we were managing to make $40, at some stage it was less than $30 per barrel. That is the reality and the people recognise this. It does not stop the fact that they are aching; it does not stop the fact that they in pains; it does not stop the fact that they are hungry. But they know these are not the creations of the APC and that what the APC under President Muhammadu Buhari is set to do is to ensure that the fundamental problem with the country — a mono-culture economy — is solved once and for all. That this nation does not ever have to depend on one crop or one mineral or one even one source of revenue. That we have to go through this pain is unfortunate. It is like saying a woman giving birth. There are pains, but the joy is going to come after delivery. We are going through these hard times now so to speak in the maternity, but the joy will come. We depended solely on oil and for so many years of PDP’s government. You members of the media have to be of help to the nation. You need to make the nation understand that the problem we are going through today was cumulative neglect in governance over the years when we had excess crude account and there wasn’t a single investment to develop new sources, whether in agriculture, solid minerals and even in petro-chemicals, so that we can supply ourselves the full diversity of petroleum products.We had excess crude account running into multiples of billions which we kept on sharing until nothing was left by the PDP administration. They owe the nation a very tremendous apology. The determination of the APC is to ensure that this will never again happen and that from now on, a solid base must be created for the economy so that when in a few years’ time, we will be talking about growth that is solid and well-based and that will never again result in the kind of situation we have today. The light is there at the end of the tunnel, but we have to pass through Continues on pg30

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28 August, 2016

inter

2019 and rumoured Only a third force, not PDP, can challenge APC —Nwolise

The Head of Political Science Department, University of Ibadan, Professor Osisioma Nwolise, speaks with DARE ADEKANMBI on the call for a third force in the country, the merits of such call and why PDP appears to be a dead party. Excerpts.

Professor Osisioma Nwolise

A

section of the political class has been clamouring for a new party that will play the role of a third force and rival the PDP and the governing APC in 2019. Can there be a third force in the real sense of that phrase?

A third force means another political party that will actually serve as an opposition party because as of now, PDP is in a state of coma. It is not performing its duties as an opposition party and it will take the party time to come out of the problem that has engulfed it. We expect the PDP to have reorganised and come up with another name after the 2015 elections, which it failed to win. Changing its name would have made things better for the party rather than hanging on to a big house that is in disarray. The PDP leaders slept on their bed the way they laid the bed, as far as the 2015 elections were concerned. There was a lot of impunity in the PDP. The presence of a vibrant opposition is critical for the practice and sustenance of democracy in the country. In the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, I remember that, when we invited the former vice-president Atiku Abubakar to talk on sustenance democracy party, I emphasised that the PDP, which he belonged to at that time, was not practising internal party democracy. He himself admitted that only two of the national chairmen in charge of the party were truly elected, that others were imposed. Until PDP wakes up, things may get worse. We need a vibrant opposition and if the PDP cannot come out with a new name and rebrand itself then the third force will come up and overshadow the PDP and that will be the end of the party.

So, the earlier they organise themselves and rebrand themselves and forget the name PDP, the better for the nation the better for the members. PDP, as a party, as far as I am concerned is dead and gone.

What benefits are there for Nigerians, the political class and good governance if we have a third force?

Without a vibrant opposition, democracy is as good as dead because as of now, only one person or two are speaking on what is going on in the country. There is no opposition not to even talk of a vibrant one in terms of giving constructive criticism that has weight and alternative narrative to what the government of the day is doing. As of now, it doesn’t appear that there is any blue print in the political firmament. Before President Buhari swore in his ministers, I put up an article in the papers expressing the need for him to have a blue print which he would hand over to the minis-

ters as the mission statement of the administration, while swearing them in. That did not happen. Each minister is on his or her own. Each ministry is supposed to have a direction, but as of now, there is no blue print and so the country is wobbling and various sectors and ministry are wobbling too. We need a vibrant opposition to give constructive criticisms, to give advice to the ruling party and to challenge it. If by next year, we don’t have the vibrant opposition then democracy is as good as gone. The ruling party will just be doing what it likes without anybody challenging it. So, for democracy to grow in Nigeria, for democracy to be sustained and consolidated, and for good governance, which is responsive and responsible to the people, it is important we have a vibrant opposition, whether in the form of the PDP rebranding itself or a new party all together coming out and including members of other parties to form a vibrant opposition.

You said earlier that PDP needs to rebrand and change its name but it is the problem with the name of the party?

The problem will not be the name. But as of now, the name PDP is a problem itself, the name is discredited with all the openings on corruption and how money was shared.

It is better they change that name completely. I expected the name to have been changed immediately after the election because they really shot themselves in the foot with all the impunity that went on and the dictatorship in the party. The party cannot survive and that was the mistake they made in those days. Some of the leaders are saying ‘look, let’s forget the impunity of the past,” but nobody is listening, more than one year after they lost the election. That means no lesson has been learnt.

We need a party that is responsive and responsible to the people and one which adheres to democratic principles in Nigeria. A party cannot survive without internal party democracy. People will always be moving out and coming in, especially when they are not in power. PDP’s biggest problem now is that they are not in power and there is no money to be shared by its leaders. That is why I am saying they should rebrand because of the type of government they ran was corrupt and there was dictatorship in the party system.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and was not dictatorial, but the party itself had evidences of dictatorship right from the beginning. If the APC gets its act together, it can last as a party. But if they become dictatorial and run a bad government, it won’t last. If PDP continues with its brand name and people still choose the party, it is good. If eventually a third force will come,then the three can match on and eventually Nigeria may go into two big parties and few other ones that can serve checks and balances from time to time.

In other words, you see a quasi-two party state in the future, a system similar to what was decreed

by Ibrahim Babangida when we had SDP and NRC. It doesn’t necessarily mean that if we have two parties there would be free and fair election. What happened under

IBB was that there was military supervision of the election.

If we have politicians doing their things and we just have two parties, it would not work that way. We need a lot of maturity; we need a lot of statesmen. As of today, the country doesn’t not have statesmen in politics. We keep saying it that politicians don’t bring about change only statesmen do. In APC, we are yet to see the statesmen in the party and without statesmen the party cannot deliver any change. So, we must very clear. It is only statesmen that bring about change because they must carry citizens along and must come out with policies of national integration and not divisive policies and politics.

In the APC we hear that those who are clamouring for a third force are tendencies from the ruling party who are disgruntled and want to join others in the PDP to form a new party. What do you make of the impression that the parties that make up APC are yet to blend?

Of course, they are yet to blend. There is bitterness in the party. I am a student of spiritual intelligence. In the build up to the last elections, there were predictions and prophecies that the party will break up eventually if they don’t take time. With the bitterness that is going on in the party and the divisive policies and actions that are going on now, people will feel disgruntled and move out of the party, just as some politicians and their followers in the APC that moved from PDP. We need good governance; we need statesmen to stabilise the ship of the state to stabilise the party themselves. There must be inclusive governance. There is no need to operate government of discrimination and vengeance. It is not doing anybody any good. Likewise, is it doing any party any good? We must run away from impunity. Nigeria is getting too old to be carrying out divisive policies and governance.

Why is it that once a party wins an election and forms government, the secretariat of such party is deserted as everybody gravitates towards the nectar of government?

When I gave the lecture to mark the golden jubilee of Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, I made it clear that the current presidency and the current government need what I called a strategic cabinet. The government already has a kitchen cabinet; it has the political cabinet. The political cabinet has all the minsters and the kitchen cabinet is composed of those close to Mr President. There is a missing link, which is creating problem for the government and the party itself.

There is supposed to be a strategic cabinet which should be made up of the president, his vice, the president of Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the ruling APC. That is a strategic cabinet that should be sitting down from time to time in the party secretariat, mapping out strategies, inviting experts to talk to them on various issues and taking vital decisions that concern the manifestoes and electoral promises of the party. When they take that decision, they move on to the National Assembly to get an enabling law to pursue the decisions so taken in the interest of the people. But the presidency and the National Assembly leadership are not even in good terms and there is a lacuna. So, the promises of the APC are lying somewhere.

There is no emotion connection between the president and NASS leadership. The president is going one way and the NASS leadership in another direction. The centre can no longer hold. As of now, nothing is happening and until that lacuna is filled, the secretariat of the party will remain on sabbatical.

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

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third force

Nigeria needs good leadership not third force —Ndume Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, speaks with BOLA BADMUS on the renewed call for third force political platform being mooted by a section of the political class ahead of the 2019 general election, saying what Nigeria needs is good leadership which President Muhammadu Buhari has been offering. Excerpts:

W

HAT is your response to report that a third force political platform is likely to emerge ahead of 2019 general election in the same manner that APC emerged from different political platforms to defeat the ruling PDP? Well, politics is dynamic now. So, you cannot predict what will happen but only God knows.

From the people who are around you, I mean some politicians around you, are there none of them saying they are not comfortable with APC or PDP and so they want to seek for another platform by 2019 and take over power?

No, not me. I’m not aware of that. You know I don’t have any godfather. I am on my own as a politician. For me, I believe I have not lost confidence in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

So, I am on Buhari’s side. I believe in his leadership. You

Senator Ali Ndume

know this country needs a leader. He has that capacity to lead the country. We need somebody that is transparent; we need somebody that is honest; we need somebody that has integrity. Buhari is a man that possesses these qualities.

But you have some politician and colleagues who are also grumbling now.

No, my friends cannot grumble if I am not grumbling, because we have the same political ideas. So, definitely, they would not be saying let’s look for another political platform.

I don’t have personal issues. My concern is about the people that elected me, not my person.

Most of the people saying this and accusing the president are doing so more on personal basis. But I don’t have anything personal than politics. In fact, what this country needs is leadership. And now, we are lucky to have good leadership in person of Buhari who has been ensuring that we are not going to be running government and parliament as personal estates

What is your reaction to accusation that Buhari is slow and has not achieved much? People are hungry and are jobless and there is recession and that he is part of the problem.

I have been saying it is not the fault of Buhari that the price of crude is brought down. Is it the fault of Buhari that everything was destroyed? Is it his fault that we have economic downturn that the value of the naira has gone down? We are in the period of recession really, but many other countries have been witnessing it.

You see what is happening in Venezuela? You see what is happening in the United States? You see what is happening in Britain? You see what is happening in so many countries all over the world? So, it is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is not as if there is money and this man is embezzling it or using it for his personal benefit. Do you understand? The financial problem is a global phenomenon.

Third force is about hijacking power, it won’t fly —PDP ex-gov aspirant A former governorship aspirant in Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Adegbola Dominic, also speaks with BOLA BADMUS on the subject. Excerpts: THERE is this talk about the formation of a third force political platform ahead of 2019 in the light of the crisis rocking the PDP now and the speculated implosion in the APC. How do you see this?

Well, I have heard various rumours and from parties that it is in the offing. But my own view about is that it will not get us anywhere. What we need now is a change of mind, a change of attitude for the political leaders. Those who say they will come from PDP, APC, from whatever platforms to form a third force, we should ask them this question: for what purpose? It is all for the purpose of grabbing power too. All they have been after is grabbing power, hijacking power. The APC did it in 2013 and where does that land us now? We have remained on the same spot, there is no progress. It is the same attitude; it is about selfish leadership to enrich themselves. That is what they will end up with again.

What we actually need is a change of mind, a change of attitude on the part of our leaders. They must change from being selfish and turn to serving the genuine interest of the masses.

As someone who has heard interactions with some of these politicians from across board, PDP, APC and others, do you foresee such a thing happening?

From most of the leaders I have spoken with, serious leaders don’t really see a future in having new political outfit such as a third force now. I mean the serious ones that I have spoken with, they don’t really see a future in it because it is not really easy to come out with a new party and immediately develop a hold on the grassroots.

The APC was able to make it because the various groups were in parties that already had their roots. They were en-

trenched and they had their structures. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had solid structures in South-West, the CPC had its own in part of the North, the remnants of APGA had theirs somewhere. That was why they were able to fly.

The structures were already there, but if you just have individuals coming up from various parties and trying to come together to form a new party, without the grassroots, where do you want to get the structure that will support this new outfit. It is not going to fly.

I don’t see it working and many others leaders are of the same view. I agree that there are some people who feel that that is the way out because they feel that is the only way they can grab power from those who already there now.

With the crisis in PDP now, if the party fails to hold a successful national convention next year,

Dr Adegbola Dominic

The APC was able to make it because the various groups were in parties that already had their roots. They were entrenched and they had their structures.

don’t you think some people might want to seek a new platform to realise their ambition?

Of course that is true, some people will be forced to leave the party and look for a new platform. That one is not likely to fly because you still to move round to develop roots for the new party. The best for the PDP is that whatever it is going to take, they should all come together and reach a compromise, because if people leave the PDP as a carcass, those they leave behind will not fly. The new platform they go to will not be able to fly as well. So, it is in the interest of PDP to remain as one.

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‘Buhari won’t influence INEC’ the corrupt elements. But he insists on the rule of law.

Continued from pg27

the tunnel. The people must know that this is not an APC problem, but we have come to solve the problem.

There are also fears that thuggery may prevail during the election and fears also about the level of INEC’s preparation.

There will not be thugs. There will not be anything like that. Don’t forget that before our primaries, people were talking about thugs, about many other things. People were fearful. But these days, the political services are no longer under political control. So, they will make sure everything is under control. We are going to have a complete free, fair, violence-free election. I expect the same thing from INEC now that INEC has been removed from the shackles of influence. It is because this time we now have a government that will not tell INEC declare the result for us and let the other person do whatever he wants to do and go to court. INEC do your job, follow the law, follow due process, decide according what the rules say. A Buhari administration will not say declare for APC. No. There is no such interference anymore and I believe that is why we are seeing inconclusive elections. Buhari does not interfere in the workings of the commission at all.

The Ondo APC has been boiling over the choice of candidate in the coming governorship election. What is the party doing to resolve the crisis?

The party is not really boiling. I have had to call them to Abuja just to tell them the difference between endorsement and imposition. Basically, anybody can endorse just as it is anywhere. How you make that endorsement is that you tell the people and give a particular aspirant the support to move on.

What are your happiest and saddest moments?

Basically, the job of a national chairman is to reconcile all interests because there are so many interests in every party and you have to make sure that at all times, everybody must have a bit of the action and ensure that no one person becomes so dominant and will now feel he or she owns the party. Of course at every stage, you have to give policy direction so that everybody can subscribe to it. So, that is a continuing challenge. The way we operate we don’t settle our issues in the pages of newspapers, while the talkative ones are talking. We are busy getting to the knitty-gritty and settling the issues not in the fashion of the old PDP that will say public issues are private family affairs. Where there are blames to be given, we do.

Odigie-Oyegun

That is endorsement and people do it. But imposition is if the party itself now decides that it is a particular candidate that must be.

No, the party will not do that. It will provide a level-playing field for every one of them, because all the aspirants are equally respected members of the family. So, we had to get that difference clarified so that you don’t think because an important member of the family has declared support for one of them, it becomes the position of the party.

No. That is not the case and they understood the situation. So, we are prepared to go ahead with a transparent and free primary in Ondo State.

What do you make of the reported request for emergency powers by the president?

I can assure you that President Buhari will not make such a request. The reality is that, in spite of his military background, he is more democratic than a lot of us who never got near the military. He is a strictly due process person, strictly rule of law person. Like when you asked why INEC is declaring elections inconclusive, he will not take his phone and call INEC to declare for APC and let them go to court. He will ask you: what does the law say? “Do it according to the prescription of the constitution or whatever relevant law there is.” So, I have no fear about that at all. If anything needs a quick fix and he needs the powers to do it, that is how he will do it. Look at the cases of corruption, a lot of us have been asking for a quick fix process to fight the battle against

Can you compare life as a political activist and now as national chairman?

Well finally we are building what the prodemocracy fought leaders for, that is a country will be under the control of the left to the centre party, where the welfare of the people is the prime concern of government. They have no other business except to manage our common patrimony to utmost benefit of the common people. I bought into the struggle only because it suddenly dawned on me that the military was the major problem of this country. It doesn’t mean that the politicians are perfect. It doesn’t mean that the system is perfect. It does mean that politicians must now be allowed to make mistakes and then learn from them, correct such so that we continue to correct our democracy in stages and that is what brought me to the pro-democracy group and that is what is still influencing my attitude and actions.

opinion Edo: Osunbor and the “evil” that is PDP

By Francis Ehigiator

WHEN William Shakespeare, the great English playwright, talked about the evil that men do, he was referring to the nature of evil and the principle of retribution, as universally applicable to all human societies and across history. One of the key components of retributive justice is confession, the practice of which varies, depending on the peculiarities of a given culture. Among Christians, for instance, confession is done generally in private and accepted as an affair between a man and his God. But in traditional African culture, the evil doer, seeking redemption, must publicly undertake confession, sometimes in a public square or market place. Without realising it, it was that open confession that the former governor of Edo State, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, did recently in a statement at a political rally (Vanguard of August 24, 2016, page 16, with different online versions.)

For the benefit of those who may have forgotten, Professor Osunbor was a foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He enjoyed the privilege of being Senator for two terms on the platform of the party, from 29 May, 1999 to 29 May, 2007, and served as governor from 29 May 2007 to 11 November, 2008, when the Appeal Court nullified his election as governor. Since then, the professor’s several desperate efforts to return to power through the PDP have failed woefully, leaving him a frustrated man.

Frustration leads to aggressive and irrational conduct. It was, therefore, not surprising that Osunbor’s failure to secure the candidacy of PDP for the Edo governorship election of July 14, 2012, became a problem for the state chapter of the party. His loss at the primaries, where he scored the lowest votes, made him a bitter man who could not bring himself to accept the candidacy of the man chosen as the party’s candidate. That was the beginning of his grudge against the party and determination to work against its interests. For instance, when Governor Adams Oshiomhole visited Osunbor at his Iruekpen home on 9th March, 2012, the professor openly urged his people to “support Oshiomhole for his re-election bid”. (Verdant Chronicles, Online Media News, October 9, 2011).

Osunbor’s frustration mounted, forcing him to defect to the

All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. But defection did not solve his problems; instead, his situation deteriorated. Osunbor, in his usual desperation for power, sought to be the candidate of the APC in the gubernatorial election to be held on 10 September, 2016. As to be expected, he was roundly rejected by the APC. Poor Osunbor! For the PDP, his departure was taken as good riddance to bad rubbish, while the APC, to which he sought refuge, saw him as bringing problems rather than political value. So pathetic is Osunbor’s current situation that he does not seem to know where to go or what to do. For a politician, that is hell!

Now, what can Osunbor possibly mean by “PDP is evil, I am a witness,” as credited to him in the Vanguard and other publications? Is he claiming to be “a witness” of evil? Some of the online versions of the statement tried to provide a clarification by quoting Osunbor as saying that he was labeled disloyal by the PDP for “refusing to share money.” Since he did not specify the exact occasions of his allegations, it can be interpreted to mean that it happened throughout the 15 years of Osunbor’s membership of the party. That makes him a lone ranging saint amongst millions of corrupt men and women in the PDP. Not exactly! Osunbor’s table is now fashionable and not different from the claims of many defectors seeking favours in the ruling APC. They all claim to have been angels

in the midst of rogues.

Is it conceivable that Osunbor participated in the founding of an evil party as far back as 1998? Could he have served as a senator for two terms on the platform of this evil, and made a governor by the same evil? Did Osunbor consider himself a loyal member of an evil organisation and yet remained pure and without being infested? These questions call attention to the serious issues of integrity and moral character. A politician’s public utterances say a lot about his or her character.

Anybody reading Osunbor’s statement is bound to conclude that somewhere, somehow, something has gone wrong. It raises questions about his credibility and capacity to continue as a politician.

Nigerians are known to be generous people in the assessment of their leaders. So, Osunbor’s short tenure as governor of Edo has never been critically scrutinised. Maybe that critical appraisal has become necessary now that the professor claims to be the singular angel in the midst of devils. Curiously, is it not the same Professor Osunbor that was recently listed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as one of those Nigerians responsible for polluting the nation’s electoral system? The professor has rushed to the law courts to institute legal action against the commission, but he should be reminded of the conventional wisdom which says that it is not the man who first approaches the court that secures legal victory.

Before we forget the past, Osunbor’s presumption of integrity in the statement in question insults the collective memories of Edo people. Has he forgotten so soon the various allegations of wrongdoings against him for the short period that he was in power in the state? Does anybody still need an explanation of what Shakespeare meant by the evil that men do, what retribution means or why Osunbor is in this current political situation?

The professor knows better than any of us: he knows that he came into politics from nowhere and that, he scored unexpected successes to become senator and then governor.

Yet, he is determined to destroy the political leaders and party that made him what he is today.

•Mr Ehigiator sent this price from Benin City.

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Sunday Tribune

Ogun govt ready for militants —Commissioner IN the last few months, some communities in Ogun State have been troubled by the activities of suspected militants that have left many people dead and rendered others homeless. The state government, through its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, speaks with SEGUN ADEBAYO on efforts being made to secure lives and property of the people and prevent further attacks.

C

OMMUNITIES in Ogun and Lagos states have reportedly been deserted following the invasion by suspected militants that attacked them. People were said to have been killed and scores of residents have fled for safety of their lives. How has the government been tackling this problem?

If you have been observing our reactions since this problem started, we have been very careful not to label them as any particular group. They have been committing criminal acts, wanton looting, vandalism, unnecessary and unprovoked attacks on communities that have been very peaceful and law-abiding. We call them criminals and miscreants. Some people have come out to say that they are from this region or that region. But we have been very careful not to say they are from this particular region or area.

Our response has been quick and swift.

Immediately we heard of some of these attacks, the Baales and chiefs in these communities informed us and we moved our security agents to those places to restore peace and calm the people. But unfortunately what we thought had gone down resurfaced again, and soon as we got words, the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, a few commissioners and security agents and experts in Ogun State moved to the locations to assess the damage done by the miscreants. What we saw was quite disturbing and we found out that they are not indigenes of the state. They come around to cause mayhem and escape mostly through the creeks. That was why we had to call on the Federal Government, because the resources we need to avert further attacks has to come from the Federal government. We need air surveillance and naval patrol regularly.

Now that the federal Task Force has been put in place, we are already seeing the result of their presence.

It is believed that some of the militants, who were flushed out of their creeks in Niger Delta relocated to these communities, have you been able to establish why they have turned Ogun communities to their new abode?

The tendency is to think along that line but I cannot do the job of the security agencies that are currently investigating actions and inactions of these people. Like I said, we are working to unmask them and to know why they are in those places. What if we say they are from this particular region but at the end of the day, we discovered that they are from another place. So, the best thing to do now is to remain calm and allow the security agencies conclude their investigation before we make a public announcement on who they are and why they are in our communities. But the affected people are need to be assured of their safety. The truth of the matter is that we are all Nigerians and we will like to appeal the adjoining communities that the

government is standing by them because they are citizens of Ogun State but they are Nigerians. We need to understand that the people who are disturbing those communities are Nigerians and we have to get to the roots of the problem. We need to find out what exactly is forcing them to do these things. If you flush them out of one area, they will regroup and move to another territory and they may even be more deadly. We have to identify the causes. I think our security agencies are working tirelessly to unmask them. The people should remain calm.

This is one problem that the government did not prepare for and it is believed that the threat the militants pose are higher than what was first thought. What do you think about this?

Well, the truth is that no government can prepare for all eventualities. Look, government has responsibilities - we have schools and healthcare system to provide for. Of course, security is very paramount and that is why we have Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed in one of those communities. Our response to such attacks is the most important thing.

But we don’t sit down expecting that somebody or some group of persons will come and attack us. Nobody thinks like that. On this particular one, I think we responded quickly.

You were in the entertainment industry for many years before you got this appointment. How well prepared were you for this position and how have you been able to discharge your responsibilities?

I think this is something I have done all my life. I am mass communicator and I actually have a degree in it. I have always been a radio and TV person. I have always been talking about what government does and how best the government can serve the people. People ask me why are you going into politics, but I always tell people that we are all political animals in one form or the other. Some of us may not be as active as others. When you sit down inside your room or at the drinking joint where you talk about what government is doing and what it has failed to do, you are invariably being political. This is democracy and people have to participate because the government is for the people in the first place. I have been prepared for this because it is something that I have done all my life.

Ogun State is one of the few states in the country that its workers still receive salaries as and when due.

How has the government been able to achieve this?

Yes, there might be some entitlements that state has not paid but when you consider our wage bill, Ogun State has probably the highest wage bill than any state in Nigeria. Our wage bill is a little over N9 billion. Meanwhile, what we receive from the Federal Government is almost a billion naira. When you consider

Adeneye the fact that the number of civil servants in the state is less than 50,000 and it has a population of 7.2 million and we still have to build roads, run the hospitals and other things. That means the money has to come from somewhere. From day one, this administration has always looked away from Abuja. The government has always been looking for ways to diversify its economy. When the administration came in 2011, I think Ogun was rated 29th or 30th in terms of the ease of doing business.

We decided to open our industries and allow investors to come in and partner with the government. We have about 400 industries in the state today and more are still coming up. We opened our roads and made it possible for people to come in and acquire lands for industrial purposes. I am happy to tell you that Ogun is rated as one of the top four states after Lagos and probably Rivers states in the country that its internally generated revenue has increased in the last four years. We have been able to diversify our economy through agriculture, and today Ogun has become the industrial hub of the country and probably West Africa. For us to be able to attract and keep those companies, we must have been doing something good.

The road network is not where we want it to be, but we have started. That’s how we have been able to increase our IGR and improve the well being of our people, especially the workers.

You have been working with the governor and serving as the mouthpiece of the state for almost a year now, what have you learnt in office about governance and the people?

Let me start by saying I appreciate the governor’s vision and tenacity. The governor does not like to hear the word that something cannot be done. He

doesn’t believe that something is not possible. It will interest you to know that the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which the Federal Government introduced, actually started in Ogun State. I have learnt the value of hard work. Not that I didn’t know what the value of hard work is before I joined the government. I look at the governor and how much work he does to make sure things get better for the state and the people, and sometimes I wonder why anybody would want to be governor.

This job is a thankless one. You do all this work and the next day people forget you have done but I have learnt tenacity and diligence from Governor Ibikunle Amosun-he’s a workaholic.

What have been the success stories of this administration since you came on board?

Like I said, this administration came in with five cardinal programmesqualitative education, affordable healthcare, infrastructural development, industrialisation and agriculture. We have also invested heavily in security. When this government came in, there were cases of robbery, car-snatching and other antisocial vices were the order of the day, but today, Ogun is relatively peaceful. The state has been peaceful in the last five years and this has attracted a lot of investors into the state. These positive things have helped to transform the state. Three months ago, the state commissioned over 40 projects.

We actually had about 68 projects to be commissioned. We had 13 schools, a couple of hospitals, numerous roads, flyover bridges. If you can drive round the state, these projects are there for people to see. There were other numerous housing projects that were commissioned. The HID Awolowo housing project was also there. We commissioned 40projects to mark Ogun at 40 anniversary.

opinion Nigeria: A new dawn for e-commerce

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By Mohammed Isa SHORTLY after its inauguration, the eighth Senate under the leadership of Dr BukolaSaraki resolved through its legislative agenda to reconfigure Nigeria’s business environment through enactment of qualitative legislative intervention.The present business environment has placed the country at the bottom of the ladder in terms of World Bank’s annual rating of ease of doing business. This has impeded the deserved inflow of foreign investment to stimulate the much battered economy. It was lamentable that in spite of its vast potentials that could make it investor-destination, Nigeria was ranked 167 out of 189 countries by the Ease of Doing Business Report compiled by the World Bank.

The need for diversification of the nation’s economy which had been a slogan for several years by different administrations still remains what it is, a mere rhetoric, as there was no conscious and deliberate effort to formulate the necessary policies and legislations that would set the nation on the path to rapidly develop the economy.However, the collapse in oil price that brought huge shock to the nation’s economy on a scale that perhaps, has never been experienced before made it imperative for the government to develop creative strategies that would stimulate business and investments into other sectors.

It was with the understanding of the drawback that the Senate with support from its international development partners and the organised private sector commissioned an expert report which identified 54 extant laws that must be reviewed and brought in line with international best practices in order to open up the economy for private investments and businesses.

This legislative intervention yielded about 15 major economic reform bills and seven business environment bills.

Some of these bills have since been passed while some are at various stages of consideration.Among the bills passed, and considered to represent a watershed in the nation’s economic and business legislation was the Electronic Transaction Bill (ETB) 2015, that scaled the legislative scrutiny on December 17, 2015.

Electronic Transaction, otherwise known as e-transactions is relatively a new phenomenon in Nigeria. It is the trend towards globalisation and the creation of e-society as one of the driving forces transforming society worldwide.

However, some of the benefits of e-transactions are not being realised by Nigeria because of the lack of legislative framework. The non-existence of a law on e-transactions has created an unpredictable legal environment for e-commerce. The rights and obligations of the transacting par-

ties, legal aspects of electronic contracts, use of specified security procedures, such as digital signatures and concern for authentication and non-repudiation have remained a source of concern.The absence of the legal framework further denied the sector the confidence of the business community and the populace, while the use of information and communication, the time and the place of dispatch and receipt of electronic communications have become challenges to the sector.

The bill also seeks to facilitate the use of electronic technology and attempt to remove impediments to e-transactions. In effect, it allows some legal requirements to be satisfied by electronic means and gives more e-transactions and information the same legal effect as paper-based transactions.In terms of introducing accountability and fighting cyber crime, the ETB is to provide legal framework for e-transactions and promote transparency in the transactions of government business.The bill is relevant to security agencies in the wake of increasing Nigeria’s transition from a cash economy to a cashless-oriented economy being facilitated by electronic channels.

Making a case for the need of the bill, a legal luminary, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) said, “the way and manner in which ICT has been deployed and assimilated by financial institutions and companies is not only commendable but overwhelming. However, this cannot be said about our existing laws which have not kept pace with technology and business practice. The existing laws do not seem to adequately provide for the electronic element in e-transactions, which automatically necessitate the modification of the laws to accommodate this element.”

To free it from conflict with the constitution, the bill was

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Sunday Tribune

enacted in a manner to conform with the provisions of section 37 of the 1999 Constitution as amended that provided for the guarantee of privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondences, telephone conversations, telegraphic communications and a guarantee and protection of personal data which takes into consideration the enormous issues and complexities of personal data.

Furthermore, Sections6, sub section 1 of the Bill provides for the use of electronic signatures and the issue of execution of contract online. The section deals with the proof of execution document on the premise of same being done on a tangible medium as opposed to being executed on set of information data uniquely allocated to individual.Among its benefits when assented to, the bill will minimise errors in business and community transactions; create data base stores transactions information in data base for as long as it requires; minimise fraud through Address Verification System (AVS) and eliminate chances of shipping to someone using stolen card, thus saving a businessman from a charge back.

Excited by the passage of the bill, stakeholders not only applauded the Senate but expressed eagerness on prompt presidential assent to it for urgent execution.

Speaking on the issue, head of Public Relations of an online marketing company, Kaymu Nigeria, Mr Tomiwa Oladele said, “the decision to regulate the sector is very timely. The safety of online transactions cannot be overemphasised and is one that will have huge prospects for the industry if efficiently implemented…help to checkmate misleading product information on some e-commerce platforms thereby giving more customers confidence to shop online’’.

Re-echoing same, an elated Senate President said, “once signed into law, this bill will offer full protection to contracts entered into via emails, and transactions conducted with online shops, electronic commerce and services platforms, which are currently not provided for in our laws.

According to Saraki, “another obvious benefit of this bill is that it will reduce the cost of doing business by eliminating transportation and other logistics cost.This new legal framework when signed into law will embolden our innovative creativity and open up new areas of investment opportunity for our youths and startups who have hitherto suffered lack of support from creditors and investors due to the absence of this law.

The implication is that we now have opportunity to see the emergence of new generation online, electronic application giants in the mould of ChineduEcheruo,” Saraki said.

Isa is Special Assistant to the Senate President on Public Affairs.

The big difference a small bus-stop makes

By Eniola Ajayi I left my office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, by about quarter to 6:00 p.m., on Thursday, 23rd August and by 6:00 p.m., I was already at the base of the bridge at Iyana-Oworo.

I was pleasantly surprised again that we could descend the Third Mainland bridge at such a record time. When this started a couple of weeks back, I thought it was a fluke. But, it has happened over and over again.

Ayo my musician/driver and I started analysing the new phenomenon on the Third Mainland bridge traffic. We initially thought it might also be due to the fact that children were on holiday. But the truth is: how many children live and school on the Mainland and the Island? It finally dawned on us that it must be the bus stop at the base of the bridge.

This definitely makes sense, with about four lanes of different categories of vehicles veering off to discharge passengers, thus leaving the road free for free flowing vehicular movement. I began to wonder why no one ever thought of it. Of course, it is common in Nigeria to refer to so many places on the road as bus stops without actually making allowances for the bus to stop.

In many cases where there are allowances, the vehicles did not use them. Some brazen drivers even discharged passengers on express roads. In fact, it is assumed that bus stops are for commercial vehicles only by many of us. Thus, discharging passengers along the road became the norm. It did not stop there, of course our LATSMA officials and police are on hand to ensure compliance. I am very delighted to see many of this kind of developments going on all over Lagos State.

I see a lot of pedestrian bridges springing up at Berger, Anthony Oke, Mile 12 and so on as well. I was quite happy to see the construction for traffic diversion at Berger bus stop too. Ayo tells me about the massive construction going on in Abule-Egba area. I am really happy and grateful. This is surely an answer to my prayers. You would wonder why I prayed. Well, after we were robbed of our victory at the polls

in my home state of Ekiti and the signs of impunity began to emerge, I prayed that the setback we were experiencing in Ekiti after four years of progress under Governor Kayode Fayemi would not befall Lagos.

After all, Lagos is my second home. I prayed earnestly that Lagos will remain under the leadership of a progressive governor having seen the gains we made starting with Senator Bola Tinubu and through the Babatunde Fashola years. I must admit that I was initially put off by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode when it seemed as though he wasn’t going to continue to build on the sterling legacies of his predecessors.

I felt they had laid such a solid foundation for him that all he needed was to build on it. I am glad to say that he’s doing just that now.

With the street lights coming up, new and expanded bus stops, pedestrian bridges and roads, progress is for sure.

With a free flow of traffic, commerce will improve in Lagos.

The quality of life will improve. Our vehicles will last longer.

Our environment will suffer less pollution. Thieves will find

it more difficult to operate. The benefits are countless. The important thing is that if we all try to contribute in small ways to add value to our daily existence in our small areas of influence, life will be so much better for all of us.

The change we need starts with each one contributing what will make life easier for everyone. Life is much better lived when it embraces consideration for others. Little things make a difference. I will never forget the difference in traffic flow we experienced with that little diversion under the bridge in between Muson Centre and The Nigerian Army Officers Mess in the TafawaBalewa Square area leading to Ikoyi /Victoria Island during the time of Fashola. How can I forget Allen Avenue traffic until it was demarcated during the time of Tinubu? The point I am making is, let this little value additions continue, they add up. No city or country can be built in a day.

The important thing is that we must keep building and making progress. Brick by brick a house is built.

Traffic reduction with expanded or new bus stops would not have been noticeable with roads riddled with potholes. Somebody took time to fix the roads before this intervention could be meaningful. We need to have leaders who understand the meaning of continuity in governance.

It is not about personal achievements, it is about progressive legacies. It is not about personal empires it is about building our commonwealth for generations yet unborn. It is about all of us.

The beautiful thing is that we Nigerians are very easy to please, especially when our leaders understand that little things make a big difference. Posperity will be forever grateful to Governor Ambode if he could rid the Lagos metropolis totally of traffic gridlock.

The little bus stop at Iyana-Oworo has definitely made a big difference. Progress makes for peace and prosperity. Let the progress continue, the best is yet to come.

Ajayi, a medical doctor, wrote from Ikoyi.

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D

IVERSIFICATION is the word around which all things revolve these days. Every past government had come with its preferred cliché and once the word is launched into the political lexicon, every lips start confessing it with torrential effects.

The incumbent government launched the word diversification into the horizon immediately it took over in 2015.

Its logic was that the country was looted dry by previous governments which failed to save for the rainy day.

By the way, when a government says previous leaders didn’t save for the rainy day. I don’t seem to understand.

I think the best governments invest for the rainy day. Just as we have seen many Gulf States invest heavily in landmark properties in Europe and America and then leverage on the proceeds of those investments for development of their countries. Any government that stuffs its vaults with money for the rainy day will only found itself in what I call the Obasanjo ensemble.

Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo left office in May 2007. At the time he left a total of $65 billion both as Foreign Reserves and in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) in the vaults. That was he had paid $18 billion of the nation’s $30 billion foreign debts and secured $12 billion write off.

The late President Umaru Yar’Adua took over in 2007 and ran into bad economic weather. Militancy in the Niger Delta brought crude oil production to all time low of about 700,000 barrels per day, even as the price went downwards. The easy way out was for the government to stabilise itself by dipping hands into the vaults. That continued till Dr Goodluck Jonathan took over and then oil market stabilised.

Even at that, much of the gains went down the line with bourgeoning fuel subsidy costs that gulped averagely N1.5 trillion yearly. Today, we are back to the point where panic economic buttons are being pressed every second because the nation had eaten its tomorrow yesterday.

You can imagine if Obasanjo had invested all of the $18 billion and part of the $65 billion left in ECA and Foreign reserves in some high yielding global investments. Imagine that we had secured debts negotiations that would enable us pay our debts from the proceeds of those investments. Today, we should have a more buoyant economy.

Since we are told that the standard practice is for countries to have funds capable of financing three months imports in foreign reserves, why keep all of $65 billion in the vaults.

Now that we are back to the panic economic measures,

IT is a fact that, at different times, we will experience one ailment or the other. This is true since the body is not a stone. It is the law of nature for the body to break down, after having worked very hard over a period of time, or after being abused with alcohol or wrong feeding. Having said this, I want to state that the activities of those preying on the sick for pecuniary gains should be viewed and handled with the seriousness it deserves. These opportunists are using the plight of the sick (whom they claim to be helping) to exploit not only the sick, but also other members of the society. This is a crime in itself and it should be treated as such.

However, let us be guided by this African adage which says, ‘’If we decide to shut our eyes so that we won’t see those who are evil as well as the works of their hands, we may in the process, miss the good people who might pass at that time also.’’ So, asking the government to deal mercilessly with dishonest ones among these people may result in wrongful discipline of the innocent and honest ones among them. So, great caution must be applied in handling the situation. However, I still blame our government for their failure to cater, as they should, for the needs of the masses as this has in no small way led to the deplorable situation in which most Nigerians have found themselves today. With abject poverty in the land, it is no surprise that people are being ingenious (though in a negative way), in order to put food on the table.

Taiwo Sangotikun Iseyin, Oyo State 08056309372 Statutory and relevant bodies should positively intervene and put an end to the doubtful activities of these conscienceless people. Money, even trillions, has never

28 August, 2016

the lynxeye with Taiwo adisa

08072000046

Between economic diversification and emergency powers

diversification has become the watchword. Added to that, last week, the presidency hinted at a plan to seek emergency powers for the president to secure a quick fix for the economy.

With the naira exchanging 410 to the one US dollar at the parallel market, it is obvious the president needs emergency powers. He will indeed need all the powers he could muster to drag down this exchange rate crisis.

With crude oil price stuttering by the day and that

frontrow with Toyin Willoughby Muyi 0805 500 1769 toyeenz@yahoo.com

Re- Exploiting the sick for money bought good health anywhere and I am convinced it will never help their condition. The only solution is the provision of proper healthcare, which would lead to quick and lasting recovery.

Femi Dada, Abuja 08183920427.

Your write-up on exploiting the sick for money is quite interesting as it throws up two kinds of people who are involved in begging in the country - the first group involves those who genuinely need help while the second involves the opportunists and tricksters. It is difficult to ignore either of the groups because the Holy Scriptures say that whomever you can afford to assist is your partner, (i.e. your neighbour). It also enjoins us to take care of him/her. What further makes it hard to ignore them is the point you raised that majority of these people find it very difficult to feed, not to talk of paying for medical treatment. In view of this, they need to be pitied, yet even those who are supposed to give do not have to give - the bottom line is that the current economic hardship

Sunday Tribune

persistently downgrading the nation’s foreign exchange earnings, the president will need all the emergency powers he could get to stabilise the situation. And rightly said, diversification is key.

But what manner of diversification are we talking about? In the last one year, you have heard that word repeated by every minister and government operative.

You have seen that the word is already the refrain of the moment. The question however remains how much of diversification have we seen? How much foundation for diversification of the economy can we identify through the process of 2016 budget and what are the prospects of the steps yielding fruits?

The truth is that diversification does not entail preparing scientists to go into the moon. The way forward is actually far easier than that. Many government operatives have repeatedly told us that agriculture can lead our country out of the woods. Tell me how much effort has the government put into ensuring that Agriculture brings the desired benefits. This government inherited a fertilizer distribution system that ensured that the product got to the farmers. I heard that has been jettisoned and today farmers are at the mercy of profiteers and middlemen. How will that encourage food security? We know that land for farming is a major issue in this country, how many states have acquired lands for distribution to willing farmers?

Machines are a major component of agricultural revolution, how many state governments have offered that plus improved seedlings and the like? We have heard that only three percent of American population is involved in agriculture and yet that country produces excess that feeds its over 300 million people and the world. They key is just clear headedness. It is not about sloganeering.

We have heard that our country’s potentialities in solid minerals rival any country of the world and that we have all manners of solid minerals that can fetch us billions.

But have you seen the determination to redress our lackadaisical treatment of that sector through the current budget which was prepared in the heat of economic anomie?

We have seen examples of countries involved in mining across the world and on the touch of the button, we can identify the companies behind the operations. Have we taken any effort to lure such companies to our shores with tax holidays? What really are we doing to improve this sector among others? I am sure that beyond the sloganeering around the said emergency powers, simple but practical steps in the critical sectors will help us out.

has worsened the situation and I believe that only the government can solve most of these multifarious problems.

Lekan Oladeji, Ilora 08053049443 Some years ago, an elderly person spoke in parables at a public function. The parable goes thus; if a thousand sheep were led by a lion, every one of them automatically becomes a lion and if a thousand lions were being led by a sheep everyone of them becomes a sheep .Early this month somebody from one of the southwest states told me that both serving and retired civil servants of the state have become scientific beggars. My own understanding is that nearly every Nigerian has become a beggar because of the situation created by the type of leadership we have. May God Almighty give us God fearing and God loving leaders?

Revd Afolabi M. G. Agodongbo Oyo I had a firsthand experience of the situation as I was leaving the church three weeks ago. A middle aged man, probably in his late forties approached me and requested for financial help. Without wasting time, I dipped my hand into my pocket and offered him N200. He was furious. What the hell, he shouted at me and went on to ask me what I thought the paltry sum I offered would do in resolving the medical problems of his son who at that moment was in the hospital for an operation. He said he needed as much as N50, 000 for his son’s operation and not the pittance that I was offering. I was so dumbfounded that all I could do was just to quietly leave for my home. People who were familiar with him and his antics later told me that it was his practice to visit a different church every Sunday with the same story. May God save Nigeria.

Adepoju Ajibare, Ado-Ekiti 08070777773

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28 August, 2016

ON THE

lord’sday

Sunday Tribune

With Bolanle Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 07052631058

Saying ‘no’ to judicial terrorism

T

IME it was when Nigerians only heard and read about terrorism. It was a strange phenomenon which happened in far-away countries and it was one of those things we were sure would never happen here. No more! Nigerians nowsleep and wake up with terrorism right on our own shores. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) brought terrorism to Nigeria in its vicious war for resource control. Their weapons included sabotage of oil facilities and activities; kidnapping, first of foreign oil workers and later of just anyone; and murder of security officials/others. Although MEND had since agreed terms (amnesty deal) with government and ceased hostilities, the pass-on of its campaign remains with us. Also, a new Niger Delta militant group called the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has resumed where MEND left off.

MEND started under former President Olusegun Obasanjo but waxed strong under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

A smart Umaru, however, chose the carrots approach rather than wield the big stick and got the reprieve he wanted; but not before many, especially from the North, had seen the militants’ action as a ploy to make the country ungovernable for a president of Northern extraction. Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw from the Niger Delta, took over as president after Yar’Adua died in office. Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group linked with former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff,came in handy to execute the North’s tit-fortat(following after the same pattern of the January 1966/ July 1966 military coup) to make the country ungovernable for Jonathan. While Sheriff, right now fighting tooth-andnail to impose himself on the opposition PDP, has denied the allegations linking him with Boko Haram, the Islamists militants had since made the exploits of MEND a child’s play. BK is now rated as one of the most dangerous terrorist groups in the whole world; it also recently pledged allegiance to terrorism’s chief-de-mission, ISIS. President Muhammadu Buhari boasts with some justification that his administration has degraded BK; his inability to fulfil his election promise of rescuing the Chibok girls within his first three months in office, however, remains not just a blithe but also a source of lingering embarrassment.

Closely following in the steps of BK are its cousins, the Fulani herdsmen, whose notoriety has earned them international recognition ofa deadly terrorist group. Everywhere, the Fulani herdsmen have maimed, raped, destroyed farmlands and other property, killed people as well as burnt down entire villages. What intrigues many is that these same herdsmen had live peaceably with other Nigerians before now; their new-found blood-thirstiness appears to coincide with the Buhari presidency. Mr President is said to be a cattle owner as well as patron of the cattle owners’ association. Worse, he has maintained “criminal silence” in the face of the herdsmen’s onslaught. This contrasts sharply with his overzealous disposition to wield the sledge hammer against pro-Biafra and resurgent Niger Delta militants. Religious intolerance is as old as the North itself; there, region-wide pogrom of nonMuslims have taken place times without number.

Relative peace had been witnessed since 1999, but the dam of intolerance has burst open; again, coinciding, again, with the Buhari presidency. Until last week, in the wake of the visit here of John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, mum had always been the word from Buhari. It remains to be seen whether his tepid condemnation of religious and sectarian killings will amount to anything. It should be noted that the heads of all of the country’s security outfits are Northerners/Muslims. Frustration fuels self-help. In Ekiti State, South-West, which the herdsmen violated a couple of months ago, the legislature last week passed a law criminalising illegal cattle grazing in the state. It is certain as daylight that Governor Ayodele Fayose, who responded promptly and forcefully with counter-measures to the herdsmen’s bestiality, will append his signature to the bill. Other embattled states have Fayose’slead to follow.

Nigeria’s plate is full already. Why, then, add new items?

It bears repeating that the way the anti-corruption agency has carried on with its activities is terrorism on its own. The ground is not level for both the opposition and the powersthat-be. Some of its methods, if found true, are also Hitlerite, such as the alleged forging of bank letter-heads. Nigerians must cry out against such under-hand tactics because history teaches that once the perpetrators grow confident enough in them, none is safe.

Another danger to our renascent democracy is the judicial terrorism that is creeping in on us. In the evergreen theory of the separation of powers, the Third Estate of the Realm (i.e. third arm of government) is meant to impartially interpret our laws, adjudicate in disputes between government and government, between government and the people; and between citizen and citizen. It is to do this without fear or favour, and regardless whose ox is gored. It is in the performance of this sacred duty that the Judiciary is seen as the last hope of the common man. If the two other arms of government misbehave and if citizens trample upon citizens, once the Judiciary stands tall and firm, all will be well.

Most judges take special exception to anyone defiling the temple of justice; moreso, when the offender is someone standing inside and pissing into the temple of justice... Their judgment was unanimous and it took Abang to the cleaners.

Wrongs will be righted and society will move forward on the rule of law and due process. Where the Judiciary is compromised, however, all, I dare to say, is lost and the Hobbesian state of nature “of the war of one against all, where lifeis nasty, brutish, and short” beckons. I recently perceived us moving in this direction and decided to sound a note of warning.

An abridged edition of my intervention published elsewhere is repeated here today.

“When Federal High Court judge, OkonAbang, delivered his judgment sackingAbia State governor, OkezieIkpeazu, on June 27, this year, I was flabbergasted. The learned trial judge, a high court judge, assumed the air of finality on the matter and spoke as if he were the Supreme Court,even when everyone, including himself, knew quite well that a high court has not been designed as the last bus stop on the matter. Parties to the case still had the opportunity to approach both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

But it would seem as if Abang would have none of that. He whimsically sacked an elected governor and maliciously proceeded to try and handcuff him and deny him the opportunity to seek reprieve. He ordered the INEC to immediately issue a certificate of return to a man he appeared to have made up his mind to make governor through the back door; ordered the Chief Judge of Abia State to immediately swear in this man as governor; and he expected all of us to chorus, as lawyers do before judges in the court room, “As your lordship pleases!”

Regardless, it was impunity of the highest order! Abang’s misadventure reminded me of one-time U.S. Secretary of State, Alexander Haig. President Ronald Reagan had just been shot; Haig came out and announced “I am now in charge!” If the attempt on Reagan’s life was shocking, Haig’s statement was ludicrous, brazen, and bewildering: it attempted tosubvert the Constitution of the USA. But he was wrong! The Secretary of State was not the next-in-line; the Vice-President was – and still is. The pugnacious Haig was soon put in his place, tail behind his legs and the then vice president stood in while Reagan recuperated. A similar redemption came Nigeria’s way penultimate Thursday when the Court of Appeal put Abang where he properly belongs.

And, oh my God, the Appeal Court ran Abang ragged!

Now, high courts upturn magistrate courts; appeal courts upturn high courts; and the Supreme Court upturns Courts of Appeal. There is nothing unusual in this; in fact, it is the norm. Usually, judges are reserved, temperate and measured in their choice of words; they are conservative and not flamboyant and treat colleagues with respect bothering even on veneration. However, whenever they are upset by what they see as a vicious assault on the Bench, many of them are usually unsparing in their choice of words. Most judges take special exception to anyone defiling the temple of justice; more so, when the offender is someone standing inside and pissing into the temple of justice. It is my considered opinion that this was how the Court of Appeal judges, five of them, viewed Abang’s handling of Ikpeazu’s case. Their judgment was unanimous and it took Abang to the cleaners.

I shudder to repeat the words used by the Court of Appeal against Abang’s judgment. Like Nobel Laurete, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said of one political character in “The Man Died,” they are words that leave sour tastes in the mouth. The Appellate Court found that Abang engaged in “quasi-justice”; imagine that he tried to cast this patently defective and atrocious ruling in iron and prevent those at the receiving end of it from seeking reprieve! Even the INEC obeyed him!

Not only must this judge watch his outings henceforth, the National Judicial Council should also take notice of his activities. Abangis the same judge whose controversial rulings and orders have ensnared the opposition PDP. The inflammatory and incendiary words he employed even against fellow judges were something else. Some misdirected and compromised judges played an ignoble role in the June 12 impasse that nearly tore this country into shreds. We must prevent a recurrence capable of truncating our renascent democracy. A stitch in time, as they say, saves nine.

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28 August, 2016

tribunechurch Reverend Tor Uja is the Executive Secretary of the National Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC). In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, he speaks on his experience so far, his mission in NCPC and why he supported the decision of the Federal Government to discontinue sponsorship of pilgrimages. Excerpts:

What is your take on the report that the Federal Government wants to stop pilgrimage sponsorship?

With the situation of the economy at present, one cannot easily blame the government, especially as there are challenges of foreign exchange. We believe that the church has the sufficient capacity to sponsor pilgrimage. Nigerians also have the resolution and strength to handle pilgrimage financially and socially. So, we are not distracted by the government’s inability.

Rather, we are strengthened by asking the church to take responsibility and charge of owning pilgrimage as its product. We have been going on pilgrimage before the government got involved. Government has done a good thing by establishing the legal framework; the NCPC is a legally constituted framework which enables us to legally mobilise and supervise Christian pilgrimage all over Nigeria. So, government has done its bit, it is now for us to believe we can take it further.

How would you do things differently during your tenure?

The secret is that I believe in team work to achieve greater things for our lives, the Christendom, the nation at large and the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. I see things as a calling and I want everyone directly and indirectly attached to the commission to look at it from the same vision.

We should see it as an investment rather than as a business. The most important thing I desire is greater communication

With Rita Okonoboh tribunechurch@gmail.com tribunechurch@yahoo.com 08053789087

My target is to airlift 20,000 Christian pilgrims this year

—Revd Tor Uja, Executive Secretary, NCPC of recovering our youths. Christian pilgrimage is one of the instruments that can restore Nigeria. I want to call on Christians to come together and focus on the call of Jesus Christ.

I

T is almost two months since you were appointed the new National Executive Secretary of NCPC. How has it been since you assumed office?

I would say that since I was appointed into this office, in less than few months, I have found pilgrimage promotion and mobilisation very exciting and with the look of things, I have found that the church, as well as the Nigerian population, is ready to stand as one on supporting Christian pilgrimage. I am also resolved to representing Christ the right way and also represent this nation right. I believe that one of the things affecting pilgrimage is the weak mobilisation of Nigerians throughout Nigeria; we have not been given sufficient reasons to believe in Nigeria, represent it and to serve it. These are some of the things we are going to do. Of course, we will do it as a commitment to Christ and to the teaching of the Bible through Jesus Christ in emphasising nationalism. If one truly lives for God, one’s greatest asset is one’s nation and Nigeria is a nation that is in the eye of prophetic manifestation. However, it is beholding of the church to rise up and fulfill the biblical prophecy by serving and lifting Nigeria up and representing Nigeria well wherever we go within and outside Nigeria. I have found out that if we Christians represent Christ right and present our nation well, Nigeria, like Israel, will be unconquerable.

Sunday Tribune

You have stated that pilgrimage is not about tourism. What is the essence of this exercise?

Pilgrimage is a spiritual and productive engagement and also to enhance the focus on the Nigeria of our dreams by impacting positively on people through teaching and prayers. We must be productive and this can only be achieved through planning and serious work. When I went on pilgrimage for the first time, I marvelled when I saw the formation of oranges that were planted and as a farmer, this changed my orientation. When I returned to Nigeria, I tried what I saw over there on my farm and it was so beautiful.

within and outside the system and operate together as a corporate entity. One of my main priorities is to ensure a solid relationship with the Private Tours Operators (PTOs). An annual conference with this body is in the pipeline and this will be the first thing we will do to connect with the association; we will engage ourselves with biblical teachings. We will also do some planning and discuss the way forward to liberate this nation. I wish to transform the pilgrimage system and change people’s orientation about the exercise. The number of pilgrims must increase compared to our previous records and the initiative must have positive impact in people’s lives and the nation as a whole. The Federal Government has given a concessionary rate and the president wrote me a letter of a concessionary rate of N197 to a dollar. I pray to God to heal the church so that we can possess our possession. What I have discovered is that we the church complain a lot and give excuses and eventually, we settle for peanuts.

We need to take up our position and forget the small things. I want us to lift a minimum of 20,000 pilgrims in this year’s pilgrimage which will come up between October and December and I am confident that we would have doubled that figure next year.

My music saved a woman from suicide Pg37 —Ada Ehi

All the projects we are going to embark on are to promote Nigeria. I represent two nations; the nation of Christ and Nigeria and I must always honour the two.

How do you intend making this a reality when Nigeria has been stigmatised in some foreign countries?

This is one of the notions I want to correct.

I have a dream to bring people, especially foreigners, to the country to have a feel of the great things God has done in this country. Nigeria is perhaps the only nation that is experiencing spiritual revival right now.

We have a lot of ministers of God with good reputation in this country. When are we going to promote pilgrimage in Nigeria so that people can visit places like the Redemption Camp, Canaan Land and some other places where God answers prayers in Nigeria? We should also cultivate the habit of celebrating ourselves; our men of God are better than the foreign ministers we invite. We must not be inferior to other nations. It is time for all to work to make people around the world come to Nigeria to receive their own healing. I want people to see pilgrimage as not what involves the lives of men, but the eternity of men. It should involve both physical and social healing. It is a way

Prophet Agboola condemns negative prophecies Pg38

As a farmer, what are your plans to contribute to the current campaign of investing in agriculture in Nigeria through this commission?

This is part of the goals I have outlined to achieve through this commission. By God’s grace, next year, we will organise farmers’ pilgrimage and we will take people who are interested in farming. We will pray with them and teach them as well as expose them to the best practices of farming in Israel so that they can replicate it in Nigeria.

I want every Nigerian, beginning with pastors, to return to the farm. Pastors can run farms alongside their ministries without any clash. Churches should also mobilise their members in farming, even if they do not make money from it; it is great to eat from one’s farm. Personally, I don’t buy chicken, yams and almost any foodstuff because I grow them on my farms. In my culture, everyone, especially the male child, must have a farm no matter how small; you will be shown where your farm is once you are born. We can extend it to commercial frontiers to make income for the country.

I urge all Nigerians to go back to the farm, because it is a dignifying thing. I used farming proceeds to pay my school fees. My parents paid my fees from the farming proceeds. I have always farmed and it has not hindered me from doing other things in life.

It is indeed a blessing.

What are you doing concerning the age restriction for pilgrims?

It is part of our commitment to adjust the age restriction and I want to assure people that from next year, we will give nearly 70 per cent attention to youths and women.

We also want to visit other countries for spiritual engagement such as Turkey, Syria, Greece, Italy, Germany, among others.

These are countries full of revelations and which have redefined the work in building the church. Most importantly, I want to reorganise the sites pilgrims visit. I want to remove and add some sites that will affect people’s lives positively. Also, tourists should no longer guide us; we will now guide ourselves.

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28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

With Olaide Sokoya ollydesanmi@yahoo.com 08074497425

churchnews

Baptists call for re-introduction of assemblies in schools Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

T

HE Ogun State Baptist Conference has called on government at all levels to review the cancel-

Pastor urges Christians to seek the power of God

lation of morning assembly in some schools.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of its 39th Conference-in-Session, held at the Baptist Church, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The communique, signed by its President, Reverend (Dr) Segun Jaiyesimi, said the re-introduction would give school authorities opportunities to address the

students/pupils on moral issues and patriotism.

The conference-in-session also noted the need for government to review the education policy as regards religious studies, contending that religious studies should not be merged with any other subject.

The body appreciated the introduction of subjects on entrepreneurship in schools and, therefore,

appealed to government to provide the necessary equipment for vocational training, so as to make it a worthwhile initiative.

The conference called on Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence, submitting that Nigeria iss a secular state, hence the interest of every Nigerian’s participation in religious activities must be respected and protected.

By Abiodun Jimoh THE Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Akure DCC Superintendent, Ondo State, Prophet L.O. Akinloye, has urged Christians across the country to seek the power of God as the only remedy that would enhance their spiritual lives and growth in the service to God in His vineyard.

Prophet Akinloye said this during the three-day special Alpha and Omega yearly programme tagged “Power to lift God greater than all other gods,” held at the CAC Mountain at Ero-Omo village, Ikoyi in Osun State.

The three-day programme which coincided with the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the mountain by Pastor Joseph Ayodele Babalola, in the town took place from Wednesday, August 24th till Friday, August 26th and was organised by CAC Mountain Ikoyi, under the leadership of Pastor E.O. Alalade, the Oke-Osun DCC Superintendent.

The event also had in attendance clerics such as the CAC President, Pastor A.O. Akinosun; CAC General Evangelist, Prophet S.K. Abiara; Pastor Ajetunmobi, among others.

While delivering his message, Akinloye noted that seeking the power of God was what Christians should aim for.

He also said that seeking the power of God was what Christians needed to grow in the Lord, and this could only be achieved through prayer.

He added that men of God should stop methodology in preaching the word of God but should demonstrate raw message as written in the Holy Bible.

“We all need the power of God that will be enough to work well in propagating the gospel as has been commanded in His word,” he said.

The celebrant and his wife, Apostle (Dr) and Mrs Timothy Kennedy Otefisan (middle), with other clerics during the church servive to mark his retirement as Director of Christian Education and cleric at Salem Gospel Mission International, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, recently. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN.

It said further: “peaceful coexistence of Nigerian citizens is of utmost importance. The grazing reserve bill is unnecessary, rather,

for cattle, sheep, horse, and other animals, rearers should consider ranching as it is done in other parts of the world.”

Make positive impacts, cleric tells Nigerians

By Seyi Sokoya A cleric, Reverend Isaac Omolehin of World Assembly Church, has stated the essence of living righteously and cultivating the habit of impacting in people’s lives positively.

He also urged people not to misuse the grace and opportunities in their lives, saying, “the value of what makes a man is not what he does for himself, but what he does for others.”

Reverend Omolehin gave this admonition during a sermon at the fifth remembrance service of the wife of the music legend and the General Overseer of Decross Gospel Mission (DGM), Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, Evangelist Juliana Obey-Fabiyi, last week in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to Omolehin, “God will not reward man for what he does for himself, but how he has affected people’s lives positively.

This is the most important thing every human must be conscious of in life. What we do to ourselves will not count before God. How we have affected people’s lives, no matter how little, will give us rewards before God and speak volumes of us in afterlife.”

The remembrance service also had in attendance House of Representatives member, Agege constituency, Honourable Taofeek Adaranijo; the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Samuel Adejare; gospel music legend, Evangelist Joseph Adelakun; family members and well-wishers, while the DGM choir also performed a song ministratin that focused on following Christ and living virtuously.

The eldest child, Mr Shina Obey-Fabiyi, thanked everyone who came to celebrate with the family on the remembrance of their mother who died on August 23, 2011.

Children urged to have fear of God

By Olaide Sokoya

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Ibadan South East Local Government Area II, Pastor James Oshobukola (left) with Mr Sunday Idowu during the presentation of awards of excellence programme of the association, held at St. David Cathedral, Kudeti, Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.

The children of the Christ Apostolic Church, Iluyanu District, Oke-Ira, Ogba, Lagos State, surrounded by the patron, Deacon Gabriel Ajani, and matrons, Deaconess Adejoke Sokoya and Deaconess Fola Adefusi and the children teacher, Mrs Bisi Awoniyi, cutting the children anniversary cake last Sunday.

CHILDREN have been urged to have the fear of God, obey elders, parents and guardians and always have the zeal to work for God as this was the only guarantee to have successful and long lives.

These were the words of the guest minister, Pastor Ezekiel Adesuyi, during his sermon at this year’s children anniversary of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C), Ilu Iyanu district, Bayo Adeyemo, Oke-Ira, Ogba, Lagos State.

Adesuyi added that “the children are vital to God, just as they are precious in the eyes of their parents or guardians. It is a stage every human must pass through in life and also enjoy most. It will also shape the children’s lives and that is why it is vital that they start well, especially in the way of the Lord.”

The year’s children anniversary which was tagged:

“Children are the heritage of God,” had the children of the church perform in various activities which proclaimed that they were indeed the heritage of God. Some of the activities at the event included recitation of memory verses; special songs rendition; scriptural displays and choreography.

The matron of the children department, Deaconess Adejoke Sokoya, expressed her delight on the success of the event and assured that the authorities of the children department and the church as a whole would not relent in teaching the children the right doctrine.

The patron, Deacon Gabriel Ajani, in his remarks, stated that “our joy is that hese teachings will have impact in their lives even when they have grown up.

Indeed, they are the heritage of God and I pray that God will be their shield all through their lives.”

37 tribunechurch

28 August, 2016

My music saved a woman from suicide —Ada Ehi Gospel music sensation, Ada Ehi, also known as Ada, in this interview with RITA OKONOBOH, shares her thoughts on gospel artistes charging performance fees in churches, how she creates a balance between career and home, the potential of the Nigerian gospel music industry, among other issues. Excerpts:

How many albums do you have to your credit?

I have two currently: ‘Undenied’ released in 2009 and ‘Lifted & So Fly’ released in 2012. I am currently working on my third album due for release later this year.

Chemical and Polymer Engineering doesn’t seem like a popular choice for many people. Why did you choose that course?

I initially hoped to study Medicine but I changed my mind after secondary school because I thought physics and mathematics with their formulas and calculations were more straightforward than Biology with its botanical names and all.

What else do you do apart from being a gospel artiste?

I’m currently converting a few of my hobbies into business. I have been developing my ideas for a while being a musician. I also have the task of managing my home and taking care of my family comes first and takes most of my time.

How do you create a balance to ensure that your home isn’t negatively affected by your success?

As I said earlier, my family is my priority. God blessed me with them, that means He expects me to take absolute care and love them. Being a mother, wife, daughter, sister will always be a part of who I am, so, I sing and

Which of your songs is your favourite?

Laughs... I have more than one favourite.

What should your fans expect from you soon?

More music with the voice of the Lord. God is still talking and we are forever publishing His word.

Background I was born in Lagos in the 80s to Pastor and Mrs V.C.C. Ndukauba as the second child of four children. I graduated from the faculty of Engineering of the Lagos State University with a B.Sc. in Chemical and Polymer Engineering.

How did your journey into music ministry begin?

I grew up surrounded by a lot of music as both parents were members of the church choir. I was exposed to professional music at a very early age; as a recording and performing background singer for the popular gospel child star, Tosin Jegede, during the early 90s, and as a member of the then children choir from my church which graced many prominent gospel stages. As such, I performed on some of the biggest stages in Nigeria to thousands of people.

world if we shy away from platforms that project us to the world? We are not sent only to the church altars but to the entire world.

The Nigerian gospel music industry doesn’t seem to be doing so well, when compared to their secular counterparts.

Why do you think is the problem?

I don’t think so. We are about different purposes and desires. Gospel music is life-giving and has a transforming impact that is eternal. You cannot compare both.

bless them first. They are the first people I minister to and are part of my ministry, and that is how I win because we win together.

What are other challenges you have faced as a gospel artiste?

Some of the challenges I faced were at the beginning: being yourself and having a unique sound. Then the music distribution network which in Nigeria was mostly controlled by an open market, as well as the piracy thing, are also challenges I faced. Thank God for the digital sales and online bloggers and promotional sites; they helped put the music out there.

Where did you get your music training?

My parents had a very unique and international music collection. I grew up listening to that music library with pop, rock, classical and country influences from groups like Handle, Mozart, Bach, Maranatha Music, Integrity, Mary Mckee and the Genesis and so on.

Do you think gospel artistes should charge performance fees in churches?

Well, I don’t think this is something you should discuss lightly and just answer yes or no, but I’ll say gospel music is a calling and everyone called should be led and directed by the Spirit of God who has called him/her into ministry.

In 2015, you became an ambassador of African Cable Television (ACTV) and

signed a deal with Tecno Mobile to have your songs and music videos pre-uploaded on select mobile phones. Do you see this as a step forward for the gospel music industry?

Yes, I definitely think it a step forward for the gospel music industry and I would love to see more of it for us.

To say gospel artistes should not expect material rewards is a contradiction of what we believe as Christians. The Bible records Jesus saying “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these thing shall be added unto you” which was exactly what happened in my case. I got to know about the company the day I received the call about being their brand ambassador and face of the cable TV brand. It was divinely orchestrated; I was not expecting it. And then, the mobile company is a global mobile giant with millions of people on their platform, so imagine how many people I have the opportunity to reach with the gospel.

I would say this to any Christian who thinks we should shy away from endorsements and anything like this, Jesus said “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Mark the words “ye” that’s us the called and “all” the “world.” He didn’t say some but “all” and preach. How do we then preach to the entire

Will you feature with a secular musician?

Depending on what project we are collaborating on, I do gospel 100 per cent.

Which of the testimonies as a result of your song has been your most moving?

So many. Currently, especially on two of my songs ‘Only You Jesus’ and “I Testify” there are two testimonies coming to mind now.

There was a woman who was going to take her life because of a life-threatening condition she had struggled with for many years. Just as she was about to take her life, she heard my music, and was immobilised till her children came in and saw her in that position. The second one was about another lady who was in labour for over a day and the doctors told her to get ready for surgery. Then her sister sent her the track ‘I Testify’ and she started declaring she had a testimony.

She had her baby that same night. I have countless.

How do you handle your fans, especially the male folk, considering the fact that you’re beautiful?

Thank you for the compliment. It has never been a problem. I point them to Jesus! Also, I have a very solid team and structure with regards to my PR. Where do you see gospel music in the nearest future?

Blessing more lives and raising many more that would be a blessing to their world.

Your Life Counts

Sunday Tribune

by Tunde Jaiyebo 0803 406 2013

The importance of favour (I) LIFE is an unending web of relationships hence our success, impact, input and output is heavily hinged and linked to how our relationships are maximized. There is no way we can live a successful and fulfilled life all by ourselves.

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” Herman Melville The issue of relationship is especially critical because people are the channels and agents through which life operates.

No relationship is natural. Every relationship is a carrier of influence, for good or for evil. Every person we meet, have contact with and interact with is a potential channel to release into our lives help, influence, power and ability to move our lives forward or backwards.

To get the best of life and to have relationships facilitate our success we must realize that the starting point is to have a right value on ourselves and have the right priorities.

“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

Author Unknown We must understand that life always produces a ripple effect if we see things right. We need people and people need us. People are the channels through which favour will be released into our lives. Favour manifest in a person’s willingness to use what they have (time, money, resources, contacts, skills, etc) to actively advance our lives.

“Life is not a game of Solitaire; people depend on one another. When one does well, others are lifted. When one stumbles, others also are impacted. There are no one-man teams—either by definition or natural law. Success is a cooperative effort; it’s dependent upon those who stand beside you.” Jon M. Huntsman Snr Favour is a major determinant factor in how effective people will be in our lives to advance us. It will determine how much impact they will have in our lives so we can execute our dreams and carry out our life assignments and mandate.

Favour also is what will determine the inflow of blessings, helps and opportunities into our lives. A man without favour is a stranded man.

We therefore, need to fully grasp the concept of favour.

When it comes to favour we need good understanding. “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.” Proverbs 13:15.

There are some body of knowledge we need to understand without which favour might be elusive or at best not maximized.

Favour is extremely important and it is a force which is unbeatable. Once the force of favour is released it is unstoppable. It will by-pass every barrier and opposition to get its job done. Favour is the oil that makes the wheel of life spin smoothly.

To be continued For enquiries/comments please send email to charismokola@yahoo.com

38 tribunechurch

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Pray for Nigeria

—Apostle Omorodion Banji Aluko-Benin City

A

Benin, Edo State-based Christian cleric, Apostle Matthew Omorodion, has said the nation was sick and that special prayers must be said to heal it and sustain its existence.

Apostle Omorodion, who stated this in a statement

made available to journalists in Benin City, Edo State, advocated concerted efforts to defend the sovereignty of the nation.

The cleric said he had an encounter with God, who instructed him to inform all Christian denominations in the country to hold a seven-day revival and prayer session as the condition to avert any form of

upheaval that could plunge the nation into turmoil.

The statement called on all and sundry to “lay aside all religious sentiments and put the nation first in prayers so that God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land as enshrined in 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14.”

Prophet Agboola condemns negative prophecies

By Olaide Sokoya THE General Overseer of Jehovah Power Miracle Tabernacle Church, Prophet Mike Agboola, has condemned negative declarations and prophecies

against the country.

Baba Fire, as he is fondly called, spoke with TribuneChurch during the church’s monthly programme, tagged “Fire of Pentecost,” held at the church auditorium.

Christians cannot avoid persecution —Apostle Lawon

By Taiwo Olanrewaju THE General Missions Director (GMD) of Fullstature Missions International (FMI), Apostle Isaiah Lawon, has stated that the persecution of Christians could not be prevented.

He also urged the body of Christ to move closer to God. The cleric stated this at the annual convention of FMI Advancing World Missions Conference (AWMC) held recently at the Conference Centre for the Nations, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The theme of this year’s convention was “Kingdom Force invading the Nations,” and the convention featured sermons from clerics, Bible study ses-

sions, workshops, testimonies, and presentation of songs and drama from the youth wing and different mission fields.

Among the clerics invited to minister were Reverend Alfred Itiowe; Mr Sam Kputu and Mr Ben Omoruyi of Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) and Reverend Isaac Omolehin of The Word Assembly, Ilorin, Kwara State.

In one of his sermons, with the theme, “You are free to come,” Omolehin noted that not all men had been faithful to pay back to God with services what God had done for them, stataing that “you have nothing to lose serving God rather, the value of whoever serves God appreciates.”

Prophet Agboola stated that the role of the prophet was to pray for the nation but that some prophets were fond of saying negative things about the country.

“It is really unfortunate that most of today’s prophets have left the basics but have instead pursued monetary gain,” he said.

“But let me quickly add that the present situation in Nigeria demands prayers.

It is not about President Muhammadu Buhari. The Bible, in the book of Amos, states that problems would not affect any nation with the knowledge of God. So, let us know that whatever Nigeria is presently going through as a nation, God knows about it,” he said.

The cleric further urged Nigerians, irrespective of religion and tribe, to trust God at all times and in all situations.

On what he would tell President Buhari if he had the opportunity to meet him, the cleric said he would advise him to remain steadfast and put his trust in God. He advised Buhari not to surround himself with sycophants.

Archbishop urges Christians to trust in God’s power of salvation

By Rita Okonoboh THE President, Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeia and Overseas, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has called on Nigerians, and Christians in particular, to trust in the power of God as the only way to assure themselves of eternal salvation.

The cleric stated this at a recent convention of the church, held last weekend at Awe, Oyo State.

The convention, which had as its theme, ‘Power from on High,’ witnessed the oupouring of miracles and testimonies.

Taking its theme from Acts1:8, the event was also an avenue for the physical and spiritual manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

According to Atilade, “there are many powers that people may want to trust. However, the only power that never fails is

that from on High, which is the power of God.” Continuing, he stated that “whatever the problems people face, and whatever challenges the country may be passing through, we need to trust God to see us through as He alone has the power to save.”

He urged Christians to never waver in their faith in the face of persecution, but they should rather trust God at all times.

From left, Vicar and Archdeacon of Odo-Ona Archdeaconry, Venerable Oluseye Ogunrinde and his wife, Deaconess Seyido, with Pastor and Reverend (Mrs) Olufemi Ogunrinde, during the thanksgiving after the funeral service of Mrs Victoria Adetoun Ogunrinde, held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Odo-Ona, Ibadan, Oyo State recently.

From left (front row), Professor J.A. Oloyede; Pastor (Dr) Ezekiel Adeniran; Dr James Tobih and his wife, Deborah; Pastor Joshua Odeyemi and Anne-Marie Inglisch with others at the family empowerment programme organised by Pilgrims House, Ibadan, in Berlin, Germany, recently.

livingword

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

Engaging the miracle power of praise! (4) PREVIOUSLY on this column, we discover that without a sacrifice of praise, we cannot access the returns on all our investments such as tithes, offerings, prayers, fasting and Kingdom service. In the past weeks, we also explored the benefits that accrued to us in praise. However, last week, we looked at God’s presence as one of the benefits of praise. In this concluding this teaching series, we shall examine how to invoke God’s presence?

First, we must understand that God’s presence is invoked through high praises. When Jesus entered Jerusalem and the people cried, and sang His Hosanna, He invaded the temple with a whip and flushed out all that bought and sold in the temple (Psalms 22:3; Matthew 21:9-13).

In the midst of that wild praise, Jesus cleansed the physical temple and when the blind and lame came to Him, He healed them. However, we understand from scriptures that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thus, when we offer praise unto God in the highest form, we invoke His wrath against anything molesting our bodies and He steps in to flush them out. Therefore, as you engage in fearful praises, I see Jesus invading your body with His whip and flushing out everything buying and selling there! (1 Corinthians 6:19; Matthew 21:9-14) Furthermore, we must understand that divine health is not an issue of luck but our response to and engagement of the revelation of scriptures. The Bible says that we were purchased with the Blood of Jesus; therefore, our bodies are to glorify

God, not sickness and diseases. Our inheritance of total health has been signed and sealed but we must take responsibility to enforce its delivery and praise is one of the weapons of delivery (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 11:12).

Moreover, when we engage in high praises, God quickens every dead organ in our bodies back to life. That simply means the more we praise God, the healthier we become (John 11:41-44; Proverbs 17:22; 18:14; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalms 42:5, 11).

In conclusion, it is important to note that personal praise is a gateway to fearful blessings. This is because just as we require personal faith for victory, we also require personal praise to take delivery of our fearful blessings (1 John 5:4).

Therefore, receive grace to maintain high level personal praise as a lifestyle in Jesus name! Remain ever blessed!

Are you born again? This means, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Understanding the Power of Praise, Walking in the Miraculous, Operating in the Supernatural, Releasing the Supernatural and Commanding the Supernatural.

39 tribunechurch

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

dawnofanewera sundaysermon

with Most Revd J.O. Akinfenwa Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese

with Pastor Sunday Adelaja Senior Pastor of the Ukraine based Embassy of God Church e-mail: pastor@godembassy.org

The purpose of nations

PELEG… This is a word that might be unknown to even some of the most ardent students of the Bible. Graduates of schools of theology, seminaries and Bible schools might not have a clue into the meaning and significance of this word.

If we however wish to understand the mind of God concerning nations and continents, there is no way we can bypass Peleg.

This five-letter word might hold the key to understanding the structure of our world.

It could be a major key in understanding the makeup of the geographical map of the world. But even more important is the fact that Peleg could give us insight into the future of nations and continents as we know them today. I wish to deviate meanwhile into a more detailed analysis of the centrality of our topic today - The Purpose Of Nations. I would definitely come back to a full and detailed discussion about the supposedly mysterious word, Peleg.

It is expedient for every man and woman in our world today to know that he and she is not a product of accident. What I am trying to say is that your origin matters, your nation matters, your culture matters, your ancestry matters and your country matters. Sometimes the idea that we are living in a global village could create a sense of loss and confusion. In the sense that, you don’t think any more in terms of where you are coming from? What your origin is?

What your roots are?

Most of the time especially as believers, we tend to think that these things don’t matter anymore especially to God. We hear people say that if you are in Christ it doesn’t really matter who you are or where you are from. Yet, we cannot close our eyes to the fact that people are different. People have different skin colors, pigmentations, different shape and color of the eyes, different cultures and different traditions.

Even though we might all be in Christ, we speak different languages and relate to different cultures better, we belong to different races etc. What that tells me is that being in Christ does not obliterate diversity in cultures, traditions and even races.

A glaring proof to this hypothesis is seen in the New Testament. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples in Acts

God has his own agenda, ideas and purpose for the creation of every single nation, country, ethnic group, tribe, nationality, color, island, etc. Each one of these diversities are meant to serve their individual purposes as only God sees best

chapter 2. God in his infinite wisdom had made arrangement for all people groups under the sun to be present at this historic and monumental event. When the Spirit was eventually poured out on the disciples, the standbys from different nations of the earth testified to have heard the disciples speak in the various languages represented.

“And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Acts 2:6-12.

What that tells me is that even God recognizes every single tribe, nation and ethnic group he has created. That is why he had to make that statement clear and loud, even in the New Testament. Meaning the new thing God is doing in the New Testament belongs to all nations, tribes, people groups and all nationalities, no matter the differences. Notice that there were no conditions for these people to become witnesses and participants to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They didn’t need to become Jews, they didn’t need to be circumcised, they didn’t need to be baptized, etc. God just poured out his Spirit upon all flesh, signifying the fact that all flesh were made by him for his purposes.

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Col. 1:16 Hence, God has his own agenda, ideas and purpose for the creation of every single nation, country, ethnic group, tribe, nationality, color, island, etc. Each one of these diversities are meant to serve their individual purposes as only God sees best.

I hope what we have observed so far has begun to awaken your interest in the importance of nations in Gods purposes.

Going back to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, it is however important to note that despite the recognition of diversities of nations and cultures represented on that Pentecostal historic day, yet there is another significant thing that happened which we must pay attention to.

The Spirit that was poured out is meant for all flesh, it is one and the same Spirit.

Notice there was no different outpouring of the Spirit on the Jews, while a different Spirit on the Gentiles. There wasn’t a different Spirit for the educated and a different Spirit for the uneducated. It was the same spirit that was poured on the Jews that was equally poured on the Asians, Africans, Americans, Europeans, etc.

To be continued

The priesthood of all believers Continued from last week WE cannot know if you are kind until you have situations in which others need help that they really do not deserve around you, and we see how you reacted.So, we can say that the call of the child of God in Christ Jesus is a call to relate. It is a call to go out. No wonder our Lord said after his resurrection, Mark 16:15 ... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

In fact, earlier on he said, Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his saviour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Salt cannot make food sweet until it mixes with the food. In fact, salt “melts” into the food, such that you cannot see the salt, but you cannot deny its influence on the food once you taste it. Can we as Christiansbegin to GO for God, and to melt into the various spheres of influence wherein God has placed us, bringing the taste of Jesus Christ into business, into the bureaucracy, into politics, into every industry that we are involved with?That is how to be the salt of the earth.

Some Christians want to run away from the world. They have no backing for that in the word of God - we are only told to run away from sin (lCor 10: 14, 1Cor 16: 3 • 18, lTim 6: 9 - 11, 2Tim 2: 22, etc.). For those who still wonder whether a Christian can be called by God and sent to “dirty” sec-

tors of society (like politics}, the words of our Lord in Matthew 10: 16 is a ready answer: Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Moreover, John testified of the Lord, that the light of the Lord Jesus Christ shined, not in BRIGHTNESS, but in DARKNESS: John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. And our Lord himself also said to us, Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Why do we call attention to all these passages of Scripture? It is because not many Christians realize that we have ALL been called. And among those who realize, there is a lot of misunderstanding of where God calls us into. Once people get a sense of calling, many fall into the error of withdrawal.

It is as if the calling of Christ must withdraw you from society. So, you recoil into the church to avoid the contamination in the world. No! In fact, the calling of Christ should throw us deeper into society, deeper into the world, because that is where the work is!!

To be continued next week

theapostolicmessage

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

Divine answer to salvation need of man Continued from last week JESUS did not only come to express His father’s love, He came to destroy the works of the devil that humanity may have victory over all his afflictions. ‘He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil’ (1 John 3:8). Believers can have rest of mind because the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. And so believers should not be troubled by the antics of the devil in their lives, because Christ is come to destroy his works.

Jesus also came to this world to give man life and that man may have it more abundantly. The life Christ came to give us is beyond the physical one. It is an eternal life to start from the earth. A life that is devoid of trouble and afflictions. A life full of comfort, peace, and joy. That is why Jesus is able to say, “the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Beyond expressing His Father’s love and destroying the devil’s works, Jesus came for the purpose of giving us life, even abundantly.

Jesus Christ also came to be glorified in His saints (II Thess. 1:10) and to destroy death ‘for he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death’ (1 Corinthians 15:5-26). To believers in Christ Jesus, the second death will not have power over them

because of the everlasting life Christ gave to them.

Calling the sinners to repentance is another purpose for Christ’s coming… ‘They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance’ (Mark 2:17). Coming to accomplish the redemption of mankind, He is extending the invitation for sinners to come to repentance, for them to be part of the Kingdom of God. That is why it is written; ‘if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (I John 1:9).

To be able to bring humanity back to His Father, Jesus is also standing at door beckoning to those that are out and far to come and experience the love of His Father. Jesus said, if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and be with him (Revelation 3:20).

If you find yourself not being able to overcome certain sins in your life, you need to come to Christ and surrender your life totally to Him. Those born of God overcome sin because the root of sin has been uprooted in them by Christ John in his epistle says, ‘we know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not (I John 5:18).

Jesus Christ also came to extend his invitation to the heavy laden. He said, ‘come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

To be continued next week

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28 August, 2016

language&style By dint of…

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ample 1: “Accusing the former president of abuse of power during his reign, he regretted that by killing some of the business interests of the former governor, including banks, airline, oil blocks, which forced Kalu to relocate them to other countries, Nigerians were denied of employment benefits to the advantage of the nationals of the other foreign countries.”(Obasanjo was Undemocratic, Unfair to Kalu,The Sunday Sun, March 20, 2016) The only reason for bringing this excerpt to your attention is the expression denied of which occurs in the following context: “Nigerians were denied of employment benefits.”

Requiring special attention is the particle of following the participle denied directly. It would appear that the usage of the verb deny is confused with that of deprive. It is important to note that although the verb deprive takes the particle of, the verb deny does not.

Actually, some words and expressions commonly confused are: deny, deprive of, prevent from, and forestall.

The verb forestall, let us note, does not take any particle at all.

Here are examples of the usage of the verbforestall: 1) The police presence is to forestall any possibility of the wild boys harassing the girls. 2) To forestall the famous scorer penetrating the front easily, two strong defence players should be arranged to tackle him. 3) To forestall an epidemic, we decided to disinfect the house. 4) To forestall a breakdown of law and order, two teams of policemen were put on patrol. 5) To forestall the Governor refusing the application, two delegates were sent ahead to plead with him. 6) The government constituted a panel that would have a dialogue with the representatives of the labour union to forestall a nationwide protest.

7) He put another lawyer on standby to forestall a situation in which no lawyer would be there to represent him. 8) To forestall a fire disaster all bowls containing petrol should be removed far from the house.

The following sentences illustrate the usage of the verb prevent: 1) Children were prevented from going out after 7pm every day. 2) Journalists were preventedfrom taking pictures of the gory sight. 3) Through pressure and blackmail, the president was preventedfrom taking decisions that could jeopardize the electoral process.

4) In Yoruba land, women are prevented from witnessing certain ritual practices. 5) The firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to the adjoining fuel station. 6) It was the presence of the chairman that prevented the complaints from degenerating into public riots.

In each of those sentences, the verb prevents collocates with the particle from.

Like forestall, the verb deny does not take any particle.

Some Nigerian users of English have developed the habit of attaching the particle of to the verb, not realizing that it does not take any particle at all. Now read the following sentences: 1) Unfortunately, many departments were denied accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC). 2) People with suspicious appearance were denied access to the hall. 3) Freedom of Information Bill is to guarantee that members of

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

the public are not denied vital information. 4) Having been denied his own share of the profit, he headed for court. 5) No bank has the right to deny anybody access to his money. 6) The lawyer complained that the suspect was sentenced unfairly because he was denied legal representation.

In none of those sentences is the word deny allowed to be followed by the particle of or by any particle for that matter.

Now compare those sentences with the following in which the verb deprive is used: 1) People who are deprived of their rights are free to go to court. 2) It is wrong to deprive children of their meals as a form of punishment.

3) No child should be deprived of education simply because his/her parents are financially handicapped. 4) Children that are deprived of motherly care will grow up to become maladjusted adults. 5) The governor has promised that rural areas would no longer be deprived of the amenities available in the cities.

6) The lady is seeking divorce on the grounds that she has been deprived of love.

At any rate, the particle of should be deleted in the context under review.

Sample 2: “She said with a dint of sadness, ‘I was just 25 years old and I was taken to the General Hospital in Sagamu…”(Our Sad, Happy Tales, By People Living with Spinal Cord Injuries, The Nation, Sunday, May 8, 2016) We pay attention to the word dint which occurs in the expression: a dint of sadness. The word dint is an inappropriate choice. It is obvious that the reporter has no idea of the appropriate use of the word.

There are two other idioms in English that are similar in meaning to by dint of. These are: by virtue of and invirtue of.

Now read the following sentences: 1) He secured that job by virtue of his knowledge of French. 2) He is loved by everyone by virtue of his humility. 3) He was able to stay for so long in England by virtue of his citizenship of that country.

4) The General Manager earned a third term in office by virtue of his managerial acumen. 5) The new newspaper took over the market within a short time by virtue of high quality package and production. 6) Wole Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for literature by virtue of a highly fertile imagination and profound language. 7) He became prominent in the political party by virtue ofcraftiness and patience. 8) Mohammadu Buhari became the president of Nigerian by virtue of integrity and transparency. 9) He became a billionaire by virtue of talent and sheer industry. 10) He was able to gain the hearts of many people in the town by virtue of generosity.

Again, read the following sentences: 1) The lady became a judge of the Supreme Court by dint of hard work and determination.

2) By dint of threats and bullying, he became the leader of the gang. 3) We were able ward off the spiritual attacks by dint of relentless prayer. 4) I survived the economic hard times by dint of frugality and severe self-denial. 5) The family overcame the limiting forces of poverty by dintof strategic thinking and determination. 6) He escaped being killed by armed robbers by dint of vigilance.

Like forestall, the verb deny does not take any particle. Some Nigerian users of English have developed the habit of attaching the particle of to the verb, not realizing that it does not take any particle at all. Now read the following sentences: 1) Unfortunately, many departments were denied accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC)

Sunday Tribune

line

life with

Niyi Osundare

Random Blues I am a poet: I know how To send the Word on an errand Yes, I am a poet: I know how To send the Word on an errand Ideas come tumbling forth Like bailiffs with an urgent warrant Do you grieve every day For your lack of money Asking, grieve every day For your lack of money?

Ask those who have it in bountiful excess The answer you get may be far from sunny Value what you have Decrease what you crave Say, value what you have Decrease what you crave For desire without a limit Is the sure way to an early grave I long for a name which needs No title to proclaim its worth Say, I long for a name that needs No title to proclaim its worth Like the legendary Kiribojo* who Plants friendly footprints across the earth Money which stays too long In the vault will spend itself Hear? Money which stays too long In the vault will spend itself Foul fortune struts like a tipsy masquerade Then vanishes one night like sparkless elf *A powerful, all-domain spirit in Egungun cult

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news

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Bayelsa govt protests exclusion from ambassadorial nominees Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

BAYELSA State government has protested against the exclusion of the state from the recent appointment of ambassadors, saying such actions would not augur well for the Nigerian economy.

The government spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, David Serena-Dokubo Spiff, during the ongoing 56th Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

The panel of discussion was headed by a former President of NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakogba (SAN); Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Chinwe Aguma (SAN), Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN) and Mrs. Sally Mbanefo.

The SSG stated that the appointment of ambassadors “without a single candidate from Bayelsa State, despite contributing over 30 per cent of oil revenues and 40 per cent of gas revenues to the Nigerian economy was the height of injustice.”

From left, Mrs. Shola Adefuye, wife of former Nigerian Ambassador to US, late Professor Adebowale Adefuye; Mrs Rebecca Aikhomu; children of late Ambassador Adefuye - Baba, Bunmi and Tolu; at the first year memorial service for Professor Adefuye at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos State, on Saturday.

17,650 cartons of rottening fish (Panla) from UK intercepted in Lagos Tola Adenubi-Lagos

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HE Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF) domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has intercepted 15 container loads of 17,650 cartons of rotten fish imported into the country from the United Kingdom.

The department identified the fish as Blue-White specie popularly called ‘Panla’.

Speaking during a press briefing on Saturday, Dep-

uty Director and Head of Department, Fish Quality Assurance and Fish Disease Management Division of the FDF, Mrs. O. B. Adepegba, explained that each carton containing the fishes cost about N6,200.

According to her, “On the 26th of July, 2016, 42 container loads of fish were brought into the country from the UK and discharged at the Port & Cargo Handling Services (P&CHS) terminal in TinCan Island Port, Lagos

State.

“On inspection, we discovered that 15 out of the 42 containers contained fish that were already rotten. The 42 containers were brought into the country by Food Solutions Limited and shipped by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

“After the discovery, we raised the alarm and stopped their onward discharge from the Sifax Off Dock Terminal where they had been transferred to.

We then called in the Lagos Waste Management

Death toll in Fulani herdsmen attack on Enugu community rises to 2 Jude Ossai-Enugu THE death toll in last Wednesday’s Fulani herdsmen attack on Attakwu community in NkanuWest Local Government Area of Enugu State has now risen to two.

One of the victims, Mrs. Ifeoma Agbo, died on Saturday at Mother of Christ Hospital, Enugu.

Incidentantly, Mrs. Agbo died while the state was celebrating its 25th year of creation at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.

The late Mrs Agbo was said to have used musical instrument called “Ogene” to chase the herdsmen’s cattle away from her compound, an action that was said to have made the cattle rearers to launch an attack on the people of the community.

While confirming the death of Mrs Agbo, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu, said that the body of the deceased had been

deposited at the mortuary, adding that the police would do everything possible to track down the culprits and bring them to

book.

He said that one person had since been arrested in connection with the bloody attack.

Agency (LAWMA) to assist in proper destruction of the fish so that they don’t get into the market.

“The FDF has the mandate to intercept any unwholesome and dangerous marine food from entering into Nigeria. Nigeria exports over N50 billion seafood to the UK, why should they bring rotten seafood into our own country?

“We have told LAWMA that they will have to give us a video evidence of the fisheries destruction which is going to take place in Epe. We are also going to collect a certificate of destruction from LAWMA to be sure that none of the fish gets into the market.

“We have done about four seizures in 2016 but this is the biggest so far for us and we are not taking anything for granted over this latest seizure,” she added

Saraki: Senate will investigate IDPs hunger/nutrition crisis Ayedele Adesanmi-Abuja PRESIDENT of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Saturday, stated that the Senate would investigate the hunger and nutrition crisis in the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in the North-East.

Last Thursday, hundreds of women from camps in Borno State barricaded the Maiduguri-Kano/Jos Road.

While reacting to the protest, Saraki described the development as desperate and reiterated his calls for better coordination among government and international aid agencies.

He emphasised the need for the country to quickly

operationalise a more effective and efficient humanitarian response infrastructure to address the situation.

“It is important that we all focus on eliminating the coordination, access and food supply issues hindering us from successfully feeding the millions of IDPs. This is particularly important for the many children who are dying daily from starvation. It should break Nigerians heart to know that our own women and children are enduring such horrendous hardships,” he stated.

The Senate President further called on the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Com-

mission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the diversion of food aid deliveries, stressing that government officials and contractors should be held to account for how truckloads of provisions intended for the IDP camps went missing.

“Anyone that is found to be diverting the food aid deliveries should be investigated and brought to book if investigations proved their participation in these vicious schemes.

Profiting from a complex humanitarian crisis is unacceptable. The people of the North East have suffered enough indignities in the past four years from the marauding Boko Haram terrorists.”

No going back on speed limiters in commercial vehicles —FRSC Adelowo Oladipo-Minna

THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi has declared that there is no going back on the October 1 deadline for commercial and heavy duty vehicles operating in Nigeria to install speed limiting devices in their vehicles.

Oyeyemi stated this yesterday in his remarks at the Joint States’ Chairmen and National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), held at Doko Hotel, Minna, Niger State capital.

According to him, the FRSC nationwide would commence the enforcement of the policy from the aforementioned date.

Nigeria’s economy can be revived through prayers —Prophet Abiara

By Seyi Sokoya

THE General Evangelist C.A.C World Wide, Prophet S.K. Abiara, has said that the economic challenges facing the country can only be solved through prayers.

He said there is no other solution to the myriad of problems in Nigeria except the intervention of God, adding that “the only solution to it is prayer, and I believe God will touch our leaders’ hearts to do what is best for the people.”

Abiara, who spoke with newsmen at the weekend at Agbala Itura Agege, Lagos State maintained that “only Christ and prayer can revive Nigeria’s economy. Nigerians must learn a lesson from what is going currently in the country. It is high time we changed our orientation and began to live a righteous life, as well as abstain from sin and corruption. If we follow this path, I believe that God will heal our land and revive the economy.”

While commending the Buhari-led government, Abiara said, “we thank God for the new government; we thank God for what He has done so far and I urge the Federal Government to utilise the money they have recovered for the benefits of our youths. Moreover, I believe God answers prayer and the only solution is prayer.”

Debasco praises Amosun on good governance ALL Progressives Congress chieftain in Ogun State, Chief Babatunde Onakoya (Debasco), has described Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration as a government that has set itself out to rebuild the state and set better standard.

Onakoya said this at the weekend in a statement released in Abeokuta, Ogun State and made available to the media, while reviewing the strides made so far by Amosun’s administration.

He remarked that since Amosun came on board as governor, he had maintained the standard laid down by the founding fathers of the state and ensured that he did not deviate from the mission to rebuild the state.

He said that by his assessment of Governor Amosun’s performance, his government has tried its best to ensure that distinctions were achieved in the administration of the state and that the governor had been fulfilling his campaign promises to the people of the state.

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news

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Woman charged to court for assaulting children Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

The General Overseer, Decross Gospel Mission (DGM), Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi (second left), with some of his children, Mr Sina Obey (left), Mr Rotimi Obey (second right) and Mrs Bukky Obey-Olaiya (right), during the fifth year remembrance service for late Evangelist (Mrs) Juliana Obey-Fabiyi held in Abeokuta, Ogun State last Tuesday. PHOTO: SEYI SOKOYA.

Oil exploration can cause tremors, earthquakes, scientists warn

F

OLLOWING recent earth tremors in some parts of Nigeria, some scientists have warned that earthquakes can be triggered by oil and gas exploration, among other human activities, especially in the Niger Delta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), spoke with some scientists and stakeholders on Saturday across the country against the backdrop of earth tremors in some states which has raised concern in the minds of citizens.

Most of the respondents,warned that the country could be vulnerable to earthquakes and other seismological activi-

ties, and could be triggered by the oil and gas exploration, among other human activities, especially in the Niger Delta Region.

Earth tremors recently caused a widespread panic among residents of Akenfa and Igbogene in Bayelsa State, and Akinima, Akieoniso (Oruama), One Man Country and Mbiama in Rivers State.

Tremors also happened many times in Saki, located in the northern part of Oyo State - a hilly town that lies near the source of Ofun River, which is about 60km to the Republic of Benin border.

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) said

that oil and gas exploration as well as human activities among others were the likely causes of tremor in the South-South.

According to the Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Communications, of NASRDA, Mr Felix Ale, the organisation had done a preliminary report on the suspected earth tremors that occurred on July 15 and July 24 in Bayelsa and Rivers states respectively.

“The report shows that oil and gas exploration, suspected suture zones and man-made activities are among likely causes of the incidents.

“At this stage, it cannot be concluded that the tremors occurred as a re-

Amnesty programme: N/Delta ex-militants defy rain, protest in Abuja Christian Okeke-Abuja EX-MILITANTS in the Niger Delta who said they were yet to be captured under the third phase of the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, on Saturday, stormed Abuja to protest their continued exclusion.

The former militants who were represented by their leaders from the various states of the region threw more lights on why the region remained fragile.

They alleged that the continuous ill-treatment being meted to the former agitators under the aegis of third phase exmilitants by the amnesty office was fuelling tension in the region.

Speaking on behalf of the militants, Comrade Wisdom Ibena Rufus, noted that members of the phase who were about 10, 000 and who embraced amnes-

ty and surrendered about 18, 000 arms to government during the administration of late President Musa Yar’Adua were yet to be properly documented and given their entitlements.

He disclosed that the government had undertaken to pay for each gun surrendered, apart from disarmament and housing allowances but lamented that the amnesty office failed to honour the commitments as it had yet to kick-start the third phase of the amnesty programme.

Rufus urged the government to carry out an immediate probe of the operations of the amnesty office with the aim of prosecuting all those culpable in the alleged diversion and shortchanging of the members of the third phase.

He also urged the government to ensure that all entitlements of the mili-

tants were paid to douse tension in the region.

“Our boys are angry.

We can tell them that we are doing something and engaging in dialogue with government but if they don’t see result of what we are doing, we cannot say what next they can do “If government refuses to listen to us, we as executive members cannot do anything because we are law-abiding people, but our members may be uncontrollable,” he said.

Also speaking, Joseph Oteri who is secretary of the ahird phase ex-militants group accused the leadership of the amnesty office of not wishing for the Niger Delta crisis to end.

He accused them of benefiting from the crisis, saying: “the management of the office is happy that there is crisis in Niger Delta because that is when it makes more money.”

sult of man-made activities in the region or from tectonic activities from natural sources until a detailed investigation in the entire South-South region is carried out by NASRDA’s research team,” he said.

A scientist and Director, Technology Acquisition and Adaption Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Adeneye Talabi, also attributed the incident of earth tremors to exploration of oil and gas.

Talabi said that the Federal Government needed to save more lives by enforcing all existing rules on exploiting natural resources.

Talabi said that the government should ensure that due processes were followed to address tremors that occurred recently in the South-South region.

He said that the balance of the ecosystem had been distorted by the fact that oil had been extracted, adding that the vacuum created by extracting gas and crude oil ought to be replaced with close density commodity to avoid any future disaster.

“There is need for the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in particular to enforce all the existing and rules guiding exploitation of natural resources like crude oil.

“Regarding the tremor at Bayelsa and Rivers, the fact that they have been extracting through the exploration processes and methods, vacuum has been created, “he said.

A geologist, Dr Emmanuel Adanu, the Executive Director, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, said Nigeria needed to be keeping records of the various earth tremors in the country to prepare ahead of future tremors in the country.

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna State Command has said it has charged Asiya Mohammed, 30, to court for assault and abuse of a two-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl.

Acting state commandant of the Corps, Deputy Commandant, Ilelaboye Waidi Oyejide, said the case of child abuse and assault on Abdulrahman Mohammed and Maryam Mohammed against Asiya who is their stepmother was reported at the command on August 22, 2016 by their biological mother, Halima Haruna who is said to have been divorced by her husband.

Halima alleged that Abdulrahman, two years old, currently on admission at Garkuwa Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, had been maimed by the suspect, Asiya.

The mother added that her daughter, Maryam, who is four years old has equally suffered same fate as Abdulrahman as she expressed serious worries over her children’s health status.

Niger Delta varsity ends 4-month strike Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa THE Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, has called off its four-month old strike.

It also announced that the institution would resume for academic work on September 5, while students are expected to arrive school on the September 2.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the acting Registrar, Mrs. Effua Berepubo, and made available to journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The institution, it was learnt, embarked on strike to press home its demand on the payment of four months unpaid salaries.

The situation was delayed because the entreaties made by the government to pay 50 percent salary owing to the fall in the state’s allocation from the centre were rejected by the lecturers.

In a statement issued by Mr. Daniel Iworiso Markson, after a stakeholders meeting of the organised labour and the state chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), lecturers in the inter.

Unemployment: FG begins training for 150 students Anthony Ubong-Calabar IN its continuous efforts at reducing unemployment, the federal government has initiated a School-To-Work training programme for 150 secondary school students in Cross River State.

The programme, which would be managed by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), is meant to equip the students with skills and engage them in meaningful activities during the holiday period.

Declaring the programme open in Calabar, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said that the Federal Government was not oblivious of the escalating level unemployment in the country.

Ngige said that the scheme which was new in the Directorate was designed to engage the students in learning skills like barbing, phone repairs, computer repairs and others for a period of two months.

Lagos PDP chairman, Salvador, warns members against moneybags Bola Badmus-Lagos CHAIRMAN, Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Moshood Salvador, has charged members to take direct ownership of the party through their personal funding and contributions to avoid moneybags hijacking the party from them.

This is just as he vowed that the party would win the forthcoming re- election into the House of Representatives for the Ifako-Ijaye Federal Constituency of the state, disclosing that his office had so far received five letters from aspirants.

Salvador made this call while addressing chieftains and members, who gathered for an emergency assembly to chart the way forward for the party, contending that this step was the best road to take at a time that the leadership wants to take the party back to the masses.

28 August, 2016 43 news 25th anniversary: Anambra, Delta, Kogi, others celebrate From Jude Ossai and Oluwole Ige With Agency Reports

S

OME states created on August 27, 1991 are presently celebrating their 25th anniversary in different ways across the country.

Abia, Osun, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Enugu Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi,Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa states were created at the time.

Commemorating the day in Kogi State, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Bolanle Amupitan, urged the citizens to be patient with the current administration in the interest of everyone.

Amupitan called on citizens to allow peace to reign and cooperate with the state governor to move the state forward.

In Awka, Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano said that the state has evolved through different stages of growth and remains one of Nigeria’s most important states.

In a special broadcast on Saturday, he commended the men and women who managed the affairs of the state as military administrators and governors before him.

“Brothers and sisters, we have reasons for hope. Let us join hands and continue to build a state that will be the envy of Africa in the next 25 years.

“We must strive to seek the face of God by showing love to one another, supporting one another and having the grace to say ‘sorry’ when we are wrong,’’ he said.

Obiano said that his administration had adopted a new development strategy: “Anambra Economic Transformation Programme’’ to enhance the integrated development of the state.

“This strategy was developed to match our new public sector efficiencies with the growing interest of the private sector in order to achieve a set of clearly established goals,’’ he said.

In Asaba, Delta State, government cancelled the monthly sanitation exercise for the celebration.

The Director of Sanitation in the state, Mr Lucky Adah, said that if movement was not restricted, the celebration might be affected.

He said that the state Ministry of Environment had earlier cleaned up streets in the state and appealed to the residents to continue in embracing good hygiene.

Jibrilla, others observe peace walk In Adamawa State, Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla

on Saturday led members of his cabinet and citizens of the state in a six-kilometre peace walk to celebrate the 25th year of the state’s creation out of the defunct Gongola State.

Speaking after the walk which started from Yola Police Roundabout to Doubeli junction, Jibrilla advocated peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the state.

He called for more support for his administration to enable it to deliver on its campaign promises.

He also said that his administration had resolved to resuscitate the monthly sanitation exercise to keep the newly constructed and rehabilitated township roads and drains in the state clean.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Malam Ahmed Sajoh, said activities lined up for the celebration included special prayers, lectures, cultural display and sanitation exercise.

Dignitaries that participated in the walk included Deputy Governor, Martins Babale; the Secretary to the State Government, of the

state, Dr Umar Bindir and the Vice-Chancellor of Adamawa State University, Dr Moses Zaruwa.

Ekweremadu, Nnamani, Chime shun Enugu celebration In Enugu State, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; ex-governors of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, on Saturday, shunned the 25th anniversary of the creation of the state held at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, even as the incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, lauded founding fathers of the state, He said he would amend the pension scheme so as to accommodate past leaders, particularly elders who had contributed meaningfully to the state.

Ugwuanyi, who gave the news while marking the silver jubilee, said the proposed amended pension laws would accommodate all the past civilian governors of old Anambra state.

The governor also stated that the state would reconstitute the elders council that would help provide the nec-

essary guidance and counsel to ensure seamless development of Enugu State.

“We intend to amend the Pension Laws of the state to accommodate past civilian governors of the old Anambra state and their deputies in appreciation of their contributions and services to the state.

“I will also use this platform to announce our decision to reconstitute the Enugu State Elders’ Council which we believe will help provide the necessary guidance and counsel to ensure the seamless development of Enugu State,” Governor Ugwuanyi said.

Ugwuanyi used the occasion to reiterate his commitment to take development to the rural areas as part of strategy to create new urban areas, boost socioeconomic activities, create employment opportunities and reduce the pressure on Enugu metropolis.

He said that the state would continue to pursue the diversification of the state’s economy through full exploitation of vast land resources, particularly in

Nsukka and Greater Awgu areas to boost agricultural production.

The governor paid tributes to the founding fathers of the state, most especially the former governor of old Anambra State, late Chief Christian Onoh, for the relentless efforts in ensuring that Enugu State was created.

Some of the prominent personalities who graced the occasion included Chief Ken Nnamani, former Senate President; former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo; ex-governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, former military governors among others.

Adeleke, Oyinlola, Akande, others absent in Osun In Osun State, former civilian governors, namely Senator Isiaka Adelele, Chief Bisi Akande, and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola were absent at Osogbo Township Stadium venue of the celebration of the state’s 25th anniversary, where dignitaries were treated to calisthenic displays by public school pupils.

From left, Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Edward Ubosi; former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, during the 25th anniversary celebration of Enugu State, on Saturday.

Flooding: Lagos orders residents to remove structures on drainages Bola Badmus - Lagos LAGOS State government has asked residents who erected structures on drainages to remove them without further delay in order to ensure free flow of water and avoid flooding.

The directive came on the heels of reports of annual flooding outlook and rainfall prediction released by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

Special Adviser on Environment, Babatunde Hunpe, gave the directive on Saturday during the

monthly environmental sanitation monitored in Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state.

The special adviser, while assuring the residents that the state government would ensure reconstruction of the drains to reduce rates of flooding in the council, contended that maintenance of drainages could only be undertaken with the removal of the structures that were sited on them.

Hunpe, however, called on residents to desist from depositing wastes in their drainages in order to aid effective evacuation of the waste in them. He said the

technical team of the ministry would “visit the area again on Monday to look at all these black spots after which they will speed into action.”

He said that the ministry would put environmental health inspectors in place to monitor the area after the drainages were cleared so that residents would be prohibited from dumping refuse in their drainages.

Speaking further, Hunpe said the issue of fencing of market was ongoing by the state government, adding that, “We are going to continue until every market in Lagos is fenced.”

Sole Administrator of Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye, Mr. Adekunle Julius, said the LCDA would cooperate with the state government to ensure proper flow of water in the drainages, assuring that “The monitoring team within the council would intensify their surveillance to ensure that residents adhere to sanitation laws in the state.”

Adekunle, who lamented that the canals in the council area required immediate attention to prevent cases of flooding, said, “We will be grateful if the state government can help clear the canals to avoid loss of life and property in the council.”

Sunday Tribune

Besides, two of the invited past military administrators of the state, Colonel Leo Segun Ajiborisa (rtd) and Colonel Anthony Obi, were also absent.

Though Sunday Tribune could not ascertain the reason for the absence at the event, a source disclosed that all the past civilian governors and military administrators of the state were duly invited for the celebration.

However, despite the downpour that almost affected the celebration, the calisthenic display by pupils of public schools held the audience spellbound for over three hours.

Addressing guests at the ceremony, governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, described the anniversary as historic, saying his administration would not waiver in its resolve to develop physical, mental and social capabilities of the citizenry, with a view to making them productive to in the society.

While contending that qualitative education is crucial to all individuals, he averred that his government had not only developed the individual intellectual strength, but also provided them with befitting learning environment to motivate and enhance their effective learning.

Aregbesola, who stressed that the anniversary was centred on the state’ youths, said it was aimed at boosting their confidence and self-reliance, observed that the calisthenic displays were simply marvelous and awesome spectacles to behold.

At the event, former administrators of the state, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye and Navy Captain Anthony Udofia lauded Aregbesola for bringing physical developments to Osun State through the implementation of projects and provision of infrastructure that have have positive impacts on the people.

Dignitaries at the anniversary included former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oluseyi Petirin (rtd); former Deputy Governor, Chief Adeleke Adewoyin; wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.

Others are former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Wale Omole; Lagos APC leader, Cardinal James Odunmbaku; Senators Jide Omoworare (Osun West senatorial district) and Prof.

Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central); Senators Olu Alabi and Mudathir Hussain.

44

news

28 August, 2016

Gov sacks varsity, college of education non-academic staff

G

OVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the immediate sack of some non-academic staff of the state university and college of education.

Umahi gave the order in Abakaliki, on Saturday, while receiving the report of a committee to review the activities in the institutions.

“It is not economically viable for the institutions to recruit adjunct staff in the non-academic cadre, as the employees will be redundant in their duties.

“It does not make ‘economic sense’ for the institutions to employ 400 cleaners as one wonders the scope and nature of work they will be doing.

“We know that the managements postulated ‘professional sense’ in employing such workers but with the prevailing economic situation in the country, we should effectively merge it with ‘economic sense,” he said.

The governor also ordered that promotion of staff in

both institutions be suspended until the visitation panel concluded its duties.

He also directed the state’s fiscal responsibility commission to investigate activities in both institutions.

“When we conclude all reviews and investigations, I am optimistic that we can reduce their tuition fees as obtained in other states of the South-East geopolitical zone.

“We are unhappy that our students seek academic pursuits in other states due to high tuition fees, and we are committed to solving all the problems confronting these institutions,” he said.

The governor also ordered that the salaries of workers under the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) be paid immediately provided there was an agreement between the ministry of health and the concerned local governments.

“The salaries of those who do not have any binding agreement should also be paid but it must be on equal

basis with workers on the same grade level in other segments of the civil service.

“We have agreed that workers not enjoying CONHESS due to deficiencies in certificates should be paid a special ‘hazard allowance to motivate them,” he said.

Chairman of the committee, Professor Chigozie Ogbu, noted that it solicited

the assistance of all unions and interest groups for effective discharge of its duties.

Ogbu, a former deputy governor of the state, noted that the committee urged the unions to shelve their planned strike and other acts that might disrupt academic activities in the institutions.

Kwara govt detects 1,071 workers recruited illegally THE Kwara State government, on Saturday, said it had discovered 1,071 workers illegally recruited into the state’s civil service within the last few months.

The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Musa Yeketi, made this known in llorin while speaking at the launch of a book entitled “My Public Service at the Heart of Na-

Flood, windstorm kill 3-year-old, destroy 100 houses in Sokoto TWIN disasters of flood and windstorm have led to the death of a three-year-old boy, Sheriff Bashir, in Tudun-Yando village, DangeShuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), correspondent, who visited the area, learnt that the disasters occurred in the early hours of Saturday, sequel to a downpour and windstorm.

NAN also reported that no fewer than 100 houses and public buildings in several adjoining villages were destroyed as a result of the incidents.

The villages affected included Tudun Yan-dogo, Kwanar Kinba, Dogon Marke, Shuni town, Rafin Ali, Betta and Kadabale.

The father of the deceased, Bashir Aliyu, said that his child died after a wall fell on him at around 3.00 am on Saturday.

Aliyu said: “My dead child

had since been buried and the family had regarded his demise as an act of God.” NAN also reported that assorted farm produce and domestic wares were destroyed by the disasters while hundreds of livestock were killed.

The member of the state House of Assembly representing Dange-Shuni constituency, Alhaji Aminu Bodai, had visited the victims and commiserated with them.

Bodai said: “The victims need immediate assistance and this should be extended to them by the local and state governments.

“I will also report the disasters to the assembly with a view to attracting urgent relief to the victims.’’

The chairman of the local government, Alhaji Mode Dantasallah, also expressed shock at the incidents and promised to immediately provide temporary shelters

Sunday Tribune

to the victims.

“The local government will also immediately set up a 10-man committee to assess the extent of damage caused by the disasters.

“The committee will also recommend the types of assistance to be rendered to the victims to enable them rebuild their houses and get some food to feed their families.

“We will also team up with the state government with a view to rendering the needed large-scale assistance to the victims,” he said.

The Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hassan Maccido, also said the agency would soon send a team of experts to the villages to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the disasters.

He said the team would recommennd the forms of reliefs to be immediately provided to the victims.

tional Development.”

The 114-page book was written by a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and Head of Service (HoS) in the state, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar.

Yeketi attributed the recruitment of the illegal workers to dishonesty among some civil servants in the state, adding that the state was losing N400 million monthly as salary to the illegal workers.

He did not dwell on the issue but said that appropriate actions were being taken on it.

In his speech, the guest speaker, Mallam Yusuf Ali, identified military rule, insecurity of tenure and nepotism as factors militating against the progress of the civil service in Nigeria.

Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said that the country’s public service had deteriorated due to “high rate of corruption, nepotism and mediocrity.”

He said that many Nigerians were poor because of insincerity and dishonesty of some leaders.

He called for institution of a reward system for dedicated public servants, saying that the measure would boost morale, motivate the people and curb corruption in the service.

Ali also advocated prompt payment of pension and gratuity to retired public servants in order to make the service more reliable.

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28 August, 2016

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28 August, 2016

SUNDAY

Sunday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman 08053789060 tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com

Ogunsaya named new Lagos Sports Commission DG

By Niyi Alebiosu

Sadiq

Rio 2016 star, Umar on permanent move to Bologna

R

IO 2016 Olympics star, Sadiq Umar will join Bologna from fellow Italian Serie A side, AS Roma on a permanent basis it has been agreed.

The lanky forward scored four goals for the Dream Team which won bronze medal at the just-ended

Rio Olympics – a brace against Honduras in the third place match as well as a goal against Japan and Sweden in the group games.

An official of the Abuja Football College which produced Umar, disclosed that the striker will be sold permanently by Roma to Bologna with a special pro-

viso that Roma could buy him back at a specially discounted price.

“Discussions over Sadiq’s future have begun and it has now been decided he will be sold on a permanently basis to Bologna, but Roma could have him back at a special price should they want to lay him off at some point,” the official

stated.

In June this year, Roma announced that after a season-long loan spell from Serie B side Spezia, they have signed the lanky striker for 2.5 million Euros on a four-year contract.

He scored two goals after making six appearances in Serie A last season.

Gateway Utd petitions NNL GATEWAY United FC has petitioned the Nigeria National League board over the use of unofficially designated referees for its rescheduled Week 10 match against J. Atete FC played on August 17 at Otujemi Stadium, Ughelli, Delta State.

According to a statement by the Media Officer of the Abeokuta-based side, Rotimi Oduniyi, the referees who officiated the tie were not the referee whose names were published on the website of the NNL to officiate the match.

According to Oduniyi, the presence of these unofficially designated referees at the pre-match meeting aroused the curiosity of Gateway United officials who raised the issue with

the Match Commissioner who however, waived it aside.

He stated that Gateway United decided to go on with the match as a law-abiding club that will not want to disrupt any NNL tie under any guise and with clear understanding that it has the right to express its grievance in a formal way.

Gateway United also in its petition complained of inadequate security, intimidation, harassment and physical assault on the Media Officer of the club who was beaten by J. Atete supporters as they attempted to snatch the camera being used to record the match.

Gateway United who also alleged that its General Manager was stabbed in

the head as well while there was fans encroachment during the game and therefore

called on the NNL to redress the injustices done it in the interest of fair play.

LAGOS State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has appointed Gbolahan Adewunmi Ogunsanya as new Director General for the Lagos State Sports Commission.

The appointment which was made public on Friday night takes immediate effect as he is expected to assume work on Monday.

According to the information made available to Tribunesport by the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mrs Titi Oshodi, the newly-appointed DG has been charged by the sport-loving governor to take sports in the state to greater heights.

Ogunwunmi, until his new appointment was the director, Planning and

Project Development, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency.

The former Director of Sports, Lagos State Ministry of Sports, Ogunwunmi who led the State team to the 17th National Sports Festival held in Port Harcourt, said he will do everything humanly possible to justify his appointment.

“Inasmuch as I want to appreciate our amiable governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for the appointment, I will want to state here that I will use my wealth of experience to take sports to greater heights in the state and also focus more on youth sports development so as to justify my appointment,” Ogunwunmi told Tribunesport by phone.

Oyo teenagers set for Shittu athletics, soccer tournaments

By Niyi Alebiosu

AS part of plans to discover and nurture talents in Oyo State, arrangements are in top gear to organise Barrister Adebayo Shittu athletics competition for U-13 boys and girls in public and private schools as well as U-17 grassroots soccer tournament in the state.

Ekiti State-born 11-year-old table tennis star, Dennis Adeleye, one of the teenagers representing Nigeria at the ongoing 2016 ITF/CAT 12 & Under Talent Identification Programme in Casablanca, Morocco, being received by Governor Ayodele Fayose at the Government House, Ado Ekiti last Thursday before his departure to Morocco.

The athletics and football tournaments which are being sponsored by the Minister of communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and packaged

by Prime Reall Grassroots Sports Network are aimed at not only developing sports but to discover budding talents and nurture them to stardom.

Comrade Oladimeji Raji, Chairman, Organising committee while speaking with Tribunesport stated that the competitions will go a long way in putting the state in national glare, just as it would also help discover athletes for the state that is preparing for the forthcoming National Youth Games in Ilorin later in the year.

Raji, also informed that the commencement of the competitions which will hold in all major cities and towns in the state is likely to be in October this year.

“We are putting logistics in place to host a hitch-free tournaments that would help improve the standard of sports in the state,” Raji said.

47 sport

28 August, 2016

Sunday Tribune

Vardy begins goal account JAMIE Vardy scored his first goal of the season in the Premier League to help champions, Leicester City record its first win with a 2-1 victory over Swansea in very wet conditions.

The England striker, Vardy who scored 24 goals last season for the Foxes fired in off the post from Danny Drinkwater’s ball in the 32nd minute, before Wes Morgan volleyed in from a right-wing corner seven minutes into the second half.

Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez had a penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski, who also blocked Shinji Okazaki’s follow-up.

Swansea pulled one back when Leroy Fer headed in from Modou Barrow’s cross in the 80th minute.

Leicester manager, Claudio Ranieri, was asked if opposing defences had figured Jamie Vardy out after last season’s top scorer failed to find the net in the first two matches of this campaign.

“I am not worried” the Italian said, “he (Vardy) is a natural goalscorer”.

Ranieri expressed joy at the victory despite the shortcomings of his men in the game.

“I am very happy. We played very well in the first half. In the second half we could have closed the match, but missed a penalty and in the end we complicated our life. But it was a good three points and I’m very happy.

“These three points are very important for us because we lost the first match - we’ve now taken four points from two matches at home, which is OK. “The draw against Arsenal was OK and today was a good performance. I am glad.

“We have a very good platform. We wanted to keep all our players. It wasn’t possible and one went away but it’s OK. We are happy and now we start our season,” he said.

Vardy

Moses celebrates his goal against Burnley.

Moses scores in Chelsea’s 3-0 win N

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi

IGERIA international, Victor Moses on Saturday maintained his awe-inspiring scoring form as he scored his first goal of the season in the English Premier League when Chelsea hammered newly-promoted side, Burnley 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The victory earned Chelsea a 100 per cent winning record in the EPL this season having won all its three games so far.

Moses, who returned to the Blues this season under new manager, Antonio Conte, after loan spells with Liverpool and West Ham United in the last two seasons, was also on song on Tuesday when Chelsea dumped Bristol Rovers 3-2 in the second round of the English Football Cup.

Arsenal grabs first win, confirms arrival of Mustafi, Perez ARSENAL on Saturday secured its first win of the season in the English Premier League with a 3-1 defeat of Watford at vicarage Road.

The Gunners had lost their first game of the season 3-4 to Liverpool and drew 0-0 last weekend with reigning EPL champions, Leicester City.

Santi Cazorla put the Gunners ahead in the ninth minute with a penalty kick, while Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 when he scrambled home from an accurate Theo Walcott ball into the box.

Germany forward, Mesut Ozil, making his first start

for Arsenal after being rested post-Euro 2016, on the stroke of half-time made it three with a header off Sanchez’s pass.

However, substitute Argentine star, Roberto Pereyra scored for the Hornets on his debut in the 57th minute, as Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo who played all 90 minutes fired blank.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has confirmed the signing of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez, subject to the finalisation of paperwork.

The Gunners, having defeated Watford 3-1 in

the Premier League on Saturday, will soon be reinforced by the arrival of German defender, Mustafi from Valencia and Spanish forward, Perez, who will join from Deportivo La Coruna.

“We have bought two players, Mustafi and Perez,” he said following the comfortable victory at Vicarage Road. “Now we can integrate them into the squad.

“We have to finish the paperwork. It looks as though it will be announced at the beginning of the week.

“We had to work very hard to get signings done. We have not got any plans for anyone else now.”

The goal against Burnley in the 89th minute was clinically executed by the Super Eagles forward as he connected a cross from substitute Pedro.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner replaced Willian Da Silva in

the 77th minute and spent 12 minutes to hit the scoresheet.

Eden Hazard had opened the scoring nine minutes into the game when he curled home from 20 yards off a counter attack, while Willian, who recently returned from injury, added

another just before the break.

It will be recalled that Moses, last EPL goal was when he scored in West Ham United’s 1-2 loss to Manchester City last season then on loan for the Hammers.

Rashford gives Man U victory at Hull SUBSTITUTE Marcus Rashford scored a 92nd minute winner as Manchester United finally overhauled a stubborn Hull City at a sodden KCOM Stadium on Saturday.

The 18-year-old - making his first appearance of the season - steered home Wayne Rooney’s cross to spark wild celebrations on the away bench.

Moments earlier, David Myler had blazed over in a rare Hull attack.

But it was a deserved win for United who had gone close though Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and

Rashford

Paul Pogba.

They and Chelsea are the only Premier League sides with a 100 per cent record from three games with Manchester City - with two wins from two games playing West Ham United today.

The winner by Rashford, a second-half replacement for Juan Mata, was the climax to a performance of persistence and intelligence from the visitors who changed tack several times before eventually breaking down Hull.

Ibrahimovic arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation for audacity, but,

in the first half, it was his physical size rather than mercurial skill that posed most threat.

Offering himself as a constant target in the box, the Swede headed just over the bar in the 10th minute before an extravagant backheel found the side-netting.

The excellent Curtis Davies blocked the more direct route to goal after the break, but the guile of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the pace of fellow substitute Rashford stretched the Hull defence in different directions and, finally, beyond breaking point.

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Thrice in one week, the naira crashed from 340 to 415 against the US dollar. The continued crash of the nation’s currency has been blamed on Nigerians’ love for imported goods. Lesson? Any country that cannot produce ordinary toothpick must be prepared to pay a heavy price for its indolence!

Yoruba nation: Know yourself

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ROM conversations with Yoruba youths these days, it quickly becomes plain that most of them know disturbingly little, or even nothing, about their Yoruba nation. Because their Yoruba nation is part of a country called Nigeria and is inevitably part of the crookedness, chaos, and hopeless poverty that is Nigeria, because their Yoruba nationhas lost much of its assets and capabilities in the context of Nigeria and seriously declined with Nigeria, they go about thinking that their Yoruba nation has always been a small, weak and crooked nation. They need to know that they are wrong, very – very –wrong. They need to learn the truth.

Before we go further, I urge our youths not to take whatever I say here as truth without trying to check up from other older persons and from available writings.

Most of what we will say here are available in writing. Make particular use of the worldwide social media.

The first truth you needto learn is that most of those who have been exercising authority over Nigeria since independence do not want the youths of the different nations of Nigeria to know the history of their nations, or even to speak the languages of their nations. This is why History has been subtly excluded from the curriculum of our schools for decades. It is also why education is constantly being discouraged in many subtle ways in Nigeria. It is why the high quality university which we Yoruba created at Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) was taken away by the federal authoritiesand gradually degraded. Their belief is that, to build Nigeria, they must weaken most of the various nations of Nigeria, especially the strongest ones like the Yoruba and Igbo. They say these things explicitly from time to time.

Try and find out. In the world, no other country that comprises many nations tries as hard as Nigeria to weaken its nations; what such countriescommonly do is to promote the prosperity and strength of their various nations. For a good example, read what India has been doing with its nearly 2000 nationalities.

Our second truth is that, today, our Southwest is very very poor. But what I want you to note specially is that all the poverty of our Southwest todayis new. In fact, we as a nation have never before been as poor as we are today.

For many centuries before the British

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came and included us in Nigeria, we Yoruba were politically very civilized and orderly in our many kingdoms, economically very productive and comfortable, socially very sophisticated and fashionable.

We lived in many towns and cities, unlike almost the rest of the nations of Black Africa. Our farming was rich, our country was well supplied with food, our traders were trading far and wide in Black Africa,

an investment corporation that was the largest collection of African-owned investment capital in all of Africa. On the whole, our Western Region was much richer than the other two Regions of Nigeria (Northern and Eastern Regions); and it generated more internal revenues than these other two Regions together. The cocoa exports of our farmers provided most of Nigeria’s foreign exchange. By 1960, we

the products of our country (like cloths, beads, metal implements, etc) reached far and wide, and our language was the common language of trade among many nations of the coasts of West Africa. Before the British came and included us in Nigeria, we were already a considerably educated people, because of the coming of Christian missionaries – and unlike nearly all of the rest of Africa, we already had a large and growing class of university graduates (lawyers, doctors, engineers, writers, teachers, etc), and we had newspapers in some of our cities. We were very much like Japan in Asia – a nation already modernizing itself without any European colonial ruler.

At the time of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, we were the most educated nation in Nigeria and in all of Africa, and the most advanced in all aspects of modern development. We had more tarred roads than any other, more towns with pipeborne water, the first television station in all of Africa, the first sports stadium, the first industrial estates, the first Free Education programme, many of the most productive and richest cocoa farmers in the world, rich production of food crops on our farms, modern farm settlements, extensive plantations of rubber, palm trees, teak and other valuable tropical trees, special institutions for training skilled workers (in furniture making, electrical installations, plumbing, wood work, crafts, etc),

were a rich nation poised to grow richer and richer.

But we are now a poor nation. Almost all of our prosperity has, since Nigeria’s independence, been gradually destroyed.In almost every Yoruba town, there are now some Yoruba beggars in the streets. Very many of our educated young men and women cannot find jobs to do, some for years. Many continue to depend on their parents, but many parents themselves are no longer able to provide enough for themselves. Among the few educated who are fortunate to have jobs (such as teaching jobs in state schools, or other jobs in government offices), most are not sure that they will receive their salaries at the end of every month, and many don’t receive their salaries for many months. Our old and retired parents and grandparents are no longer sure if they will be paid their pensions. Many have ceased getting any pensions. Add all these together, and you will see how poverty has taken over among us.

But that is not all. One other source of poverty is that our educational system has virtually collapsed. We invested heavily in education in order to strengthen our development, but the Nigerian opposition to education has gradually destroyed our education.Most of our public schools are now wretched, dirty and ugly, and children cannot learn properly in them. Our school teachers no longer get the kind of

Ikorodu United vs El-Kanemi Warriors Sunshine Stars vs Heartland Shooting Stars vs Kano Pillars Rivers United vs Plateau United Nasarawa United vs Rangers FC Giwa vs Warri Wolves FC IfeanyiUbah vs Wikki Tourists MFM, Lagos vs Abia Warriors Niger Tornadoes vs Lobi Stars POOLS result: 2, 7, 8, 14, 23, 24, 26, 29, 34, 44. AB: 43.

Today’s matches: 6, 10.

•Moses scores for Chelsea Inside •Arsenal signs Mustafi, Perez Inside

respect that teachers get from governments and people in other countries. And then, they often don’t get paid their salaries regularly. They are demoralized and robbed of pride in their profession.All these poor conditions have also extended to our universities and colleges. Therefore, university lecturers and professors are often as discouraged as our school teachers, and they too are often on strike. And corruption has added to the destruction of all educational standards. Consequently, many of our graduates don’t really measure up to the true level of graduates any more. Many of our secondary school and university graduates these days cannot read or write – either in English or in our own Yoruba language.

What all this poor education means is that many of the graduates of our secondary schools and universities don’t have the education for getting anything done.

Manycannot think up, plan, or start ventures of their own. And they do not have skills for most jobs – that is, they are unemployable. The old technical schools have perished. For many available jobs, employers often go to neighbouring countries (like Benin Republic) for skilled workers.In fact, you will oftenhear employers say that our youths don’t take skills seriously and are difficult to depend on. Again, add all these together, and you see poverty plainly – poverty in the midst of plenty.

Yet another reason for poverty among us Yoruba is that we don’t produce our own food any more. This is another way in which our general decline in Nigeria has affected us. Most of the food being sold in our markets today are not produced by us or on our land.They are brought fromsomewhere else or other. That means that most of the billions of Naira spentdaily buying foodin each of our towns does not stay in our region and circulate there; it goes to other places promptly. But even more serious is the fact that we have no control over our food supply. We have no food security. Some years ago, when food transportation from the North encountered some problem for some days, our Lagos city soon began to starve, and Lagosians had to stream to Benin Republic to buy food, including even minor items like tomato and pepper.For us, this is a very dangerous situation – the most disastrous kind of poverty imaginable.

We will continue.

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Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: sundaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 28/8/2016 MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR : SINA OLADEINDE. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712.