28th October 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,621 FRIDAY, 28 OCTOBER, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

TODAY'S SPECIAL

Health benefits of olive oil

YOU will see people arguing about animal fats, seed oils and almost everything in between. But one of the few fats that most people agree is healthy is extra virgin olive oil. This oil, part of the Mediterranean diet, is a traditional fat that has been a dietary staple for some of the world’s healthiest populations.

There is actually quite a bit of research behind the health effects of olive oil. These studies show that the fatty acids and Continues pg3

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Ekiti Assembly NASS takes over control of CCT, CCB petitions EFCC over fraud from president —P3,29 alleged N40bn—P4

by Fayemi •Asset declaration: Court dismisses Saraki's appeal against CCT's decision •I can't be distracted, Fayemi says

Corruption in oil industry overblown, Nigeria targets 60% oil import reduction by 2019 —Kachikwu

—P11

Ondo: Jimoh Ibrahim is PDP candidate —INEC •Akeredolu, Oke, 25 others make final list, Jegede dropped •It's a mockery of democracy, we will appeal —Ondo PDP —P31

CJN, NBA agree, arrested judges —P2,4 barred from sitting

•Again, Justice Ademola pulls out of case involving DSS

$29.9bn loan: FG takes $25.8bn, states $4.1bn —P12,32 •2016 budget: FG releases N2.5trn

From left, Managing Director, FBN Merchant Bank Limited, Kayode Akinkugbe; Chairman, FBN Merchant Bank Limited, Mallam Bello Maccido; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah and the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holding Plc, Urum Kalu Ekeh, at the sixth annual FBN Quest Annual Investor Conference, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

HOW FG WILL SPEND PROPOSED $25.8BN LOAN Project Cost Mambilla Hydro project $4.8bn Calabar - Post Harcourt - Onne Railway $3.5bn Abuja Mass Rail Transit (Phase 2) $1.6bn Lagos-Ibadan double track railway $1.3bn Kano-Kaduna double railway track $1.1bn Others (unspecified) $6.0bn Budget support $3.5bn Education, health $2.1bn Agriculture $0.3bn Economic Mgt & Statistics $0.2bn

2 news

Friday, 28 October, 2016

DSS raid: CJN, NBA agree, arrested judges barred from sitting Lawyers now to participate in judges’ sanction Lanre Adewole -Lagos Thursday closeddoor meeting between the leadership of the Bench and Bar agreed on serving judges arrested by the Department of Security Services (DSS) for alleged corruption being recused from cases, pending the outcome of the ongoing probe and planned prosecution.

The serving judges include Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and Justice M.A Pindiga of the Gombe High Court.

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), until Thursday’s meeting, had canvassed the suspension of the affected serving judges, but the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, led the National Judicial Council (NJC) to mount a serious challenge to NBA’s position, citing the unconstitutionality of sanctioning the judges without the due process of law.

The public disagreement led the Body of Senior Advocates working out the truce meeting of Thursday.

A

A senior source present at the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune that though the two parties did not agree on specific decisions, the NBA team, led by its president, A.B Mahmood, was satisfied with the announcement by the CJN that the affected apex court justices had neither sat nor put on any panel since their arrest and release on bail.

Nigerian Tribune had also exclusively reported that their names were even taken off the panels they were on before their arrest.

“The CJN pointed out that his leadership needed no advice from anywhere to recuse them from cases, including the ones they were participating in before the incident,” the source noted.

Mahmood and his team were said to have expressed their satisfaction with the development at the apex court, noting that the rescuing was in tandem with their call that the judges had to stop sitting on cases, because of the way the public would perceive it.

Nigerian Tribune was told that the meeting opened with Mahmood explaining his new position on the matter, after initially

My husband can’t do it alone —Aisha Buhari Says his success her desire WIFE of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has said President Muhammadu Buhari cannot work alone to succeed in governing the country, adding that he needs the help of governors, their wives and members of the progressive party.

She disclosed this during the kick-off of distribution of foods and household utensils to returnees from internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, to fast track their resettlement in their communities.

Hajia Buhari, who was accompanied by wives of the Chief of Air Staff, that of Inspector-General of Police and former deputy governor of Plateau State, Mrs Pauline Tallen, at Beneshiek, headquarters of Kaga Local Government area of Borno State, said fund for the procurement of the foods were sourced from the donations from well-meaning Nigerians, through her Get-InvolveProgramme, a unit of her Future-Assured-Project.

She said she was interested in the success of the Federal Government led by her

husband, adding that “what I am after in particular is the success of my husband’s administration and he can’t do it alone except with the help of the governors, their wives and all members of our progressive party.”

Hajia Buhari said she was happy that the event took place, noting that it was in fulfillment of her husband’s campaign promise to resettle displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgency and rescue all citizens abducted or held by Boko Haram, including the Chibok girls.

“We thank almighty Allah that we have started fulfilling some of the campaign promises that we made. This is the essence of leadership; you make a promise and then fulfill it.

We thank my dear husband who make sure peace is returning to the North-East states,” she said.

Wife of Borno State governor, Nana Shettima, commended Hajia Buhari for the gifts, adding that it was the third time she would visit the state to attend to the humanitarian challenges of Borno people.

joining other NJC members to condemn the invasion of the judges’ residence.

The attendee source stated that Mahmood further told the other party that the Bar did not do a volte-face as being suggested, but simply trying to ensure that the confidence of the citizenry in the judiciary did not erode completely.

The CJN reportedly took his turn after Mahmood to explain his disavowal with the initial suspension call by the NBA. A source on NBA side told the Nigerian Tribune last night that the call for suspension was no longer on the card, since the judges had been recused from cases.

“Both parties softened on the initial hardline positions and tried to get each other to understand their positions,” the source said.

It was also learnt that NJC is now shifting ground to accommodate lawyermembers to participate in consideration for the sanction of judges.

NBA five-man members

of the council are usually excused from the second day of the council meetings when sanction of judges is usually considered.

They were, however, allowed at the emergency meeting, following the arrest of the affected judges.

The next meeting of the council has been fixed for November 2 and 3.

From left, Acting Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Mr Jonathan Juma; President/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group and guest lecturer, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Honorary Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Mr Joseph Makoju, at the closing ceremony of Senior Executive Course No 38,2016, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, on Wednesday.

How N1.2bn was laundered for Fayose, witness tells court Sunday Ejike -Abuja SENIOR Manager and a branch head of Akure, Ondo State, branch of a new generation bank, Mr Alade Sunday, on Thursday, narrated before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, Abuja, how the Akure branch of the bank helped the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to move a total of N1,219,490,000.

The revelation came to the fore at the commencement of trial of one Abiodun Agbele, an accomplice of Fayose, who was arraigned alongside Obanikoro (in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large), on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion, allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

While being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu, Sunday informed the court that he saw the accused (Agbele) on June 17, 2014, when his zonal head, Abiodun Oshodi, informed him that he received a message from one Lawrence Akande, regional manager in Ibadan,

Oyo State, that a customer of the bank would be coming with cash through Akure branch, and since his branch is in Akure, he should arrange for a bullion van to be taken to the airport to convey the cash when it arrives.

“After about one hour, my zonal head, Abiodun, walked up to me that the customer in question was in the bank with him and I followed him to his office and he introduced the defendant to me as the customer.

“He told me that they have security details and I don’t need other security since they had enough. That

was how we left the office, myself, my zonal head and the bullion van driver with the defendant and some of his securities, including one Adewale, who happens to be the aide-de-camp to Obanikoro.

“When we got to the airport, we waited for some minutes before the aircraft arrived with some occupants.

When the occupants came down, the defendant walked to meet them and they discussed.

The cash was put in our bullion van and we drove back to the branch with the defendant.

“One of the occupants

appeared to be Musiliu Obanikoro and one other person who I do not know.

When we got to the branch, we counted the cash and it was about N724,500,000.

The defendant told us that more cash was still coming, and he left for the airport.

In the evening of the same date, the second tranche of money amounted to N494,990,000,” he said.

The witness further testified that Agbele was the customer whose account was being operated and gave instructions on how the monies were to be transferred.

Continues pg32

Oluwo, Olubadan, others laud Petals FM Fans’ Club

By Taiwo Olanrewaju

THE Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale, has called on the Yoruba race to work towards its upliftment.

He made the call at the first anniversary of Petals FM and the inauguration of the national executive council of Petals FM Fans’ Club cum presentation of merit award of excellence in Ibadan, recently.

Oba Adewale also reiterated his readiness to support the cause of the downtrodden in the society.

Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, admonished the club

members to stand firm in its struggle to eradicate crime and correct all forms of abuses in the society.

Oba Adetunji also pledged to support Petals FM and its fans’ club when its members paid him a visit at his Popoyemoja palace in Ibadan.

The station General Manager, Mr Dotun Saseyi, who collected the most outstanding radio station 2016 award for Petals FM, senior advocate of the masses award for Chief Yinka Odumakin, the founder of the station and outstanding leader’s award for himself, pledged the support of the station’s management to the club.

In his address, the club’s national president, Comrade Kehinde Akinyemi, said the club is a pressure group; formed to liberate the oppressed and correct injustices in the society, while the founder of the club, Alhaji Lekan Rabiu, called on well-meaning individuals to support the club.

Prominent guests, who graced the occasion included the chairman on the occasion, Professor Oyetunde Awoyele; Oyo Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ajisebutu; Moremi, Mrs Biodun Duro-Ladipo; Eda Onileola, Chief Lere Paimo; Mrs I-show Pepper and Baba Sabiko crew.

3 news

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Health benefits of olive oil Continued from front page

antioxidants in it have some powerful health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease.

Extra virgin olive oil contains modest amounts of Vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids. This is the nutrient content of 100 grammes of olive oil: saturated fat, 13.8 per cent; monounsaturated fat, 73 per cent; Omega-6, 9.7 per cent; Omega-3, 0.76 per cent; Vitamin E: 72 per cent, of the RDA; Vitamin K, 75 per cent of the RDA. But where extra virgin olive oil really shines is in its content of antioxidants.

These substances are biologically active and some of them can help fight serious diseases.

Some of the main antioxidants are the anti-inflammatory oleocanthal, as well as oleuropein, a substance that protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation.

Some people have criticised olive oil for having a high Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio (over 10:1), but keep in mind that the total amount of polyunsaturated fats is still relatively low, so this should not be a cause for concern.

Olive oil protects against heart disease via numerous mechanisms: Reduced inflammation: As mentioned above, olive oil protects against

inflammation, a key driver of heart disease.

LDL cholesterol: Olive oil protects LDL particles from oxidative damage – a key step in the heart disease process.

Improves Endothelial function: Olive oil improves the function of the endothelium, which is the lining of the blood vessels.

Blood clotting: Some studies suggest that olive oil can help prevent unwanted blood clotting, key features of heart attacks and strokes.

Lowers blood pressure: One study in patients with elevated blood pressure found that olive oil reduced blood pressure significantly and cut the need for blood pressure meds by 48 per cent.

Given the known biological effects of olive oil, it is not surprising to see that people who consume the most of it are significantly less likely to die from heart attacks and strokes.

Other health benefits Although mostly studied for its effects on heart health, olive oil consumption has also been associated with a number of other health benefits.

Cancer Cancer is a common cause of death, characterised by uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. Studies have shown that people in the Mediterranean countries have

a fairly low risk of cancer and some have speculated that olive oil has something to do with it. One potential contributor to cancer is oxidative damage due to free radicals, but extra virgin olive oil is high in antioxidants that reduce oxidative damage.

The oleic acid in olive oil is also highly resistant to oxidation and has been shown to have beneficial effects on genes linked to cancer. Many studies in test tubes have shown that compounds in olive oil can help fight cancer at the molecular level.

Whether olive oil actually helps prevent cancer has yet to be studied in human controlled trials.

Prevents Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease is the world’s most common neurodegenerative disease and a leading cause of dementia. One feature of Alzheimer’s is a buildup of protein tangles called beta amyloid plaques, in certain neurons in the brain. A study in mice showed that a substance in olive oil can help to clear these plaques from the brain.

A human controlled trial showed that a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil had favourable effects on brain function and reduced the risk of cognitive impairment.

Can you cook with it?

During cooking, fatty acids can oxidise.

That is, they react with oxygen and become

damaged. It is mostly the double bonds in the fatty acid molecules that are responsible for this. For this reason, saturated fats (no double bonds) are resistant to high heat, while polyunsaturated fats (many double bonds) are sensitive and become damaged.

It turns out that olive oil, which contains mostly monounsaturated fatty acids (only one double bond), is actually fairly resistant to high heat.

In one study, researchers heated extra virgin olive oil to 180 degrees Celsius (356 degrees Fahrenheit) for 36 hours. The oil was highly resistant to damage. Another study used olive oil for deep frying, and it took 24 to 27 hours for it to reach damage levels that were deemed harmful. Overall, olive oil seems to be very safe… even for cooking at a fairly high heat.

Olive oil is super healthy For people with heart disease or at a high risk of getting it in the future, olive oil is most definitely a “superfood.”

However, it is extremely important to get the right stuff. That is, extra virgin olive oil that has not been diluted with cheaper oils.

The benefits of this wonderful fat are among the few things that most people in nutrition actually agree on. Now that’s something you don’t see often.

Culled from: www. authoritynutrition.com

NASS takes over control of CCT, CCB from president Senators divided as Senate passes amendment bill Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

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HE pro and antiSaraki forces in the Senate renewed their rivalry on Thursday, as senators passed an amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives, was introduced to the Senate for the final reading (concurrence).

But senators on both sides of the divide, the Senate Unity Forum, which opposed the Senate presidency of Senator Bukola Saraki and the Like Minds Senators, made up of pro-Saraki lawmakers, shouted on top of their voices in attempts to outdo each other.

Those opposed to the amendment of the CCB and CCT acts, who are of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), raised their voices in their bid to stall the passage of the bill.

The amendment ensures that the power of control over the CCB and CCT now rests with the National Assembly, as against the President. It was passed in the House of Representatives in May 2016.

It was also introduced in the Senate in April 2016 by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, but the gale of public opinion at the time forced him to withdraw the bill.

Senators Ali Ndume, Yahaya Abdullahi, Ahmed Lawan and Adamu Abdullahi made efforts to stall the passage of the bill

but the senators in support of the bill had their day.

Senator Lawal, who is the leader of the Senate Unity Forum, said “the Senate is a moderator on legislation.

This bill emanated from the House of Representatives and our colleagues there passed it. I agree totally with the submissions of some of our colleagues here that we have to tarry to pass it.

“We will be doing ourselves and this National Assembly a better service if we step down this thing and move on to some other things that will make this a better bill only.

We should go ahead only when we have convinced ourselves that what we are trying to do is not for our sake.”

Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions had submitted a report on the bill submitted to the Senate by the House, adding that the committee did “critical examination of the bill, preparatory to concurrence of the Senate.”

Committee chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, told the Senate that the political situation in the country forced the sponsor to withdraw the bill when it was first introduced to the Senate.

He, however, listed the objectives of the bill to include the proposal to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap.C15 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 by altering the tenure of the office of the chairman and members of the bureau; amend entry age of the chairman and members of

the bureau; relocate the power to exercise authority over the bureau from Mr President to the National Assembly; extension of the power of the Attorney-General of the Federation to procure private legal practitioners to prosecute cases for the bureau, as well as to elaborate the provisions of the bill.

The Senate rejected the

proposal of Section 1(2)(b), which seeks to reduce the entry age of the chairman and members of the Bureau from 50 to 30 years.

The amendment changed the tenure of office of the chairman and members of the bureau from serving till 70 years to a five-year tenure, while the appointments would be subject to renewal

for another term of five years.

The Senate also approved Section 3(d) of the Act, which made it compulsory for any perceived breach or non-compliance to the Act to be brought to the notice of the person involved, to enable him to make a written admission of such breach or non-compliance.

The Senate also passed Section 18(2) of the bill, which empowers the National Assembly to determine those to appear before the CCT. The Senate introduced Section 20 (2) to the bill to ensure that a minimum of three members of the tribunal would sit at all times.

Again, presidential committee, Ribadu okay war against corruption Fight corruption but grow economy, ex-CBN deputy gov tells FG Christian Okeke -Abuja THE Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, on Thursday, reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to wage total war against corruption.

Representative of the committee at the 2016 annual lecture series of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), with the theme: “Fighting Corruption and Growing a Sustainable Nigerian Economy,” in Abuja, Professor Femi Odekunle, lamented that only few people were benefiting from corruption, saying that the action was detrimental to the beneficiaries’ grandchildren.

He insisted that corruption in the country was endemic and systemic, saying that “the consequence is that we have a war that must be fought.”

Odekunle insisted that the raid on the residence of some judges was correct, adding that “if you know the things I know, you will carry a gun and just shoot some people

and face the consequences.”

According to him, it was shameful that the National Judicial Council (NJC) allowed the judges to resume, adding that it was only on matters of corruption that they remembered the rule of law.

“If we are to truly fight corruption, we must go as far back as possible,” he said.

His comments came as former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, who chaired the event, said it was good that the president was working to make sure things worked in the country.

“We are not totally off the track. The fight against corruption will rub off on the economy,” he said.

Speaking as a guest lecturer at the event, Obadiah Mailafia, a former deputy governor at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said the fight against graft was good, but cautioned that it should not serve as a substitute to economic policy.

Mailafia noted that the

government could still fight corruption and grow the economy at the same time.

“We need to see more action with regards to economy. I have not seen comprehensive economic blueprint put in place by the current government,” he said.

The former CBN deputy governor observed that ordinary Nigerians were suffering and desirous of change.

According to him, corruption had terrible consequence for the country as it threatened long-term development.

He insisted that the country needed to tackle corruption and bring it down as it was the key to the country’s sustainable future “What President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is doing should be supported. It is a moral revolution.

Government has done a few things that are right. TSA will minimise corruption.

“We need a coalition of Nigerians who will work for

its progress and its salvation.

President Buhari needs the support of people who love this country,” he said.

In his address, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated that the current administration was stepping up its anticorruption fight and seeking to bring the economy out of recession and put it on the path of sustainable growth.

The minister said the government was aware that the fight against corruption would not be easy.

“Fighting entrenched corruption can sometimes be a very lonely road to travel in our part of the world, where a true community of genuine corruption fighters are assailed from every side by unwary recruits of the looters among us, in our communities, places of work and worship.

“We also know that corruption is fighting back, fastly and furiously. But with uncommon commitment and determination, we will win the war against corruption,” he said.

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south-westnews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Ekiti Assembly petitions EFCC over alleged N40bn fraud by Fayemi

I can’t be distracted, Fayemi says Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

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EMBERS of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, on Thursday, stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with eight-page petition, accompanied with several documents, to support the House’s demand for the investigation and prosecution of the immediate past

governor of the state and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others for allegedly looting the state to the tune of over N40 billion.

The petition, dated October 24, 2016 and signed

by Speaker of the House, Honourable Kolawole Oluwawole, was submitted to the commission around 10:00a.m. by the trio of the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Segun Adewumi; Chairman, House Com-

mittee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso and Chairman, House Committee on Education, Honourable Sina Animasaun.

The petition was entitled; “Complaint of fraudulent practices against former Ekiti State governor and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others: Call for investigation and prosecution.”

Other people mentioned in the petition are Mr Dapo Kolawole (Commissioner

for Finance), Mr Yemi Adaramodu (Chief of Staff), Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, Arc Oyelade (CASA Nig Ltd) and Mr Bayo Kelekun.

Addressing newsmen, the deputy speaker said; “since EFCC has claimed that the commission does not have any complaint against those holding power in Abuja on corruption, we have decided to submit this petition openly so that Nigerians and indeed, the entire world will be able to follow it up

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) receiving former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

Crack down on naira notes hawkers, Reps order IGP Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Mr Ibrahim Idris, to crack down on any person found hawking or selling naira notes any where in the country henceforth.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion moved by Honourable Anayo Nnebe on the need for the police to arrest and prosecute anybody found hawking or selling naira notes in the country.

While moving the motion, Honourable Nnebe expressed concern over the practice of hawking crisp naira notes during public functions, weddings and other social gatherings in major parts of the country.

He observed that the trend had continued despite the unavailability of crisp naira notes in banks in the country.

According to the lawmaker, “not only is the development against global best practices, it also offends the laws of the federation of Nigeria (2004) which makes it a punishable offence for any one to

trade naira notes.”

When the motion was put into voice vote by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, it was unanimously adopted by

the House.

The House, therefore, mandated committees on Banking and Currency and Police Affairs to interface with the governor of the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the IGP to end the practice and report back to the house within six weeks for further legislative action.

NJC considers live broadcast of court proceedings THE National Judicial Council (NJC), at its next meeting, is to consider a request seeking its nod for live broadcast of proceedings in Nigerian courts, the secretary of the council has said.

The secretary, Mr Halilu Danladi, stated this in a reply to an Abuja-based Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), which made the request recently.

“I have been directed to inform you that your request will be considered by the council at its next meeting scheduled for November 2 and 3.

“The outcome of the deliberation will be communicated to your office,” Danladi stated in the letter dated October 21 and addressed to the Executive Director of CASER, Mr Frank Tietie.

CASER had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the NJC, seeking the council’s approval for court proceed-

ings to be relayed live to Nigerians.

The civil rights advocacy group had told the CJN that opening up the courts to Nigerians would enhance greater transparency in the country’s justice delivery system.

In its first letter dated February 26, CASER said the request was necessitated by “rising public consciousness of the role of the courts in ensuring justice, public order and stability of Nigeria.”

On October 20, the group wrote the CJN again, noting that the recent allegation of corruption against some judges had underscored the importance and urgency of its request.

“CASER is convinced that live media broadcast of court proceedings will debunk corruption and help in sustaining the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria.

“Live broadcast of court proceedings in Nigeria has its foundation in the con-

stitutional provision of Section 36 (3) and (4).

“The section expressly provides, in general terms, that court proceedings in Nigeria shall be held in public, and CASER believes that nothing can be more or less ‘public’ than that.”

The group told the CJN that it had resolved to seek judicial interpretation of Section 34 (3) and (4) on the matter, should he refuse to consider its request.

and ask questions from the EFCC as to what has happened to it.”

He urged the commission to act fast on the petition in the overall interest of the people of the state who have been subjected to severe economic hardship due to the mismanagement of the state’s resources.

On his own, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Dr Omotoso disclosed that the petition bordered on 10 major issues, namely; construction of new civic centre, construction of new governor’s office, mismanagement of the N25billion bond and N5billion commercial bank loan, construction of new government house, diversion of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) N852.9 million, fraudulent purchase of 156 units of Ford vehicles from Coscharis Motors, inflation of road contracts, among others.

Dr Omotosho stated that the Assembly had already carried out thorough investigations on all the allegations and invited the former governor to appear before it to defend himself but refused.

According to him, “we want the anti-graft commission to go through our petition and invite Dr Fayemi to answer to all the allegations.

Federal Government should not cover him because a government that covers alleged corruption is also a corrupt entity.”

Also speaking, Honourable Animasaun said that the Assembly could no longer pretend “as if nothing was wrong in the face of the monumental looting of the state treasury perpetrated by the immediate past APC government of Fayemi, hence the complaint to the EFCC.” The petition, which was accompanied with several documents, reads in parts; “Consequent upon the resolution of the House of Assembly, we write to request for the investigation of the following allegations of fraudulent practices against the former Governor of Ekiti State and incumbent Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others.

“These fraudulent practices included, but not limited to contracts inflation, misappropriation of fund, diversion of local council and SUBEB funds, amongst others.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said he would not be distracted by the childish and ridiculous allegations of fraud levelled against his administration in Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly.

Dr Fayemi, who reacted to the petition submitted by the state assembly to the EFCC, alleging N40billion fraud under his watch as governor of the state, said the lawmakers’ claims were not only baseless, but a calculated attempt to distract him.

The minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said in a statement on Thursday that the petition was nothing but a rehash of old tales told by little minds.

He added that since the allegations lacked substance, it is bound to fail like the previous ones by the state government and its agents.

The statement by Oyebode reads: “The petition by the Assembly is nothing but another calculated attempt to distract and tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the honourable minister with spurious allegations.

“The Ekiti Assembly and indeed the Ayodele Fayose –led administration, had spent the last two years rehearsing and rehashing all manners of ridiculous allegations in their desperate efforts to taint Dr Fayemi’s reputation. As at last count, they have come up with six different attempts, with varying degrees of falsehood.

“Dr Fayemi’s four years meritorious service in Ekiti remains an open book. The administration’s financial dealings and executed projects were well documented and copies of the documents are with the Assembly. We enjoin them to read the necessary portions and get the right answers to their puerile posers.”

Again, Justice Ademola withdraws from case involving DSS Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, withdrew from handling a case of terrorism filed by the Department of State Service (DSS).

The case is against one Haruna Abbas and two others.

Ademola said at the mentioning of the case that it would not be fair for him to continue with the case.

He announced that he would return the case file

to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment.

“The matter was here last on June 13, and it involves the DSS; I don’t want to handle any of its matters anymore.

“In the interest of fair hearing, I think I will move the file to another court because it will not be fair to me and to DSS.

“So, I will return the file to the chief judge to reassign.

“The case file is hereby returned to the chief judge for reassignment to another judge on personal grounds,” he said.

However, one of the accused, Abbas, prayed the judge not to withdraw from the case.

Abbas said that he and his co-accused would prefer to be tried by Ademola.

5

businessnews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Presidency accepts Nigeria’s ranking in W/Bank’s Doing Business 2017 report

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HE Presidency says the World Bank’s Doing Business R2017 Report, released on Tuesday is an indication that the government’s reform initiatives are yielding positive results.

“The Buhari administration is gratified that the various reform initiatives put in place towards instituting a positive business environment is slowly but gradually yielding some dividends.

“Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business remains static, halting a falling trend in the past several years,” the Vice Presidential spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, said, via a release issued on Thursday in Abuja.

Akande recalled that the latest report had ranked Nigeria 169 out of 189 countries in the overall Ease of Doing Business rank.

He described the ranking as “a positive indication that the focus and tenacity of President Muhammadu Buhari to reposition the nation’s business and economic environment is working and on course.

“While Nigeria’s position remains the same as at last year on the index ranking, it is encouraging that Nigeria has recorded some positive outlooks in four critical areas of the ranking.”

Akande listed the areas as: Starting a Business; Dealing with Construction Permits; Registering Property and Access to Credit.

He noted that the objectivity and reliability of the report coming from an international development institution, lent weight to the milestone recorded in particular on the distance to frontier (DTF) metric, according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Akande observed that on the metric, the country’s score improved slightly from 44.02 in Doing Business 2016 to 44.63 in Doing Business 2017.

According to the World Bank report, the improvements noted mean that last year, Nigeria’s business regulatory environment as captured by the Doing Business indicators improved slightly in absolute terms.

According to the report

“the country is decreasing the gap with the global regulatory frontier.

“This is a morale booster for stakeholders involved in the efforts aimed at removing existing bottlenecks in the business environment.”

Akande declared that the observation by the World Bank was recognition of the bold initiatives and untiring work of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Tony Elumelu Foundation hosts 1,000 entrepreneurs today THE Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened the second TEF Entrepreneurship Forum, the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs and the highlight of the annual TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

The forum celebrates the 2016 cohort of Elumelu Entrepreneurs – selected from over 45,000 applicants in 54 African countries – and their completion of the Programme’s innovative 12-week online training. On completing the programme Elumelu Entrepreneurs become members of the largest entrepreneurial alumni network in Africa.

“The TEF Forum is the centrepiece of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, and through it, we are giving from the perspective of empowering the recipient, instead of making them dependent on us,” explained Tony O. Elumelu, CON. He added that: “As a result, our entrepreneurs will change the face of Africa, creating a wave of dynamic African businesses, bringing wealth to their communities and countries, and driving economic growth across the

whole continent.”

As part of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme’s 10-year, $100 million commitment, participants are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 seed capital to implement their business plans. Elumelu Entrepreneurs represent sectors as diverse as agriculture and fashion. Thirty-six per cent of those chosen were women; a significant increase on the first year’s twentyfour per cent. Entrepreneurs range from 18 to 54 years old.

TEF CEO Parminder Vir OBE said: “We are proud to have established a unique platform for African entrepreneurs to forge relationships and business partnerships. In doing so, we are creating an ecosystem that fosters innovation and collaboration, on a scale few believed possible.”

The forum allows entrepreneurs to share and gain knowledge, build cross border partnerships, and connect with investors and policymakers. The first day features plenary panels, masterclasses, TED-style talks and sector specific networking opportunities.

FG adopts NIRP, lists key areas of focus to revive economy Chima Nwokoji-lagos

THE Federal Government said it will implement Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), inherited from the past administration, give necessary support to the Micro, Small and Medium scale Enterprises and support digitization of the Nigerian economy in a bid to achieve the level of growth that will reverse current economic recession.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelama, after assessing the current state of the economy at the FBNQuest investor conference in Lagos, Thursday, reiterated

that industrialisation of the country will remain a mirage without power sector development.

He also said government will set up high level of diversification and growth working group that will establish a partnership between government and captains of the Nigerian private sector.

Enelama however, said the time has come to change discussion about the economy from that of lamentation to solutions, adding that his ministry is already developing strategies to tap into digital technologies to boost trade and investments.

He also admitted that the administration must

deliver on creating and implementing frameworks for enabling environment where partnership with private investors and private capital will thrive.

While agreeing that cost of doing business in the country is high, the minister said infrastructure challenge has been the key, but expressed the hope that right policies and the will to implement globally tested policies will work for the country.

Meanwhile, as stakeholders express concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile amid economic growth challenges, the minister said such fears though reasonable, are not called for presently.

Nigerian Tribune

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

Metro...

Nigerian Tribune

crime, security, court

Police arrest wife over foiled assassination of husband Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

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HE Ogun State Police Command has arrested two suspected assassins and a female banker, Oluchi (surname withheld), over failed attempt to assassinate her husband identified as Onyebuchi (surname withheld).

Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, alleged that Oluchi hired the suspected criminals to assassinate her husband at his residence in Agungi area in Ajah, Lagos State.

Iliyasu named the two suspected assassins as Chigozie (32) and Kingsley (36) (surnames withheld).

He disclosed that they were intercepted and arrested on October 19 at Ijebu-Ode, while attempting to escape to Onitsha with the victim’s Range Rover Jeep.

He said Oluchi was arrested at Ayobo area of Lagos State.

Iliyasu said: “One Oluchi, a 32-year-old banker, who is married to one Onyebuchi years ago, got separated from her husband following some matrimonial problems.

“The custody of their only child is presently being contested in the court, but Oluchi has another plan.

“She connived with the trio of Chigozie, Kingsley and one other, who is now at large, to eliminate her husband.

“Oluchi, who works with one of the new generation banks, had kept all the items used to attack her estranged husband within his premises, while he was away. She arranged for the weapons which included cutlass, iron rods and acid.

“The suspects went there on Wednesday as planned and matcheted the man severally on his head and later poured the acid on him.

“The suspects thereafter abandoned the victim and took away his Range Rover Jeep which Oluchi instructed them to drop at her brother’s place in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“However, luck ran against them when a patrol team of the Ogun State command on Wednesday sighted the vehicle along the Ijebu-Ode/Benin expressway and stopped it for search.

“While searching the ve-

hicle, blood stain was seen and the two occupants were unable to give satisfactory account of the blood stain, hence, they were arrested.

“It was during interrogation that the suspects revealed all that transpired to the police.’’

The Police Commissioner said the victim, who had been treated at an undisclosed hospital, was in the custody of the police, helping them in the process of investigation.

However, Oluchi, upon interrogation denied contracting the duo of Chigozie and Kingsley and one other

at large to assassinate her husband.

Oluchi, who acknowledged that her three-year-

old marriage to her husband had crashed, told journalists that she had no reason to kill him.

Police nab 30-year-old North-Central warlord Chris Agbambu - Abuja

THE police have arrested a 30-year-old man, Zakari Wau, said to have been terrorising the North-Central states with his over 300 going members.

Zakari, who hails from Anyigba axis of Kogi State, was arrested last Sunday, after months of undercover operations, monitoring his movement by the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Monitoring Unit.

He was alleged to have killed scores of people with his gang and operated mainly in Kogi, FCT, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

The suspect, it was gathered, had been fingered in many political killings in the states and had been also accused of many kidnapping and robbery incidents in Kogi State.

Informed police sources disclosed to Metro that Zakari had nine wives and 15 children and also operated between Okene and Akure.

The source said he distributed his nine wives to Okene, Anyigba and Akure and moves round to hide after his series of operations when security agencies kept searching for him.

Metro also gathered that he was arrested Sunday

morning, when detectives laid siege on his way, between Okene and Akure.

When operations conducted search in all the areas he had been hiding, 20 AK-47 rifles, 15 Rocket Propeller Launcher and 10 general purpose machine guns were recovered.

The suspect was alleged to have confessed to several killings in his area of operations, while detectives had also spread their dragnet to apprehend his over 300 members operating with him.

The suspects

Police parade 64 suspects in Oyo

By Tunde Ogunesan IT was a harvest of criminals in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as the state police command on Thursday paraded 64 robbery suspects out of 167 arrested during the first half of ember months operation by the command.

The suspects, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, while addressing journalists at the command headquarters, were involved in series of criminal activities, such as rituals, fake currency operation, murder, human trafficking and impersonation.

Adegbuyi, who disclosed that a high number of robbery gangs who had been

terrorising Elebu, Challenge, Orita and other parts of Ibadan were nabbed in the operation, just as he stated that he was spurred by the imperative of informing the public of efforts of “Oyo State Police Command to vigorously fight crime and criminality in the state.”

Among the suspects, according to the Adegbuyi, was a team of robbers, who were recently caught while attempting to break into the vault of a new generation bank in Oyo town.

The suspects, Ismaila, Moshood, Ahmed and Abiodun (surnames withheld) confessed to the crime, revealing that one Saliu was the brain behind their operations.

Also, a gang of motorcycle robbers, who recently killed a son of their victims in Elebu area of Ibadan after robbing the family of a huge sum of money was paraded.

The suspects, who confessed to their crime, however, expressed regrets that they had no intention of killing the young man.

According to the Police Commissioner, “in the first half of ember months, Oyo State Police Command had arrested over 167 criminals through intelligence report and information from the public. Of the list, 53 were nabbed for armed robbery, three for ritual operations, another three suspects for fake currency operations, two for murder, one for

impersonation and two for human trafficking.

“Today, out of the suspects who are presently being interrogated and screened, 67 are here for parade for series of offences.”

Assuring the public of a crime-free yuletide, the Commissioner of Police said the command was “conscious of the approaching yuletide and its attendant rise in criminal activities by unscrupulous criminal elements who are blinded by avarice and who would stop at nothing to acquire ill-gotten wealth during this period. Thus, the command has restructured its security architecture to brace up to this challenge.

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

08116954633, 08078891950 e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Police burst fraudsters’ den in Ogun Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

A

fraudsters den was on Wednesday uncovered by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 2, Abdulmajid Ali and men of the Ogun State Police Command at Siun, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Two people were arrested in connection with the den located in a thick forest in the remote area.

The den, Metro gathered, have not less than six buildings with underground tunnels.

The activities of the fraudsters was reported to the police by a member of the State House of Assembly representing Ogun Waterside state constituency, Honourable Harrison Adeyemi.

The lawmaker was one of the victims of the sus-

Officials of Lagos State Ministry of the Environment gathering rats killed during commencement of fumigation of Obalende Market in Lagos, on

Woman bags 90 years imprisonment for N5.6m admission scam THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, October 27, secured the conviction of one Mrs Chika Amsy Charles, who was convicted by Justice D.V Agishir of the Federal High Court, Enugu and sentenced to three years im-

prisonment on each of the 30-count charge preferred against her by the commission.

The sentences, Metro learnt, were to run concurrently from the date of her conviction.

The convict was found guilty of swindling three

young Nigerians to the tune of N5,620,000.00 under the guise of helping them secure admission into Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUTH) through her unregistered non-governmental organisation called ‘Bold and Dynamic

MMA records another fire outbreak Shola Adekola - Lagos Another fire outbreak was on Thursday again reported at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

The fire outbreak, according to information gathered, started from the avio bridge E-54 within the terminal at 11.30 a.m. led to a thick smoke enveloping the area.

Prior to the latest, the airport in the last six months had recorded fire outbreak more than six times.

The menace, Metro learnt, had been attributed to weak underground cables installed at the airport over three decades ago when the airport was newly con-

structed.

But for the prompt response from the firemen of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the terminal building would have been engulfed in fire.

As of the time of filing this report, the actual cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

In her reaction, however, the acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs in FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said the fire outbreak was traced to a spark.

“The management of FAAN wishes to inform the general public that power has been restored shortly after the spark that happened

at the Finger Main Distribution Board at the E-Finger of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“A spark occurred at the E-Finger of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, at about 11.30 a.m. on October 27.

“However, the engineers successfully rectified all faults and normalcy was restored to affected areas.”

She, however, assured airport users of safety and security at the airports even as she apologised to “passengers, airlines and the general public for the inconvenience caused by this interruption.”

Gender Initiative’.

Luck, however, ran out on Chika in 2007, when one of her victims whom she defrauded petitioned the EFCC on her fraudulent activities.

One of the counts on which she was convicted and sentenced read: “That you, Chika Amsy Charles, Simon Chidubem (at large) and Friday Ali(at large) on or about the 10th October, 2007 at Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained N330,000 from Okudoh Obinna on false pretence when you represented yourself as capable of procuring admission for his wards into Enugu State University of Science and Technology, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby, committed an offence of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act NO: 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

pected criminals, having been duped to the tune of N15,000.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the fraudsters, the lawmaker, said he got airtime worth N1,500 through a text message from one of the fraudsters, but did not load it, but returned it to sender.

He said: “They told me they are ‘Agbomola’ and they could assist me, but I ignored them. They were persistent and I decided to visit them.

“But when I got there, I discovered it was all scam, but I played along with

them. They told me to drop money at each shrine point and I had to drop N1,000 each at 15 points they introduced to me.”

The fraudsters were alleged to have told the lawmaker to bring another N40 million and a lady, during his next visit, and when they did not see him after some weeks, started to threaten him.

Ali disclosed that the fraudsters had been in the business for sometime now before the long arm of the law caught up with them.

He said: “We have got a lot of report about them.

Oyo shuts 5 schools over protest on promotion policy

By Tunde Ogunesan OYO State Government on Thursday evening in Ibadan shut down five schools indefinitely over protest on cancellation of automatic promotion in public schools.

The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela made the announcement at a news conference held at the Governor’s Office Press Centre.

According to Professor Olowofela, three of the five schools are located in Oyo East and Atiba Local Government Areas, while the remaining two are from Akinyele in Ibadan.

The schools are Community Secondary School, Iyana Idi-Ose; Ojoo High School, Ojoo, Ibadan and Isale Oyo Community High School, Oyo, Anglican-Methodist Secondary School, Oyo and Oba Adeyemi High School, Oyo. The commissioner stated that the state government proceeded to enforce the policy of “No automatic promotion” for students from a class to the next higher class in all public schools. He added that the policy was contained in a circular sent to education stakeholders across the state on April 23, 2015.

Olowofela said that it as saddening that some hood-

lums parading themselves as students have decided to cause mayhem in some schools, thereby disturbing the peace of the law abiding students in the schools.

According to him, ”the efforts was to address our examination preparedness strategy with the immediate cancellation of automatic promotion in all classes. Because we are usually ill-prepared for external examinations, our state always come embarrassingly short, even behind states that are traditionally considered to be educationally backward.

“It is our moral responsibility and sacred duty to protect lives and properties of members of the public. Therefore, any hoodlum caught in any form of breach to public peace shall be dealt with according to the laws of the land.”

He urged well-meaning students to continue with their studies and teachers with their job, adding that security agents have been alerted of the development.

Professor Olowofela also called on parents and guardians to advise their wards to go on with their studies and run away from all acts that could jeopardise their well-being, warning them not to allow themselves to be used by destructive elements in the society.

8 news MDGs: Sokoto disburses N31m to 775 beneficiaries

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OKOTO State government has disbursed N31 million to 775 beneficiaries under its Conditional Cash Transfer project of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Alhaji Bala Kokani, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this at a press briefing in Sokoto.

Kokani said the disbursement was intended

for beneficiaries to send their children to schools.

The commissioner also said preparations for the 2017 budget were ongoing, adding that experts were currently going through the document for necessary fine tuning.

On the 2016 budget, Kokani said the state government achieved significant success in meeting the targets for the 2016 budget and assured that next year,

more projects would be implemented for the benefit of the citizenry.

He equally expressed satisfaction with the level of implementation of this year’s budget.

He further said the state government had revived its moribund food and nutrition committee, adding that government had also conducted situation assessment and analysis of all communities in the state.

NOUN council approves regional media offices THE National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has appointed regional media officers for the six geopolitical zones in the country.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, who made this known in Abuja, said the decision was borne out of the need to bring the university closer to the grassroots.

Adamu explained that the university, conceived to cater for the educational needs of people of diverse background, irrespective of their location and circumstances, deemed

it necessary to set up media offices in the zones for effective information gathering and dissemination.

He said with the media offices in place, students and stakeholders of the university in the six zones could access information, as well as get feedback on their enquiries.

A statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of the university, Ibrahim Sheme, stated that six members of staff of the Directorate had been redeployed as regional media officers to man the zones.

The media officers will be operating from Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna and Bauchi.

Those redeployed so far are Mr Joel Nkanta, Principal Editor (SouthSouth); Mr Abiodun Akanmu, Senior Media Officer (South-West); Mr Ambrose Gowong, Senior Media Officer, (NorthCentral).

Others are Mr Achunulo Egenti, Media Officer (South-East) and Mr Hamza Inuwa, Media Officer (North-West).

The redeployment takes immediate effect.

Friday, 28 October, 2016

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade yielding results —Danish envoy

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HE ongoing anticorruption agenda of the Federal Government is yielding positive results, the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Torben Gettermann, has said.

Gettermann told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja that the anti-corruption crusade was vital to attracting foreign investment into the country.

“The government has started out on a very high profile anti-corruption drive and it seems to be yielding results. It is something Nigerians needed for a long time.

“Fighting corruption is something that the world outside Nigeria wanted to happen.

“The more you can do to reduce or eliminate corruption in Nigeria; if possible, the better it will be for prospects to be able to invest in Nigeria.

“Of course, they (Danish investors) have to look at this and they look closely at it. The results we can see from the anti-corruption drive are promising,” he said.

Gettermann regretted the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, but commended the resolve of the government and military, which he said, had weakened the insurgency.

“The fight against Boko Haram and insecurity in the Northeast, from what I can see, is yielding positive results.

“The government and the armed forces are trying to oust Boko Haram from the

areas they occupied a year ago and they have been very successful.

“We still see attacks, unfortunately, but not on the scale that we have seen previously. So this shows that

they are under pressure, which is very important,” said the Danish envoy.

He called on the Federal Government to find amicable solutions to the insecurity in the Niger-

Delta region for the quick economic recovery of the country.

“The issues of the SouthSouth have to be handled in a way that will ensure that this lifeline (crude oil)

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, expressed optimism that the nation will come out of the present economic recession stronger, united and prosperous.

He urged the nation’s leaders to amplify the expected long term effect of the recession on the nation and stop being pessimistic.

President Buhari said this in Abuja at the seventh national prayer breakfast organised by the Christian faithful among National Assembly members .

The president, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, declared “I believe Nigeria will come out of this situation stronger, united and prosperous, I believe that this will come to fruition in the life time of this administra-

of Nigerians were studying in Denmark with the aim of coming back to use their knowledge for the benefit of Nigeria.

“That is what we want to see – go out, learn something new, get some new ideas, come back and then implement them in Nigeria.

“That’s the future and that way, you help us to build your country, being in Nigeria, learning from the outside but also learning in the Nigerian context.”

el-Rufai commends police over security in Kaduna Chris Agbambu - Abuja

From left, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, during a visit of the Ooni to Ado Ekiti, on Thursday. PHOTO: SAM NWAOKO.

We must be tactful with herdsmen menace in Yorubaland —Ooni Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti OONI of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called for tact in the handling of the threat posed by some herdsmen across the country, especially in the South West region of the country.

Oba Ogunwusi stated this in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Thursday, while on a visit to the state.

The Ooni, who was hosted at the amphitheater at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, said we all could

do with beef and therefore, called for a careful handling of the threat and the reported cases of the destruction visited on some communities in Yorubaland.

According to him, the law was welcome because Nigeria is a federation and Ekiti State was in a federation, but called for care in the handling of the issue because it could degenerate.

He said he was thrilled by the thousands of people that had trooped out to receive him at Aramoko, at the palace of the Alara,

and at Ijero, at the palace of the Ajero and thanked the people for their cooperation and peace.

The packed arena was filled with people from all walks of life, including Governor Ayodele Fayose, his deputy, Dr Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola, speaker of the state House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, among many other top government functionaries.

Oba Adejugbe expressed joy at the visit, and recalled that in 1937, Oba Adesoji Aderemi visited the Ewi; in

Recession: Nigeria ’ll come out stronger —Buhari Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

continues to flow.

“This is because, for the time being, that (crude oil) is the major source of income,” he said.

On education, Gettermann said quite a number

tion”.

While advising Christians to resist the temptation of presenting the current economic hardship with despondency, stated that though the country was going through economic and social challenges, there was need for leaders to exercise restraint in their utterances.

“In churches and public space, we only speak about the hardships. We forget to look at the positives the hardship stands to bring, I can assure you,there will be light at end of the tunnel.”

Speaking, the guest speaker, Reverend Abu Bako, urged the National Assembly lawmakers to strive to be model citizens that would raise the standard of living of people.

He said as leaders, the lawmakers should refrain from undermining the moral fabric of the society

saying “if you are stealing from the government coffers, then you are not a leader or a good politician.”

He prayed that God will cause the nation to start looking for leaders like Joseph, who served King Pharaoh diligently and was

rewarded appropriately.

In a good will message, the executive secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Ujah said Nigeria has the greatest revival movement hence on the track to greatness.

1980, Oba Olubuse II visited the Ewi and thanked God that in 2016, Oba Ogunwusi has visited.

“I am happy because the visits are not at close intervals and prayed for long life, unity and cooperation among the people of Yorubaland.”

He particularly commended the Ooni for the meeting of traditional rulers he attended in Osogbo, which he said was a precursor for the unity among Yoruba communities of the South West.

He charged him to continue in that stead so as to sustain the growing unity among Yoruba people.

Fayose expressed joy at the visit and said the visit was a celebration of life, “an event that so many people will live with for a very long time.”

He said “every palace you go to, you will find the same crowd because we are homogenous and unique.”

KADUNA State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, as well as the Nigeria Police for the determined efforts to ensure that peace and security prevailed in the state.

He commended the exemplary professionalism displayed by the police in tackling insecurity in the state when the IGP and the police management team paid him a courtesy call in his office, on Wednesday.

The governor urged the IGP to nip in the bud, sources of crime and insecurity throughout the country.

He emphasised the compelling need for a comprehensive national solution to kidnapping and other violent crimes which have destructive effects on growth and development.

He further stated that peace and security were critical to development.

Idris, in his remarks, assured the governor that the Nigeria Police would continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities in accordance with the rule of law and international best practices.

Current high rate of unemployment unacceptable —FG 10.6 million now unemployed Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja THE Federal Government on Thursday painted a gloomy picture of unemployment in the country, declaring that the current high rate of unemployment at 13.3 per cent was totally unacceptable.

Lamenting the unemployment record, the government said the number of unemployed persons rose to 10.644 million, while the unemployment rate reached its highest since 2009.

According to him, the unemployment rate rose to 13.3 per cent in the second quarter of this year, from 12.1 per cent in the first quarter.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who gave the pathetic scenario, emphasised that no nation could develop by leaving out such huge percentage of the human resources from national development process.

Senator Ngige was speaking at the Validation Work-

shop of the Reviewed National Employment Policy, organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), in Abuja.

The minister said: “Nigeria unemployment rate is said to have reached 13.3 per cent in second quarter of 2016, up from 12.1 per cent in the first quarter, reaching the highest since 2009.

During the same period, the number of unemployed persons rose by 12.1 per cent to

10.644 million, while youth unemployment increased to 24 per cent from 21.5.

“The current high unemployment records is clearly unacceptable and no nation develops by leaving out such huge percentage of the human resources from national development processes. The concern is even more urgent due to association of youth idleness with perennial violent crimes in different parts of the country which pose great challenge to socio-economic stability.”

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

Oyo to commence heart surgeries in Adeoyo Hospital

By Sade Oguntola

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YO State government has announced plans for the takeoff of a cardiovascular centre at Adeoyo Hospital, Ibadan, to checkmate medical tourism due to heart problems as well as boost healthcare services in the state.

Dr Azeez Adeduntan, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, disclosed this during a Legislative Advocacy Retreat for Oyo House of Assembly, on increased domestic funding for health, especially child and family health issues, at Oyo town, on Thursday.

The retreat was organised by the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFAH) in collaboration with the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON).

Adeduntan stated that the centre would become operational early in the New Year, on a privatepublic-partnership (PPP) basis, because government could not do it all and would provide high quality services comparable to what obtains abroad.

“All things belong to God and I know we will have this centre up and running very soon. 2017 will be better; we have been seeking the support of the legislature to have laws that back health reform in the state,” he said.

Adeduntan declared that monthly; up to 20 requests were received in his office for assistance to travel abroad for surgical operation, saying this was capital flight out of Nigeria.

“People go to India, Egypt and Pakistan for surgical operations, including cardiovascular diseases; I get up to 20 petitions in a week from those seeking to go to these countries for operations.

“These people are not better than us; what they have is good leadership and thankfully we now have good leadership under Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who is committed to improving the health indicators of the state,” he said.

Adeduntan also commended the support of the legislature to the executive by passing the Health Insurance Agency Bill and also the Primary Healthcare Bill.

The Deputy speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Musa Abdulwasi, said the legislature would give priority to the health sector through responsive laws and legislations.

“We know that the wealth

of a nation is in its health and we must fulfil the promises we made to the electorate to safeguard their socio-economic well-

being. This retreat could not have come at a better time and is a step in the right direction,” he said.

Dr Emmanuel Abanida,

the executive secretary of HERFON, said health issues, in particular that of children and women, needed to be given priority

in legislation, adding that health was no longer a social sector issue but an economic and developmental issue.

Representative of the Lagos State governor and Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, flanked by representative of Victoria Island Ikoyi residence association, Dr Mohammed Salami (left) and the Secretary of the Victoria Island and Ikoyi Security and Environment Trust (VIISET), Mr Lateef Muse, at the handing over of keys to two Hilux vans, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Thursday.

Clean-up of VI, Ikoyi: Ambode donates two vans to residents association LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, donated two Toyota Hilux Pick-Up vans to the Victoria Island Ikoyi Residents Association (VIIRA), saying it was to sustain the gains of the cleanup of Ikoyi and Victoria Island areas.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, handing over the keys, said he was committed to the success of the exercise and the need to empower the Residents’ Association to assist in driving the campaign.

Bello, who spoke at the Car Park of Lagos House, Ikeja, stressed that the present administration believes that government could not do it alone and must involve

members of the community, the first point of call for anybody living in the area.

“The residents are the first to notice any infraction in any area and will be able to tell the government about it. These vehicles will be used in patrolling the cleaned up areas and will assist with the feedback mechanism, put in place

by the state government to ensure zero tolerance for shanties and illegal structures in Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

“We must support the residents association in helping government to achieve its aims. We are hopeful that these vehicles will assist in ensuring a cleaner and safer Victoria Island and Ikoyi as

I’ll honour Senate screening for NERC job after clearance from university —Prof Akinwande PROFESSOR Akintunde Akinwande, nominated for the Chairmanship of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), says he will honour an invitation for screening by the Nigerian Senate after clearing with his current employer,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. In a letter, dated October 26, 2016, to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, sent through the Special Adviser

PIB: Senate begins debate next week INEC report to be considered too Taiwo Adisa - Abuja THE Senate will next week commence debate on the Petroleum Industry (Governance) Bill, also known as PIB as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) bill.

Sources in the Senate confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the reports on the two bills, already before the lawmakers would be presented for debate on Tuesday.

A notice Paper of the Senate also confirmed that the Upper Chamber would also consider the Medium Term

envisioned in the original master plan of the areas,” he added.

The governor said since the clean-up exercise of Ikoyi and Victoria Island started a couple of months ago, appreciable progress has been made, adding that the government remained focused in ensuring the areas regain its lost glory.

Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) submitted to the chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

It was confirmed that the report on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be submitted by the Chairman of INEC committee, Senator Abu Kyari .

The bill is seeking a review of the law setting up the electoral Commission.

The planned PIB debate would, according to sources in the senate, ensure that

the parliament, through legislation provide for the Governance and Institutional Frameworks of the Petroleum Industry.

Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Tayo Alasodura, is to present the report on PIB for second reading.

The PIB has been in the National Assembly for almost a decade now with politics killing it in different sessions.

There have been disagreements as to the inclusion of hos community funds in the initial bill.

to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, Professor Akinwande said he did not turn down the offer by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science explained that: “news reports in Nigeria that I have rejected Buhari’s nomination to be chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission have been brought to my attention.

“I have the greatest respect for President Buhari. I am fully behind the change he has brought and is bringing to the way government business is conducted in Nigeria.

“I am deeply honoured that Mr President and his team thought me worthy for this important national assignment and sought me out for it. I am a tenured professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.’’

NSCDC alerts public to fake recruitment THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Benue has alerted the public to the existence of employment racket within the command.

The NSCDC Commandant, Mr Shuaibu Jibrin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Makurdi, on Thursday, that the racket had been collecting money from applicants in the guise of offering them employment into the organisation.

Jibrin, however, assured that its searchlights had been beamed on the perpetrators, while explaining that all recruitment exercises by the organisation “are properly advertised through the mass media.”

“Currently, the NSCDC is not carrying out any recruitment, the NSCDC recruits, based on certain criteria and merit, is always advertised through the mass media.”

He said applicants had never been charged during NSCDC’s recruitment exercises, and assured that those behind the syndicate would soon be apprehended and brought to justice.

Winners Golden Chance Lotto chair rewards agents THE Chairman of Golden Chance Lotto Company, Chief Idowu Obasa, has urged Nigerians to keep faith with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite the economic hardship in the country.

Obasa, disclosed this during the week, while presenting cheques to 35 best principal agents of the company, adding that the country could be better if people kept working hard and believe in government to turn things around.

The lotto company also rewarded its five overall best agents with all expense paid trip to the United Arab Emirate.

The group members were given their boarding passes and tickets at the podium while a host of winners were handed cheques of various sums.

The group is expected back in the country on October 30, 2016.

The Chairman said, “You can see today that people are being rewarded for hard work and they have worked hard to achieve what they have today. This has inspired them to work harder to achieve more and not allow the upcoming ones to overtake them.”

11

businessnews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Oil & gas: Nigeria targets 2.8 million bpd, 60% oil imports reduction by 2019 •Launches 4-year plan to ‘ramp up production, reduce costs’ •Buhari assures of investments security, high ROI •Kachikwu targets $20bn revenue from private sector, stresses N/Delta security From Clement Idoko, Ademola Adegbite and Ruth Olurounbi

N

IGERIA is targeting daily production of 2.8 million barrels of crude oil and 10bscfd of gas production by 2019.

The country will also reduce importation of petroleum products by 60 per cent in 2018 the country, and become net exporter of petroleum products and value added petrochemicals by 2019, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said on Thursday.

To achieve this, Kachikwu said the ministry would partner with various stakeholders on “innovative thinking, new ideas, technology” to “enable us improve oil and gas production from our new, mature, and marginal fields, explore our frontier basins and improve our local refining capacity.

“We will leverage on our liberalised downstream environment to attract investment into our high value portfolio of products distribution and storage assets network.”

Kachikwu said this during a launch of a plan that would provide “stable and enabling oil and gas landscape with improved transparency, efficiency, stable investment climate, and a well protected environment.”

The roadmap, which highlighted short and medium term priorities to grow the country’s oil and gas sector between 2015 and 2019, included policy and regulation, targeted at “reviewing of old and moribund policies, gazetting new policies and entrenching robust fiscal instruments and regulations with key attention given to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Reform Bill.”

The policy document indicated that the ministry would ensure that adequate infrastructure is put in place to ramp up national crude oil production to a target of about 2.8 million barrels per day, while contributing positively in the area of gas to power by boosting gas production to 10bscfd by 2019 respectively.

The document also highlighted gas revolution through new infrastructure and gas terms that would encourage the roll

out of a national blueprint for backbone gas pipeline and processing infrastructure that “will enable flexibility in supply delivery and provide a viable source of income for the country.”

Among the plan for improving oil production in the country is “Niger Delta and Security” which plans to “attract much needed investment and infrastructural development in the region as well as safeguard the environment”; as well as “transparency and efficiency” which aims to

reform in the sector will “provide huge investment opportunities in infrastructure development, oil and gas facilities, operations, and maintenance across the oil and gas value chain.”

He added that “we will also unveil a set of enabling policies and regulations that will jumpstart our gas industry through the establishment of robust infrastructure, gas based industries – petrochemicals plants, fertilizer, methanol and LPG/ CNG programs.”

Kachikwu assured federal

President Buhari with R-L: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Zamfara State Governor Abubakar Yari and Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Upstream Victor Nwokolo as he attends Public Presentation of the 7 Big Wins (Short and Medium Term Priorities to Grow Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry, 2015-2019) at the State House Conference Centre Abuja on Thursday.

...FG to license private sector to build refineries IN a bid to tackle challenges in the oil sector, the Federal Government is to give licences to the private sector individuals to build refineries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, made this known in Abuja on Thurs-

day at the launch of a new roadmap tagged the 7 Big Wins.

He said the time had come to start taking decisive and positive actions and work toward creating thousands of jobs and making Nigeria the citadel of investment in Africa.

He said under the busi-

NNPC, Police collaborate to curb attacks on oil facilities

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Police have pledged to work together to curb attacks on oil and gas facilities across Nigeria.

According to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the two agencies made this commitment on Wednesday when the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, visited the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

institute transparency and efficiency at all levels of operations to drive profitability and accountability in the necessary agencies.

“Our target is to ensure zero militancy in the area.

This planned meeting shows the level of interest the president has to ensure peace in the area,” he said.

Kachikwu said the $10 billion investment is “not necessarily” going to come from the federal government, but rather from “oil companies, investors, individuals.”

Kachikwu said ongoing

Baru drew the attention of the police to the growing insecurity around oil and gas facilities with the latest being the attack on the Chevron gas pipeline in Delta.

“The attacks on oil and gas facilities are taking a toll on the national budget with massive shortfalls in revenue.

“It also brings huge losses in petroleum products, environmental degradation, shutting down of refineries and loss of lives.

“We call on the police boss to deploy police per-

sonnel to all oil and gas facilities. The corporation is ready to provide whatever support needed for enhanced security.’’

The IG said that the police had enjoyed a longstanding relationship with NNPC and expressed optimism that such collaboration should continue.

“We are working on a number of strategies to build capacity for effective policing of the difficult terrain where some of the oil and gas facilities are located,’’ he said.

ness and investment drive, he would raise a bulk fund for the Federal Government, targeting to raise $20 billion long term and $5 billion short term.

“That will require the refurbishing of our refinery, and the president has been very kind to ask me to prepare a team to drive this policy.

“Over and above that, we are going to be licensing private sector individuals to look at investing in private refineries.

“There is the need to reduce government stranglehold on the oil sector so that the private sector can flourish and grow in leaps and bounds,” he said.

He also said the government must commercialise gas flaring to make a revolution in the gas sector.

Kachikwu said that the programme was aimed at eradicating fuel imports and opening up space for investments to thrive. ”We must achieve the full

operation of the refineries by 2020, and by 2019 we should have stopped importation of petroleum products.

“On Tuesday, the president will be having a meeting with stakeholders of the Niger Delta and oil producing areas; that is what importance he attached to this.

“It is important we continue to sustain the institutions of engagement and negotiations that are key to make this work.

“Our targets must be to have an incident reduction by 90 per cent by 2018 and a zero militancy position and shut down within middle of next year.

“This means that whatever shut down that occurs by middle of next year, we expect should be related to production and not by militancy issues.

“We must resolve current militancy problems and bring the number back to 2.2 million barrels.”

government would ensure that it finds every oil that was available in every part of Nigeria, with increased private sector participation, while it intended to raise $5 billion and $20 billion in the short and long term respectively for the Federal Government.

He further gave reasons why the country was not keen on privatising the refineries at the moment, saying the presidency and the Federal Economic Council (FEC) had agreed that the refineries should be restored to its optimum capacity and made to work efficiently, while other issues should be addressed to guide against selling the refineries as scraps.

“The feeling of the FEC and the President is that we should first get the refineries to be efficient before we talk about privatisation, otherwise, we will be selling scraps. In their present state, nobody is going to offer you serious money. A huge amount of investment is going into this.

The plan, the 7 Big Wins to Grow the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry, launched in Abuja on Thursday, would help Nigeria ramp up production, reduce costs, foster efficiency and attract investments in the oil and gas value chain, President Muhammadu Buhari said at the launch.

“Nigeria is ready and accessible for investments from all interested countries, individuals and partners. Let me assure you that your investments are secure in Nigeria and a high return on investment is assured.

“As important as it is to ensure that agriculture, solid minerals and other critical sectors of the economy are supported to grow and contribute more to the nation’s economy, we still need a virile and efficient oil & gas industry to take care of our foreign exchange requirements.

“This will help us improve oil and gas production, explore our frontier basins, improve our local refining capacity and above all build sustainable partnerships with the oil producing communities.

“If we are able to plug the leakages, and tighten loose systems that characterised this industry in the days of high oil prices, we are convinced that we can do even more with the little that we are getting at the moment than we did even in the time of plenty.”

12

businessnews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

How Buhari plans to spend $29.9bn proposed loans Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

T

HE Federal Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun has given a detailed breakdown of how government plans to spend the $29.960 billion foreign loans, for which President Muhammadu Buhari asked the National Assembly for approval on Wednesday.

Adeosun said through an emailed document on Thursday that the amount was designed to address infrastructure deficit in the country.

Of the total, Federal Government would borrow $25.8 billion while states will jointly borrow $4.1 billion “The external borrowing plan is a three year-plan covering proposed projects for 2016 - 2018. As such, the borrowings will be phased over the three yearperiod.”

The Federal Government’s portion would be spent on: Mambilla Hydro project will gulp $4.8 billion; Calabar- Port Harcourt- Onne Railway Modernisation $3.5 billion; Abuja Mass Rail Transit Phase 2- $1.6 billion; Lagos-Ibadan double track railway- $1.3 billion; KanoKaduna double railway track- $1.1 billion; Others (unspecified) $6 billion.

The Federal Government would also spend $3.5 billion on Budget Support; $2.1 billion on Education and Health; $0.9 billion on Agriculture and $0.2 billion on Economic Management and Statistics.

On the part of States, they will spent $0.1 billion

on Education and Health; $0.3 billion on Agriculture and $0.2 billion on Economic Management and Statistics.

She explained that the borrowings are highly

concessional (non-commercial), with low interest rates and long tenors.

“The funding is being sought from multilateral institutions including the World Bank, Africa Devel-

THE Board of Directors of Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced an interim dividend of N7.929 billion, that is N1.00 (One Naira) per ordinary share of 50 kobo in the share capital of the Company for the 9 month period ended 30th September 2016.

In the company’s financial result filled at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company indicated it would pay shareholders mid-year dividend despite the marginal decline in the company’s profit for the period occasioned by the current challenging environment.

The statement signed by its Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Mr Uaboi Agbebaku showed a four per cent year-on-year rise in the revenue of the Company for the period ended 30 September, 2016 but

only the planned Eurobond issuance in the international capital markets is the only commercial source of funding, the statement maintained.

From left: Muyiwa Akinsanya of SolidCom, Johnson Ivase, Marketing Manager GOtv; Kazeem Alase, MultiChoice Mega Dealer; Akinola Salu, GM GOtv; Efe Obiomah, PR Manager GOtv; Victor Emmanuel, MultiChoice Super Dealer and John Asiemo (Daddy Showkey), GOtv Brand Ambassador, cutting the fifth anniversary cake of GOtv at a Customer Fair in Ibadan, weekend.

Dangote cement records N442bn revenue in nine months THE Dangote Cement Plc has declared an increased revenue of N442.09 billion in the last nine months, the Company’s financial report released on Thursday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange indicated.

The revenue in the nine month ended September 30, 2016 was 20.97 per cent higher than the figure recorded during the same period in 2015, despite the harsh operating environment, a development attributed to management’s strategy to leverage on its

pan-African status.

The report indicated that Dangote Cement increased the revenue by N76.642 billion from N365.450 billion it made during the same period in 2015.

The crises of foreign exchange gulped a huge amount of its revenue, as it spent N231.684 billion on cost of sales during the review period of nine months 2016 as against N138.694 billion spent on the same purpose in nine months 2015.

The enormous money

NB declares N7.9bn interim dividend despite profit dip Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba-Lagos

opment Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and China EximBank”, the Minister added.

Of the funding sources

an 11 per cent decline in Operating Profit. The unaudited and provisional results indicate that the company’s revenue rose from N214. 918 billion recorded at the end of September 2015 to N222.716 billion in the same period in 2016.

The statement attributes the 11 per cent decline in Operating Profit of the Company which stood at N37.962 billion at the end of September 2016 from the N42.766 billion in the same period in 2015 to higher input costs as a result of rising inflation combined with the devaluation of the Naira.

The negative impact of scarcity of foreign exchange combined with the Naira devaluation more than offset the lower interest costs resulting in a 94 per cent increase in Net Finance Costs. The Company’s Profit After Tax declined by 23 per cent from

N26.175 billion in the period under review in 2015 to N20.100 billion in the same period in 2016.

The statement added that the macroeconomic environment deteriorated further in the third quarter compared to the first half with continuous downtrading by consumers.

spent on cost of sales affected the profit after tax of Dangote Cement from N157.993 billion it made in nine months 2015 to end the current period with N133.521 billion.

Reflecting on its outlook, the Managing Director of the Company, Onne Van der Weijde said the management is confident of delivering strong growth this year despite the challenging economic conditions facing Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Dangote Cement achieved particularly strong sales growth in Nigeria, however expect the final quarter to be lower because of the high Q4 base in 2015 and also because of the price increase that became effective on 1st September 2016.

“This price increase will have an immediate and positive impact on margins in Q4, as will the elimination of LPFO from our fuel mix, as we increase our use of coal and as higher gas

levels return. We do not expect to use LPFO again this year. From January 2017, our use of own-mined coal, sourced in Nigeria and paid for in Naira, will further improve margins and significantly reduce our need for foreign currency.

“As we have previously made clear, our focus will be to improve margins through cost controls and the adjustment of prices.

We have new capacity coming onstream in Congo and Sierra Leone and expect Tanzania to increase its market share in the coming months.

“Foreign exchange constraints in Nigeria have made us reconsider the pace of our expansion and we now believe that a longer-term building programme will enable a more measured approach that balances our ambition for growth with the realities of obtaining foreign currency in this difficult environment.”

FirstBank introduces new lifestyle offering for women FIRST Bank of Nigeria Limited, in recognition of the role of women in driving the nation’s gross national income, has launched a dedicated solution for women-led undertakings and initiatives – FirstGem for Women – which will provide enabling opportunities for women to achieve their financial goals and aspirations.

The launch of the FirstGem Solution has been scheduled for today at

the Harbor Point, Wilmot Point Close, Off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, to be hosted by the Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Ibukun Awosika, will have in attendance Her Excellency, the Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo as Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, as the keynote speaker.

According to the bank, through the product, female customers can access

support funds for their total financial wellbeing, free business advisory to meet their economic needs and aspirations and specialised trainings on business development initiatives, among others.

According to the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, women in diverse careers and businesses contribute a great deal to the Bank’s bottom line and the nation’s GDP on the long run.

Nigerian Tribune

Why fiscal, monetary agencies must work together —Emefiele Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

WITH more Nigerians groaning under the yoke of economic hardship, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele has insisted on the harmonization of fiscal and monetary policies to move the country out of recession.

And in Abuja on Thursday, a two-day meeting of the Fiscal Liquidity Assessment Committee commenced where participants drawn from the CBN, Ministry of Finance, States, Customs, FIRS, DMO, NNPC, Accountant General of the Federation and others.

“As you are aware, the economy formally slipped into a recession in the second quarter of2016. This marked the culmination of damaging effects of external and domestic shocks to the economy.

“The after effect of this are weakened fiscal revenues, dwindling foreign reserves, exchange rate pressures and its pass-through to domestic prices. The quick fixes to the economic crisis include fiscal stimulus to resuscitate domestic production and qualitative public sector spending to stimulate aggregate demand,” he said.

Other factors that aggravated pressures on the domestic economy he noted include energy shortages and its price hikes, depressed consumer demand emanating from weak fiscal spending, spates of militancy and insurgency hampering domestic production, amongst others.

He disclosed that though “monetary policy had under the circumstance rose up to the occasion, deploying fully all the conventional and unconventional tools in its purview…the conditions that precipitate the economic crisis are mainly structural, with antidotes that lie mostly outside the domain of monetary policy.

“As being adumbrated in the media and policy discussions, the quick fixes include fiscal stimulus to resuscitate domestic production, qualitative public sector spending to stimulate aggregate demand and practical steps to diversify the economy”, he declared.

According to him, diversifying the economy away from oil into agriculture, manufacturing, increased capital expenditure and improved internal revenue generation in a serious manner is about the only way forward for the economy to grow sustainably.

13

editorial

M

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria’s poor dairy production

INISTER of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, recently expressed concern about the poor output of Nigeria’s dairy farms.

Speaking recently at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of the world’s largest dairy companies, Arla Foods, towards boosting dairy production, Ogbe told Mr Steen Hadsbjerg, Senior Vice President and Head of Arla Foods for Sub-Saharan Africa: “We have a large number of malnourished children, almost 30 per cent. We are creating a situation in the cattle breeding programme where a poor widow in the village, who has four or five cows to milk, has the facility to preserve them for local consumption. The cows are not properly taken care of, so the quality and quantity of milk and beef that they produce is low.”

On the other hand, addressing some students of the Lagos Business School who visited the his petrochemical refinery in Lagos on Monday, October 17, Dangote lamented that 98 per cent of the dairy products consumed in the country were imported. He said: “Ninety-eight per cent of all the milk and dairy products we consume in Nigeria are imported. This is why the Dangote Group plans to develop dairy plants and develop homegrown milk production, to reduce importation.

By 2020, it is estimated that the Nigerian population would have risen to between 207 million and 210 million. If we do not make efforts to grow and process our own foods, God forbid, we will go hungry.”

Ogbeh has also expressed worry following the comparative analysis that reveals that cattle in Saudi Arabia and Brazil produce much more milk than their Nigerian counterpart.

The Nigerian cow produces a litre of milk daily while the Brazilian and Saudi Arabian cow produces 30 litres daily, on the average. Apart from the milk, cattle in the developed economies yield more beef than the Nigerian species. They are reared in ranches and grow to be between 700 and 1000 kg, whereas the Nigerian species reared under the nomadic system never exceed 250 kg as a consequence of the stress which they undergo through the archaic system of cattle rearing. Subjected to endless wandering, these cows lose weight and nutrients, hence the poor output.

It is indeed sad that Nigeria currently spends up to $1.5 million annually to offset the incurred debt on dairy products,

whereas a change in the system of cattle rearing would drastically reverse the situation. In our previous comments on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, we dwelt on the imperative of embracing the modern cattle rearing methods which are yield-sensitive, environment-friendly and economically profitable. If the herdsmen with their native expertise and proficiency can improve on their methods, there is little doubt that their lifestyle and status will improve beyond their imagination. What is more, embracing the modern system will swell Nigeria’s savings and eventually buoy the economy.

It is doubtful that Nigeria gets anything from the current dairy system other than the local nunu drink and cheese, whereas it should be possible to exact other dairy products like butter from the process. To achieve this, the Nigerian species would have to do better in terms of diary yield. In this connection, agriculture extension workers should be deployed to teach the nomads the modern ways of cattle rearing. There is a desperate need to grow the Nigerian dairy industry to meet modernity along the way and it is imperative to start immediately. In this regard, we commend the Kano State government for taking the initiative to train its cattle farmers in the modern methods, which will definitely empower and make them prosperous.

Although it is normal to expect resistance from herdsmen who are set in their ways, we expect the state governments to prevail on them to improve their mode of operation and educate them on the losses inherent in the nomadic system.

If the government is serious about its plan to tap fully into agriculture as an alternative means of national livelihood after the disastrous experience with crude oil, then its prospects to earn foreign exchange should be enhanced. If Nigeria fails to export dairy on the ground of comparative advantage, at least it can save its hard earned foreign exchange by cutting down on imported cheese and butter.

State governments in cattle producing areas should take more than a passing interest in this potentially immense revenue earner by investing in the needed human capacity through intensive training and agriculture extension services.

Private investors can also be encouraged to expand the venture to the point of supplying raw materials to indigenous dairy firms. The herds of cattle in the USA, Australia, the Netherlands and other developed climes are ideal examples for Nigeria and we think that this is the way to go.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 28 October, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

FG, focus on citizens’ welfare

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RULY, the present administration daily fights against corruption, yet nobody wants to listen to the news of it again on empty stomach. Bread is now awfully costly and the price of rice has vastly spiraled.

We have forgotten that the Russian revolution started with a bread riot in the capital, Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg). Then, both the Bourbons and the Romanovs lost their thrones. If we think it cannot happen here, we need

to reminisce that when people are hungry, they will not care about constitutional niceties and minutiae. If they cannot make both ends meet, they will become violent and begin to attack those with food and money.

We must not forget the economic rule of inequality by which we can accurately predict the likelihood of civil disturbance and revolution. We must not forget that the greater the gap between the rich and the poor, the more likely revo-

Before Nigeria returns as Africa’s economic power house NIGERIANS shouldn’t cheer the recent news from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will replace South Africa again as the biggest economy on the continent. For years, South Africa had been the economic power house of Africa before we overtook it two year ago. However, due to the recession we are experiencing, we lost that position a couple of months, but the recent report by the IMF that Nigeria is poised to overtake South Africa again should not be celebrated. We may be the continent’s economic giant on paper, but we know we still can’t match the former apartheid enclave in all ramifications.

It is unfortunate that South Africa too is feeling the brunt of the global economic meltdown.

In fact, the economy of that country is dwindling fast as a result of widespread corruption, unfulfilled government promises to the people, falling prices of commodities, among others. One thing

we must know about South Africa is that it does not rely on a single resource as Nigeria relies only on oil for survival.

So the fall in oil price has drastically affected Nigeria so much that the economy has virtually been shut down.

Even while we celebrated when our economy overtook South Africa’s two years ago, I didn’t believe that this development reflected in the lives of ordinary citizens. While Nigeria is struggling to generate 5,000mw of electricity, South Africa generates over 45,000mw. The country can be likened to any other country in Western Europe, with Cape Town even beating many other cities in Europe in terms of beauty and infrastructure.

In the case of Nigeria, while we had our ego massaged after being named Africa’s biggest economy, our citizens did not feel the impact of such.

In fact, if the truth must be told, we are just being over-ambitious comparing ourselves with South Africa when countries like

Appeal to Ooni Ogunwusi IT is with great patriotism that I write to call on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to extend his good gesture towards everybody in Yorubaland.

For some time now, Oba Ogunwusi has been doing everything possible to empowering the people of IleIfe economically. He is giving encouragement to the town’s indigenes to take to agriculture. The Ooni’s gesture is highly commendable, but he is not the Ooni of Osun State alone, but the father of the whole of Yorubaland.

I must really commend

Oba Ogunwusi for touching the lives of many people, particularly in Ife and Osun State in general.

However, as a father to the whole of Yorubaland, I want him to extend his gesture to other states, and if possible, all countries where there are Yoruba sons and daughters, like Brazil, Cuba, and even the United States.

I know with the Ooni, Yorubaland will reclaim its place of pride in the country and on the world stage.

•Jimoh Mumin jimohmumin@yahoo. com

Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, among other West African countries even have better living indices than us.

It is high time our leaders returned to the vision of our founding fathers who believed we could use our human and natural resources to lead the way for other black nations of the world to follow.

It is, therefore, a shame that we have not been able to be counted as a country that is desirous of real economic growth.

Our over-dependence on crude oil has made our

people lazy, and this has been fuelling corruption in the country.

I, therefore, want to advise the government of President Muhammadu Buhari not to be distracted by wanting the country to be Africa’s biggest economy. It should, however, be more concerned about how to make the country more comfortable for its citizens to live in.

This new IMF report should, therefore, not change the focus of government.

•James Linus, Jos, Plateau State.

lution becomes in a society. The rich, including the stakeholders, should know that if there is a revolution, the affluent will lose everything.

Being extremely concerned about the abnormal gap between the rich and the poor, a 19th century Conservative leader of Great Britain, Benjamin Disraeli, foresaw this clearly and then wrote the novel, “Sybil or the Two Nations,” in 1845.

He lamented the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots. Do we have leaders in our nation who show great concern for the deplorable plights of the have-nots?

China was once frightened at the prospect of revolution as the affluent rather provokingly displayed their wealth in front of the peasants. The country rose to the challenge and things changed. Instead of the Nigerian government to alleviate poverty or rectify the imbalance, there is increase in the provocative display of

wealth among the stakeholders and abnormal passion for more wealth.

They further impoverish the masses by refusing to pay the salaries of workers for months.

Programmes like Food for Women, (Infants and Children), Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the really poor should be introduced as it is run in the developed nations.

Let something be done to the escalating prices of essential commodities like rice and bread to avert the forestalled revolution.

Neglecting this may soon trigger off revolution and we will all suffer the untold consequences of it. That was how the world’s worst revolution started in Russia in February, 1917. We must know that without redistribution for the welfare of the masses, taxation is theft.

•Oyewole Jeremiah, oyewolejeremiah@ yahoo.com

15

opinion

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Change as a social philosophy

By Oladele Osunbote

I

F one shall cast a superficial look at change as merely a mantra coming from one of the politicians, or one recent flow from neologism, then there is the need to bother less, saving the sweat for another day when there shall be expediency. There could be a different view if the mantra is coming from a political theorist. However, if one would look at it with the eagle’s eye, naming or describing it as a social philosophy, then it must come up and proclaim an intellectual content.

A social philosophy which is supposed to perform a historic function and thrill gigantic crowd of followership must have the instrumentality and properties that are of great necessity. It must be a mobilising force. I am to be thrilled by any issue which has intellectual content. Any piece of thought, writing, speech, or action which has no intellectual content is like a river whose biotic community is dead, or like a soup without salt. What makes an issue to have longevity of life is what can be seen as the magnetic force which has the capacity to produce reverberations.

If a lamp is made to produce light during a whole night, it must be sufficiently fuelled in order to last the period. If one must cause change of, and in the environment, either culturally, socially, or politically, one must first answer the questions relating to the faults of that environment before one goes to analyse the chronic cultural degeneration of the society. The environment is controlled by two powerful forces: The government is a micro group but powerful because it has the kinetic power whether active or latent.

The society is the macro group and it also has the finality of judgment and power, whether activated or latent.

A latent power can be objectively evaluated and progressively reactivated for the common good or the wellbeing of the people of the country. If the fundamental answers can be adequately applied to some fundamental questions the nation may be there before the scowler’s rage.

Without giving adequate intellectual descriptions to the two forces in the field of play, nothing can be changed.

One must answer the question where we are now and where are we really heading to: the historical antecedents and a near infallible prognosis. Who are Nigerians, and how have they come to be here, probably around ninth century: What assistance that can be received from an anthropological research and evidence? If the two groups have no fault, then there is nothing to change. Indepen-

dent critics who are operating, talking and writing from a plane of neutrality would have seen the faults of the government because everyone who is a member of the powered must have come from the society and, therefore, they are likely to be part of the gigantic structure which must change.

This micro but powerful group must willy-nilly divest itself of the cultural degeneration which has been imported from where it is coming. In the millennia of human history and struggles, it has not been possible to arrive at cultural conformism and internationalism because humans come from diverse ethnic, racial, and sociological origins. People must behave differently but the question on the ground is that they must behave according to the rule of the game.

The process of election as it is studied and known all over the world may not be able to identify and elect the one who is truly and thoroughly above board. It is likely to be over-bloated or insidiously hyperbolic if a human being is described as infallible because there is none. It is only a cultural revolution which can do that and that is for a while because a particular qualitative changes will inevitably always preparing its own negation through the on-coming social contradictions. For the purpose of this subject, the government can adopt fire fighting approach in the name and spirit of election promises and as it is able to do that, it would be drawing on a subterfuge before the people of Nigeria.

I want change to be seen as a true and well-founded social philosophy, and that is when it would continue to enlarge into the future. In that vein, I would not wish that it be derided as a Buhari ideology. It could come to the plane of a national ideology, more so as Nigeria has no ideology or philosophy. It is open-ended. Change has become a great necessity in human life to the extent that life becomes meaningless without change.

People sleep and wake every day. Man struggles to achieve a feat yesterday, today, and will be so tomorrow. The same thing has been replicating itself for one century and man is bound to be tired and bored. There

is a human conflict in the way of all what a man intends to achieve in Nigeria. There is corruption, wickedness and poverty everywhere. People ask questions every day: What kind of life is this? What type of society is this? What kind of rulers are these? And so on. One uncle was tired of life and he thought about death that it should come as early as possible. He called the coffin-sellers and bought the nice one and called on the bricklayers to prepare his grave and was made to his taste. After doing all that, including the clothes he would wish to wear to heaven, death refused to take him away. He would joke with me, death was a coward because when I was ready, it ran away.

The legendary Ahmadu Bello stated on Page 233 of his biography that: “As I drive along the roads and see the simple villagers in their farms, I see what lot there is to be done to raise the standard of these good people to what it should be. I see the men working in their farms with the same kind of hoes that their fathers and their grandfathers used before them; they are bent double over their work in the blazing sunshine and their wives and children come and help them. What can we do to make things easier?” What percentage of Nigerian agricultural lands is under mechanisation, electrification and automation? Nigerians are still being fed by the type of methodology which Ahmadu Bello mentioned in his biography. Change, in its horizontal and vertical equation, must go paripasu with the social and economic wellbeing of all the people. Many a time, one has to look at the correct attitude as being controlled by economics and the welfare of the people.

The colonial rulers in Nigeria wanted Chief Michael Imodu to see the beautiful flowers in the railway compound at that time in 1945, and Baba lmodu retorted that a hungry man cannot see flowers, more so, flowers are not part of the aesthetics of the black man.

Using a functional social philosophy to mobilise the society is entirely different to using force because the relevant approach is persuasion.

Government has been trying hard in the area of social amenities and the provisions of employment to the millions of school-leavers, but it should still continue the campaign more vigorously until many more are gainfully employed. Simultaneously, people must be mobilised in the name and for the real change. Change, therefore, becomes imperative in the interest of the people of the country.

•Osunbote, a social commentator, lives in Ibadan.

Curbing incessant jail breaks

By Michael Ogunjobi OVERTIME, prison breaks have proved a major bane of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS). The lacuna in the NPS was brought to limelight by the incident at the Kuje Medium Prison in Abuja, which led to the escape of two inmates a couple of months ago. But the rot in the NPS is unbecoming with the report of several jailbreaks and attempted jailbreaks this year alone.

How else can one rationalise the surprising serial jail breaks in our prisons in recent time.

There are innumerable reasons for this recurring decimal; the prime of the calculated proximate causes being congestion, carelessness and conspiracy.

This mockery of the Nigerian Prison system is clearly demeaning and an indictment of the judiciary as an institution of solace for victims of injustice and also the legislative arm of government since they are the ones who decided that victimless crimes deserve prison time.

Succinctly, merely investigating the cause with no action taken only smirks of recklessness of the highest order where some persons trade in escape of criminals.

The era of not mapping out in clear terms the security measures to be put in place in checkmating the excesses of inmates and incessant jail break has to be bade farewell and sanctions enforced against any public officer found to have connived with the convicts.

The legislative arm of government appear set to depart from the lackadaisical approach adopted over the

years by successive legislative regimes since 2001 that have failed to pass the Bill seeking the amendment of the extant prison law last reviewed in 1972. Currently, the Nigerian National Assembly is considering an Act to repeal the Prisons Act Cap. P29 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Nigerian Prisons and Correctional Service, to make provisions for the administration of Prisons in Nigeria; the Awaiting Trial Persons and for Related Purposes, 2016.

Of note, the prison structures across many parts of the nation are eyesores. Prisoners are groaning and even the prison officers are complaining of unfair conditions

of service due to poor remuneration, absence of job schedules and career pattern, among others. While it is hoped that Nigerian Prisons and Correctional Services Bill 2016 will provide the respite at this critical period, foot dragging could spell doom, making the Bill suffer same fate as that of an ‘abiku’, as was the case during previous administrations since 2001.

In the interim, the Ministry of Interior, currently supervising the Nigeria Police, the Prisons Service and other paramilitary services like the Fire Service, the Immigration Service and the Civil Defence Corp, must brace up to provide immediate solution.

Succinctly, the reforms in the NPS definitely must transcend change of name as envisaged by the Bill to comprehensively address the failings of our criminal justice system and rehabilitate the prisons in line with global best practices. And also eventually introduce programmes in the prison systems that actually rehabilitate convicts to be successful and patriotic citizens when released back into society!

As a subtle reminder, considering that a good number of legislators are padding and paddling their boat gently to the gallows, there is no better time than now to reform the prisons service. This will be a great delight to their new constituents in future.

•Ogunjobi is a Lagos-based attorney and public affairs commentator.

16

Friday, 28 October, 2016

A

S their children grew up, support for their schooling and well-being will again have to depend almost exclusively on Hannah, who happily took charge of things.

Although before his trial and tribulations in politics started, Obafemi Awolowo tried to undertake most of the key expenses in the home, his wife didn’t demand money for things she could pay for without making demands from her husband. As she became very rich in her own rights, she was even able to buy him wonderful gifts.

For instance, when her husband celebrated his 50th birthday in 1959, Hannah presented him with a car gift, a Chevrolet, which was a very prestigious car then.

The milestones in the educational trajectory of many of their children coincided with challenging times in the lives of the couple. When Olusegun was to leave for England to study law at Cambridge University, UK, Awolowo was then the Premier. Hannah took care of the expenses for Segun’s travel to the UK. She also ensured that he never lacked resources throughout the time he was at Cambridge.

When Omotola and later, Oluwole, followed Segun to also study in the UK, the crisis in Western Region had started, so Hannah was also largely responsible for their upkeep in the UK. “What was I doing with money”? asks Hannah in her autobiography to emphasize her eagerness to finance her children’s education. “It was because of these children that I was working”.

By the time Ayodele and Tokunbo were ready to travel to the UK to study, Awolowo was already in jail. Therefore, Hannah was responsible for most of their expenses, while coping with the emotional, social and financial consequences of her husband’s incarceration.

But she didn’t approach taking care of the home and her children as spending “my money”. She explains that “since we have agreed that whatever we have, we have it together,” whether it was herself or her husband spending money on the family, either was only spending mutuallyowned resources. Her fierce loyalty to her husband, which became increasingly evident over the years, even after his death, meant that she regarded her life and possessions as all in the service of her soulmate.

She was a hard-task master for the children though, particularly the girls. She seemed to have been almost puritanical with the girls, and somewhat indulgent with the boys. She was usually up by four in the morning, rallying everyone to prayer by five in the morning. The children didn’t enjoy the early bird life she lived and forced them to live. The grandchildren too would experience this later when they lived with her or visited. She insisted on her children doing chores in the home in the morning, even when they had become an upper middle-class family with maids and assistants.

Her first daughter, Omotola Oyediran says her earliest memories of her mother were that of “a disciplinarian”, adding that “she was very, very hard working”.

Yet, Revd. (Mrs.) Oyediran insists that, despite all the regime of discipline, her mother “was what you will refer to as a real mother because she was concerned about what was happening to you virtually every hour”.

The attitude of watching over her brood would continue throughout their lives.

Discloses Oyediran, “she is the type of person who believes that throughout your lifetime you need to be assisted by

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Wale Adebanwi on Mama HID (13)

•Mama HID Awolowo

your mother…. To acquire independence from such a person requires tremendous amount of hard work. You have to prove to her, no doubt, that you are able to do things without her help. Considering the fact that she is the only child of her mother you will think that since that she has so many children she will like to spoil us when we were growing up. But not so. Yet, she made sure that everybody was comfortable”.

In spite of her deep commitment to her family and the church and the unqualified support Hannah Idown Dideolu gave her husband in his public career, she was also involved with organizing women groups.

She was involved in the process that eventually crystallized into the formation of the National Council of Women’s

The attitude of watching over her brood would continue throught their lives.

Societies (NCWS). The formation of the Ibadan branch of the NCWS in 1958 was spearheaded by Humuani Alarape Amoke Alaga – an Ibadan market woman who later became one of the women leaders of the Action Group and a firm supporter of Obafemi and Hannah Awolowo – working with Lady Olarinwa Ademola, Dr. (Mrs.) T. Ogunseye, the founder of Children Home School, Ibadan, Chief (Mrs.) Wuraola Esan, the Iyalode of Ibadan and Chief (Mrs.) Solaru. The formation of the Ibadan branch was based on the need to improve the welfare of market women.

Ogunseye had been the secretary of the Women Improvement Society (WIS), which was led by Mrs. Tanimowo Ogunlesi. Hannah Awolowo was a member of WIS established earlier for the welfare of women, in general. Ogunlesi was six years older than Hannah.

WIS didn’t initially gain much traction among market women. Society met in Oke-Ado in Ogunlesi’s house and most of the members were Ijebu (Remo) and Egba.

This fact ensured that the group didn’t attract many Ibadan women. There was also a group called Women’s Movement (WM) which was led by Mrs. Adekogbe, which incorporated market women in Dugbe and Old Gbagi Markets. But both WIS and WM had common goals. Eventually, both groups merged into the NCWS, with the Ibadan branch consolidated under the leadership of Humuani Alaga, who was eight years older than Hannah. Like Han-

nah, Humuani had been brought up by a trader mother. Three years before Hannah got married and moved to Ibadan, that is, in 1934, Humuani Alaga was made the Iya Egba Alaso (leader of textile dealers) in Gbagi market.

The Ibadan branch of NCWS also originated as an offshoot of the Action Group Women’s Wing. It constituted an attempt “to create a platform for women to participate in socio-economic activities and politics”, as Oladejo argues. The association eventually developed from a political to a non-political one which “influenced government on matters affecting women (while introducing)…. Adult education classes for market women”.

As the wife of the Premier – despite the towering image that her husband built for himself with the introduction of the first free Universal Primacy Education programme and free health services, rural development, the establishment of the first television station in Africa, housing estates and industrial estate, among other achievements which made Western Region the model for good governance and egalitarian rule in modern Africa – Hannah, as the premier’s wife, was a model of modesty and decency. She took care of the home and concentrated on her business while doing her part to entertain guests and compliment her husband during official events.

She was conscious of the fact that as a wife of a man in such a strategic position, her conduct must be above board, because people were eager to attribute the failure of her husband to her – while they didn’t attribute his success to the wife. Therefore, she was guided by what she thought a woman in her position should embody.

“A wife of a Chief Executive must be level-headed and must understand the feelings of (the) people around…. Her”, she writes in her autobiography. “She can be of… help to her husband if she opens her eyes and ears to what people are saying or doing, especially when her husband is not there. She has to be a good detective and be brilliantly imaginative. She must be assuming, arrogant or flamboyant as many people may stop liking her husband because of her behavior or attitude to people”.

H.I.D Awolowo passed her own test. She did not impede or embarrass her husband in anyway as a Premier’s wife.

Odia Ofeimum, poet and public intellectual, who was Awolowo’s private secretary in the Second Republic, says “One of the first things I noticed was that if she and her husband were travelling, Mama would be ready at least an hour plus in advance, waiting by the car or in the car, by the foyer. I had to ask her, “you know, Mama, many husbands have to wait for their wives to do such things”?

TO BE CONTINUED EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

17

Friday, 28 October, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

Awakening of the heart

Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, Madinah Munawwarah

Y

ES, your physical heart beats. Yes, it is keeping you alive, physically.

Yes, it is pumping blood without you ever having to remind it to do so – but is that all? What about spiritually? Is your heart spiritually beating? Is your heart keeping your connection with God alive? Is it pumping the spiritual motivation that you need to get through your daily life without falling to pieces – without breaking every moral fiber within your being? It is important to ask these questions, because if not, then life will have no meaning – no fruit – and not a moment of peace.

Maybe you remember a time when it was fully alive and thriving. You could feel it pumping the essential life juices from your spiritual heart through your veins and straight to your limbs, making the good deeds easy and making desires easily avoidable.

But maybe not. Maybe you do not ever remember it being alive. But you have craved it. You wish that you could feel it, that it would start pumping, beating, so that the emptiness inside you could finally fade away. You wish that it would start working, like you know it should, so that these useless desires that you know you should not be chasing will not seem so enticing. You just want it to keep you alive.

Either way, it is possible. Either way, it is essential. And the fact that you even want it to is a sign, in and of itself, that God wants you to be awakened. He wants you

to come back to Him. And how amazing is it to feel that the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth wants you, specifically. Think about it for a moment, let it sink in. The purpose of the heart is to love, so the most essential step in bringing it back to life is to allow it love. Can we teach our heart to love? The truth is, no, we cannot. But as Rumi, a poet, once said: “Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

Whether we realise it or not, we have all built barriers around the walls of our heart. They may be walls that have accidentally been placed there over time without our realising. But sometimes these are intentional walls which we have built up to protect ourselves from what we conceive to be potential harm. Whatever it may be, we must find out what walls stand between us and embracing the beautiful Love of God that our heart craves and needs. You may be thinking, “Well, tell me, what are the walls that surround my heart that are preventing me from this love?” The thing is, it is your heart. No one knows your heart like you do – well, no one except God. You must realise that it is essential to get to know yourself. If you know your heart, you will know yourself – and if you know yourself, you will begin to know God. You will not be left completely clueless.

There are numerous barriers that may be there in your heart, but a few will be

named to get you started while thinking about yourself. These are not comprehensive, rather simply a spark to ignite the fires of your thought.

Arrogance: Only the humble can know God, as they realise that He is everything and they are nothing without Him. When the heart has arrogance, even just a little, this begins to serve as a barrier between His Love and His Light. Humble yourself for God, and He will raise you.

Anger: Anger, for other than the sake of God, hardens the heart. It consumes the heart and rids it of the opportunity to feel happiness and love. It prevents the Light of God from flowing in. If you are an angry person – angry at people or at the world

If you were to open the heart of the disobedient believer, its light would blind the universe. What then of the obedient believer?

in general – get to know that anger. Figure out where it comes from and why it is there and find a way to rid yourself from it.

Ignorance of God: This is a big one. If you do not know God, how do you expect to love Him? And this does not mean being able to recite 99 of His magnificent names in a song. It means knowing what these names refer to in Him and how that affects us. Specifically, how they affect you. If you love a human being, be it an actress/actor, a romantic partner, or any other person, you spend time getting to know them. And most of the time, the more you know them, the more you love them. It can sometimes even become an obsession. What then of God? Shouldn’t we get to know Him so that the walls of our ignorance that surround our heart begin to crumble and His love is allowed to flow through?

Strive to awaken the heart of your spirit and in turn awaken meaning to life. When the heart begins to thrive, doing good deeds become easy and desires become unattractive and even disgusting. Do not give up on yourself, because God has not.

And know that even in this state, you are beloved to God and He wants you close.

Imam Al-Shaadhili once said: “If you were to open the heart of the disobedient believer, its light would blind the universe.

What then of the obedient believer?”

Source: SuhaibWebb – Reehab Ramadan

18 islamicnews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Recession requires our sacrifice, perseverance —Akintunde, NACOMYO president THE ongoing recession in the country requires understanding, perseverance and sacrifice on the part of Nigerians and constant roundtables between the government and the labour force as a way to avert industrial crises.

From left, Chairman, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society (ADS), Ibadan Central branch, Alhaji Bashir Elias; the guest lecturer, Sheikh Isa Ayede (Al-Fulani); Senior Imam, ADS, Ibadan Central branch, Alhaji Sulaiman Awwal and the father of the day, Alhaji Isa Oyelowo, at a reception held in Ibadan, last weekend, by the organisation for its members who participated in 2016 Hajj/Umrah.

FOMWAN applauds FG on Chibok girls

T

HE Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has commended the Federal Government for the intervention which led to the release of 21 of the Chibok girls who have been in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorist group for over two years.

In a statement by its National Amirah (President), Hajia Amina Omoti, FOMWAN described the development as an evidence of the government’s commitment to security of lives and property in the country.

The organisation called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the released girls and reintegrate them into the society.

The education, safety and wellbeing of the girls, it said, should be top priority in order to give the girls and their parents the assurance and confidence needed to understand that their abduction and freedom were a sacrifice in the fight against terrorism in the country.

“We appeal to the Federal Government, the Nigerian military and other security agencies to continue the efforts and the strategies used to rescue these 21 girls so that the remaining girls and other persons in the captivity of this terrorist group can be released unhurt.

“FOMWAN appeals to the parents of the remaining Chibok girls in captivity to

remain confident, exercise patience and be steadfast in the belief that the Buhari administration will bring back their daughters.

“FOMWAN appreciates the military, all other security agencies, the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ group (#BBOG#), other groups and individuals for their un-relenting

efforts to ensure that all the girls are freed.

“FOMWAN will continue to play its role in the amelioration of the plight of the victims of the insurgency in the various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and support the agitations for the release of the remaining girls,” the organisation said.

UNILAG alumni optimistic of early recovery from recession THE University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA) has expressed optimism that Nigeria will soon come out of the current recession with the sincerity of the Federal Government.

In a release signed by its National President, Alhaji Akeeb Oladokun, the group said it is the promise of Almighty Allah that “after adversity comes ease.”

While congratulating Muslims worldwide and Nigeria in particular on Hijrah 1438, UMA urged the citizens to be patient

Group donates ward to hospital

By Tunde Ogunesan

GOVERNMENT and individuals must see the provision of sound and affordable healthcare in the country as a collective responsibility for the benefit of all and sundry.

The president of Iwo Muslim Association, Treichville, Cote D’Ivoire branch, Alhaji Abdulganiy Akanmu, said this during the handing over of a private ward built by members of the association to the General Hospital, Iwo, Osun State, recently.

Akanmu urged individuals and organisations to be active participants in the health sector and not leave healthcare delivery to the government alone.

“Individuals’ contributions to the health sector will ensure affordable and standard healthcare in every nook and cranny of the country and also ensure healthy living for the citizenry,” he said.

Akanmu noted that the decision of the members

of the association in Cote D’Ivoire to make the donation to the hospital was to contribute to the free health programme of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and to make sure that Iwo people have access to qualitative healthcare.

“Health is a sector that everybody must be conscious of and interested in.

Government cannot be left alone to handle healthcare; we should be all concerned about the crucial sector. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that our society has standard healthcare delivery system.

“We built this ward for our people in Iwo despite the fact that we live in Cote D’Ivoire. It is our belief that this small gesture will increase the facilities at the state General Hospital where the majority of our people come to receive health services.

“It is part of the small contributions that individuals can make to the society. Our society is going to be better- off if we all see

The National President of the National Council of Muslim Organisations (NACOMYO), Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, made the remark in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at a forum organised

by At-Taoheed Women’s Society.

governance as a collective responsibility,” he said.

The chairman on the occasion, Chief Bayo Aremu, said it was the duty of everybody to ensure a healthy living and peaceful society where life is abundant for all.

Aremu called for unity among the Iwo people in order to achieve accelerated development.

and hopeful and allow the government of the day to implement the Change Agenda, aimed at turning the country around.

It said that it is human nature to be initially averse to change but the outcome of change is always beneficial to all and sundry.

“Annually, the celebration of the New Islamic year reminds us of the landmark achievement of Islam when the Prophet overcame all hindrances, hatred and acrimonies and Islam eventually ruled the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, to all Muslims, whatever the current situation, it is always a passing moment,” the group said.

UMA is the umbrella body of all Muslim graduates from the University of Lagos and is involved in several social responsibility activities, including award of scholarships, entrepreneurial trainings, organisation of socio-political programmes and spiritual activities.

Akintunde said being the engine room of government, workers should not be starved of their due for the sake of effective service.

The Muslim leader lamented the country’s dependence on oil, noting that only a diversified economy could guarantee prosperity and stability.

He commended the members of At-Taoheed Women’s Society for cooperating with their husbands in these hard times and, in the process, promoting domestic harmony required for societal transformation and advancement.

Meanwhile, the NACOMYO president renewed his call for the promotion of girl-child education to enhance development in the country.

He commended the Federal Government for its decision to assume responsibility for the care of the released Chibok girls, describing it as a step towards to the development of the girl-child.

According to him, the development has rekindled the hope that the girls that remain in captivity will soon be reunited with their families.

He urged the Federal Government and the international community to redouble efforts at achieving fruitful talks with their captors.

Akintunde decried incessant abductions and other criminalities being perpetrated across the country and called for a national security summit to address the situation.

From right, the guest speaker, Alhaji Saheed Orankan; Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, Sheikh Abdur-Rasak Salaudeen; his deputy, Alhaji Muftau Ayanbadejo; Chairman, Ar-Rahmah Zakat Foundation, Alhaji Abdul Hameed Omotayo and others at a lecture organised by the Foundation, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, recently.

Stakeholders call for cohesion between MSSN, MUTAN A call has gone to the Muslim Teachers Association of Nigeria (MUTAN) and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) to close ranks and forge a better understanding in the interest of Muslim students.

The call was made by participants at an interactive forum jointly organised by MUTAN and MSSN in Alimoso, Lagos.

MSSN officials were

charged to identify with Muslim teachers in pursuing the interests of the students in order to avoid working at cross purposes, while MUTAN members were called upon to collaborate with MSSN members.

The MUTAN chairman, Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Jimoh, lamented what he called marginalisation of Muslims in the scheme of things in Lagos State, saying

that Muslims were in the minority in the sharing of the positions of principals and tutors-general.

He appealed to the government to offer Muslims better deal while acknowledging the development of the education sector by the Akinwumi Ambode administration.

Delivering a lecture titled “Making it Count,” Dr Imran Adeleke of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Educa-

tion charged Muslim teachers to take the job as an assignment for which they will give account before Allah on the Day of Judgement.

He also advised members of MUTAN to familiarise themselves with activities and programmes of MSSN. The Amir of MSSN in the state, Dr Saheed Ashafa, sought the cooperation of MUTAN in ensuring that the rights of Muslim students

are protected.

He lamented “dwindling” academic performance of Muslim students which, he said, had necessitated the establishment of extramural classes by the MSSN. Participants also lamented the lack of Islamic Religious Knowledge teachers in schools.

The Head of Department of Private and Public Law, Lagos State University, Profes-

sor Adeleke Funminiyi Abdur-Raheem, commended Muslims in the state for the peaceful manner in which they had been pursuing the rights of Muslim students as they pertain to the use of hijab by Muslim female students in public schools.

He, therefore, advised them to be strategic in their approach and shun doctrinairism in order to achieve their aims.

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

fridaytreat

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 Instagram: @roy_ige

Success is not

sexually transmitted —Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye

Aderinoye Queen Oluwadamilola is a 22-year-old beauty queen. She is an Agricultural Engineering graduate from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); Premier Primary School, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos; Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Efon Alaaye. She is passionate about victims of terrorism and is a campaigner for girl-child education in Nigeria. She is Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture, 2015/2016. She shares her views about her passions and foundation.

W

HY are you passionate towards the victims of terrorism and girl-child abuse in Nigeria?

I have great passion towards the Internally displaced Person’s (IDP’s) and can’t bear the thought of seeing them live without hope.

Most of the victims have had all they ever had wiped away from them, their families, homes and even their children. In my little capacity, I can at least raise awareness for them to get the needed help from well-meaning quarters. The government has a lot on their hands, which means people have to intervene.

Share your experience with us at the Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/16.

How did you feel when you were announced winner?

I was overjoyed to have received the title and it has opened a lot of doors and opportunities for me. I would forever be grateful to the organisers for recognising the potentials in me.

Tell us about the Queen Christmas Foundation.

What did you start and how have you been impacting

people through the foundation?

Queen Christmas Foundation started out as a pet project aimed at giving hope to the IDPs in the North East. It’s just about three months old, but we have been able to reach out to the IDP camp in Abuja. I have just written and produced a short film titled ‘fallen petals’ on the plight of victims of the Boko Haram attacks and how Nigerians could help such people get back into the society.

You are an engineer-turned-actress and movie producer. Why did you abandon engineering to go into acting, movie production and pageantry?

Well, I didn’t abandon Engineering. In fact, I would rather be addressed as Engineer Queen because I expended a lot of hard work and time to get my engineering certificate, and I am proud of it. Let me add that I also have a fish farm under construction.

You are an ambassador to the Ondo State Government. Tell us more about awards and recognitions you have won.

I have received 12 awards in total. This includes: Most Sought After Model 2013, Prodigy awards,

Model of the year in the 2015 graduating set of FUTA; and, Face of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association 2015.

What other projects are you into?

Presently, I am working on a campaign against drug abuse, in partnership with Miss Global Nigeria 2015 and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Also I am presently producing a 12 episode series on ‘Life of a Beauty Queen.” All is set to be released before the end of the year.

There are some notions that beauty queens are not decent girls that they have to sleep with influential men to make headway.

What is your view of such assertion?

Becoming a beauty queen is all about working hard. Success is not sexually transmitted. I think beauty queens that sleep with influential men to get recognized are not worthy of the crown.

Words of advice to young girls looking up to people like you.

My advice to young girls is, ‘if you can dream it you can achieve it. Never give up on your dreams.

Put God first and work hard to achieve them.’

20

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 IG: @roy_ige twitter: @fridaytreat

fridaytreat QUICK TALK

My father responsible for my talent development

Kaffy blasts Davido, accuses him of disrespecting dancers

DANCE queen, Kaffy, is angry at artistes who do not respect the craft that dancing represents in the entertainment industry. In an instagram video on Wednesday, the award winning dancer vented her anger at Davido over his unprofessional behaviour at last weekend’s 3 Thrones concert which she claimed Davido

fired his dancers minutes before his performance after weeks of gruesome rehearsals.

Kaffy had said, “Enough is Enough! It’s alright if artistes don’t need us. We are artistes ourselves. It is very disrespectful for you to look down at and trample on people who in one way or the other contributed to where you are today. Dance is our widows mite to a lot of your careers.

All you need to do is respect us. Even other people under you suffer your arrogance, from stylists to band men. This message is for those of you that disregard us dancers especially @ davidoofficial. If you don’t want dancers, Say it way before you agree to allow them dance than when you are about to climb the stage and then you decide you don’t need us again.

Or tell dancers not to come near you while you perform. It’s not your fault, we have learnt our lesson and we thank arrogant artistes like you as this will not continue for long. People pay a lot of money to see you come out and give good shows; this requires more than jumping all over the place with no content. Artistes in other countries who perform alone still plan their craft. They practice, rehearse and are never tired of doing better than their last performance. But here, most don’t care except a few like @peterpsquare and @rudeboypsquare @2niteflavour @tiwasavage @efya_nokturnal @iamseyishay @dareydarey even @ jidenna ...”, she said.

She has, however, apologised for her outburst, but stressing that it is high time a structure was advocated for dance entrepreneurs.

Oyo hosts 9th national DJAN conference THE ninth national DJ conference has been announced. It will hold from November 6 - 9, 2016 in Ibadan, Oyo State and is aimed at exploring how DJs, stake-holders and the government can start to work as one entity. It also offers the opportunity to bring together the best of brains for some roundtable discussions on the flow and direction that re-shapes the industry.

The conference will give professionally minded DJs from around the 36 states of country the unrivalled chance to come together for four focused days of networking, bonding and learning in Oyo State.

The spokesperson for the Ibadan Chapter of the association, DJ Breeze said, “While

the conference has a community feel like no other DJ focussed event because, DJs that attend come with a positive attitude and realisation that by helping grow and re-shape for the better the economy of Nigeria, together we all reap the benefits as individuals and as an industry.

One of the main agenda of the conference is about taking DJ performances to new heights and re-investing in the economy. Participants, as well as stake-holders, are going to find exciting and inspirational new ways to invest in our business while DJs on the other hand, also learn how to command higher fees and book more gigs.

M

AVIN first lady Tiwa Savage, Davido, Phyno, Ycee, and Timaya made a momentous mark as headliners during their performance at ‘3 Thrones Concert’ which held last Sunday, 23rd of October, 2016 at EKO Hotel Convention Centre, Lagos.

The event boasted a full regalia setting with performances from several other top artistes like ill Bliss, Yung6ix, Naomi Mac, Tjan, Wale Turner, Que Peller, Viktoh, Poe, Pepenazi and more.

Highly sought-after rapper, Ycee was the first among the headliners to perform. The word smith performed with a live band; a rare feat from a rapper – causing the audience to yell on the top of their lungs in glee as he performed his debut single ‘Jagaban’ and his 2016 chart successful afropop; ‘Omo Alhaji’.

Shortly after Ycee’s performance, dancehall-reggae superstar Timaya joined the rapper on stage; making him the second headliner to perform for the night. Timaya declared Ycee as the “Rising King”; commending him for his unflagging dedication and contribution to the music industry.

Timaya performed songs from his emergence in 2005/2007, including ‘Dem Mama’, ‘Ogologoma’, ‘Good or Bad’ and recent songs like ‘Bow Down’, ‘Sanko’, ‘I Concur’ and several other smash hits.

Popular rapper Phyno was the third headliner to ascend the stage. He performed his earliest hits like ‘Ghost Mode’, ‘Alobam’, ‘Kush Music’, ‘Shut Down’, ‘Parcel’ before moving on to perform his recent

Tiwa Savage, Davido, Phyno

deliver outstanding performance at ‘3 Thrones Concert’

smash hits like ‘Ladi’, ‘Connect’, ‘Fada Fada’ and several more.

The fourth performance from the headliners came from the vivacious songstress Tiwa Savage. A slew of dancers accompanied the singer on stage as they mesmerized the audience with slick dance moves filled with unbridled energy. Tiwa performed a number of her smash hits like ‘Kele Kele’, ‘Wanted’, ‘Without my Heart’, ‘Standing Ovation’, ‘Bad’ and several more – performing for about an hour-long.

The ecstatic audience also witnessed a memorable performance from the last headliner to perform; popular afro-pop songster Davido.

The singer’s performance can be described as eccentric as he exerted his energy to finesse his performance. The singer wrapped up the night with songs like ‘Dami Duro’, ‘Gobe’, ‘Ekuro’, ‘Skelewu’, ‘Owo ni Koko’, ‘Dodo’ and several more.

Background MY name is Dele Adeyanju born some thirty years ago at Ikare Akoko, Ondo State.

My father, the Late Abiodun Adeyanju, popular in his younger days as Sir Bendel was from the ancient Oyo town, precisely the Ilusinmi compound of Isale Oyo and Ekesan-an compound, Oke Balogun Oyo. My mother is from Erusu-Akoko. I spent the first phase of my life at Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, after which we moved to Ilesa, Osun State when my dad was transferred to the Ilesa branch of an old generation bank where he worked then. I am from a family of four, two boys and two ladies which I am the first.

I recorded some studio live sessions during those period.

I started out as a performing artiste in 2009 and closed shop in 2011. But those two years were eventful.

My Musical Journey I cannot reminisce on my journey into the arts world without mentioning my late father. He was a talented composer, music historian and fine music analyst. He loved music and once told me that twice he was to join Idowu Animasawun’s band, but his father, my grandfather, objected because of the ‘Alakowe’ background they had.

He opened me up to music, Juju music of Dele Abiodun, Obey, Apola, Haruna and hundreds of forgotten and unknown names and genres in the local music industry.

This knowledge I started using on my popular radio show, Agbaletu, when it started about 10 years ago.

So, basically, my journey into music began from when I knew and understood my father’s passion. After secondary school, I formed a pop group known as the Origin band with a few friends.

Then, we were influenced by songs of Mike Okri, Ebenezer Obey and later Remedies, Plantashun Boiz and others.

The band couldn’t work for certain reasons. My love for music fanned the embers of my passion for broadcasting.

Those were days when we had very few radio stations, like one or mostly two in each state except Lagos.

I released my first studio album, ‘Orientation’ in 2005.

The second ‘Amin Ase’ in 2009 while the third, ‘Gbedu Flavour’ was in 2014, though

My kind of music The kind of music I play is fusion; fusion of Highlife, Soul, Calypso, Juju and some real Gbedu. My radio programme, ‘Agbaletu’ however talks about old generation musicians, living or dead.

I discovered that most old songs are a therapy for old people. I have songs that date back as far back as the 1920s and 30’s which are good music with lyrical depth as old as they are.

It brings them good old memories and the interview segment reveals facts of past events shrouded in secrecy.

The inspiration is from God and my father has my lifetime gratitude for giving me my personal and professional identity especially in

Why I stopped performing I quit performing because my father wasn’t so comfortable with me doing Owanbe music and so on. He wanted me to face broadcasting and he advised me as a super-creative person that I am, I am yet to explore the full potentials of the broadcast business but I still record songs and I still produce albums. So for me, when you talk music and broadcasting they are intertwined in me.

‘Agbaletu’ My recent documentary The documentary is borne out of a passion to build a new Nigeria through young people, from lessons of history. While I was growing up, history was such an interesting subject where you learnt how Mungo Park discovered the Niger, though we were not told that he met people on the banks of the Niger river.

We learnt a lot from our history teachers and textbooks and it fired in us, reasons to be inquisitive. A time came and history was struck out of the curriculum to be replaced by government.

Government and history cannot be same.

Government as a subject cannot replace history. The documentary is titled the real story of Nigeria. I want a platform where every young Nigerian can view and realize through pictorial and recorded visual evidence, what our country Nigeria has been through pre-independence, post –independence; the coups, wars and how we can solve our problems by looking back in time to learn from past mistakes and even solve some problems by using methods adopted by fathers of Nigeria like the sage, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr NnamdiAzikwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, who was himself, a highly intelligent and purposeful leader.

Women, more useful than being in the ‘other room’ YEMI Alade a.k.a Mama Africa, recently snagged the award for Best Female Act at the 2016 at the MAMAs in South Africa last weekend thus proving that she is indeed an African force.

The ‘Johnny‘ crooner, while accepting her award chose to stand for women’s rights by saying, “We’re not only good in the kitchen and other room. We’re good at everything.’

This is coming days after President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari made a comment following his wife , Aisha Buhari’s interview with the BBC, saying her rightful place is in the kitchen and in ‘the other room’.

The female acts nominated in that category include; Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), MzVee (Ghana), Josey (Ivory Coast), and Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania).

Yemi Alade continues to live up to her name ‘Mama Africa’ by winning at the MAMAs for two year in a row.

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08055201323 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Akwaaba brings the world to Lagos October 30

F

ROM Sunday, October 30 to Monday, November 1, 2016, travel and tourism exhibitors, experts, trade buyers and sellers from over 15 countries across the globe will meet at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, for the 12th edition of Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM).

The three days show is West Africa’s largest international travel fair and tourism exhibition, which has grown to become the most important Africa tourism marketing platform in the region, drawing participants of over 10,000 visitors from 20 countries.

This 12th edition will feature innovative B2B sessions sideby-side different paper presentations by a lineup of travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality experts to tackle issues facing travel business in Africa.

Among the features for this year’s training and empowerment include, the state of aviation and why airlines fail, MICE and Hotel standardisation, tourism planning in Africa and e-tourism, fashion and tourism and entertainment.

Also this year’s edition of the Africa Travel Awards organised by atqnews.com has recognised captains of industries, agencies and airlines for their outstanding mark at stepping up tourism game in Africa.

Among them is a recipient of posthumous award by the former head of Marketing for Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, late Belinda Muthinhiri who died last month, was chosen as the Africa Tourism personality of the year by voters from all over Africa. She was credited as one of the early promoters of Intra Africa Tourism.

The awards which was exclusively done by Africans for Africa, also honoured 21 other winners including the Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Mzembi.

Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates are winners for best Airlines in Africa and Cape Town as the most passenger friendly airport in Africa.

The CEO of Rwandair, Mr John Mirenge won the award for the African Aviation Personality of the year while his airline, Rwandair won the best Short Haul Airline award in Africa. Kenya and Rwanda won four awards each while Ethiopia and South Africa won five and six awards respectively.

The only winner from West Africa is Radisson Blu in Dakar, Senegal that was chosen as the best business hotel in Africa.

The fourth Edition of Africa

Travel Awards organised by atqnews.com will hold on the first day of the three-day Akwaaba African Travel Market on October 30, 2016 at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. Winners were chosen in a two part survey which includes the public and a committee of experts. The committee members nominated candidates and the nominees were then voted for by the public via an online questionnaire.

According to the Organiser, Ikechi Uko, the objectives of Africa Travel Award is to celebrate Africans and travel products that have thrived and pioneered different areas of travel and reward excellence in terms of facility management and quality service delivery.

“It is an award that seeks to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in travel, tourism and hospitality in Africa.

Chairman, BCE Food Service Equipment, Prince Toye Oyinlola (left) and the General Manager, Mr Greg Snalam at the launch of BCE Food Service Store, in Lagos, on Wednesday.

BCE Food Service launches Demo Kitchen LEADING food service equipment supplier in Africa, BCE Food Service Equipment, has opened its first store and Demo

Kitchen in Matori area of Lagos.

The hospitality sector-driven equipment provider, which is cutting new edges, even as the

Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau plans economic summit for 2017 BADAGRY Convention and Visitors Bureau has unveiled plans for the Badagry Econo0mic Summit, the Lagos Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference among other events lined up to promote and market the rich heritage of Badagry in 2017.

This development has become imperative so as to reposition Badagry as a tourism destination in Lagos.

Speaking during the monthly Forum of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) in Lagos, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dr Fadipe Sewanu Ashamu said that the Bureau has also concluded arrangements to organise the Igbo Art and Culture International Festival and the Yoruba Conference Series in 2017 in Badagry.

He stated that the Bureau is set to market Badagry as a tourism destination to the rest of the world and to serve as a focal point for coordination of all tourism activities in Badagry.

He pointed out that what is obtainable in other developed nations of the world is the convention and visitors bureau, adding that this was what informed the establishment of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The focus is to make Badagry a destination and to create programmes that will make Badagry worth visiting and investing, Dr Ashamu noted.

He listed other functions of the bureau to include, the provision of services that will enhance quality of visitors experience, to provide leadership in expanding tourism opportunities in Badagry, to generate economic activities through visitors spending to the people of Badagry and environs, to serve as a catalyst and facilitator for tourism infrastructure development, to serve as a clearing house for all hospitality establishment in Badagry, attract investment opportunities to Badagry and encourage visitors to visit and enjoy the ambiance of natural, cultural and historical sites, including the hospitality of the people of Bada-

gry.

He explained that the Badagry Economic Summit is expected to bring together stakeholders in Badagry economy to find ways of making Badagry the next economic hub in Lagos state, adding that speakers and investors are expected to deliver papers in the area of tourism, seaport development, logistics parks, oil sector and hospitality development.

On the Lagos hotel and Tourism Investment Conference, the managing director/Chief executive officer of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau noted that the state of Lagos is long overdue for annual hotel and tourism conference.

“The theme for this conference that is scheduled for 24th and 25 of August is making Lagos the preferred hospitality and tourism hub in Africa.

“The purpose of this important conference is to further create awareness about the industry and bring visitors and investors not only to Badagry, but as well as the state at large.’’

Global Travel Lifestyle Network admits TOPCOMM TRAVEL Lifestyle Network (TLN), a global network of independent communications agencies delivering comprehensive suite public relations and marketing communications to clients across the travel and lifestyle sectors, has admitted TOPCOMM PR Concept & Events Ltd, as its first member agency in Nigeria.

TOPCOMM becomes the first agency to join the Travel Lifestyle Network in West Africa and the

second in the entire African continent after another PR agency, Irvine Bartlett in South Africa.

In a signed letter announcing TOPCOMM’s membership of the Travel Lifestyle Network, Hanna Kleber, Chairwoman of Travel Lifestyle Network and Managing Director of KPRN Network in Germany, congratulated the agency for joining the network after a rigorous process of assessment and final voting by the existing members.

In her statement, Kleber said, “We are delighted to welcome TOPCOMM to the Travel Lifestyle Network where members benefit from each other’s expertise and continental-based knowledge for better service delivery either through a collective pitch or individual referrals.”

“From our assessment, TOPCOMM is an established name in the public relations sector in Nigeria.”

recession bites harder, sees the trying period for Nigeria as a time to adjust with some element of innovation to weather the economic storm, which the management said will not be for a long time.

It food service launch is specifically a prompt response to the yearning of culinary experts, hoteliers and restaurateurs in Nigeria.

The launch which is a display of different sets of catering utensils and industrial equipment for home and commercial uses, is said to redefined customers’ services through added value, explained prince Toye Oyinlola, chairman of the Board of BCE Food service Equipment.

According to Prince Oyinlola, “BCE Food service equipment which response to the needs of all classes of clientele without jeopardising the competitive value of maintaining brand quality of our products.

Our standards, in terms of products satisfaction cannot be compromised because of the track record we have sustained for years.

Also speaking at the event held at the Matori showroom of the company, the General Manager, Mr Greg Snalam said “In Africa, and indeed the world, we are known for a most impressive culinary collection across premium brands.

“For years’ we have been the leading supplier of kitchen utensils, industrial cookware, commercial kitchen appliances to both the hospitality and food service industries in Africa.

Coming to Nigeria was only a matter of time as we all know the place of this wonderful country in the comity of nations on this continent.

“We are here to deliver the very best of services and products to both commercial users and private homes.”

23

Friday, 28 October, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features Back view of one of the dilapidated buildings being inhabited by some people in Elekuro Community.

Poverty, hunger, sickness

By ’Laolu Afolabi

Blighting many homes

“

I have not eaten today. I came to school this morning hoping to get something to eat. Otherwise, I will go back home after school without hope of getting any food. I drank garri (cassava flakes) from our neighbour yesterday. My grandmother is at home, blind. She is managing to fend for us.” These were the words of eight-year-old Waheed during a visit to Olubi Memorial Primary School, at Elekuro area of Ibadan by the Nigerian Tribune recently. That little boy was so shattered and had no hope of tomorrow. All he wanted was food, at least to survive.

Waheed’s father is struggling to meet ends meet in Lagos.

In his struggles, he impregnated a lady. While the lady could not sustain herself and the baby after delivery, since the husband did not even have a home (perhaps one of those who sleep under the bridge), the girl came to Ibadan to the mother in-law, told the woman she wanted to visit a place, with a promise to come back to pick the baby. She left since then and the boy had been living with the grandmother, who also needed help.

A teacher volunteered, “that is how this community breeds poverty. A grandmother that could not fend for herself now have to take care of this boy. The father had not even come home since then. They merely register this boy in school.

What do one teach a child who has not eaten? There are many of such pupils in this school. The government has done its part, built a school in the community, but will the government also feed the children?”

Another pupil, Ramoni, also had this to say: “We are many in my grandfather’s house. We live there with him. Sometimes we come to school in the morning without food to eat. We do not, many times, have the hope of eating after the school hours as well. If we are lucky, we go home during break to get something to eat. That’s how we live.”

It was another astounding story, however, when the Nigerian Tribune asked the boy to lead him to the house of the leader of the community. While passing through a house one could consider inhabitable, even for animals, he pointedly told the writer: “That is our house.” A curious response was: “your what?” He smiled, cleared his throat and repeated what he had earlier said: “That is our house. You think it’s

Another building serving as shelter in the community. dilapidated? We live there.”

Eventually, after a short distance walk, a community leader was asked the sources of water for the community. The community leader, who also preferred anonymity, said “we don’t have potable water in this community. There is a tap there (pointing at a direction), but we don’t normally get water again. How then do they get water? Yet, this is a community in an urban area. The scene was gory and pathetic.

Waheed, Ramoni and many other children in the country face a perilous situation. They live each day as it comes.

They are starved, deprived of good things in life. There are three basic necessities of life – food, water and shelter. These children all over the country are deprived of these necessities. They have no food to eat, no water to drink and yet, they could not proudly lay their heads to rest at night. The development exposed many of them to various sicknesses and, unfortunately, death.

Nigerian Tribune was on a visit to Elekuro in the heart of Ibadan town, the Oyo State capital, a community that hosts the prestigious Wesley College of Science and famous Methodist School. Surprisingly, most structures in the community, though old, suffer partial collapse, with both reptiles and human beings sharing apartments. It was horrific seeing people living in partially collapsed structure, yet still surviving. But

Waheed at the heart of the community is the Olubi Primary School, well built and managed by the government, but some of the pupils, who are products of the community, are starving.

The same tale of woes is reverberating across the country, from the North to the South, East to the West. Scenes of children in the internally displaced camps across the country, especially in the North-East, are nightmarish. Those living in hinterlands across the country also have their worst stories to tell. Children are suffering and one wonders where that hope of the future is. The poverty cycle seems unbroken. History keeps repeating itself.

Where are those well-nourished children quoted by a former president? The former military president was said to have been asked that Nigerians are hungry and people living in poverty. He reportedly answered that all along while traversing the length and breadth of the country; he had never come across poverty-stricken people. The children he always sees, from state to state, are chubby, good looking and well-nourished. But pictures of children with Kwashiorkor and other diseases pervade the country now. Chubby looking children are no longer here, indeed, many are now malnourished.

A report by The Washington Post recently, entitled: “A famine unlike any we have ever seen,” stipulated that as “Nigeria Continues on

pg24

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features

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Any hope for the future?

Continues from pg23

battles the Islamist terrorists, millions are at risk of starvation. In the North-East, more than three million displaced and isolated by the militants are facing one of the world’s biggest humanitarian disasters. Every day, more children are dying, because there is not enough food. Curable illnesses are killing others. Even polio has returned.”

A top United Nations (UN) official who focused on humanitarian aid for the region, Toby Lanzer, was quoted in the report to have said “We will see, I think, a famine unlike any we have ever seen anywhere, unless immediate assistance is provided. Thousands of people are reportedly dying every day because of hunger in the zone. According to the UN, it was only distributing food to only a fraction of those that needed it. The report had it that as many as 75,000 children will die in famine-like conditions in Borno and two adjacent states over the next year, unless more assistance arrives.

In many parts of the country, some aid organisation found that people were eating locusts and grass. The rate of severe acute malnutrition – lack of food, is threatening. About half of the children found were malnourished and to make the matters worse, polio is back. It is difficult for most children to get foods to eat. The economic situation in the country did not help matters as well. Prices of foodstuffs are too high for many parents to afford. These days, children no longer enjoy luxuries; they are forced to take whatever is provided by the parents. It is disturbing that parents with low income and unstable economy even have more children to cater for.

The city of Gwoza in Borno State, according to The Washington Post, is still scarred by the years insurgents ran it.

Hundreds of buildings are charred, missing roofs, crumbling from rocket-inflicted damage. More than a year after the military had reclaimed the area; many of those living there are barely surviving.

In the report, one Ramatu Musa, 22, and her extended family live in a bombed-out house near the center of the city.

They fled from nearby village. They have only one meal a day and Musa struggles every day to feed her baby. “The breast is not bringing milk,” she was quoted as saying in the report.

In many cases, mothers eat so little and so are unable to breastfeed. At a UNICEF clinic is Gwoza, one doctor reported seeing as many as 70 malnourished children a day. “We need more food, oxygen, a blood bank, IVs, an ultrasound,” said Ernest Okoli, a doctor, standing outside his clinic in a former courthouse where patients were being treated on the floor.

A senator representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, recently raised the alarm over challenges of hunger, poverty and malnutrition in the North-East. He noted that the war against Boko Haram in the North-East was almost over, but lamented that the region was now faced with hunger, poverty and malnutrition. “We are facing another war and that is the fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and that too, government is bracing up to it. For three years, our people, who mostly depend on subsistence farming, did not go to their farms and government alone cannot feed the whole North-East or Borno State alone, and that is our greatest challenge,” he was quoted to have said.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, a woman in Elekuro community, who prefers to be called Iya Dunni, when asked about the conditions of some of these children, said in Yoruba language that these days, what a parent ask the child

Rashidi Balogun

Hamzat Ramoni

Children at Kuchingoro internal displaced persons (IDP) camp ssuffering from malnutrition. PHOTO: NAIJ.COM

Ramatu Musa, 22, and her extended family live in a bombed-out house near the center of the city. They fled from nearby village. They have only one meal a day and Musa struggles every day to feed her baby. “The breast is not bringing milk,” she was quoted as saying in the report.

is: “omo mi, se o ti jeun? and not “omo mi, se o yo?” which literally mean: “my child, ‘have you eaten today?’ and not ‘are you satisfied?” According to her, most parents are not even sure of when next they will be able to provide for their homes. She said the most pathetic thing is that some of them, even as grandparents, had to take care of some of their grandchildren, because the parents had either separated or still struggling with life.

A community leader, Mr Rashidi Balogun, lamented what he termed the pathetic situation in the country, especially the high cost of living. According to him, a child who is not well fed cannot assimilate whatever the teacher is saying. “Parents cannot afford food for the children because they are poor as well. How would a child who is not well fed assimilate anything being taught? It is a pathetic situation. The development

Iya Dunni

always results into poor academic record. There is no way a malnourished child will excel in his academics. We do not have potable water here too. These children have to look for water before they leave for school.” While lamenting that most parents could not provide for their kids, he, however, lauded the planned feeding of pupils by the Federal Government. “If the government helps us to feed these pupils, at least once a day, it will be a relief for the parents.” The development, according to him, will also boost enrolment in school.

Chairman of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) for the school, Alhaji Hamzat Ramoni, himself a retiree, said though the government is trying all it could, the economic situation is not helping matters for the parents. “Some of these children do not eat to school, including my grandchildren in that school. However, some of them do come home at break to eat. I had been PTA chairman for 12 years. Things were not as bad as this before. Parents are struggling.”

When the Nigerian Tribune got to his house, he was busy attending to some of the pupils who sat for common entrance but had not come to collect their result, for onward admission into secondary school. “Some of these students should have resumed in their various secondary schools (showing the Nigerian Tribune some results), but they have not come to collect their testimonials and results. Six weeks after schools had resumed, some of them are still at home. Why? They have not even paid for the common entrance. The head teacher helped them to pay so that they will sit for the examinations.

Up till now, they have not even paid. You can see this is a serious mess,” he lamented.

Alhaji Ramoni called on the government to help the parents more in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to him, some parents are civil servants, some are retirees. He wondered how such parents would be able to provide for the children in this period of recession.

“I welcome the idea of school feeding being planned by the government, but it should cut across all classes in the basic school. If the children are well fed, they will excel in their academics,” he said.

Man, indeed, has basic needs that must be met for a good life. In the pursuit of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which had metamorphosed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations hopes to eradicate poverty soonest, a resolution to which Nigeria is also a party. On July 19, 2014, the UN General Assembly’s Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forwarded a proposal for the SDGs to the Assembly. The proposal contained 17 goals with 169 targets covering a broad range of sustainable development issues. These included ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education, making cities more sustainable, combating climate change, and protecting oceans and forests.On December 5, 2014, the UN General Assembly accepted the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report which stated that the agenda for the post-2015 SDG process would be based on the OWG proposals.But a question to ask is: How soon for these communities and many others across the country to end hunger, poverty?

25

features

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Scene of the incident after the fire had been put out. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Yaba market inferno:

Traders, victims recount losses

Akin Adewakun & Qudus Kasali - Lagos

G

etting Tony to talk about the unfortunate fire episode that ravaged his shop and those of others in Yaba, leaving over 90 shops burnt, was like squeezing the proverbial water out of stone, it was almost impossible!

He was in a hurry to put the ugly incident behind him and move on with the business with the remnants salvaged from the raging inferno.

Tony Igwe, a trader in baby wears and ladies’ inner wears, was one of those numerous traders that lost properties and money to the October 16, midnight inferno, that affected the City Way Complex, a storeybuilding shopping complex, situated at Yaba Phase 1, Opposite the popular Presbyterian Church, Yaba.

But, despite losing over a million naira worth of goods to the inferno, Tony would rather prefer to keep mum over the incident and move on with his life.

Though, he eventually volunteered a few statements, they were not enough to douse the curiosity about the cause of this mysterious midnight inferno that left many traders in that segment of the market gnashing their teeth in anguish.

Interestingly, Tony’s decision to be taciturn, Nigerian Tribune later learnt might not be unconnected with the fear of the whole market space being sanctioned by the government should the cause of the fire be traced to negligence.

“People may not respond to your questions because when the state of the market is brought to the notice of the government they would put their eyes on the market and would want to close it down,” he explained.

For him, the next option was definitely not to go cap in hand to the government, but to look for alternative ways of surviving and bringing his business back. And this he intends to do by soliciting some financial support from his micro-finance bank.

But another trader, who would not disclose her identity, simply told the correspondent to look elsewhere for information,

regarding the unfortunate incident.

“You can see that I’ve lost everything I had to this fire. I’m in pains, I can’t talk now.

Please go away, I need to be alone,” she had said, in response to a request for an interview concerning the October 16 inferno that razed 94 out of the 201 shops in the complex.

Though Okwuoka, a trader in secondhand children trousers, was a bit lucky, her heart was still with those that lost substantial wares to the fire incident.

But for divine intervention, through a midnight telephone call that she got in the middle of the night that day, she too would have been in a mourning mood.

According to her, she had already retired to bed when somebody called her that the market was on fire. She was able to retrieve all her goods from the shop through the help of people around, whom she described as ‘God-sent’.

More soothing for her was the fact that law enforcement agents were on hand to ensure security at the market, and ensure that whatever items salvaged from the market did not end up in the hands of hoodlums lurking around the market at that time.

“I was fast asleep when a call regarding the fire outbreak came in, but thank God my goods were salvaged before I got there.

“I would have lost over N100,000 worth

It’s painful to hear that a market that has millions of naira worth of goods does not enjoy insurance cover. That is not too good

of goods if those people, that I believe were God-sent, were not available to retrieve my goods during the fire outbreak,” she stated.

Perhaps what remains a mystery for Justice, a shoe seller, in one of the shops, is the incidence of fire that has continued to trail the traders in this particular part of the market.

According to him, a huge number of traders in that segment of the market were victims of Tejuosho Market fire, in 2007 and had relocated to that area.

Though he escaped this latest incident unscratched, Justice still muses on the possibility of the existence of a spell on this class of traders which he says would have to be spiritually cleansed.

“We all migrated to this place when Tejuosho Market got burnt in December 2007.

We were all victims of the incident and we had to migrate to this place, and you can see what has again happened to us now,” he stated.

Justice argued that though he did not lose anything to the latest incident, he however believes that his colleagues lost quite a fortune to the inferno.

Unlike Tony, who would not want government’s involvement, Justice believes relief could only come from the state government, especially to those that lost substantial wares to the inferno.

“This is the best time for a listening government to help us out because families that lost their goods due to the incident have children they cater for and it is imperative to know that this is the period of school fees,” Justice stated.

While the real cause of the fire is still shrouded in the realm of speculations, there are however discordant tunes as to what could have been responsible for the midnight fire.

“Nobody can say precisely the cause of the fire outbreak. Some say it was caused by electrical sparks from one of the shops.

This I will not be able to confirm, because I only received a call around 1:00 am, in the morning that day, hours after the fire had started,” Justice said.

Interestingly, another account attributed the cause of the fire to a fallen electricity pole, in the area.

“We heard that it was a (electricity) pole that fell and consequently there was fire outbreak,” Okwuoka had told Nigerian Tribune, when asked about the probable cause of the incident.

But official reports say the fire must have started from one of the shops at the back side of the complex where wears, shoes, bags were burnt.

According to the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, the fire outbreak was aggravated by the highly inflammable materials such as wears stored in the shops, as well as air conditioners and generators with fuel in the market.

He explained that the effects of the fire would have been mitigated but for the inaccessibility for some of the shops, due to iron bars used as security doors for the shops.

The LASEMA boss, however, believes that rather than crying over spilled milk, market owners should ensure that their members were continuously sensitized on fire prevention and safety, as well as ensuring that electrical appliances are put off after the close of business everyday to avoid incidents such as this.

As the victims of the unfortunate fire incident pick up the pieces, perhaps the time is now for stakeholders to begin to think of how to stem the tide of the tide of frequent fire incidents in Lagos markets.

Interestingly, while many see the LASEMA boss’ suggestion as quite apt, not a few believe that players in Lagos markets should begin to think of going for insurance cover that would mitigate the effect of such loss in future.

“It’s painful to hear that a market that has millions of naira worth of goods does not enjoy insurance cover. That is not too good, market operators should begin to look the insurance way. That is the way to go,” argued Babaranti Ajayi, an insurance agent.

Who knows, a stitch in time, may save nine, for operators in the market!

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features

Friday, 28 October, 2016

In the last few weeks, efforts had been on by stakeholders in Oyo state to polish the rough edges of education in the state and create a middle ground for stakeholders to move the sector forward. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports the efforts being made by various stakeholder units to ensure education in Oyo state attain greater heights.

Setting education on a better pedestal in Oyo State

A renovated public school building.

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EW months back, the education sector in Oyo state suffered some setbacks that not only put the government and teachers on a collision cause but also disrupted the school calendar and sent youths on a path of deviance. This caused stakeholders; the government, teachers and parents to take different sides of the divide though the share the same interest; welfare of the pupils.

The situation was however not allowed to fetter as various concerned people as well as parents spoke out their minds, then sought ways of breaching the gap which solely was attributed to a breakdown in communication, distortion of facts and misrepresentation of views.

After the resolution of the crisis, the state government in a bid to put the raging issues to permanent rest and also stop further occurrence, set up a committee to look into the issues causing misunderstanding and proffer solutions for a permanent resolution of issues.

The government inaugurated the Committee on Participatory Management of Schools in Oyo state, 31- member committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, July 12, 2106 to among other responsibilities, review the status and standard of education in the state as well as recommend suitable and plausible options that will enhance the overall standard of education in the state.

The 31-man team led by Professor Adeniyi Sulaimon Gbadegesin, while submitting its report on August 30, six weeks after it was inaugurated, stated that the committee reviewed existing status and standard of education in the state by visiting 29 secondary schools in urban, semi-urban and rural communities in the eight education zones within the state.

According to him, the committee held interactive sessions with selected individuals and organizations that submitted memoranda, adding that by July 15, 2016, they had received a total of 28 memoranda and responses were grouped into five classes; participation and private management, return of schools, government-private partnership, stakeholders’ collaboration and government only.

The committee which was divided into three sub committees; technical sub-committee on memoranda and models, report writing and the peace and reconciliation committee, grappled with issues of discrepancy of data in different units of state education sector, dismal performance of students in WASSE due to non challant attitude to studies and non committal of most parents to their children’s welfare as a result of the misrepresentation of government policy on free education.

Other factors that the committee came across include non challant attitude of some teachers to work due to low morale, the wide range in students’ enrolment in schools which ranges between a maximum of 1700 to a minimum of 10 and the unwillingness of most stakeholders to collaborate with government in school management.

Speaking on the issues raised in the report submitted by the committee, Mrs. Dupe Ogunbanwo, a teacher said some points raised are valid, laying a great percentage of blame at the doorstep of parents and some teachers.

“Well, if we want to be truthful, some of the points raised by the committee are very valid, it is true that some teachers for various reasons have lost focus but this percentage is small. The bulk of the work falls on parents that do not take adequate care of their children nor monitor their progress again.

“Some parents do not even know their children’s classes or teacher while many do not know that their wards only leave home and do not go to school. Since they do not bring money out of their pockets, they became unbothered and stopped enforcing on their kids the need to focus on academic.

“Before now, you see parents standing on their child’s neck when it is time to write WAEC but now, when you call them for extension classes to prepare them, the parents will complain that you are not allowing their wards work for them and the children even are too lazy, what they want is short cut. It seems that because they are not paying for education, they do not care about the outcome again,” she stated.

The committee at the end of its consultations made various recommendations which include categorization of the existing 631 public secondary schools in the state from A1 to B3 as well as the subsequent merging of some schools to reduce wastage. Other recommendations are redistribution and prequalification of subject teachers to ensure the quality of human capital and efficiency in schools.

It further recommends the restructuring and alignment of the various units, organs and departments of the state educational sector to avoid ambiguity, overlapping functions and inefficiency as well as a detailed verification and auditing exercise of available infrastructure, personnel and students enrolment for categorization. And also the establishment of a school based management board (SBMB) system for the management of schools in Oyo state.

It is the opinion of the committee that the SBMB system will encourage responsiveness and autonomy, greater and quality services, low costs, greater efficiency, flexibility and

It further recommends the restructuring and alignment of the various units, organs and departments of the state educational sector to avoid ambiguity, overlapping functions and inefficiency

The building before the renovation. commitment from stakeholders, adding that it also has the advantage of decentralizing authority and responsibility from the central (state) government authorities to school level in areas of school budgets, allocation of resources, infrastructural development planning and monitoring of teachers as well as student activities.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, a parent emphasized that though he is privy to the committee report and agrees with some points especially that the burden of education should not be left to the government alone, he thinks that it is imperative for government to take the bull by the horn and gird its loins as it is its responsibility to ensure education for all.

“It is true we all know what is going on in the country and the fact that government seems to be overwhelmed but it is still the responsibility of government to ensure that every child is educated and in a conducive environment even if the parents cannot afford it. So government should see it as its responsibility and work with stakeholders; parents, teachers and even religious institutions to ensure there is education for all and if there will be payment, it must be very affordable for all.

“I know that as parents, we should also be willing to work with government for the progress of our children.

I will only enjoin all to work hand in hand with them so that there will be progress but government should also not forget its responsibilities or foist it on others,” Alhaji Nureni Fawaz stated.

The committee on its part was quick to add that its recommended model does not preclude the openness of government to partial/total adoption of some schools by individuals or organizations from local and international levels but added that if this will be done, it should be under stringent conditions and within the policy of the state government This recommendation Alhaji Fawaz agreed will ensure that there is no exploitation of parents in the state and will ensure the students get the best education that the state government can afford and put them in good stead among their peers from other states.

As the committee urged the government to go ahead and put its recommended system in place as well as set up an implementation committee to work out the details within a regulated time frame,, it is hoped that stakeholders will come together and put in place a system that will work in favour of the pupils.

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Ilorin women tested, sensitised on breast/ cervical cancer Biola Azeez-Ilorin

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S part of efforts to stem high rate of breast and cervical cancer in Kwara State, the wife of Kwara State governor, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, has carried out sensitisation/ awareness programme for over 2,000 female civil servants in the state on breast and cervical cancer.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the sensitisation exercise in Ilorin, a special assistant in the office of the first lady, Mr Lanre Bello, said that the programme was organised to enlighten women of all ages and status on causative factors and preventive measures about breast and cervical cancer.

“The participants were educated on causative factors and preventive measures they could adopt to avoid it, even

though there are factors that are not naturally preventable because there is the risk factor of inheritance.

We informed and educated them on all these and more”, he said.

The programme, which was

organised under the auspices of the first lady’s pet project, Life Empowered Anchors Hope (LEAH) charity organisation, also provided opportunities for women in the state to have themselves tested at LEAH Cancer Centre, Ilorin at afford-

able prices.

Mr Bello, who said that the LEAH charity organisation had established 28 centres across the 16 local government areas of the state, added that the target was to have the centre as close to people as possible.

“It’s our plan to open up more centres. We have the ultra modern centre at the GRA here in Ilorin. This is an advanced centre where we collate results from all these outposts to do further screening for more women”, he said.

Speaking when he led a delegation of officials round select health facilities in the state capital, Sokoto’s Commissioner of Health, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale, said the drugs would be administered in four phases, with 900,000 doses given in each round.

He said adequate arrangements had been made for a smooth exercise, and appealed to the residents to support govern-

ment’s efforts to rid the state of malaria.

“As you are aware, we recently undertook massive fumigation of mosquitoes’ breeding areas across the state. We recorded successes in that front, but we are appealing to people to help us by keeping their environments clean.

“In close collaboration with other ministries, we are working to deploy sanitary inspectors that will move to nooks and crannies of the state to ensure compliance to environmental laws. This will help our efforts in ensuring that all areas are kept clean, thereby mitigating the effects of the deadly disease,” the commissioner added.

He added that the state government had conducted sensitisation exercise at various health facilities to enlighten residents on the need to adopt preventative measures while tackling diseases such as malaria.

Meanwhile, the state government has sent a delegation to condole with families of the five persons who lost their lives due to malaria-related ailment in Sokoto town.

The team was led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Bashir Garba.

A cross section of women at the sensitisation programme

Review tax policy to make wealthy pay more —KWIRS tells government

Malaria kills five in Sokoto

Biola Azeez-Ilorin

Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

THE chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Dr Muritala Awodun, has called for a review of current tax policy in Nigeria to ensure more tax revenue is derived from wealthy individuals and corporate organisations.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday, Dr Awodun said that the Federal Government must align its tax policies with global practices.

Dr Awodun, who said that global practice on tax policy targeted tax obligation among top 20 per cent of the population in every nation, added that the percentage always accounted for 80 per cent of national tax payments.

“Nigeria needs to look critically at its tax policy and reform it appropriately to get our IGR right in the country. Unfortunately though, the category of people and organisations making this 20 per cent currently pay less than 10 per cent of their tax obligations because they have political influence and can always engage the best tax consultants and senior lawyers to have their ways. That is why we have the leakages in revenue mobilisation in this country.

NO fewer than five people have been reported dead following the outbreak of malaria in some parts of Sokoto town .

Reliable source told the Nigerian Tribune that malaria epidemic had hit some parts of the state capital and its environs.

Findings by Nigerian Tribune revealed that most of the hospitals in the state capital had

been filled to capacity with no bed spaces to admit more patients.

Piqued by this development, the state government said it would administer 3.6 million doses of anti-malaria drugs on the people of the state in the next four weeks.

Already, the required number of doses of the drugs have been procured and kept at various medical stores across the state.

Plateau begins process of rebuilding Jos market Isaac Shobayo-Jos AS part of the efforts geared toward reconstruction of Jos Main market gutted by fire February 12, 2002, Plateau State Government recently convened a meeting tagged “Stakeholders and the Transaction Advisory Service” for the re-development and enhancement of the burnt market.

The stakeholders comprise the State Traders Association, professional bodies, religious leaders, and security agencies, among others, alongside different consultants and technical partners saddled with the responsibility of actualisation of the reconstruction.

It will be recalled that the state government recently signed a

N250 million Memorandum of Understanding with Roughton International London in collaboration with Cynergy Associates for the first phase of the contract which includes the redevelopment and enhancement of the burnt market.

Declaring the stakeholders meeting open, the state Commissioner of Commerce said the essence of the meeting was to carry all the stakeholders along in the quest by the state government to reconstruct the market and prove its determination towards the project, adding that the state government could not afford to leave the structure in ruin being an edifice that was once cynosure of all eyes and a pride of the state.

“The government cannot embark on project like this without carrying the stakeholders along; there is the need to interact with you and for input because you are the ones that will use the market when completed. This is the first part; the next phase will be bulldozing. I can assure you that the government is committed to this project” he assured.

Security matters and adequate fire fighting and safety equipment were some of the major issues discussed during the meeting. Country Director for Roughton, Engineer Ike Egbuna, said the meeting was to get feedbacks, concerns, worries, suggestions and information or obstacle that might be known by stakeholders regarding the market.

28 arewa

Friday, 28 October, 2016

How I lost my sight and thrown out of ABU as a lecturer —Buhari’s aide

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Disability Matters, Dr Samuel Inalegwu Ankeli, granted an interview to MUHAMMAD SABIU in Kaduna. The Benue born activist went down the memory lane and recalled his experience about how he was thrown out as a lecturer at Ahmadu Bellow University, ABU Zaria, when he lost his sights, amidst other issues.

Excerpts:

H

OW far have you been able to confront issues affecting people with disability in Nigeria?

Ankeli : You must know that my background is activism in disability. I lost my sights as a lecturer in ABU, Zaria, and I was thrown out. So, I have that passion to make a change. I expect that at my level, I should be able have some recognition even as a lecturer, but then, I was thrown out. And I’m saying that if this can happen to me at my level of education and exposure, it means it is going to be worse for those who didn’t go to school and don’t have a voice. And I made up my mind from 1996 to be a voice of the disabled. To me, my activism didn’t start today. When I ran for the House of Representatives in Benue State, they said it was not yet time for a blind man to represent any people and that it was going to be an embarrassment to the state to have a blind man in National Assembly.

When we kept on going, they

Dr Ankeli while delivering a speech on the need to give the disabled a chance in the scheme of things in Nigeria. stopped my salary being a director in the state Ministry of Agriculture. And for nine years, I was not paid. And today, I’m privileged, courtesy the generosity of the President Muhammadu Buhari, to be appointed as a Senior Special Adviser on Disability Matters to the President. My duty is to oversee and ensure that Nigeria has disability in its national policies, programme and project.

And President Buhari has made Nigeria a more disability friendly country than he met it, and everybody must be involved - from government officials, private sector, business men, you and I, the

family members, and of course to those who are concerned, the people with disability themselves. So it is a holistic approach.

What is your rating of this administration for appointing a blind man as SSA for the first time in history of Nigeria?

Ankeli: I think for now, we have seen the best we have never had. Since Nigeria got her independence, and even pre-independence era, we have never had this opportunity. So the President has made history and we’re expecting that we will toe the

path in our families, offices, work places and worship centres. You have to create a place for people with disabilities. There is a saying that ‘if you want to do cheat a disabled, remember that a living dog is better than death lion’.

God is not foolish to allow us, at this level, to be alive. We have something to contribute. We are special people before God. I keep on saying that any human being that works with God knows that disabled people are special and should be treated as such.

Until that is done, Nigeria will not come out of age. We have a solution, I know that, but what

People price agric products too low —Farmers Biola Azeez-Ilorin A group of Agriculturists in Kwara State, under the aegis of Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN), have said that one of the reasons Nigerian youth lack interest in farming is because people price agricultural products too low.

Speaking at an award ceremony for deserving personalities in field of agriculture in the state in Ilorin at the weekend, the state chairman of AAEUN, Mr David Ehindero, said that rural development aspect of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture should be used to develop agriculture in the state.

“Most Nigerians price agricultural products to the least price level while other nonagricultural products attract expensive prices. Meanwhile, farmers would have devoted at least a year to get the product out to consumers. But still, when people want to buy from them, they beat the price down to least price as if they are nothing useful. It is high time we took our agricultural practice seriously and gave it a priority in our day to day activities

because that’s what is sustaining and giving us life”, he said.

Mr Ehindero, who frowned at little recognition accorded farmers in the country, said that agriculturists and farmers were not always celebrated like entertainers.

He said the idea of the award ceremonywasconceivedtorecognise contributions of personalities in the field of agriculture.

“Farmers are usually left

behind in the scheme of things in the country. That has discouraged youth from participating in agriculture. We feel that if we celebrate farmers, it will motivate them and spur them to service while young people will be encouraged to join agricultural practice. We feel we should do this from time to time and recognise people that have contributed to agriculture and environment in Nigeria to make

them do more.

“If we keep talking about agriculture and not really encouraging practitioners by way of recognising their contributions, they will not do more”, he said.

Talking on strategy for better agriculture development in the country, the AAEUN chairman advised three tiers of government on the need to create agrarian community all across the country.

Niger partners Chevron, others on agro-economic empowerment Adelowo Oladipo-Minna NIGER State partners Chevron and others on Agro- economic empowerment scheme.

The Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has applauded Chevron and other partners for partnering with the state government in supporting its farmers and youths towards empowerment to boost the state economy.

He made the disclosure on Tuesday at the launching of Agro-Economic Empowerment Programme, ‘Niger Rice Project’ and Agribusiness Investment

Scheme in Minna.

The governor was represented by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ibrahim Isah Ladan, who expressed concern over the rate of unemployment among the youth, the high rural - urban migration and lack of industrial growth in the rural areas in the country, and said the partnership would go a long way in creating jobs.

The programme, which was sponsored by Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary Chevron Company with NNPC, Lukoil and other oil companies in collaboration with the Niger

State chapter of AGAN and Niger State government was aimed at bringing back the lost glory of agricultural practice in Nigeria, targeted at 2, 500 farmers for the training.

Governor Bello disclosed that not less than 9, 500 people in the state were already directly or indirectly benefiting from the International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programme while the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme of the African Development Bank was already operating in 7 of the 25 local government areas of the state.

we are praying for is change, knowing that there is something we have and we can give.

The president has taken the lead as the first man in this country, I expect others to join him and change status and lifestyle of people with disability and make us more productive. The problem we have is the way we see people with disability, i.e the medical model and charity model. You think by giving me something, you are pitying me. No, we have the right. We are telling you that it’s our rights to be alive, to go to school, participate in political activities, be involved in governance and anything in the family.

It is a right, for the fact that we are human beings, run around like human beings like you and me. That’s what we are saying.

Give us a chance and see what we can do. But I tell you guys, we’re the best. I give you an instance of what happened in recent Nigerian athletics outing. Able people came back with one bronze medal, we came back with eight gold medals. We are champions, you must give us the opportunity and celebrate us as champions. We’ve done and shown you that we’re champions because God has given it to us.

Misau emir advises subjects on health insurance Isaac Shobayo - Jos THE Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmad Suleiman, has implored communities within and outside his emirate to embrace the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS) in order to have access to affordable health services.

The traditional ruler gave the advice when Officials of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Andiwa Mutual Health Association paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in preparation for the flagging off of the CHIS in the emirate.

According to him, Federal Government wants to make sound health delivery available to the people at the grassroots and also determined to ensure that the CBHIS spread to all nooks and crannies of Bauchi State and beyond.

He said the Scheme would enable citizens of every community take charge of their health and also enable them have access to qualitative and affordable health care service.

The monarch assured the Andiwa Mutual Health Association and NHIS of its support for the flag off of the community based Social Health Insurance Programme in his domain and beyond and promised to moblise people in his domain to ensure success of the programme.

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Friday, 28 October, 2016

Assets declaration: Court dismisses Saraki’s appeal against CCT’s decision Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has again affirmed the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, on charges of false assets declaration before the Tribunal.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday in the appeal brought before the court by the Senate President, the Justice Abdul Aboki-led panel of the Appeal Court, affirmed CCT’s jurisdiction after dismissing the appeal filed by Saraki, challenging his trial before the Tribunal.

In the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Aboki, the appellate court resolved all the eight issues formulated for determination against Saraki.

Upholding the earlier ruling of the Danladi Yakubu Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal, which affirmed the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, Justice Aboki held among others, that contrary to

Akinjide, German Embassy donate multimillion classrooms, borehole to school

By Dare Adekanmbi

THE Olajumoke Akinjide Foundation (OAF) and its development partners, on Thursday, handed over a block of six classrooms, equipped with 180 sets of chairs and tables, to the management of Saint James’ Primary School, Akaran, in OnaAra Local Government Area of Oyo State.

A motorised borehole constructed by the Embassy of Germany was also handed over to the school at a wellattended ceremony held in Akaran, where stakeholders lauded the initiative as one that would enhance the education of the young generation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Akinjide, who is the immediate past Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stressed the importance of a conducive environment for the betterment of education and assurance of a prosperous future for the country.

The former Minister who spoke through her representative, Mrs Funmi Aigbomian, said she was a firm believer in empowering families and educating children “as the essential building blocks for a self-sustaining society.”

Saraki’s contention, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) had the power to institute charges against him before the CCT. The Appeal Court also held that under the Constitution, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was not under any obligation to invite the Senate President to enable him to make written admission on breaches in

his asset declaration forms before charges could be initiated against him.

It further held that the Tribunal had rightly departed from its earlier decision exonerating a former Lagos State governor and National Leader, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu on account that he was not invited by the CCB to con-

front him with the allegations levelled against him.

The court also held that the fact that the charges were initiated 13 years after the offences were allegedly committed was immaterial and described the contention as sentimental and that, which the court had been enjoined not to delve into.

The Appeal Court judg-

ment of Thursday, was the second time the Appeal Court would be delivering judgment on the same subject matter of jurisdiction of the CCT to try the Senate President.

It had last year ruled against Saraki on the jurisdiction of the CCT and asked him to proceed to face the 16-count charge preferred against him.

‘Jigawa promotes 2,500 local gov. staff in one year’ Adamu Amadu - Dutse

THE Jigawa State Local Government Service Commission has promoted 2,500 staff in its employ to various grade levels since the inception of the present administration under Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar.

The executive chairman of the commission, Alhaji Kabiru Hassan Sugungu, while speaking to newsmen in Dutse, said 1,350 staff had received administrative training in different higher institutions of learning in the country for quality service delivery.

Alhaji Sugungu explained that the training which was categorised according to appointments, was aimed at assisting the staff to acquire modern administrative procedures.

According to him, “the training and retraining of our workforce was in line with our mandate to update the skills and knowledge enthusiasm of our staff for effective quality service delivery at the local level.”

Abandoned babies

Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, The Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Olatunji Akinfenwa (right); his wife, Oluyemisi (left) and Mrs Ayanniran Bolanle (middle), during the 2016 Jesus Festival’s visit to the Juvenile Correctional Child Care Unit, Ijokodo, Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: D’Toyin

Metuh funded PDP’s publicity activities from his pocket, witness tells court Sunday Ejike - abuja

A defence witness, Richard Ihediwa, in the ongoing trial of the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Thursday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that publicity activities were funded by the erstwhile national publicity secretary in the heat of President Good-

luck Jonathan’s re-election campaign in 2015.

Led in evidence by the defence counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, Ihediwa, said it came to a point that the “situation room’ was not

Absence of EFCC witness stalls trial of Tompolo, others Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos

THE trial of an ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who was accused of an alleged fraud of N47.6 billion, was, on Thursday, stalled owing to the absence of the prosecutor of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba was informed by Festus Keyamo of the non-availability of the witness he intended to call, and therefore asked the court for an adjournment.

Justice Ibrahim Buba, adjourned the case till December 13 and 14, 2016 for trial.

It will be recalled that the EFCC had, on April 18,

2016, arraigned Tompolo in absentia on 22 counts of alleged N47.6 billion fraud.

Also arraigned in absentia regarding the alleged fraud were six brothers of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.

They are Igo, Julius, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel and Clement.

Tompolo, Igo, Julius, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel and Clement were declared as currently being at large when the charges were read before Justice Buba on April 18.

But Akpobolokemi himself, two other people, Josephine Otuaga and Rita Uruakpo, and Kime Engozu, who were also listed as defendants in the amended charge, were present in

court on April 18 to answer to the charges.

The other defendants in the charge are five companies, namely: Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE; Oyeinteke Global Network Limited; Wabod Global Resources Ltd.; Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd.; Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd.; and Watershed Associated Resources.

The charges bordered on conspiracy, advance fee fraud and money laundering, though the defendants who were in court pleaded not guilty to all of them.

At the hearing on Thursday, one of the defence counsels, Mr Oyesoji Oyeleke, informed the court of a preliminary objection he filed on behalf of his client, challenging the competence of the charges.

funded by the party, and Metuh decided to pick up the burden and funded the activities of the publicity team from his pocket.

He told the court that the financial status of the publicity arm of the PDP was so bad that, “It came to a point that companies that ran advert for us will come to the secretariat and demand their payment and we were not able to pay them”.

He said it came to a time he wanted to resign because the work load was too much for him, but Metuh begged and asked him to understand that the publicity office was not funded.

“I told the first defendant (Metuh) I would not be able to continue except he hired other professionals.

“The first defendant himself also had health issue with the work. We then agreed to hire more hands and five more media men were hired at the expense of first defendant.”

The trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang adjourned till October 31, 2016 for continuation of trial in the matter.

A-DAY-OLD girl was rescued behind girls’ hostel at Rehab Centre, Moniya, on Thursday, September 29, 2016

A girl of about seven months old, was abandoned at Central Mosque, Secretariat area, Ibadan, on Friday, August 26, 2016

A-day-old girl was rescued at Egbeda Area, Ibadan, on Wednesday October 19, 2016.

Anybody with useful information that could lead to the whereabouts of the babies’ parents or relatives, should please, contact the Principal Social Welfare Officer, Ibadan/Ibarapa Zonal Social Welfare Office, Iyaganku, Ibadan or the nearest police station.

30

politicsnews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Anti-corruption war not solution to economic recovery —A ’Ibom Speaker Anthony Ubong, Calabar

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PEAKER of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Honourable Onofiok Luke, has said that the ongoing anticorruption war of the All Progressives Congress (APC) - led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari cannot pull Nigeria out of economic recession.

Hon. Luke stated this in Calabar on Thursday, while delivering a lecture with the theme, ‘Nigeria’s anti-corruption war and economic recovery: The connection’’ in commemoration of the birthday of Bishop Emma Isong.

According to him, the anti-corruption war must not be the only pivot for Nigeria’s economic recovery.

He added that it should not be fought at the detriment of a full planned comprehensive economic blueprint to navigate Nigeria out of recession.

The speaker stressed that the current war against corruption had exacerbated the instability in the polity to the extent that it had created political tension, which he said was having negative effects on the economy.

Luke said: ‘’While the fight against corruption is a means to an end, economic recovery and sus-

tainability is the end itself.

Whereas a successful antigraft war cannot guarantee economic recovery, a robustly successful economy can stem corruption. ‘’This country’s anticorruption war should not be seen to be highly sensational, jaundiced and thoroughly compromised due to overbearing political undertones and motives. To

my mind, this is not how corruption is fought.”

He lamented that due to the tough and stringent fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal Government arising from the anti-corruption war, existing businesses were grinding to a halt, new investment initiatives were not exploited and the already existing ones had taken to

their heels.

Luke added that though Nigeria is not lacking in efforts at curbing corruption, the absence of a committed leadership and political will had jeopardized the country’s effort in this regard. ‘’The present government must show enough political will to

fight this menace because the perception of Nigerians at the moment is that the current fight against corruption is selective. ‘’Reforms aimed at preventing acts of corruption and reducing opportunities for corrupt practices should be introduced. Executive interference in the operations of these antigraft agencies should be

From right, National Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Joseph Avazi; secretary, Akin Fasogbon and the auditor, Ismaila Ayodele, during the National Working Committee meeting on the forthcoming Ondo governorship election in Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

LG poll’ll nail Accord Party’s coffin —Oyo APC

By Saheed Salawu

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described the planned local government election in the state as one that will nail the coffin of the Accord Party in state.

The ruling party boasted increased strength with what it called the influx of

“credible” members of the opposition Accord, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and others into its fold.

The APC made the remarks in a statement by its director of publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, in reaction to a media report quoting two chieftains of the

Accord, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Chief Bisi Ilaka, as describing their party as the one to beat in the February 11, 2017 election.

The APC called the comments of the politicians “ranting of some passengers of a deflated political bus,” saying they were only “testing the waters to know whether they are still rel-

evant in the polity, having suffered colossal losses in the last general elections as Accord Party candidates.”

The APC, however, said that “no gang-up of spent forces and failed leaders” would yield any desired results inasmuch as the people of the state had been “liberated and would never go back to their vomit.”

Pay salaries by Nov. 30 or face protests, Ohanaeze youth leader warns S/East govs Celestine Ihejirika From Umuahia.

GOVERNORS of the South-East zone have been given up to November 30, 2016 to clear up the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensions in their respective states or face protests by the youths.

National President of Ohanaeze Youths Wing, Okechukwu Isiguzio, made issued the threat on

Thursday shortly after receiving an award of excellence from by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Women Wing, Abia State.

He wondered where workers in the zone would source money to cerebrate the Chrismas this year if they were not paid their entitlements.

“Looking at what is happening in Abia and Imo states, for instance, workers are dying everyday,

pensioners are also dying in their hundreds daily and we have governors elected by the same neglected workers.

“It is evil, it is unacceptable and I’m going to mobilise youths in Igbo land after November 30, 2016.

This is time for us to wake up from slumber; the era of watching leaders spreading poverty in the name of recession is over and we have to start from some-

where,” he said.

Speaking on menace of herdsmen, the youth leader urged the Federal Government to come to the rescue of Ndigbo.

According to him, the continued influx of cattle breeders into the region poses lot of danger.

He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to tackle the region’s federal roads which, he said, were in a state of disrepair.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the planned local government elections of early next year would be the final burial of the Accord Party in Oyo State as APC is waxing stronger with the influx of credible members of the opposition Accord, PDP, LP, SDP and others into our fold.

“Furthermore, it is only those who are not sincere with themselves that would discredit the resolve of the OYSIEC to conduct credible elections on the date announced.

“We trust the ability of the commission to deliver on promise and we are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure all-round victory at the polls. As soon as the guidelines are made public, our great party will begin its full build-up for the elections as we shall be fielding credible and patriotic candidates for the available posts,” the APC said.

‘Ekiti APC strong enough to wrest power from PDP’ Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Captain Sunday Adebomi, has said that the party has enough personnel and the strength to wrest power from the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, in the next elections.

Adebomi claimed in an interview with Nigerian Tribune in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday that “strong, grassroots politicians who were in the PDP have left the party and this has left the party without a strong base in the state because of its leadership.”

Adebomi, a Captain in the United States Army, contended that “many big wigs including Chief Yinka Akerele, Senator Ayò Arise, Mr. Femi Bamisile and others like that have left the PDP because of the person of Governor Ayodele Fayose and, therefore, this will augur well for APC in the coming election.”

According to him, he was a member of the PDP but decided to leave the party because of his disagreement with the leaders of the party, whom he said denied him of the party’s ticket to represent his district in the Senate.

He said he decided to join the APC where people he referred to as “intellectually inclined who abound in the APC to be able to share ideas and fashion out ways to achieve my political ambition.”

On whether the party was still strong enough to provide a strong platform to achieve his political ambition, Adebomi said “no political party is strong on its own,” and explained that “it is the people that make the party strong and virile and make it an electionwinning machine; that is why the party is supreme.”

He said it was for the reason of the strength of the people in the APC that he found it comfortable to work with the big wigs there and also contribute to the growth of the party and good governance in the state.

He said his area of interest in politics was youth development because, according to him, not many young Nigerians were given the opportunity to lead and realise their ambition and help in the sustainable development of the country.

politicsnews Ondo: Jimoh Ibrahim is PDP candidate —INEC 31

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Akeredolu, Oke, 25 others make final list, Jegede dropped It’s a mockery of democracy, we will appeal—Makarfi-led PDP FromJacobSegunOlatunjiand Hakeem Gbadamosi

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USINESS mogul, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, on Thursday, emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for thr Novemebr 26 governorship poll in Ondo State, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), last night, released the final list of candidates for the poll.

According to the final list signed by the national secretary of the commission, Mrs Augusta C. Ogakwu, Ibrahim was named based on court’s order along with his running mate, Alabi Omotayo Ebenezer, while the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede, earlier recognised as PDP candidate

by INEC, was dropped.

Also, INEC named Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Agoola Ajayi as his running mate, while Olusola Alex Oke clinched the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), with Dauda Oluwadare as his running mate.

There have been anxieties on the candidatures of the trio – Ibrahim, Oke and Akeredolu – due to litigations hanging on the necks of Ibrahim and Akeredolu, while some members of the AD were against the choice of Oke. According to a letter by the secretary of commission to the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commis-

sioner (REC), the number of candidates for the governorship election is 28.

Ibrahim and Jegede had

emerged candidates of the party from its two factions, the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national

THE Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, on Thursday pledged to give attention to rural development and agricultural development if elected as the governor of the state.

Oke stated this in Ikota, in Ifedore local government area of the state, during his campaign tour to the area, lamenting the neglect and lack of infrastructure in the rural areas, despite their role in food production and supply chain.

The candidate emphasised the role of rural dwellers in the development of any nation, especially in food production and promised that his government said would make

iff produced Ibrahim, the Makarfi-led caretaker committee produced Jegede.

Former Vice-President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, welcoming the immediate past governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu, to his Asokoro residence in Abuja, during the latter’s courtesy visit on Tuesday.

•••1.6m voters to participate in election —INEC Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, said that over 1,659,000 eligible voters will participate in the election to determine the fate of about 28 candidates participating in the Ondo State governorship election .

The National Electoral Commissioner, Publicity and Voters Education, Solomon Shoyebi, who stated

this in Akure, the state capital, during the release of voter register to political parties participating in the election, noted that 80 per cent of the voters were between the ages of 18 and 50.

Shoyebi, who disclosed that the commission would make use of the card reader during the election, called on the electorate to adhere strictly to all the electoral laws and guideline.

The State Resident Elec-

I will give attention to rural development —Oke Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

caretaker of the party and Senator Ali Modu Sheriffled faction.

While the camp of Sher-

life conducive for rural dwellers across the state through the provision of necessary infrastructure.

He explained the need to ensure good living condition and environment for rural dwellers was a policy thrust of the AD, promising rural communities good access roads, water supply, electricity, healthcare facilities and storage facilities.

While assuring of restoring prosperity to the state and its people, he said the development of the rural areas was necessary in driving the need to boost agriculture and agribusiness being mainstay of Ondo economy.

Oke told the crowds at Ilara Mokin and Igbara Oke that chief among the reasons he was aspir-

ing to govern the state was the need to restore prosperity to the land and its people.

He lamented that the present Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state had reversed all traces of development and left the people impoverished and yearning for alternative.

Oke, who described the AD as the much desired alternative, said he had the required experience to turn the present sorry situation of the state around.

He promised to revive of the moribund industries in the state and as well revisit the Olokola and Deep Seaport projects to attract viable investors and as well establish medium scale industries in the three senatorial districts of the state.

toral Commissioner (REC) Olusegun Agbaje, while speaking, said there were reports that some politicians were planning to clone the PVC to perpetrate rigging during the election.

Agbaje, who warned against such act said the cloned cards would be detected by the card readers that would be deployed

by INEC for the election, which would attract severe punishment.

He said: “We hear people are cloning cards to cheat during the election, cloned cards will not work. the card readers will detect the cloned cards.”

The INEC boss advised voters not to allow anybody to use their card to perpetrate electoral fraud.

“Protect your cards; don’t sell them, it is a criminal offence. There will be enough card readers, so that if any malfunctions, it will be immediately replaced,” he said.

Agbaje revealed that the state office of the commission had had taken delivery of non-sensitive materials and distributed to all the 18 local government areas in the state He warned the electorates without voters card not to show up at the polling centers on the Election day saying no one would be allowed to vote without

the PVC, “voting without card readers is a nullity.” he said Reacting to the allegation against him and some top officials of the state INEC, by the business mogul, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim,who said that INEC were compromised, Agabje said “INEC has no candidate for the coming election, anybody who wins will win fairly,” he said.

He explained that he had wanted to approach court on the matter but said that the issues had been addressed by the INEC headquarters in Abuja and said “INEC will not do anything that reduce the credibility it has built through the years,” Also speaking at the session, Police Commissioner for Ondo State, Hilda Harrison, said the police command was prepared to bring perpetrators of crimes before, during and after the election to book.

She called on political parties to avoid violence and educate their supporters not to destroy posters of political opponents as such acts would be treated as a serious crime.

According to her, some areas had already witnessed pockets o violence, assuring that the police and other security agencies had mapped out strategies to forestall such occurrences.

The recognition of Ibrahim came barely 24 hours after the Sheriff’s leadership had warned officials of the commission that they risked contempt of court and consequent imprisonment if they rejected their candidate.

Other candidates are Adeuti Stephen Taye, Labour Party (LP); Olu Agunloye, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Aidi Bolarinwa Elijah, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); Oluwadare Bada, New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP); Famusipe Rufus Idowu, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA); Daniel Ogungbemi (KOWA) and Oluwasegun Odidi, PDC, among others.

In a swift reaction, the acting national publicity secretary of the Sheriff-led faction of PDP, Bernard Mikko, said, “INEC’s recognition of Ibrahim is not only a victory for the people of Ondo State, but also a victory for the rule of law and diminishing impunity in our electoral system.

“The PDP NWC under the leadership of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is pleased with this development and hereby congratulates the people of Ondo State as they go to polls on November 26 to vote PDP and elect Ibrahim as their next governor.”

Reacting to the development, the Ondo State publicity director of the party, Ayo Fadaka, said the party would challenge the decision at the Appeal Court today.

“It is a sad development and I want to say that there is no way the party is going to agree with such a decision. It is a mockery of democracy and it shows that the APC that currently controls the country has no respect for the political desire of the people of this country,” he said.

Fadaka lamented that the faction that organised a free congress to elect its standard-bearer, held within the state and monitored by INEC officials and other security agencies, was rejected

by INEC over a parallel congress held outside the state.

Speaking on the next line of action, he said “we are in the Appeal Court and the court is sitting tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday to hear the case and we hope to reverse the travesty of justice initiated by a group of fifth columnists within our party.”

32 news Recession: Senate seeks more support from IMF

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Taiwo Adisa -Abuja EPUTY Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has asked the

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International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure deeper partnership with Nigeria.

Ekweremadu, who stated

this while receiving a delegation of the African Department of the IMF, on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Bukola

N2.473trn debt: Reps to probe AMCON Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja THE House of Representatives, on Thursday, resolved to probe the failure of obligos/ bank debtors to liquidate their loans in order to enable Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) to redeem the three years zero coupon bond it raised.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the need to investigate AMCON obligos over the non-liquidation of N2.473 billion, moved

by Honourable Johnbull Shekarau.

While moving the motion, Honourable Shekarau said AMCON was established to respond to the 2007-

2009 global crisis as an intervention agency to provide stabilisation capital to eligible financial institutions and acquire eligible bank assets.

He recalled that the company was provided with a three-year zero coupon Federal Government bonds to allow it raise N5. 67 trillion through the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The lawmaker expressed worry that six years after, AMCON was yet to recover over N2.473 from Obligos/ bank debtors to enable it to redeem the coupon bond it acquired.

Shekarau further expressed concern that AMCON’s inability to

Dapo Lam-Adesina provides for motherless babies in Ibadan

By Joan Omionawele

IN furtherance of corporate social responsibility and the bid to give back to the society, Honorable Adedapo Lam-Adesina recently led a team of friends and delegates to the Ibadan Home for Motherless Babies, Yemetu, to celebrate his birthday.

During the visit, Honourable Lam-Adesina commissioned a PV System Lighting project towards reducing the cost of maintaining the home.

According to him, “this is a motherless babies home which I have been visiting since the last 15 years, I am moved by the plight of the children, and I must commend the management of the home who have con-

stantly followed up on children born at the University College Hospital, especially those whose mothers died at childbirth over the years.”

Presenting gifts to the management of the Home, Lam- Adesina reiterated his commitment to contributing his quota to the uplifting of women and children in Oyo State, by rescuing them from the scourge of poverty.

He emphasised that one of his many interests is maternal health, saying “We are doing our best to secure the lives of children, especially because they are the leaders of the next generation, and this is one area which we will continue to give utmost attention,” he said.

recover this amount had serious implications on the economy, particularly now that “it is in recession.”

Supporting the motion, the chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas, lamented the company’s inability to recover monies from its debtors, stressing that the fund would help boost the country’s ailing economy.

Namdas noted that of the N2.473 billion, N1.2 trillion was owed by 20 individuals who, according to him, “are still walking freely and living lavish lifestyles.”

When the motion was put into voice vote by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, it was unanimously adopted by members.

Consequently, the House mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to investigate the matter and report back its findings in four weeks, for further legislative action.

Saraki, said Nigeria needed more support and collaboration with the IMF. “The IMF has shown keen interest in the development of Nigeria. We believe that we need greater collaboration at this time of our challenges and we also believe that whatever support and technical assistance we are going to get will be tailored to our own needs, which is also peculiar to us, because everycountry has its own

He said the sum of N100 million was credited into the account of one Spotless Investment account number 1010170969 domiciled in Ibadan branch of the bank, N219,490,000, N300 million and N200 million were transferred into the account of one De Privateer Limited with account number 1013835889 also domiciled in Ibadan, while the sum of N137 million was transferred into the account of Ayodele Fayose.

Agbele was said to have eventually taken away the cash balance of N263 million with the security team to Ado Ekiti on the

same day the cash was delivered in Akure.

The witness, who said he could not recognise the number of the aircraft that conveyed the stash of money, said it was metallic in colour and he could recognise the face of Obanikoro, while the cash was placed in “Ghana-mustgo” sacks.

According to him, the other aircraft that brought the second batch of cash was smaller in size and the sacks of money were too numerous for him to ascertain the exact number of them.

Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter till November 14 and 17.

said he was in Nigeria to have a firsthand assessment of the country.

“This is my first country visit. I wanted to come to Nigeria because it is the largest economy and given issues that are here. In my new capacity, what I know is what is on paper and I wanted to come here and talk to the people and get a better sense of how you see the challenges and what you have to do to address them,” he said.

2016 budget: FG releases N2.5 trillion Taiwo Adisa -Abuja MINISTER of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has said the Federal Government has, so far, released the sum of N2.5 trillion in the 2016 budget Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who also appeared before the Senate Committee on Appropriations alongside Udo Udoma, said the Federal Government was probing some revenue generating agencies which were found to have inflated their expenses.

She said the agencies

would soon be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The minister stated that the government had been receiving looted funds into its purse daily, adding, however, that she could not announce the figure immediately.

She gave a breakdown of the releases so far as including the sum of N753 billion for capital votes; N117 billion for statutory transfers; N135 billion for service wide votes; N108 billion for overheads, while consolidated pension

SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER, 2016

N150

stood at N142 billion and personnel costs totalled N1.2 trillion.

She said the government was facing an uphill task retrieving looted funds from outside the country.

The minister told the committee that the government was still awaiting the final works on the loan being sought from China.

Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, told the ministers that his committee was satisfied with the implementation of 2016 budget so far.

xquisite

Weekend Lagos General Hospitals:

A tale of sorrow, frustration, avoidable deaths

How N1.2bn was laundered for Fayose, witness tells court Continued from pg2

challenges and peculiar circumstances.

“We believe that in working together and taking cognisance of our peculiar circumstances, we will be able to find solutions to our problems.

We will work together to build a country where food, shelter and other basic needs are affordable for all,” Ekweremadu said.

In his address, Director, African Department of the IMF, Mr Abebe Selassie,

We’re salvaging the situation —Govt

interview

APC: Political realignment

is losers’ idea

—Oni, Deputy National Chairman

Most men Recession: Residents besiege can’t afford family planning clinics to limit entertainment their wives People see Kannywood to the actresses as kitchen Plus

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—Funky Mallam Book your copy today

—Joy Ofili Yebovi, foremost female furniture maker

Friday, 28 October, 2016 33 news Mimiko Nigeria’s port concessionaires ‘unserious’ operators sets to host —Senate committee maiden Cocoa

•Threatens to terminate unfavourable agreements Tola Adenubi-Lagos

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HE Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has stated that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), concessioned the seaports to some very unserious private operators.

Speaking at Apapa Port Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, as part of its efforts in probing the service, chairman of the committee, Senator Hope Uzodimma, wondered why the maritime concessionaires were waiting for the Customs to buy scanners at the ports.

According to him, “Talking about faulty scanners at the ports, the Customs has no business under the law to replace or buy scanners. This is the responsibility of the terminal

operators. By the CEMA Act, Section 31, it is the responsibility of the terminal operators, to provide facilities at the ports. Why are they not asking Customs to buy cranes at the ports?

Why are they not asking Customs to but forklift at the ports?

“Unfortunately, the Federal Government concessioned out our seaport terminals to some of the most very unserious private operators.

“Therefore, it is time for the government to take a review of the ports concession that was made in

2006.

“We are going to look at the performance of all the terminal operators and those found not to have performed will have their concession agreements terminated.

“This will lead to the emergence of more serious minded private operators.”

He said at the airports, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) provides scanners for Customs operations, since FAAN is the operator of the airport, the same position the terminal operators occupy, now at the seaports

since the NPA has handed over the operation of the seaports during the ports concession of 2006.

“We were in Singapore and we saw how the terminal operators were competing to hit one million containers handling per month.

“The terminal operators in Singapore provides enabling environment for their Customs. Why can’t we do the same in Nigeria? We must say No to all this anomalies so that the country can move forward,” he said.

On the controversial

Auto policy regime, Senator Uzodinma explained that, the policy will be reviewed.

“On the Auto policy that is making Nigerian bound cargoes to go to neighbouring ports, we are going to review it. We know it is because of the 35 per cent that is forcing many importers to go to neighbouring ports like Cotonou and Lome.

“That 35 percent is the problem that is causing smuggling and it is not in favour of Nigeria but foreigners. So we will prevail on government to remove it,” he stated.

Ex-speaker Bankole, others to speak at youth entrepreneurship lecture

By Dapo Falade

FORMER Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, will be the guest speaker at a lecture on youth entrepreneurship, holding in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Sunday.

The lecture, the fifth in its series, with the theme, “Ogun State: Stimulating Youths Entrepreneurship Potential in a Recessive Economy”, is part of the activities to mark the fifth year anniversary of IjebuNewsXtra, a community news-magazine celebrating the essence of Ijebuland and its people.

Other dignitaries expected at the lecture included Femi Omotayo, a young entrepreneur, Nigeria’s former envoy to China, Ambassador Shola Onadipe, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, former deputy speaker of the state legislature, Honourable Tokunbo Osin and Managing Director of Wesco Pools and Lottery, Chief Wale Osinubi, among others.

Publisher of the newsmagazine, Mr Dayo Rufai, told Nigerian Tribune that the theme was carefully chosen in tandem with the present economic realities, as well as to proffer lasting solutions.

“You and I know that the problem plaguing our country right now is the issue of recession,” he said.

From left, deputy governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo; Governor Nyesom Wike; Chairman of the Rivers State Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee, Chief Ferdinand Anabrabra and the Alternate Chairman, Chief Onueze Okocha, during the inauguration of the committee, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

Rivers at 50 is a celebration of liberation —Wike RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has stated that next year’s 50th Anniversary of the state, is a celebration of the liberation of Rivers people, from the forces of deprivation, oppression and domination.

Inaugurating the Rivers State Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee at the Government House, Port Harcourt,

on Thursday, Governor Wike said: “Many of us, who are now enjoying the fruits of liberty, may not truly appreciate what it meant to be dominated, dispossessed, deprived, exploited and oppressed, in your own land by the dominant social and political tendencies of the time.

“Before Rivers State was created, our people

could not find schools in their neighbourhood, hospitals to treat the sick, universities to educate their children, decent jobs to earn income and good roads to their communities.”

The governor noted that, since the creation of Rivers State, on May 27, 1967, the state has attained greater heights and surmounted develop-

Omawumi, MI headline federal poly, Nekede’s

Glo Campus Storm THE Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, will this Friday savour the Glo Campus Storm, Globacom’s comprehensive entertainment music concert.

Students of the institution are reportedly eagerly waiting to have a taste of the topshow.

One of the students, Samson Onuoha, an ND II undergraduate, said: “We are seriously waiting for the show. Music concerts of this magnitude rarely happen in this school.

I’m sure students from other institutions around like FUTO

(Federal University of Tehnology, Owerri) will also attend the show.”

The “Na who I go ask” crooner, Omowumi Megbele , Africa Rapper Number One, MI and songstress, Victoria Kimani, are billed to headline the concert, while multi-talented Comedian, Gordons, would spice up the night with rib-cracking jokes.

According to a statement

by Globacom, the ongoing Glo Campus Storm is another demonstration of its

immense love for students and youths of Nigeria. “We have built a very good relationship with them over time and regularly, we entertain them with the best of Nigerian artistes, knowing their love for music.

The Glo Campus Storm concert is an entertainment show, designed to reward students nationwide and give them the opportunity of winningsome prizes and becoming Glo Campus ambassadors”, the statement read.

ment challenges.

He said: “For 50 years, we have lived and toiled together, in pursuit of the vision of our founding fathers, who put in and sacrificed everything, including their lives, to ensure the creation of this beautiful state, we all love and proud of, indigenes and non-indigenes alike.”

The governor noted that the most important of the creation of Rivers State is that the people of the state are now masters of their own destiny.

He said: “Although, we are not where we should be within the matrix of where we want to be, we still have a lot to celebrate and thank God for the 50 years of our existence as a State and as a people with a common destiny.

“Besides, after 50 unbroken years on a journey, it is proper for us to take a little moment to retrospect on the progress already made, examine our prospects and set our eyes on the next era of the march, to progress with optimism.”

Investment conference

AS part of activities to launch the much mentioned Akure Commodity Exchange initiated, by the Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to help Ondo farmers midwife their sale internationally, the stage is set for the hosting of the 1st International Cocoa Industry and Investment Conference.

In a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, in Akure, yesterday, the 3-day Conference which is billed to hold between Tuesday, November 1 and Thursday, 3 of the same month is being facilitated by the government, in partnership with private partners and parastatals.

At the event, where the Ondo State governor, Dr Mimiko is host, notable speakers expected include the Chief Executive Officer Africa Commodity Exchange, Malawi, Kristian Moller, Dr Gideon Onumah, of Natural Resources Institute, Greewich University United Kingdom and Adam Gross, of Partner GMEX International, among other top national and international Cocoa industry practitioners, investors, researchers, bankers and thinkers.

The objective of the conference is mainly to identify existing and create new opportunities in the production, processing, marketing and export of Cocoa beans and products from Nigeria, to the international market.

With the theme: Commodity Exchange, a platform for enhancing Opportunities for the Nigerian Cocoa Industry, the statement mentioned the conference also has the tag: Nigerian Cocoa, Global Product.

Ogbomoso Ajilete group holds Gbegiri Day OGBOMOSO Ajilete, a socio-cultural organisation of Ogbomoso indigenes, will hold Gbegiri Day tomorrow at NMA House, Total Garden, Ibadan, at 11.00 a.m.

Former governor of Oyo State Chief Adebayo AlaoAkala, Justice Afolabi Adeniran, Dr Akin Onigbinde and Dr Saka Balogun will be discussing on the theme of the event, which is “Peace, Progress and Development.”

35

Friday, 28 October, 2016 OKEDARA

I, formerly Miss Okedara Yemisi Olusola now MRS IDOWU YEMISI OLUSOLA. My correct date of birth is 6/1/1977 and not 6/1/1976. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWAFOR

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Akande Ahmmed Bolaji am the same person as Abayomi Samson Olamide.

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AJIBADE

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Emorioloye Ireoluwa Precious my name was mistakenly written as Amorioloye Ireoluwa Precious instead of Emorioloye Ireoluwa Precious.

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FAKEYE

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ADESUYI

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ARIGBEDE

OLUWAFUNKE

ELIZABETH

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EKEMODE

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SHITTU

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THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE AKPOUKPOU

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Salami Waheed Sekoke am the same person bearing Salami Waheed Bayo . Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI WAHEED BAYO and my correct date of birth is 5th January, 1972. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

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Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, NYSC and general public take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Lawal Ganiyu Taiwo am the same person as Lawal Taiwo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL GANIYU TAIWO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, David Bisola Idowu am the same person as Arepo Bisola Idowu.

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I, formerly Ojo George George now OJO GEORGE ABIMBOLA. My real date of birth is 14th September, 1982.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Temitope Abiodun Adebowale am the same person as Adebowale Abiodun Adebimpe. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as TEMITOPE ABIODUN ADEBOWALE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

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CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: My name was mistakenly written as Sanni Zainab Oluwayemisi instead of Sanni Zainab Oyindamola and my correct date of birth is 1st, November, 1997 and not 1st November, 1990 and not 1st November, 1996 . Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SANNI ZAINAB OYINDAMOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Oyebanjo Lukman Olawale hereby state that my name was mistakenly written as Oyebanjo Lukman Dehinde.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adekola Omolade Oluwakemi am the same person as Adekola Omolade O., Adekola Omolade and Adekola Fausat Omolade. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADEKOLA OMOLADE OLUWAKEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs. Oluwadiran Christian Funmilayo am the same person as Mrs. Ojediran Christian Funmilayo. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUWADIRAN CHRISTIAN FUNMILAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

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MURITALA I, formerly Muritala Serifat now BELLO SHERIFAT. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

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ADEKUNLE

JEJE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I wish to affirm that Aleto Peter Uwadiegwu, Alaetuo Peter Uwa, Alaetuo Peter Uwadiegwu and Alaetuo Peter Vincent Uwadiegwu belong to one and same person. Now, I wish to be known, called and addressed as ALAETUO PETER UWADIEGWU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc, Access Bank, Voter’s Card and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Abiola Ashiat Oluwasola now MRS BUSARI ABIOLA ASHIAT OLUWASOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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EJALONIBU I, formerly Miss Ejalonibu Fatimot Iyabo now MRS OYEDIRAN FATIMOT IYABO. All former documents remain valid.

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JEMINE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Jemine Samuel Biya-Ipirimini am the same person bearing Jemine Samuel B. and Jemine Samuel Posila-Owei.

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FUNMILAYO

OJO

MONSURAT

ADEKOLA

MOSUDI

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JULIE

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ONOVWAKPOSEHA

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TEMITOPE

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EBOFUAME

KALEJAYE

MIKE

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ONELE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Onovwakposeha Isaac Ono, am the same person as Onovwakposeha Onwuka Isaac. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ONOVWAKPOSEHA ISAAC ONO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

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YARANGO

FASILAT

LAWAL

SANNI

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AKINDELE

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EVELYN

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DAVID

OYEBANJO

OLOKODE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olokode Helen Ogeri am the same person bearing Olokode Helen.

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ALAO

I, formerly Miss Alao Azeezat Olawumi now MRS. ADEBOWALE AZEEZAT OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

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EBIGBEMI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ebigbemi Owosan Idowu am the same person bearing Allen Owosan Idowu.

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BERO

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STEPHEN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, STEPHEN SENE LELEI am the same person as STEPHEN ANEGBAI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

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LATEEFAT

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AYINLA

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36

Friday, 28 October, 2016 AKINYELE

I, formerly Miss Akinyele Sadiat Abolanle now MRS. AJAO SADIAT ABOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OYEBAMIJI

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BOLARINDE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Bolarinde Oyerinde Olanrewaju am the same person bearing Oyerinde Olanrewaju. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BOLARINDE OYERINDE OLANREWAJU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

LAWAL

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ADENIJI

AJAYI

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OLAOYE

I, formerly Miss Olaoye Josephine now MRS. DADA JOSEPHINE OLAPEJU. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

ODEYEMI

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TAJUDEEN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Tajudeen Oriyomi Oluwaseun am the same person bearing Bolarinwa Mojisola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as TAJUDEEN ORIYOMI OLUWASEUN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OLUBAYO

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mr Olubayo Sunday Oladejo am the same person bearing Olasupo Sunday Samuel. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLASUPO SUNDAY SAMUEL. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Williams Adannaya Nwachukwu now MRS. OKEREKE ADANNAYA. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Olatunji Damilola Loveth now IBRAHIM DAMILOLA LOVETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunjinmi Tosin Temitope now MRS. ADELABU TOSIN TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adejumobi Adeniyi am the same person bearing Niyi Adejumo, Niyi Adejumobi and Adejumobiniyi.

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MOTUNRAYO

WILLIAMS

OGUNJINMI

RASAKI

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ADEOWU

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OLOWOLA

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KOLAWOLE

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ALABI

I, formerly Alabi Wale Soji Adigun Richard now ALABI OLAWALE RICHARD OLUSOJI. All former documents remain valid.

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MUHAMMED

I, formerly Muhammed Babanyaya now UMAR MUHAMMED BABANYAYA and my correct date of birth is 09 December, 1991. All former documents remain valid.

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ISIAKA

OLATUNJI

ADEJUMOBI

ADIGUN

I, formerly Adigun Elizabeth Oluwalekemi now ADEROUNMU ELIZABETH OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

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ADELAKUN

I, formerly Miss Adelakun Wemimo Christiana now MRS. AWOSAKIN WEMIMO CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid.

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ADENIYI

I, formerly Miss Adeniyi Mary Taiwo now MRS. OLADEPO MARY TAIWO. All former documents remain valid.

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AJANI

STIVE

I, formerly Stive Mbaeyi now MBAEYI JAMES CHINASA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MOSES

I, formerly Miss Moses Kafaya Opeyemi now MRS. KAZEEM KAFAYAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

TAIWO

I, formerly Miss Taiwo Oluwakemi Mary now MRS. ADELE OLUWAKEMI MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BAMIDELE

I, formerly Miss Bamidele Eunice Bose now MRS. OMOLADE EUNICE BOSE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AZUEWAH

I, formerly Azuewah Miriam Nneka now OYEDEPO MIRIAM NNEKA. All former documents remain valid.

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LATIFAT

OLUOKUN

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declare that my correct names are Oluokun Folawewo Adeshola and not Oluokun Adesola Oluwabunmi.

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LIADI

I, formerly Liadi Lawal now OBANIYI LIADI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OSENI

I, formerly Oseni Misira and Adeleke Misirat Abiona now MRS. KOSEOLA MISIRAT ABIONA. All former documents remain valid.

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OLUWASEYI

OLADELE

I, formerly Miss Adefalu Opeyemi Grace now MRS. OGUNMOLA OPEYEMI GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Fadoyin Tolulope Adenike now MRS. ABISOYE TOLULOPE ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

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ADEFALU

MUSTAPHA

FADOYIN

OJOMO

I, formerly Miss Latifat Kemi Sule now MRS. LATIFAT KEMI MORADEYO. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mustapha Yusuff Maikudi am the same person bearing Monday Yusuff Maikudi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as YUSUFF MONDAY MUSTAPHA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ojomo Oluwawemimo now MRS. OJOMO OLUWAWEMIMO OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs. Ogunbode Adebukola Foluke am the same person bearing Mrs. Ogunbode Adebukola Olamide. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OGUNBODE ADEBUKOLA OLAMIDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Eco Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinloye Omolara Sussan now MRS. OLOWOMOJUORE OMOLARA SUSSAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Babajide Kafilat Iyabo now ADEWUYI MAGRET IYABO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Lemboye Oluwatosin now DAVIESAJAYI OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Emmanuel David now OCHEGE DAVID AOGO. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

OGUNBODE

UGWUOKE

I, formerly Ugwuoke Ikechukwu Victor now AMAECHI IKAY VICTOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BUNMI

I, formerly Bunmi Akinola now OTUN BAMIDELE ADEBISI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OYINLOLA

AKINLOYE

LEMBOYE

RABIU

I, formerly Miss Rabiu Temitope Cathrine now MRS. ADEWALE OLUWASEGUN IDOWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AYORINDE

BABAJIDE

EMMANUEL

ADETOYI

I, formerly Miss Adetoyi Balikis Abiodun now MRS. AKANDE BALIKIS ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BOLANLE

OLOKUN

I, formerly Olokun Saheed now OLOKUNGBOYE SAHEED ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, ITB Big Company and general public take note.

AKINWALE

I, formerly Miss Akinwale Toluwalope Adeyinka now MRS. GBOLAHAN TOLUWALOPE ADEYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABIOLA

I, formerly Abiola Olawale now OYEBODE OLAKUNLE OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLATUNJI

I, formerly Miss Olatunji Funmilayo Kemi now MRS EGBEDELE FUNMILAYO KEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEJUMO

I, formerly Mrs. Adejumo Aderonke Adebimpe now MISS ADEDUGBE ADERONKE ADEBIMPE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public take note.

MUSTAPHA

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Sakirat Opeyemi now MRS. ADEGBENRO SAKIRAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEOYE

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Omotayo Beatrice now MRS. OYEKANMI OMOTAYO BEATRICE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEBAYO

I, formerly Adebayo T. Tayo now ADEGBITE TEMITOPE TAYO. All former documents remain valid. Immanuel College of Theology, The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

OLAWUWO

I, formerly Miss Olawuwo Esther Oluwatosin now MRS. ESTHER OLUWATOSIN AJAYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALAKIJA

I, formerly Miss Oyinlola Abiola Caroline now MRS. MORONFOLU ABIOLA CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ayorinde Adedayo Ayodele Richards am the same person bearing Ayorinde Adedayo Ayodele. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AYORINDE ADEDAYO AYODELE RICHARDS. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bolanle Florence Arogundade now MRS. OMOBOLANLE FLORENCE ILORI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Alakija Olufisayo Olufunmilola now MRS. BALOGUN OLUFISAYO OLUFUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Sunday Austine Oleghe now SUNDAY SEGUN OLEGHE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, GTBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Lawal Hammed Mufutau / Lawal Ahmed now LAWAL MUFUTAU OGIDI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Miss Dauda Latifat Omolara am the same person bearing Ajani Lateefat Omolara, Ajani L.O. (Mrs), Mrs. Ajani Latifat Omolara and Mrs. Ajani Lateefat O. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AJANI LATIFAT OMOLARA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ayoola Abdulrasheed Kareem now AYOOLA RASHEED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SUNDAY

OLADEJO

LAWAL

ADESOLA

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declared that my correct names are Mrs. Olawale Moriamo Joke and not Lawal Olubusayo Comfort.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLAWALE MORIAMO JOKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Faloye Febisola Veronica now MRS. ADEYEMO FEBISOLA VERONICA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Safiu Ganiyu Alaree now SAFIU ABDULGANIYU ALAREE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abiola Ramat Shokunbi now AYODELE MUSINAT ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Joshua Onyekachi Simple now JOSHUA ONYEKACHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABIOLA

OLANIHUN

I, formerly Olanihun Monsurat Mojisola now OMOTOSO MONSURAT MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Oladele Sekinat Romoke now AYOADE ROMOKE SEKINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adesola Toyin Odunayo now MRS. FATADE TOYIN ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

OLAWALE

OLAKANMI

I, formerly Miss Olakanmi Modinat Oluwabusayo now MRS. FATAI MODINAT OLUWABUSAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Oluwaseyi Esther Ogunremi now MRS. ADEJOKE ESTHER OGUNREMI. All former documents remain valid.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. (GTB Plc) and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladejo Aminat Bisola now MRS. ALADE-HAMMED AMINAT BISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Ajani Tiamiyo Olawumi now SALAWU TIAMIYU AJANI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KUDIRAT

I, formerly Kudirat Ajoke Olokode now MRS KUDIRAT OLOKODE LASEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FALOYE

JOSHUA

SAFIU

OLUSIPE

I, formerly Olusipe Olubisi Rebecca now ATAYERO OLUBISI REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DAUDA

ADEWOLE

AYOOLA

IBRAHEEM

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adewole Oluwatoyin Omobolanle, I am not Adewale Oluwatoyin Omobolanle. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEWOLE OLUWATOYIN OMOBOLANLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ibraheem Qudrat Tenifayo am the same person Ibraheem Qudrat.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHEEM QUDRAT TENIFAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Okere Jane Chidinma now MRS. NZEUZOR FAVOUR JANE CHIDINMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME: I, Abraham Esobe Agu am the same person as Okouka Agu Esobe.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ABRAHAM ESOBE AGU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank, EcoBank and general public take note.

OKERE

EZEBUIRO

I, formerly Miss Ezebuiro Margaret Nneoma now MRS. POPOOLA MARGARET NNEOMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABRAHAM

LAWANSON

I, formerly Miss Lawanson Omolara Omoniyi now MRS. AKINJOGBIN OMOLARA OMONIYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

37

Friday, 28 October, 2016

foreig naffairs 08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Crackdown on foreigners: Nigerian activist detained in Japan

A

prominent Nigerian asylum seeker and activist is being held in solitary at a Tokyo detention centre, a case that has highlighted a growing crackdown on foreigners living in Japan without visas and prompted demands for her release.

Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza was detained two weeks ago after authorities turned down an appeal against her asylum rejection, Obueza and her lawyer told Reuters.

Obueza, 48, campaigns for asylum seekers and the 4,700 people on “provisional release” from immigration detention - a status that lets foreigners out from detention but bars them from working and traveling freely.

Obueza’s arrest is part of a wider campaign by the Justice Ministry, which in September 2015 said it would take steps to reduce the 60,000 foreigners living in Japan without visas.

People on provisional release, many of whom have lived in Japan for decades, have been among those targeted, activists and lawyers say.

“Elizabeth was targeted and detained for being an activist,” said immigration lawyer Shoichi Ibusuki. “I want her released immediately.”

The crackdown on people like Obueza comes even as people on provisional release, despite being legally unable to work, power Japan’s construction and manufacturing sectors as companies scramble to find

workers in the worst labor shortage in decades.

“Elizabeth is held in solitary because she’s an activist and immigration officials don’t want her causing trouble,” said Mitsuru Miyasako, head of the Provisional Release Association in Japan, a group representing refugees and immigrants.

“Locking someone up alone in a tiny room is to ruin them psychologically.”

Naoaki Torisu, a senior Justice Ministry official overseeing immigration detention, declined to comment on Obueza’s situation, saying he could not discuss individual cases.

Obueza, an evangelical Christian, said she fled Nigeria for Japan in 1991 to escape female genital mutilation and applied for asylum in 2011.

Obueza told Reuters she was locked up for more than 22 hours a day. Typically,

Obueza told Reuters from across a security divide in a small meeting room at the detention center. “Give me the right to help people don’t put me in here.”

WITH its evening gowns, celebrity judges and tears of joy, the beauty pageant in Kenya’s capital was like others elsewhere, except for one thing - all 20 contestants who strutted, sashayed and swaggered down the catwalk had albinism.

In the world’s first contest of its kind, 10 men and 10 women competed in the Mr and Miss Albinism Kenya pageant this month in Nai-

Kinoti told Reuters. “He was armed with a knife” A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman confirmed there had been a “shooting incident” outside the mission, which is located in a heavily secured compound in the north of the capital.

“No embassy personnel were involved,” U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Fiona Evans said, without giving further details.

Kenyan media said the police officer had been guarding one of the entrances to the embassy compound when he was assaulted.

Over 10 million fake sanitary towels have been seized in southeast China.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

China fake sanitary pads scam busted THE discovery of a huge “fake sanitary towel” operation in southeast China has prompted fears about the possible impact on women’s health.

Police in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, say they have arrested two suspects believed to have produced millions of the fakes in dirty facilities.

The fakes are thought to have gone on sale across China since 2013.

Chinese authorities have warned against buying discounted products, saying there could be serious health risks.

The Nanchang Public Se-

Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza

World’s first albino beauty pageant holds in Kenya

Man shot dead outside US embassy after attacking Kenyan officer A knife-wielding man who police described as a criminal was shot dead outside the United States Embassy in Nairobi on Thursday after he attacked and injured a Kenyan police officer.

The motive was not immediately clear, but no U.S. embassy personnel were involved in the incident.

National police spokesman George Kinoti said an investigation had begun and said the man was killed by the police officer in self defense.

“It was a lone criminal who attacked a police officer,”

detainees at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, where she is held, are locked up for 18 hours a day, according to the Justice Ministry.

“I want to help people,”

Mosul battle: IS loses hundreds of fighters HUNDREDS of Islamic State militants are thought to have been killed since Iraqi forces launched an offensive to retake Mosul last

India to expel Pakistani diplomat for ‘espionage’

Contestants pose on stage during a pageant hosted by the Albinism Society of Kenya in Nairobi. PHOTO: AFP-GETTY

robi. Its motto was “Beauty Beyond the Skin”.

The competition, which drew a crowd of about 1,000 including Deputy President William Ruto, was designed to celebrate people with albinism - who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes - and challenge stigma and persecution.

“Even when I was dating, it was difficult for girls to say I’m handsome,” said Isaac Mwaura, Kenya’s first parliamentarian with albinism and founder of the Albinism Society of Kenya, which organized the pageant.

“I knew I was handsome (but) people with albinism are seen as not beautiful, as not good-looking, and that has an effect on their self esteem,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

People with albinism are frequently shunned, attacked and even killed across Africa.

In many countries, their body parts are believed to bring wealth and good luck and are prized in witchcraft for use in charms and magical potions.

Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting up to one in 15,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Witch doctors are willing to pay as much as $75,000 for a full set of albino limbs for use in black magic, according to the Red Cross.

Attacks on albinos in Africa rose at the end of last year, linked to a growing demand from political hopefuls seeking good fortune in the runup to elections in several countries, according to the U.N.’s first human rights expert on albinism.

curity Bureau says it seized fake sanitary towels with a resale value of more than 40m yuan ($5.9m; £4.8m) in a factory with no disinfection facilities.

The fakes were then sold in supermarkets under the trademarks of leading Chinese brands such as ABC or Whisper, the Nanchang News reported.

It is not yet clear whether they were distributed internationally.

Consumers have been urged to check the packaging before buying because the colouring of the fake products is reportedly slightly darker.

INDIA is to expel a Pakistan High Commission official for “espionage activities”, the foreign ministry said, with tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours already running high.

According to Aljazeera, India’s foreign secretary, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit to inform him of the decision to expel Mehmood Akhtar, who was briefly held in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Delhi police crime commissioner, Ravindra Yadav, said the official had been detained on Wednesday with defence and other documents in his possession.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

week, the US military says.

Two generals said the jihadist group had suffered the losses as troops and allied fighters, backed by USled air strikes, advanced on several axes.

Up to 5,000 IS fighters were believed to be in Mosul ahead of the assault.

Despite the territorial gains, commanders have warned that securing Mosul could take weeks, if not months.

About 50,000 Iraqi security forces personnel, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen are involved in the operation.

More than 100 US military personnel are embedded with them, advising commanders and helping direct coalition air strikes. Other US troops are providing fire support from nearby bases.

Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, the commander of US forces in Iraq, said on Wednesday that the coalition forces had delivered more than 2,100 aerial bombs, artillery and mortar shells, rockets and missiles since 17 October.

“This relentless campaign of strikes has removed hundreds of fighters, weapons, and key leaders from the battlefield in front of the Iraqi advance,” he added.

38

communitynews

Friday, 28 October, 2016

‘Work to commence on Ilaro-Owode Road soon’ by gbenga olumide

THE lawmaker representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Adekunle Akinlade, has disclosed that the reconstruction of Ilaro-Owode Road had been approved by the Federal Government, saying work will commence as soon as the rain subsides.

Honourable Akinlade revealed that the 24-kilometre road was approved by the Federal Government through his effort and that of the Ogun State governor,

Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

According to him, “I’m happy to inform the good people of Yewa-Awori that the discussion I had with the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over the deplorable condition of our roads in Ogun West, especially Ilaro-Owode Road has been fruitful result.”

He also commended Governor Amosun for his role in securing approval of reconstruction of the road, adding that the pain suffered by the people in the area would soon be a thing of the past.

Edo govt suspends Onojie of Uromi banji aluko-benin city

EDO State government has suspended His Royal Highness Anselm Aidenojie, the Onojie of Uromi, for seven days.

A letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, dated October 26, 2016, entitled: “Suspension from Office as Traditional Ruler”, states: “I write to convey to you, the decision of the Edo State Executive Council at its meeting on 26th October 2016, suspending you from office for seven days as Onojie of Uromi. The suspension from office was based on, among other reasons: “Your unprovoked attack, inflicting grievous bodily harm on one Mrs Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016, in full public glare to the embarrassment of those present and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office; “Your refusal, even after two weeks, to respond to a query issued by the appropriate authority within the stipulated 72 hours demonstrating total disregard and disrespect for constituted authority; and “Travelling outside the country without appropriate permission in further demonstration of your disregard for extant regulations and laws.”

The letter added that the State Executive Council has arrived at a conclusion that these acts and other acts of misconduct were distasteful and unbecoming of a traditional ruler of the status of the Onojie of Uromi.

The letter further added that: “Consequently, within the suspension period, you shall cease to be recognised and treated as traditional ruler or as the Onojie of Uromi in Edo State and you shall not exercise any powers or function or enjoy any privileges provided for under the Traditional Rulers and Chief Law (1979) and all other relevant provisions under the said law.

“Within the 7-day suspension period, you are required to tender unreserved apologies to your victim, Mrs Betty Okoebor and the government of Edo State. However, if within the said 7 days, no public apology is tendered by your very self, you will stand deposed as the Onojie of Uromi.”

A flooded section of Igisogba Anisere area of Omi-Adio, Oyo State, on Sunday. PHOTO: WALE EMOSU

Flooding: Omi-Adio residents appeal to govt by wale emosu

R

ESIDENTS of Omi Adio in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State have appealed for assistance from government at all levels to tackle the perennial flooding confronting them in the area.

They made the appeal on Sunday while speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, following the flooding, from the previous day’s rain, of residential buildings in the community.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, Chief Gafar Adewale, the Maye Balogun, Omi-Adio, appealed to government to come to their aid as the pathway for the Omi River is blocked and requires expansion. “It is not about residential buildings being close to the [Omi] river, as you can see, these buildings are about 200 feet away from the river, yet a lot of houses are flooded,” Chief Adewale told the Nigerian Tribune at Igisogba Anisere.

He added that overtures made to the local government about 15 years ago on the Omi-Adio flooding problem were not fruitful as the government of the day then said its allocation was too meagre to tackle it.

But Chief Adewale added that in the last two weeks, the community has made entreaties to the state Commissioner for Local Govern-

ment and about six other individuals who are at different levels of authority for assistance. According to him, they have all promised to inspect the area.

In the opinion of Alhaji Taiwo Raji, flooding in OmiAdio community would be-

come a thing of the past if, at any time government eventually decides to expand the river, it takes off from the Tili River, which he said was integral to the wellbeing or otherwise of the community.

Another resident, Mr

Olajide Raji, a victim of the flood disaster that befell Omi-Adio in June this year, told the Nigerian Tribune that when the rain started on Saturday evening, his family members had to start packing their belongings from

their house, in anticipation of another flooding.

“I was just praying that no harm would happen to my family members,” Mr Raji, who said he was on night duty at his place of work told the Nigerian Tribune.

Olodogbo stool: Odogbo-Ijesa reiterates support for Olatunde Oginni COMMUNITY leaders and youths of Odogbo-Ijesa in Atakumosa West Local Government of Osun State have unanimously proclaimed Dr. Olatunde Oginni as their traditional leader in whom their faith resides.

This was disclosed in a statement issued at the end of a town hall meeting held in the town and made available to newsmen.

The community vowed to resist any attempt by the Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to impose another traditional leader on the community.

According to the statement signed by the Ejemo of Odogbo-Ijesa, Chief Jacob Adeyeye, on behalf of the council of traditional chiefs in the community, “government should not do anything that will throw the peaceful community into crisis because any attempt to impose somebody else, apart from the person that has been chosen by all and sundry might lead to break-

down of law and order”.

The community leaders said their illustrious son and business magnate, Olatunde Oginn, has earned their confidence and sup-

port by his many efforts in turning things around in that remote part of Ijesaland.

“We are a happy people and a peace loving com-

munity and that is why we are not going to take the laws into our hands but use legal means to resist this injustice,” the statement added.

Give your children quality education, leader tasks Yoruba community kola oyelere-kano THE president of Yoruba community in Kano, Alhaji Abdulateef Salisu, has called on the Yoruba residents in the state, to strive to give their children quality education.

Making the call while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, Alhaji Salisu noted that “our children are our future hence, the need for parents to ensure that they are well equipped educationally.”

According to him, what is supposed to be the prayer of parents is that their children will

not encounter the many problems they (parents) encountered in life, noting that the only way to arrest this situation is through sound education “Aside this, while we try to invest outside our respective places of origin, we should equally remember that there is no place like home.

“We should make sure there is a plan ‘’B’’ for us to fall back on should plan ‘’A’’ fails, because it is only God that knows tomorrow. As you lay your bed, so you will lie on it, so says an adage,” he said.

Speaking further, the

Yoruba leader disclosed that there is a plan by the community to float a cooperative society from which members, especially women, will source for soft loans to boost their businesses Alhaji Salisu further charged youths not to engage in any deal that will smear their family names, adding that they should be aware that Yoruba cherish their family names.

He, however, commended the Yoruba community in Kano for giving him their mandate to be their leader, promising not to disappoint them.

39 tribunesport

Friday, 28 October, 2016

Bet9jaNLO Super 8:

Anyanwu’s free kick goal sends AS Racine into semis

I could have joined West Ham —Iwobi

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RSENAL winger Alex Iwobi has revealed he could have joined West Ham before opting for the Gunners.

The Nigeria international burst onto the scene last season at the Emirates Stadium, and has become a regular in Arsene Wenger’s

starting line-up.

But the 20-year-old has now admitted that he also trained with the Irons as a youngster before opting to join “bigger club” Arsenal.

“Arsenal and West Ham were interested in me and Chuba [Akpom], so we were training with both

Iwobi (right)

A free kick goal by Steven Anyanwu within two minutes of added time in the second half was all AS Racine needed to condemn Enyimba Feeders to a 1-0 defeat and to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing Bet9ja Super 8 Tournament at the Agege Township Stadium.

Prior to the goal, both teams created several chances in front of goal, but could not find the back of the net. AS Racine were dominant through Olafimihan Gafar and Olawale Mutiu, who initiated attack after attack, but Andrew Azubuike and Chukwudi Nwagwu in the central defence of Enyimba Feeders and goalkeeper Kelvin Ogunga, thwarted their efforts.

Enyimba Feeders resorted to using quick counter attacks that rattled the defence of AS Racine, but Adeyemi Taiwo, the goalkeeper of the Agege-based team was equal to the task.

As the clock continued to tick towards a barren draw, the referee awarded a free kick to AS Racine on the Feeders’ left side of the box and the resultant kick was beautifully curled into the net by substitute Anyanwu.

The goal sent fans at the stadium into wild jubilation and great excitement filled the atmosphere as majority of the fans clamoured for AS Racine victory.

clubs for three years, because we were scouted at six and you can’t sign until you’re nine,” he told reporters.

“I decided to sign for Arsenal because I supported them back then and I always saw them as the bigger club – no disrespect to West Ham.”

Emordi pens a year deal with Abia Warriors •Olorundare, Dayo Ojo join team

By Olawale Olaniyan FORMER Rangers International manager, Okey Emordi, has penned one-year deal with Abia Warriors ahead of the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The former C.O.D United Football Club of Lagos handler joined the Umuahia-based club to help the team secure a continental ticket for next season.

A source told Tribunesport that the team has also secured the services of Sunshine Stars top striker in the last NPFL season, Dele Olorundare and Dayo Ojo, also of Sunshine Stars, while they are in talks with

Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM) central defender, Kehinde Anifowoshe.

Meanwhile, Patrick Ngwaogu has also been engaged as the club’s match reader/assistant coach for the new season.

Ngwaogu, who is a graduate of University of Ibadan, has a coaching certificate from the National Institute for Sports and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

He was among the Nigerian coaches that went to London in 2015 for capacity building in match reading and analysis.

Emordi, who won the CAF Champions League with

Enyimba, is one of the most experienced coaches in the country having worked with Kano Pillars, Rangers of Enugu and Enyimba FC. Abia Warriors finished 14th on the log of the just concluded NPFL with 48 points from 36 games.

Udeaja (left)

FIBA zone 3: Udeaja, Akashile hail FirstBank players’ team spirit TWO top players of FirstBank Basketball Club – Chioma Udeaja and Nkechi Akashile – have attributed the success of the team at the ongoing FIBA Africa Zone Three Championship in Lome to bonding.

Udeaja, who is also the captain of the team, stated that the players have played more as a team because they have been able to carry out their coaches’ instruction during games.

She added that the camp-

Etisalat U-15 School Cup excites Enugu fans

By Niyi Alebiosu BASKING in the euphoria of the success of Rangers International FC, Enugu fans are savouring great excitement as the Etisalat U-15 School Cup football championship regional playoffs for the South-South and SouthEast zones berthed in the ‘Coal City’.

After two successful regional playoffs in Ibadan, Oyo State and Ilorin, Kwara State respectively, the Etisalat U-15 School Cup train headed for the

popular Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, where Rangers lifted the Nigeria Professional Football League trophy recently as budding football stars from across secondary schools battle for the two slots available for the national finals billed for November in Lagos.

In the opening game of the tournament, Holy Foundation Secondary School representing Ebonyi State, lost 3-0 to their Anambra State counterparts, St. John’s Science and Technology College, Alor. The second match

between Owerri City School, representing Imo State and New Layout Secondary School, Enugu State team, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Earlier, the Etisalat team had paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development as well as the Ministry of Education where the Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu, disclosed that the football competition is part of innovative platforms by Etisalat to impact the lives of youths.

ing, which was held before the competition started, also helped the players understand themselves more.

“It was good we had the camping because it allowed the players to get used to each other,” Udeaja said.

“What we have to do is to use our strength to our advantage, and that is unity. It has kept us going and hopefully it will help us at the African finals in Mozambique,” she added.

Despite dominating proceeding at the Zone Three championship, Udeaja commended all the other team, noting that the good results were a result of good preparation.

Speaking in the same vein,

Akahile also said that the team’s aim is to go to the African championship to do better than their last outing.

“We have finished fourth in the last two editions of the African championship. But with the level of the team now, we can win a medal in Mozambique.”

She, however, stated that the team would have to work harder to realise that ambition. “The level of the African championship is higher than the zone three qualifiers. So we all know that we need to work harder than ever before.”

FirstBank will take on home team, Etoile Filante tomorrow (Saturday) on the final day of competition.

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 28 OCTOBER, 2016

N0 16,621

N150

Excess Crude Account (ECA) now contains $2.4 billion, the Federal Government has said. Well, what most Nigerians are actually interested in is the Excess Crude Hunger (ECH) in the land.

No mercy for Algeria

Toriola

—Ikeme •Leekens for Algeria job

BY Dipo Ogunsola

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IGERIA’S goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has asked Algeria’s Desert Foxes to look elsewhere for favours as both countries look forward to a 2018 World Cup qualifier on November 12 in Uyo. Ikeme, Nigeria’s first choice, is aware the Algerians are boxed in a tight corner having failed to win their home game against Cameroon on Match Day 1.

“They can’t find any luck with us. We have a very strong team that is hard to beat, we are very optimistic,” Ikeme told Wolves Express and Star.

He reminded the Algerians that the Uyo game is as crucial for the Eagles.

“We got a win in Zambia, it was a difficult one to achieve and we are not going to ruin what we started so well. I don’t feel that we would smile at the Algerians, at least for 90 minutes.”

He confessed that he knew nothing about the Algerians, either as team mates or opponents, but Ikeme describes himself as a ‘big boy’ in football.

“You may not know so much about your opponents.I am a big boy, I go to games with optimism and I only get excited about the game.”

Ikeme was born in Sutton Colfield, England and was persuaded to play for Nigeria by former national team coach, Sunday Oliseh. The Wolverhampton Wanderers FC captain says he has enjoyed international football with the Eagles.

“The Nigerian national team is the place

‘Toriola is a role model’

to go, you see fantastic group of people who think the same way. The atmosphere has helped what happens on the pitch.

We kind of stick together.’’

Meanwhile, reports from Algeria on Thursday claimed that Georges Leekens is set for his second spell with the Fennecs.

The country’s national radio and news medium, Ennahar, reported that the Belgian coach, who in 2003 was in charge of the team, was expected at the Federal Office in Sidi Moussa, Algiers, to sign a contract which will see him on the bench for the first time on November 12 against Nigeria.

It will be recalled that Serbian Milovan Rajevac had resigned as the coach of Algeria early this month following a 1-1 draw at home against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, in a match day one 2018 World Cup qualifier, leaving Algeria with no option but to look for another substantive coach.

By Ganiyu Salman

Ikeme

I’m not a friend of Messi —Ronaldo CRISTIANO Ronaldo has revealed that he and Ballon d’Or challenger Lionel Messi “aren’t good friends” but insisted that there is nothing more to their rivalry than what you see on the pitch.

The Real Madrid star has lived much of his career in direct comparison to the Argentinean playmaker.

Much of this comes down to the obvious rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona , but Ronaldo and Messi have also gone toe-to-toe for league and cup titles over

NO LOVE LOST: Ronaldo (left) and Messi

the years as well as individual prizes like the Pichichi, Golden Boot and Ballon d’Or. Despite this, Ronaldo insists that all talk of a big rivalry between them is a media construct, but admitted that he isn’t chummy with his fellow superstar.

“We aren’t good friends, but there is respect on both parts,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Coach magazine.

“The media talk about a great rivalry, but we don’t have one.”

Messi is currently bang in form for Barcelona but Ronaldo is enduring one of his worst goalscoring spells since his world-record move to La Liga.

The 31-year-old boasts just four goals this season in 768 minutes of play.

That works out at a goal every two-and-a-bit matches for Ronaldo and is a far cry from his usually eyewatering goals totals.

Such are the Portuguese forward’s struggles that he was jeered by Madrid fans during Sunday’s win over Athletic Club, and it would appear that those negative sentiments are starting to invade the dressing room - although not to his face.

Journalist Pipi Estrada on the pro-Madrid television show El Chiringuito denounced Ronaldo’s detractors as cowardly for criticising him behind his back.

“If it were a leader in the dressing room [who was criticising Ronaldo] then he would do it face to face with Cristiano.

PRESIDENT of the International Table Tennis FederationITTF Africa, Khaled El-Salhy, has said Nigeria’s Segun Toriola remains a role model to budding players on the continent given his exploits so far.

He made the remarks during the presentation of award to the seven-time Olympian at the 2016 ITTF Africa Senior Championships which ended on Wednesday in Agadir, Morocco.

Tributes were freely poured on Toriola, who became the first African to participate at seven Olympics with his appearance at the Rio Olympics.

El-Salhy believes Toriola serves as a role model for young players in Africa.

“Toriola’s commitment to table tennis is 100 per cent and this is why he will remain an inspiration to young players in Africa.

He is also an ambassador of Table Tennis when it comes to fair play. His excellent performance at every competition, coupled with his humility are traits that singled him out among other players in Africa,” he told ITTF Africa.com.

He also defended the award to Toriola, who beat Dmitrij Prokopcov of the Czech Republic 4-2 at Rio 2016 Olympics before he lost in the second round to Japanese Niwa Koki.

“It was the decision of the executive council (of ITTF Africa) to give such award to Segun Toriola, who is a legend of table tennis, not only in Africa, but also in the world following his great achievement of being the first African to make seven appearances at the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2016. We also believe that he [Toriola] has the chance to break his own record by making it to Tokyo 2020, with the quality he still possesses,” El-Salhy said.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 28/10/2016.