29th July 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,556

FRIDAY, 29 JULY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

PDP crisis worsens, Coup: Turkish court sacks ambassador Makarfi again •Declares P/Harcourt convention illegal •We will appeal, convention still holds Aug 17 —Caretaker Committee —P6

wants FG to close 17 Turkish schools —P7

Nigerian Tribune

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Fajuyi: Still a model of chivalry, gallantry 50 years after —P23 to 26

Troops launch attack on militants in Lagos, Ogun —P7

Workers should get set for restructuring —Ajimobi •Forgives erring principals, students —P33

From left, Olori Morisola; Olori Ladun and Olori Odun Sijuwade, at the thanksgiving service to mark first year remembrance of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, at St Paul's Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife, on Thursday. MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 29

UNIJOS VC escapes death as gunmen kill security guard —P38

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

PDP crisis worsens, court sacks Makarfi again

•Declares Port Harcourt convention illegal •We will appeal, convention still holds Aug 17 —Caretaker Committee Sunday Ejike, Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

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Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, barred the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee from exercising any authority or taking any decision on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) henceforth, describing it as an illegal body.

This came as the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, in a ruling he delivered, affirmed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The court held that the purported convention held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, on May 20, 2016 was held in violation of the two court orders of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court, which barred the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from holding the convention.

Justice Abang, who ruled on the tussle between two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Mr Olagoke Fakunle and Ferdinand Obi, said the Makarfi faction, which appointed Obi, had no legal authority to do so.

He held that the letter by Senator Makarfi-led committee appointing Obi for the PDP was illegal, unlawful and was set aside by the court on the ground that Makarfi had no law to his side to appoint a lawyer for the PDP or carry out any act on behalf of the party.

Justice Abang upheld the appointment of Fakunle, having been appointed to represent the PDP by the Sheriff-led committee.

The judge took a swipe at the Makarfi-led group for missing

their way to Port-Harcourt to obtain a judgment from a division of the Federal High Court, which is a court of coordinate jurisdiction to that of Lagos, in order to obtain a favourable judgment.

Justice Abang said the judgment of the Port Harcourt division, which recognised Makarfi-led caretaker committee, was unlawful, illegal and had no foundation in law to stand.

He held that until the orders made by the Lagos division of the Federal High Court, which restrained the PDP from holding convention at the time it did, was set aside, anything done in contravention of the two subsisting orders were unlawful, illegal and should not be recognised.

“If the Makarfi-led caretaker committee, as an apostle of impunity, find their way to Port Harcourt to get judgment, that judgment cannot stand. The Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court cannot make an order to neutralise the effectiveness and potency of orders of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court.

“As of the time the Makarfi-led committee found their way to the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court, the orders of the Lagos division of the court was still subsisting.

“The Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court, therefore, has no business to have dabbled into the issues of the PDP leadership in the light of the subsisting orders issued in Lagos by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Let me make it clear that the Supreme Court has made it clear in a situation like this, something cannot be built on nothing and in this instance, I have no liver to depart from the Supreme

Court decision.

“Though, I have powers to nullify the decision of the Port Harcourt court that recognised the Makarfi leadership, but I will not do so because there is no application to that effect before me. I will, however, allow the Court of Appeal to do justice to that,” he said.

The judge further admonished politicians not to cause disaffection among judges of the Federal High Court, adding that if they, however, do so, “we have the power to call them to order.”

Justice Abang held that Sheriff remained the authentic national chairman of the PDP and had the authority to act and take decision on behalf of the party.

He also said any decision outside the Sheriff-led committee was illegal, unlawful and not binding on the party.

Reacting, the Senator Makarfi-led committee described it as objectionable, questionable and very strange to say the least in the history of Nigeria’s judiciary.

It, however, said “the party is law abiding and, therefore, will apply for stay of execution of the order and also appeal it.”

The caretaker committee, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Thursday night by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt was very clear that the committee was duly constituted and recognised, and in line with that, the scheduled national convention for August 17 would still hold.

“We have just received information that Justice Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order of interlocutory injunction stopping our sched-

How PDP got here Leon Usigbe - Abuja THE court ruling of Thursday is the latest in the lingering leadership crisis that has threatened to cripple the former ruling party ever since it left power in May 2015, leading to the resignation of its national chairman, Dr Adamu Mu’azu.

Though his deputy, Prince Uche Secondus, took over the chairmanship post in acting capacity, agitation followed in the North-East, which posited it was the rightful zone to provide a replacement for Mu’azu to serve out his tenure which was supposed to end in February 2016.

Former Special Adviser to the president on Politi-

cal Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, approached a high court in Abuja and obtained a ruling which ordered Secondus to vacate the post to pave way for a North-East PDP member to assume the post.

Adamawa State-born Gulak subsequently attempted to seize the national chairman’s office by force before the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Board of Trustees (BoT) and national caucus of the party led a search for a another party chairman from that zone.

A lot of candidates went through elections at the zonal level, but they were all ignored on the ground that there was no consensus

among the North-East politicians.

That created room for former Borno State governor, Senator Sheriff, to emerge as the favourite candidate of the state governors.

Sheriff’s appointment was ratified by the NEC of the party, which also gave him three months within which to conduct a national convention to elect new national leadership of the party.

But NEC’s decision to zone the national chairmanship post to the North-East and with Sheriff emerging as the sole candidate from the zone, riled many members of the PDP who saw him as an outsider. continues pg7

uled national convention in Port Harcourt, but we want to state that the judgment of July 4, 2016 supersedes any ex parte order or interlocutory injunctions. So, our national convention will hold as scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,” the statement read.

It asked Nigerians and the international community to compel the judiciary to address Justice Abang’s excesses, adding that as a law abiding party, the committee would apply for stay of execution and also appealed the judgment.

Meanwhile, the immediate past national publicity secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, has dissociated himself from the suit instituted by the Senator Sheriff’s group, seeking to stop the August 17 convention of the party.

Metuh had been listed as an applicant in the suit alongside Sheriff, Professor Wale Oladipo (national secretary); Dennis Alonge-Niyi (deputy national youth leader); Alhaji Bashir Maidugu (deputy national legal adviser), Mrs Hanatu Ulam (deputy national women leader); Alhaji Lawa Dutsima Anchi (deputy national auditor) and Chief Okey Nnadozie (deputy national organising secretary).

But in a statement issued on Thursday, in Abuja, by Richard Ihediwa, his special assistant, Metuh said he was not part of the suit.

The statement said the former party spokesman had

been informed that his name was included in the suit in error.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Metuh has taken the pains to consult those that went to court and has been reliably informed that his name was listed in error and which they have promised to rectify accordingly.

“It is pertinent to mention that Chief Metuh has not attended any political meeting and/or programme since his chair accident at a function at the party’s national secretariat in April, wherein he aggravated his spinal cord ailment.

“Our appeal to all and sundry, therefore, is that Chief Metuh at this time should be left out of intra-party controversies. His only preoccupation now remains matters concerning his health and the extant court trial,” the statement read.

The PDP held its convention on May 21 in Port Harcourt, where the national working committee of the party led by Sheriff was dissolved and a caretaker committee led by Markarfi was constituted.

Sheriff had gone to court challenging his removal, insisting that he remained the legitimate leader of the party.

The former Borno State governor wanted the court to determine whether his replacement by Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna, was lawful or an abuse of court orders.

The Lagos division of the Federal High Court, thereafter, issued a court order restraining the PDP from conducting election into the offices of its national chairman, national secretary and national auditor.

The ruling by Justice Ibrahim Buba was made sequel to an application brought by Sheriff and his colleagues who occupied those positions.

The intention of Sheriff’s application was to prevent elections of new party leaders at the May 21 convention.

However, Justice Valantine Ashi of an Abuja High Court, last month, ordered Ali Modu Sheriff and other officers of the PDP to step down from their positions as national officers of the party.

Though the judge did not specifically mention Sheriff in his judgment, he ordered that those who became national officers of the party by virtue of the 2014 amendment to the constitution of PDP, which the court had declared unlawful, should cease to parade themselves in those capacities.

After a thorough analysis of submissions by parties and evidence presented, Justice Ashi ordered that “the purported amendment of Article 47, Rule 6 of the PDP, 2012 at a special convention held on Wednesday and Thursday, December 10 and 11, 2014 is unconstitutional, null and void, as there was no compliance with mandatory provision of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the same constitution.”

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Troops launch attack on militants in Lagos, Ogun We will continue air operations until... —Air force From Chris Agbambu, Olayinka Olukoya Olalekan Olabulo and Opeyemi Owoaseye

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ALPABLE tension gripped residents of Agbede Imuti and Igbo Olomu communities in Lagos State, Ibafo and Arepo in Ogun State as the military, on Thursday evening, launched an air raid on the militant’s camps.

A fighter jet of the Air Force also hovered around the communities at the time, with gunshots heard in different directions.

The raid reportedly started around 6.00 p.m. and was ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

The head of military operation, however, assured that there was no cause for alarm, adding that lives and properties would be protected.

He was also said to have assured that the military operation would not extend to

the upland.

Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa told the Nigerian Tribune that there the operation, codenamed “Operation Awasa” was ongoing in Ikorodu-Arepo in conjunction with other security operatives.

He noted that the Air

Force was involved in the air operation are, while other security operatives involved in land operation.

According to him, “this is to check pipeline vandalism, militants’ activities and kidnapping in the areas.”

It was also gathered that operatives bombed

the hideouts of militant in Ikorodu community.

The development, it was gathered, was to scare the militants out of their hideouts.

A resident of Igbo-Olomu, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, said many residents had started relo-

cating from the communities for the fear of being attacked by the militants.

A resident, who simply identified himself as Sile, said they were apprehensive of the militants’ invasion of their homes in their bid to escape from the military onslaught.

Children of the late Felix Ibru, from left, Mrs Onajoma Ibru Oniwinde, Felix Ibru, Seri Ibru, Dr Paul Ibru, Sade Ibru and Amorolo Ibru, at the service of songs for the late Olorogun Felix Ibru, held at Haven Centre, Archbishop Vinning memorial Cathedral, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

UN suspends humanitarian efforts in N/East as gunmen attack convoy Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja THE United Nations (UN) has suspended all humanitarian assistance missions to Nigeria, pending the review of the security situation.

The decision was taken, following the on attack on its humanitarian convoy in North-East by suspected

Boko Haram members.

In a statement issued

by UNICEF late Thursday night, entitled: “UNICEF statement on attack on humanitarian convoy in North-Eastern Nigeria,” the UN said it has “temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions, pending review of the security situation.”

The statement read: “Today, unknown assailants attacked a humanitarian convoy that included staff from UNICEF, UNFPA and IOM. The convoy was travelling from Bama to Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, returning from delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance.

“UNICEF can confirm

that a UNICEF employee and an IOM contractor were injured in the attack and are being treated at a local hospital. All other UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA staff are safe.

“The convoy was in a remote area of North-Eastern Nigeria, where protracted conflict has caused extreme suffering and has triggered

a severe malnutrition crisis.

“This was not only an attack on humanitarian workers, it is an attack on the people who most need the assistance and aid that these workers were bringing.

“The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation.”

Offer hope to citizens, Buhari charges Muslim clerics Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has restated his belief that things are difficult for the average Nigerian and has, therefore, implored Muslim religious leaders to carry the message of hope to the people that things will improve.

He made the declaration at a meeting with the Council of Abuja Imams at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, requesting religious leaders in the country “to keep calming the people.”

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, after the meeting, the president assured that leadership at various levels was trying to solve problems of poverty, unemployment and insecurity bedevilling the country.

President Buhari said the government chose to give

priority to agriculture so as to create jobs for unemployed citizens and give the country food security.

He said although efforts had begun, there was a bigger plan for the provision of fertilisers, pesticides and land preparations starting next year.

To key into this, the presi-

dent requested state governments and community leaders across the country to organise the population into cooperative societies, stressing that “extension services, not money, will be provided.”

Buhari also addressed the religious leaders on the efforts to improve power

supply in the country with ongoing efforts to bring foreign investment from China and some friendly countries that indicated willingness in developing the proposed Mambila and other hydroelectric power projects in the country.

He also assured that the steps the government was

carefully taking on the crisis situation in the Niger Delta would lead to long term peace and stabilise the region.

On the war against corruption and the Boko Haram terrorism, the president said his government would remain resolute and relentless.

Coup: Turkish ambassador urges FG to close 17 Turkish schools AMBASSADOR of Turkey to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, has called on the Federal Government to close 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria, over alleged link with a terrorist movement involved in the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey.

The ambassador, who made the call when the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, paid him a courtesy visit, said the Turkish government had nothing to do with the schools.

According to the ambassador, investigations by the Turkish government had linked the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) to the failed coup attempt, which claimed over 300 lives.

He said the Turkish government was dissociating itself from any school bearing the country’s name in Nigeria, adding that while the country had schools in other countries, it had none in Nigeria.

“We are requesting the Nigerian government to close

down the schools.

I have requested officially, both orally and in writing, the closure of these schools.

Also, I have sent a letter to Mr Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Minister) and Mr Abba Kyari (Chief of Staff to the President) about this subject and requested their support for the closure of the schools.

“I will also send letters to the chairmen of Committees on Foreign Affairs in the National Assembly as well as the Senate Majority Leader over the issue and I

am going to enclose some documents in English on how the group members are engaged in the army, police and the judiciary.

“In Nigeria, there are 17 schools, which belong to the Gulen Movement, one in Kano, one in Kaduna, one in Abuja, Lagos, etc and they are offering scholarships.

“We are starting some legal procedures to take the name of Turkish out of the name of the schools. They are not the schools of the Turkish government,” he said.

The acting image maker in charge of Ogun police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police command was not aware of the raid.

Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mr Ahmed Iliyasu, has promised to improve on the security situation in the state, in the overall interest of the citizenry.

He stated this on Thursday, while addressing officers of the command, at the Officers’ Mess, Abeokuta, that there would be no room for hoodlums to perpetrate their nefarious activities in the state.

Iliyasu, who had since assumed duty, said all necessary machinery had been put in place to flush out people suspected to be militants, who had been terrorising some parts of the state in the past few months.

How PDP got here

continued from pg6

The aggrieved members coalesced under the name of Concerned PDP Stakeholders and slated a parallel convention for May 21, 2016, the same day the party had scheduled its national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

However, a few days before the convention, Sheriff, working with former national secretary and former national auditor of the party, Wale Oladipo and Adewole Adeyanju, respectively, obtained an order from a Lagos court barring the conduct of election into the offices of the national chairman, national secretary and the national auditor.

Sheriff, who was present in Port Harcourt, hurriedly announced the cancellation of the convention when he was asked to step down from the contest.

In deference to the order, the convention did not conduct the elections.

But through resolutions of the delegates, the convention dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Sheriff and set up a national caretaker committee headed by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Sheriff rejected the outcome of the convention and had maintained his claim to the office of the national chairman since then, effectively creating two factions which had been in and out of different courts, obtaining conflicting rulings on their status.

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Nigeriareceivesfreshboostinfightagainstcorruption As Open Government Partnership admits country as member

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HE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, has said that Nigeria has received a fresh boost in the fight against corruption.

Malami made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting on the London Summit on Anti-corruption and the Open Government Partnership (OGP), in Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said the country was resolute in the fight against corruption, noting that the OGP secretariat had confirmed that Nigeria was now a participating country.

The minister said this development underscored the progress the country was making in the anti-corruption fight.

“The Open Government Partnership is multilateral, multi-stakeholders’ initiative that aims to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness technology to strengthen governance.

“It also provides a policy making platform that brings together governments through openness,” Malami said.

He said the importance of full disclosure, transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business could not be overemphasised in Nigeria.

According to him, Nige-

ria would work toward full implementation of the principles of open contractive data standards as it related to public procurement and fiscal transparency.

“The Public Procurement Act 2007 as amended is a legislation that is enacted to also promote openness in the conduct of government business in Nigeria.

“It’s objective is to ensure transparency, competitiveness value for money and professionalism in the public procurement system.

“Nigeria commits to partner with the law enforcement regulators and the financial sector to detect and prevent money laundering and will work together with interested countries,’’ he said.

Also, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, challenged Nigerians to hold government accountable by asking relevant questions and demanding satisfactory answers.

Amaechi, however, said it was a disservice to any public official for people to make unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against them.

“I believe in name and shame and an open government. What name and shame does is to prevent such people for vying for public office,’’ he said.

On her part, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said Nigeria’s confirmation by the OGP as a participating country was a

milestone.

Ahmed said that Nigeria’s admittance into the OGP was instructive, particularly as the current administration was committed to transparency and accountability in governance.

She said her ministry was working toward ensuring an open budgeting and planning process in the country.

“We are committed to ensuring that the budget process from the preparation to the implementation and the monitoring and evaluation is open, participatory and inclusive,” Ahmed said.

In his remarks, the Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission, Mr Simon Shercliff, noted that corruption was the cancer at

the heart of so many of the world’s problems.

“No country is immune to corruption and so, government need to work together to tackle it successfully,’’ Shercliff said.

He said the problem of corruption needed to be faced with all sincerity and not mere lip service, adding that corruption was a global problem that needed a global solution.

The meeting is aimed at bringing together public and private sector as well as civil society organisations.

This is to enable them to work with the Ministry of Justice in ensuring that the commitments to end corruption are turned into actionable plans.

Our leaders have failed us, Afe Babalola laments Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti FOREMOST lawyer and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has expressed regret over what he referred to as indiscipline in high places in Nigeria, noting that the trend was capable of arresting the development of the country.

Chief Babalola, who made the observation on Thursday, in Ado Ekiti, said if the trend was allowed to continue, it would spell danger for development.

Chief Babalola stated these at a ceremony to mark his investiture as national patron of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, held at the ABUAD campus in Ado Ekiti.

He said: “Those we look up to as of our leaders have failed us, also most of the institutions that are expected to train children in both character and learning have also failed us.

“In my opinion, those regarded as leaders are supposed to be role models, who will impact the right

type of leadership on the youth of this country.

“This, to me, has become necessary, as no country can ever attain greatness if her youths are not well moulded for the future. We must build our youths to greatness and not the other way round, because the country’s future depends on them.”

According to him, the establishment of ABUAD was “a dream come true” as he hoped to use the university as a template for how a university and its products should be like.

Besides, he stated that his desire to return discipline and scholarship back to the nation’s education sector made him to order that any student that must obtain the school’s certificate must actually pass not only academic test, but also that of character.

Earlier, the president of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr Ibukun Oluwole, said Babalola was honoured las mark of appreciation for his philanthropy and positive disposition to matters affecting youths across Nigeria.

Senate concludes screening of 47 ambassadorial nominees Be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Saraki tasks them Ayodele. Adesanmi - Abuja SENATE Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, concluded the screening of the 47 ambassadorial nominees sent for screening and confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The screening, which began on Tuesday, took three days, because of the number, as each of them answered various questions from various subjects; from current affairs to foreign policy.

After the screening, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki advised the 47 ambassadorial nominees to be good ambassadors of the country whereever they were posted to after their confirmation by the Senate in September.

He informed the already screened nominees, who came to his office with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Sen-

ate), Senator Ita Enang and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, to give the country a good image.

He congratulated them for being worthy of their nomination and their demonstrated determination to serve their fatherland in foreign lands.

Saraki said: “Please, make us proud at whatever post you are sent to, by ensuring that your embassies are not in anyway known for negative news here at home and

abroad, in line with the good image the country is enjoying now.”

He equally charged the executive to, as quickly as possible, forward names of non-career nominees to the Senate on resumption in September, for similar thorough screening exercise, saying “the earlier we have substantive ambassadors at our various foreign posts, the better at this critical time of repositioning the country for better.”

Senator Enang described

the screening exercise as the most thorough he had witnessed during his time in the National Assembly, as he also commended Monsurat Sunmonu-led committee for its show of dedication and commitment.

According to him, “let me use this opportunity to commend the Senate committee for the way and manner in which the screening exercise was carried out. I must say it is the most thorough and intellectual I have witnessed in my time here.

“Also, the committee has demonstrated, by its decision to screen the nominees, despite the Senate being on recess, that it is committed and dedicated to service of our dear nation.”

However, out of the 47 ambassadorial nominees, Borno State has the highest number of three, with Kwara, Edo, Ekiti and Anambra states having two each, while remaining states, except Bayelsa, Ondo, Plateau and Ebonyi states, have one each.

Families of 6 Nigerians, others granted last visits before execution in Indonesia FAMILIES were granted last visits on Thursday as execution loomed for 14 people on death row for drug trafficking in Indonesia, a lawyer said.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the lawyer, Antonius Karwayu, who represented two of the convicts, said the convicts could face

a firing squad at the Nusa Kambangan prison complex off the coast of Java.

Karwayu said: “The families have been notified that there would be executions and the convicts had been asked for their last wishes.

“Their families were given until 3pm today to visit them so it is likely that the executions would be carried

out tonight.”

The Attorney General’s office has not announced a date for the executions but spokesman Muhammad Rum confirmed that 14 convicts would be executed soon.

“I have only been informed of those three names,” Rum said.

The Community Legal Aid Institute, which advocates

for the convicts, said the convicts facing execution were four Indonesians, six Nigerians, two Zimbabweans, one Indian and one Pakistani.

Local and international human rights groups have urged Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, to halt the impending executions.

Loyola College Old Boys Association marks Founder’s Day

LOYOLA College Old Boys Association (LOCOBA) worldwide, will celebrate the college’s 62nd Founders Day anniversary between July 30 and 31.

The celebration will kickoff with an anniversary dinner tomorrow (Saturday), at the Banquet Hall of the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, by 6.00pm, while the Annual General Meeting (AGM), will hold on Sunday, after a thanksgiving mass at the college chapel by 12.00 noon.

The special guest of honour at the anniversary dinner is the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, who is also a distinguished alumnus of the college.

The Ooni is also expected to unveil the theme of the N1 billion Loyola College Development Fund. and will be supported by Loyola College Old Boys worldwide.

GOFAMINT holds 60th anniversary, 51st convention

Pastor E.O Abina THE Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), will begin the celebration of its 60th anniversary and 51st annual convention on Monday, August 1.

The week-long programme will run till Sunday, August 7, at the International Conference Centre, along IgboOloyin Road, Alaka, Ojoo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ministering at the programme, which has morning session between 8.00 a.m and 12 noon and afternoon session between 5.00 p.m and 9.00 p.m., are the General Overseer of the church, Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina; Deputy General Overseer, Pastor (Professor) S. O. Ewuola; General Secretary, Pastor Femi Omowumi; General Evangelist, Evangelist Augustine Sossa; Evangelist E. O. Falade, among others.

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businessnews

Friday, 29 July, 2016

N140bn debt: Gencos threaten shutdown

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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LECTRICITY Generating Companies (Gencos) operating in the country have threatened to shut down their operations over N140bn debt owed them by the government.

The companies, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, stated that “As from the pre-transitional stage of the electricity market till date, the outstanding payments being carried by the Gencos in their books have consistently been on the increase.

“The much welcomed intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bridge the gap (between the receivables and actual receipts) has been bogged down with bureaucracy typified by long drawn processes, which have ensured that after two years of the said intervention, not much impact has been made on the power sector.

As at date, the Gencos have not received full disbursement of the intervention fund from CBN, and there is absolutely no clarity as to when remaining payment tranche will be completed. The non-payment of the stabilization fund as at when it was approved two years ago has impacted on its value as at today.”

While lamenting the effect of gas supply shortage on their operations, the Gencos said since they took over the power generation assets, they had always had issues with the availability of good quality gas. They, however, noted that in the last six months, “the situation has taken a turn for the worse. The rising cases of pipeline vandalism and insecurity around gas producing and transportation assets have further diminished the supply of gas to generation plants, thereby crippling the system.”

They added, “All the issues surrounding gas infrastructure have resulted in a cumulative stranded capacity of circa 5,000 megawatts (MW) being recorded every day. The impact of this is better appreciated by the fact that the total power generation capacity as at today should have been close to 8,000MW as opposed to 2,800MW. The impact of this on the Nigerian economy cannot be overemphasized. A snapshot of the generation profile of the country as at Wednesday, 20th July, 2016 is as shown below.”

On the effect of the foreign exchange volatility on their operation, they said, “When the GENCOs acquired the power assets, the exchange rate of the

United States Dollar to Nigerian Naira was $1/N157.

About three years down the line, the cost of the equipment needed to carry out repairs of turbines and associated auxiliaries remain the same on the international market but has increased by about 100 per cent in the last three years arising from the devaluation of the Naira. Given the

fact that majority of parts and equipment procured by the Gencos are sourced from outside of the country, this has had significant impact on the Gencos purchasing power and inevitably on their ability to upgrade and maintain their various power plants.

“Furthermore, as at the time of paying for the power assets in 2013, some

of the acquisition financing were sourced by the Gencos in dollars, to the knowledge of appropriate government and regulatory agencies. The cost of repaying those facilities has significantly increased by about 100 per cent in the last three years arising from the devaluation of the Naira as well. This has resulted in additional huge

losses with suffocating effects on the Gencos.”

The Gencos, while lamenting that they had not been able to break even let alone make profit, said they would be left with no other option than to shut down if factors militating against their operations were not immediately attended to by the appropriate government agencies.

From left, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), the new chairman with the vice chairman Dr Tunde Ayeni and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kamar Abass of ntel, during the visit of the new chairman to the headquarters of ntel in Lagos on Wednesday.

Nigeria can’t afford another banking crisis —Ex-Diamond Bank MD Chima Nwokojji-Lagos

A former Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Emeka Onwuka, has said that considering difficulties facing the economy, Nigeria cannot afford another banking crisis.

To this end, he advised the federal government to float a bond programme to cover backlog of forex payments due to the downstream oil and gas companies which were funded by banks.

These loans, Onwuka, who is currently the founder of Origins Capital Limited, said are presently due in the books of most banks, were compounded by the recent devaluation, “which has impaired the capacity of the customers to pay outstanding trade obligations.”

He said this while presenting the keynote address during the launch of a book titled: “Dynamics of the Nigerian Financial System (Essays in Honour of Phillips Oduoza),” which was written in honour of the outgoing CEO of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), in Lagos yesterday.

“In resolving this situation, the government may consider floating a bond

programme to cover the backlog including FX differentials to date and the banks will be made to subscribe to the extent of their exposure to the oil marketers, thereby switching the relevant risk assets to liquid assets to improve their balance sheets. The government will then introduce petroleum products tax that will be used to fund the redemption of the bond,” he said.

Speaking further, Onwuka who welcomed the new forex policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria, argued that it may be necessary to place a one year minimum tenor on repatriation of all CCI (Certificate of Capital Importation) transactions to discourage entry of hot money.

He urged Nigerians to support the CBN for the forex market to settle and achieve the desired objectives of the new regime.

“Hopefully the rates at which the market will settle will ultimately result in improve liquidity in the forex market,” he added.

Meanwhile, banking industry experts and university professors have hailed the contribution

of the outgoing Oduoza towards the growth of the banking industry.

The Chairman of UBA, Mr. Tony Elumelu described Oduoza as a very hard working and committed Nigerian.

Elumelu explained that UBA has an institutionalised transition process, which was structured to promote corporate governance.

“Phillips worked at Standard Trust Bank (STB). But I must tell you all that Phillips never applied for the job. I called him to join the bank and since then he has done a lot of wonderful things in the bank. When I was retiring from UBA, as you all know we hire the best in the industry, so, it was difficult to choose a successor from a team of great and intelligent people. But finally the board appointed Phillips as my successor and he did very well,” Elumelu said.

Also, a former CEO of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti praised Oduoza for his commitment to corporate governance.

The editor of the book, Prof. Mike Ogbeide of the University of Lagos, in his

comment said Oduoza was committed to putting his extraordinary talent towards service to the society.

“That is why he has been able to make such a huge impact in the banking industry. This book is a worthy testimony to his sterling contributions to an industry whose zenith he reached by scoring many first,” he said.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, commended Oduoza for his exemplary lifestyle and dedication to his job.

In her presentation, the wife of the outgoing UBA boss, Mrs. Jumai Oduoza, thanked the staff and management of the bank for supporting her husband throughout his tenure at the bank.

“Something tells me that this retirement leads to the beginning of another adventure that leads to a productive end. Phillips would be carrying you in his heart into the future.

It would be such a joy and honour to find you in that future. I personally appeal to you to keep your door open when and if he comes knocking,” Jumai added.

Gas marketers urge FG to increase LPG supply to 500,000 By ’Wale Olapade NIGERIAN Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Markets (NALPGAM) has urged the FG to increase the annual domestic supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to marketers by 100 per cent to meet the growing numbers of demands.

The president of NALPGAM, Mr Basil Ogbuanu who made this demand at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Ibadan, yesterday, said “the Federal Government’s introduction of the NLNG domestic supply scheme has paid off tremendously such that the allocation quota of 250,000 Mt of LPG annually to the Nigerian market is no longer enough to meet local consumption.

According to Ogbuanu , the competitive demands of the LPG in the market has tremendously increased, adding that to be on top of their game, there is need to increase the allocated quota from 250,000 to 500,000 metric tons annually.

“While this increased demand has created better business opportunities not for our members alone, but has also witnessed the influx of new entrants.

However, to stay ahead of competition, members must become more innovative in their business and improve upon customer services quality and relationship if they still want to remain relevant.

He added that the entry of new investors has down played the safety consciousness in the industry as many are rushing to tap into the perceived highly lucrative business without paying attention to safety.

“I wish to implore members not to relent on maintaining high safety standards as stipulated by regulatory agencies as accidents in the industry tend to erode all the gains made in encouraging product consumption and market expansion.”

Speaking on the performance, the president said that the association has been repositioned to its envious status in the industry such that you can only ignore NALPGAM to your detriment.

“We have equally strengthened the image of the association by ensuring that the association ceases to be a tenant in rented apartment through the acquisition of a property that today serves as our National secretariat that also houses a resource centre, the first of its kind by any association in Nigeria.

The president who commended the members of the association for their unflinching support at positioning NALPGAM, also honoured some selected members who have made indelible mark in sustaining with awards of excellence, includes Chief Adewumi Olufemi, Alhaji Auwalu Ilu, Mr Olufemi Onabule Ian Brown among others.

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editorial

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Le Guen: NFF’s faux pas

HE embarrassment caused the nation by the Nigeria Football Federation’s sloppy handling of the appointment of a manager for the senior national team is one that was least expected from a group that is so exalted. The NFF’s let down is one that will be hard to live down, especially considering that the gaffe involved a foreign national. Without crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s, the Federation rushed to inform the nation that it was appointing Frenchman, Paul Le Guen, as the new Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, only for the sweat merchant to spurn the appointment less than 24 hours later on the premise that the conditions given by him had not been met by the NFF. The explanation given by the NFF that it had not really appointed Le Guen but that it was its technical committee that had merely recommended him for appointment by the Executive Committee flies in the face of reason and is a watery afterthought that should have been swallowed by the Federation. That statement revealed the NFF for what it really is. It avails the country a full glare of the level of competence in the NFF. Chairman of NFF’s Media and Publicity Committee, Suleiman YahayaKwande, who was quoted in the statement issued on the Le Guen saga by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Assistant Director of Communications, said the coach threw the NFF’s offer at its face because of his unwillingness to live in the country or be given a target.

But appointing an employee anywhere in the world follows a procedure of application for the position by the prospective employees and interview(s) for those shortlisted before the final selection of the preferred candidate. Even when employees are head hunted, a process, which includes a meeting between the two parties where the issues of expectations on both sides are discussed, is still observed. Is the NFF saying it did not hold any discussion with Le Guen but rather depended on third parties or probably its whims and caprices to pick a coach for the national team?

If there was a discussion between the NFF and the coach, did the issues which made the coach turn against the NFF not come up for discussion? If they were discussed and Le Guen had already made his position

known to the NFF, why should it go ahead to announce his name? Did the NFF hope to force a fait accompli on the coach, thinking that by making the announcement the man would be left with a Hobson’s choice of taking the appointment? Did the NFF hierarchy think through what it was doing before travelling the route it did?

Given the gawkiness with which the NFF handled the Le Guen’s matter, is it any wonder that football in the country is on a backward progress? If the NFF could not tidy up the issue of appointing a coach effectively, is it any surprise that the country missed the African Cup of Nations tournament in 2015 and it is going to miss it again in 2017? Is it a surprise that the Flying Eagles will miss the next African Under-20 Cup of Nations Championship in 2017 as well as the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in South Korea?

Is it a wonder that Nigeria, which was ranked 5th in the world in 1994, the highest ranking ever achieved by any African nation, is currently ranked 70th globally?

Does the nation have to look any further than the ineptitude that has characterized NFF for this galling slip? Indeed, given the level of competence of the NFF, is it any surprise that football, which is a big business in other climes, has remained at the subsistence level in our country? Is it a wonder that the Nigerian league is a travesty, and that corporate bodies are not inspired to sponsor Nigerian teams?

The worst tragedy that can befall an organisation is probably the plague of an incompetent head because every leader does one of two things; (s)he either raises the organisation up to his level or brings it down to his or her level. Now that the NFF, which is at the head of Nigeria’s football industry, has dragged the nation’s football this low with the last straw being the Le Guen faux pas, the best option for the board is to resign. This is not a matter of completion of tenure; it is a matter of honour. It is a matter of wanting the best for the nation’s football. If indeed the people who superintend over the nation’s football industry desire a change for the better in the industry’s narrative, having demonstrated lack of capacity to achieve this, they should make way for others.

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

LETTERS TO THE

editor

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New mining policy: What are govs waiting for?

W

ITH the decision of the Federal Government to allow states to mine the natural resources in their domains, I think this is a great opportunity for the states to become financially buoyant. Unfortunately, since the law was made, I am yet to hear of any state tapping into it to generate funds. It seems our governors are comfortable seeking for bailout from the Federal Government.

A state governor should be a creative person in whose hands the develop-

ment and growth of the state lies. When we have governors who are brilliant, and are good human resources managers, it won’t take time before their states become prosperous, no matter what they are getting from the Federation Account.

What most governors do today is just to wait for the allocation from the Federal Government and then disburse it. Anybody can do this as far as I am concerned; however, a governor who sees the allocation from the Federal Government as extra, but uses his brain to generate

If Nigeria truly wants to remain as one I want to support President Muhammadu Buhari when he declared that Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable. After the 1967-1970 civil war, I don’t think it is right for some sections of the country to be clamouring for secession.

Nigeria is not like the United Kingdom that will allow citizens to vote on whether certain sections of the country can secede.

However, having said this, it is important that the ethnic groups in this union called Nigeria live comfortably with one another. Everybody must be given a sense of belonging if we truly want the country to unite. Why is it that the Igbo people have not produced the president in Nigeria? Is it true that other sections of the country still fear the Igbo man and will not entrust him with power?

These are some of the issues fuelling the secession bid in the country.

President Buhari may say our unity is non-negotiable, but in the absence of trust, there will be no peace. If other sections of the country will not vote for an Igbo president, then the Biafra secession bid in the South East will continue to be popular with the ordinary people.

President Buhari has a great opportunity to restructure Nigeria so that we can achieve the dreams of our founding fathers.

Decentralising Nigeria, while empowering the regions is the only way to unite the country. Every region will now have its future in its hands under the Nigerian umbrella.

•Nonso Uchechukwu, Enugu State.

enough revenue locally is the person we need in power. It is, therefore, not late for states to come up with policies in order to generate huge revenue from

the resources in their domains. The first thing for the governors to do is to draw up a list of resources in their localities. They can then look at those who

need these resources locally and internationally.

They can even sign joint ventures with established foreign companies for their projects. With this,

there should be no reason for states to be begging the Federal Government for bailout everyday.

•Vincent Ekpe, Woji, Port Harcourt.

Insecurity: FG, come to our aid in Lagos, Ogun states THE security situation in the riverine areas of Lagos and Ogun states should be giving those who are in positions of authority cause for concern. However, we have not heard any politician speak on the situation since the Ogun State deputy governor attempted to visit some communities, but was attacked by militants.

In other climes, top politicians by now would be visiting the communities on a regular basis to identify with their suffering.

What even stops our representatives from Ikorodu to raise the motion in the state and Federal legislative assemblies?

It seems our elected rep-

resentatives do not even care about our plight, as they have not shown concern on the attacks we are experiencing on a daily basis.

Apart from the attacks in Ikorodu, a traditional ruler was abducted in Iba community recently; this is definitely the height of lawlessness.

On a daily basis, people are being kidnapped for ransom. This is now the ‘business’ of the criminals who operate through the waterways. A sum of N500million is being demanded for the release of the traditional ruler, while a sum of N100million is being demanded for the release of a RCCG pastor

who was kidnapped in his church.

Nobody knows what is happening any longer, as the governors of these two states are also confused on how to go about solving this problem.

I hope President Muhammadu Buhari can take pity on us and order the military, particularly the Navy, to deploy to the waterways in these two states.

•Foluso Adebiyi, Agric, Ikorodu.

On Federal universities’ pensioners OUR union wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his first year in office. We, senior citizens, under the Nigeria Universities Pensioners Association, University of Ibadan branch, wish to remind the president that our outstanding pension arrears of 33 percent of

two years and five months which was captured and approved in the 2016 budget is yet to be paid. We have been asking the Head of Service Office (Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to effect the payment of our entitlement since the budget had been approved.

We wish to put it on record that many of our members are ill and we have no money to buy drugs; it is also not an exaggeration that life has become unbearable for many of us. Some are on special diets which are not as affordable as the regular food items. We, therefore, hope that the president can do something about our situation.

•Comrade S. Adebiyi, Ibadan.

07065632088

FG, compel state govts to farm NIGERIANS are truly suffering today. There is hunger in the land, and that is why the country is experiencing security challenges today.

I hope the Federal Government can compel state governors to establish state farms, then this will go a long way in reducing hunger, while also reducing unemployment.

•Faith Anuku, Asaba, Delta State.

15

opinion

Friday, 29 July, 2016

FG /Niger Delta militants: Before the talks begin

By Ifeanyi Izeze

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s confirmation that his administration was talking to Niger Delta militants would have been a positive step towards finding a lasting solution to the spate of violence in the region but for a caveat. At least government is now talking!

It was at the farewell audience with Mr Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House, Abuja, that President Buhari said government was also studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the previous administration, with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.

However, what is not clear at all is how the president is talking with the militants through foreign multinational oil companies and law-enforcement agencies. Is it curious that the job of instilling lasting peace in the Niger Delta region was assigned to foreigners and their companies?

The International Crisis Group in one of its reports on the violent agitations in the Niger Delta, maintained that “the Federal Government’s bark has always been a lot worse than its bite,” stressing that “their rhetoric has always been pitched to the outside world to reassure international partners that they are doing something.”

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying, “We understand their feelings. We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment; otherwise, investment will not come. We will do our best for the country.”

Without doubt, the president’s emphasis from his statement was on ‘security,’ or rather, ‘insecurity in the region,’ and which he promised to do his best for the country by securing the area.

However, the question is: how did we arrive at the current state of insecurity in the oil region? Is security, or rather, insecurity now the bigger problem of the region or

the fallout of the big problem?

As aptly captured by Senator Shehu Sani in a post he made on this issue, “Federal Government talking with the militants in the Niger Delta is a step in the right direction to secure an end to the attacks on oil infrastructure in the region; but a deeper and broader talks about the region is what is also needed to address the seeds and the sources of the problem.”

Instead of focusing on security, what is stopping the government from embarking on a broad and effective campaign to address the physical development imbalance of the area and the prevailing grinding poverty caused by environmental degradation and bastardisation of the means of livelihood of those living in the midst of the country’s oil wealth?

Without mincing words, the assignment given to the oil companies and security agencies to negotiate, or rather ‘settle’ the militants could best be described as another progress in error.

Now, we need to get this clearer: if the Federal Government is ‘negotiating’ or ‘dialoguing’ with militants through the multinational oil companies and security agencies, are the militants doing that on behalf of the entire people of the oil producing Niger Delta?

How sincere was the Movement for the Emancipation

of the Niger Delta (MEND) in its avowed stance that the use of terms could be all we need to ascertain whether the Federal Government is sincere or not in addressing the Niger Delta question.

In conflict resolution, the proper use of words and terms could just be all that is needed to calm frayed nerves, and if we don’t get it clear, we may just be dancing around the real problem. The living reference is the use of Gaza and West Bank in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

There is a marked distinction between negotiation with criminals and fraudsters who force concessions from government, using the strategy of attacks on oil installations, on the one hand, and dialogue with genuinely concerned citizens and leaders of the region who are committed to meaningfully engage government on the vexed Niger Delta question.

Rather than applying the fast-tracked appeasement strategy which, from experience, would only end up creating pockets of billionaires and more sophisticated warlords and emerging ‘generals,’ the Federal Government should frontally take on, by direct intervention, the real issue which remains – correcting the development imbalance of the Niger Delta region for the common good of the people of the area.

Severally, it has been said that Nigeria will be the gainer for such paradigm shift in attitude towards physical development of the Niger Delta region that produces the commodity that pays for almost everything that happens in the socio-economic and even political life of this country.

Whether anybody wants to hear this or not, negotiation to appease militants is a mere temporary breather, as many more and deadlier opportunistic groups will emerge as soon as the moon goes down.

Therefore, sincere and comprehensive dialogue and resolution of the Niger Delta question is a sustainable solution for all stakeholders.

•Izeze lives in Abuja.

Consolidating Nigeria-AU ties

By Jide Ayobolu UPON gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria quickly committed itself to improving the lives of the people of the country and harnessing the resources that remain vital to the economy of the country and her neighbours. By observing what benefits and is appropriate for the country, Nigeria became one of the founding members of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union.

The Organisation for African Unity checks political stability of any African countries and encourages them to be holding regional meetings for the union. Nigeria backed the ANC by taking a committed tough line with regard to the South African government and their military actions in southern Africa. Nigeria and the Organisation for African Unity, now the African Union, has tremendous influence in West Africa nations and Africa on the whole.

Nigeria has additionally founded regional cooperative efforts in West Africa, functioning as standard-bearer for ECOWAS and ECOMOG, economic and military organizations, respectively. Similarly, when civil war broke out in Angola after the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975, Nigeria mobilised its diplomatic influence in Africa in support of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). That support helped tip the balance in their favour, which led to OAU recognition of the MPLA over the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola.

Nigeria extended diplomatic support to another cause, Sam Nujoma’s Southwest Africa People’s Organisation in Namibia, to stall the apartheid South African-installed government there.

In 1977, the new General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime donated $20 million to the Zimbabwean movement against the apartheid government of Rhodesia. Nigeria also sent military equipment to Mozambique to help the newly independent country suppress the South African-backed Mozambican National Resistance guerrillas. Nigeria also provided some military training at the Kaduna first mechanised army division and other material support to Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe’s guerrilla forces during the Zimbabwe War in 1979 against the

white minority rule of Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith, which was backed by the apartheid -government of South Africa.

The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 54 countries in Africa. The only African state that is a United Nations member, but is not a member of the African Union is Morocco, who opted to leave due to the African Union’s recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) as a member state. However, in July 2016, Morocco sent a special envoy to lobby African leaders to rejoin the African Union 32 years after it left in a row over Western Sahara.

The AU was established on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa and launched on 9 July 2002 in South Africa, with the aim of replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. The AU’s secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa. In the efforts to transform the organization from the OAU to AU, Nigeria’s leading and galvanising role must be duly acknowledged.

Regrettably, many people erroneously believe that it was Colonel Ghaddafi that played the leading role. There was no doubt that the idea of an African Union was mooted by him at the Fourth Extra Ordinary Summit of the OAU in Sirte, Libya on 9 September 1999. However, this idea would have been immediately killed, if not for the convincing and moderating role played by Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The latter argued and convinced his peers that rather than an outright dismissal of Libya’s proposal, it should be considered as an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of the Abuja Treaty, which was designed for the economic integration of the continent aimed at subsequently leading to Africa’s political in-

tegration.

President Obasanjo must, therefore, be fully credited with the idea of utilising the opportunity of Libya’s recommendation to advance the implementation of the African Economic Community Treaty, AEC, which was at that time seriously lagging behind in implementation. The attraction of an economic argument promoted by him definitely convinced his peers and has led to the progress made in this direction.

Furthermore, it was Nigeria that provided the leadership that enabled Africa to see clearly the way forward in establishing the African Union. The powerful and sovereign supranational entity, which Libya proposed and tried to promote, subsequently became tempered and was replaced by the gradualist approach of a European Union model to continental organization, favoured by Nigeria and a majority of member states. A Nigerian, Professor Adele Jinadu, was one of six experts that produced the Draft Constitutive Act of the African Union.

Even at the experts level, Nigeria’s voice was clear, consistent and equivocal, enabling most countries to support a balanced position put forward by our delegation. During ministerial debates, Nigeria, along with four others, ensured that Africa was not saddled with an unworkable union as intended by its initiator. When debates became deadlocked, it was Nigeria that mostly provided the compromise solutions that saved the day. Today, the AU and its institutions are stridently marching forward, thanks to the clear and consistent direction provided by Nigeria in the process leading to the transformation. There was no doubt that in all these, Nigeria’s principled stand was anchored on the importance which the country had always attached to the unity of Africa and the forging of solidarity among its peoples.

Nigeria has a vision of a continent with an effective and robust leadership that will ensure the total unity which the founding fathers of the organisation dreamt of and assiduously worked for. In this regard, she looks forward to a leadership that is transparent, duly accountable and which takes into consideration the yearnings of the peoples of Africa for a new image for the African continent.

•Ayobolu is a public affairs analyst

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

THE BUSINESS OF POLITICS “I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ils have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

—“Abide with Me” – Henry Francis Lyte (1847)

O

PENING her first proper shop IN Gbagi market, in what later became the Central Business District of Ibadan in the early 1950s was a result of intense and longterm negotiation between Hannah and her husband, who had become a minister and Leader of Government Business in the colonial Western Regional Government.

Since his return from England, through doggedness and fiscal imagination, the business of Mama Segun (Segun’s Mum) – as her husband now called her – had expanded. She also diversified the business from buying food-stuff from the north of Nigeria into importing women hats, shoes and bags (which she had done in the past as a spinster), as well as dress-making and later importation of textile.

Gbagi market in the late 1940s and early 1950s Ibadan was one of the most dynamic markets in late colonial Nigeria. It grew out of the new European Business District as Ibadan entered the modern age in the 20th century. The first European-owned commercial house opened in Ibadan in 1900, and by 1901, Ibadan had become the hinterland terminus for the Lagos Railway. With the railway, other European-owned firms came to Ibadan from Lagos and were granted leasehold on land for an annual rent of five to eight pounds (5-8) per-acre. The area in which these new firms opened business was at that point the northwestern outskirts of the old city, near the Railway Station at Dugbe. When the Europeans started pegging out the boundaries of the new plots allocated to them, the people of Ibadan were struck by this unusual way of delineating land that they named the area Gbagi – which in the local language meant “to peg” or “pegging”. This area in the early 20th was a farmland. It grew to separate the “old and the new centres of social and economic life” in the city, that is, the eastern and western areas of the town. People from neighbouring Yoruba communities, the Ijebu (-Remo), Egba and Ijesha, settled at the western margins.

Eventually, Gbagi and its environs attracted “a constant stream of immigrants”. Thus, it became a modern central market for local and migrant Nigerian traders as well as the Lebanese and Europeans who sold wholesale to Nigerians. This Gbagi Street (renamed Lebanon Street in 1935) and the New Court Road formed the nucleus of the Gbagi Market, which was dominated by wholesale business owned by Leanese, Indian, and Syrian merchants like Chellaram’s, A.J. Tangalakis and Zard’s and European-owned businesses such as CFAO (Compagnie Francaise de I’Afrique Occidentale), John Holt, Ollivant’s, PZ (Paterson Zochonis), Russell’s UTC (United Trading Company), AETA (African and Eastern Trading Association), Gottchalk’s, Lagos Stores, Maclver’s, Miller Brothers, and the Niger Company, the last six of which merged into UAC (United Africa Company) in 1929. Together with the near-by Dugbe Market, founded in 1919, Gbagi in the Central Business District (CBD) became the commercial heart “which pumped the economic life into the body” of Ibadan from the 1920s on. By the late 1940s, the

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

Wale Adebanwi on Mama HID (9)

•Mama HID Awolowo

CBD had become a veritable money-spinner for anyone who did business there.

Mama Segun wanted to be part of the transformations in the city’s economic life.

The compromise reached between husband and wife when she wanted to rent a shop at Gbagi for her business was that she would hire an assistant to run the shop; she would manage the business from their home in Oke-Ado – the then middle-class area of Ibadan, the northernmost part of which was increasingly called Oke-Bola. The area had grown as a

Obafemi Awolowo was called to the Bar in London on November 18, 1946

result of the arrival of railway at Ibadan in 1901. Even this compromise required a lot of persuasion because as he became a prominent lawyer, politician and even political office-holder, Obafemi Awolowo increasingly resisted his wife’s commitment to work, particularly trading. The kind of genteel, upper middle-class life he had envisioned for both of them and their children seemed to have been challenged by his wife’s obligation to contribute to the family’s income through her business. Yet, his protestations were restrained by his memories of how her enterprise and fiscal prudence had not only guaranteed that she and their four children lived decently while he was away in the UK, but also ensured that he received occasional financial support from her.

Though convinced that he was now in such a financially-strong and stable position to take absolute charge of provisioning for their home, Mama Segun’s insistence that she could not abandon her considerable network of customers and her aversion to inactivity meant that he had to agree to let her continue with her business. However, he could not countenance with wife of the Leader of Government Business and a lawyer of stature becoming a “market woman”. It was because of this that she agreed not to sit in a store

to direct the business herself. She would recruit a lady who had been a housekeeper for her to be the “market woman” in Gbagi. She would be the brain behind the business and do all the transactions regarding importation and payment from home, while the lady would sell the wares to customers in Gbagi…

“He first opposed my trading”, H.I.D Awolowo tells me in her soft voice in the living room in their Ikenne home where we are surrounded by photographs that chronicle their many decades together.

“He said when he was in the UK, he understood why I had to be trading, but since he returned and he was fine, I needed not bother… He was later happy that I was trading; that my business helped the family; that it also helped him to be able to do what we needed to do. He regretted that he was going to stop me from doing business….”

Obafemi Awolowo had first considered setting-up his law practice in Lagos, but the couple later settled for Ibadan where they already had a home and a city they both knew well. This was good news for Hannah for a number of reasons. One, she had become an important member of the Methodist Church, Agbeni. Given her devotion to a Christian life, she was happy that her husband will return fully to the Christian fold and perhaps never waver again. Throughout his time in the UK, he didn’t attend any church. It was only upon his return to Nigeria that his “oscillation between agnosticism and Christianity ended” because Hannah “stood immovably” for Christianity. As Awolowo latter confessed, Hannah’s constant admonitions and steadfastness did more than anything else roe strain me from going beyond the point of no return”.

From then on, they shared a strong belief in God and prayers formed the deepest basis of their mutual love and life. Also, she was happy about Ibadan because she could easily expand her business there. That he was doing so well in his law practice that he assumed that her business exertions were no longer needed did not bother her much. She knew she would overcome his objections in the fullness of time.

Obafemi Awolowo was called to the Bar in London on November 18, 1946, as member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. He returned to Nigeria the next year to the embrace of his wife and four children, Olusegun, Omotola, Oluwole and Ayodele, the last of which was born while he was away on December 29, 1944. Tokunbo, was born after his return on February 20, 1948. After Tokunbo, they lost a child owing to some problem. Hannah’s grandmother had insisted on one more child after Tokunbo. This was an age when, all things being equal, couples had an average of six children.

•EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK: WALE ADEBANWI ON MAMA H.I.D – 10

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

The fifth pillar of Islam: Hajj, the spiritual journey

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HE Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim obligations and institutions known as the five pillars of Islam. Pilgrimage is not undertaken in Islam to the shrines of saints, to monasteries for help from holy men, or to sights where miracles are supposed to have occurred, although we may see many Muslims do this. Pilgrimage is made to the Ka’aba, found in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the ‘House of God,’ whose sanctity rests in that the Prophet Ibrahim built it for the worship of God. God rewarded him by attributing the House to himself, in essence honouring it, and by making it the devotional epicentre which all Muslims face when offering the prayers (salah). The rites of pilgrimage are performed today exactly as did by Abraham, and after him by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them.

Pilgrimage is viewed as a particularly meritorious activity. Pilgrimage serves as a penance – the ultimate forgiveness for sins, devotion, and intense spirituality. The pilgrimage to Mecca, the most sacred city in Islam, is required of all physically and financially able Muslims once in their life. The pilgrimage rite begins a few months after Ramadan, on the eighth day of the last month of the Islamic year, Dhul-Hijjah, and ends on the 13th day. Mecca is the centre towards which the Muslims converge once a year, meet and refresh in themselves the faith that all Muslims are equal and deserve the love and sympathy of others, irrespective of their race or ethnic origin. The racial harmony fostered by Hajj is perhaps best captured by the African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist, Malcolm X, also known as el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, on his historic pilgrimage, in 1964: “Every one of the thousands at the airport, about to leave for Jeddah, was dressed this way. You could be a king or a peasant and no one would know. Some powerful personages, who were discreetly pointed out to me, had on the same thing I had on. Once thus dressed, we all had begun intermittently calling out “Labbayka! (Allahumma) Labbayka!” (At your service, O Lord!). Packed in the plane were white, black, brown, red, and yellow people, blue eyes and blond hair, and my kinky red hair – all together, brothers! All honouring the same God, all in turn giving equal honour to each other...

“That is when I first began to reappraise the ‘white man.’

It was when I first began to perceive that ‘white man’, as

commonly used, means complexion only secondarily; primarily it described attitudes and actions. In America, ‘white man’ meant specific attitudes and actions toward the black man, and toward all other non-white men. But in the Muslim world, I had seen that men with white complexions were more genuinely brotherly than anyone else had ever been. That morning was the start of a radical alteration in my whole outlook about ‘white’ men.’

“There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colours, from blue-eyed blonds to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and the non-white...

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem.

Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white – but the ‘white’ attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practised by all colours together, irrespective of their colour.”

Thus, the pilgrimage unites the Muslims of the world

You could be a king or a peasant and no one would know. Some powerful personages, who were discreetly pointed out to me, had on the same thing I had on...I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practised by all colours together, irrespective of their colour.

into one international fraternity. More than two million people perform the Hajj each year, and the rite serves as a unifying force in Islam by bringing followers of diverse backgrounds together in worship. In some Muslim societies, once a believer has made the pilgrimage, he is often labelled with the title ‘hajji’. This, however, is a cultural, rather than religious custom. Finally, the Hajj is a manifestation of the belief in the unity of God – all the pilgrims worship and obey the commands of the One God. At certain stations on the caravan routes to Mecca, or when the pilgrim passes the point nearest to those stations, the pilgrim enters the state of purity known as ihram. In this state, the certain ‘normal’ actions of the day and night become impermissible for the pilgrims, such as covering the head, clipping the fingernails, and wearing normal clothing in regards to men. Males remove their clothing and don the garments specific to this state of ihram, two white seamless sheets that are wrapped around the body. All this increases the reverence and sanctity of the pilgrimage, the city of Mecca and month of Dhul-Hijjah. There are five stations, one on the coastal plains northwest of Mecca towards Egypt and one south towards Yemen, while three lie north or eastwards towards Medina, Iraq and Najd. The simple garb signifies the equality of all humanity in God’s sight, and the removal of all worldly affections. After entering the state of ihram, the pilgrim proceeds to Mecca and awaits the start of the Hajj. On the 7th of Dhul-Hijjah, the pilgrim is reminded of his duties, and the rituals commence on the 8th of the month. The pilgrim visits the holy places outside Mecca – Arafah, Muzdalifah and Minaa – prays, sacrifices an animal in commemoration of Abraham’s sacrifice, throws pebbles at specific pillars at Mina and shortens or shaves his head. The rituals also involve walking seven times around the sacred sanctuary or Ka’aba, in Mecca, and ambulating and running seven times between the two small hills of Mount Safaa and Mount Marwah. Discussing the historical or spiritual significance of each rite is beyond the scope of this article.

Apart from Hajj, the “minor pilgrimage” or umrah is undertaken by Muslims during the rest of the year. Performing the umrah does not fulfil the obligation of Hajj. It is similar to the major and obligatory Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj), and pilgrims have the choice of performing the umrah separately or in combination with the Hajj.

Source: IslamReligion.com –Imam Kamil Mufti

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

2016 VALEDICTORY SERVICE OF THE VALE COLLEGE, IBADAN

From left, Mr Gbenro Adegbola, Director of The Vale College, Mrs Funso Adegbola and Venerable Gabriel Daramola, during the 2016 valedictory luncheon ceremony held at Vale College hall, GRA quarters, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

A Level students cutting a cake with the Director, Mrs Adegbola (third left), Principal of The Vale College, Mr Obaloja Akanbi (second left), Mr Gbenro Adegbola (second right) and other vice principals of the school.

From right, Mrs Oyinda Ige, Mr and Mrs Obaloja Akanbi with the graduand, Miss Tosin Akanbi.

From left, Chief Adeboye Oni and Chief and Mrs Femi Adewumi.

Vice PTA chairman, Mrs Abosede Oyelakin (right), presenting an award to Timileyin Otuyalo and his parents, Mr and Mrs Yinka Otuyalo.

Alhaja Aishat Akinpeju (right) presenting an award to graduand, Mr Abdulmuiz Ishola and his parents, Honourable Justice and Mrs Mojeed Ishola.

From right, Barrister Kolawole Esan, presenting an award to a graduand, Miss Bolanle Oshinbolu, Mrs Irene Oshinbolu (left) and Mr Roy Oshinbolu (second right).

Head Girl, Miss Itunu Oladokun (right), presenting an award to guest speaker, Mr Khaliq Gbadamosi with Director, Mrs Adegbola (right).

From right, Ambassador Ronke Adefowope, Dr Modupe Oresegun and Mrs Bolade Conde.

Professor Olatunji Oyelana, deputy vice chancellor, Chrisland University, Abeokuta (right) and Pastor Femi Ogbontiba.

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

fridaytreat

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

Kanayo O. Kanayo, Mercy Johnson, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Imeh Bishop, others set to thrill in Glo sponsored TV series, Professor John Bull

By Rotimi Ige

A

new television series, Professor John Bull, sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom, has hit the screens. The series, heralded by the song of high-life maestro and Glo ambassador, Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, which is the sound track for the social satire, screened its first episode on Tuesday, with a guest appearance by pop superstar, D Banj.

Plot Widower, retired professor and an erudite academician who relishes using grandiloquent expressions, Johnbull Eriweagwuagwu Macathy Macnwigwe (Kanayo O. Kanayo), lives with his engineer son, undergraduate daughter and star-struck wannabe housemaid in an upscale neighbourhood in Enugu, South East Nigeria where he is; (by virtue of his academic and social exposure, which includes but is not limited to a Phd from a foreign university as well as a long lecturing career) the voice and conscience of the people. His house, by virtue of his pedigree, has become a melting pot where people from different segments of the society often congregate to discuss contemporary issues and drink from Professor John Bull’s fountain of wisdom.

His son, Churchill Ikenga Macnwigwe, an engineering graduate, is interested in pursuing a career in music against his father’s wish. His daughter Elizabeth (Queen Nwokoye) is a year two Psychology undergraduate who is a dyed-in-the-wool but self-assured replica of her father.

She is close to her father but generational issues always come up.

Caro (Mercy Johnson) is the semi illiterate house maid of the family and a great challenge to Elizabeth who routinely toils to improve her literacy and social construct.

Apart from the dramatic events in the professor’s house, there are also other major characters whose lives and activities are interwoven with that of the professor and his household. The drama series explore social satire to shed light on contemporary issues affecting Nigerian youths.

Cast and crew excited as production begins The cast and crew of the series have expressed excitement and pleasure to be involved in the production. The T.V drama series which is set in the South Eastern part of Nigeria will feature the best thespians in Nigeria’s movie industry including Kanayo O. Kanayo who plays the lead role, Prof. John Bull and Mercy Johnson. Others are Yomi

Fash-Lanso, Ime Bishop Okon, Queen Nwokoye, Junior Pope, and many others. The visibly excited Nollywood stars were seen on location wrapping up the shoot of the first set of episodes in the series which began airing on Tuesday.

Speaking on his role as the lead actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo said, “It feels so fulfilling playing the lead role Prof. John Bull. I feel honored to be chosen to interpret this role. It’s a huge challenge, in-fact it is one role I see as being too technical for me to play, technical because the high-sounding grammar the character speaks, is that, which you must have to research, and that means you have to keep on rehearsing yourself every day”.

Another multiple-award winning Nollywood star, Mercy Johnson featuring in the series, said, “Prof. John Bull drama series will have a huge impact on the society because it is a social satire which is meant to teach and entertain at the same time and that is what this is just doing, teaching the society as well as entertaining them.

“The drama series, I’m sure, will help to correct the ills in the society. I mean the South Eastern audience will really enjoy it a lot. My role is a comic character called Caro, an illiterate girl who sells oranges but found favor in the professor’s daughter who convinced the dad to bring her in to be part of the family. I feel extremely honored to feature in the series, I feel privileged and special, I feel like Glo ruling my world and I’m honestly grateful for the opportunity because it’s a huge platform for me to step into other places and broaden my horizon”.

Yomi Fash- Lanso who plays the character, Olaniyi, a Southerner who runs an “Nkwobi joint” and is so fixated about making money, said the drama is educative and entertaining and would inform South Easterners in particular and Nigerians in general about the need to co-exist peacefully.

“The drama series has a mixture of characters from different cultures and background in Nigeria. For instance, I play the role, Olaniyi, who is a Southerner; Funky Mallam plays the role, Mallam Doya, a character who is a northerner and there are other characters who are Easterners”.

Fash-Lanso added that he does not feel out of place switching from the Yoruba genre to play a role in the Eastern drama series. “I don’t feel I’m out of my comfort zone featuring in this T. V series. Nollywood is one. As long as you can interpret a character very well, then you’ll fit in anywhere, in any location. Enugu as a location is a very peaceful place, a friendly place, so coming here to shoot is a very good thing for me”.

He lauded Globacom for coming up with the initiative.

“Glo for me has always been a pacesetter; the company’s contribution to the entertainment industry in this country is unparalleled. They have always been at the fore-front of entertainment, and now coming up with this idea, I mean… wow…”

Queen Nwokoye who plays the role, Elizabeth, Prof. John Bull’s daughter, expressed similar views. “Prof. John Bull is the first-of-its-kind here in the South-East. Trust me, viewers would always dash home to watch every edition, because I’m sure they wouldn’t want to miss it, even for a minute”.

Funky Mallam who also commented, said “I’m feeling at home here in Enugu. The location is just warm and friendly. My role is Mallam Doya, a Hausa man who sells yam. The concept of the drama series is a nice one. I believe viewers will be glued to their T.V screens”.

The series director, Tchidi Tchikere who also spoke during the interview said that the TV series “is a hilarious satire that will appeal not only to the young at heart but also to everyone that can appreciate drama and its ability to correct social ills. It is high time we had more corporate bodies coming to support the entertainment industry like Globacom is doing. Honestly, I think it is highly commendable that Globacom has moved from just endorsing entertainers as brand ambassadors to sponsoring full productions as Executive Producers”, the ace producer said.

Chikere lamented the dearth of comedy series in the country, and noted: “the last ones we had were years back when the ‘Village Headmaster’ was running. What the cast and crew of ‘Prof. Johnbull’ owe Globacom is excellence and perfection. There is heightened love for Globacom brand among the cast and crew on set. Beyond building affinity, I think Nigerians should realise that Globacom is the only indigenous telecoms company in Nigeria and what this means is that whatever money the company makes, stays here in Nigeria as there is no capital flight”.

Also speaking, a member of the cast, who plays the character Samson in the TV series, Oguns Baba, said that he felt fulfilled being on the star-studded cast of “Prof. Johnbull”.

According to him, “this is the first time I will be on a full length series and I am particularly happy that Globacom is giving me a huge platform like “Prof. Johnbull” to reach out to my fans who have been yearning to see me on TV in a full series”.

During an exclusive viewing event of the series, it ignited a sense of déjà vu in select viewers who thanked Globacom for giving them sublime comedy which they had not savoured in decades, thereby enriching their television experience.

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

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

fridaytreat

2016 Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam final holds today

Meet Hip Hop act who is a University Lecturer/ Doctorate degree holder!

THE ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State capital will, today, play host to the final of the 2016 Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam after a rigorous two months of drills, excitement and tensions amongst promising Fuji artistes.

Over 400 young Fuji artistes have participated at the various stages of the talent hunt scheme, sponsored

by Goldberg, a brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, but only six remain in contention. The six finalists that would compete for the coveted crown of Wura 1 at the event scheduled for Trans Amusement Park are: Shina Akanni; Saheed Ishola; Temitope Ajanni; Kuteyi Sikiru; Alausa Olalekan and Muftau Alabi.

Before this stage, the contenders had participated in the auditions and selection parties held in eight different locations: Sango-Ota, Egbeda, Oyo, Ilesha, Akure, Ado-Ekiti, Ibadan, and Sagamu.

BIOLA AZEEZ caught up with a peculiar Hip Hop rapper, Isiaq Abdulwaheed Atanda Omotayo also known as ‘The Theorist’ at the University of Ilorin and presents the excerpts of their interaction.

Let’s meet you...

Y name is Isiaq Abdulwaheed Atanda Omotayo also known as ‘The Theorist’.

The name was given to me by my students.

They call me ‘Theorist’ based on the fact that we propound theories in class. I had my primary education in Oyo State, IEDPU secondary school in Ilorin for my secondary education in Ilorin and my first and second degrees at the University of Ilorin. I equally have my doctoral degree in view, all at the department of political science of UNILORIN. Currently, I lecture in the department of political science at the same university. I have been an inventor. I am one of the people who paddled the bicycle of educational video CDs in Nigeria. I equally happen to be one of the directors of A-level educational consult in Kwara State; Al-Hikmah University precisely and I have had the opportunity to have worked with many institutions.

I am the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lanko Theory Education Service Limited.

As a budding hip-hop artiste, what is your unique selling point (USP)?

If you remove education from anything, there will be an issue. The way some of these artistes manage their home front is because education is lacking. I am not saying they are not educated but the education might not have been properly applied. What will make the difference is that I am representing a crafted and initiated brand. Which means that it is another school of thought; a philosophy which others will follow in terms of the choice of the lyrics. I am not saying I will not collaborate with other musicians, but the language of the lyrics and import of the message must be very clear. That brand is another school of thought that is going to be unique. For instance, we have a particular track that we call ‘Ologo’ and when you look at the word and the message therein. You discover that virtually everybody will like to listen to it.

We are concerned about the message and direction of our song. Even if it’s going to be love song, it’s got to have the message. Whether we like it or not it is a philosophy that cannot be faulted by anybody, that music is one of the fundamental means of passing messages across now.

You can either create peace or revolution through music.

M

Why are you as an academic into hip-hop music?

Let me say that there are always thousands of ideas in reading. I love to engage into impossibilities. So when you read through literature you will come across different ideas. Actually, what brings about the issue of hip-hop music is as result of one of the researches I was actually conducting on Hip-hop and fuji artistes and from there I discovered a huge gap in the genres. Also, given the trend at the university of Ilorin, I discovered there has not been a lecturer who doubles as a hip-hop artiste and even in Africa.

So, I discovered that there is always theory in practice and practice in theory. I noticed that this was an area that is trending and that we are having issues with our youths in it. So, I felt that if I did a research that into the particular gap, it would be better to engage that gap practically. So, that informed the idea of hip-hop music in the first instance. So I, as a record breaker, in line with the Unilorin system, for the first time in history, discovered there is that gap in the literature of people who go into music without education and they don’t care about it. Of course, they don’t really care and I don’t think they would because I have seen people who didn’t go to school but made it in music. But that is a camp, and this is a camp too, that you can be educated, be a career person and still be a good musician.

This is another signal to the whole public that being a musician does not mean you cannot go to school and that going to school does not mean you cannot exhibit your talent. You can actually have both.

Did you inherit singing talent from your parents or from in any group?

No, my parents don’t even know how to sing at all; but I grew up as, more or less, a ghetto person. I am talking about Saw Mill area of Ilorin. Of course, while growing up, we used to have singing competitions from one junction to the other in which I participated. And what seemed to be a memorable thing in my history was that I used to wake people up during Ramadan fast. I think the idea actually generated from there.

Why Hip-hop?

Personally, I don’t dislike any genre of music. It is a thing of interest. I love the Hip-hop genre of music, but

What’s the title of your forthcoming album?

For now, we want to unveil ourselves as the first university lecturer/Hip-hop artiste in Nigeria and Africa at large. We have searched through literature and we discovered I will be the first person to be in that area. We will launch the album separately. I have about 17 tracks on ground; ‘Ologo’, ‘I need you’, ‘Searching for love’, ‘I go through hell’; which reflects story about my own life, another one about the University of Ilorin and one for Nigeria. The one for my country is very good. We have another called ‘We are the baddest’.

another thing is that while I was researching, I discovered that the Fuji artistes are always at the receiving end.

I don’t know why. People hardly delve into that genre of music and become successful. Incidentally, these Fuji musicians have good lyrics but perhaps because of the way that genre of music sprouted or the lyrics are constructed, I discovered that these people have issues, for instance, in terms of endorsement. If thousand of endorsements are to be distributed today you will hardly find a fuji musician there. Of, Pasuma got one but because he tried to diversify. Others are still struggling to get there.

But, these Hip-hop artistes will go on stage, they have their demo already, stage set for them and within minutes, their work is done and they get their pay. The Fuji artistes that’ll sing from night till early morning, all they get is pittance. Another thing is that Hip-hop is working with the trend of modernism while Fuji is still in line with the traditionalism. Therefore, people like me, being an academic has to do what is convenient for me. I can only sing when it’s convenient for me. When I am tired I will rest, so I am doing it as a form of extra curriculum activity. I chose Hip-hop genre because I can easily pass my message across to the people and get it right. If I have concert I will go and come back in a day; which is another service to the community. As far as the school rule is concerned, we are entitled to extra curriculum and community services.

In fact, that could be another way of sending a very good message to the youth outside. I think it is going to be an encouragement to all of them.

Will this music take over academic work or political appointment?

Let me say this, what actually brought about this is because of my ability to go into different researches into supposed impossibilities; therefore, I cannot leave the education line come what may. But we need to understand one thing in academics, we have right to sabbatical and leaves of absence, fellowship and the rest of that. So, we’ll learn for all these. The problem of the academics is that we dwell on theories, I think it is about time now that we show action.

Many of our professors of the performing arts at Unilorin are making millions of naira through their performances. If I make it big today, I can even be a very good source to my own university and state and to my own country; because music is intercontinental. Through this, I’ll be able to empower people through employment generation.

Has there been any form of assistance of the school?

The truth is that I have not had any formal contact with the school authorities, except for my associate professor and very many other lecturers who had seen me while performing on stage. I believe if you want to do something that will be successful; it will have to come from you. Good things hardly come from groups, it is from the individual. So, Unilorin should be celebrating that I am making the name of the institution to go viral. I can’t hide myself. I still belong to the University of Ilorin. The university has been inventing in some many other fields. This is another one. It’s an applause for them.

Ibukun Olabisi to represent Oyo State

at Mr and Miss Nigeria International 2016

By Ronke Sanya The ancient city of Ibadan in Oyo State is known for its pace setting trend and being the first in many things. The city is the home for the premier University, the premier teaching hospital, the first high-rise building, first Television station in Africa, among many others.

It’s however disappointing that Oyo State has never won a national beauty competition.

Ibukun Olabisi is however set to make history. The 19-year-old student of the department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife, an indigene of Eruwa, Oyo State will represent Oyo State at this year’s edition of Mr and Miss Nigeria International and aims to bring home the crown. The event is set to hold in October, at Ruby Gardens, Lekki, Lagos where Olabisi will be competing with 36 other contestants from different parts of Nigeria.

An exquisite and alluring model, Olabisi expressed optimism that she will clinch the crown, “I aim to do Oyo State proud at the event. It’s disheartening that no one from Ibadan has ever won a national beauty pageant. Oyo State is a pace setter State. We set the pace while others follow. The crown is coming to Oyo State this time.”

Olabisi’s manager and mentor, an award-winning supermodel, Savage Ayodeji Afeez, who is also the managing director of Gazelle guest management, protocol and modeling agency an Ibadan based modeling agency expressed confidence in Olabisi’s prowess. “She was hand-picked among other models because of her outstanding qualities.”

“We see a lot of potential in her. Olabisi is intelligent, passionate and works with so much drive. She is selfless and is already setting up a non-governmental Agencyoraganisation (NGO), to reach out to the underpriviledged,” Ayodeji, who is the first Nigerian to win gold and silver medals at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) added.

The Goldberg team with His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III (CON, JP), the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, during the tour last weekend.

Meanwhile, Emma Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout, Nigerian Breweries Plc; had disclosed that the Goldberg team would pay a courtesy visit on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji in his palace as part of activities for the final.

According to him, Goldberg believes in and celebrates people’s cultures and values. His words: “As an organisation, the development of our host communities is a priority to us. As part of our

efforts towards community development anywhere we operate, Goldberg, in 2012, inaugurated the Fuji t’o Bam initiative because the brand believes that Fuji is a strong socio-connecting factor that reflects the cultural and social life of the Yorubas anywhere they may be. Again, we believe Fuji is a vehicle that can engender massive behavioural change in our society, especially among Omo Odua (the Yorubas) and not a catalyst for division, rancour, strife, conflict and violence.”

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

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Friday, 29 July, 2016 ’Wale Olapade 08055201323 wale11g3@gmail.com

travelpulse&m.i.c.e TeamAfrica urges AU on structured visa on arrival Lauds union’s new uniform passport

Stories By Wale Olapade

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HE TeamAfrica, a Pan-African Travel Association for players in travel and tourism business in Africa has said that Visa on Arrival for all Africans are more preferable to the symbolic AU Passport.

The TeamAfrica while applauding the efforts of the African Union (AU) leadership in bringing about seamless travels within Africa for Africans pointed out the difficulty in implementing the Yammousokro Decision to open African skies for Aviation which has not been implemented since 1999.

The AU leaders launched a new African Passport at its annual General Assembly in Kigali for Diplomats as a way of bringing to the fore the issue of free and easy movement within the continent.

For members of The TeamAfrica who discussed the issue exhaustively, it was agreed that the launch of the AU document is noteworthy but symbolic as it has no real value as at now.

According to the AU chairperson Dlamina Zuma, the delay in implementing an AU decision since 2003

has cost Africa 40 per cent market share in Aviation on the continent.

So the implementation of the African Passport may face similar difficulties.

TTA argues that immediate implementation of visa on arrival for all Africans is easier to Implement and adopt.

Ghana, recently joined Rwanda and Seychelles in implementing VOA for all Africans and it has taken off successfully.

“The team recommends this route as a faster way of integrating Africa while discussions on the modality of how implementation of the AU Passport is being worked out between Nations.

ECOWAS region was the first to launch free movement protocol among the 15 countries with little or no negative impact despite the huge population within the region.

Recently regional blocs in the East and South of Africa have all implemented free movement protocol for regional citizens with no negative fallout.

Some regions have even implemented Joint visa for the regions like the EAC tourism visa for three

countries in East Africa.

The next linkage may be free movement protocol between the regions.

ECOWAS and the EAC group can sign a MoU and bring this to fruition before the scheduled date of 2018 for AU Passport launch for citizens.

Visa fees are another issue of interest in Africa. As Uganda drops visa fees from $100 to $50 which is commendable, as some Africans still pay close to $200 for visas within Africa and TTA, however called on the AU to assist member states to establish a uniform fee for visas for African travellers The major role of the Pan-African travel association is to encourage travel within Africa for Africans as most Africans do not travel much within African.

TTA aims to grow travel within Africa by jointly promoting events within Africa and pressure Governments to adopt policies that encourage intra African travels. It was formed in Kigali Rwanda last year and has since grown to include practitioners from over 15 countries.

Its landmark project is the expected launch of the search for the 21 wonders of Africa.

Southland Concept Hotel opens in Ibadan, August 1 MONDAY, August 1, 2016, will bring new experience of hospitality species to the city of the first, Ibadan, Oyo State, as Southland Concept Hotel and Suites opens its facilities for public delight.

Located on a natural ambience at Oba Adetokun Road, off Ologuneru, with also an access road linking the hotel from NIHORT area of Ibadan, Southland Concept Hotel display a 21st century boutique hotel.

According to the owner of the hotel, Otunba Olayiwola Fadairo who got his inspiration from his international exposure said “Nigeria hotel industry deserves something better when you talk of hospitality, which can standard the test of time in term of aesthetics, style, flavour and offerings.

“We took a lot of things into consideration to get to this far, and we are not settling for less to see that the best are given to customers when we open our services to the public.”

In it resolve to set a new tune for hotel excellence in Ibadan, Fadairo assured all and sundry of an upscale service to meet demands of all class of clienteles.

“We have 39 apportioned rooms of different styles and stocked with sophisticated facilities of star ratings.

Another area of interest is our conference facilities which are designed to meet any specifications of event from boardroom settings of about 10 to 500 capacity depending on the seating arrangement and style.

“The conference facilities come with full option gadget, split chillers and other things to meet every event.”

Speaking on the leisure area, Otunba Fadairo said, “When you want to give your customers a treat, you must be dynamic with your offers. In this area, we have different bar for lodgers to choose from and this ranges from our indoor, outdoor to the swimming pool bars.

“With the opening of the hotel on August 1, customers will have a new taste of hospitality in Ibadan.

Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Food Union Hotel and Suites upgrades services WORKING according to its name to give the best in the services industry in the area of hospitality, the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) has added another property to its offerings.

Located at Seun Ajayi Close, Gbademosi Bus Stop, Sabo, Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State, Food Union

Hotel and Suites has added newly furnished 30 rooms for customers comfort.

According to the Vice President of the Association, comrade Lateef Idowu Oyelekan, “the new addition to the services accommodation of the NUFBTE is to meet the demand of customers and we are opening it for the public in early August.

Comrade Lateef Oyelekan

When Le Meridien Ogeyi Place treated guests to WAZOBIA night LE Meridien Ogeyi Place, Port Harcourt- recently had non-resident and house guests over to experience the first edition of the Hotel’s WaZoBia BBQ Night on July 25, 2016. According to the General Manager of the Hotel-Chris Duncan “we are happy to activate our Wazobia nights which will take place every Friday at our pool side.

“We celebrated the event in partnership with Nigerian Breweries where we offered draft beer to our guests at 50 per cent discount.”

As part of the celebration, guests were also offered complimentary finger snack favourites such as chicken wings, fish skewers and suya

to go along with the drinks.

According to Duncan, “this is going to be an every Friday event at our Wazobia Barbeque night giving customers spices of our weekend experience with great live music as well as varieties of cocktails and Barbeques.

Le Meridien Ogeyi Place has been recognised for commitment towards Community Development (March 2008), Commitment, Support and contribution towards the growth and progress of Art (Oct 2008), Gold Standard Award for Environmental Health and Safety (Dec 2011), Profitability Award (2012) and the Starwood President’s Award (2013).

Ethiopian Airlines adds weekly flight to New York-Newark ETHIOPIAN Airlines, the fastest growing African airline, has added a fourth weekly flight to New York-Newark, billed to start operations August 5, 2016.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, said, “We are very pleased to augment a fourth flight frequency to New York-Newark in a short span of time since we launched the route.

“This is in furtherance to offer our customers the best connectivity options and currently, we fly to 93 international destinations in five continents, connecting Africa to the world’s most economically powerful cities like New York-Newark.

“Surely, availability of frequent scheduled services will play a pivotal role in

the expansion of trade, tourism and investment ties between the fast growing continent of Africa and the United States.”

New York-Newark is Ethiopian Air-

lines’ fourth gateway in the America’s, which is currently operating dailynonstop flights from Washington DC to Addis Ababa, three weekly nonstop flights from Toronto to Addis Ababa.

Osivaya appointed director for Jabita Hotels CHAIRMAN and owner of the prestigious Jabita Hotel, Hon Rasheed Adewale Shitta-Bey has appointed Mrs Abisoye Osivaya, as a new member of board of directors of Jabita Intercontinental Hotel.

The appointment of

Osivaya, nee Shitta-Bey, as a director, according to the hotel management, takes immediate effect. Osivaya her appointment to the board of directors of Jabita Intercontinental Hotel, had been a seasoned health and social worker in the

United Kingdom.

In a release from the hotel management, Osivaya was appointed as a replacement for Ajibola Shitta-Bey, who was appointed as a director into the board of directors alongside two other siblings in 2009.

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Fajuyi: Still a model of chivalry, gallantry 50 years after

Adekunle Fajuyi

By Sam Nwaoko and Kehinde Oyetimi

F

RANCIS Adekunle Fajuyi remains one of the shining examples of abiding loyalty and chivalrous comportment. A Nigerian soldier of Yoruba extraction, the late Fajuyi was the first military governor of the former Western Region of Nigeria. Fifty years after his assassination on July 29, 1966, Fajuyi comes alive today as the emblem of valor and heroism.

His death was no consequence of some cheap criminality, neither was it an emanation of military misconduct. It was the advent of General Aguiyi-Ironsi as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces that saw to the emergence of Fajuyi as military governor.

Ironsi had arrived Ibadan on July 28, 1966 to hold an interactive session with rulers of the Western Region. Few months earlier, a bloody coup had ousted the civilian government of Tafawa Balewa. That coup saw to the deaths of many military officers of Northern origin. While Fajuyi played host to Ironsi, Northern military officers staged a revenge coup which followed the Kaduna-Nzeogwu-led coup of January 1966.

When the coup plotters seized Ironsi, there, Fajuyi insisted on going with his boss since it would amount to betrayal on his part to give up his guest to be killed. He had a choice but he decided to be killed alongside Ironsi. That act of courage in the face of death significantly marked Fajuyi as a reference point of gallantry.

Exactly 50 years after his death, many still reconnect with the Ekiti State-born’s heart of daring.

Aguyi Ironsi For residents of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the name Fajuyi comes to their mouths almost without thinking. Fajuyi is a family name, it is the name of a popular relaxation park; it is the name of a neighbourhood, it is also the name of a town hall and, perhaps most importantly, Fajuyi is the most popular terminus for commercial vehicles that are arriving in Ado Ekiti. Many people leave Ekiti with a mental picture of the area called Fajuyi and might have wondered why the area is known by that name.

Fajuyi Hall is the name given to the Ado Ekiti town hall.

It is believed to be the only other convergence for the people of Ado Ekiti; and given its location, others use the hall for their businesses. It is located right inside the grounds of the palace of His Majesty,the Ewi of Ado Ekiti. It is also in the heart of the Ado Ekiti main market more popularly

Fajuyi is a family name, it is the name of a popular relaxation park; it is the name of a neighbourhood

referred to as Oja Oba. On its part, Fajuyi Square, Ado Ekiti is one of the most iconic places in Ekiti State nicknamed “Fountain of Knowledge.” For any new visitor to Ekiti State, there is hardly no way the person would have nothing to do with Fajuyi Square. As a matter of fact, visitors from Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Ògùn states to Ado Ekiti, Fajuyi Square is their final bus stop. From there, they would continue their journeys to other parts of the state or within the state capital. There is also Fajuyi Lane in Okesa, Ado Ekiti, facing one of the gates of the iconic Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado Ekiti. The home of the Fajuyis is at Fajuyi lane. These are some of the landmarks named after the late Lieutenant Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, a former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria.

However, as widespread as the name ‹Fajuyi’ is used in Ekiti State, many people there do not know what it is all about, or who Fajuyi is or was, or what he represents or represented. A casual question: “Who is Fajuyi” would however reveal many things to many people. A respondent told of what he knew Fajuyi to be. In a response to this question in Ado Ekiti, Olanrewaju Adedipe said “Fajuyi is that popular relaxation centre in Ado Ekiti where you can get food and drinks and also enjoy music in fresh air.” Another respondent, Bukky Aro, said simply: “I just hear Fajuyi, Fajuyi but I don’t know who he or she was or what he was doing. But I know that the name is popular Continues pg24

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

‘His death created a vacuum of integrity’

Ekiti State deputy governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola (left) with daughters of Late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Mrs Bukola Olanrewaju (middle) and Mrs Monica Olajuyigbe, at one of the events marking the 50th Remembrance Anniversary, at Fajuyi Park, Ado-Ekiti.

Continued from pg23

and common in Ekiti State.”

Interestingly, a popular entertainer in Ado Ekiti, Mr. Olayiwola Ojo, popularly known in the state as DJ Larry, gave a semblance of what those who ought to know should. Larry said: “Although I don’t know much about him, I can, however, say that he was a soldier. I only know he was a soldier, a military governor or something.

He was in Ibadan then. I also know that he was killed in Ibadan but I don’t have a very good grasp of the circumstances that led to his killing and by who.” He said he had heard about Adekunle Fajuyi but had not “taken time to read about him as much as I would have to be able to speak with more knowledge of him.”

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi was born in Ado Ekiti, now the Ekiti State capital on June 26, 1926. His parents Isaiah and Felicia Osundunke Fajuyi were prominent indigenes of Ado Ekiti.

The late Col. Fajuyi attended St. George’s Catholic School, Ado Ekiti and after sering for some time as a clerk, he joined the Army on November 16, 1943.

He was trained in Zaria, Yaba, Teshi, Ghana and also at the Officers Cadet School in the United King­dom, where he was commissioned as a Lieuten­ant in 1954. He had earlier served in the Nigerian Squadron of the West African Frontier Force, where he got a British Empire Medal in 1951 for his exploits in North Katanga. He later became the first indigenous Commander of 1st Battalion in Enugu, where he was until the January 15, 1966 coup.

He was posted to Abeokuta as the Garrison Commander where he was until the Commander in Chief and the Supreme Commander of the Nigerian Armed Forces, General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, appointed him as the first Governor of the Western Region.

Colonel Fajuyi was serving as governor when a counter coup, which has been variously described as a “revenge coup” by

Dr Kolapo Olusola laying a wreath at the Cenotaph of the Late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi during one of the events marking the 50th Remembrance Anniversary at Fajuyi Park in Ado Ekiti many analysts occurred. In the coup, he was assassinated by a team of military officers led by then Major T. Y. Danjuma. He was killed along with his C-in-C, General Ironsi in the putsch.

Since the death of the man variously described as “a hero and an excellent example of a gentleman”, a lot has been said both about him and the circumstances of his death at the age of 40.

A commentator, Mr. Adewole Ijiola, told the Nigerian Tribune that the death of Fajuyi “created a vacuum of integrity which I as a person has seen grow wider both in the Nigerian military and in the

larger society.” He said it was “an act that has eternally left me with the question: Are we on a level field in this country? I personally feel that all animals are equal but some are more equal than the others as George Orwell posited in his classic: Animal Farm.”

However, for some, they have moved on despite the death of someone whom they had seen as a shining light among his peers. For instance, elderly Mr. Sule Akerele, who resides at Okesa area of Ado Ekiti remembers the late Military Governor more as “a very good wrestler and he was a champion in the art.” He recalled that

Fajuyi used to win many of the matches and he used to be carried on the shoulders of the supporters and hailed as a champion as we sang home.

in our days as young men, he was one of the close friends of the late Fajuyi, saying “I was Fajuyi’s close friend when we were very young and used to wrestle from quarter to quarter in Ado-Ekiti.”

Pa Akerele said: “We used to gather ourselves for wrestling matches in the evenings. We would move from one quarter to another. We moved from Ule-Asa in our Okesa quarters, we went to Baisaya in the same Okesa quarters, and went to a place called Ojude in Eregburu for wrestling matches. We also used to wrestle at other quarters in Ado Ekiti like Akogun in Irona; Ijigbo and at Odofin in Odo-Ado and also at the Ode-remo.

He recalled that “Fajuyi used to win in many of the matches and he used to be carried on the shoulders of the supporters and hailed as a champion as we sang home. Before he went to join the army, he informed me and I told him that the only reason why I could not join him to go was because he was educated while I wasn’t.

That was why I didn’t follow him to join the army then.”

Of his death, a memory Akerele re-jigged from the excitement of the wrestling exploits, he said “his sudden death in 1966 was a huge blow to us. We all heard about the news and we were shattered. Many of us, including the old and young wept bitterly when they brought his corpse to AdoEkiti for burial then.”

Recalling the kind of man Fajuyi was as they lived their lives, he described him as “a very straight-forward man and a good friend. Even when he became a soldier and rose to become very big officer, he used to come and ask of me. He didn’t forget those of us his friends.”

In a tribute to the late Fajuyi by Oloye Lekan Alabi, a prominent Ibadan chief, published on June 26, 2016, the occasion of the 90th post-humous birthday of Colonel Fajuyi, he was not particularly impressed.

Oloye Alabi’s experience showed that not many are willing to give of themselves for the cause of this man many have come to believe is worth of celebration.

Of the numerous things his committee of eminent Nigerians set out to achieve through the Adekunle Fajuyi Foundation, he said apart from the incorporation of the Foundation with the Corporate Affairs Commission, not much has really been achieved because of lacklutre on the part of those who could help.

Oloye Alabi, a seasoned administrator and secretary of the committee said: “We commenced work and a plan of action with three major assignments drawn-up – (i) launch of a N500 million Adekunle Fajuyi Foundation at Akure Sports Stadium, (ii) Symposium at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, and (iii) a 4-day 30th memorial celebrations starting on Friday, July 26, 1996.

“The first assignment enumerated above never saw the light of day because individuals / authorities lobbied by the Committee gave one excuse or the other such as “unfavourable politi­cal climate”.

“After fruitless visits, letters, telephone calls to Abuja and places where we thought power resided in, we shelved the launch and embarked on plan number two. I must mention the great enthusiasm, material, and financial support given to the com­mittee by the former Military Administrators of the old Ondo State, Colonel Mike Torrey; ComContinues pg25

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

My father never said anything good about Nigerian politicians —Donald Fajuyi on its board of trustees and as directors.

Apart from the remembrance event in Ibadan on July 29th, the family will also hold a Thanksgiving service in honour of him at the Catholic Cathedral in Ado-Ekiti and also host a reception after the service on July 31st, which is the Sunday after the 50th anniversary.

Donald Olufemi Fajuyi, the lawyer-son of the late Colonel Fajuyi, remembers his father as a fulfilled man who lived an adventurous life, unlike him.

He speaks on his father and how he thinks others who were not as privileged should be encouraged. Sam Nwaoko presents excerpts.

Relationship with father ’M 67 years’ old now; my father died when he was just 40 years old but I can tell you that he lived a better life than I have lived. He lived a more exciting, adventurous and fulfilling life.

As a little child, I always admired him, and when I grew up, the admiration became more profound, for somebody to have joined the army, gone to Korea, was in the Congo wars, rose through the ranks in the army as a very young man, the trainings he went through both in Africa and abroad, the U.S, Asia and England, it must have been a very exciting life.

I remember all the adventure stories he used to tell us: those days of the wars in the Congo. He won the military cross for his services in the Congo and that cross is not won by an ordinary soldier, except for one who has displayed exceptional bravery and commitment in the battle.

My mother, Mrs. Fajuyi is no longer with us; she also died in 2013 after mourning her late husband for 35 years. We thank God for those of us left behind.

State government not playing any significant role Our elders have reached out to the government on the anniversary celebration and the response they have got is that Ekiti State government is not in a position to do anything on it.

I

How Fajuyi is being remembered today by family The family remembers him every day and every year, we have always marked his heroic passage. All the good people of this country, those who call him Omoluabi in Yoruba, those who recognise his patriotism, heroism, and courage are marking it. I’m aware that the Afenifere have met and would be remembering him on July 29th in Ibadan at the Premier hotel and I am going to be part of that event.

The event has been organised by the Afenifere group to which our great former Governor Kayode Fayemi and current Minister of Solid Minerals and Development, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and our great Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu belong. These eminent Nigerians have also been very helpful to our family.

You would recall it was Asiwaju who collaborated with former Governor Fayemi to rebuild the family house of ours and to this we remain eternally grateful to Tinubu.

He and Fayemi have continued to extol the patriotic virtues which should be emulated by our leaders and people.

Such virtues include true love for fellow human beings among others.

There is another group that wants to garland him on that day. The group has created what they call the Adekunle Fajuyi Shield of Honour. They will be giving the late Fajuyi the first edition of the ward as a post-humous honour on July 29 (today) at the LPP hall in Ikeja, Lagos.

They said they would continue to give the award in subsequent years to worthy, prominent and deserving Nigerians every year. As an honour to our family, they have chosen me to be a member of the nomination committee

Donald Fajuyi for the group.

On the part of the family, we have already set up an Adekunle Family Foundation for Peace and Social Justice. It was founded in 2010. But some of the brains behind it, like the late Sultan of Sokoto, have all died. But in a very short time, we are resuscitating it. The goings-on currently in the country economically are not encouraging. But very soon, we will revive it. We are currently collecting names of prominent Nigerians who would serve

He is in the limelight because he was at the level of governor at that time. What about others who were not up to that level, the other soldiers who died during the coups?

No one remembers them and their families continue to suffer in silence.

Fajuyi, Buhari and Nigeria I want to thank God for our current President, General Mohammed Buhari. It makes me proud that he’s an exmilitary man. When Fajuyi became the governor of old western region in January, 1966, he had sent words to Ekiti to stop the building of his house which was at foundation level on Textile Road in a place called Onimosoyin in Ado-Ekiti. That was the house I had inherited. I was 17 years old then so I remember. He did so because the ethics of public service demands that you do not acquire anything during service. I’m always surprised at the way our public office holders now behave. I am surprised at how our political office holders acquire properties greedily. Within six months in office, they become muilti-billionaires! This is all wrong. Public office is not for self-aggrandisement. So, I am so grateful to God that President Buhari has come and he’s taking us back to the days of Fajuyi when public office holders upheld morality and were not corrupt.

Since Fajuyi died, the morale of the country has been on the decline, the government has abandoned us and many others affected. He is in the limelight because he was at the level of governor at that time. What about others who were not up to that level, the other soldiers who died during the coups? No one remembers them and their families continue to suffer in silence.

There are many soldiers and Air Force men who have sacrificed their lives in battles but whose families have been languishing in abject poverty because they have been abandoned. What about the children who have had to drop out of schools because their breadwinners have gone? So, we thank God for our family. My father was very honest in his lifetime, very frugal and took care of his family, his parents and siblings.

He saved for us and all his entitlements were given to us by the then government, even his life insurance, because he insured his life. All of them were gathered to sponsor our education up to the university level. And I thank God, after graduating in 1977, I have been in law practice since then. I’m not rich but I have been managing.

My younger brother, Dayo, died in 2013, at the age of 61. I am the only male now and there are other female children who are happily married and doing well in their husbands’ homes.

I have always had interest in politics but the way politics is being practised in Nigeria is something I don’t really like. My father in his lifetime, never said anything so good about Nigerian politicians, so I am not so excited about politics.

Fajuyi: 50 years after Continued from pg24

mander Anthony Udofia of Osun State; and Colonel Ike Nwosu of Oyo State, in our efforts to actualize our plan of action.”

Oloye Alabi, who served as Chief Press Secretary to three governors, two of whom were soldiers, added: “We thought everything was sealed until feelers, about two weeks to the event, reached us indicat­ing a last minute cancellation plan by the authori­ties.

“The excuse to be given, we were in-

formed, would be our failure to obtain police permit. I, on June 12, 1995, therefore, quickly wrote an appli­ cation for police permit to hold the symposium. I personally delivered same to the Commissioner of Police through the Police Public Relations Officer at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan. Three days after, a reply dated 15th June 1995, reference no: CB 3422/OY/Vol.5/328 and signed by Mr. J.B Onwubuya, Deputy Commissioner of Police, on behalf of the Commissioner of

Police, was deliv­ered to me.

“In it, the Commissioner of Police re­ gretted to inform “that in view of the uneasy calm currently prevailing in the country, it is considered inappropriate to hold any symposium of the above matter for now. Consequently, your application is not approved.

In view of the fact that the sympo­sium can be postponed, you are advised to consider the option to take place at a more auspicious time, later in the year, please”.

Oloye ’Lekan Alabi, the Agba – Akin

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Found­ing Honourary Secretary/Trustee, Adekunle Fajuyi Foundation and Chairman, 2016 Adekunle Fajuyi Memorial Lecture Planning Committee has endured these among many other disappointments, just like many of those who have craved eagerly for the right honour to be bestowed on Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi. However, it is believed that with the gradual rise in Nigeria’s democratic credentials, the right things would be done.

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tribute

Friday, 29 July, 2016

Remembering Adekunle Fajuyi 50 years after

By BoLAji Akinyemi

Now praise we great and famous men, The fathers named in story; And praise the Lord, Who now as then Reveals in man His glory.

Praise we the glorious names we know, And they whose names have perished, Lost, in the haze of long ago, In silent love be cherished.

In peace their sacred ashes rest, Fulfilled their day’s endeavor; They blessed the earth, and they are blessed Of God and man forever.

-W. G. Tarrant Since 1987, I had promised myself that I was going to write two tributes, one for Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, the first Military Governor of Western Nigeria and the other for Captain Thomas Sankara on the anniversaries of their assassinations and for forty-nine years in the case of Colonel Fajuyi, and twenty-nine years in the case of Captain Sankara, the Military Head of State of Bourkina Faso (1983-1987). The anniversaries came and went without fulfilling the promise I made to myself. To be explicit, Colonel Fajuyi was killed on July 29, 1966, on the murderous and treacherous night that refused to give birth to a bright new day, while Captain Sankara was killed on October 15,1987.

This tribute is for Colonel Fajuyi. God willing, I will pen the tribute for Captain Sankara on the anniversary of his death.

Early this year, specifically on January 15, on the fiftieth anniversary of the January coup, the Nigerian press was awash with reminiscences and tributes from family members, political associates and friends of the victims of the coup. The reminiscences, in themselves, were very educative. But what was spectacularly startling were the contradictions in the narratives. It was obvious that facts, interpretation and falsehoods were muddling this aspect of Nigerian history.

I met Colonel Fajuyi only once in 1961. I was then an upper six student at Christ School Ado-Ekiti and he came to address our class. He was on leave from the army. His presentation was jovial and simple to understand. He made life in the army sound so much fun that if he had made the military equivalent of an altar call, I would have enthusiastically led the others in signing up. Whether my enthusiasm would have survived my first encounter with the drill Sergeant is another matter entirely.

On that occasion of his lecture to us students in AdoEkiti, he never for once made any allusion to the fact that he had been honoured twice by the British for acts of courage. In 1954, as a Sergeant, he was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for suppressing a mutiny in his unit over food rations. He never made mention of the fact that he had been awarded the Military Cross (MC) by the British Government for showing exceptional bravery during the Congo operations. The MC is usually granted for “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.” The MC is not awarded lightly. One of the recipients during World War II was a Captain Sam Manekshaw, Indian Army (who eventually rose to the rank of Field Marshal). Given the fact that I have not been able to come across anything recording that another Black African had won the Military Cross, I might not be completely off the mark if I assert that Fajuyi is the only Black African officer to have won the British Military Cross. (If I am wrong, I hope this article will give someone somewhere the opportunity to set the record straight and complete the record). Given the well known racism exhibited towards colonial troops, I have no doubt if Fajuyi’s heroism that led to the Military Cross had been done by a British officer, it would have been a Victoria Cross, the highest British military honour.

I once watched a film “LION OF THE DESERT” on the Libyan resistance movement against Italian occupation in Libya during the Second World War. The head of the resistance Sheik Omar Mukhtar was captured, sentenced to death and executed, on 16 September 1931. On the eve of his execution, he was visited by General Rodolfo Graziani who asked him if he had any last requests. He first said no. But as the General got to the door, the Sheik said “Don’t lie that I begged for my life because I did not”. The General was later to say of Omar “he was the bravest and most honourable man that I ever met.”

Of all the conflicting accounts of the events of that mur-

Adekunle Fajuyi derous and treacherous night which gave birth to a dawn when the sun refused to shine, and there were and I suppose there will continue to be conflicting narratives, all the narratives agreed on one thing: Colonel Francis Fajuyi never begged for his life, never tried to escape, never hid under a bed or hid in a cupboard. “Faith of our fathers, holy faith, I will be true to thee till death”.

The narrative about Colonel Fajuyi’s behaviour that dawn soon became mired in the propaganda war between the Federal side and the Biafran side. The Federal side maintained that Fajuyi did not volunteer to die with Ironsi and that he was marked down for execution by the July coupists for being complicit in the January coup.

The Biafran side insisted that Fajuyi volunteered to die with his guest and Supreme Commander. He was portrayed as a gallant officer, full of valour and honour. The Federal side dismissed the Biafran narrative as a ploy to secure Yoruba support during the war, while the Biafran side dismissed the Federal narrative as a disingenuous attempt to justify the brutal and unwarranted murder of an honourable officer.

Where is the truth? Fifty years after the event, and fortyseven years after the end of the civil war, Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, the widow of General Ironsi, confirmed what her son, who was with the father in Ibadan that day, told her on July 30, 1966 that Fajuyi volunteered to go with his father—an act of bravery. The war had been long over and Mrs Ironsi had nothing to gain from parroting civil war propaganda. Secondly, the Police Special Branch (the predecessor of what is now the Department of State Security) wrote a report on the January 1966 coup (published in Kirk-Greene, CRISIS AND CONFLICT IN NIGERIA, pp. 115-124) and nowhere was Fajuyi’s name mentioned. The name also did not crop up in either Ruth First, or John de St. Jorre or any book for that matter that dealt with the January 1966 coup.

The other sore thumb on this narrative is the comment

by Professor Isawa Elaigwu, in his biography of General Yakubu Gowon that “Fajuyi… was reported to have been very scared” . Colonel Fajuyi, an officer who won two British military medals for bravery all within eighteen years of being in the military, the only officer in Nigerian military history to have been so honoured, to have been “very scared” is most unlikely.

This would be equivalent to declaring that General George Patton, the bravest General of the Second World War was scared in a battle. It would fly in the face of facts and would not be regarded as credible.

I am not implying that Colonel Francis Fajuyi was the only brave officer that the Nigerian army has produced.

On the contrary, Colonel Alabi-Isama’s civil war memoirs

shows General Benjamin Adekunle (the Black Scorpion) as an exceptionally brave officer.

Another exceptionally brave officer is General Ibrahim Babangida who as Colonel Babangida confronted Lt. Colonel Dimka during the 1976 attempted coup.

In a highly educative and illuminating article by Ben Lawrence who was an eye witness to the encounter between Colonel Babangida and Colonel Dimka in the NBC headquarters, he wrote: “A sprucely dressed officer was being brought into the presence of the coup-leader. I had no knowledge of who he was, but he was cool, man, —really cool. He stood about 30 yards away from Dimka, who had come out into the corridor, and spoke to him in Hausa. “I am coming directly to you,” he said with all sincerity. “I bear no arms but only wish to talk with you. May I come on?” Dimka was standing between two of his soldiers, one of whom was armed. He was the one who refused. However, Dimka was for the visitor to draw nearer, but the soldier got into an argument with him and Dimka had to disarm him forcibly. Then he asked his visitor to draw nearer. The newcomer, who was a full colonel by the insignia of his uniform, kept asking for permission at each step as he drew nearer, and Dimka replied favourably. We, Ishola Folorunso and I, were the only ones in sight of the corridor, the only witnesses to the historic meeting. And then, the colonel began to plead with Dimka. “Leave this thing alone, you hear? What has got into you?” “My life is totally involved now, and I can’t give it up,” Dimka replied.

Then he looked down the corridor and remembered that Hausa was a language we often communicated in on our drinking sprees, so he asked us to leave the corridor. I quickly made to leave, but not so, my Director of Programmes. He said no one was going to order him around in his office. In vain I pleaded with him. I had known Isola, man and boy, then for over 30 years. Never had I seen him grow so obstinate over a point. And so, Dimka had both of us locked in Ishola’s office while they continued their conversation. After a while, we were let out. Dimka was accompanying the other officer down the corridor to one of the corporation’s car. As the door was held open for him to enter, the Colonel took a step back and gave a very smart salute before departing. We all then tried to settle down, but really could not. We were asking who that brave officer was that dared to engage assassins still wet with the blood of their victim on their hands? And Dimka let him go just like that? … we learnt that the gallant colonel who came to save us was Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. He went on to make more history later, but that is the story for another day. (Bisi Lawrence, Vanguard Feb 13, 2016).”

Fifty years after Fajuyi paid for his gallantry and honour with his life, we run the risk of the significance of that dawn being forgotten.

I have spoken to every Oyo state Governor since 1999 with the exception of the present governor about the need to acquire compulsorily the stretch of land along Iwo road where both Colonel Fajuyi and General Ironsi were killed.

On that parcel of land should be constructed a National Memorial Park dedicated to Courage, Loyalty and Unity and adorned by the twin bronze statues of General Thomas “Ironside” Aguiyi-Ironsi and Colonel Francis Adekunle “OMOLUABI” Fajuyi.

Maybe now, on the fiftieth anniversary of perhaps the most noble deed in Nigerian history, the powers that be in all the Western states will listen and reflect. Nigeria needs this memorial. But much more important, we, the Yoruba nation need this memorial. Lazy people did not build cocoa plantations which made the old Western Region the most developed state in Africa under Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Cowards did not man and lead the Third Marine Commando Division which carried out the first successful sea to land military operations in Africa.

This division led by first Benjamin Adekunle and later by Olusegun Obasanjo included Akinrinade, Alabi-Isama and other Yoruba officers. How can a race that produced Colonel Francis Adekunle, the only African to win the British Military Cross, for valour be called cowards? But then who needs facts when demonization will do.

Nothing I have written here nor the monuments if built can consecrate or sanctify the heroism of that night. The act and the penalty he paid have already consecrated and sanctified it (to borrow from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address). Our job as the living is to ensure that LTCOLONEL FRANCIS ADEKUNLE FAJUYI is not forgotten. Not for his sake but for our sake.

Professor A. Bolaji Akinyemi (CFR), Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, 1985-1987

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

heartcopy

Monica Taiwo monicataiwo@yahoo.com 08055001724

Help, I am torn between two ultimatums D

EAR Taiwo, I am torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. I sincerely love my husband, but I am beginning to have a rethink about our marriage. This is because sometimes, the need for survival outweighs the love I have for him. More so, my sibling, especially, Idowu, my only male siblings, who is the sole benefactor, has insisted that I leave my husband or he would stop giving me money to feed him and our children.

I am my mother’s first child, though a twin; my twin brother died at birth. My mother lost three children before me, but after I stayed; others did too. We, her surviving children, are more or less children of her old age. She died five years ago.

Though advanced in age, we were bitter because she did not reap the fruit of her labour.

Her death was most painful to me as her first surviving child because I wasn’t in the position to take care of her like I should; instead of me taking care of her, reverse was the case.

I am not as brilliant as I would have loved to be, hence, I couldn’t go beyond secondary school, after which I proceeded to being an apprentice to become a fash-

ion designer. It was during my apprenticeship that I met Kunle, who happened to be an only child of his mother.

We both loved each other so much, but the snag with my family was the fact that Kunle was a Christian, while I was a Muslim. Having lost our father years back, my late mother was liberal and allowed my relationship with Kunle to grow, but my fathers family was against it.

With my mother’s support, I had nothing to fear, I went ahead and married Kunle.

Our wedding was the toast then and it was talked about for a long time. Kunle’s mother became my second mother, because she loved me just like she loved her son. I had the best of both families and our joy was crowned with the birth of my son, about one year after our wedding. Keji, came right on time, but unfortunately, my mother-in-law died when he was just three months old. Her death was devastating to all of us; she was such a nice soul, but life had to continue. as a result of her demise, I had to stop my internship and stayed back home to take care of my baby.

To compensate me for this, Kunle gave me money to start a business of my choice and I decided to go into fabrics selling. The Lord blessed my business and before long,

my business became a household name. I was making good money and my husband was doing well too.

Tragedy, however, struck when Kunle took ill five years into our marriage. He had kidney problem. I became devastated; we spent all our savings on him, but the cold hands of death snatched him eventually. I was shattered. I didn’t know how I survived the period. Idowu, my younger brother, was there for me; Alaba tried her best too. Idowu vowed to stand by me come what may, because he said if not for Kunle, he wouldn’t have been able to go to school and make anything out of life.

I had lost almost all my capital to my husband’s illness and his family members didn’t make life easy for me, because after his demise, they came and took everything we had. It became a big war and when the trouble became too much, I left the house he built for them and moved back to my father’s house.

My siblings had left the house, leaving me and my son at the mercy of my father’s younger brother, who had always lived with us. In no time, he too became an issue to contend with. He was always fighting me and making trouble

with me. Living in the house became hell and because I was helpless, I took the only option I had; marrying my uncle’s friend, who had just lost his wife then.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. My younger brother was against this union. When I overturned all his arguments and reasons, he said it was just too soon after my husband’s death.

I didn’t listen to him; I went ahead and began a second journey to hell.

Alhaji turned out to be a tyrant, who abused me in so many ways. He had children, who are grown-ups with his wife who left him before he married the woman, who died just before I married him. She had three children for him. Initially, he helped me with my son’s school fees, but later insisted that he should drop out of school. He enrolled him with a local Alfa, where he would learn Arabic and become a cleric. He said this was because he was the only son in the house as at that time. He had three daughters.

My brother was very angry with me for consenting to this arrangement for my son. He reminded me that my son’s families are not Muslims; more so, his own children would go to school while mine would remain an illiterate. He asked that I allow him take my son with him, but my husband refused.

My husband was into a business which turned sour just before I married him, he refused to get a job or start another business except he was able to get a substantial amount of money, which was not forthcoming and so, the responsibility of feeding the house and family fell on my shoulders.

Everything I made from my business went into feeding him and his daughters. This particularly got my siblings angry and to crown it all, he would beat me up at any slight opportunity.

My brother had attempted to take me away from him several times, but I always pleaded that he would change. A few weeks ago, my brother went to check on my son at the Alfa’s place, he came back to tell me that he didn’t like what he saw. He said my son had been sick and had not received medical attention.

He threatened to take him away from there if I didn’t do something.

I told my husband and he refused to allow me go and see my son. My brother eventually took him away from the Alfa’s house without telling me. When my husband learnt about this, he accused me of conniving with my brother to disobey him. I tried telling him that I didn’t know about this. He didn’t believe me, he beat me up severely and left me almost dead.

Neighbours took me to the hospital, where I spent over a week. He didn’t come over to see me. I had to plead with my siblings to help me settle my bills at the hospital. I am back in his house now, he has given me an ultimatum to take my son back to the Alfa’s house or leave his house. My siblings have refused to release my son to me, they have also given me an ultimatum to leave the marriage or forget about them and my son, saying after all, I have no children for him.

Please, help me, what should I do?

Aduni.

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interview

Friday, 29 July, 2016

Militancy in Lagos will end soon —PPRO Nigerian Tribune quartet of LANRE ADEWOLE, OLALEKAN OLABULO, ELLIOT OVADJE AND OPEYEMI OWOASEYE engaged Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent of Police, on sundry security and personal issues.

W

ITH your great looks and physical appearance, you will fit into any other profession anywhere in the world, why the police uniform?

I am flattered, thanks for the compliment.

I am glad I came into one of the noblest professions in the world because ordinarily policing is the best job. I will say it and I will stand by that because you are like a guardian angel; you put your life on the line to take care of others. When there is armed robbery, you are the first point of call; when you are celebrating, you still want to be protected, you still call on the police.

How did you come to that decision; what inspired you?

Let me tell you that I had never wanted to be a police officer. I never thought of it.

While I was growing up, I wanted to be a doctor because I would be able to save life and I will be the first person to attend to them someone in distress; but as God would have it, I didn’t become a doctor. But I think policing is another form of protecting and saving lives. And it’s not out of place. I think within me, I still feel like a doctor.

And how did I find myself being a police officer? I have an uncle who had wanted to be a police officer right from his university days, and he didn’t have the opportunity. He applied, he did everything. And during my service year, he said why don’t you join the police? I asked him not to go there. He went ahead to obtain the form and started pushing me to go for the interview.

At the last interview that I went for, the AIG there told the woman beside him that “I think she has a nice figure for the job”.

Immediately I sat down, he didn’t even ask too many questions. The woman who was the commissioner of police had my kind of physique and she said, “I think it is our stature that God thought about when he wanted to create policing job, and don’t forget, police was the first job that God created.” Since that day, I knew I would be employed. Well, I must admit the way it was, it was like a mixed feeling.

I am so grateful to the leadership of the force that they are doing everything to ensure that we conform to international standards of policing.

Your last assignment before you were appointed as the police PRO was as a DPO. How have you been able to work effectively and efficiently considering the fact that you have not worked in the public relations department of the force before?

Well, whether it is efficiently or not, it depends on you to judge. But I think I am giving in what I can tag my best. It depends on how you view it. To some, we are not doing enough; but to some we are doing the best.

What actually helped me was that I have been on the field as an operational officer.

I didn’t study Mass Communication and I have never been in the office of the PPRO. I want to say I thank God Almighty for His grace because it is tasking. But by the grace of God and His wisdom, we are coping.

I am going to take you back a little bit, you cut the image of the ideal tough

cop, have you always been like this even from your youthful days?

There is one thing about the police: if you think you are the softest person in this world, if you are feeble, if you are not strong, policing can make you strong. And if you think you are the toughest in the whole world, if you think nothing can break you, policing can break you. So you can always strike a balance when it comes to policing.

In my own case, growing up, I was always the soft type. There was a training we went for at Gwoza in Borno State; there is this place that is called a place of no return, it is a place you are brushed up if you are weak in order to get you ready for the job. If you go to Gwoza, they will tell you this is a place of no return, you are not returning and you must do what we do here. When I got there I said that if I can’t return, then I must do what they do there. I will rather cope. I made up my mind that I am going to cope. When challenges were coming, I was like I can’t go back here, you need to brush up. You need to wake up. And I think it helped me because I used to think I was very weak. My training through the academy at the police mobile training has actually brushed me up.

What is the latest development from the police about the cases of abduction, rape and stealing of property by militants in Igando and Ikorodu communities?

Let me quickly tell you that these boys are pipeline vandals. You are aware of their activities at Ibafo and Arepo in Ogun State, until the Federal Government, police and every other security agencies decided to take charge of the pipeline. What they do now is what we call soft target; they just go for their soft target and leave. They are just using the opportunity to tell the government that well... if you think we cannot do vandalism, we are still here. These are a group of people who are already criminally-minded and at all cost they want to exhibit their criminality. We have been arresting them.

Investigation shows that most of them are Ijaw, Arogbo, because from two of the arrests that we have done, they are from riverine areas. That is why they categorise them as militants. Whether they like it or not, it is going to be a thing of the past. You are aware of bank robberies in Lagos before now, but now they can’t access it. They are just using the opportunity that those places are close to rivers: two minutes they are on ground, in another two minutes they are on water. Especially Isawo, Igbo-olomu, they are close to the river. They are only capitalising on that, but very soon, it will become a thing of the past.

It appears the Lagos State police command is helpless in cases of extra judicial killing that had to do with sister security agencies. There was a time a soldier killed somebody in Badagry, there was a time an official of the civil defence corps killed somebody in FESTAC; an airport officer killed somebody in Apapa, there are many cases like that. And till today, none of them have been arrested. Why have the police been helpless in handling those cases?

The police can never be helpless in doing their statutory duties when it comes to extra Judicial killing by sister agencies. But like you said, they are also agencies. Even if a policeman kills, you can’t grab him and take him to court, he must be dismissed first before he faces the offence he has committed.

If a soldier kills and we find him there, we will arrest him. If an official of civil defence kills and we meet him there, we will arrest him. But people from sister agencies kill and go back to their organisation, but they can’t give us the identity of these people. Does it

Dolapo Badmus mean we will go and arrest every soldier we see on the road? Do we arrest every civil defence officer we see on the road? It doesn’t work that way.

There are some of them with known identities.

When they are known and we see them, what we do is to write to the authority, then the authority will release them. We cannot go to the army barracks to arrest them.

There are procedures, ways and manners that are followed.

The civil defence case in FESTAC that you just spoke about, till tomorrow, our command is still writing to them to produce him.

About two weeks ago, we still wrote to them to produce the person that did that, but they are not producing him. Does it mean we will go and barge in on them and arrest them or their commandant? No. We will continue to follow the procedure.

But isn’t that a kind of double standard? If it’s a member of the public, you can move in with arrest warrant and get the person arrested.

There is nobody that can issue arrest warrant against a serving member of any force.

They are also an organisation on their own.

If a policeman kills, what we do in our organisation is to bring the policeman out, subject him to investigation, then he goes through disciplinary action, and then we charge him to court. Most times this does

What they do now is what we call soft target; they just go for their soft target and leave.

not even last more than 48 hours, under 24 hours we are done. We impress it on those organisations to do such; if a civil defence person kill, impress it. But members of the press always like to hit police hard.

Let’s talk about your time with the former speaker of the House of Representatives. How was it working with Honourable Patricia Etteh?

Well, in the whole federation and the entire police force up till today, I am the first female ADC to a number four citizen in the nation. I don’t think it has happened again because we haven’t had any woman occupying first, second, third or fourth citizen positions since then. So I think it’s a great opportunity and working with her was perfect.

I was professional all through and it really paid off while she was there. One thing I saw also with her was that, she is a strong-willed woman.

Can you share one of the experiences in the past that you have been tempted with corruption?

Corruption does not just start like that, no one can just come to you and say let me give you something so that you will kill this case. They first look at your body language, when it shows that you are ready, then they bring it. I don’t give a body language that encourages that, I don’t give room.

You got married as a police officer, I know it’s not every time a civilian will walk up to a uniformed lady. How easy was it for men to access you before he eventually came asking and stayed?

Honestly, from my own experience, if I were not a police officer, I wouldn’t have had many suitors coming my way the way I had them. Some people will say it’s because I have been occupying boss level right from day one. But I can tell you, most civilian men want security, so they love police officers.

So they were all coming?

Yes, and I needed to call on God to get the best and I got the best.

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FIRST YEAR REMEMBRANCE OF OBA OKUNADE SIJUWADE

From left, Prince Tokunbo Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife; Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, at the first year remembrance of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in Ile-Ife, on Thursday.

From left, Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Admiral Akin Aduwo, at the service.

General Oladipo Diya and Chief (Mrs) Titi Atiku Abubakar.

Osun State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori and former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon.

From left, Dr Yemi Farounbi, Chief Olufemi Omotara and Dr Kunle Olajide.

From left, Otunba Adekunle Ojora; his wife Ojuolape and Chief Alex Duduyemi.

Children of the late Ooni Sijuwade with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Chief Cornelius Adebayo (left) and Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, former governor of Oyo State.

From left, Chief Joop Berckhoot, Chief Olabode George and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.

Chief Agboola Odeyemi and his wife.

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

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Friday, 29 July, 2016

Friday, 29 July, 2016 32 Distribution of food items to widows and women in Ibadan by the Ajumose Food Bank Project, an Initiative of the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi.

From left, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his wife, Florence and wife of the Caretaker Chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government, Mrs Nike Olatunbosun, at the Food Bank Project, on Thursday.

From right, Honourable Bola Agbaje, wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Janet Adeyemo; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, at the distribution of food items to widows at the government house, Ibadan.

Mrs Florence Ajimobi with some widows that benefitted during the Ajumose Food Bank Project at the Government House, Ibadan, on Thursday.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence distributing food items to women in Ibadan North East Local Government.

Mrs Ajimobi distributing food stuff to women at Ibadan South East Local Government.

Some food items ready for distribution.

Some widows that benefitted from the Project.

Some beneficiaries of the Ajumose food bank project.

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south-westnews

Friday, 29 July, 2016

I have forgiven erring principals, students —Ajimobi

By Wale Akinselure

O

YO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday, accepted the apology of principals and students of the 17 secondary schools in Ibadan fingered for their

involvement in the June 6 students’ protest against the new education initiative on management of schools, saying “I have forgiven them.”

The principals of the 17 secondary schools were led to the governor’s office by the leadership of the

...Asks workers to get set for restructuring

By Wale Akinselure GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Thursday, hinted of a restructuring and assessment of the state’s workforce aimed at enhancing workers’ productivity and government’s ability to pay salaries.

Ajimobi, speaking at the Ajumose Food Programme of his wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, said the restructuring would involve an evaluation of the size of the workforce to ensure that resources available to the state can adequately cater for its wage bill.

Ajimobi said these measures would engender functionality and efficiency in the affairs of the state.

He chided those notions that the state government was not factual about its monthly wage bill disclosure, which he said had been verified by the labour movement during negotiations that led to the suspension of the recent strike.

“We have been vindicated with our position that our monthly wage bill is N5.2 billion. The workers have seen it. Many states cannot pay salaries. But with what we are putting in place, we will restructure, we will assess people. There must be productivity.

“Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is an experienced and effective president, even said we need to restructure our workforce. We need to make each state more functional, more efficient and more productive. We have too many workers who are not doing anything.

We need to sit down and talk to them. People have seen that we told the truth when we said salaries and wages amount to N5.2 billion. We told them that we do not have money and that we will give them 100 per cent of the money we have.

Today, they have seen it. Irrespective of the strike, it is the same money we would have paid them that we are paying them now.

“Oyo State will develop the more as long as we are honest with each other. The more we tell the truth, the more we let facts rule us and

the more we allow intellectualism and knowledge-based economy to grow. This governor is an honest governor and no matter the evil machinations of people, we will make Oyo State great.

Ibadan Progressive Union (IPU) and state chapter of the All Nigerian Conference of Principals (ANCOPPS), Oyo State chapter.

Ajimobi noted that the request for an apology was to make those concerned to realise the import of their actions and to serve as a deterrent against future occurrence.

“The principals of the 17 affected schools have come to apologise for the misdemeanour perpetrated by their students. I have forgiven them because to err is man and to forgive, divine.”

“The government or I stood to gain nothing from the apology by the prin-

cipals and students. But it’s our responsibility as parents and grandparents to make them realise the negative trend the actions would have caused if not nipped in the bud.

“If we choose to remain silent over the delinquent behaviours and excesses of our youths today, the grave repercussion will come back to haunt us tomorrow. The children are still in their formative years and we need to let them know when they cross the line of decency and good behaviour.”

“I want to appreciate the intervention of members of the IPU that facilitated the

reconciliation and I want to say again that I have forgiven them and accepted their apology.”

IPU President, Mr Johnson Adeniji, thanked Ajimobi for his large heart evident in his acceptance of the apology tendered by the affected principals.

Adeniji added that the state government’s gesture would further enhance the relationship between government and the players in the education sector.

In his remarks, Chairman, ANCOPPS, state chapter, Mr Ranti Obafunso, assured that such ugly occurrence would not repeat itself.

Director, The Vale College, Mrs Funso Adegbola (middle), cutting the valedictory cake with the graduating students, during the 2016 valedictory luncheon of the college, in Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

Eminent Nigerians honour Oba Sijuwade Oluwole Ige - Osogbo EMINENT dignitaries, including the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd); former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; Lieutenant-General Oladipupo Diya, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, among others, on Thursday, converged on the an-

cient city of Ile-Ife for the one year memorial service of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

Delivering his sermon during the service held at St. Paul Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife, the former Bishop of Ife Anglican Diocese, Reverend Oluranti Odubogun, recalled that

the late monarch lived an exemplary life, characterised by selfless service to humanity.

He urged Nigerians to emulate the enduring virtues and legacies left behind by Oba Sijuwade, noting that it was imperative for all and sundry, irrespective of tribe, religion and political divide to work

Akarigbo: Ogun govt gives N10m for burial rites OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta THE Ogun State government, on Thursday, donated a sum of N10 million to the Remo Traditional Council for the burial rites of the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo.

This disclosure was made on behalf of the government by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, while reading the letter of condolence written to the Coun-

cil, at the Akarigbo’s Palace, in Sagamu.

The state government’s delegation, led by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, commiserated with the entire people of Remoland over the passage of the monarch.

Onanuga, therefore, presented the cheque to the Acting President of the Council, Oba Adewale Osiberu, submitting that the money would cover all the necessary formalities for the passage rites.

The Asiwaju of Re-

moland, Chief Solomon Onafowokan, while speaking on behalf of the Council, thanked the state government for the gesture.

Meanwhile, the immediate past governor of Ogun State and the Arole of Remoland, Chief Gbenga Daniel, described the late monarch as an accomplished monarch.

The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, said that “the late monarch will be sorely missed.”

and support the development of their immediate society and country at large.

While maintaining that the late monarch diligently served God and his people until his last days on earth, Odubogun said the late monarch, who died at a private hospital in London on July 28, 2015, lived an ideal and purposeful life.

Taking his sermon from the book of Psalm, chapter 112, the cleric tasked Nigerians, most especially relatives of the late Ooni, to imbibe his lifestyle of service to humanity and God, with a view to attaining eternal life.

According to Odubogun, “the late Ooni lived well and died well. He was a follower of Christ. I had personal relationship with him when he was alive,” just as he described the world as transient in nature, adding that death remains the only inevitable end of all mortals.

Nigerian Tribune

Fajuyi comes alive 50 years after ALL roads will lead to Ibadan, Oyo State capital, today, as the Yoruba ThinkTank, an association of Yoruba Professionals committed to the promotion of cultural values, marks the 50th memorial of the death of the first military governor of Western Region, Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, with a lecture.

Award-winning professor of English and poet, Niyi Osundare, will kick-off the event with a lecture on “Fajuyi: The Politics of Remembrance.”

The lecture will be followed by discussions featuring speakers from the academia and civil society, including the Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Ex-Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr Fola Adeola and Professor of African-American Studies University of CaliforniaDavis, United States, Wale Adebanwi.

The event, which holds at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, will be chaired by General Olufemi Olutoye by 9.00 a.m.

The event will attract governors from the South West, National Assembly members, traditional rulers, professional bodies and youth associations.

Veteran journalists hold Fajuyi’s memorial lecture today THE eighth Adekunle Fajuyi Memorial Lecture, organised annually by the League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State, in conjunction with the Adekunle Fajuyi Family, will hold today at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, by 11.00 a.m.

The topic of this year’s lecture: ‘Adekunle Fajuyi’s 50 years of martyrdom: Lessons and reflections on leadership and value of life in our times,’ will be delivered by Professor Osisioma Nwolise, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, under the Chairmanship of Dr Akintunde Ayeni, Chairman, Yem-Kem International.

The guests of honour are former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu and the former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu.

It will be recalled that the League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State, started this lecture series eight years ago in recognition and appreciation of the late Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi’s virtues: valour, bravery, integrity, and loyalty.

Members of the public are also invited to be part of this historic lecture.

34

Friday, 29 July, 2016

GRADUATING STUDENTS OF THE YEAR 2016 OF NESAM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, ALEXANDER, APATA, IBADAN, OYO STATE

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss. Akokevwo Okiemute now Mrs. OKORO OKIEMUTE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Celestine Ikenna Ejeka now CELESTINE IKECHUKWU EJEKA. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, FCMB Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akinlo Success Moyinoluwa now MRS AFOLABI SUCCESS MOYINOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

(TASCE) in affiliation with U.I., Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Zenith Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Elugbaju Adekemi Deborah now MRS POPOOLA ADEKEMI DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Joseph Foluke Favour now MRS OLAJIDE FOLUKE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

A cross section of SSS3 graduating students

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mr Kolawole Kayode Oluwaseun now MR ISRAEL KAYODE OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Adepitan Olufunmilayo Margaret now MRS AFOLABI OLUFUNMILAYO MARGARET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Oyeleke Foluke now MISS OYELEKE FOLUKE IYABO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

A cross section of JSS3 graduating students

PHOTOS: Alaba Igbaroola, D’Toyin & PHOTOS: ALOLADE GANIYU Sylvester Okoruwa

I formerly Miss Kolade Busayo Felicia now MRS OLOWE BUSAYO FELICIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Elugbadebo Odunayo Florence now MRS AJAYI ODUNAYO FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

A cross section of Basic six graduating Pupils

I formerly Miss Odelade Damilola Rebecca now MRS ARANYO DAMILOLA REBECCA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Azeez Sakariyau Ayinde, Popular Saka Adewale Ayinde, Saka Azeez now AZEEZ SAKA AYINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Shoyemi Adewale Oluwasegun now SHOYEMI ADEWALE SEGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

A cross section of Basic six graduating Pupils

I formerly Miss Omogbai Sarah Olohirenua now MRS AKANBI SARAH OLOHIRENUA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Cheke Oritsemisan now CHEKE ORITSEMISAN OMASAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Bepo Olajide Sunday now BEPO BABAJIDE SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME I formerly Ganiyu Bolaji Waheed and Ganiyu Waheed Onijo now GANIYU WAHEED ONIJO. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Eluu Elizabeth Onyinyechi now AFOLABI ELIZABETH ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid.

University of Ilorin and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Igwe Chika Mary-Ann now MRS ATTAMA CHIKA MARYANN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Okotore Afolake Modupe now MRS ADEWALE AFOLAKE MODUPE. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing Council and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Musa Shuaib Hozuagbe am the same person as Musa Shuaeeb Hozuagbe and Musa Shaib Hozuagbe. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MUSA SHUAIB HOZUAGBE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Kiladese Simiat Abosede am the same person as Kiladese Simiat B. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as KILADESE SIMIAT ABOSEDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Chief Abimbola Ajibola now CHIEF ABIMBOLA TAJUDEEN AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Ajao Omotayo Akanfe now AJAO OMOTAYO BASIRU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35 CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Friday, 29 July, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Olalere Victor Oluwadamilare am the same person as Olalere Victor Damilare. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OLALERE VICTOR DAMILARE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alamu Kehinde Olubisi now MRS LAGUNJU KEHINDE OLUBISI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oluwafemi Adenike Abidemi now MRS SABITU ADENIKE ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Judith Onyebuchi Okocha now MRS ONYEBIGWU-DIBIE JUDITH ONYEBUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunrinde Mayowa Omololu now MRS. AKERELE MAYOWA OMOLOLU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Olabamiji Funke Oyenike now OGUNRINU OLUFUNKE OLANIKE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Oke Sarah Opeyemi now OKE OLUWAFERANMI OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajimoti Rebecca Omolara now MRS ADETUNJI REBECCA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayeni Mary Tomilayo now MRS. TAWOSE-AYENI MARY TOMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogundeji Olubunmi Omolola now MRS. OLADELE OLUBUNMI OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Elekuru Saudatu Aduke now MRS ELEKURU MATILDA IBIYINKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Janet Modupe Onabanwo am the same person bearing Jejeniwa Modupe Janet. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as JEJENIWA MODUPE JANET. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adewoye Opeyemi Adetola now MRS AKANDE OPEYEMI ADETOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Oluwafemi Taofeek Akintunde am the same person bearing Taofeek Akintunde Oluwafemi, Akintunde Taofeek Oluwafemi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OLUWAFEMI TAOFEEK AKINTUNDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Happy Joseph now HAPPY HAPPINESS FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Ugwu Joseph now UGWU JOSEPH EBERECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oluyoola Olusola Oludara now KODAOLU OLUSOLA OLUDARA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dickson Esther now AKPAN ESTHER IBANG. All former documents remain valid. Unity Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Ibrahim Rukayat Biola now MRS ABODUNRIN RUKAYAT AYOKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adu Folake Musili now MRS. ADEBAYO VERONICA FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajao Basirat Omolara now MRS. OLOMIDE BASIRAT OMOLARA (NEE AJAO).

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akintola Kayode now OYETUNJI OYETOSHO ABIDOYE. All former documents remain valid.

Stanbic (IBTC) Bank Plc., Wema Bank Plc., SEAP and general public take note.

I, Azeez Kafilat, my name was mistakenly written as Taofeek Kafayat instead of Azeez Kafilat.

My correct date of birth is 3rd August, 1985 and not 1st January, 1985. All documents remain valid. FCMB Plc., and general public take note

I, formerly Miss Adeleke Omotola Olawumi now MRS. ADEDAYO OMOTOLA OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bakare Saudat Ololade now MRS. OGUNDIPE SAUDAT OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omowumi Gomestina Fadire now MRS TUNDE-AJAYI OMOWUMI GOMESTINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Salami Jelilat Abiodun now ABDUL AZEEZ ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

Sterling Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Olutayo Jemilat Eniola am the same person bearing Olutayo Jumai Eniola and Olutayo Jemilat Eniola.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLUTAYO JEMILAT ENIOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Orenuga Yetunde Abosede now MRS. AWONIYI OMOLARA ARIYIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Chinweolu Anthony Tochukwu am the same person bearing Akpa Anthony Tochukwu. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AKPA ANTHONY TOCHUKWU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. FCMB Plc., First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Imurukpa Jonah Egbe am the same person as Jerry Idah.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as IMURUKPA JONAH EGBE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abimbola Beatrice Akindele now MRS. ABIMBOLA BEATRICE OGUNRINADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Joda Oluwaseun Abiola now MRS. YUSUF OLUWASEUN ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Ishaka Othuke Lucky now OTHUKE ISHAKA AMAIYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Braimoh Mistura Oluwaseun now AKINOLA MISTURA OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss. Yaya Oluwatoyin Akosua Esther now Mrs. OMARE OLUWATOYIN AKOSUA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Djenima Ogheneruro Joseph now ARUEREKE SAMUEL OGHENERURO JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Aminat Adeola now MRS. OMOLOYE AMINAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ajimo Bukola now FAJUKE BUKOLA EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Yemisi Grace Sunday now MRS FELIX YEMI GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odusanya Omolola Oluwakemi now MRS. ABIOYE OMOLOLA OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akintunde Kabeer Akinolalekan now AKINTUNDE KABIR OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid.

Stanbic IBTC Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Solanke Adenike Omobowale now ONAFUWA ADENIKE OMOBOWALE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Adewale Ganiyu now ADEWALE ADEDIJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Emiola Raimot Gbemisola now ADENIYI RAIMOT GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Kazeem Titilayo Aminat now THOMPSON TITILAYO AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Damilola Abidemi Olunlade now MRS DAMILOLA ABIDEMI OJO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oni Alice Yewande now ONI ALICE WENDY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Yusuf Amuda Nurudeen now AMUDA NURUDEEN AKINADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Aderinto Damilola Titilayo now MRS. AKA DAMILOLA TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Falokun Kehinde Florence now MRS. ADEFEGHA KEHINDE FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Olubunmi Mary Oyetunji now MS. BILIKISU TEMILOLA AYANTAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Yekini Kudirat Ashabi-Ola now MRS. OLATUNJI KUDIRAT ASHABI-OLA. All former documents remain valid.

OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Ogbara Olumide Olusegun now OLUMIDE OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain valid.

Banks, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Sunday Temitayo now MRS. OLUWABUSUYI TEMITAYO BEATRICE. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Moshood Suliyat Tolani now MRS. ADEWUYI SULIYAT TOLANI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaniyi Olawumi Catherine now MRS. SEGUN OLAWUMI CATHERINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Ajayi Kofoworola Rachael now MISS OYEBADE KOFOWOROLA RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Olasanoye Titilayo Abiodun now MRS. OLASANOYE TITILAYO JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Oyetomi David Taiwo, my name was mistakenly written as Obetan Josuah Kehinde instead of Oyetomi David Taiwo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYETOMI DAVID TAIWO. My correct date of birth is 14th of May, 1992. All former documents bearing these names remain valid.

FCMB Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Maduka Catherine Ndidiamaka now MRS. OBIORA CATHERINE NDIDIAMAKA. All former documents remain valid.

Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyelade Abigeal Bimpe now MRS. BELLO ABIBAT BIMPE. All former documents remain valid.

Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and general public take note.

I formerly Mrs Ifeanyi Mercy now MRS ELUHA EBERE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc., Keystone Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Abiodun Adetola Owoeye now SAMUEL ABIODUN GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Orimadegun Damilola Ruth now MRS OYETOLA DAMILOLA RUTH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, Adeniran John Aderibigbe am the same person as Adeniran John.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADENIRAN JOHN ADERIBIGBE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly Miss Affiong Eyo now MRS AFFIONG EYO AJEWOLE. All other documents and credentials bearing my former name still remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunkolade Tanimowo now AREMU TANIMOWO OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid. lNEC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Atanda Oluwakemi Adesola now MRS ADEYEMI OLUWAKEMI ADESOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Babalola Olalekan now BABALOLA SURAJUDEEN OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adedeji Bolanle Ige now ADEDEJI BOLANLE SARATU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Mrs Adebowale Adebayo Alaba Omolabake now MRS ADEBOWALE ALABA OMOLABAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Felicia Oba Oby now FELICIA IMOISI OBY OBA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Akinyemi Adenike Yewande now MRS AKINWALE ADENIKE YEWANDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Bello Victoria Olajumoke now OLARINRE VICTORIA OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Sheu Taoheed Adeleke am the same person as Abdusalam Sheu Taoheed Adeleke. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as SHEU TAOHEED ADELEKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Agnes Olapeju Adegbayo now AGNES OLAPEJU OLAWOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Onadokun Ibilola Jumoke now MRS ADEWUMI IBILOLA OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adewoyin Yetunde Adeola now MRS. OWOLAWI YETUNDE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

I, formerly Ganiyu Titilope Christiana now OGUNLADE TITILOPE CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mercy Abiodun Abeni now MRS MERCY ABIODUN ENULUE. All former documents remain valid. News Agency of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, EcoBank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mutiyat Oluwasehun Adisa now MRS. MUTIAT OLUWASEUN BADMOS. All former documents remain valid.

OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fabusuyi Funmilayo Toyin now MRS OLANIPEKUN OLU F U N M I L AYO OLUTOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Harrison Dibie now MR. HARRISON ONYEBIGWU DIBIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

36

Friday, 29 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

MANAGEMENT, STAFF AND GRADUATING STUDENTS OF THE YEAR 2016 OF GREAT ADVOCATE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, APATA, IBADAN, OYO STATE

37

news

Friday, 29 July, 2016

Edo 2016: Oshiomhole can’t stop Ize-Iyamu’s victory —PDP

PHOTOS: ALOLADE GANIYU

BURIAL CEREMONY OF MRS FELICIA IYABODE OKE

•As Edebiri dumps party Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji, Abuja with Agency report

T

HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has observed that Governor Adams Oshiomhole, “who is battling to have his protege, Godwin Obaseki, as his successor in office, has become nervous, as indicated by his threat to use anti-graft agencies to stop the party’s candidate.”

The PDP said this in a statement issued by its interim national publicity secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja, on Thursday, that the governor’s threat to drag Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was “preposterous” and a sign that he was “nervous and unsettled” by the prospect of losing the state to PDP during the forthcoming governorship election.

The party wondered “when it has become the duty of Governor Oshiomhole to dictate for EFCC. “We have observed in recent times, the utterances of the governor of Edo State during the APC’s governorship campaigns ahead of the September 10 election in the state and we wish to remind the governor that he should maintain the sanctity of his office as an executive governor of the state instead of directing EFCC of who to arrest or prosecute.”

The PDP argued that Oshiomhole’s statement confirmed “the belief and the opinion of perceptible Nigerians that the anti-corruption war of the current administration is nothing but a

partisan political agenda to intimidate and silence PDP.” The party condemned the “despicable and uncouth language used by the ‘go and die’ governor against the person of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, which is clearly unbecoming of the holder of the high office of governor of a state.”

It called on the ruling party in both Edo State and at the federal levels to “at least, for once, play by the rules,” saying that “all the great works done by the former PDP-led administration to ensure the sanctity of the ballot box has been virtually destroyed by the APC -led administration.”

“We are now in the era of inconclusive elections. We will not tolerate any harassment, intimidation and oppression of our candi-

Ize-Iyamu never voted for me nor made me governor —Oshiomhole GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has taken a swipe at the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, for claiming that he made him governor, saying Ize-Iyamu did not even vote for him, so he could not have made him governor.

Speaking at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Garrick Memorial College, Benin, the state capital, on Thursday, Oshiomhole said Ize-Iyamu was hiding from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on election day and so did not vote for him and could not have

OAU to re-open August 3 Oluwole Ige - Osogbo THE Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has approved Wednesday, August 3, for the resumption of continuation of screening exercise for the newly admitted students, while the students already undergoing their educational programmes will come into halls of residence on Sunday, August 7.

A release signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the Senate gave the go-ahead to reopen the institution during a special meeting it held to consider a proposed amendment to this session’s academic calendar.

Accordingly, the acting

date during the governorship election. We will also not allow APC to destroy this democracy we have laboured for 16 years to build.”

Meanwhile, Chief Solomon Edebiri, the PDP aspirant in the June 20 party primaries, said that he had resigned from the party.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Edebiri made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Obayanton, near Benin, on Thursday.

He attributed his decision to leave the party to “dishonesty of the party leadership.’’

According to him, what happened on June 20 was awful and a complete negation of what democratic tenet is all about.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Anthony Elujoba, who chaired the meeting for the first time after his appointment last Thursday, thanked members of the Senate for the confidence reposed in him to lead the institution at this period.

While assuring that he would strive to facilitate positive changes that will glorify the life of the university in fairness, truth and justice, he disclosed that he had concluded plans “to gather lessons derivable from the unfortunate episode that brought the university to where it is today and make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”

made him governor.

The governor said IzeIyamu was wasting his time as the people of the state would reject him at the polls on September 10.

He said: Ize-Iyamu said he made me governor in 2007.

Check the records. During my election, Ize-Iyamu was in hiding. He did not vote.

How can somebody who didn’t vote claim that he made me governor?

“When he begged me to make him the DirectorGeneral of my campaign, he said I should not make Pius Odubu my running mate, but I declined his request and with Odubu, we won the 18 local government areas.

“I didn’t appoint him into government because I didn’t want him to mislead me.

That is how we are able to channel our resources in ways we have done.

“Now, the PDP is confused, they are not speaking on what they are going to do because they are not capable of doing anything. They think the Edo of today is like Edo of the past.”

On his part, the APC governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, promised to build on the legacies of Governor Oshiomhole and do more for the people of the state.

He said: “Comrade built schools, I will build more schools; Comrade built roads, I will build more roads. I will build on the Comrade’s achievements.”

He said the PDP candidate had nothing to offer the people, saying “someone who has not worked before can not bring investments to the state.”

The widower and chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke (left), with former governor of the state, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, during the burial service for Madam Felicia Iyabode Oke at Oke Ado Baptist Church (Liberation Centre), Oke-Ado, Ibadan, last Friday.

The children, including the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Abayomi Oke (left), during the service.

From right, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN); wife of the Oyo State governor, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi; wife of the state deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Janet Adeyemo and her husband, Chief Moses Adeyemo, during the reception.

APC chiefs, from left, Chief Henry Ajomade, Chief Jide Awe, Pastor Kareem Daramola, Chief Ayo Alabi, Prince Gboyega Famodun and Mr Sunday Dare, who represented the National leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu.

From left, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora; her husband, Chief Adekunle Ojora and Alhaji Lukman Dauda, Chief Executive, Evans Publishers, Ibadan.

38

news

Friday, 29 July, 2016

UNIJOS VC escapes death, security personnel killed Isaac Shobayo - Jos

G

UNMEN on Wednesday, invaded the private residence of the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Sabastine Maimako, killing one of the institution’s security men attached to the vice chancellor’s residence, while a policeman was critically injured in the incident.

A source close to the private residence of the vice chancellor, at Eto Baba in Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area, said the gunmen stormed the residence at about 8:30 p.m and released several gunshots into the air to scare residents in the neighbourhood and the private security men at the entrance of the building.

The source disclosed further that the security men tried to put up resistance against the sudden invasion by the gunmen, adding that they were, however, not able to overpower the bandits as they were armed with sophisticated weapons.

According, to a press statement signed by the Principal Assistant Registrar Information and Publications, University of Jos, Mr Abdullahi Abdullahi, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian

Tribune, the assailants opened fire at the entrance, and in the process one internal security personnel by name Owes Jibrin, an Assistant Patrol Supervisor with the Security Division of the university, was killed.

According to the statement, another security guard on duty at the vice chancellor’s residence, Mr Adamu Salihu, a police corporal attached to the

Nasarawa Gwom Station, was critically injured.

It stated further that other security guards on duty, who escaped unhurt during the incident, raised the alarm, before the assailants fled the scene of the incident, adding that no member of the vice chancellor’s family was affected during the incident.

As of the time of the attack, the new vice chancellor of the institution, who

took over from Professor Hayward Mafuyai in June this year, the Nigerian Tribune learnt, was out of the country when the brutal incident occurred.

It was further learnt that the vice chancellor, Professor Maimako still occupies his private residence at Eto Baba, pending provision of an official residence as vice chancellor.

Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Offi-

cer, ASP Tyopev Terna, who confirmed the incident, said the gunmen took away the service riffle of the policeman who sustained injuries in the attack.

He, however, debunked the impression that the vice chancellor’s private residence was targeted by assailants, adding that they were just operating in the area when they stormed the vice chancellor’s residence.

SUSPECTED cult members, in the early hours of Thursday, killed a retired police officer, ASP Daniel Akogwu and his son, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that the deceased was killed with his son, by a factional cult group of which one of his sons was allegedly a member, but was on the run before the incident.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the suspected cultists invaded the deceased’s residence located off David Mark bye-pass around 4.00a.m on Thursday, in search of Akogwu’s son, who a source revealed, was an alleged member of the cult group.

It stated further that the cult group had to attack his father and brother, as their target was not at home when they launched the attack.

One of the neighbours, (names withheld), told the Nigerian Tribune that the cult members might have laid an ambush for their target, adding that “It was when the mother of the boy, a foodseller who usually rise early to prepare for her business, opened the door that she saw the boys and then suddenly shouted.”

PROPERTY worth millions of naira were destroyed on Thursday as fire razed three shops belonging to Igbo traders at Bola Ige International Market, New Gbagi, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.

The fire razed the three shops which were filled with different types of textile materials.

Though no one could ascertain the source of the incident, the Nigerian Tribune however learnt that sympathisers watched helplessly.

Friends and colleagues of the victims were also seen checking if they could salvage items spared by the inferno.

New Rivers CP pledges professionalism, non-partisanship Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

Sympathisers at the scene of the fire incident that ravaged three shops at the Bola Ige International Market, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Cultists kill retired police officer, son in Makurdi Johnson Babajide, Makurdi

Fire razes 3 shops at Bola Ige International Market

Adah said the woman’s loud screaming attracted the husband who rushed out of the house into the waiting hands of the boys who shot him, while one of the deceased’s

sons who also rushed out after his father to see what was happening was said to have also been shot. Both father and son died instantly.

Confirming the report, the

state police spokesman, Moses Yamu, said a retired police officer, Daniel Akogwu and his son Oche Akogwu, were actually shot dead by suspected cult boys.

Yamu said no arrest has been made, saying investigation into the matter had commenced in earnest to unravel the killers of the former police officer and his son.

2 persons, policeman injured in multiple taxation protest Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

THREE persons, including a police officer, were seriously injured during an exchange of gunshots between policemen and some youths at Gaando in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Nigerian Tribune learnt that the policemen had moved to the area to quell the crisis and to dismantle roadblocks mounted by youths in protest against the multiple taxation imposed by Board of Internal Revenue Service,

BIRS, on farm produce, particularly tomatoes.

Gaando is one of the tomatoe markets in the state, and last Wednesday was the market day.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that youths in their

1 killed, 20 arrested in suspected cult clashes Tension in Ikere-Ekiti Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti ONE person has been reportedly killed in suspected students’ cult clashes in Ikere-Ekiti, described by witnesses as “attacks and counter-attacks.”

The clashes, which cause could not be ascertained, have created tension in the community with many people now living in fear.

Following the development, no fewer than 20 suspects were said to have been arrested by the community’s vigilante group, which said it had handed them over to the police.

The development led to the beef up of security in the community, with the police carrying out a stop and search of vehicles coming in and out of Ikere.

The traditional ruler of Ikere, the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, said one person had been killed so far in the clashes.

The monarch said: “I can only confirm to you that only one person has been killed.

The attacks were carried out by suspected student cultists from Ado, who invaded Ikere to carry out the attacks. They were coming for another re-

prisal on Wednesday when 20 of them were arrested by the vigilantes in the town.

“We are calling on the Police and other security agencies to be more vigilant and protect citizens carrying out their legitimate businesses.

Anybody having information that can assist security agencies should assist them in their investigation.”

Some residents, however, claimed that no fewer than five persons had been killed so far, saying that most of the victims were hacked to death in Araromi area of the town.

hundreds stormed out on the market day and barricaded the road close to the Dangote Cement Company in TseKucha, for over four hours causing gridlock.

Several motorists travelling on the road which is a major federal highway, had to stop for several hours before police could successfully dismantle the roadblock.

The protest, however, became bloody when men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, were deployed to the area to quell the protest.

The youth, who were also said to be armed, engaged them in gun duel which led to a policeman with two others being hit in the process.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with newsmen, said 16 persons had already been arrested and were undergoing interrogation.

NEW Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Odesanya, has promised to make professionalism and non-partisanship his watchword in the discharge of his duty.

The Ikenne, Ogun Stateborn police officer, who assumed duty as the 37th Commissioner of Police in the state, also enjoined the people to trust his ability to dutifully discharge the police constitutional mandate of ensuring public peace and security.

He succeeded Mr Foluso Adebanjo who had been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and now in charge of Information and Communication Technology Force Headquarters, Abuja.

A versatile police officer with enviable track record in crime fighting, Odesanya said the state police command would concentrate purely on its primary duty of preventing crime and maintaining law and order in the state.

The new Rivers CP, according to a statement issued, on Thursday, by the state police image-maker, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, urged the people have confidence in the police and be partners in the fight against all forms of criminality.

This as he said, “The principle of intelligenceled policing and community policing will be strictly applied by the command, under his watch.”

The new Rivers Commissioner of Police was enlisted into the force on the February 2, 1986 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose through the ranks to his present rank on July 12, 2016.

39

Friday, 29 July, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

44 years on: Thunder Balogun, his skills, net-breaking ‘thunderous’ shot — Son, Tokunbo, tells the legendary footballer’s story

On July 30, it will be 44 years that Nigeria’s legendary footballer, Teslim Thunder-Balogun, died, after becoming first Nigerian footballer to go professional and Nigeria’s team leader to 1968 Olympics games. His son, Mr Tokunbo Thunder-Balogun, the 1983 Physical and Health Education graduate of University of Ife (OAU), Osun State, currently, working as director of social and activities development in London, in this interview with SEYI GESINDE, speaks on his father’s legacies, dreams and aspirations for Nigerian football. Excerpts:

I

t is over 40 decades now that you lost your dad.

Reflecting on what he would have probably achieved home and abroad as a football star if he had lived longer, how do you feel now?

Yes, it is very unfortunate that the family lost him early at the age of 45. He didn’t give any sign until early Sunday morning on July 30, 1972, when he appeared to me in form of vision in my room at Molete, Ibadan, when I was studying for my midterm examinations. He said to me, ‘Tokunbo… I am going’ and I replied ‘…where?’ and at this moment the vision disappeared from me. Other than this, it has been two other times that he appeared to me.

What he could have achieved at home was to have led the Nigerian football team to win the World Cup and to coach clubs abroad which he used to talk to me about when I was 12 years old. He tried to win the Olympics games in 1968, when he led the national team to the Olympics games, but the players were not mentally ready for the competition. I remember that after the Olympics games in 1968, the Brazilian Football Federation came to give him a luxurious contract to coach young players in their country but my father turned them down to coach Nigerian team. Nigeria were beating Brazil 3 – 0 in the first half but they equalised before the end of the match, with the final result being a 3 – 3 draw. I believed that the Nigerian team would have won the match convincingly however, they played the second half with low spirits. My father told his players during the half-time that, ‘he has also achieved his glory and name but it is left for them to achieve theirs.’ This is because the players were advocating for Eto Amechina, who have been coaching them before. My father won champions for Ibadan Lions, Railways football team, Kano Pillars, Ashanti Kotoko of Ghana and a host of other competitions. He travelled to London via Ghana in 1955 when the Nigerian government were not willing to allow him to travel abroad due to fears of losing him to another country. His aim was to be educated as a qualified professional coach and to display his football skills abroad to let them recognise and admire Nigerian players. During his time abroad, he was respected for his prowess and skills when he played for Peterborough United F.C. and Queens Park Rangers F.C. This is why I want to remind our players of today and to emphasise that they should not forget these body-swerve dribbling skills that would help to distinguish them on the field of play. Nowadays in football competitions in the world only one or two players use body swerve dribbling techniques and pass the ball to their teammates immediately instead of continue moving with the ball to create constant threats to the opponents.

How did the family cope losing their bread winner so early at his very active age?

Well, it was very difficult times as we had to feed ourselves on top of paying our school fees. Our daddy’s entitlement at the Western State Sports Council lasted for two years, to pay the school fees for eight children as the first born was 16 years and last born was 3 years old. But our mum received support from her family to sustain us for a few years before I started working and other siblings later. I gave every support to my mother and my siblings.

How will you describe him as a father?

My father was a disciplined man, jovial, kind and generous.

He always says ‘…the money I received is not for me and my children alone but for the people.’ He wanted his children to be educated as doctors, lawyers, engineers and accountants. He was not entirely convinced to make football as the only chosen career for us because during his own time there were in-

Ekunsunmi, our uncle, Alhaji Oluwa, and late Alhaji Kadiku from our father’s family used to tell me that my father got the nickname ‘Thunder’ from a club named Thunder X1 in Lagos Island, in the early 40s and he was known by his body swerve dribbling techniques and his thunderous shot. During his early career the club and anyone who wanted to describe him would usually say ‘...that young boy from Thunder X1’ this is because the club was very popular in those days and they won many matches in Lagos Island more than any other clubs. When the club was defunct, people distinguished him as a young boy that played for Thunder X1 club, thus made him to be nicknamed as ‘Thunder.’

Tokunbo Thunder Balogun adequate money and incentives in the football industry, unlike nowadays where football is a big business with huge amounts of money and funding pumped into it, creating a vast number of jobs for millions of people around the globe. Still, some of us played football at premiership, state and national levels. Many of us were well educated, and doing well in our various fields.

Why didn’t any of you go into professional football?

We did not go for professional football first because of injury recurrences as well as listening to our father’s advice that he did not want us to choose football as our only career. This is because they were poorly paid and he did not want us to undergo the same problems he had during his playing years, but to be educated and till to this day we abided by that wish, we even instilled that into own children too.

Were you ever told how, I mean the genesis of how he became popular with the nick name ‘Thunder’ Balogun?

Yes, my father confirmed this to me. I remember late Chief Gbangbala, late Chief Okoya Thomas, late Alhaji Kassim

During the match, their goal keeper was caught unawares by my father’s shot which hit his stomach and finally pushed the ball into the net and the keeper unfortunately died on the spot.

Will you say government has done enough to recognise and reward his contributions to Nigerian football?

Personally the government has done a lot for him, examples being naming a new stadium after him at the heart of Lagos State and the successive governments both state and federal had given him a lot of awards and recognition including posthumous awards and some awards from abroad also.

This stadium could not have been completed without the active former governors of Lagos state, the late Admiral Mike Akhigbe, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Hon. Babatunde Fashola.

The stadium has been transformed into one of the continental sporting stadium arenas. Now, all I can say to the present action governor of Lagos State, Hon. Akinwunmi Ambode, that the stadium should be maintained with effective supervision.

I am sure that he will transform Lagos State to a paradise of sports, culture and business.

Likewise, there should be Sporting Achievement Awards funded by individuals, organisations, States and Federal Government. This would be awarding presents, gifts of money and materials to sportsmen, sportswomen and supporter fans who have represented at state or federal level and won honours for the country. This body should specifically be one of the organisations who can compensate our sports men, women and supporter fans who won laurels for the country as the labour of our heroes past should not be in vain. The fund-raising activities should be every two or three-year, including video recordings and media exposure showing what they have achieved, with the funding published to the general public yearly for easy accountability. We should recognise this people while they are still alive.

What legacy will you say your father left behind?

My late father had left behind a great legacy of attainment, skills and dedication to the football industry in Nigeria and the first Nigerian player to play professional football abroad. His dribbling skills and shot will never be forgotten. He opened door for new generation to showcase their talents both home and abroad.

Did you hear of those rumours about his left leg, his irresistible kicks and all that?

Yes, I remember that my father mentioned that when the Nigeria team played against Sierra Leone. During the match, their goal keeper was caught unawares by my father’s shot which hit his stomach and finally pushed the ball into the net and the keeper unfortunately died on the spot. Another two occasions are when his shot broke a goal keeper’s hand in England and the other when his shot tore the net in Ibadan stadium.

Continues online... www.tribuneonlineng.com

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 29 JULY, 2016

N0 16,556

N150

No fewer than18, 211 ghost workers have fleeced Kogi State of N213 billion in the last 13 years, according to the state Auditor General, Mr Okala Yusuf. It is interesting that ghosts collect salaries, drink beer and eat pepper soup in this country. Since there are, we presume, no ghost bank accounts, let the government visit the banks, unmask these fake celestial thieves/ghosts and frog-march them to prison before they wreak further havoc.

Keshi goes home today As Okowa pays tribute to ex-Eagles coach

By Alphosus Agborh- Asaba, Banji Aluko And Biodun JimohBENIN -CITY

T

HE remains of the late former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, will be interred today in his country home, Illah, Delta State.

Keshi’s final journey home began in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, with a one–hour church service at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, off Airport Road, which was conducted by the Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ofere.

The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, in his remark described Keshi as a super hero who was renowned for doing the extraordinary.

“I have always described him as a super hero because he was a super hero. He did not do things that were regular, he did things that were extraordinary. Honour is definitely going to be done,” Pinnick said.

At the Lying-In-State held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Keshi’s ex-clubs and national team-mates, friends, soccer-loving fans and well wishers were on hand to pay their last respect.

Pinnick, was unable to hold back tears while speaking at the event organised by the Edo State government in collaboration with the Edo State Football Association.

He lauded the immense contribution of the fallen soccer hero to the growth of football in Nigeria who he said through his confidence in home-based players included six of them among the squad which won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Austin Eguavoen led other ex-internationals, Victor Ikpeba, Peter Rufai, Tony Emedofou and Tarila Okorowanta, among others to feature in a novelty match against All Stars which ended in a 1-1 draw, before the body was moved in a motorcade to Asaba.

In Asaba, a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Amaechi Mrakpor, expressed disappointment at the manner which spirit of excellence is being killed in the country.

Speaking at the Lying-In-State in honour of Keshi, which recorded a low turn out of sympathisers, Mrakpor said despite all that Keshi did, he was not accorded the due respect he deserved in death.

“We are probably not proud of

the country he (Keshi) represented. I just wonder what is going through the minds of the young boys and girls who admired Keshi.

I appeal to the those in leadership position not to murder the spirit of excellence in sports, engineering, architecture and other fields of human endeavour in Nigeria,” she said.

The casket bearing the remains of Keshi arrived in Asaba at 4pm and was laid in state at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

The Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa at the occasion paid glowing tributes to the former Togo and Mali coach.

“The sports-loving people of Delta State can never forget Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. We miss you. The lovers of football will miss you. Nigeria and Africa will miss you. The football world will miss you. Farewell the Big Boss.

Adieu,” said Okowa, who was rep-

resented by his deputy, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, who led government functionaries in the state including the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, his deputy, Friday Osanebi and others to file passed the corpse.

Also, NFF president, Pinnick, Eguavoen and Rufai who attended the Benin programme were also present in Asaba, alongside other ex-internationals such as Uche Okechukwu, Alloy Agu, Mutiu Adepoju, Ben Iroha, Austin Popo, Franklin Howard, Friday Ekpo, Edema Fuludu and coach Fanny Amun, among others.

First son of the deceased, Mr Stephen Femi Keshi in his remarks commended the Delta State government and the people of the state for being supportive of the bereaved family, just as he expressed reservation over the Federal Government’s attitude towards the burial of his father.

The late Keshi

The remains of the late Stephen Keshi during the church service at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City.

Rio Olympics: I never donated $30,000 to Dream Team —Mikel ByOlawale Olaniyan

CAPTAIN of Team Nigeria to the Rio Olympics, John Mikel Obi, has denied media reports doing the rounds that he gave 30,000 dollars to his team–mates in the U-23 team camping in Atlanta, USA ahead of the Games which starts on August 5 in Brazil.

“I was first told of this unfortunate story by a friend who called me from Nigeria. I thought he was joking until he sent me the

link.

“I don’t know the source of this story which to me is all out to divide us as a team. I would have thought that stories that should be coming out in the media are stories that will unite the team instead of dividing us. Our target in Rio is to excel, but if they continue like this, then I wonder how we can be united,” the Super Eagles captain who was furious declared while speaking from the team’s camp at the Hyatt Place.

The Chelsea star noted that the al-

leged donation to his team-mates could only lead to distraction for the Dream Team as it was a mere fabrication.

“Tell me the players who are in this team that are so hungry that will be looking up to me for survival? Is it (William) Ekong, (Oghenekaro) Etebo, (Shehu) Abdulahi, (Daniel) Akpeyi, (Kingsley) Madu, (Okechukwu) Azubuike or (Stanley) Amuzie, who are my team-mates in the Super Eagles, that I will be do-

nating to, or other players who are plying their trade abroad and are doing well for themselves?

“To me, this is just mere distraction that won’t help this team going into a major tournament like the Olympics,” Mikel, who is registered as one of the overage players for the Dream Team said.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner appealed to the sporting press and Nigerians generally to rally round the Dream Team to enable it to excel at Rio 2016.

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. 29/7/2016.