30th June 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,535

THURSDAY, 30 JUNE, 2016

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More knocks for SGF over comment on Confab —P3

•Mimiko, Adebanjo, Falae, Odumakin, others speak

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Court sacks Modu Sheriff as PDP chairman •We were not sacked —Modu Sheriff faction —P6

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Ojo Maduekwe collapses at Abuja airport, dies —P3

Provocative killings/invasion by militants

Enough is enough, Yoruba elders warn —P3

"The South-West will not tolerate nationalities turning our land to a theatre to prosecute their agitation. We shall certainly not also fold our arms and watch criminals kill our people and disrupt economic activities."

Fayose: Ekiti lawmakers in street protest —P36

ASUU opposes scrapping of Post-UTME —P6

Mayhem in Lagos:

Scene of the accident at Maryland, Lagos, on Wednesday. INSET: One of the vandalised BRT buses. PHOTOS: SYLVESTER OKORUWA AND ELLIOT OVADJE.

30 BRT buses destroyed over death of street hawker —P7

Dideolu Specialist Hospital organises free health care in Ikenne

Presidency, Senate in war of words

—P2

—P4

•Saraki, Ekweremadu on trial, not Senate —SGF •We are being assaulted —Senate

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features

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Joy in Ikenne over free health care

By Sade Oguntola

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HE management of Dideolu Specialist Hospital in collaboration with the Centre for Epidemiology and Health Development (CEHD), Lagos yesterday organised an elaborate free community health screening and enlightenment programme for residents of Ikenne, Ogun state and its environs.

The programme which took place at Dideolu Specialist Hospital, Ikenne, attracted a large turnout of young and old as well as rich and poor who care about their health.

Mrs Felicia Adebanjo, a 65-year-old trader was the first person to register to be seen. She had eye and knee problems.

“It was announced at the church in Ikenne, and it is an intervention that beneficiaries will appreciate for a long time to come, especially at this trying time when money is a barrier to seeking health care services,” Mrs Adebanjo said.

Mr Joseph Ojo, a 74-year-old retired teacher, was also expectant of a solution to his agelong frequent urination. With heavy sweating at night, and as such inability to sleep well, he banked on the free health screening and enlightenment programme to solve his health challenges.

To Mrs Abimbola Oyeledun, a 50-year-old pastor at Irolu-Remo, having her eye examined and being able to see was paramount.

The pastor walked into the hospital at about 6am.

Chief Mrs Mercy Ajayi, the Iya ijo of Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Anglican Church, Ikenne, was hale and hearty. But knowing that health screening and enlightenment programme is not only for the sick, she took her time to listen to the experts’ talk and get assured that she was taking the right medications for her age and health.

The wife of the Alakene of Ikenne, Olori Caroline Onakade was full of admiration for the programme, which she also participated in. “It should not be when one is sick alone that one should visit the hospital. This will afford one the opportunity of detecting any problem early,” she said.

Olori Onakade, who said pamphlets announcing the free health screening and enlightenment programme was also circulated at the palace, noted the impact would be long -lasting.

She said: “Many people have ailments that they are not aware of. When they are tested, they will be advised on what to do and the drugs to take to improve their health.”

Vice Chairman and Medical Director, Dideolu Specialist Hospital, Dr (Mrs) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, described programme as “a great way to give back to the community and also create awareness about health.”

Dr. Awolowo Dosumu said the basic health screening, which included eye tests, blood pressure and blood sugar, would show whether there was any serious illness that needed to be looked into.

She added that those found to have conditions that required specialist care would be asked to come back to the hospital for further care .

“We have specialists on our books, who give appointments to see them. But we have medical officers on ground all the time at the hospital. The specialists do sessions, that is what happens in all healthcare situations all over the world,” she said.

According to her, over 1,500 persons are projected to benefit from the four-day exercise.

Dr Olajide Sobande, a senior registrar at the Department of Community Health, Lagos

Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Co-Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc (3rd left), receiving a donation on behalf of Dideolu Specialist Hospital, Ikenne, Ogun State from Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe (3rd) right); while Dr Adewumi Adebowale (left), Dr Tolu Adewole (2nd left) and Dr (Mrs) Adenuga Bukola (right) watch.

Papa T. Ola Akinsanya registering with Miss Winlola Ifeoluwa.

Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (2nd left), Professor Adefule Ositelu and others during the free community Health Screening and Enlightenment programme.

Some patients at the event.

University Teaching Hospital, giving a health talk on hypertension, declared that being black, age, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and excessive alcohol intake were some reasons people ended up with such diseases as diabetes and hypertension.

Sobande, who said such things as age and being black were not modifiable, declared that becoming physically active, eating right, not smoking and moderate alcohol use were steps

Anybody that is above 40 years should visit the doctor at least once a year for general medical check up.

to take to prevent hypertension.

The medical expert declared: “Everybody needs regular medical check up. Anybody that is above 40 years should visit the doctor at least once a year for general medical check up.

“Also, the quantity of food people eat is very important. When served solid food, it should not be more than the size of one’s fist. If one feels that it is not enough, what should be added to it are fruits and vegetables,” he added.

Moreover, Sobande declared that persons found at the medical screening to have high blood pressure should adhere to their medicines and doctor’s advice.

“They need follow up, it is not like malaria that you treat for three days and it’s okay. They need to continue to take their medications and be monitored continually to avoid its complications.

“You have heard of people slumping at functions, becoming paralysed on one side of the body; people who cannot breathe well when walking; or their body is swelling. Those are some of its complications,” he declared.

Dr Tolulope Adewole, Executive Director,

Pathcare Laboratories, which supports the free medical exercise, said it was the tenet of the organisation to support bodies working on ridding Nigeria of infectious and non infectious conditions such as diabetes and stroke.

Adewole said the organisation, for years, had been campaigning that all Nigerians should know their number--blood pressure and sugar levels, weight, height and body mass index.

“When they know these numbers, they can work to prevent catastrophic events like stroke and diabetes,” he said.

He added that currently in Nigeria, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure and unfortunately, a lot of people do not even know that they are diabetic.

Team leader, CEHD, Dr Tochi Okwor, expressed concern that decades back, diseases such as hypertension and diabetes were not prominent like infectious diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria.

Okwor, who said Nigerians now face a double burden of infectious and non-infectious diseases like stroke and cancer, said this was already putting a strain on the health system.

Although diseases like hypertension and diabetes take a long time before they manifest, she said, it is important that Nigerians, especially youths, equip themselves with information on how best to modify their lifestyles and prevent them.

Dideolu Specialist Hospital was built by the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and named after his wife, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

The ongoing free Health Screening and Enlightenment Programme is the first major event to be organised by the hospital after the transition to glory of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo in September, 2015.

3 news

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Provocative killings/invasion by militants: Enough is enough, Yoruba elders warn

By Tunde Ogunesan

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HE Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), an umbrella body for all Yoruba, has warned that the South-West will not tolerate nationalities of other regions to run the zone to a theatre to prosecute their agitation.

This was as the body said it would not fold its arms and watch criminals killing the people and disrupting the economic activities of the zone.

In a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Right Reverend Bolanle Gbonigi and Senator Anthony Adefuye, respectively, the body said now that the peace of the South-West had come under attack, enough is now enough.

The forum also demanded full investigations to unravel the personalities and motives behind recent attacks on the innocent people of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

In the last few months, residents of the zone had lived under the siege of Fulani herdsmen attack across the states of the region and recently, residents of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu were attacked by the Niger Delta militants.

Also, the deputy governor of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga and her entourage escaped death by the whiskers during their visit to the communities.

The crisis at Erekomuti/ Itaoluwo areas of Ikorodu between two suspected pipeline vandal groups also allegedly led to death of few people and created tension in the land.

The continued attack, YUF said, was threatening

peace and tranquillity of the zone, an experience it said the zone was not ready to condone again.

It called on the Federal Government to immediately deploy military in the affected areas.

The forum also chided security agencies which, it said, were busy making unconventional statements about the figure of the dead.

“The role of security agencies in these attacks

is questionable. While families were grieving and counting their losses, the security agencies were busy disputing the number of dead as if the gravity of crime is determined by the number of dead,” the statement added.

“Nigeria is at the precipice, threats of insecurity to life and property is no longer the exclusive preserve of any particular community. The peace and quietness in the

A Federal High Court in Abuja, will today, deliver a ruling on the stay of execution on an earlier ruling it delivered in a suit challenging the authenticity of the academic credentials of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari had, recently, appealed against the previous ruling of the court, dismissing his preliminary objection to the suit filed by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaiwe.

Nwokocha-Ahaiwe, in the suit, had argued that Buhari was not qualified to contest the office of the President of the Federal Republic

accommodating and hospitable and are gratified neighbours as exemplified by the absence of border disputes with neighbouring communities.

“It must be emphasised that the Niger Delta militants have taken their agitation too far by these unprovoked attacks, which led to the killing of about 100 innocent men, women and children in their ancestral homeland in Ikorodu.

From left, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during the president’s breaking of fast with members of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN.

“Furthermore, these scum, not done with the attacks on the defenceless citizens of Ikorodu, proceeded to attack the convoy of the Ogun State deputy governor who was on her way to visit the communities. She was attacked along with the Brigade Commander and other security chiefs.

“While we hold no grouse against any nationality pursuing their agitation, we take very serious exceptions to nationalities exporting criminality and violence to achieve their objectives.

“The South-West will not tolerate nationalities to turn our land to a theatre to prosecute their agitation.

We shall certainly not also fold our arms and watch criminals kill our people and disrupt economic activities.

The attack on the deputy governor of Ogun State and her entourage is provocative and daring,” YUF stated.

The forum then called on the Federal Government to “order full investigations to unravel the persons and motives behind the attacks and deploy military in the areas to protect the people,” adding that the police alone could not contain the criminal activities.

It also asked the government to arrest and prosecute all persons involved in the attacks, including the sponsors.

More knocks for SGF over comment on confab Mimiko, Adebanjo, Falae, Odumakin, others speak

By Kunle Oderemi and Abiodun Awolaja THERE was further outrage over the sarcastic remarks of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), for describing delegates to the 2014 National Conference as boys.

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said the statement credited to the SGF was spurious and unjustifiable.

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, Mimiko said restructuring is an idea

Buhari’s certificate: Court to rule on stay of execution plea today Sunday Ejike -Abuja

South-West in the last few weeks has again come under attack, in spite of the ongoing criminal activities of armed Fulani herdsmen in the region. The attacks this time is coming from an unlikely foe, the Niger Delta militants.

“The despicable criminality by this group against innocent citizens of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu in Lagos shall not go unpunished. The SouthWest people are peaceful,

of Nigeria on the ground that he did not possess the minimum academic qualification to do so.

He also alleged that Buhari did not sit for the Cambridge West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961, as he had earlier claimed.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, parties in the case were not present in court and the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, attributed the absence of the parties to the fact that they might not have been served hearing notices on the new adjourned date.

The Judge consequently adjourned the case till today to deliver ruling, to enable parties to be served on the new adjourned date.

It will be recalled that the

case was said to have been adjourned indefinitely at the last sitting.

There have been controversies over the academic credentials of President Buhari prior to the 2015 general election.

The president, who is being represented by a team of senior lawyers, led

by Chief Wole Olanipekun, was alleged not to have included his West African School Certificate among the documents he tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the build-up to the election.

The president was said to have written to INEC, stating that his Secondary School Certificate was with the Military Board.

whose time had come and, therefore, there could be no running away from the confab report.

He described the confab report as the road map for Nigeria’s redemption, while urging all Nigerians to key into the advocacy to restructure the country.

“By any standard, describing the 2014 confab, the road map for Ngieria’s redemption, as offering mere ‘food for the boys’ is unjustifiable and spurious,” he said.

Ekiti State governor,

Mr Ayo Fayose, reacting through his Special Assistant on New Media, Lere Olayinka, described the statement credited to the SGF as irresponsible and painful.

Two senior citizens and delegates to the confab, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Olu Falae, expressed strong reservations, with Adebanjo describing the SGF’s outburst as “an irresponsible statement.”

He said the comment amounted to an insult, given the high calibre

of delegates from the Northern and Southern parts of the country that met to frontally tackle critical issues impeding the unity, stability and progress of the nation.

He noted that the delegates comprised elder statesmen, renowned jurists, proven professionals, notable clerics, labour and youth leaders and many other senior citizens who had served the nation at Continues pg29

Ojo Maduekwe collapses at Abuja airport, dies Taiwo Adisa -Abuja FORMER Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, on Wednesday evening, died after he collapsed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way from the United States of America.

Maduekwe, who arrived Nigeria after attending the graduation ceremony of a relation, was billed to celebrate his wife’s 70th birthday tomorrow.

The senator representing Abia South, Senator

Enyinnaya Abaribe, an ally of the late ambassador, told the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday that the late Maduekwe was on his way from the United States and was billed to attend the wife’s 70th slated for tomorrow.

He also confirmed that Maduekwe collapsed at airport, on his arrival from the US and was rushed to the Turkish Hospital in Abuja, where he eventually died.

The deceased was, in April, appointed the secretary of the Board

of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Maduekwe served as Minister of Transport in the administration of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and later as national secretary of the PDP before being posted to Canada as Nigeria’s Ambassador.

Chairman of PDP’s BoT, Senator Walid Jibril, expresed shock and disbelief at the news, adding that he had not been officially informed of the development.

4 news Presidency, Senate in war of words

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

•Saraki, Ekweremadu, not Senate, on trial —SGF •We are being assaulted —Senate Clement Idoko - Abuja

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HE Federal Government has cautioned the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, over uncomplimentary comments against President Muhammadu Buhari over the duo’s arraignment at a Federal High Court, on Monday.

Secretaryto the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, said the attacks on President Buhari were misplaced.

He said the trial of the duo for alleged forgery of the Senate rules should not be taken that the entire Senate or legislative arm of government was on trial.

Lawal said: “Since the arraignment of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, before the Federal High Court on Monday, June 27, 2016, the two leaders of the Senate have issued two separate press statements conveying messages that are far from being complimentary to the person and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Senator Saraki, in his statement, clearly insinuated that Mr President is not in control of his administration and that a cabal now runs the federal administration. On the part

of Senator Ekweremadu, he insists that President Buhari is exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that can derail our democracy.

“From their statements, the two leaders of the Senate also gave this erroneous impression that, by their arraignment, it is the entire Senate, and, indeed, the legislative arm of government that is on trial.

“They want the public to believe that their prosecution is utter disregard by the executive arm of government for the constitutional provisions of separation of powers and that preferring the forgery case against them is a vendetta exercise,” he said.

The SGF said since the case was in court, the judiciary should be allowed to do its job, saying it was important to emphasise that the case in question “involves only the four accused persons and

should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He disclosed that the complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the police by some aggrieved senators who specifically accused certain persons.

“It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives,” he stressed.

The SGF said: “To bring the National Assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted. It can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.

“A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals.

This is not different. As was the case with a former Speaker of the House of

Economy: Okorocha begs Nigerians for patience Christian Okeke -Abuja IMO State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said although the country is passing through a difficult moment which he said was not the making of the present government, there was the need for patience, as the administration strives to fix the economy.

He stated that the difficult times were being occasioned by the activities of past governments and the fall in

price of crude oil.

Speaking when he visited Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Musa Bello, Okorocha said: “Things will get better. We have to appeal to Nigerians because we owe them that duty of care. So let them just be a bit patient with us and as soon as this (2016) budget starts rolling out, and when the programme starts rolling out, they will forget that there was a period that was as painful as this.”

Troops clear Boko Haram terrorists on Nigeria-Cameroon border Chris Agbambu -Abuja TROOPS of Sector 1, with its relocated Tactical Headquarters in Makary, Northern Cameroon, have intensified clearance operations along the borders of Nigeria and Cameroon to block the fleeing terrorists.

Recently, the terrorists, in an attempt to escape the firepower of MNJTF

Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery, what he did was to resign, honourably.

“The matter did not even go to court. In that particular case, it was never orchestrated as a matter for the National Assembly. The individual involved did not drag the entire legislature into the matter.

“Meanwhile, the separate statements by the Senate President and his deputy are, indeed, contradictory. While Senator Saraki believes Mr President has abdicated his powers and that a cabal is in charge of federal administration, Senator Ekweremadu says President Buhari has become a dictator.

“Our democracy is still evolving and being deepened. The provisions of the separation of powers are entrenched in our constitution and should guide everyone in our

troops, migrated to some villages adjacent Sector 1 AOR and, acting on credible information, the troops successfully cleared the six villages occupied by the terrorists, seized some logistic equipment and apprehended 24 suspected Boko Haram accomplices.

The recovered equipment are 20 outboat engines, two motorcycles, nine generating sets, a solar

RAMADAN MESSAGE Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things. [Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about.

—Surat An-Nur verses 35-37

panel, a grinding machine, a handset, flags and some Islamic religious books.

A soldier was, however, killed by improvised explosive device and another fatally wounded and lost one of his lower limbs during the operation.

Addressing the troops during his operational assessment tour in Makary, the commander, MNJTF, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, commended their display of exceptional bravery and charged them to keep up the good work, while encouraging the traditional authorities in the area to set up vigilante groups to complement the effort of the security forces.

Equally, on a similar visit to Sector 2 troops (Chad) at their temporary Harbour Area in Littri, the commander expressed delight at their initial operational exploits, which, despite difficult terrains and other operational challenges, were able to clear terrorists from some villages on the Lake Chad Islands.

He went further to say, “thank God we are still united and together as a people, we shall overcome the challenges.”

Okorocha described the minister as a man with strong will to rid the territory of shanties and other environmental nuisances defacing the capital city.

The governor explained that he was at the minister’s office to commend him for his laudable programmes for the territory.

According to him, “what we want in Abuja is a decent environment. This is our capital and it should look like a capital that is not being defaced by shanties or whatever other kind of environmental nuisances.

“I am sure we are going to see a new Abuja, which we can all be truly proud of.

“What I have seen now in Abuja is that the minister’s commitment to come up with laudable programmes. I am sure Abuja is going to wear a new look because what we really expect from him (FCT Minister) is a new Abuja.”

conduct. The rule of law is, indeed, supreme.

“This particular case is before the judiciary and is not being decided by the executive arm of government. All that has transpired is still within the confines of our laws. These are the rights to accuse, to be investigated and be arraigned before the court.

“To impute other considerations to the process is unfortunate.

We should allow the process to take its course, in consonance with the dictates of the law and total obeisance to the cardinal democratic principle of separation of powers,” he stated.

Reacting to the statement issued by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, that the Senate was not the one on trial in the forgery case instituted by the Attorney General of the Federation against the Senate President and his Deputy, the Senate, in a statement signed by the chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, maintained that it was the Senate that was the target of the present attempt to intimidate the legislature to force a leadership change in the Senate.

According to the statement, “We disagree with him on this position and we maintain our earlier stand that it is the Senate that is the target of the present attempt to intimidate the legislature to force a leadership change in the Senate. ‘’Mr Babachir Lawal should tell us how reasonable it is to conclude that when the President of Nigeria and the Vice-President are being jointly tried in a suit whose outcome can remove them from office, it is not the Buhari Government that is being targeted. ‘’It is also imperative to clearly state that contrary to the claim by the SGF, neither the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki nor Senator Ike Ekweremadu

were mentioned by the petitioners, the statements by those interviewed by the police or even the police report.

Meanwhile, let us refreshen Mr Lawal’s memory about the facts of the 1999 case. It is obvious that the Senate President and his deputy are not being accused of certificate forgery as it happened in ex-Speaker Salisu Buhari’s case. Therefore, nobody should compare an apple with orange. Also, neither Saraki nor Ekweremadu is below the age requirement for their present position as it was alleged in the Buhari case. Attempts to make the two situations look similar is to present all Nigerians as having no sense of history.

We also know that nobody can be accused of forging his own signature. The executive is in no position to determine what is the correct Standing Orders of the Senate. The Senate President and his Deputy were as at the morning of the June 9, 2015 inauguration of the Senate mere Senatorselect and could therefore not have been in a position to influence any alteration in the rule book.

The Senate as an institution, and, indeed, the National Assembly, has spoken about their understanding of the present assault on their independence by the executive. We maintain that this trial is a design by the Executive to criminalise the internal affairs of the Senate to create a distraction for the leadership of the Senate, force a leadership change and cow the legislators.

Those behind this plot find this trial more expedient and important than finding tangible solutions to the multi-various socio-economic problems bedeviling the country.

However, we are sure they will fail in this attempt.

We only hope they will allow the judiciary to truly and creditably perform its duties and give independent verdict on the case.

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Thursday, 30 June, 2016

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news

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Corps members protest in Kano over allowance

•Niger increases allowance by N2,000 •Ajimobi, Amosun task corps members on service ByGbengaOlumide,Adelowo Oladipo and Kola Oyelere

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ORPS members of the Batch ‘’A’’ stream 2 of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Kano State, on Wednesday staged a protest over non-payment of their allowances, disrupting the passing out parade attended by the representative of the acting governor, Professor Hafix Abubakar.

Commissioner for Information, Comrade Moh’d Garba, who represented the acting governor, commended the corps members for organising the protest in a peaceful manner.

The state coordinator of NYSC, Malam Abdullahi Yusuf Baba, said they received first alert on payment of the corps members’ allowance 4:00p.m. yesterday and paid some while the second alert came in the morning.

Comrade Garba was prevented from inspecting parade mounted for him and all attempts made to calm the aggrieved corps members by the security operatives fell on deaf ears.

The situation lasted for over three hours before they eventually brought the money meant for the corps members’ allowance from the bank and immediately they sighted the NYSC car with the money, the tension subsided Meanwhile, the Niger State

governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has approved the upward review of allowances of corps members posted to the state from N3,000 he inherited to N5,000 with effect from July, 2016.

He gave the approval on Wednesday during the closing ceremony of the 2016 Batch A (Stream 2) orientation course at the NYSC orientation camp at Paiko.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Sule Zakari Kazaure, thanked the governor for the government support and cordial relationship between the scheme and the state government.

In a related development, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has charged corps members deployed to the state to make honour, credibility and integrity their watchwords.

Senator Ajimobi gave the charge, on Wednesday, while speaking at the closing ceremony for 2016 Batch “B” Stream 2 corps members in the state at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp, Gbakuta, Iseyin.

The governor, who spoke through his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, equally called on the corps members to play genuine and positive roles in oiling the current administration’s development agenda in their host communities.

Earlier in her address, the state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs O. A. Akin-Moses, admonished the corps members to leave indelible marks and legacies in their host communities.

WORKERS of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, have given the state government one week to pay backlog of salaries and promotion arrears owed them.

Representatives of the four unions namely: Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) gave the threat at a joint press conference held on Wednesday at the Senior Staff Club in Abraka.

Chairman of ASUU, Professor Abel Diakparomre, while addressing the press, stated that disillusioned workers of the institution were owed May and June 2016 salaries as well as arrears of promotions effected as far back as 2014 and 2015.

He noted that the situation was unacceptable because other workers in the

payroll of the state government were not being owed, wondering why staffers of the institution were singled out for “deliberate financial strangulation.”

According to Professor Diakparomre, the nonpayment of salaries and the promotion arrears may affect the forthcoming aca-

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says the quality of tertiary education in the country could improve if the institutions are allowed to regulate their students’ admission process.

The union’s National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that if that was done, the quality of education would be better.

Ogunyemi spoke to NAN against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s decision to come up with a uniform guideline for admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session.

NAN reported that the Minister of Education had at a recent joint policy meeting to decide the cut off mark for students seeking admission into the universities, announced the scrapping of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Post UTME is the second stage of screening usu-

demic activities, especially the forthcoming examinations in the institution.

The union leader also warned that the situation might propel lecturers, who are already being lured outside the country to seek greener pastures since their economic security could no longer be guaranteed.

ally conducted by universities for the final selection of candidates qualified for admission for an academic session.

The minister, Adamu Adamu, had said in a statement that he would sanction any university or tertiary institution found conducting examinations under any guise to admit students.

He further directed tertiary institutions that had collected money from can-

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries organised by claimant to the national chairmanship position of the party, Alhaji Ali-Modu Sheriff, was on Wednesday held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

Honourable Matthew Iduoriyekemhen, who last week lost to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the primaries conducted by the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, emerged winner after his only challenger in the

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, also urged corps members to be worthy ambassadors and to positively project the country’s image.

exercise, Honourable Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, step down for him.

Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), however, did not witness the primaries, while the ballot boxes used did not have the traditional emblem of the electoral body.

The election was held amid uncertainty over report early in the day that a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court presided over by Justice Valentine Ashi had nullified the 2014 PDP Constitution Amend-

didates for such purposes to immediately refund it or face appropriate sanctions.

The minister said if any tertiary institution had already conducted any form of examination, such an exercise stood annulled.

The ASUU boss told NAN that such directive encroached on the autonomy of the institutions.

“I think government should give these institutions the chance to regulate themselves.

“They should decide for themselves the process they dim fit to admit their students.

“The Senate of universities for example, should decide on the process they want to use in selecting candidates.

“We do not think it is right for government to decide the method of screening of the candidates, indeed, we want to attain some level of sanity and quality in the system,” he said.

PDP crisis: Abuja court sacks Sheriff, others Sunday Ejike - Abuja THERE seems to be no end soon to the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a high court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Apo, on Wednesday, sacked the factional chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and other officers of the party.

The trial judge, Justice Valantine Ashi, in a judgment he delivered yesterday, held that Sheriff’s ascension to office was unlawful as it was based on amended provision of the PDP Constitution said to be illegally introduced in December 2014.

Though the court did not specifically mention Sheriff’s name, it made an order restraining all persons who became national officers of the party by virtue of the amended Article 47, Rule 6 of the party’s constitution, from further parading themselves in the said capacities.

The judge nullified the

INEC shuns Sheriff’s Edo PDP primaries as Iduoriyekemhen emerges winner Banji Aluko - Benin City

Amosun gave the charge on Wednesday at the close of the orientation programme for the 2016 Batch ‘A’ Stream 2 corps members held at the NYSC Permanent Camp at Sagamu.

ASUU opposes scrapping of post-UTME

DELSU workers give govt one week ultimatum to pay salary arrears EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State also urged corps members not to forget the ideals for which the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme was established.

ment that enabled Ali-Modu Sheriff assumed national chairmanship position of the PDP. The announcement at the weekend by INEC that it would not monitor the primaries because organisers did not comply with the 21day notice to the electoral body also created doubt over the conduct of the exercise.

As at 2:00p.m., there was no sign that the exercise would hold at the lawn tennis court of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where the exercise was billed to take place.

amendment of the said provision which he held was done in violation of the mandatory provisions of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the party’s constitution.

He declared as, “unconstitutional, null and void”, the purported amendment of Article 47 Rule 6 of PDP Constitution, 2012, at a special National Convention the party held on Wednesday and Thursday, December 10 and 11, 2014.

The court voided the said amendment on the basis that there was no compliance with mandatory provisions of Article 66 (2) and (3) of the PDP constitution.

Justice Ashi said, “By reason of the above, the purported amendments introduced to the constitution on the aforesaid dates, are hereby set-aside.

“All persons, individuals, servants or agents of PDP parading themselves as national officers of the PDP pursuant to the purported amendment which has now been nullified are hereby restrained from further parading themselves in these capacities,” Justice Ashi held.

By the amendment of 2014, effected on Article 47 Paragraph 6 of the PDP Constitution, the party amended the provision which says in case of any vacancy, the party NEC can appoint an Acting Chairman from the area or zone where the last occupant of the offices comes from “pending when election is conducted” to reflect that where there is a vacancy, the Acting Chairman shall “serve the tenure of the officer”, who left before the expiration of the tenure.

Justice Ashi declared the 2014 amendment to the

PDP constitution illegal on the ground that the party did not comply with Section 66(2)(3) of its constitution by not serving the National Secretary with a written copy of the proposed amendment two months before the convention, which the secretary was also required to circulate among state secretaries of the party a month before the convention.

Meanwhile, the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP has hailed the judgment.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ben Obi, was confident that there would be more positive court decisions in the days to come concerning the party crisis.

“We expect more positive court rulings in the days ahead in favour of our party.

It is time for them to face the truth and retrace their steps,” he said.

Reacting to the judgment, Ali-Modu Sheriff stated in a statement issued by Inuwa Bwala, that “Ali-Modu Sheriff was not a party in the said suit, neither was his name mentioned anywhere in the ruling. It should also be taken note of that there was no consequential order in that ruling to warrant the attendant insinuations. It is worthy of note that the law does not take implied effects on people.

“It is pertinent to state that the court merely voided the processes leading to the amendment of the PDP constitution in 2014, while Sheriff’s emergence was covered by the provisions of the amendment of that same constitution of 2012.”

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Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Railing, manholes vandal arrested 18 days after release from detention Olalekan Olabulo ONE of the vandals of bridge railings in Lagos State, Godwin Nwankwo, who was released from detention 18 days ago, has been rearrested for committing the same offence .

Twenty-three-year-old Godwin was, about two months ago, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad,who again rearrested him on Monday, for same offence.

The suspect was arrested when he was bringing out some cut-to-size railings and crash barriers from manholes which were meant to reinforce Ijora Bridge from vibrating, as well as protect vehicles from falling from the bridge.

The suspect had, before the Monday arrest, spent 44 days in the police detention for stealing railings from Ijora Bridge.

Godwin insisted that he stole the railings because he was desperately hungry, adding that there was no alternative means for him to get money.

The suspect said: “When I was arrested for the first

time, I pleaded for leniency and mercies. Now, I have been caught again, I don’t know what to say or how to plead for mercies again. All I can say is that it was the devil that pushed me into this act.”

He also stated that “my plan was to raise some money to enable me relocate to Enugu, where I repair handsets before coming to Lagos. I want to leave Lagos because my life had been meaningless here.”

The confession by the suspect led to the arrest of Alhaji Sanni Tiamiyu, who was alleged to be one of the buyers of the stolen railings and manholes.

The imagemaker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the suspect to Lagos Metro.

“We are intensifying our efforts to arrest anybody vandalising government’s infrastructure across the state. This stride has begun to yield positive results, as some of them have been arrested and they are facing prosecution at the moment,” the Lagos police spokesperson added.

Student, 2 others to die by hanging for killing victim over N15,000 Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin THREE men— Wasiu Arepo, an aluminium maker; Oluwaseun Idowu, a driver; Ganiyu Hassan, a student and commercial motorcycle rider, were on Wednesday sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery and murder.

They were found guilty on four-count charge of armed robbery and murder, contrary to Section 402 subsection 2(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011 and Section 319 sub-section 1(a) of Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2011.

They committed the offence on February 5, 2011, at Aleke village, Imota at 2.00 a.m.

The convicts were said to have stormed the house of their victims, one Mrs Adijatu Bakare and her husband, Abubakar.

As soon as they stormed the house, they demanded the husband to produce the money he withdrew from the bank a day before.

In the process, one of the accused, Arepo, shot Abubakar in the chest, after which they ransacked the house and carted away N15,000 cash and other valuables, leaving the victim in his pool of blood.

He reportedly died on his way to the hospital.

However, two hours after the incident, the convicts were caught in a nearby community, where they lived and had gone to hide by the vigilante group in the area, after the wife of the victim reported the matter at Imota police station and was able to identify one of the convicts, whom she had seen during the robbery operation.

However, during the trial, the convicts had denied involvement in the incident, claiming that they were at home on the night of the incident.

In his judgment, Justice Lawal Akapo, said the prosecution had proved beyond doubt that the convicts committed the crime.

One of the BRT buses destroyed by the hoodlums, on Wednesday.

Mayhem in Maryland: 30 BRT

buses destroyed over death of street hawker Opeyemi Owoaseye

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TREET traders went on rampage Wednesday afternoon, in Maryland, Lagos State, destroying about 30 BRT buses while protesting the killing of one of them, allegedly chased to his death by officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI).

Twenty-eight-year-old man, Nnamdi John, from Ebonyi State, was crushed by an articulated vehicle while being hotly pursued

by KAI officials, who wanted to arrest him for hawking eyeglasses on the street, contrary to extant environmental law.

John was said to have been pursued by the said officials while he was trying to make sales.

It was said that the accident happened at about 2.00 p.m, when KAI officials allegedly pushed the deceased across the road.

The deceased was said to have skipped the Expressway while the KAI officials pushed him and he ran under a trailer which eventually crushed him.

The KAI officials were said to have loaded five vehicles with alleged traffic offenders, in readiness to move them to their station, before deciding to add John to their haul.

Lagos Metro gathered

that some of the officials were in mufti, while others were in their uniform.

It was also learnt that when the KAI officials saw that the man was dead, they took to their heels.

Eyewitnesses claimed that when the deceased’s colleagues could not get the KAI officials, they retaliated by destroying about 30 BRT buses, both blue and red, saying both KAI and BRT belonged to and work for the same Lagos State government.

Lagos Metro gathered that it took the intervention of solders, who fired many shots in the air, for the protesters to disperse and flee.

Policemen from Anthony also had to join the soldiers in restoring sanity.

However, it was said that when the family of the deceased got there, they did not want the police to take away the corpse.

This was said to have led to a struggle between the deceased’s family and the police officials, before the family agreed to follow the police to the station.

An eyewitness, Ibironke Samuel, told Lagos Metro at the scene of the incident, that the KAI officials ran away after the accident.

He said: “When it happened, they ran away. I appeal to the government to caution KAI officials on their

mode of operation.

“How can they have five full vehicles and still chase after another person?”

Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the accident, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Meanwhile, KAI Public Relations Officer, Mrs Albi Rahmat, said it was not true that KAI officials chased the hawkers.

According to her, “there was a joint operation between the LASTMA and KAI officials today. When the street hawkers sighted them on the road, they ran away, thinking they came for them.

The officials were merely passing by on their own.”

Lagos State government, also in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Steve Ayorinde, said it wanted to clarify issues surrounding the incident “where a street hawker was knocked down by an oncoming truck at Maryland Bus Stop on Wednesday.

“The street hawker, who was trying to evade arrest by officials of KAI, had attempted to cross the road before being hit by the truck, which was erroneously thought to be a BRT bus.

“As a result, hoodlums, armed with sticks and stones, immediately descended on some BRT

buses plying the route as at the time of the incident and in the process, destroyed several of the BRT buses.”

Ayorinde said that contrary to the information being circulated in the social media that the street hawker was hit by a BRT bus, it was a truck belonging to a soft drink company that unfortunately hit the boy.

“It wasn’t any of our buses that killed him (hawker), it was a soft drink company truck that unfortunately crushed the boy while he was trying to escape from KAI officers, who were on patrol, trying to rid the street of hawkers and traders.

“But hoodlums now took advantage of that to start destroying government assets, including several of the brand new BRT buses,” he said.

Ayorinde said it took the intervention of a team from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to quell the riotous scene caused by the hoodlums before the corpse of the boy was taken to the morgue at the General Hospital, Ikeja.

The commissioner said no fewer than three hoodlums alleged to have been part of the mob that destroyed the BRT buses had been arrested, saying the law would take its full course.

8 news Ambode to LASIEC: Live above board, be fair to all

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Bola Badmus -Lagos

L

AGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, swore in the chairman and members of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), charging them to live above board and be fair to all parties in the discharge of their duties.

Ambode gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony at the Lagos House, Ikeja, saying the new chairman, Justice Ayotunde

Philips (retd) and other members of the commission were carefully selected based on their track record of meritorious services and unquestionable integrity.

The new LASIEC boss, Philips, assured that the commission under her would do all within its powers to ensure credible, free and fair elections, promising that her tenure would witness the transformation of LASIEC to an institution that would be envied and emulated by other states of the federation.

Speaking further, the gov-

ernor said his administration places high premium on the rule of law, just as he vowed that the executive arm of government would not do anything to directly or indirectly interfere in the affairs of the commission.

He said LASIEC, as the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of conducting local government elections, had a critical role to play in entrenching the democratic process in the state, and therefore, the newly sworn-in members must go all out to ensure the

Lagos approves restructuring of LC loan facility, saves over N10bn Bola Badmus -Lagos LAGOS State Executive Council approved the restructuring of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC)

IGP pledges improved security Chris Agbambu -Abuja ACTING Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has pledged his determination to secure the nation for social development and economic growth.

He spoke when he received the Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura, at the force headquarters.

Speaking during the visit, Governor Almakura said he was in the office of the IGP to rejoice with him over his elevation to the position of IGP. Responding, Idris thanked the governor for the visit, saying he was highly elated by the visit.

Loan Facility provided by local and international lenders.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, disclosed this on Wednesday, saying it had paid a total of N9.8 billion in full and final settlement of LCC’s indebtedness to its international lender, which granted a 21.16 per cent haircut (reduction) to the state.

According to him, a sum of N3.15 billion was saved as a result of the restructuring.

He said in addition, local lenders, whose interest rate was 18.5 per cent at the consummation of the facility, offered a 12 per cent haircut and also fully paid with a restructured loan at 13.5 per cent, thereby creating a savings of N8.7 billion for the government.

Ayorinde also reiterated the state government’s commitment to continue to deploy appropriate public finance management principles to ensure adequate provision of infrastructure

to all Lagosians.

In a related development, the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr Mustapha Akinkunmi, urged citizens to continue to pay their taxes as at when due, since according to him, more facilities were being provided by government through taxpayers’ obligation to government.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ogunsesan Joseph Dereck now OGUNSESAN JOSEPH OLUTOMI. All former document remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly Oluwalusi Ademola Babafemi now OLUWALUSI DAVID BABAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ibeh Nneka Martina now MRS ARA OLUWAFERANMI MARTINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

credibility of the electoral process.

“We have painstakingly selected people of unquestionable integrity and track record of competence to guarantee a credible, transparent and accountable process. Leading this team is Justice Philips,

a retired chief judge of Lagos State, who left a record of meritorious service that saw her to the pinnacle of the Lagos State judiciary.

“All I just want to say to all the members is that they must live above board and truly live up to the public

expectation as independent umpires. You must be transparent and fair to all without giving undue advantage to one party over another.

This is only way that you can guarantee the credibility of the process you supervise,” the governor said.

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businessnews

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Nigeria records increase in gas reserves Olatunde Dodondawa -Lagos

T

HE Federal Government has announced that the country’s reserves have increased from 186 trillion standard cubic feet (scuf) to 190 trillion scuf.

This was made known by the Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Modecai Ladan, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) in Lagos on Wednesday.

Represented by the Assistant Director, Domestic Gas, DPR, Mrs Chioma Njoku, Ladan stated that updated statistics on the new national gas reserves indicated that the country now has 190 trillion deposit of natural gas and makes it the seventh in the world and the largest in Africa.

Ladan assured stakeholders that Nigeria has the potentials to become a global super power in Africa because Nigeria ranks third in gas production after Algeria and Egypt, despite being the largest in terms of gas reserves.

He argued that Nigeria can broaden its economy using gas. “It is a critical strategic consideration that must be embraced. We need to design framework that will focus on gas exploration with full support of industry stakeholders,” he said.

Coincidentally, most gas discoveries and the reserves were accidentally discovered during crude oil exploration and stakeholders have been calling on the federal government to institute marginal bid rounds for gas exploration.

On his part, the Senior Technical Adviser, Upstream and Gas, to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Gbite Adeniji, said, “We need to consider opening up gas supply from the inland basins. We can’t rely on the Niger Delta alone. There is a lot of gas in the inland basins. It is time we considered developing gas infrastructure to explore gas in the offshore.”

He noted that about 11 of the nation’s power plants had become dormant due to gas constraints.

“An alternative system from the offshore will help.

In the inland basins, there are gas reserves that could lend themselves to some small power plants. We should think about flexibility. We are working hard on gas terms for PSC concessions. We should consider gas development a matter of strategic importance.

Therefore, we need to develop an appropriate legal and regulatory framework,” he said.

“We now have to open a big pathway for new players

in the gas sector.

The fiscal regime has proven to be the most effective drive of gas development in the country. But most of the projects we have seen are export projects.

The fiscal strategy should

focus on prioritising exploration and production activities for gas with proper incentive structure that is globally competitive.

“We need pricing reform.

On the supply side, there is a lot of potential. We need

market-based pricing for wholesale gas supply. We must have transitional pricing and then we open it up for market-led pricing. I am not in favour of willing buyer, willing seller pricing right now. The time is not

ripe,” he concluded.

In his opening remarks, the President of NGA, Mr Bolaji Osunsanya, stated that “Nigeria has experienced a transformational shift in the perceived role of natural gas from an energy

From left: Chief Corporate Services Officer, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Mr Tobe Okigbo; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta and Managing Director, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Mr Godfrey Efeurhobo, during Smile Communications’ courtesy visit to the NCC office in Abuja.

Naira strengthens to N281.23/$ at interbank market Chima Nwokoji - Lagos THE floating naira exchange rate ended at N281.23 to a dollar on Wednesday, slightly stronger than the N282.3 to the dollar it traded at on Tuesday.

This is even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Citibank on Wednesday executed the country’s first naira-settled futures trade against the dollar, market regulator FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange said.

On Monday, the central bank introduced an overthe-counter futures market on the currency, to help manage dollar demand, quoting the naira firmer

at N279 to the dollar in a month’s time and at N210

by April next year.

However, the naira maintained the same level of exchange rate with Euro and the British Pounds as it traded for N371 to the British Pounds, N310 to the Euro and N42.39 to the Chinese Yuan at the interbank market.

At the parallel (black) market, the situation is returning to business as usual, as the effects of the new foreign exchange regime seem to be gradually fading out of the market operations.

The local currency gained N2 on Wednesday, as it closed at N350 to the dol-

lar, according to the Acting president of Bureau De Change Association of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe.

On Monday, the naira lost ground to the dollar, falling from N345 on Friday to N347, only to fall further last Tuesday to N352.

Similarly, Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that many banks are transacting at the “floating” interbank market rate of N280 to N284 to the dollar, while some have banned international transactions with Naira cards altogether.

In a mail sent by Stanbic IBTC to its customers on Tuesday, the bank said it was charging N310 to

Equities trading reverses 3-day loss by 0.80% Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba - Lagos TRADING on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) took a positive turn on Wednesday as All Share Index (ASI) record 0.80 per cent appreciation.

The major market indicator closed at 29,812.91 basis points as against 29,575.24 recorded on Tuesday, having increased 237.67, while market capitalisation added N81.6 billion to close at N10.2 trillion.

Market breadth closed positive as 24 gainers were recorded against 18 losers at the end of trading, a better performance when compared with Tuesday outlook of 15 gainers versus 24 losers Further analysis showed

that Forte Oil Plc led the gainers chart, measured by value, as it increased its share price to N194.03 kobo, having gained N3.03 kobo to N191 it traded.

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc also gained N2.42 kobo at the end of stock trading session to close at N50.93 kobo per share as against N48.51 kobo it traded, while 7up Bottling Company Plc closed at N142 per share after adding two naira to each unit.

Dangote Cement Plc appreciated it’s stock value to N194 having gained N1.89 kobo to each, just as Guaranty Trust Bank Plc closed trade at N23.25 kobo per share having added 93 kobo during the course of trading on Wednesday.

On the flip side, Ashaka

Cements Plc took the lead as it lost N1.05 kobo from each share it traded to close at N19.95 kobo per share.

Champion Breweries Plc also depreciated in share value by 23 kobo on each to close at N4.46 kobo, while UACN Property Development Company Limited’s stocks shed 22 kobo from each unit to close at N4.28 kobo per share.

Market turnover closes positive as volume moved up by 19.78 per cent against 31.97 per cent decline recorded on Tuesday.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc was active in boosting turnover, measured by volume as it staked 52.97 million shares, followed by Access Bank Plc that traded 45.58 million shares.

the greenback, as against N282.3, which the interbank market traded on the same day.

“We wish to inform you that you can now stay up date on our card rates by simply visiting our website,” the mail read in part.

The bank went on to say: “Please find below our current card rate: 1GBP=N424.07, 1USD=N310, 1EUR = 341.63. Please note rates may vary from time to time.”

The three currencies traded at the interbank market on Tuesday at N371, N282.3 and N310 respectively, showing a variance of N53.07 on the pound, N26.7 on the dollar and N31.63 on the European currency.

Nigerian Tribune

source sometimes seen as unreliable and scarce over a decade ago to one that is now recognised as an essential component of a cleaner and more secure resource-based portfolio.”

Oil prices recover with global markets

OIL prices extended gains on Wednesday, tracking a recovery in equity markets as leaders look to temper fears over the effects of Britain’s shock EU exit and traders bet on a fall in US stocks.

Around 1000 GMT, the London benchmark Brent crude added 46 cents to $49.04 and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose 57 cents to $48.42.

“Oil markets mirrored the rebound on stock markets as fundamentals came back into focus,” said analysts at PVM oil brokerage.

Global stock prices have risen in a second day of recovery from a sharp sell -off prompted by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, with Asian markets leading the way on hopes that authorities will unveil fresh stimulus to counter the effects of the vote.

Seoul on Tuesday unveiled a $17-billion plan to support South Korea’s already fragile economy, while news emerged Wednesday that Japan’s leaders were holding talks on how to contain any tailwind from the Brexit crisis.

Also Tuesday, European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi said central banks should aim to align monetary policies to mitigate “destabilising spillovers”.

European leaders, who gathered in Brussels for a two-day meeting, urged Britain to act quickly to resolve the political and economic mayhem unleashed by the vote.

Scarcity of forex forces 2 Nigerian airlines out of Lagos/Accra route Shola Adekola - Lagos THE ongoing scarcity of foreign exchange which had hitherto affected the operations of many foreign airlines in the country has started taking its toll on the domestic airlines.

While two of the mega carriers, Iberia and United Airlines had already pulled out of the country with other still threatening to follow suit, two of the domestic airlines in Nigeria have also withdrawn their operations on the Lagos/Accra route.

According to the information gathered yesterday, Aero Contractors has suspended its Lagos-Accra operation due to inacces-

sibility to foreign exchange adequate aircraft.

Aero is the oldest Nigerian airline operating the route from Lagos.

Equally, Dana Air, a new entrant on the route has suspended operations on route.

A top management official in Dana who confirmed the development, attributed the withdrawal of services on the route to high cost of foreign exchange and lack of aircraft as the one being used to service the route has gone for C-Check.

The exit of the two domestic carriers has left Arik Air and Med View Airlines still struggling to maintain their services on the route.

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editorial

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Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The growing rift between the Presidency and NASS

HE leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) recently gave notice of very deep disagreement with the Executive arm of government in Nigeria against the background of the decision of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to proceed with charging the President and the Deputy President of the Senate, alongside some others, with the crime of illegally altering the Senate Standing Order. The leadership of the National Assembly was clear in categorising this criminal charge as an attempt to remove through the back door, the two principal officers of the Senate with a view to procuring more amenable persons for the two positions. This is especially, according to the NASS leadership, because the issue of alteration of the Senate Standing Order is part of the internal affairs of the Senate that would not need or require the intervention of the executive.

It further contended that this issue had been raised and ruled upon on the floor of the Senate, and that it was surprising that the same issue could attract the attention of the executive when it should be clear that no issue resolved on the floor of the Senate ought to be canvassed again in any court of law or outside of the Chamber. As far as the leadership of the National Assembly was concerned, the criminal charge against the President and Deputy President of the Senate was done in bad faith and it would signal appropriate reaction from the legislative arm of government.

However, the two principal officers of the National Assembly have since been arraigned in court and granted bail.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), has since responded to the position of the NASS by insisting that the preferment of criminal charges against the President and Deputy President of the Senate was the outcome of a normal police investigation which concluded that a crime had been committed with the necessary implication of taking the case to the court in that regard. He saw nothing wrong in the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President utilising the opportunity provided by the court trial to prove their innocence as the court would have a final decision on the guilt or otherwise in the case. We see the logic in the AGF’s response especially as it could not be disputed that it would pass as part of the normal duties of his office to recommend what cases should go on trial and it would be remiss to argue that cases involving members of the National Assembly should be treated with different yardsticks. In any case, both the police and the AGF’s office

would have nothing to do with the case if it had not come as a complaint to the police from a group of senators, suggesting that what is at the basis of the case is a disagreement among senators which the leadership of the National Assembly should also look into.

Whereas the fact that some senators are not satisfied with the running of the affairs of the National Assembly by the current leadership should not be a valid basis for preferment of cases against officers of the National Assembly, it is still important to note the discord in the Assembly as it would be difficult for the executive to have a basis for such intervention without the prevailing discord. This is not to gloss over the possibility that the group of dissatisfied senators could also be acting under outside influence or deliberately to get the current outcome.

Nonetheless, the point still has to be made that the public spat on this issue between the NASS and the Presidency speaks to the absence of the needed relationship and cooperation between these two arms of government. To be sure, the whole essence of separation of powers among the three arms of government is to provide checks and balances in the functioning of government with each concentrating on its allotted functions. But this should not be to the extent of not working together, as it is only through cooperation among the three arms that the government could function well and run effectively and efficiently. It is in this sense that any real chasm between the arms would work to the disadvantage of the whole government, such that processes for interaction and intergovernmental cooperation are almost always important and treated with utmost necessity. This is why the current growing rift between the executive and the legislature should be viewed as a negative development that should be immediately and urgently addressed in order for it not to persist and fester.

There should be a reopening of communication between the two arms of government in order to settle issues of contention in an atmosphere of working together for the good of all. There is nothing to be gained in each of the arms trying to publicly cudgel or discredit the other. Rather, there is much to be gained when they work together in the spirit of mutual respect for the progress and development of the country. This is what the current tense and difficult situation in the country demands and this is what would demonstrate that officials in the two arms place the national and collective interest above personal and divisive interests.

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•To everything, there is a season — a time to wither and a time to blossom . PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Brexit: Why EU should punish UK

I

T is no longer news that the people of the United Kingdom have voted to leave the European Union; what the world is waiting for now is for the British government to trigger the Article 50, which will signify the beginning of the process for its departure from the union.

Since the referendum’s result became known, other right wing parties across the EU have also be calling for referendum in their own countries as well.

In France, Ms Marine Le Pen, leader of the country’s far right party, the National Front, has also called for a referendum.

In The Netherlands, Geert Wilders, another anti-immigration Member of Parliament, has also suggested same for his country. Antiimmigrant parties are now finding their voices in Italy, Spain, and even in Germany. However, the only way to quell the activities of these far right parties is for the EU to impose tough

measures against the UK for leaving the union.

Already, Leave campaigners are saying that they would still continue to ac-

homes, and many of these people are now living with friends and relatives in other parts of the states.

As it is now, these displaced people can also be called refugees because they have had to leave their residences as a result of the crisis.

It is, therefore, important

The UK cannot must understand that it cannot eat its cake and have it.

•Isola Tayo, 08062086668

NFF should hire a foreign coach now I don’t know why the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is delaying hiring a foreign coach; I hope the Federation is not trying to give the current handlers of the Super Eagles perma-

FG, save us from militants in Ikorodu I want to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to save the people of Ikorodu/Imuti areas of Lagos and Ogun states from Niger Delta militants who have been terrorising us for some time now.

These militants have succeeded in displacing lawabiding citizens from their

cess the EU single market when it comes to trade, but it is good news that EU leaders have said that this will not be possible.

that the Federal Government deploys the military, particularly the Navy to the area to curb the activities of the militants and stop further loss of innocent lives.

•Taju Alalade, 08136449554

nent contracts. It is not out of disrespect to our local coaches, but they just need to study more before they can be at par with their foreign counterparts.

How do we explain that for the second consecutive time, the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations?

Now, the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will soon be out, and the NFF is still stalling on appointing a foreign coach.

In other climes, the leadership of the football federation would have resigned after their teams failed to qualify for major competi-

tions on two consecutive occasions.

I hope the NFF can get its acts right so that the team can start preparing for the next world cup in Russia.

•Idayat Kassim, 08094309160

RIP, Keshi, Amodu IT is so painful that former Super Eagles coaches, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaib are no more. The manner in which both football tacticians passed away is just so shocking.

I hope the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will immortalise these coaches for their contributions to our football development.

•Tinuke Omideyi, 08030461538

Forgetting white collar jobs IT is high time unemployed graduates looked beyond white collar jobs and focus on skills that will make them self-employed.

I want to suggest small scale businesses like tailoring, barbing, dry cleaning, rentals, shoe making, carpentry, and many more.

These are businesses that will make them employers of labour, especially with the education they acquired.

With the economic situation of things, unemployment will become more terrible.

•Femi Dada, 08167587147

15

opinion

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

IDPs: Towards addressing a humanitarian crisis

By Grace Okagbare

N

OT until the reported abduction of over 200 young school girls from Chibok in Borno State, North-East Nigeria in April, 2014, the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria never gained prominence in global discussion. The #BringBackOurGirls awareness campaign on the social media sparked an international outrage and pressure on the Nigerian government and the Western world to get their acts together to secure the release of the abducted school girls.

There had been reported cases of abduction in the North-East before the Chibok incidence, with several thousands of young boys and girls forcefully taken in their sleep from schools, homes and farms. In many cases, villages were sacked, police stations and posts overrun by these insurgents, leaving villagers to their fate. This was a common situation for years, and living inside the forests of Borno was far more safe for residents than their homes and villages.

Today, there are over two million internally displaced persons (mostly women and children) from the insurgency in NorthEast Nigeria and another 80,000 taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, according to figures from the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The displacement of children from their homes is creating a huge problem for the region and the Nigerian government, and these children are no doubt “out-of-school.” Record shows that Northern Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in Africa, and possibly tops the chart globally. Before the outbreak of the Boko-Haram insurgency, the Nigerian government, in association with diverse international organisations, had been stepping up campaigns and strategies to get out-ofschool children back into classrooms.

The low literacy and numeracy rates are exacerbated by the number of children who are displaced, separated from families or orphaned; the large number of displaced teachers; and schools that have been destroyed or closed due to the violent extremism in the area, which targets the very education that is Nigeria’s best hope.

The government’s effort in arresting this huge humanitarian need, as well as fighting the war on insurgency simultaneously, cannot be rated successful without the inputs from good spirited Nigerians and international aid organisations providing

relief materials for the displaced Nigerians.

The role of philanthropy in fighting the humanitarian crisis in North-East Nigeria is not negligible. The last administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Victims Support Fund Committee, with the primary responsibility of sourcing support funds both from public and private pockets for victims of the insurgency in the region. The committee was headed by Nigeria’s former Minister of Defence, General T.Y Danjuma (rtd).

Africa’s richest man and billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Borno State born Alhaji Mohammed Indimi and Nigeria’s Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, amongst others have been in the forefront in tackling the humanitarian crisis in the North-East.

So far, Dangote has made donations and pledges worth over N3.2 billion ($16,076,384m) to the displaced Nigerians and, most recently, the delivery of 106 trucks of food and relief materials to IDPs’ camps across the region through the Dangote Foundation.

The Atiku Abubakar founded American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State, is also making huge mark in addressing the humanitarian crisis. The AUN works in tandem with the Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative (API), which was formed in January 2012. It was a reasoned response to the increasing threats of violence and growing mutual suspicion in Nigeria’s North-East.

API has ongoing projects such as “The Peacemakers” television show, the annually celebrated Peace Day, the “Peace

Through Sports” tournament, Peace Lecture Series, IT training and literacy programmes, and the Grand Alliance for Adamawa, through which it fosters peace through education, empowerment and community development, alongside AUN. This partnership unites academic leaders of the university and religious and community leaders of API in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.

Recently, the API launched the Insurgency Intervention Fund, a one billion naira contributory fundraising programme that is designed to assist in rehabilitating IDPs in violence-prone Adamawa State. This fund would be raised in tranches of N200 million over a 12-month period, and will seek to reach out to various individuals, local and foreign organisations.

So far, the AUN-API team feeds and houses over 300,000 IDPs in Adamawa State, and according to available statistics, the team has supplied food, medicines and relief materials to over 163,500 households through local religious and community-based organisations in the state in December 2015.

The AUN President, Dr. Margee Ensign, who chairs the API, claims that the organisation has initiated numerous programmes in the community to benefit both indigenes and IDPs. “We have the all-year-long ‘Peace Through Sports’ programme, two major income-generating projects for community women, and a new literacy program christened ‘Technology Enhanced Learning for All.’” In addressing pressing issues of education amongst displaced children in Adamawa, the AUN is partnering with local religious and community leaders to establish a programme for vulnerable Nigerian youths, christened the “Feed and Read” programme.

This offers a low-cost, highly scalable and replicable plan to address the situation. According to Ensign, “carefully targeted, modest amounts of assistance and practical intervention, make it possible to put the brakes on the accelerating suffering. Within six months, our goal is to get all of the participants to be able to read and do basic arithmetic, addition, subtraction, division and multiplication of two digit numbers.”

In Yola, North-East Nigeria, there are hopes for displaced and out of school children, even as government is vamping up efforts to return displaced persons back to their towns and villages.

No doubt, it remains a struggle between humanity and inhumanity.

•Okagbare writes from Kristiansand, Norway.

Entrepreneurship and the Nigerian malady

By Olaniyi Olayemi

THE debate on what government’s ideal position on entrepreneurship should be has elicited divergent economic postulations from idealists of different eras. On the one hand, Karl Marx leads the team, comprised of socialists, leninists, among others, which opines that government should superintend the factors of production and give room for no private ownership. On the other hand, the West has, through diplomacy and international advocacy, evangelised the advantages of capitalism. On a broad scale, the world is split along these two divides, and Africa, for the most part, finds itself in the latter category.

As it stands in Nigeria today, entrepreneurship is a concept that successive governments have paid lip service to.

By way of backdrop, I should say that entrepreneurship is alien to the vast majority of Nigerians. This perhaps serves as the raison d’être for our misguided perception on who should create jobs. Needless to say that paradoxically, we find most schooled Nigerians guilty of this. The idea we are ingrained with gives the illusion that education is all about questing for white collar jobs. At worst, the government is ever there to employ people. But when many seek jobs and are not able to get any, they resort to the civil service. This has brought about an imbalance in the employment scale, with government being the highest employer of labour in Nigeria, a situation that has been very deleterious to the economy. Any growth-driven economy is such that pays premium on private ownership of the factors of production.

This employment imbalance has, over the years, brought about an exponential increase in our recurrent expenditure because government pays salaries to its ever increasing civil servants. In the wake of the oil crisis that began last year, bringing about a continual fall in the prices of crude oil, many civil service states inevitably began to owe their workers for months.

Entrepreneurs make the world go round. They form the nucleus of any economy for obvious reasons.

Entrepreneurs are always innovative. The quest for profit drives them in discovering the right people with the right ideas. They go fishing - something the government cannot do. In most civil service organisations today, workers are usually indolent, and most times, unqualified. Yet, they receive salaries at the end of every month. Their attitudes towards their jobs can be so counter-productive. Bad as that is, the assumption is that entrepreneurs would never allow such attitudes like dereliction of duties, lack of qualification, among others, which are prevalent in the civil service.

The government has hindered the growth of entrepreneurs in Nigeria over the decades. One of such ways is the lack of requisite infrastructure needed to grow the economy. Till date, Nigeria generates an infinitesimal amount of megawatts needed to electrify every state. Power failure and erratic power supply have, over the years, been albatrosses bedevilling the power sector. Most Nigerians have long since resorted to using generators as an alternative which really is pricey to maintain and dangerous to health. Government can only address this problem by utilising the many alternative sources of power apart from hydro. Doing this will not only stabilise power, but also will create jobs for private investors. Needless to say that infrastructure such as roads, water, etc should equally be accorded the same sense of urgency as they are requisite to the growth of businesses.

Vocational institutes and technical colleges across Nigeria are in deplorable conditions. This is because government has only been sympathetic to formal education. But formal

education has limited prospects compared to non-formal education. In fact, given the harsh realities of the Nigerian economy, savoir-faire demands government treats non-formal educational institutes with equal respects, if not more.

These institutes are the ones that empower people with practical skills needed to start businesses. The Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of this world used their computer skills to change the world. Microsoft corporation has over 80,000 employees. It cannot be controverted that the curricula of our formal institutions are tailored, for the most part, towards pedagogy. That explains why Nigeria still imports labour to meet its developmental needs. I, therefore, submit that Nigeria introspects and fastidiously carve out a curriculum designed towards the development of man and resources. China, despite its large population, has through entrepreneurial policies empowered its citizens. I believe strongly that if our technical schools and vocational institutes and even formal institutions are spruced up with the right gadgets and revised curriculum, entrepreneurship will experience a watershed of growth in Nigeria.

Capital, as a factor of production, is not easy to access in Nigeria, especially by the poor. Financial institutions make it difficult to obtain loans. Government can correct this by setting up low-interest funds for innovative citizens.

On the part of the citizenry, erroneous expectations from the government are made on a quotidian basis. Inevitably, government earns the ire of the people. But the government can absolve itself from the unrealistic expectations of the people by simply creating the atmosphere for entrepreneurship to thrive.

I’m well aware that Nigeria isn’t void of theories on how to salvage its many problems. I remember in primary school, I could tell the problems of agriculture in Nigeria and also could proffer solutions to them. As I write this piece, those problems and solutions, I believe, are still being taught in schools because nothing has changed over the years.

•Olayemi sent in this article via olayemz@yahoo. com

16

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

NERC orders metering of customers within 45 days of payment Adetola Bademosi -Abuja

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed all electricity distribution companies to install meters for electricity customers under the Credit

Advance Payment for Metering Initiative (CAPMI) within 45 days of payment.

The commission, in Abuja, frowned at the refusal by distribution companies to meter their maximum-demand customers under the CAPMI. The acting chairman of the Commission, Dr

Anthony Akah, in a statement, issued by the Head of Press Unit, Dr Usman Abba Arabi, ordered that any customer who approached the companies for metering under CAPMI Scheme must have their meters within CAPMI stipulated timeline of 45 days.

“The scheme remains as an option for

customers, but a compulsory requirement for DisCos to implement when customer offers to contribute to metering through CAPMI,” he said.

While also appealing to electricity consumers to stop attacks on officials of DisCos, he advised them to explore its complaint and redress mechanism rather than resort to jungle justice in settling disputes with officials of electricity distribution companies.

He directed the DisCos to provide meters for all maximum-demand-meter customers within their networks not later than the last quarter of 2016 as agreed during the meeting it had with them on metering.

He reiterated that the commission would sanction any defaulting DisCos beginning from the fourth quarter of the year.

However, the commission encouraged DisCos to publicise CAPMI and encourage customers to subscribe to it so as to close the wide metering gap in the industry.

2,000 widows get economic empowerment in Abuja Clemetn Idoko-Abuja

From left, Special Adviser to the Vice President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu (left), receiving an award of humanity on behalf of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from the former national president of Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, Barrister Adekola Mustapha (right). With them is current national president of the association, Dr Kamal Dawud and the Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport, Kano State, Honourable Shibu Lambu, during the association’s public lecture and presentation of award in Abuja. Photo: Sunday Osunrayi

Power generation: FG to partner firm on hydropower development Adetola Bademosi -Abuja The Federal Government has disclosed plans to partner with a power firm, North South Power Company Limited, in a bid to improve power situation in the country.

Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, said the firm would assist in the development of several existing dams for power generation.

Crew 1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@ yahoo.com 08030947856 2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo. co.uk 08034412281 3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782 4. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@ gmail.com 08182214290 5. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 6. Ajayi Joseph syntacticjoe@yahoo.com 08107754190 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@ gmail.com 08054501406

Speaking in Abuja, when the board members of the company led by the chairman, Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu paid a courtesy visit to him in his office, the minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment towards partnering with the private sector in the development of the new and existing infrastructure of the sector for the development of small hydro power schemes.

He added that the ministry, in partnership with the Ministry of Power, had set up a Steering Committee on ways to concession the small hydro power schemes for adequate power generation.

The committee, according to him, would come up with regulations and information that would attract would-be investors in the sector.

In his response, the chairman of the company, Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, said that the company would explore viable opportunities in identified areas.

He pointed out that under the joint venture, the ministry and the North South Power Company Ltd would jointly develop the projects and share revenues accruing from the sale of electricity in the proportion of each party’s contribution.

Over 2000 widows in Abuja have received cash donation and small-scale business start-off items worth over N20 million.

The gesture came through Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation.

Founder of the Foundation, Evangelist Ignatus Newman, presented the gift items and announced scholarship for indigent orphans at a ceremony marking 2016 International Widows Day. He lamented the neglect of widows in the country, saying the cash, food and various items donated to the women would enable them start-off their small scale businesses as they had already been trained for weeks in different skills acquisition programmes by the Foundation.

Items distributed include, bags of rice, sewing machines, hair-driers, microwaves, clothing materials and catering equipment among others.

According to him, the Foundation, which was established in 2009, has empowered over 7,500 widows while over 10,000 of widows and orphans have also benefited from its free healthcare service scheme.

FCT administration okays investment in students’ entrepreneurship development Christian Okeke -Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has pledged cash rewards for schools in the territory which stands out in entrepreneurial development of students.

Permanent Secretary in the administration, Babatope Ajakaiye, made the pledge while receiving the entrepreneurship award and other awards won recently

by Government Girls Secondary School

(GGSS) Abaji.

He said the administration took the decision to encourage entrepreneurial building in students and restated the resolve of the administration to improve education in the territory.

“When this administration came in, one of our determinations is to improve the quality of education in FCT particularly public schools in the FCT. It is so unfortunate that in 2015, the average result was like 30 per cent

pass mark for both WAEC and NECO,” he said.

The permanent secretary stated further: “we want to improve on that and we want to make sure the public schools are available for the poor to go there and also do well.

“You don’t have to go to private schools where you have to pay a lot of money before you can succeed. The aim is to change that fortune and we are working on it,” he said.

17

Thursday, 30 June, 2016 With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

•Emeritus Prof Ayo Bamgbose

•Prof Chukwuemeka Ike

•Prof Femi Osofisan

•Prof Niyi Osundare

Hope rises as dons intervene in neglect of local languages

The unease over the neglect of indigenous languages by Nigerians has been on for a while now, but last week, the University Press PLC joined the fray by bringing in scholars to discuss how this is affecting the country during its annual Authors’ Forum.

ADEWALE OSHODI, who was at the event, reports on such concerns and the solutions proffered.

N

IGERIA’s official language is English, and this has definitely suppressed other indigenous languages in the country. In fact, it has reached a situation whereby parents even prefer their children to speak only in the English language, while neglecting the indigenous languages.

While some may feel that they are doing their children a world of good so that they can speak the English language fluently, their neglect of the local languages will come at a cost.

This is, therefore, what the University Press PLC, a foremost publishing company in the country, decided to raise during its 2016 Authors Forum, which was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last week.

With the theme, Neglect of Nigerian languages and culture: Counting the cost, concerned stakeholders deliberated on the problems and the way forward.

In his opening remarks, the chairman on the occasion, Dr Lalekan Are, lamented how Nigerians are neglecting the local languages in favour of English, saying that a language is just more than a means of communication.

“It influences our culture and even our thought processes.

“On a deeper level, language is an expression of who we are as individuals, communities and nations.

“However, the Western culture that has been perceived as superior to our culture has failed to integrate Africa’s cultural values into its curricula,” Dr Are said, while admitting that though we were colonised by the British, “our culture and languages should not be in shambles; it is always a sad story in our homes and schools, as our children are not allowed to speak their mother tongues as they will be punished

for doing so.

“In fact, Nigerian parents today do not speak their native languages to their children, and this is posing a danger on both the survival of our language and culture, and this is definitely why morals have drastically reduced in today’s world.”

In his lecture, Emeritus Professor Ayo Bamgbose, also admitted that Nigerian languages and cultures are losing their status under English dominance in homes, schools, and in the society at large.

Emeritus Professor Bamgbose said the neglect of our languages underlies the ills plaguing our culture, particularly in the area of morals.

The retired professor of English and African Languages explained that our languages have immense knowledge embedded in them, and since we have started neglecting our languages, then we are also neglecting the knowledge in them.

“When we look at countries that use their local languages like Japan, China,

The Western culture that has been perceived as superior to our culture has failed to integrate Africa’s cultural values into its curricula.

Sweden, Norway, among others, then we discover that they are thriving socially and economically.

Emeritus Professor Bamgbose then took the audience on a journey to the past when children were adequately grounded in their mother tongues.

“In fact, some primary schools conducted their teachings in the local languages, and people were doing well academically.

“We can also say Nigeria of the past cannot be compared to Nigeria of today; now, despite the fact that today’s children speak English, this has not reflected in their performances in external examinations like WAEC and NECO. “However, because one’s thoughts are developed in the mother tongue, then it is important that our local languages are used at the primary level of education, with only English language used in the teaching of the subject.

In the area of governance, Emeritus Professor Bamgbose said because our governance is conducted in the English language, most citizens become uninterested, and are excluded from participating in governance.

“It will, therefore, make sense if we translate our constitution, national anthem and pledge to our local languages,” the professor of English and African languages said, while commending some states Houses of Assembly that have specific days for debating in the local languages.

However, while reacting to Emeritus Professor Bamgbose’s lecture, Professor Femi Osofisan, said one of the problems of using the Yoruba language in education is in Mathematics, explaining that it would be difficult to find Yoruba meanings for different mathematical terms,

but this submission was debunked by the lecturer, who said the Yoruba language is so broad that it can come up with meanings for different mathematical concepts.

Professor Niyi Osundare, in his submission, urged the audience not to lose hope, as there was a time English was also trailing Latin in the days of old.

“However, the English people kept using their language, and even at that period, William Shakespeare was just a ‘local’ English writer.

“So we should also not lose hope, but we should get down to work by encouraging our people to speak their local languages,” Professor Osundare said.

For Professor Biola Odejide, while this problem is visible among the middle and upper classes, and urban areas in the country, those from the lower class and rural areas still value the local languages.

“While teaching some secondary school students some years ago, while most of them could understand the English language, they could not communicate in it.

“It should, therefore, be noted that our students will even perform better if they are taught in the local languages, because when you teach them in English, they will first process it into their local languages before they understand what it is all about,” Professor Odejide said.

In his submission, the royal father on the day, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, lamented that apart from the language, many people no longer value our culture, as well-to-do people even travel to Western countries like the United States and United Kingdom to give birth so that their children will be citizens of these countries and not Nigeria.

“We need to value our culture and our country,” Professor Ike advised.

18

arts&review

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Ebedi: Changing Nigeria’s literary landscape

T

RAVELLING to Iseyin, Oyo State for his literary residency has given a writer of Northern extraction, Abdullahi Lawan Kangala, the opportunity to experience another culture other than his own.

Kangala, who writes in Hausa language, was one of the three writers who just completed their residency at the Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin.

Speaking on his stay at Ebedi, Kangala, who is the first Hausa writer in the indigenous language to attend the residency, said he hoped to put some of his experience in his writings so that his readers can know more about the people of the town.

“I am really glad that I came to Ebedi for my residency, and it afforded me the opportunity to complete my novel, as well as some short stories,” Kangala said.

On how he got to know about the residency, Kangala, who is from Kano State, said the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kano State chapter organised an event to celebrate Dr Wale Okediran earlier this year in the city.

“In fact, the event, which was held on Dr Okediran’s birthday, was to honour him for his contributions to literature in the country; it was at this event that I met him, and when he got to know that I write

•Abdullahi Lawan Kangala in the Hausa language, he took special interest in me, and he invited me for the residency, saying no indigenous Hausa writer had ever applied to come for the residency.

“I am glad that I took the opportunity, and apart from the fact that I was able to complete some of my literary works, I was

•Okwudili Nebeolisa

•Macdell Joshua Kofi Sackey

also able to experience a different culture in Iseyin.

“The people of Iseyin are nice, and when they know one is a stranger, they do everything to make one feel comfortable.

One his relationship with the students that writers mentor, Kangala said, “I am

happy that I was able to teach them some Hausa words, as well as songs.

“The students were so lively, and that made my work easier.

“It was really a great experience coming for this residency, as I was also able to meet fellow writers from other parts of the country,” Kangala said.

The second resident, Okwudili Nebeolisa, a graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, admitted that if a writer cannot work at Ebedi, then he cannot work anywhere else.

“This is because the environment is so serene. I must commend the founder of the residency, Dr Okediran, for the good work he is doing for literature in the country.

“He is redefining literature in the country with this residency, and one good thing is that writers from other African countries also make use of the facilities at Ebedi for their literary works.

“This is, therefore, the first international writers’ residency in the country, and it is a good thing for Nigerian literature,” Nebeolisa said.

During his stay at the residency, the Federal University of Technology, Minna graduate was able to write several poems and short stories.

“In fact, most of my poems dwell on Iseyin, as I summarised my experience in the town.

“On my relationship with the students, we organised an event for them on Children’s Day, where they displayed their talents. They recited poems, had drama presentations, among others.

“So, it was six weeks filled with fun at Ebedi, and I hope to seize the chance to attend the residency again in the nearest future,” Nebeolisa said.

While speaking, the administrative manager of the residency, Mr Macdell Joshua Kofi Sackey, said the management would continue to encourage Nigerian and African writers to visit the residency, as it is a way of also projecting Iseyin town.

“Apart from how we assist writers in having a serene environment to complete their works, Iseyin town has also benefited as many people now know where the town is on the Nigerian map.

“Recently, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, realised the good we are doing in promoting literature in the country, and he visited the residency.

“Before his visit, he had not stepped foot in Iseyin for more than 30 years.

“This shows you how important Ebedi is to the literary development of the country.

“We will continue to do our best towards providing the conducive environment for writers to do their work,” Sackey, an award-winning poet who had also attended Ebedi on two separate occasions before being appointed as the manager, said.

Italian film-maker, Spencer, dies at 86 ITALIAN actor and filmmaker, Bud Spencer, who starred in a number of Spaghetti Westerns, has died aged 86.

He passed away peacefully last Monday in Rome “and did not suffer from pain,” his son said.

Spencer, whose real name was Carlo Pedersoli, was known among his fans as the “big friendly giant” of the screen because of his height and weight.

The actor, who was also a professional swimmer, appeared in more than 20 films from the 1950s to the 1980s.

He frequently appeared as part of a double act alongside Terence Hill - whose real name was Mario Girotti.

Spencer’s movies included Double Trouble, Go For It, Ace High, They Call Me Trinity and A Friend is a Treasure.

“With our deepest regrets, we have to tell you that Bud is flying to his next

•From left, founder, Nigerian Writers Award, Modest Diko; Regional Director, BEN TV Africa, Mr Lanre Ijaola; convener, Ibitola Oyoye-Adebayo and seminar keynote speaker, Oluseyi Ogunlana, at a press briefing on how to publish books for free in Lagos last Wednesday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa. journey,” Spencer’s family said on his Twitter account.

The actor’s son, Giuseppe Pedersoli,

added: “He had all of us next to him and his last words were ‘Thank you’.”

Telling the story of the river people A review of Peter Ukwa’s novel, River People and Other Stories

by Mercy Muemuifo.

AN 80-page work of fiction published in Nigeria by Words, Rhymes and Rhythm Limited Abuja (2015), River People and Other Stories comprises eight short stories which literally answer to the name – short story.

Short as the stories are, however, the author has managed to weave into them, a captivating picture of the people and culture of Africa, with the themes of neo-colonialism, love and family, and the African marriage scenario, among others.

Any student of literature who reads the book – River People and Other Stories, cannot help but concur with the description of the book by a national newspapers, which calls it “a simple narrative style laced with proverbs and cultural interjections reminiscent of the late literary legend, Chinua Achebe.”

And I want to add that Peter Ukwa’s

style also reminds one of Cyprian Ekwensi, Flora Nwapa, Chukwuemeka Ike, James Ngugi, and South African Novelist Alex La Guma, among other African writers whose works made up the African Writers Series of yesteryears. Having been a diligent disciple by reading those authors well, he is now a worthy apostle of the genre.

From the first story of the people seeking true independence, to the story of the youth corper, a beloved son who came home with a woman his mother didn’t approve of, and the epistle of the boy who broke a precious vase of his father’s and thought the world had ended, the author has been able to employ simple but powerful language and moving emotion to make the characters real in the mind of the reader, this sustaining the reader’s interest.

A potent tool in the hands of the author in portraying his characters lies in his powers of description. Young though he is, Peter Ukwa is not a child. Yet, he projects a wonderful power of observation and description which is very vital to

telling a story, and which most of us lose after childhood. Peter Ukwa has retained that power. That is why he can tell a story.

Which goes to show that great writers really, are born, not made.

Another strategy used by the author is his use of simple and clean language (by clean I mean devoid of explicit sex, or sexual overtones). This, combined with the familiar settings in the stories, make them appealing to young and old alike, Africans and non Africans.

There is no doubt that this work, River People and Other Stories is a success, is a success because the author has successfully combined attributes of great writers, blending them with his own style, to position himself as a literary giant of the future.

By winning the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Centenary Prize for short stories in 2014, he is on his way to becoming just that.

•Muemuifo is the Deputy General Manager, News and Current Affairs, Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba.

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Thursday, 30 June, 2016

education

Editor: Laolu Harolds 08111845016 tribune.education@yahoo.com

NUC develops new curriculum on gender for varsities Clement Idoko - Abuja

T

HE National Universities Commission has developed a new curriculum, ‘Gender and Transformative Leadership’, to be offered as one of the General Study (GST) courses in Nigerian universities.

Deputy executive secretary of the commission, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, explained that the introduction of Gender and Transformative Leadership as a course would help the youth in critical thinking on governance and politics.

He spoke at a two-day workshop for the development of Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards for Gender and Transformative Leadership as a General Study (GST) course for Nigerian universities, organised by NUC in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

He disclosed that the curriculum would be ready for adaptation by Nigerian universities in the 2016/2017 academic session for the fastest institutions, but by 2017/2018 academic year, it would be fully in place in all universities.

He said: “A lot has happened in the polity itself. Nigeria has been governed over the years more by unitary systems of government than democratic rule, and that has implication for an average young person.

“Even for our psyche, those of us who work at the level that we work; some of us are authoritarian. So, what this tries to achieve is to sensitise the polity itself, especially the youth we said are the leaders of tomorrow, to know that the next person is also as important as yourself.

“Indeed, it is believed, perhaps, we know that the other gender, the female gender, is reasonably not given its right of place.”

He said it has become imperative, therefore, to create that understanding for the youth that some of the barriers which are placed on a particular gender could be detrimental to the growth of the polity.

Mafiana added that in terms of leadership, the curriculum is being designed to transform the thinking of an average young person to believe that “when you bring a negative to a positive,” it’s more likely to enhance development.

UNESCO regional director, Dr Benoit Sossou, said the Gender and Transformative Leadership Curriculum has been developed and contextualised for Nigeria by 40 experts in 2014.

He added that the modules have already been used to train over 200 facilitators prior to the last general election in the country to advocate the importance of women participation in elections as leaders.

He noted that UNESCO has been committed to women’s empowerment and gender equality for many decades, mainstreaming gender in all its programmatic areas, integrating it in policy planning, programming, implementation and evaluation activities in all areas of UNESCO’s competence and implementing genderspecific programmes.

Immediate past Chairman, Committee of Pro-chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, being presented with an award by the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Mrs. Modup‎e Mujota, at the 4th Biennial Conference of the body, held at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State.

24 bag First Class at EKSU’s 21st convocation Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti EKITI State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, at its 24th convocation ceremonies held last week, conferred a total of 18,685 students’ degrees, diplomas and post-graduate diplomas, and gave them a charge to go and make positive impacts on the world.

On the occasion, the vice chancellor, Professor Samuel Oye Bandele, also announced that 24 of the graduating students bagged First Class degrees, while in the postgraduate class, 78 got PhD degrees.

He disclosed also that 366 got Master’s, 127 got professional Master’s degrees, and 118 received Postgraduate Diploma.

The Visitor to the university, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, in his speech at the ceremony lauded the governing council of EKSU, headed by Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, for appointing Professor Oye Bandele as the vice chancellor, describing him as a right choice.

Fayose also commended the management of EKSU for being able to clear the arrears of salaries and for being able to pay salary up to date. He also charged the council members and the management of the university not to relent, but to break more ground and still generate revenue by further looking inward.

To the graduates, Fayose said: “The queue out there is long, and white collar jobs are rare. Those who even have such jobs, are they paid regularly? The situation is getting tougher every day, and we must all invest

more in agriculture.”

He called on Nigerians to pay more attention to agriculture, saying there is already food insecurity in the country that must be tackled.

On the occasion, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; the Alara of Aramoko, Oba Olu Adeyemi and a lawyer businessman, MrGbengaOyebode, were conferred with honorary doctorates for their various contributions to the growth

of the society.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Dickson, who was awarded a doctorate in Public Administration “in recognition of his exemplary leadership as a representative of his people at the federal legislature and governor of Bayelsa, thanked the people of Ekiti State for the honour, and also urged them not to despair as a result of the economic downturn in the country, saying it would pass away.

10 Lagos teachers bag Master’s degrees from UK Naza Okoli - Lagos TEN teachers from Lagos State public schools have bagged Master’s degrees in various disciplines from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.

The programme, which commenced in 2011, was recently completed online by the 10 teachers who were all sponsored by the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Corona Schools Trust Council (initiators of the project), Mrs Olufunsho Igun, made this known at the conference room of the Ministry of Education, Ikeja, during the presentation of certificates to the teachers by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi.

Out of the 10 teachers, three passed with Merit; six of them had Credit, while the last scholar, who is physically challenged, is yet to obtain his certificate “due to the nature

of his course module.”

According to Mrs Igun, 15 more Lagos State teachers “are on the second batch and are expected to form the last batch for Nigeria as the Commonwealth has moved to Kenya.”

She also disclosed that all 15 of them are expected to complete their courses this year.

The permanent secretary, Mr AdesinaOdeyemi, in his remarks commended the Corona Schools Trust Fund Council “for their worthy cause and support.”

He appealed to the recipients to use the knowledge they have acquired to touch the lives of both their students and their colleagues.

Mr Odeyemi also urged the teachers to advance their careers by pursuing PhD courses, assuring them of approval “when required.”

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education

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

EAC: ‘We have accomplished our mission’

By Kehinde Adio

T

HE 20 years of experience and achievements of Educational Advancement Centre in the provision of Advanced Level education in Nigeria has influenced many A’ Level

schools to spring up in all the 36 states in the country, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Tribune Education gathered that the institution, which started in Ibadan, has other centres in Lagos and some other states in the country; and it has pro-

Ogun set to endorse PDE certificate THE Senator IbikunleAmosun-led administration in Ogun State is poised to join the 35 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory in recognising the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) certificates for teachers in the state.

This was disclosed last week Tuesday by the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Modupe Mujota, while speaking as the guest lecturer at the second graduation and induction ceremony of Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) of 248 graduands into teaching profession.

The programme was or-

ganised by the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, in collaboration with the Teacher’s Registration Council of Nigeria.

MrsMujota, who identified biometric registration of practicing teachers as another possible way of collaborating with the TRCN, also promised to improve the condition of the profession in the state.

The provost of the College, DrAyodejiAjayi, speaking through the deputy provost, DrBolatitoAdeniji, had earlier noted, with dissatisfaction, that it was only Ogun State that was yet to recognise the PDE across the country.

duced over 5,000 graduates with no fewer than 500 scoring ‘A’s in all their three subjects.

Many of them have gained admission through direct entry into many first and second generation universities in Nigeria, as well as abroad.

Speaking with Tribune Education recently, the Director of the institution, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, said that EAC pioneered Advanced Level institutions in Oyo State, and that it has

THERE is a critical need to teach safety education as a subject in schools as approved by the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC) in 2007.

This, according to Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Rindom Kumven, will properly equip youths with safety rules.

At a stakeholders meeting on road safety education for youths attended by school teachers in Asaba, Delta State, Mr Kumven noted that many young people had

lost their lives to road crashes because of their abysmal knowledge on safety codes.

The sector commander lamented that many state governments were yet to introduce safety education as a subject into their curricula.

According to him, the FRSC believes in catching the children young enough to educate them, and that the rate at which they perish in crashes propelled the corps to push for safety education for primary to junior secondary school.

He narrated an incident where over 42 children died in an unmarked school bus, which plunged into a river.

In a lecture, the state Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said Delta State on its part had infused safety education into carrier subjects for the children.

Ebie, who was represented

by Mr Ziregbe Onos, however, explained that introducing safety education as a subject was unattainable because of numerous challenges, including funding.

Earlier, the Deputy Route Commander of the corps in the state, Mark Abili, had enlightened the stakeholders on the importance of speed limiter which he stated had commenced since 2012.

FG tasks UBEC, SUBEBs on curriculum Clement Idoko-Abuja

THE Federal Government has urged the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) to ensure full implementation of the 9-year basic education curriculum in order to improve on the learning outcome of the pupils and students.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, gave the charge at the 15th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Management with the exec-

utive chairmen of SUBEBs and the FCT-UBEB, held in Calabar, Cross River State.

The theme of the meeting was; ‘Life-long Functional Basic Education in Nigeria: Challenges and the Way Forward’, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of UBEC, Mrs Helen Okoro.

The minister charged the participants to put more emphasis on effective and correct implementation of approved school curriculum, effective monitoring, supervision and strategic inspection of school activities.

He assured them that the

that such students rarely get involved in any anti-social activities on campus.

“Here in EAC, we have put in place teaching and research facilities with human resources that can produce excellent and innovative scholars for university education.

He enthused: “We train our students not only to pass the examination, but also to discover themselves, giving them the foundation for skill development process.

“Going by our academic

Teachers and pupils of Kingdom Heritage Model School, Eleyele, Ibadan during their excursion to Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, recently.

FRSC takes safety education to schools in Delta Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

had a record of continued outstanding performance in A’Level Cambridge examination since inception.

He noted that A’ Level programmes remain the best option to commence skill development process in the university.

Students who pass through ‘A’ Level education programme before proceeding to university, he noted, must have acquired independent learning skills and matured minds that could prepare them for their studies; and

Federal Ministry of Education would continue to support their efforts in the bid to transform basic education sub-sector in the country.

Anwukah also encouraged state governments to access their outstanding matching grants from UBEC in order to accelerate the development of basic education in Nigeria.

He noted the implementation of basic education was a primary responsibility of the states and that federal government's intervention was meant to support their efforts.

performance record over the years in Cambridge A’ Level examinations and that of our students, who finished their degree programmes in various universities in Nigeria, Europe and the US, we make bold to say that we have accomplished our mission in A’ Level education programme in Nigeria.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Dean of the Schools, Mr Gbenga Adebambo stated that the centre has achieved a lot in its educational programmes, but still “strives to keep abreast with best practices globally.”

According to him, the centre is information technology-driven, endowed with sound educational structure, and formidable workforce to produce independent learners for the future.

Miss MokuroOnome Gloria, an undergraduate student at College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, who graduated from the school with A* A* A, toldTribune Education that EAC has what it takes to train students to succeed academically.

21

education

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

‘How we’re addressing funding problems at EKSU’ Professor Samuel Oye Bandele last week presided over his first convocation ceremony since assuming office as the vice chancellor, Ekiti State University. In this interview with LAOLU HARODLS, he shared some of his achievements in office, as well as his views on some issues in the sector.

T

he Federal Government is still considering increasing the number of existing universities, but stakeholders, including ASUU, believe what needs to be done now is to expand and properly fund the existing ones.

Where do you stand?

In answering this question, it’s good to examine the merits and demerits of each option. People argue that the population of this country is enormous, and it is scattered all over the entire landscape. So, you may want to establish more universities to satisfy geo-political, state or some other interests. If you look at it from that angle, the few universities will not be able to satisfy all those parameters. That way, one can say the Federal Government may have some good reasons for wanting to establish more universities. In America, there are many universities, even in a single state.

But the demerits could be seen from the perspective of what ASUU is saying. ASUU is saying that you have some universities, you cannot manage them. They don’t have good infrastructure; you cannot pay salaries of the teachers; you are asking the universities to look inwards and generate funds. So, what ASUU is saying is that government should make the existing universities functional, instead of multiplying mushroom universities; instead of saying that you have a thousand universities that a single one will not enter into any rating even in Africa or in the world. I’m very sure that if the existing universities are good and there are demands for more universities, ASUU will not go against it.

My own take is that government should make the existing universities good; if there is need to now increase, you can increase.

Depending on government subventions has been grossly inadequate in funding universities. What creative solutions would you suggest? And what has been the experience here at EKSU? As at today, looking at the global economic trend and national economic degeneracy, one can realistically say that government cannot alone shoulder the funding of higher education. Therefore, managers of our higher education enterprise should look inwards. When I came on board, I made a proposition; I called it ‘RISK to wealth’. What I mean is that higher institutions have a lot of resources (R) that we can turn to wealth. Universities, higher institutions have ideas (I). It is ideas that will give birth to money. Universities have people of ideas; intelligent people. You can even generate ideas from students that can bring wealth. Then, there is Skill (S). The university is a place where skills are developed. Therefore, we cannot have those skills in an environment and say that environment cannot generate fund. Then, ‘K’ is for knowledge. University is the knowledge base of any society. What I am saying is that the university can generate enough resources to complement the efforts of the government.

At EKSU, since I came on board, I’ve been pursuing this vision. I’m already harnessing the resources we have here to make sure that we create wealth. People are coming with wonderful ideas. I had two summits. The one that is relevant to your question is the IGR Summit. I invited some other vice chancellors, both old and new. They came to tell us what they were doing in their own universities, and we are already making use of those ideas. Number one, we go for academic expansion. This is an academic environment;

people want knowledge. So, if you have that knowledge and you are not selling it, you become impoverished.

Already we are selling knowledge. We have revived our part-time programmes; we are reviving our consultancy services that will cover the entire nation. We’re praying the NUC to approve our Distance Learning programme. We are also introducing new programmes like Insurance, Assurance, Marketing and things like that that will bring people.

Apart from the academic enterprise, there is also business enterprise. Already, our water project is being roofed.

By the time new students come in this September/October, they will meet our water project – table water, satchet water. Our bakery is also getting to the lintel level. I’ve already started the bookshop. It would surprise you that we don’t have a bookshop in this university. We are also planning our blocks industry. When I came on board, the block industry was not owned by the university. Already I’ve taken it over. Thousands of blocks are there now. We want to build a 20,000 accommodation now; imagine all the blocks that will be used if they are supplied by our university.

So, I believe that as a university, we can turn what we have here to wealth. But hat is not to say that a child can live without the father. We’ll continue to look to government to continue to help us. We can’t do it alone.

One of the indices used in determining world class universities is the ability to attract international staff and students. We’ve not been seeing much of this in Nigeria. Does that bother you?

It bothers me; but it borders on what we have been saying: economic problems. We just went for a meeting of the Association of Vice Chancellors in Jos. This was one of our cries too. Every vice chancellor in this nation would love to bring foreign partners; but can you imagine what it’s going to cost you to service just one expatriate? Maybe that would be enough to employ 10 professors here, in terms of accommodation, salary, health and so on. So, because of the downward trend in the economy, what you desire is not what you get. But plans are on, and I pray that it will work out. The Committee of Vice Chancellors is pleading that they should help us influence the government though this wonderful initiative, TETFund. If universities can be given a heading in TETFund that will say ‘Expatriate Teachers’, we would be glad.

You were reported to have commended the Federal Government for stopping the conduct of the post-UTME. As an expert in Test, Measurement and Evaluation, what exactly would you say was wrong with that test?

There was nothing wrong with the post-UTME as a test; but there was something wrong with the arrangement because of the overlap, and the passive extortion (which I believe is minor, because not all universities extort. Here we don’t extort anybody). My argument is this: when you conduct a test, and that test is valid and reliable, and you administer such a test, and you say these particular candidates have been adjudged qualified by the criteria of this standard test to be eligible students in the university, then what is the purpose of the other test? It is a parallel test

Oye Bandele

that does not achieve anything other than to subject (candidates) to multiple examinations. And I add very quickly: this is not to say that after the test (UME) has been conducted by JAMB, everybody should just rush them (candidates) to the university. No. You still have to do some screening.

I told my management that if they (candidates) are not too many, we may just first do the scanning of their certificates online; then we want to see those we want to admit. Maybe that would allow us to check cultism. Maybe that would allow us disallow miscreants from coming to our university.

Maybe that would allow us to test those that are even good in sports. When I was young and was aspiring to enter the university, these were some of the parameters used. It’s not just the cognitive knowledge alone; if I see you appearing like an Area Boy, I can say this one cannot be my student.

What are some of those landmark achievements you have recorded; what difference would you say you have made since you assumed office as vice chancellor?

I would say these landmarks follow directly from the department where I declared state of emergency when I came on board. As an internal candidate, I knew there were some problems in the system, and I was not coming to deceive God and government that put me here. The first landmark I achieved is in the area of ICT – and I’m still moving. In the area of ICT, our university had dragged foot for a long time. It would surprise you that we are just starting a fullblown portal for a university of 34 years! Now, because of the efforts that I put into it since I came on board, my students now, anywhere they are, can access their results.

Also, when I came on board, to collect transcripts was like digging for gold on an impossible terrain. But I thank God that the entire environment knows that as at now, our ICT platform is being radically restructured. I call it Data Rescue Squad, to rescue data since the inception of this university. As at now, from 2009 to the present date, any of our students within that bracket anywhere in the world can take their transcripts.

Let me come to the area of venture. When I came on board, the part-time programme was virtually dead. Now, it has been revived. In the academic area, I’m already creating waves. Students know that I love them, but I also love my staff. We want to start to assess staff. It has been accepted by Senate. That is, as teachers assess their students, students too will also assess their teachers. That would create a balancing. I’m not going to ask them to mortgage standard, but I don’t believe in you just failing students. In the past, people thought the more students failed, that’s how strong they were; and I say no, it’s the more your students pass that will show that you are working. If you bring a raw material in a pipe, and it comes out of that pipe deformed, then something is wrong with that pipe. I’ve told them our university is a factory, and we are bringing raw materials in form of students, and I want them to come out fine. So, summarily, I would say the landmark I’ve achieved is the change of the university in virtually all areas.

education Funding, graduate employability, governance system dominate discussion at pro-chancellors’ confab 22

By Laolu Harolds

Q

UALITY of graduates, investment in education, as well as governance in the university system are some of the issues exhaustively discussed at the 4th Biennial Conference of the Prochancellors of State-owned Universities, hosted by the Tai Solarin University of Education.

The pro-chancellor of TASUED and former vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, in his welcome address noted that recent developments in the tertiary education system called for conferences of this nature, to articulate the challenges and proffer evidence-based policies and programmes to move the system forward.

He charged the participants and invited speakers to “go beyond political correctness” and imbibe the traditional academic culture of telling it as it is – if the conference would be worth the effort.

The keynote speaker at the conference was the executive secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Julius Okojie, whose paper ‘Current Challenges Facing State Universities in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal and Way Forward’, was presented by the former vice chancellor of the Ekiti State University, Professor Patrick

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Oladipo Aina.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Modupe Mujota, who represented Governor Ibi-

kunle Amosun, declared the conference open.

In her address, she noted that higher education in Nigeria is confronted with enormous challenges, with

THE Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has kicked against the calls by some Nigerians for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), established 43 years ago by the military administration of former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ (Steam 11) corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Paiko recently, the governor said that after 43 years of its establishment, the scheme remained an enduring vehicle for national unity and integration in the country.

Governor Bello maintained that the primary objective of the scheme is to develop common tie

university revenue is likely to continue to decline owing to the current global economic recession.

She said: “As a result, higher institutions must

Managing Director, United Parcel Services(UPS) Nigeria (centre), Mr Ralph Ozoude; CEO Christian Mission for the Deaf (CMD), Pastor Emmanuel Ilabor(second right); Head, UPS Human Resources, Mrs Anu Ajayi (first right), UPS Logistics Manager, Mr Kordy Agubata (first left)and Supervisor Christian Mission for the Deaf, Mrs Grace Ajayi (second left) during the presentation of a cheque received from the UPS Foundation by the mission in Ibadan, Oyo State as grant for the school at UPS Headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos recently.

Christian Mission for the Deaf receives UPSF $22 578 grant CHRISTIAN Mission for the Deaf (CMD), a school located in Ibadan, Oyo State, has received a grant of $22,578 from The United Parcel Services Foundation (UPSF), Nigeria.

The cheque was presented

by Managing Director of UPSF, Mr Ralph Ozoude, on behalf of The UPS Foun-

dation and was received by the Chief Executive Officer of CDM, Pastor Emmanuel Ilabor.

Also representing UPSF, Nigeria at the event were Head of Human Resources, Mrs Anu Ajayi, Logistics Manager, Mr Kordy Agubata and HR Communications Specialist, Ms Jumoke

Gov Bello faults calls for scrapping of NYSC Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

the heat more on the stateowned universities.

Most critical of these challenges, she noted, is funding. However, she said that funding as a share of

among the Nigerian youths and to promote national unity and integration, saying that “in my opinion, I feel this is still very relevant.”

He, however, pointed out that there is the need to be more innovative in the implementation process to emphasise the inculcation of discipline and moral values in the youths.

The governor therefore warned all government agencies, ministries and parastatals not to reject corps members posted to them for their primary assignment, stressing such act will not be tolerated by the government.

Also speaking, the State Coordinator of NYSC, MrsBolade O. Loto, agreed with the governor that the scheme be sustained, noting that since the inception of the scheme in 1973, it had been rendering selfless

service to the community and fostering unity among different tribes regardless of their social and cultural background.

Mrs Loto thanked the governor for the support the scheme has enjoyed from the state, noting that a total of 2001 corps members were deployed to the state for the 2016 Batch A stream 11 national youth service.

Oyebanji.

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta Georgia, The UPS Foundation identified the specific areas where its making impact to include; the aspect of profit effectiveness, economic and global literacy, encouraging diversity, community safety and environmental sustainability.

According to the foundation, it is proud to identify and support Christian Mission for the Deaf to assist in building a stronger community and to cater for the physically-challenged in the society.

Pastor llabor appreciated the UPS Foundation for the grant, promising to utilise it judiciously and prudently in the completion of the female dormitory project, which would accommodate over 300 students in the mission.

According to him, “CDM, established in 1960 by the

late American Educator and Missionary, Mr Andrew Foster, who pioneered deaf education in Africa, the school is out to cater for the deaf in Nigeria and beyond.

“CMD runs special preparatory, primary, secondary, vocational schools and also a church, which provide exceptional educative services with excellent facilities for the deaf and hearing-impaired students.”

He also stated that currently the school operates from a temporary site located at Onireke GRA, Ibadan, but plans to later move to her permanent site on Kilometre 18, lbadan-Lagos Expressway, Ibadan.

“Majority of our students live in boarding facility with a good number of them from poor backgrounds.

This has necessitated the need for a bigger dormitory at the school’s permanent site,” he added.

see themselves as key partners and integral part in the ongoing need for internally generated revenue.

We must brainstorm on the way forward and plan toward securing our future. We must look at stable and sustainable longterm funding models.”

He commended TASUED for its “innovation and resourcefulness” through its production of various items and products, including water, furniture, fruit juice, poultry, and farm produce – which he said the state government patronize and would continue to patronize.

Also speaking at the event, the secretary-general of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and former vice chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Michael Faborode, emphasized the need for government to recognize the right of each university’s Senate to prescribe the modality for admission, and to refrain from “making pronouncements on education matters that will affect the state and private universities.”

He also commended the quality of leadership and commitment of the governing councils of many of the state universities despite the challenges in the education sector.

The chairman, Committee of Pro-chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria, HRH Professor Gregory Akenzua, in his address said the choice of the theme of the conference was apt in the light of current realities.

He expressed the confidence that recommendations arising from the conference would go a long way in proffering solutions to many of the challenges faced by state universities.

Justice of the Supreme Court and immediate past chairman of the CPSUN, Justice Adolphus KaribiWhyte, was honoured with an award at the event.

Elizade Varsity shines in America THE efforts of Nigerian government at improving the literacy of her citizens and improving their reading culture was brought to the American audience during the ‘2016 Jay Jordan IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellowship’ programme, when the representative of Elizade University, IlaraMokin, Ondo State, Mr

Idowu Adegbilero Iwari addressed the participants from different parts of the world.

The fellowship, which was organised for early career librarians from developing countries and jointly sponsored by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the world largest li-

brary consortium, Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC), was held in Ohio, United States.

Elizade University was the fourth Nigerian university and the first private university to have ever participated in the 15-year old programme.

According to System Librarian and Head, ELibrary Services, Elizade

University Mr AdegbileroIwari, the university featured prominently in every activity and task embarked upon at the programme.

Mr Adegbilero said that the knowledge he acquired during the month-long fellowship would help the university in its quest to make its Library the best in the country and one of the best in the world.

23

Thursday, 30 June, 2016 Editor:

health

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

Salt: How much is too much?

Salt intake has become a major health concern given that an array of studies have claimed too much salt in the diet can increase the risk of serious illness, such as heart disease and stroke. SADE OGUNTOLA in this report examines how much is “too much” when it comes to salt consumption.

PEOPLE are often unaware of the amount of salt they consume. In many countries, salt intake has become a major health concern. An array of studies have claimed too much salt in the diet can increase the risk of serious illness, such as heart disease and stroke, prompting recommendations to lower salt intake.

For this reason the World Health Organisation recommends a maximum intake of two grammes per day and a 30 per cent reduction in population sodium intake by 2025. Salt is the primary source of sodium. But how much is “too much” when it comes to salt consumption?

Experts’ assessment of salt intakes in sub-Saharan Africa found that salt intake in much of sub-Saharan Africa is above the World Health Organisation’s recommended maximum intake and may be set to increase as the continent undergoes considerable urbanisation.

In fact, in this 2016 study published in the journal, Population Health Metrics, urban populations also consumed higher amounts of salt than rural populations.

But dietary guidelines recommend that adults should eat no more than six grammes of salt a day – that’s around one teaspoon. Children should eat less as part of a healthy diet.

Nonetheless, a research study conducted by a consortium of International Union of Nutritional Societies (IUNS) and Unilever scientists in 2013 found although salt reduction was perceived to be healthy and important, many people were not aware of the official daily salt intake recommendations or the sources of salt in their diet This study was to gain insights on knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to salt consumption across eight countries and five continents.

But earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidelines for the reduction of sodium in processed foods, which account for around 75 per cent of all salt consumption.

It is to lower salt intake among consumers to the recommended level of 2,300 milligrams daily, in order to reduce the health risks associated with high salt consumption.

However, some researchers suggest that such a level is too low. In fact, some say that consuming salt in such small amounts may even do more harm than good.

Use nutrition labels to check salt levels How much sodium is in your food? Ex-

perts say that a single slice of bread contains between 80 and 230 milligrammes of sodium. Some breakfast cereals can contain up to 300 milligrammes of sodium before milk is added.

If sodium is listed on the label’s nutritional information instead of salt, the amount on the label should be multiplied by 2.5 to get the equivalent salt content.

For example, if a portion of food contains a gramme of sodium per 100gm, such contains 2.5grammes of salt per

If sodium is listed on the label’s nutritional information instead of salt, the amount on the label should be multiplied by 2.5 to get the equivalent salt content.

100grammes.

Salt in the diet could come from processed foods like processed meats like bacon, ham and instant noodles or because they are consumed frequently in large amounts. Salt is also added to food during cooking in the form of bouillon cubes or at the table.

Salt intake: The benefits and risks No doubt, the body needs some salt; it is important for nerve and muscle function, and it helps regulate bodily fluids. But it is impossible to work out exactly how much salt a person eats in one day without knowing the precise salt content of each food and measuring the exact quantities eaten.

However, numerous studies have indicated that consuming too much salt can increase the risk of serious health problems like high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney related diseases, heart disease and stomach cancer.

Too much salt may over-activate the immune system, causing autoimmune diseases. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported in the journal Nature that excessive consumption of salt might increase our risk of developing multiple sclerosis, allergies, lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

Learn more about salt According to a consultant at the Har-

SEX, SEXUALITY&YOUR HEALTH

NATURAL HEALTH

Male genital examination and grooming

Stressed up, try African black soap Page 26

Page 26

vard Medical School, United States, Dr Li-Li Hsiao, Africans in particular are genetically salt sensitive, thereby, prone to high cases of diabetes and high blood pressure.

Hsiao, who spoke at a medical outreach organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Abuja declared: “Nigerian foods were prepared with too much salt, and as a result, there must be an awareness to educate people on how to eat properly with respect to balanced diet and low intake of salt.

“The black population is genetically very salt sensitive and so when they eat high salt food, there is high risk of high blood pressure and from that, there is the risk of heart disease and kidney disease.

So people must cut down on salt intake at the community level.

“Nigerian foods are so favoured with lots of spice. So the use of salt can be reduced with the use of spice which will make the food to taste good and less salty.”

Also, an Associate Professor of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr Amam Mbakwem said that black people tend to hold onto more salt because of the climate.

“We sweat a lot and so, we require more salt to balance up. But once too much salt is in the system, it triggers high blood pressure. There are also some genetic differences between whites and blacks. Diet is also another reason for the high rate of hypertensive cases in black people.’’

WHO Assistant Director-General for Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Dr Oleg Chestnov, said: “If the target to reduce salt by 30 per cent globally by 2025 is achieved, millions of lives can be saved from heart disease, stroke and related conditions.”

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Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

Is it really possible to see what others don’t see?

T

HERE is a Yoruba myth that says, “If your hand is itchy, it means some good money is coming your way soon. Some have extrapolated this to mean that if you have twitching of the lids, you are not just going to be stupendously rich, you probably must be seeing things that others don’t see! If you don’t handle it probably, it may cause you some embarrassment and may land you in a psychiatry ward!

But the question is, “Is it really possible to see what others don’t see? Technically, it is possible. There are a few people with visual acuity of 6/3 or 20/10.

Normal visual acuity is 6/6 or 20/20.

This means standing at a distance of six metres (20feet), one is capable of seeing what a normal eye should see at six metres.

A visual acuity of 6/3 (20/10) means that standing at a distance of six metres one is capable of seeing what a normal eye can see at three metres (10feet).

Someone like that would be said to be seeing what others don’t see!

A visual acuity of 6/3(20/10) would be regarded as super normal and could be an asset if you play Golf or shoot arrows or are a marksman. One of Tiger

Woods’, the great golfer’s, secret is said to be a Visual Acuity of 6/3. Surprisingly a person with a normal or super normal visual acuity may not have a normal eye!

The reason is simple. Visual acuity is only one of three measures by which one can know if an eye is normal or not. So having a normal visual acuity means you have scored 33.3 per cent of the marks!

And three marks out of 10 are definitely far from the pass mark! What then are the other two measures that can tell you if your eye is normal or abnormal? The second is Colour Vision – ability to perceive and appreciate colours.

Can you imagine a world without colours? You see the green grass as grey and at the traffic light you cannot differentiate between the Red and the Green.

When do you stop and when do you move

A colour blind pilot or a train or bus driver could cause serious accidents

on? Fortunately colour blindness is rare and people with colour vision abnormality have developed coping mechanisms.

But a colour blind pilot or a train or bus driver could cause serious accidents and for these occupations, it is mandatory to be certified as having normal colour vision before one is employed.

The third measure that can tell if an eye is functionally normal is the Visual Field. The Visual Field can be simply described as a measure of the area you can see ahead of you compared with the area you cannot see. This is not just in quantity but also in quality.

There are elaborate instruments used to measure visual acuity and the outcome could tell one if in the presence of a normal or super normal visual acuity one has glaucoma or a brain tumour or some other diseases.

Those who have had Visual Field measurements know that it is laborious and time-consuming. Consequently, it is not done routinely but in cases where there is suspicion of some damage to the optic nerve.

How then do I answer the question if I have a normal visual field? If we can’t easily measure the function of the optic nerve which visual field is, we can simply have

a look at the structure of the nerve. If the structure is normal we can then assume the function (visual field) is normal.

Are you wondering how we can see a nerve in a human? Yes, the optic nerve is the only nerve in the body you can view directly with ease and without any surgical manipulations.

Using the ophthalmoscope and looking through the pupil, we can see the entrance of the nerve into the eye. This is called the optic nerve head or simply, the optic disc.

We know what a normal optic nerve head looks like. Certain features will distinguish one disease entity from the other.

These features give us the clue as to the type of visual field changes we expect.

Then for these people we insist on visual field measurements and if need be other ancillary tests.

Does a normal structure always mean normal function? No! In early stages of many diseases, changes may not be detected and herein lies the folly. Also, waiting for these changes means waiting for the disease to be well established before doing something about it. We therefore often use a combination of the patient’s history (his story), our clinical findings and the outcome of various tests to make the final decision.

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

The procedure of IVF

By Dr V. D Ajayi IN IVF eggs and sperms are needed. The eggs are collected from the woman’s ovaries which are the factories that produce the eggs. In the natural situation, usually every month a certain number of eggs begin to grow in the woman’s ovaries. The eggs are contained in structures called follicles.

Every woman has two ovaries. One of the follicles begins to grow faster and continues to grow until it releases the egg contained in it (this release is called ovulation) in readiness to meet the sperm in the fallopian tube which comes via intercourse with her partner at or around this time of ovulation.

The other eggs die off. In IVF drugs are used to prevent those other eggs that would have died off to survive. So new or artificial eggs are not being manufactured or created (It is still the woman’s eggs that are used) neither are egg stores being depleted as the eggs recruited for IVF would have died anyway.

The other difference is that instead of allowing ovulation inside her the process is timed in such a way that just before ovulation the eggs are collected from her ovaries by a special technique called egg retrieval after giving her some mild seda-

tion to sleep off lightly so as not to feel any pain. Open surgery is not needed to collect the eggs. The eggs are collected through her vagina with a special needle guided by an ultrasound machine so we can safely and carefully guide the needle to the ovaries and collect the eggs.

The eggs cannot be seen with the naked eyes. They are contained in special fluids within rounded or oval structures called follicles within the ovaries. Each follicle is expected to contain an egg. What is collected is the fluid and this is examined by the expert called the embryologist to determine the number and quality of eggs collected. It is not all the time that all the follicles have eggs collected from them.

Once the eggs have been collected sperms are also collected from her partner who would have produced semen by masturbation preferably or by having intercourse with his partner using non medicated special condoms after abstaining from intercourse for between 2-5 days.

The sperms are used to fertilize the eggs.

What results from this union is called an embryo.

The embryos are allowed to grow or develop in an incubator which you could consider as an artificial or temporary womb for 2-5 days after which an agreed, safe and ethically recommended number

of embryos are transferred back into the woman’s womb. They are expected to implant or attach to the lining of the woman’s womb and grow into a pregnancy.

It is like planting a seed in soil and expecting it to form roots and germinate where the embryo is the seed and the soil is the lining of the woman’s womb. Two weeks later a pregnancy test is done to see if the woman is pregnant.

Time needed for IVF There is usually no need to be admitted in hospital for IVF. From commencement, after carrying out the relevant basic tests, a series of ultrasound scans leading up to egg collection, embryo transfer and the pregnancy test may take between 4-6 weeks.

Success rates Over five million babies have been born worldwide from IVF since 1978 when Louise Brown the first IVF baby was born. IVF does not work all the time however it has a good success rates depending of certain factors.

One of the factors that affect success rates is the woman’s age. Younger women generally have higher success rates than older women using their eggs so the earlier women embark on IVF the better their chances of success.

Average success rates are about 40 to 50 per cent. IVF success rates are even higher than natural pregnancy rates which are about 20 per cent per month. There are other factors that affect success rates for example the condition of the inside of the woman’s wombs, the man’s sperm quality etc.

Risks of IVF It is generally a low risk procedure and generally goes well but like anything in life there are risks. Risk of the ovaries over reacting to the IVF drugs and causing some problems are possible but this is easily preventable in most cases and this condition called ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS) is better prevented than treated. Risk of injuries to organs during egg collection can be prevented by ensuring qualified and trained personnel carry out the procedure and under ultrasound guidance.

There are risks of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy just like in naturally conceived pregnancies. Risk of multiple births is higher in IVF for example twins, triplets etc however this can be controlled by the limiting the number of embryos transferred back into the womb.

To be continued

25

healthnews

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

How physiotherapy profession was transformed —Sanya, former UI DVC

From left, the National President Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Mr Taiwo Oyewumi; the chairman of occasion, Emeritus Professor P.A.I Obanya; the guest lecturer, Professor Arinola Olasumbo Sanya; Professor Akintola Aboderin ; Mrs Olapeju Nwuga and Professor Matthew Olaogun at the 2nd Nwuga Physiotherapy Foundation Annual lecture held recently at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in Ibadan . PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

ONE year after the demise of Emeritus Professor of Physiotherapy, Vincent Nwuga, his ideal of continued educational improvement to increase professional potential, a former deputy vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Arinola Sanya has said is still going viral among Nigeriantrained physiotherapists at home and abroad.

Professor Sanya said this at a lecture she delivered in Ibadan at the second Nwuga Physiotherapy Foundation entitled “Nwugarian Ideals for Physiotherapy in Nigeria: Mentee’s Review One Year After”.

Sanya said the Nwugarian ideal has grown with beneficial effect on more than 80 per cent of physiotherapists trained in Nigeria, adding that it was now very unlikely that a physiotherapist trained in Nigeria will not make any effort to improve

Nigeria ill equipped to prevent looming NCDs epidemic —Study

By Sade Oguntola

A

S a silent epidemic of non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, stroke and cancers looms in Nigeria, a study has rated the country ill equipped for the danger, saying it has very few policies in place to prevent these diseases.

In a preliminary analysis of non communicable diseases prevention policies in Africa, experts found few NCD prevention policy documents in Nigeria that tackle physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, alcohol and tobacco use, all modifiable risk factors for these diseases.

At a dissemination workshop in Ibadan on the findings of the study, the team leader of the study, Professor Oladimeji Oladepo stated that although Nigeria has developed its National Policy and Strategic Plan of Action on Non-Communicable however, this has not been published and disseminated.

The researchers are based at the African Regional Health Education Centre, Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Ibadan.

According to him, “Tobacco use is the only modifiable risk factor with the most comprehensive set of policy actions which aligns

with global recommendations. Alcohol currently has no comprehensive health-sector driven policy to regulate its marketing, advertising and availability.”

While there are no legal acts to regulate the activities of the food industry with regards to salt and trans-fat content of manufactured foods, he said proposed actions in the policies on salt and trans-fat content of foods were largely educational interventions for the general population.

He added, “Policy documents which outlined actions to tackle physical inactivity do not include the globally recommended best buy interventions.

“As far as WHO recommendation concerning all the policies are concerned, there is a low level of MSA (except for tobacco) and several relevant sectors pertinent to the implementation of the policies were not involved in the formulation process” Oladepo, however, highlighted challenges found by the study against proper policy to curb increasing cases of NCDs formulation and its implementation to include over-dependence on donor funding, low or non-existent government budgetary allocation to support the process and funding constraint to implement and enforce any proposed

actions.

According to him, “There is a poor understanding of the roles of different sectors in NCDs prevention.

In fact, a lot of the NCDrelated policies are due for review. They are obsolete and as such reviewing them will provide the opportunity to mainstream the best buy interventions into them.

Also, the political prioritisation and funding for NCDs remains low.

“There has been a gap, the civil society organisations and advocates had largely focused on tobacco control and not yet on other facts that are linked to NCDs.” Earlier, Mrs Mojisola Oluwasanumi giving an overview of the study said

globally, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and chronic respiratory disease were the four biggest killers.

She said that as far back as 2008, a tenth of deaths in Nigeria were due to NCDs, adding that by eliminating the shared risk factors for these diseases, the burden of these diseases would go down rapidly.

‘Family planning, key to achieving SDGs’ CHAIRMAN, Advocacy Network of Nigeria, Alhaji Salahuddeen Busairi has urged that family planning be a concern of all, indicating that it was a key to the success of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Busairi spoke at the organisation’s feedback meeting with family planning stakeholders in Ibadan on its advocacy visits to heads of the 33 local governments in Oyo State and Ministry of Local Government Affairs.

Busairi, who said the full meaning of family planning need to be comprehended by all, said that the advocacy became imperative because family planning was lumped with other issues under reproductive health budget.

According to him, “even where monies are allocated to family planning, it is often difficult to identify and access such money. Many

people are yet to realise the importance of family planning to maternal mortality reduction and child health care.”

He said the advocacy visits to get family planning budget line established in the 2016 local government annual budgets.

Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State branch, Dr Muideen Olatunji, who urged the group not to relent on its efforts on family planning promotion, assured of NMA’s support to boost Nigeria’s contraceptive prevalence rate to at least 45 per cent.

Representative of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Zacheeus Adelaja, saying that Christian faith does not support abortion, said people should rather avail themselves of family planning services from trained personnel.

Adelaja, while declaring that family planning was

important for the progress of the family, urged all Nigerians to become advocates for family planning.

Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) representative, Alhaja M. A Adedeji said the group is keen on reduction of maternal mortality expressed concern on cases of motherless babies.

Adedeji who assured that resistance to family planning among the Muslim community was also reducing, said the group was ensuring that women in purdah also know and understand the need for proper child spacing so that they do not end up with children they cannot take care of.

According to her, “family planning is not for reducing number of children, but rather economically planning ones family. It pays to do this.”

his or her professional potentials.

According to her, the Nwugarian ideals for Physiotherapy in Nigeria had ensured that physiotherapists continually update their career potentials, ensure that the upcoming generations do not go through the undue professional hardship of the past and promote availability of postgraduate physiotherapy training in Nigeria.

Also, Sanya said it has encouraged specialised physiotherapy practice and promote acceptable social and professional attitude and behaviour.

According to her, “the Nwugarian ideal has become the vogue such that at present at UCH, Ibadan 22 clinical physiotherapists have specialised Master’s degree in physiotherapy while four clinical physiotherapists have Ph.D degrees in physiotherapy. At the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, six of the clinical physiotherapists have Master’s degrees and three of them are females.”

Sanya while eulogising Emeritus Nwuga’ ideals, said it had prevented mediocrity, inferiority complex and undue aggression in relation to other professionals.

“If Professor Nwuga had not applied this ideal to his own life, there might be no justification to celebrate his life with this lecture. At the best, he could have retired from UCH at age 60 as a chief physiotherapist clinging to his diploma certificate,” she said.

The don declared that Nwuga’s determination to upgrade his qualification to degree status had ensured that upcoming generations do not go through the undue professional hardships of the past.

According to her, “if he had queued behind University of Lagos and gone the way of the diploma programme, physiotherapy training in Nigeria would have been a mixed grill of diploma and degree with attendant professional confusion and inferiority complex.

“He chose the degree programme when he started the programme at Ile Ife because he did not want his students to go through what he went through with his diploma background.”

Sanya, therefore, urged all physiotherapists to copy the late Nwuga by encouraging diligence and forthrightness in all their endeavours, saying this had helped him to change the face of Physiotherapy in the world given his outstanding achievement.

26

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Stressed up, try African black soap

By Sade Oguntola

T

O many individuals, black soap or African Black Soap is used for generations as a natural remedy for skin problems such as acne and eczema. Interestingly, some brands of black soap also work for stress control, an expert has said.

Dr Obafemi Jegede, unit coordinator, Traditional Medicine and Belief System, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, said black soaps were veritable means of treating many conditions that afflict the body such as stress, malaria and in improving body’s wellness.

Jegede, who declared that black soap is used as excipients in traditional medicine, said that the type of black soap used for stress control contains other condiments such as extract of bamboo tree.

“It is argued that the bamboo tree is frail looking; but no storm can blow it off. So, its resilience is why it is used in the construction of houses. In traditional medicine, the characteristics of plants are harnessed. So including bamboo extract is to tap into its resilience for stress control,” he said.

Bamboo is one of the most neglected trees, but that is a blessing to mankind. It gives the best of shade and oxygen.

Sitting under it gives a serene effect that calms the nerves and allows sound reasoning.

What is African black soap made with? Black soap as it is called locally is typically a combination of the cocoa pod husk, plantain skins, coconut oil, palm oil and essential oils.

Some additional ingredients, depending on the maker of the soap, could be honey to soften skin and shea butter or cocoa butter for extra moisturising properties.

But in the production of the variety of black soap for stress management, he said active, living and potent water, usually collected from a flowing stream, is required for its production.

Dr Jegede, who remarked that many disease conditions can be treated with specially formulated black soaps, said individuals having challenges sleeping only need to take their bath using a decoction made from root of neem, bark

of mango and leaves of lime and pawpaw tree and black soap.

In addition, he also mentioned Aboke, a local black soap, which is used for teething problem in children.

Previously, researchers have fortified black soap with materials like aloe vera, fine egg shell powder and Ficus exasperate (or sandpaper tree) and Plantain skins and leaves.

In a 2016 study, published in the Journal of Microbiology and Antimicrobial Agents, researchers found that inclusion of brown eggshell powder and Ficus exasperate can help to improve the antibacterial effect of black soap.

Fine egg shell powder has been used as home remedy for pimples and associated skin problem. Plantain skins and leaves have a high concentration of iron and vitamins A and E.

natural

health Vitamin E helps with tissue structure, healing and helps moisturise the skin improving texture and tone. Vitamin A benefits collagen production. Allantoin in the leaves of plantain stimulates the growth of new skin cells.

Gerard Niyondiko, an engineer from Burundi in 2013 invented Faso Soap, a mosquito repellent soap that can prevent malaria infection for up to six hours after use.

Comprised of shea butter, lemongrass, African marigold and other natural resources that are plentiful in Burkina Faso, it is designed to leave an insect-repelling odour on the user’s skin after washing.

The possibilities for Faso Soap don’t end with malaria.

Other mosquito transmitted diseases — such as Zika — could also be prevented by the product.

Traditional medicine practitioners are not herbalist —Practitioners

By Aramide shanu THE founder of Adelite Herbal Consult, Dr Tola Soyemi has said that traditional medicine practitioners are not herbalists.

He made this statement at the launch of a book titled Philosophy and Healing in Traditional Medicine.

Soyemi declared that ignorance had made Christians and Muslims believe that traditional medicine practitioners are herbalists and as such does not support the use of traditional medicines.

“Traditional Medicine has been in existence from the Stone Age. It is still relevant in our daily life. It has also cured so many ailments. Many

people are still seeking the service of traditional medicine practitioners for solution to their health problems,” he said.

However, he urged the Christian and Muslim leaders to support investments in modernised herbal medicine to help ensure that it proffers solutions to the country’s health issues.

The Chairman National Association of Nigerian Medical Practitioners, Sagamu, Ogun State, Chief Sikiru Bakare, assured that “The administration of traditional medicine for curative purposes transcends orthodox medicine. Its administration is not limited to swallowing or drinking of substances.

“It is very interesting to observe

that despite the effort of the government at all levels to bring good health care to Nigerians, people are still patronising traditional practitioners, especially for ailments that have defied orthodox solution.

“The reason for this is not farfetched. Critics of traditional medicine may not agree with me, but the fact remains that traditional medicine is useful and potent in curing various ailments, affliction and demonic forces.

“Some of us would have experienced one health problem or the other that have exhausted the wherewithal of experienced medical doctors in finding a solution. At the end, they would ask them to seek traditional solution.” he stated.

sex,sexuality

&your health With Monica Taiwo

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being

08187754992 (sms only) taiwomonica@gmail.com

Male genital examination and grooming Continued from last week

Self-examination Particularly when sexually active, men should regularly perform genital self-examination to identify testicular cancer or any sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that present themselves visibly. How regularly? Well, there is no golden rule, but once a month should be satisfactory.

For testicular cancer, the following are recommended:Once a month, after taking a bath or shower: •Examine each testicle individually.

•With both hands, hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers and roll it gently.

•Be on the alert for any hard lumps or nodules, smooth rounded masses or any change in the size, shape or consistency of your testes.

•Do not mistake the epididymis; a tightly coiled tube on the upper, outer side of each testicle or the blood vessels and spermatic cord that extend from the testicles as being cancer.

Not only is regular testicular examination a good way to catch testicular cancer early, but it also provides an opportunity to examine the penis and testicles for signs of an STI.

Red flags There are many red flags for STIs. Be vigorous in your self-examinations and know that certain STIs, such as chlamydia, can be completely asymptomatic; meaning that you may show absolutely no identifiable signs or symptoms of infection. In such cases, it’s important that you keep an open channel of communication with your sexual partners. If your partner de-

velops an STI, there may be a chance that you gave it to them without knowing.

These are highlights of some of the major signs and symptoms of common STIs that you should be on the lookout for: •Discharge from the penis: The drip could be thick and yellow or it could be watery and very slight.

•Change in smell (including foul odour) or colour of semen.

•Blood in the semen or urine (dark col-

or).

•Pain during sex or when urinating or ejaculating.

•Pain in the pelvic area.

• Sores; painless red sores on the genital area, anus, tongue, and/or throat.

•Flesh-coloured or reddish bumps, sores or blisters on the skin of the genitals that may or may not itch.

•Small blisters that turn into scabs on the genital area.

•Soft, flesh-coloured, cauliflower-like warts around the genital area.

In addition, many STIs, particularly viral infections like HIV or herpes, induce symptoms similar to the flu that may serve as early indicators of infection. If you notice a sore throat, swollen glands, fever, or body aches in the weeks following unprotected sex, you may want to consider following up with an STI check just to be sure.

Do not panic if you do notice something unusual. Pearly penile papules found around the rim of the head of the penis are no need for alarm. Similarly, pimples or irritation from shaving are normal. If you are unsure, it’s always best to see a doctor first to understand what is and isn’t normal. Waiting is the worst thing you can do.

If you are worried, just remember; every man has a penis! Go see a doctor.

27

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

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

Ondo State workers have been on an indefinite strike for four weeks over the non- payment of their six months’ salary by the state government.

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI looks at the workers’ struggle and its implication for this year’s governorship election in the state.

T

HE industrial action embarked upon by the organised labour in Ondo State on June 1 this year over the non-payment of their salary remains the longest in the history of the present administration in the state.

The workers had rejected all entreaties from stakeholders to go back to work before negotiating with the state government on the modalities to pay the salaries.

Though the workers appeared to understand the economic hardship being experienced across the country, they expressed disappointment over the government’s insistence on paying just one month’s salaries out of the six months owed. The strike has since paralysed all activities in the state establishments, as workers complied with the directives of their leadership.

Activities at the Alagbaka Government secretariat have been paralysed since the commencement of the strike, with the leadership of the workers’ union insisting that “the strike would not be called off until government does the needful.”

Not even the intervention of royal fathers yielded positive result, as the workers stuck to their guns, even after meeting with the leadership and members of the state House of Assembly where they urged the lawmakers to prevail on the state government to put a halt to all capital projects until the salary issue was resolved.

Amid the strike, Governor Olusegun Mimiko travelled to the United Kingdom where he was invited to speak at a session on “Health Care for all: From Aspiration to Implementation,” at Chatham House. The trip however drew the ire of the opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which, in a statement by its publicity director, Steve Otaloro, alleged that the governor was not sensitive to the plight of the people.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, through its publicity director, Ayo Fadaka, was quick to react to the opposition’s claim. He said that the statement of the APC demonstrated that the party lacked an understanding of the workings of government. It explained that the fact that the governor embarked on a working visit did not indicate that the apparatus of governance equally took a walk.

Upon returning from the trip, the governor met with the striking workers from Grade level 1- 17, and appealed to them to sheathe the swords. He took the pain to explain the situation of things to them but, alas, they maintained their stand. Mimiko noted that the strike had cost the state millions of Naira which the state would have generated through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He said: “We have lost over 40 per cent of our monthly IGR

Mimiko addresing the workers

Workers’ strike at the threshold of Ondo guber poll to the strike. I feel the pain, our hospitals are shut and many accident victims would have died as a result of this strike. I want you to bear with me at this period, I can never take your welfare for granted. We are ready to have creative dialogue with you. I appeal to you to back to work.”

He explained that the state had N3.4 billion in its coffers currently, out of which 2.7 billion had been earmarked to pay one month’s salary of local government workers and primary school teachers, while the remaining N700 million would offset the salaries of health workers for one month.

He recalled how the government had augmented salaries, until it could no longer do so as a result of the reduction in monthly allocation and IGR. Though some analysts insinuated political undertones in the position of the striking workers, the leadership of their union had stated before the commencement of that it would not allow politicians or parties to hijack the strike from them to elicit their support.

While some political watchers are of the opinion that the strike could have some implications on the chances of the ruling PDP in the state in the November governorship election, others claimed that it might not determine where the pendulum would swing. They argued that the present economic hardship resulting in the nonpayment of salaries was not peculiar to Ondo, noting that many APC states were experiencing a similar challenge if not worse, situations.

Some of the workers blamed the present economic hardship on the APC administration at the centre, saying the it was bereft of ideas on how to turn the country around with their change promise.

According to them, governance is not all about fighting corruption alone but making life comfortable for the common people. A worker who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Nigerian Tribune: “I sympathise with the PDP-led government in the state. The government is worker-friendly: we had been receiving salaries without any hitch until recently and the government had even been paying us the 13th month salary at the end of every year.”

The leaders of the workers, at meeting with the leadership of the State House of Assembly, also affirmed their support for Mimiko’s government and the role played by the union towards the election of Mimiko as governor. They however

This government is your baby and the pillar upon which it is erected. We understand and feel your pains.

threatened to withdraw their support if the government failed to look into their plight. This might be one of the reasons the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon. Jumoke Akindele, said: “We also acknowledge the strength you have to change things in this state. This government is your baby and the pillar upon which it is erected. We understand and feel your pains.”

Political pundits however said that the PDP-led government still has the time to worm itself back into the hearts of the workers. They opined that the workers, if the administration is able to settle the wages of the workers to extent.

According to an analyst, “PDP will bounce back; they still hold the aces against all odds, the seemingly silence from the PDP camp is caused by the inability of the state government to pay workers salary but I am sure immediately a compromise is reached, the change of tide will surprise the opposition.”

But will the PDP curtail the rising popularity of the APC in the state, considering the day by day mobilisation by the leaders and members of the party across the state? The popularity was said to be responsible for the large number of aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket. However, if the ongoing negotiation between the workers and the state government sails through, APC might need to go back to the drawing board to re-strategise.

Only time will tell the political future of the state.

28

interview

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Government must be run like efficient company —Gov aspirant Mr Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), scion of late popular politician, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire, speaks, in this interview with some journalists, on his aspiration to become the next governor of Ondo State. BOLA BADMUS brings excerpts:

W

HAT is your motivation for joining the race?

Quite apart from Lagos, the richest Southwestern state in terms of mineral resources, human capital and opportunities is Ondo. It has no basis not being able to pay salaries if its resources are properly managed and deployed. Unfortunately, we have not done that and my attitude to it is that government must be run like a business, but a business that does not make profit. This is because if you go into governance and say you want to make profit then, you are never going to do anything. But you must run it like a business; in other words, for every five kobo that you put into it, there is a goal to be achieved.

Effectively, in the sense that you ensure that whatever you do is geared towards development.

Let’s take for example; I have looked at the state; what have we done in the last six, seven years? We have taken money from FAAC because we are an oil-producing state, so we rely heavily on derivation. That is what we have been spending. What is the IGR? It can’t even pay salaries. But does Ondo have the potential to do so? The answer is yes. We have got oil, bitumen, cocoa, timber, cashew, cassava; name any cash crop, it grows in the state. So, why has anybody not sat down to say how do I generate enough IGR so that at

aspiring to be next governor of Ondo State. What gives you the confidence that you will secure APC ticket?

Even if in the APC we have 100 aspirants, there will just be one governor. And why does the APC have so many? It is because it is the platform that offers an alternative. For me, there are only two parties that can present candidates in Ondo State and they are the PDP and the APC. The PDP is shut. And why do I say so? It is because whoever will run on the platform of the PDP must have the backing of the present governor, except we are deceiving ourselves. The only platform that is open is the APC, so you have people coming to it. My duty is to sell myself to the delegates that I have what it takes to win victory for the party.

What then do your consider as you selling points?

I am in the APC not because of any personal gains but because I believe in the ideology that the APC preaches, which I have always subscribed to. Then, I will bring youths into governance. And like I said, governance must be run like an efficient company, but one that is not geared towards making profit and it is only people of my age that think government should be run that way.

Adegbonmire

least from it, I am able to pay staff salaries?

And what comes from FAAC is for development purposes and that is what Lagos State is doing! What you should be doing is to sit back and look for opportunities to increase revenue.

We have no fewer than 40 of you

What is your take on zoning as being projected by some aspirants?

My party has said several times that there will be no zoning, that everybody should go into the primary. This issue of zoning, I have always said, it’s a latter-day introduction into

the political space of Ondo. If there was zoning in the state, some of the people who were governors would not have been governors.

Even if there are people to agitate for it, it should be the South and the Central. But I don’t believe in that. My party said no zoning. Let the best person win!

Why do you think you can win the primary,?

Like I said before, I bring my youth, I don’t have a baggage and I come from an exceedingly respected political family. My father was a politician from 1952. You ask people who have interacted with me as a lawyer, I am a straightforward person and I am very honest, even if I say it myself. I have also gone round the state and I don’t know any aspirant that is not taking Adeniyi Adegbonmire serious.

What is your relationship with the leadership of the party and do you really trust the leadership to be menta in the whole issue?

I am sure all of you have followed the Republican primary. They say Donald Trump is the presumed party candidate, the party leaders say we don’t want Trump and they have been working against him openly. Any aspirant that says he is disengaging himself from the party leadership is not a party man and it is a dangerous trend because where you have a governor that doesn’t believe in party supremacy, it would be difficult to pull back such governor when errors are being committed. So, I subscribe to party leadership.

Solving the Niger Delta crisis Chinedu Bosah

THE Niger Delta communities are again being militarized and the people are already counting the costs of brutal invasion by the armed forces in search of the socalled Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Community people suffer brutality of different kinds, and 50 soldiers have been reportedly killed. As it is so often the case, the people are torn between the devil and the deep blue sea as neither side is in the final analysis fighting for their interests but selfish interests at the centre, of which is control of oil resources.

However, socialists organised around the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and supporters of their ideas are not particularly surprised at these turn of events.

For long, have we warned that at the root of agitations for secession by groups like MASSOB and IPOB, intrareligious conflicts, clashes between livestock and arable farmers, militancy in Nigeria and other forms of collective or individual acts of terrorism by groups such as Boko Haram, are: the exploitation and monopolisation of the collective resources of the people by an elite few in the capitalist class; the unresolved nationality question; and the absence of a labour movement seeking the unity of all oppressed Nigerians and fighting for the overthrow of the anti-poor capitalist system on the basis of socialist ideas. At the same time as working to build unity between working people, Labour should also demand the convoking of a genuine sovereign national conference dominated by elected representatives of the people and their organizations especially the labour, youth, women and student movement to democratically agree on nature and character of governance.

The Niger Delta region is home to over 40 million people, which is about 24 per cent of the entire population, with the region covering eight per cent of Nigeria’s landmass and constituting the largest wetlands region in Africa. Shell Petroleum began oil exploration in the region in 1956 and since then, petro-dollars have so corrupted the Nigerian ruling elite that it abandoned agriculture which used to be the mainstay of the economy. Nigeria was the world largest cocoa exporter in 1960 but cocoa production nosedived by 43 per cent by the year 2000. Production and export of other cash crops like groundnut, cotton and rubber plummeted considerably as well, job losses became the order of the day

Usani Uguru, Niger Delta Minister

and many Nigerians since 1960 became poorer not just the Niger Deltans, but across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Oil spillage and pollution by the multinational oil companies had gone on unabated. According to the Poison and Fire documentary, 1.5 million tons of oil has been spilled into farms, rivers and forest since 1950s, thereby distorting the ecosystem and economic activities like farming, fishing etc. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) scientists discovered that at least 10 Ogoni communities had been drinking water contaminated with high levels of hydrocarbons for years, and this is the fate of many communities in the Niger Delta.

On February 10, 2016, the NDA began series of attacks by severing the Bonny Soku Gas Export Line and since then has claimed more than 13 other attacks. These attacks, according to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, have reduced oil production to 1.6 million barrel short of the 2.2 barrel per day. In a desperate move to reduce the attacks on oil infrastructure, the Federal Government ordered the military ceasefire on June 7, 2016 for two weeks to enable discussion with the mili-

tants and potentially dole out new amnesty and agreement similar to the 2009 amnesty agreement.

Yet, it must be recalled that all previous policies have only scratched the problem on the surface, including the setting up of the Niger Delta Development Commission in the year 2000 (a body funded to carry out some projects in the oil communities but which has also turned conduit pipe for mostly corrupt bourgeois politicians from the region), the 13 per cent derivatives given to the oil producing states and the Amnesty Programme that began in 2009 and which has since gulped over N250 billion targeted at mostly bribing some top militants and their foot soldiers out of militancy.

Against this background, no amount of repackaged amnesty as a fallout of negotiation will resolve the present problems except massive investment in basic infrastructure to create mass productive jobs, cleanup of the entire Niger Delta region by the oil companies, end oil spillage and gas flaring, adequate compensation to communities and families whose farm lands and fishing ponds/rivers were destroyed by oil exploration and the implementation of other pro-masses policies.

The claim by the militants that they are fighting for the Niger Delta people and interest is generally false, though there has been some genuine community-based agitations against environmental degradation caused by the oil companies that was often crushed by the state. Their acts of individual terrorism not only give a false hope to the people of “troops” fighting for their interest, but also make the vast majority inactive in the struggle for better society. And it explains why the militants are quick to abandon the agitations whenever the petro-dollar crumbs, running into billions of Naira, are doled out to them. Individual terrorism can never be a replacement for mass action.

We socialists support the agitation of the Niger Delta people for better living condition, clean environment, productive and gainful employment for the teeming jobless people including, when necessary. But we also emphasize that it is only the mass struggle of the people under democratic control armed with socialist policies that can wage a spirited and sustained battle that will lift the entire Niger Delta region out of the bestial living conditions.

Bosah is National Secretary, Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN)

29 news

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

More knocks for SGF over comment on confab Mimiko, Adebanjo, Falae, Odumakin, others speak Continued from pg3

different capacities and distinguished themselves in the service of their fatherland.

He wondered if such notable citizens as Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Mr Femi Falana (SAN), and hordes of other distinguished sons of the country could be described as boys.

Chief Adebanjo also said it was preposterous for the SGF to have referred to those who were old to be father as boys, adding that it was doubtful that even President Muhammadu Buhari would have made such a nauseating remark.

On his part, Chief Falae noted that it was inexplicable for the SGF to have made such comment, as a number of the delegates were octogenarians, who have continued to conscientiously avail the country of their wealth of experience and resources.

However, he cautioned Nigerians from being distracted, by insisting that the report of the confab should not be wished away.

Falae, who had served as SGF and Minister of Finance in the past, said while the current SGF could call delegates to the confab anything he wished, the fact remained that it took five months of hard work, sacrifice and compromise, as well as patriotism by senior citizens of the country to hold a successful conference.

He noted that more than 492 delegates consisting of distinguished citizens and professionals, as well as other core stakeholders rose above any narrow interest to painstakingly discuss and proffer realistic solutions to issues constituting impediment to Nigeria’s unity and progress.

He said such assemblage had never happened in the history of the country, as he recalled that most of the more than 600 resolutions were reached by consensus.

“The report (of the confab) can never be wished away, as it is about the future of this country,” Chief Falae stressed.

Also speaking in separate interviews with the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, the secretary to the South-West delegation to the conference, Dr Kunle Olajide; Afenifere spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin; national chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr Yinusa Tanko and erudite scholar and Awoist, Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde, all maintained

that the denigration of the conference report and the eminent Nigerians who participated in it was highly provocative and injurious to the well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Describing the statement credited to the SGF as most unfortunate and worrisome, Dr Olajide observed that sometimes, the utterances of one or two officials of the Presidency could be very embarrassing to the administration, because the tendency was to believe that they reflected its mindset.

Olajide said the SGF’s statement gave the impression that the Presidency was peopled by narrow-minded and prejudiced people, adding that Lawal should apologise to Nigerians for insulting their sensibilities with his unprovoked attack on respected elder statesmen

and accomplished Nigerians who participated in the conference to address the fundamental issues in Nigerian nationhood.

He said: “The SGF’s position is too important for any form of flippancy.

It is unbelievable that the SGF, with full knowledge of the composition of that conference headed by a past Chief Justice of Nigeria and attended by former ministers of the First and Second Republic; former InspectorsGeneral of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Gambo, the Emir of Dutse and a host of very important personalities, Chief Justices, retired Major Generals, top bureaucrats and professionals, could say that it was a job for the boys.

“I have been disturbed by some of the statements

emanating from the Presidency; if the SGF could say what was credited to him, then perhaps, I should not be too surprised by the comments of Mr President, saying he had thrown the report of the conference into the archives.

“Mr President should call his top officials to order. Whatever statement emanates from the SGF, Chief of Staff, the vicepresident and special advisers to the president could, of course, be interpreted as the reaction of the president.

“I don’t want other climes to regard our presidency as an ill-informed presidency.

He (Lawal) has to apologise to Nigerians, not even to the conference delegates.”

In his own reaction, Odumakin said the SGF’s position was a reflection

of his level of exposure, adding that small-minded people in big offices usually made a mess of their positions.

“I have always wondered where the SGF is coming from since his appointment.

After reading his rude and crude comments on the 2014 national conference and its delegates, I Google check him. Interestingly, it took me 58 seconds to read through his CV and the question still is: where the heck is this gentleman coming from? But his terse resume tells me he should be an authority on “jobs for the boys” as it is that concept that would make a man of his level of exposure and accomplishment to be Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“When you put small men in big offices, they reduce

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Uja (right), presenting a souvenir to the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, and his wife, Esther, during the latter’s courtesy visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the commission, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

CCII appeals to Oyo govt, Labour over crisis PRESIDENT-GENERAL of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Wole Akinwande, has appealed to the Oyo State government and the Labour unions to review their stands on the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) in the management of primary and secondary schools in the state.

The council said the school children would be at the receiving end of the crisis by not being in school.

The appeal was contained in a press release made available to the Nigerian Tribune by the publicity secretary of the council, Mr Ademola Alabi, on Wednesday, uging the state government to demonstrate its commitment to the good works it had in plan for the continuous development of the state and not be distracted by challenges.

Akinwande also urged the

Labour unions in the state to climb down from their Trojan horse and embrace dialogue with the state government.

According to the release,

“the state government and the Labour unions should look for a common ground and bring an end to the crisis in the interest of

peace. Every effort should be made to avoid muscle flexing, which is like an illwind that does nobody any good.”

N1.9bn fraud: EFCC to arraign ex-Adamawa gov today Lanre Adewole -Lagos THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, today, arraign former Adamawa State governor, Umar Fintiri, for alleged money laundering.

The commission has filed a five-count charge of bribery and money laundering totalling N1.9 billion against him.

A N500 million building belonging to him had earlier been seized by the commission.

He had also been quizzed and detained over the alleged scam.

He will be arraigned before Justice A.R. Mohammed

of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Oyo govt unveils plans for aggressive taxes, levies collection

By Wale Akinselure AIMED at reaching its N5 billion monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target, the Oyo State government has said it was set to be “aggressive” and “rigorous” in the collection of taxes, levies and other forms of revenue from all residents of the state.

The renewed drive will take the form of a re-

certification of properties, tax audit, mandatory collection of withholding tax and personal income tax, land use charge, among other statutory levies.

The state government, through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Board of Internal Revenue and Revenue Consultant, unveiled these plans on Wednesday.

such offices to their own level. And that is the reason you will see a man holding such an office and making light of an issue that has to do with the very existence of Nigeria,” he said.

Dr Yunusa Tanko, on his part, advised those who had found themselves in positions of authority to be mindful of their utterances, adding that Lawal’s pejorative tagging of the calibre of distinguished people who had worked tirelessly for the country at the conference was very wrong.

He added: “No matter the way he feels, there are critical issues addressed in the report of the conference that need to be looked into.

He should apologise.”

Tracing the history of the agitation for restructuring since the onset of the current Republic in 1999, Onigbinde regretted the antics of some members of the SouthWest All Progressives Congress (APC) who, while in opposition, were clamouring for restructuring during the eight years of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, only to turn around and kick against the same project when the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration initiated the 2014 conference, all because it had emerged that they could capture federal power in 2015.

“They opposed the convocation of the 2014 conference, saying it was a mere diversionary tactic by the Jonathan administration.

Even if they were right that Jonathan had motives, the point still remains that, after the so-called jamboree, a report came out, and whatever motives Jonathan had were not realised, as he was defeated in the 2015 presidential election.

“Now, there is a report, so what is their attitude to it? The issue is not motive, but whether the report is beneficial to Nigeria, in view of the Boko Haram and Avengers problems, which are at the centre of the national question.

Now that a report is out, we ought to have forgotten about the motive.

“My position is that everybody just loves federal power, not that they were really interested in addressing the equitable relationship among the federating units. They just believe it is their turn to enjoy federal power and they don’t want anybody that will deny them the benefits of the current inequalities.”

30

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Lagos to ensure efficient, safe water transportation system THE Lagos State Government (LASG) has restated its commitment to sanitise the water transportation system so as to ensure improved, efficient and safe mode of movement of people and goods on its waterways.

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Abisola Kamson in a statement, said that the government had recently embarked on stock taking and repositioning by putting efforts in place to ensure sanity on its waterways, which would also prevent mishaps and wanton loss of lives.

According to her, the current operations on the waterways does not conform to the international standard, which the state government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode intends to reposition, adding that the process is not limited to the private sector operators alone.

Lagos seaport

It’s time to move from potential to actualisation —NIMASA Stories by Tola Adenubi- Lagos

T

HE Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has observed that the recurring rhetoric on the potentials of the Nigerian maritime industry is over and that it is time for stakeholders to unite to actualise these potentials for the benefit of the nation.

The Director General who was speaking in Lagos recently, noted that the time for action is now, to convert this bastion of opportunities into tangibles.

Dr Peterside who noted that the maritime industry is the second largest income earner for the country after oil and gas, said that it is time that the country starts benefitting from the contributions of the industry in terms of employment creation, wealth generation and government revenue.

The DG called for the integration of the maritime industry into the economic development agenda of the country, saying it is a prerequisite if the nation is to harness the vast opportunities in the sector.

He said that a lot of areas in the sector have not been developed, stating the issue of ownership of ocean going vessels as a case in point.

“We are perhaps the only country in the world that only foreign flagged vessels lift our crude to the international market. We do not have a single Nigerian flagged vessel that lifts our crude.

Our ferry services are also underdeveloped and there are vast opportunities for ship building leveraging on the Cabotage Act,” Dr Peterside explained.

The DG also observed that the multiplier effect of Nigerian vessels with Nigerian crew lifting Nigeria’s crude can better be imagined given the cost of freight and

the wages of seafarers involved.

On allegations of corruption in the industry, Dr Peterside noted that human contact in any payment system is a precursor for corruption, and that the agency was automating its processes and systems to eliminate human contact in order to engender efficiency and eliminate leakages.

“We noticed over time that corruption in NIMASA was propagated through external influences, as such we are reforming our people, putting them through a re-orientation process, making them understand that the little things we do in NIMASA affect our global perception,” the DG said.

Flexible FX: Port operators predict high cost of doing business FOLLOWING the introduction of a Flexible Forex regime by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), private investors running the nation’s seaports have predicted an increase in the cost of doing business at the ports.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive interview, the Managing Director of one of the biggest shipping lines in Nigeria, Grimaldi Agency Nigeria Ltd, Mr Ascanio Russo, predicted that the new forex regime introduced by the CBN will affect the cost of doing businesses at Nigerian ports.

Mr Asacnio Russo whose company operates the Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML), however, explained that the move is a welcome development as it will bring about clarity and transparency in Nigeria’s economic terrain.

According to him, “we believe that the new CBN policy on forex is the right step in the right direction.

However, we are waiting to see the impact on Nigeria’s international trade. In principle, we believe the

move is positive because it will bring clarity and transparency to the economic terrain. Eventually, it is going to be good for the Nigerian economy.”

On the impact on the volume of trade at the port, Ascanio explained that, “it will be very difficult to make any prediction on its impact on the volume of businesses at the ports right now.

“We will need to access it in the next few weeks to be able to give a candid opinion on that.

“Why it is difficult to give an outright prediction of the new policy on the volume of trade at the ports right now is simply because the new policy will lead to the devaluation of the naira; which in turn means importers will now spend more to bring in goods into the country.

“Again Customs Duty will automatically go up because they will be calculated on the new foreign exchange rate. By the time Customs Duty goes up, we shall then see where the naira will balance with the dollars.

“With all this indices, it is very

difficult to calculate if there will be a reduction or growth in the volume of businesses at the ports.

But in the long term, it will bring clarity and transparency which are positive indices for business predictions,” he added.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) explained that with the new forex policy, the cost of running the ports will definitely go up.

The STOAN image maker, Bolaji Akinola, said that “we welcome the flexible forex policy which floats the naira and allow it to be determined by market forces. Although it is coming a bit late, it is better late than never.

“Now that the naira has been devalued technically, what it means to we port operators is that our cost of running the ports will go up. It will increase our cost of doing business because most of our commitments are in dollars.

“However, the policy brings stability to the system and that will enhance predictability for private investors like us.”

“We are in a quest to sanitise the waterways and government has taken giant steps to start from its home front. It has ordered the Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRIES) whose current fleet is not considered water worthy to dispense of them and prepare to comply with new guidelines and standards as issued jointly by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the LASWA. “Implicitly, the sanitisation and reorganisation going on in the water transportation subsector is not limited to private operators alone.

It is a cleansing that is aimed at ensuring the total safety of our people. Jetties, terminal, ferries and other water related infrastructure that is not worthy would not be allowed. The governor’s vision of a new prosperous Lagos is to pursue first class agenda and give Lagosians world class standards,” Kamson said.

Kamson, however, expressed concerns that in recent times, some non-complaint private operators on the waterways had misconstrued the moves by the state government as a ploy to harass and intimidate them out of business and had been peddling unwarranted falsehood, claims, counter claims and litigations in the media.

She said some private operators had also gone further to accuse the government of wrongful takeover of properties and attempts to scuffle business people out of waterways transportation.

“It is therefore misplaced and selfseeking for any one, organisation, or a group of people to masquerade themselves as messiahs in this direction. Where any organisation feels shortchanged in this on-going exercise and has genuine claims, they are advised to lay their claims legitimately and through relevant bodies for redress where appropriate. This administration is a listening one that remains extremely committed to private sector participation and collaboration in uplifting the development of water transportation in Lagos State,” she said.

Explaining some of the painstaking efforts of government to modernise and move water transportation forward, she noted that the government has concluded a master plan which has identified 30 routes across the state, which according to her, have been earmarked for channelisation, dredging, lighting and demarcation specifically for water transportation.

She listed some of the routes to include Badore–Five Cowries; Badore–Ijede; Baiyeku–Ajah; Baiyeku–Langbasa; Ebute Ojo– Marina; Ijede–Marina/CMS, Ikorodu–Falomo; Mile 2 To Marina, Oworonsoki–Five Cowries, Ikorodu–Oworonshoki and Marina/C.M.S, Oworonshoki To Ebute Ero.

31

news

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Borno gov in Aso Rock over deaths in IDPs’ camps From Leon Usigbe, Abuja

B

ORNO State governor, Kashim Shettima, was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, ostensibly to see the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the president, Abba Kyari, on the appalling condition of

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in his state.

The Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international humanitarian aid agency, had, last week, disclosed that about 24,000 IDPs were in dire health situa-

FCTA threatens to shut down sub-standard private schools From Christian Okeke - Abuja

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, on Wednesday, threatened to shut down sub-standard private primary schools in the territory.

It warned proprietors of such schools to upgrade their facilities or face the risk of closing down such schools.

The director, Department of Quality Assurance of FCT Education Secretariat, Ayuba Didam, gave the warning after an unscheduled tour of some of the sub-standard schools at Bwari Area Council.

Some of the schools visited included, Divinely Favoured International School, Powerline, Zone 3, Dutse, Alhaji Dignity Nursery and Primary School, Kago Bwari and the People’s Choice Basic School, Bwari.

Speaking at the end of the tour, Didam said that his department could not see anything as per development in psychomotor and affective domains of pupils in the schools visited.

“Development of cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of children can’t be done in the schools we visited because of the tight environment.

The children were like boxed in, their perception and understanding were so tied down in one particular place,” he said.

According to him, “The idea behind what we are doing is to sensitise the schools and make them to realise that what they are doing in operating these things should not be tolerated and after that, there are other things that we are going to put in place.

“As government, we are insisting that schools must upgrade, meet standards, that is our mandate. And for those who have tried to chase around for several years and they have made no difference,we have no option than to shut them down “We are working in close collaboration with the Na-

tional Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in fighting this battle and I believe when we make announcements in the media, people will now see the needfulness of what we are doing.

tion with at least 30 people, mostly children, dying everyday.

Even though, there was no official statement on his visit, it was thought that he came in connection with the issue over which President Muhammadu Buhari, had expressed dismay.

The president was said to be miffed that conditions in the IDPs camps could deteriorate, despite the billions of naira sunk into their welfare.

Shettima was accompanied by officials of the state government on the visit.

He, however, declined to speak to the media when approached, only saying that “this is a private visit.”

Apo 6: Court adjourns adoption of final written addresses to Oct 11 JUSTICE Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned the adoption of final written addresses in alleged extra judicial killing of six Apo traders to October 11.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, had in 2005, filed a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy and culpable homicide against the six police officers The offences against the officers; Danjuma Ibrahim, Othman Abdulsalami , Nicholas Zakaria, Ezekiel Acheneje, Baba Emmanuel and Sadiq Salami, contravened sections 97 and 221 (a) of the Penal Code.

They were charged with the killing of Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwodike and Augustina Arebun.

At the resumed hearing

on Wednesday, the first defence counsel, Mr Ricky Tarfa , applied for an extension of time to file and serve his final written address out of time.

Prosecuting counsel ,Mamman Osuman , did not oppose the application but urged the court to grant 21 days to the prosecution to file composite reply to the defence written addresses.

He also prayed for an adjournment to enable them file such reply.

The defence did not oppose Osuman’s application, rather ,Tarfa also prayed for 21 days for defence to file their written addresses.

At the last sitting, the defence closed their case and it was adjourned for adoption of final addresses.

Bello granted the applications of the defence and prosecution.

Delta unveils logo for silver jubilee celebration From Alphonsus Agborh – Asaba

DELTA State government, on Wednesday, unveiled the logo to commemorate the silver jubilee of the creation of the state, saying that despite all odds, peace has continued to reign in the state.

The state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who unveiled the logo in Asaba, the state capital, said the 25 years experience, apart from land mark achievements in various fields of human endeavour, has shown the presence of God in the state.

Okowa, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, said Delta people are proud to identify with the state, in view of the outstanding records made at national and

international levels “Twenty five years after, we have cause to celebrate our existence as a state, believing that there is sure but steady progression towards the upliftment of human dignity and solid economic development”.

He commended past leaders of the state and recalled with nostalgia, the giant strides of the first military administrator of the state in August 1991, Group Caption Luke Ochulor ,who set the administrative ball for the development of the state rolling.

There were eight others, who had ruled the state until 2015,when Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, handed over to the incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

PUPILS OF KINGDOM MANDATE PRIMARY SCHOOL, BASHORUN, IBADAN, DURING THEIR CULTURAL DAY, RECENTLY

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south-westnews

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Dumped dismembered body causes stir in Ado Ekiti community Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

F

EAR, agitation and apprehension reigned freely in Ojudo community, Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday morning, as residents, traders and shop owners were greeted with the sight of the dismembered body of a man that had apparently been murdered overnight.

People from nearby Mugbagba, Ijigbo, Odo Ado, Ojudo and other neighbourhoods had converged on the street, close to the community’s market and had caused traffic jam as they called themselves to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

Scores of commercial motorcyclists had left their bikes and the morning rush by the roadside for sightseeing while also calling their colleagues to come and see for themselves.

The deceased was apparently slaughtered as the throat was seen as had been cut, while all the limbs which had been severed

from the rest of the body, were stuffed in a separate sack and had been dumped in the same gutter about 50 meters apart.

The torso, which had also been in a separate, bloodied sack had been exposed down the line in the same gutter and had caused several of the onlookers to descend into hysterics as they condemned the development.

No member of the cringing and disgusted crowd agreed that it knew or could recognise the face of the man who couldn’t have been more than 35 years of age.

The deceased was wearing baby curls as his last hairstyle, while the hair could be said to be approaching little dreads.

There was also a silver-coloured earring on the right ear while a T-shirt which appears to be the cloth the deceased was wearing at the time of the murder, was around the waist.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State Police Command, Mr Alberto

Adeyemi, said “the DCO of the area has reported the development and we have

already commenced investigation to unravel the crime.

The body, the police said, had been deposited at a mortuary.

Alleged Fayose’s persecution: Ekiti lawmakers in street protest Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

MEMBERS of the Ekiti State House of Assembly took to the streets on Wednesday to openly protest what they described as the intimidation and harassment of the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and members of the House.

The entire members of the assembly sat, in what they described as “sit out”, at one part of the Fajuyi Ojumose road at Okesa in Ado Ekiti with their travel

bags, saying they had come with the bags prepared for the arrest and detention they said they had been threatened with allegedly by agents of the Federal Government.

Addressing journalists at the rally, Speaker of Ekiti Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, claimed that members of the house had been receiving threats of arrest from unnamed agents of the state and said they were not afraid of arrest and detention because “we want peace

and stability in the state.”

Oluwawole said: “We are the duly elected representatives of the people of Ekiti State; we therefore are speaking for the people of Ekiti State. We are constantly intimidated and threatened with arrest and we want to say that enough is enough of this.

“We have it on good authority that plans are afoot to arrest about 10 of us. We are ready. That’s why we have come with our bags, we are ready for them.”

2 Oyo civil servants arraigned for alleged fraud

By Wale Akinselure

ONE Mr Oluwaseun Adegoke and another Ojo David were arraigned before separate magistrate courts sitting in Ibadan, on Wednesday, on allegations of receiving multiple salaries from the Oyo State government, using different names and account numbers.

Adegoke, who appeared before Chief Magistrate of Court two, A. F. Richards, was arraigned on eightcount charge that included using six different names to receive monthly allowances of corps members and another name of a dead civil servant to receive salary.

Ojo, however, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate of Court three, Abdulateef Adebisi, on a seven-count charge to include allegedly using the name of a non existing officer to receive salary from the state civil service.

Ojo, who had been arrested since May 23, 2016, was charged for fraudulently receiving, on a monthly basis, a total sum of over Four million naira with fictitious names and from different banks across the state.

The two arraigned persons are part of 16,532 government employees identified in the recent verification exercise of the Oyo State government where irregularities ranging from employees and pensioners getting multiple salaries, multiple salaries paid into single account, bank accounts with no Bank

Verification Number (BVN), employees that have passed retirement age and employees with mismatched names were discovered.

The two suspects however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Counsel to the suspects, Mr Akeem Agbaje, had subsequently applied for bail which the prosecuting counsel, Mr Adetunji Gbadegesin, did not oppose.

Adegoke was granted bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum, one of which must be a civil servant on grade level 14.

Ojo was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with three sureties in like sum, one of which must be a civil servant on grade level 15, another, a resident of Ibadan with landed property worth N10 million and the third, a relative of the suspects who is gainfully employed.

Defence counsel, Agbaje, however, frowned at what he described as strict bail conditions and tactics to retain the suspects in prison.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr Adetunji Gbadegesin, noted that the bail conditions may be stringent so that the suspects would not jump bail.

He added that the two suspects brought to the court were the ones arrested by the state government as of now, while expressing optimism that others found fraudulent would be brought to book.

The cases were adjourned till July 22 and 25, 2016.

Mr Ojo (left) and Mr Adegoke on arrival at the magistrates’ court, Iyaganku, on Wednesday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Why I have not constituted my cabinet —Aregbesola Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

OSUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday night, identified paucity of funds as major reason why he had not appointed commissioners almost two years into second term in office.

He also said he had not drawn salary since he became governor in November, 2010.

Aregbesola, who spoke at an interactive session while hosting newsmen during Iftar at the Government House, Osogbo, emphasised that, if the cabinet were to be in place, the state government would require over N100 million for the payment of their salaries and maintenance of their

quarters and offices.

While disclosing that as a governor of the state, he had not collected any salary since he assumed office, he said that he was not even ready to do so because he enjoys free meals, free housing facilities and even sometimes get free clothes through his friends and well wishers.

According to Aregbesola, “It is the state that fuels my vehicles and at the same time takes adequate care of some other necessities of me. It is not so in the case of the appointed commissioners and special advisers because they don’t have access to all these benefits I am enjoying.

“I will however, attribute the failure of my adminis-

tration to constitute cabinet in my second term to paucity of funds. The purse of the state has been reduced, but very soon as the economy improves the state executive council will be constituted.

“The state executive council to be constituted will need millions of naira. This I can’t afford now and those working with me have been doing so on humanitarian ground. I have passion to develop this state and all I am concerned about is to make the state enjoyable for the people. The financial commitment for constituting a cabinet would be rather used to develop infrastructural facility and improve the general welfare of the people.”

Nigerian Tribune

Omo Aj’orosun Club calls for peace parley between Oyo govt, Labour A group, Omo Aj’Orosun Club, has appealed to the Oyo State government and state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to resolve the lingering crisis between both parties in the state.

In a press release signed by the President, General Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the club, Professor Olukayode Idowu, Alhaji Salahudeen Adeniyi and Mr Laolu AdebiyiAbegunde respectively, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, the club resolution of the lingering crisis should be found.

According to the release: “The club recalls the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates in Oyo State over their demand for the payment of salaries and pensions arrears, and the withdrawal of charges against Labour leaders who were arrested for disrupting the Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Education.

“We are of the opinion that an early resolution of the lingering crisis in the state should be found. Indeed, the recent pronouncement by the state Commissioner for Education, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, that government is set to communicate another meeting date to the labour for dialogue over the matter is a move in the right direction.’’

The club, however, appealed to both parties to utilise the peace parley and resolve the crisis in the interest of the state, while also charging other well meaning people and opinion leaders to intervene in the matter immediately and get everything resolved .

Ansar-Ud-Deen 2016 edition of Lailatul Quadri celebration of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Ibadan Zone comes up on Friday, July 1.

The celebration holds at the Society’s Islamic Centre, Liberty Road, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Alhaji Dr Abdul Mojeed Oladipupo is the guest lecturer while the Chairman of ADS, Ibadan Zone is the chief host.

Spiritual father of the day is Alhaji Imam Dr Bashir Olanrewaju Elesinmeta supported by Alhaji W.O. Ajao, Alhaji W.O. Lawal, Alhaji W.A. Muibi, Alhaji F.O. Ajayi, Alhaji S.O. Sowumi and Alhaji S.A. Orunsolu.

37 news

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Court dismisses Fani-Kayode’s suit against EFCC Sunday Ejike -Abuja

A

High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit brought before it by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi FaniKayode, seeking an order releasing him from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson for the then Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2015 general election, had filed the suit following his arrest by the anti-graft agency on May 9, 2016 regarding criminal allegations relating to diversion of funds meant for arms procurement to political campaigns.

EFCC had arraigned FaniKayode alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, who was the Director of Finance of the campaign organisation and others for money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos..

Delivering judgment in Fani-Kayode’s suit challenging his detention by the EFCC, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that the legal action lacked merit, adding that the detention was not illegal since it was backed by an order of court.

Justice Adeniyi, however, faulted the practice by the EFCC of arresting and detaining a suspect for the purposes of investigation.

EFCC had earlier told the court that it was investigat-

ing Fani-Kayode for fresh allegation, which it said, was different from the case of the N800 million which the former Minister of Aviation allegedly received as campaign fund from the $2.1 billion meant for procurement of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of

the country.

The Commission also disclosed that fresh petition received against the former minister by its Special Task Force in its Lagos office, was what prompted it to move him from Abuja to Lagos.

Counsel for the EFCC, Mr Salisu Majidadi, appeared before Justice Olukayode

Adeniyi, on behalf of the commission, to oppose Fani-Kayode’s fundamental rights enforcement suit seeking an order releasing him from the custody of the anti-graft agency.

But Fani-Kayode’s counsrl, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe, who earlier argued his client’s suit, insisted that the

From left, Miss Rita Imonikhe; Editor, Daily Champion, Thomas Imonikhe; his wife, Vivian and the graduand, Miss Loretta Imonikhe, at the 11th convocation ceremony of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, on Friday.

ECOWAS Court adjourns judgment in Dasuki’s case against FG Sunday Ejike -Abuja THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, on Wednesday, adjourned sine die (indefinitely) judgment in the case of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), against the Federal Government, where-in he is challenging his deten-

tion by government since December 2015 in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS).

The court, presided over by Justice Friday Nwoke, had on May 16, 2016, reserved judgment till Tuesday, after taking final argument from Dasuki’s lawyer, Robert Emukperuo and counsel for the Federal Government, Tijani Gazali.

However, the much await-

ed verdict of the court was not ready while the new date for the judgment would be communicated to lawyers when ready.

Dasuki had dragged the Federal Government before the ECOWAS Court praying the regional court to intervene in his detention without trial since December last year.

In the court action instituted by his counsel, Robert

EFCC arraigns ex-Chief of Air Staff, Amosu, 2 serving officers Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin -Lagos A former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu Nunayon (retd), two senior serving Air Force officers and eight companies, were on Wednesday, arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on 23 counts charge bordering on fraud, money laundering, and stealing.

The two serving senior Air Force officers arraigned alongside Amosu are Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga. The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, McAllan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezitrs Bureau De Change (BDC), Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Tim-

commission, having failed to present the fresh petition as exhibit before the court, showed there was no proof that there was any ongoing investigation of his client.

The judge after hearing from both parties on the matter had fixed Wednesday to deliver judgment in the matter.

segg Investment Limited, and Solomon Health Care Limited.

The accused persons were alleged to have committed the offences between March 5, 2014, and May 4, 2015.

The three Air Force officers were alleged to have converted several billions of Naira belonging to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), to their personal use.

In one of the counts of the charge, the accused persons were alleged to have converted the sum of N21,467,634,707.43 billion, property of the Nigerian Air Force to their personal use.

They were also alleged to have between May 5, 2014 and 4 May 4, 2015 in Lagos, indirectly converted the sum of N5, 291, 306, 950.28 Billion, property of the Nigerian Air Force to their personal use.

Amosu, Adgun and Olugbenga, were also alleged to have between July 17, and

September 16, 2014, used the British Pounds Sterling equivalent of sum of N663, 443,291 million, removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for themselves two properties situated at 50-52 Tenterden Grove, London (NW41TH) and 93B Shirehall Park, London NW4 2QU, United Kingdom, in-

cluding other allegations.

However, lawyers to the accused persons Mr Bolaji Ayorinde, Mr Norris Quakers and A. Etuokwu, urged the court to discontinuance the remand application made by the prosecutor against their clients.

Justice Idris has adjourned the trial of the accused persons till July 8.

Emukpoeruo, Dasuki asked the court to award in his favour a sum of N500 million as damages for the alleged unlawful invasion of his house, detention, seizure of properties and infringement on his rights.

He claimed that government had put him on trial in three different high courts on corruption charges, where he was granted bail.

But the Federal Government through its counsel, Tijani Gazali, had argued a preliminary objection against Dasuki’s motion on the ground that he ought to have filed a contempt charge against the government for alleged disobedience to court order on the bail granted him, but the ECOWAS Court ruled that the case of the plaintiff was on his fundamental rights and has nothing to do with the domestic court.

EFCC detains Benue Speaker, principal officers Johnson Babajide -Makurdi SPEAKER, Benue State Assembly, Honourable Terkimbir Ikyange and three principal officers were detained on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that the principal officers of the assembly were invited to Abuja over misappropriation of N750 million meant for

the purchase of cars for the members.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that others invited included the Deputy Speaker James Okefe and the Majority Leader Benjamin Adanyi, were said to have been visitors of the anti-graft for over a week before they were finally detained.

The source in the House confirmed the arrest saying, “as I speak to you now, a bail application for these officers is been processed,” adding

that the lawmakers were detained since Tuesday.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts were on to release the House leaders.

Meanwhile, a pressure group in the state known as Concerned Benue Youth for Good Governance has called for the resignation of the principal officers.

The group led by John Ashaver in a signed press statement, noted that the officers lack any moral to lead the House.

Navy arrests 11 suspected fake personnel in Rivers Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

THE Nigerian Navy has declared that it has arrested 11 men, who are allegedly parading themselves as naval personnel in Rivers State.

The outgoing commander of NND Pathfinders, Port Harcourt, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, made the disclosure while handing over the suspects to the Rivers Police Command, on Wednesday.

According to him, the suspects wore Navy uniforms, parading themselves as “merchant navy” with intent to defraud unsuspecting individuals and companies in the state and its environs.

He said the suspects were caught in the act by operatives of the Nigerian Air Force, who reported the matter to the Navy.

The suspects were later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state Police Command for further investigation and possible arraignment in court.

Kwara govt may take over funding of junior secondary education Biola Azeez, Ilorin

AS part of efforts to resolve salary crisis at the basic education level, the Kwara State government is considering taking over the funding of Junior Secondary education from local government administration.

Speaking with journalists after the state monthly executive council meeting in Ilorin, on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Mahmoud Ajeigbe, said the government’s proposal was to separate funding of primary schools from junior secondary schools to reduce the financial burden of local government councils in the state.

The commissioner also said the executive council had directed the state Ministry of Education to advise it on the financial implications of the action so that a decision could be taken on the issue.

“Council noted that although the payment of salaries to the basic education teachers remains the constitutional duty of the local government authorities, the persistent decline in federal allocation has constrained the third tier’s capacity to meet that obligation.

“Council also endorsed the state Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) decision to make basic teachers’ salary a first line charge in the allocation distribution formula, adding that this was already bringing some succour to the teachers,” he said.

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Wk 51 No 19.plus 3 Others KEY as from wk 47 first wk of Aussie the first letter Home No. 6 to Draw Wk 51 No. 19 X Plus 3. Others E.G wk 5/first letter Home No. 6. W. No 19 xx Bk Wk47 Vol. lNoKeylxi2x2Ox34x4f4N6,000 Wk48Vol2NoKey23x 16x26x36x=4/4=N6,000 Wk 49 Vol. 3 No. Key 18 x 29 x 34 x 47 x 4/4 = N6,000 Wk5OVol.4No.Key23x 14x 17x32x=4/4=N6,000 51 Vol. 5 No Key 19 NAP NAP NAP = 4/4 = N6,000 52 Vol. 6 No. 23 NAP NAP NAP = 4/4 N6,000 Time to win pool this Wk 51 as BAYS WATER C system 4 special draws this Wk 51 Red cost N6,000 the Game will play 4 over 4 correct Hurry up to get you copy to day send m.t.n.

Card to 08139714848, 08142362005 the Game will send to you by Text message.

AMUKO & ASSOCIATES AVENGED 07014686970 BONNGRIGG – BRUNSWICK. C and BAYSWATER. C =01X 23X 32XXX 19F. 08X Week 49 2015 and week 50’ 2014 = BOX HILL= 24XX Week 50 2016 and Week 51’ 2016= BALLARAT= 23XX BOX Hill – Home 24xx in weeks 49 & 50= 6/ 5drs BALLARAT – Away 23 in weeks 50 & 51= 9/8 drs Get a detailed records before you call.

Your winnings is assured= N100, 000= 23xx 18x. 07014686970.

FORTUNE DONOR DONATES 35/36

(08099111828) The selfless and hardworking Fortune Donor International enjoins all lovers of pools staking to grab a good draws from the duo of coupon No’s 35 and 36. They are the best pair on coupon this week.

Take advantage and add them to all coupon entries this week as they will not disappoint.

Better still’ combine them with our IBK which sells for #15000 and have your 2/3. Our 2 draws cost #3000 while 3 sure draws cost #15000, this week on 0809111812. Good luck

MAGIC KINGDOM – 08056753098/07085060512

NAP – 16X 22X 25XXX PAIR – 01 and 27 BALCATTA On BAYSWATER. The first letter A from No 1 away to draw. The 2nd Letter ‘M’ meeting ‘W’ to draw and game on top of Werribee.C. to draw and No 1 pair 25.

Win now, week 52 sure Nap cost N25,000 = payment to Balogun Adesina Kamoru at FCMB no 0279550010, Wema Bank no 0206965116 or GT.Bank no 0115505082. Our Aussie booklet is out for sale N100,000. Don’t be a doubting Thomas. Goodluck.

place your advert here

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH text message OF write up without advert is regarded VOID. PLACE YOUR ADVERT FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLICATION OF YOUR FORECAST. THANKS.

Thursday, 30 - 06 June/July, 2016 MODUPE NAP (08033566694) 9/22/23 for 2 draws

Wining galore at Modupe Nap. Call for details. Goodluck.

MIGHTY INT. NAP

08032400297 (01=04=45=46) Mighty Int Nap is fully back into action after a long vacation in Sydney searching for a dependable information on authentic draws. I implored all our fans and intending ones to play the above games very well.

Best of luck till next week 52.

JACKPOT GALORE.

DR EKONDO

08034483290 (xx20 xx)

BONUS-BONUS-BONUS NAP 20XXBK/A DRAW Plus 2 others cost you #5000 for the first 10 people. This week is bonus for all, remember for the past two years week 51,3 draws as never fail. The key is far as they play Saturday and Sunday my 3 draws must draw come what.

Call me and be connected immediately for a special discussion. Good luck

SIR MICHEAL NAP

(38 PAIR 39) 09091874579 Congratulation as last week release got 8xx, 23xx, 41xx 3/3, plus the plan 12xx, 13f making 4/5. Meanwhile another 3/3 and 4/5 this week cost just #15,000. Call for acct no or mode of payment.

MADAM EMILIA-

08068523407 The winner’s choice of pools stakers.

PAIRS FOR WEEK 51,17 and 19 or 23 and 33. Call for the 3 Nap draws for week 51 and 52 which cost #25,000 each week. For more details contact or pay through this account number 0118159857 Emilia Effiong GTB, No 135 Oke Ado Ibadan Oyo State. Best of luck. 08068523407.

SORRENTO SYSTEM

08162705220,09084916233 KEY 6 KEY 12 xx 3Bankers=N4,500wk49No. 14x34x44xPair2x49 3 Bankers N4,500 wk 50 No 14 x 23 x 41x Pair. 8x 48F 3 Bankers N4,500 wk 51 No Nap Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap 2 Bankers N3,000 Wk 49 No 34 x 44 x Pair 3 x 49 X 2 Bankers N3,000 Wk 50 No. 14x 41x Pair .8x 48x 2 Bankers N3,000 Wk 51 No Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap. KEY LETTER.T.T. AT HOME NO 48.49 TO CONTROL 3.

Bankers this wk 50 Blue cost N4,500 two bankers cost N3,000 following Wk 51 Letter T.T. Must set at away No 47x 48x to control 3 special draws Wk 51 Red cost N4,500 two bankers cost N3,000 send M.T.N. Card 08162705220 = 09084916233

VIC DESTINY WIN AUSSIE 100%

HOTLINE: - 09099813819 WK 51 PAIR 18XXX 19 BRUNSWICK C. & DANDENONG C TO CONTROL ANOTHER 3 UNBEATABLE NAP 3/3 Congratulations!!! All our registered and weekly subscribers won my 3 Nap plus pair last week 50 on Nap 1xx 23xx 41xx Pair 24f 32xx=3/3 or 4/5.

It must surely draw again in the sequence weeks without failure. Please your registration & get your winning games. Week to week Nap no reduction cost #20,000.

Note: - You must call me before Friday noon to receive your game, failure to call no game please.

YEWA. GAMES – (22 MUST 46) 07064660296

Your new seasoned compiler mission is to enrich stakers that started last week. Call & win – N10,000 – 3Naps again. goodluck

LABAEKA NAP (08053303522) 01 HOT 23

Back in action with 4th weeks operational Nap and Hot pair 1x 23.

Call for 3 draws details. Goodluck

MR. LUCKY-07086378641 01X 16X 18X 33XX

Starting of our Annual Aussie 3 weeks operation for the month of July cost N50,000 in weeks 52, 01 & 02.

Good luck.

DANDENOKGC.SYSTEM

09038460009 /09084916233=16.17 4.special draws = 2013. Wk 51 no 9X 11X 27 X 38 x with 16X17F 4. special draws = 2014. Wk 51 no 2X20X29X40 x with 16 X17F 4. special draws F 2015. Wk 51 No 9 X22X31X36 xwith 16F 17X 4 special draws 2016. Wk 51 No. NAP NAP NAP NAP with 16.17 4. special draws 2016 wk 51 No. NAP NAP NAP NAP with NAP NAP KEY: Every wk 51, Bank Niger No 16.17. To draw plus, 3. Others cost N6,000 wk 51 2015 No 9X22X3 1X36 x with 19 .24 wk 50 = 2016 No NAP NAP NAP NAP with 19-24 following wk 51 to control 4. Special draws cost N6,000 Wk 51 No NAP NAP NAP NAP 4/4 send M.T.N Card 09038460009.

WEEK 52 STATUS SUNDAY MATCHES

2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24, 26, 34, 42, 43, 44, 47, 49.

XX13XX pair XX18XX. MRS. HENRY: 08170779623 & 08071554934

Attention! Attention!! Attention!!!

I am using this medium to apologies to all stakers for last week result that disappointed them.

The President of the Club has vowed to put a smile on stakers faces by release 4/4 this week.

KEY:- OLYMPIC FC at No 1 away in advance coupon open to previous week. Cost priceN30,000 (Thirty thousand naira only)

Call 08170779623 & 08071554934. portugal

TWO BANKER WK 50 N3,000

x14x x23x WK 51 red nap nap

coroatia

TWO BANKER WK 50 N3,000 x17x x41x WK 51 red nap nap

turkey

TWO BANKER WK 50 N3,000 x08x f09f WK 51 red nap nap

SEND MTN CARD TO 09038633666

MARKBET—08124257898.

18X 23X 34XXX NO RISK FOR WKS 51, 52, 01.

I give out 18x 23x 34xxx for week 51 the remaining weeks cost N50,000 each. Call 08124257898.

Happy Id-El Fitri to all Muslim faithful.

3 weeks winning experience starts now.

PETER NAP: 2 PAIR 20 (08076546261) Congratulation to all those that got the last week release as they won with 1xx, 8xx, 23xx though 23xx was published free last week, another 3/3 and 4/5, this week cost just N25,000. Pay to saving acct no: 3023114822.

First Bank in person of Mr. Onaolapo Peter G. Call 08076546261. Meanwhile 02 or 20 for x this week.

draw commander two BANKERS N3,000

WK 50 x14x x23x pair x01x f02f

WK 51 nap nap pair 19 23

WK 52 nap nap pair nap nap

best english magic two BANKERS N3,000

WK 50 x21x x41x pair x23x f24f

WK 51 nap nap pair 01 02

WK 52 nap nap pair nap nap

send mtn card to 08095602590.

BABSON AUSSIE RESCUE NAP — 08156829811 8TH AVENUE SURE NAP. KEY = WERRIBEE. C. vs N. GEELONG 8 - 8 YEARS WINNING MUST-TO SILENT PROMOTES & BOOST TO YOUR FINANCE. Alternate draw donwload in 2000- week of play XX, in 2008- month of play and in 2016-??

Our source is on direct draw information on records N50,000=now. zenith is back on annual 4 wks directive win in 2015 & 2016. amuko & asso. box hill home 24, 2015. ballarat away 23, 2016. 07014686970

WINNER CODE 505 GROUP = 08 135637650= 28.29.

U.K. SYSTEM two Bankers N2000 wk 50 No 14x 23x wk 51 No Nap Nap. Power x power two bankers N2000 wk 50 No lx 8x wk 51 No Nap Nap winner code 505 two bankers N2,000 wk 50 No 21x 41xwk 51 No Nap Nap ADESURE Nap two Bankers N2,000 wk 50 No. lx 2F wk 51 No Nap Nap. Stkers try to get winner code 505 Two Bankers this wk 51 RED cost N2,000 cash winner code 505. Group 4.

Special draws this wk 51 cost N25,000 wk 51 No Nap Nap Nap pair 28.29 we set for 3 wks operations wk 50, 51, 52, send M.T.N. Card 08135637650.

NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE 08177474535

BUMPER HARVEST AT ASSURANCE PLACE IN WEEK 50 — 12X 21X =32X ANOTHER ASSURANCE WIN AGAIN ON ANNUAL WEEK 51 (2013 — 2016) WEEK 51, 2013= 9X 16X 38XXX 27X WEEK 51 2014= 02X 22X 40XXX 29X WEEK 51, 2015= 1X 17X 36XXX 31X WEEK 51, 2016= X X X 33XXX 23X At new Njoroge your winning is our pride. N50, 000. Goodluck

39

tribunepools

ALUMNI NAP-

08154836338 (02XX01)

23X 32X 41XXX – 14X PAIR 24F 01X. AVONDALE-winning sequence paves way to our 3 weeks Nap. Congrats if you are a regular reader of our column we gave the above Nap out in week 49 free against week 50.

Congratulations to all our esteem callers and buyers.

Week 51 win is on draw sequence Number 01xxx drew in week 45, 46, 47 to fail in 2 weeks 48 & 49, draw in wk 50.

BLACKTOWN C AWAY NO 2 and X X X = 02 MUST O1.

And other 3 fixed Naps, when record speaks other protocols at halt.

Alumni winning pay point #25,000.

Good luck.

TRIPLE GREETS ALL WITH 33/34 08035324990

Your indomitable Triple spice international is set to make waves again after a dull and all period occasioned by poor result. We are back to serve you better.

Let’s all lovers of pools use No’s 33/34 for 1 sure draw this week. Add the pair to our IBK and get your 2/3 mandatorily.

Our IBK costs #1,500, 2 drs sell for #3000 and 3 drs in Aussie cost #15,000 on 08035324990. Be a winner.

022 CODE 42 PAIR 45 08059580326

The best thing you can do thus week 51 is to patronize 022 code releases of 3 nap draws and a pair cost #30,000 cash. Every first week in the month of July all my fans always laugh to their various banks on Monday with winning money on pool staking.

You too can join them this year by buying my 3 gazzetted nap draws and 1 hot pair.

SOLOMON RESORT –

09091111800 (38XX 22) 12X 17X 32XXX 23X = 24F The wise stakers winning place that made our clients forget their past loses as promised in our last week advert win again on every week 51 gazetted win MONARO. P. AT HOME 49 = WIN! SURE!! BET!!!. Reference to week 51’ 2015 and wk 51’ 2016 Week 51 – 2015 – 01X 09X 24XXX 36XX 37F WEEK 51 – 2016 – X X X -38X 39 Join the wise Solomon of our time on another annual week 51 sure NAP. Tagged forget your PAST = N50,000 = confirmed resort place.

Thursday, 30 - 06 June/July, 2016

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE POOLS PAGE

THE WINNERS CHOICE WISE STAKERS DELIGHT GET A COPY AND WIN.

BABSON AUSSIE RESCUE NAP-08156829811

8TH AVENUE SURE NAP. KEY=WERRIBEE.C vs N.GEELONG 8-8 YEARS WINNING MUST- TO SILENT PROMOTERS & BOOST TO YOUR FINANCE. Reference to matches played on 24/6/2000, 5/7/08 and 2/7/2016 June/July winning months Week 47=2000- 10x 22x 46xx - 47x Week 50=2008- 07x 30x 44xxx- 07x Week 51=2016- X X X Alternate draw download in 2000-week of play xx, in 2008-month of play and in 2016-?

NAZAR MASTER REMAINS SOLID

The leading pools company in Oyo State and envrons, NAZAR Master Pools Company Limited, Ibadan has again reiterated that it was unshaken by the amount of winnings on its odds in the current AUSSIE. Football season.

The pools company made this known in a statement made available to TRIBUNE POOLS during the week.

According to NAZAR Master, “we are happy that stakers have continue to win on our odds. We are assuring them that we are up to the task of paying winnings as and when due, no matter the amount involved. Stakers and other stakeholders should continue to bet on our odds so that they would have big money to celebrate EID-EL-FITRI to all our muslim brothers.

ISREAL BAIL OUT – 09085712800 (18XXX)

3 YEARS PROJECTED ANNUAL WEEK 51 FANTANSIC – WIN – SURE= NAP= XXX Week 51 – 2014 – 02x 16x 38xxx = 16= 9drs Week 51 – 2015 – 09x 24x 31xxx= 17= 8drs Week 51 – 2016 – X X X= 18= 7/9drs We are established and known as Bail out and stakers last hope. Many weeks we proved all our critics wrong. BE BAILED OUT – N60, 000

MR A. GEORGE, 08036224198 (28XX CBK)

WK 51 NO 28 + (2) OTHERS, TO VISIT BENIN, WARRI, P.H Congratulations to all V.I.P members as week 50 result scored 3/3 on members 8,23,32 now remaining weeks 51,52,01,02 with (3) Nap draws and a pair on sale at #50,000 each week with guarantee. Contact me in person now on visit to Benin, Warri, P.H, Uyo to see all V.I.P members or pay through the Bank Account Number, 2028316301, Assam George, UBA. Address No 160 Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

ACHIEVER INTER 08034097902

Week 51:- 12,13,14, For 2 draws.

We are back again with another ‘2’ weeks operation in wk 51 & 52 as we did in 47 & 48, when we performed wonders inside our Aussie 2016 systems booklet. As we want to get you out of Poverty in wk 51 & 52 again. My Oversea partners who gave the ASSURANCE, that there will be no failure in the ‘2’ wks of our release with guaranted setting system that cost only #30,000 or 2 weeks combined cast.

N50,000 THIS week 51 = 12XX, 13XX, 14XX for 2 draws Plus ‘3’ direct draw call on the line 08034097902 – 08057309501 for details.

JACOBSON THE AUSSIE MANAGER (07065292905)

B.B.B.B.B Home no 1 – winning sequence as come and Gone. But the overwhelming legacy liveth.

Another 2 week win at W.W. Wooden W. at away 49 and Weston. W at home 49 controlled on weeks 51 and 52 yet another MULTIPLE HAVEST (WIN) N50, 000 – again, welcome to the winners home.

HOPE NAPS & CO 08107128449

BANKER(37) BANKER(37) BANKER(37) No. 37 is a result on board. This week 51 the three special draws and another banker making four draws are ready for you with additional three draws in week 52. Promoters must pay you. Your winning is sure. Call hope Naps and pay to first Bank Plc on account No 3088328923 in person of Mr. Gbadebo Stephen A . while the week release will be sent to you on phone – messages. Make sure your payment confirm. Each week cost. N20,000 cash banker No 37 bankers. God bless thanks

SHADOW NAP

08087670776 (43 PAIR 47) Week 50=8xx 14xx 21xx (41xx PAIR 42) There is no problem without solution.

With my 3 jackpot draws this week 51, Your problem will be solve, therefore make sure you send to me #5000 MTN recharge card and become a millionaire. Thanks.

LEKE INTER NATIONAL NAPS

09091798611 BET (9, 20) (23, 43) WKS 51 and 52 (Two wks Operation) Dear stakers my annual 2 weeks winning naps for wks 51 and 52 is now in progress with 100% guarantee of winning 3/3 Nap correct in both weeks.

Cost N25,000 cash per week. Pls call me now for accts details, and any other info. 09091798611.

AKIN MR AKIN – 07067202291= 18XX 23

WK. 50 – 12X 23X 32XXX= 05F/4X= 4/5 Congratulations our current ‘RED’ coloured coupon winning instruction/ directives on 1st Home alphabet 49 – as XXX is on board again.

1st Red week 47 – 09x 34x 47xxx – 13xx 2nd Red week 51 – X X X - 23xxx 3rd Red week 03 – X X X - 43xxx 3times ‘RED’ coloured coupon scheduled NAPS. New Akins, 2 in One Expert winning galore. N50, 000= History to repeat itself (MUST). Welcome

MADAM DE MADAM 08023329191 (18X 28)

BRUNSWICK. C and BAYSWATER= 18XXX 28 On same digit approved our week 51 sure NAP Last week we confirmed 9drs on coupon and so it was. Once again we are out to put smile to wise stakers faces. Call Mr. Joshua our media manager for your winning details N35, 000= Madams winners world.

AUSSIE BETS MASTER RELEASE

08134496635

CLASSIFIED PURPLE COUPON KEY: WEEK 48 = 16XX, 26XX, 36XX PAIR 17XXX 18F WEEK 52 = BET, BET, BET PAIR 19, 20.

Dear Sir/Ma. This is your golden chance to win real big money from pools.

Week 52 Nap will be released together with the current classified Purple coupon key. Cost Price = N25,000 cash. Pay to MR. BETHEL INIOBONG. Account No: 2073819297, UBA or Account No: 3101363223, First Bank. Call 08134496635.

MODBURY BALCATTA WERRIBEE.C TWO BANKER WK 50 N3,000

TWO BANKER WK 50 N3,000

TWO BANKER WK 50 N3,000

WK 51 RED NAP NAP

WK 51 RED NAP NAP

WK 51 RED NAP NAP

X08X X23X

X17X X32X

X41X F43F

SEND MTN CARD TO 08162705220

Brazil names Neymar, others on Rio Olympics provisional list

Neymar

CAPTAIN Neymar will return to the squad after sitting out of this month’s Copa America Centenario in US in order to lead the quest for gold.

Olympic squads must be made up of at least 15 U-23 players, born on or after 1 January 1993. Each nation is permitted to name up to three overage players.

Rio 2016 is not included in the men’s international match calendar, however, and earlier this month a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that “clubs are not under any obligation to release players for the tournament, irrespective of the player’s age.”

Paris Saint-Germain defender, Thiago Silva was rumoured to have made the 35-man preliminary squad, which was not made public, but has missed out along with fellow Olympic hopeful Willian, Filipe Luis and Miranda with suggestions their respective European clubs were not willing to release them for the competition.

Thiago Silva has not appeared for his country since Copa America 2015.

Five-time world champi-

ons Brazil are desperate to secure the one remaining title for which they are eligible but yet to win.

It will be the second time in two years the Selecao will attempt to lift a major title on home soil follow-

ing World Cup 2014, when their campaign ended in the ignominy of a 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany.

Gov Ugwuanyi boosts Rangers GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has donated two vehicles to Enugu Rangers to enhance their performance in the ongoing Nigeria Premier League season.

He also urged the Flying Antelopes to win laurels for the state.

Speaking while handing over the keys to the vehicles – a 30-seater Toyota Coaster bus and a KIA Cerato car at the Government House, Ugwuanyi told the members of the management team of the club and some of the players during a brief ceremony, to work harder and improve their performance, especially in view of the assistance the gesture would offer the team.

He explained that the donation made even in these hard times underscored the importance his administration attached to the wellbeing of the club now that the

players are doing well in the Nigeria Football Premier League.

The donation of the vehicles was sequel to an earlier approval to that effect made by the state

executive council to assist the club in carrying on with its operations in a manner that would pose minimal discomfort to the management and the players.

Fed Cup: Rivers Utd, 3SC clash in Kaduna NIGERIA Premier League club sides, Rivers United and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) headline the round of 16 fixtures in this year’s Federation Cup, as both teams will clash at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Wednesday, July 6.

In the other all-NPFL clashes, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi confront Plateau United in Akure as Sunshine Stars of Akure tackle Akwa United in Makurdi to determine which teams move to the quarter-final of the competition otherwise

known as the Challenge Cup. Another NPFL side, FC IfeanyiUbah will take on Katsina United at the Kwara Sports Complex, Ilorin on Wednesday, while Enugu Rangers will test might with Crown FC of Ogbomoso at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Thursday, July 7.

Warri Wolves are up against Prime FC of Oshogbo at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, while Nasarawa United will lock horns with Dynamite FC of Benin in Lokoja on Thursday.

SIDELINES

NO 16, 535

N150

THURSDAY, 30 JUNE, 2016

The Presidency and the National Assembly are currently embroiled in a war of words over sundry issues. While might and right are in abundant display on either side, just how is governance advanced through a divided house? Shouldn’t both sides unite, particularly at this solemn Ramadan season, to cast stones at satan, and not each other?

“Whether or not these matters are better resolved through a referendum will be subject of next week edition.”

S

INCE 1999 when the army took over from elected civilian government, almost everything that could go wrong with a nation has actually gone wrong with Nigeria. We have gone from a country which held so much promise to one which still struggles to achieve the most basic indices of development. Public infrastructures, utilities and amenities collapsed, we fought a civil war, crime and corruption became the order of the day. Political and religious tribe are common place. To make matters worse, insurgency and terrorism joined the fray, oil dropped to lowest level ever and most states cannot pay workers’ salary. Hitherto, many Nigerians have been advocating for restructuring of the lopsided constitution bequeath to Nigerians by the military in 1999. Whilst some within and outside government described proponents of the idea of National Conference as unpatriotic, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan bought the idea and set up a national conference consisting of 494 members. The report of the National Conference consist of over 10,500 pages.

THE TASK BEFORE CONFERENCE The task faced by the Conference was best described by the Chairman, Hon. Justice Idris Kutigi in his address at the presentation of the report to the President as follows: “In the post-independence history of Nigeria, there have been four Conferences, including this 2014 National Conference; however, Mr. President, our own task has been the most arduous…

“The following statistics graphically illustrates this. The 1978 Constituent Assembly had a membership of 230 people and met for 9 months. The 1995 National Constitutional Conference had a membership of 371 people and met for twelve (12) months. The 2005 National Political Reform Conference was made up of 400 delegates and met for 5 months. We are 494 in membership and you made us do

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.Litt

afeonthursday

aareafe@gmail.com

Report of National Conference: Need for a referendum all this work in four and half months…

Mr. President, we did not try to ignore or bury our differences. We addressed these differences while respecting the dignity of those holding these differences and sought to construct solutions which would become building blocks for a just and stable nation…Mr. President, we approved over 600 resolutions; some dealing with issues of law, issues of policy and issues of constitutional amendments. These resolutions did not deal with frivolous or inconsequential issues. We showed courage in tackling substantial and fundamental issues.”

NOTABLE RECOMMENDATIONS From media reports, the following are some of the recommendations which have been made by the Conference: 1. Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy – Chapter Two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 contains principles which are meant to guide governments at all levels. However, by the said provisions of the chapter are not justiciable before a court of law. The Constitutional Conference now recommends that certain aspects of the provisions of Chapter 2 be made justiciable so as to promote social citizenship.

2. Promotion of National Identity – There is a recommendation, for an amendment to the Constitution which will place a duty in Nigerians to embrace national loyalties above sectional or ethnic loyalties. This is obviously aimed at reducing or outrightly eradicating ethnic strife.

3.

Devolution of power – The Con-

ference has made recommendations for the devolution of power between the various arms of government by the removal of some items from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. An example of such is registration of births and deaths and copyright which at the moment are on the exclusive legislative list.

4.

Federalism – amongst other the Conference advocated a separation of the office of Accountant General of the Federal from the office of Accountant General for the Federal Government.

5.

Revenue Allocation – the Conference recommended the following formula for allocation of revenue amongst the three tiers of governments.

Recommended Formula Existing Formula i.

Federal Government – 42.5% Federal Government- 52.68% ii.

State Governments – 35% State Governments - 26.72% iii.

Local Governments – 22.5% Local Governments - 20.60% 6.

State Creation – The Conference recommended 18 additional states in response to aspirations of several movements across the country for the creation of more States. There is however a caveat that such States must be economically viable and should have human, natural and material resources.

It appears nonetheless that the recommendation may not totally meet the expectation of some whose States did not make the list. Soon after the submission of the report, an organization known as

the ‘Bori State’ movement addressed the press complaining about the failure of the Conference to recommend the creation of Bori State.

7.

Modification of Presidential System – There is a recommendation for the adoption of a modified system of government in which the president will pick the Vice President from the legislature.

8.

Rotational Power – The Conference recommends that the Presidency should be rotational among the six geo political zones of the country. At the State level, it is recommended that the governorship should rotate among the three senatorial zones in each state.

9.

Scrapping of Local Government – The Conference recommends that the 774 Local Governments be deleted from the Constitution and that State be permitted to put in place their own local government administration structures so as to reduce cost of governance.

It is noteworthy that President Jonathan promised to begin implementation of the recommendations which deal with or require policy changes by the Executive. However, he decided to send other aspects of the recommendations to the National Assembly. Up till now, critical issues touching on political structure, devolution of power, revenue allocation and state creation remain to be addressed.

Whether or not these matters are better resolved through a referendum will be subject of next week edition.

— to be continued.

Euro 2016: Ronaldo set to dust Platini’s goal record

By Ganiyu Salman CRISTIANO Ronaldo will be aiming at another record tonight when he leads Portugal against Poland in the Euro 2016 quarter-final clash billed for the Stade Velodrome Marseille, France.

Ronaldo with eight goals in the kitty (from four Euro championships) will need a goal to match Michel Platini’s all-time European Championship goal record of nine goals.

Interestingly, the three-time Ballon d’Or winner just like his rival, Lionel Messi, who announced his international retirement after last Sunday’s Copa America final loss to Chile, has never won a major title with his country.

He netted a brace in the 3-3 draw

with Hungary during the group game and a repeat of that feat tonight will see him dust Platini’s goal record.

Southampton defender, Jose Fonte believes Portugal’s passage to the semi-final, which will be its fifth time depends largely on the form of Ronaldo tonight.

“He’s proved time and time again how good he is for the club and he is the best goalscorer in Portugal’s history,” Fonte told the Telegraph.

“We believe in him and we just need to make sure, with him, we can achieve what we want. We want to win it and we believe we can do it.”

The Fernando Santos-piloted side will clash with either Belgium or Wales in the next stage if it survives Poland tonight.

Meanwhile, Nani believes A Seleccao have what it takes to be in the last four.

“We know that Poland is a very strong team with experienced players like (Robert) Lewandowski, but we have to focus on the team, not (just think) about one player because any player in this game can make a difference.

“If we can control all of the pieces on the pitch, I think we will have more chance than if we (try to) control just one player. We have to be at our best, to go in with the confidence to try and win the game,” the former Manchester United star said.

CAF Champions League result Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Enyimba

1

Ronaldo

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. 30/06/2016.