31st October 2015

nigeria’s most informative newspaper

no 1,123

Saturday, 31 OCTOber, 2015

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

TUC, IBEDC celebrate HID

pg6

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

n150

pg5 Buhari takes Orubebe to Code of Conduct Tribunal

Saraki woos PDP senators again pg4

As Senate President loses at Appeal Court

I was flogged for loving music, but I didn’t mind pgs 3&30 —Ruby Gyang

Court jails 7 oil thieves

APC tells PDP to rebrand or perish

pg4 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2015 Batch ‘B’ members during their swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC orientation camp in Kangere village, Bauchi State, on Friday. Photo: NAN

pg45

Customs retire 3 ACGs, 26 Comptrollers

Heavy security as Ooni-elect spends Day 2 in seclusion

Pgs 5&8

pg5

Dele Giwa: Ita-Giwa pg4 tackles ex-DIG Omeben

2

31 October, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915 - 2015)

Saturday Tribune PHOTOS: D’TOYIN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

(1) Members of the Interdenominational Christian Women Association, Ikenne, Ogun State chapter, with Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu.

(2) Clerics from Ode Remo Archdeaconry, Anglican Diocese, with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

(3) Members of the Mission Brith Attendance and Health Workers Association of Nigeria with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

(4) Oba Olufemi Olutoye Alani of Idoani (left) presenting a condolence letter to Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, while Olori Omotayo Olutoye (middle) looks on.

(5) Pastor Eric Amagada signing the condolence register.

(6) Pastor Gbenga Ajayi signing the condolence register.

(7) Members of the IBEDC delegation with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran.

(8) Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (right), Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu and Honourable Segun Olaleye.

3

31 October, 2015

klieglight I was flogged for loving music, but I didn’t mind —Ruby Gyang Ruby Gyang is among the very few afro soul songstresses in Nigeria, whose distinct voice and confident charisma have raised disciples for the new genre. Raised in Kaduna State, the Benue State- born songbird was signed to Chocolate City in 2010 alongside Jos-groomed stars, MI and Jesse Jagz. Ruby’s hit singles such as Goodman, Down and Okay have enjoyed massive airplays. In this interview, she tells NEWTON-RAY UKWOMA about her journey into music, among other things.

Y

OU have a very powerful voice, how do you maintain it?

I have not always sounded as good as I do now. I learnt that voices are like muscles, the more your exercise them the more they become better. I have worked with a voice coach who has helped develop me vocal techniques to make me sound better.

When you said, ‘Yes’ to music, who in the family first said ‘No’?

My father. He is late now. I studied Economics at the University of Jos. He wanted me to be an analyst. So, for three years he was anti-music. My mum was very supportive, perhaps because she had an opportunity to become an artiste and didn’t take it. So, she encouraged me to follow my passion.

What measures of punishment did you experience for pursuing your passion?

Beating. My father beat me a lot. I was so bad. I remember when I was younger, I would sneak out of school to watch either play or a dance performance. I would really get beaten and grounded. You know, when you have a great passion for something, it makes it easy to withstand punishment. I didn’t mind the flogging.

I was always sneaking out to watch a dance or a band playing music somewhere. But the joy was worth it, so, I didn’t mind the flogging.

How did your interest in music begin?

Aside farming, music was another important aspect of my growing up. I was in the choir all through my teenage years, the university and now. In 2003, I hooked up with MI and Jesse (Jagz). We started like a crew.

We only wanted to sing. After some years, Chocolate City signed MI and later Jesse Jagz and I got signed.

MI was the one who pulled us from Jos down to Lagos.

We moved to Lagos in 2010.

When MI invited you to Lagos what was the first thing that came to your mind?

I was like,’Oh My God, how will I leave my daughter behind?’ It took me a year to finally separate with my daughter.

Continues pg30

Saturday Tribune

4

news

31 October, 2015

Screening: Saraki seeks truce with PDP senators Reaches out to opposition over Amaechi Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

S

enate President Bukola Saraki has reached out to senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for rapprochement following Thursday’s walkout of the Senate by the opposition lawmakers over the confirmation of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as a minister.

Sources on both sides confirmed to Saturday Tribune on Friday that rapprochement was ongoing and that Saraki had reached out to the PDP lawmakers to sustain their friendship.

“The Senate President is unmindful of the friendship between him and the PDP senators and he is not taking that for granted. He has immediately reached out to the senators and assured them that party loyalty was responsible for his actions. I think they are resolving the grievances,” one of the sources said.

The source added that the senators were hopeful that Saraki would “make up for the lapses” in the distribution of the chairmanship of Senate Standing committees which he is expected to unveil next week.

Other sources said that Saraki had made spirited efforts ahead of the Thursday sitting to win the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio and other PDP Senators to his side on the Amaechi issue but the PDP senators remained adamant ahead of that day’s sitting.

In fact, it was gathered that senators of the PDP held two closed door meetings in the Senate on Wednesday night and early on Thursday to fine-tune their strategy to

stop Amaechi.

The senators were said to be confident that Saraki would sustain the provisions of Senate Standing orders 41(7) as well as Order 53(5) which forbid the Senate from debating issues on which judicial interpretations are pending.

But Saraki sided with the APC when the chips were down, thus making the PDP senators to express their frustration.

Senators of the PDP had to walk out of the chamber following the insistence of their

counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), who are in the majority to confirm Amaechi as a minister.

The PDP senators had insisted on the ratification of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on a petition against the nomination of Amaechi. But their counterparts in the APC were united in their bid to save Amaechi, while the PDP failed to get the needed backing of the Senate President on the mater.

Saraki’s case splits Appeal Court justices Sunday Ejike - Abuja The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, on Friday dismissed an appeal brought before it

by Senate President, Olubukola Saraki challenging the legality of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on false assets declaration.

In a split decision of two justices to one, the Appellate Court held that the charge against the Senate President was in order.

Justice Moore Adumein, who delivered the lead judgement faulted the mode of service of the charge on Saraki, saying that the law is that an accused person must be personally served with the criminal charge as preferred against him.

Adumein, who said the issue of service was a fundamental one and a foundation upon which a trial is laid, also noted, however, that although Saraki was not properly served, his counsel failed to raise the issue before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and resolved the issue in favour of the prosecution.

In a dissenting judgement, Justice Joseph Ekanem nullified the charge against Saraki on the grounds that there was no evidence before the court that the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed S. Hassan had the authority of either the AGF or the Solicitor General of the Federation to file the charge against Saraki.

Justice Ekanem hinged his decision on a letter dated September 11, 2015 that Hassan wrote to the tribunal to apply for Saraki’s trial.

According to him, the tone of the letter, which read in part, “I hereby apply for the prosecution of the accused person before this tribunal as per the attached charge,” did not show that Hassan had the authority of the Solicitor General before filing the 13-count charge against the Senate President.

The judge said it was plain and clear in this case, that the proceeding was initiated

by Hassan and that it should therefore not be difficult to arrive at a conclusion that Section 24 of the CCB and

Court jails 7 oil thieves Lanre Adewole - Lagos

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday jailed seven accused persons for unlawfully dealing in Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

Justice Okon Abang convicted them for dealing in 1,459 metric tonnes of PMS without obtaining lawful authority.

Each convict will serve 12year term.

The convicts are Adedamola Ogungbayi, Olaniran Olabode, Suraju Gasali Moses Emmanuel, Wilson Bonsi, Okaraodi Uche and Onyeogo Happy.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the vessel, MT Good Success, used by the convicts in perpetrating the crime, as well as the recovered petroleum product to the Federal Government.

The sums of N66.6m and $975,000 belonging to the convicts’ company, Hepa Global Energy Limited, domiciled with the First City Monument Bank, are also to

Senators of the PDP had insisted that since the matter of Amaechi was already before a court of law, it should not be entertained by the Senate, while his confirmation should be deferred until the court case was finalised.

The arguments and counterarguments on the floor of the Senate saw the PDP senators staging a walkout from the Senate chamber and, at a press conference after the walkout, the senators sounded as if their friendship with Saraki was over.

be forfeited.

The trial judge also directed the filing of an affidavit of compliance with the order within 21 days of the judgement.

The seven convicts, their vessel and company were on August 28, 2014 re-arraigned on five counts alongside one Padoun Jacob.

Jacob was, however, discharged and acquitted by the court.

The judge, in setting Jacob free on all the five counts, described him as a desperate job seeker, who became a victim of circumstance.

He noted that the stolen product had been loaded before Jacob was employed by Hepa Global Energy Limited on February 7, 2014.

“The guilty should not escape punishment but the innocent should not be punished,” the judge held.

He, however, described the other convicts as enemies of the corporate existence of Nigeria, who had contributed to the economic woes of the

country.

“The convicts have no sympathy for the corporate existence of this country. The seed of wrongdoing may be sown in secret but the harvest cannot be concealed. Today is the day of reckoning.

“You call it oil bunkering or pipeline vandalism, this menace has reached an alarming proportion in this country; enough is enough.

“The convicts are godless and lawless, without any particle of sympathy for this country. They are part of the people that have contributed to the economic woes of this country.

“The convicts planted thorns, they cannot expect to gather flowers; they sowed the wind, and they must gather whirlwind,” the judge held.

Though he noted that each of the counts attracted life sentence, he, however, sentenced each of the seven convicts to 10 years on each of the counts, to run concurrently from the judgment day.

Tribunal Act 2004 had been breached by the said Hassan.

On that ground, Justice Ekanem set aside the charge against Saraki and also discharged him from being prosecuted.

But in the concurrent judgement of Justices Adumein and Mohammed Mustapha, they held that Hassan, being an officer in the temple of justice and a member of the Bar, could not have initiated the trial without the authority of the appropriate person.

The two justices said the tribunal was right in assuming jurisdiction in the matter because the chairman of the tribunal and the other member had no cause to disbelieve Hassan on whether he had the authority of the Solicitor General or not, having come from the Federal Ministry of Justice as a deputy director.

They also dismissed Saraki’s claim that his trial was unlawful having not been initiated by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), adding that the Law Officers of the Federation Act was clear that in the absence of the AGF, the Solicitor General of the Federation may assume the function of the office of the AGF. They also dismissed another claim of Saraki that the tribunal did not form quorum of three membership, noting that although, the constitution was silent on the quorum, the interpretation Act, a veritable legal tool has smoothly settled the matter with a provision that two members can sit in any tribunal matter.

Why dismissing Saraki’s appeal, the court, in the lead judgement, ordered that Saraki should go back to the tribunal to face his trial.

Counsel for Saraki, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) told newsmen that his client will approach the Supreme Court to test the veracity of the judgement.

Saraki is facing a 13-count charge of false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and in his bid to stop his trial, approached the Appeal Court, which ruled yesterday that he should go back to the tribunal to face the trial.

Saturday Tribune

Ita-Giwa tackles ex-DIG Omeben over Dele Giwa’s death Bola Badmus - Lagos Former Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has tackled former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Christopher Omeben, for remotely linking her with the death of former Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch Magazine, Mr. Dele Giwa.

Giwa, an ex-husband to Ita-Giwa, was assassinated in 1986 via a parcel bomb.

Omeben, who investigated the killing, had a few days ago in an interview said that Giwa’s assassination via a parcel bomb could be remotely connected to his “unhealthy relations with his “estranged wife.”

Also, Omeben identified Kayode Soyinka, Dele Giwa’s colleague who was the only survivor and eyewitness of the dastardly act as the “prime suspect.”

The former Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, on Friday, while debunking the claim of Omeben, who is now a clergyman, said in a statement made available by her Media Liaison Officer, Mr. Jonathan Eze, that if women in his locality killed their husbands, that was not the case where she came from.

The statement reads in part: “It is very possible that the aged former crime fighter is hallucinating on account of the blemish his shoddy handling of the case had cast on what might have been labeled an illustrious police career.

“Without a doubt the ‘estranged wife’ referred to by our former police chief is none other than the Distinguished Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who was once married to the late Dele Giwa.

“At the risk of sounding impetuous, it would appear that the former detective turned clergyman is now clutching at straws in a puerile attempt to cover up his crass incompetence with regard to the case.

“The pendulum of suspicion about the identity of the killers has always swung in one direction and is well known by any one who was around at the time the heinous act occurred.

“Just because Christopher Omeben lacked the courage at the time to pursue the obvious suspects at the time does not give him a right to bandy spurious allegations in the twilight of his life.

“Senator Florence Ita-Giwa was never considered a person of interest in the immediate aftermath of the murder, so for her name to be linked to this most reprehensible crime nearly 30 years after is preposterous, to say the least.

“The Senator categorically denies being with Dele Giwa the night before his death as the senator was in Calabar as a member of a state government empaneled committee.

“Also, the identity of the person who delivered the parcel bomb to the late Dele Giwa’s residence is now in the public domain, so to say that the senator’s houseboy delivered the parcel now is suggestive of the deterioration of the mental faculties of the former Deputy Inspector General.

“Indeed the senator would like to be put on record that at the time Dele Giwa died, she had no knowledge of the location of his residence and had not met with him for at least one year before.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the separation of the Distinguished Senator and the late Dele Giwa was devoid of any animosity and the Senator would like to know if separating from one’s husband means that they ought to become enemies.”

“Indeed she has no apologies to make for having a good relationship with Dele Giwa, even after their separation. As a matter of fact, Senator Ita-Giwa maintains very cordial relations with the siblings and children of the late great journalist to this day.

“The elderly former top cop ought to know that women of Nigeria will not take kindly to his denigrating a national icon and role model of thousands of Nigerian women.”

BVN: CBN warns customers on disclosure of account details The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday urged bank customers to be wary of fraudulent individuals alerting them to the deactivation of their bank accounts due to uncompleted Bank Verification Number (BVN).

This is contained in a statement by Mr Ibrahim Mu’ azu, Director, Corporate Communications of the CBN posted on the apex bank’s website.

The statement gave example of the message as “Dear customers, due to the new BVN policy of the CBN your account has been deactivated and to reactivate call…”.

5

news

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

FG takes Orubebe to Code of Conduct Tribunal Sunday Ejike - Abuja

From left, President, Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society, Professor Abdulrazag Habib; guest lecturer, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi and Chairman, Board of Directors, Zankili Medical Centre, Professor Lovett Lawson, during the fourth Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abuja, on Friday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Tight security as Ooni-elect spends Day 2 in seclusion Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

A

s the installation rites for the Oonielect, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, commenced on Friday at Ilofi, situated along Iremo Ouarters, members of the Isoro cult, which exclusively coordinates the traditional processes, barred visitors

from paying further visits to the new monarch.

Saturday Tribune gathered that although Ogunwusi entered Ilofi, a place where an Ooni-elect is prepared for responsibilities and functions, on Thursday, full rites did not commence until Friday.

There was heavy security presence around Iremo

Quarters, just as residents and passersby were avoiding the area.

A shop owner around Iremo Quarters, Mrs Yemisi Aderibigbe, told Saturday Tribune that the seeming low human movement along the road might be as a result of the ongoing rites, explaining that many people, regardless of assur-

The remaining 26 officers are of the rank of Comptrollers serving in Customs headquarters in Abuja, zonal offices and various area commands.

The release added that

the Comptroller-General of Customs stated that the retirements were part of measures to kick-start the repositioning of the Service for improved performance.

Customs retire 3 ACGs, 26 comptrollers Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja and Tola Adenubi - Lagos The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday announced the retirement of 34 senior officers from the Service with immediate effect.

The 34 officers retired by the Service, according to a press release signed on behalf of the CGC by the Customs’ Public Relations Officer (PRO), Wale Adeniyi, included five Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs (DCGs) who had earlier given notification to the Comptroller-General for voluntary disengagement.

The DCGs affected are John Atte MFR (Finance, Administration and Technical Services); Ibrahim Mera (Human Resources); Musa Tahir mni (Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection); Austin Nwosu (Strategic, Research and Planning) and Akinade Adewuyi (Tariff and Trade).

According to the release, three officers of the rank of Assistant ComptrollerGeneral (ACG), including the Secretary, Customs Board, Madu Mohammed, were also affected in the reorganisation exercise.

Other ACGs retired in the exercise are the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Lagos, Victor Gbemudu, and Bello Liman (Headquarters).

ances by the chiefs, were still in fear.

Another shop owner on Iremo Road, Mr Thomas Elugbaju, stated that “some of us chose not to open our shops for business because of the ongoing rites.

“We have been assured that business can go on. Apart from the ongoing rites, Ife is also in celebration mood and some of us chose to just enjoy the moment with other Ife indigenes.”

However, there was peace in the ancient city as many went about their businesses, while some people were seen discussing the installation rites at Ilofi quietly.

Countdown to Kogi poll: PDP, APC, other poised for showdown Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja As the governorship election in Kogi State draws near the main political parties in the contest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have each expressed confidence that they would win the poll slated for November 21.

The Labour Party (LP) also said it was the party to beat in the election, saying the people of the state were ready for real change.

Already, the parties have commenced mobilisation and campaigns to sell their programmes to the people.

The PDP and the APC have inaugurated their campaigns in the three senatorial districts with the PDP scheduled to hold a grand rally in Okene, Okene Local Government Area today (Saturday), where the candidate of the party and the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, will be presented the party’s flag.

The APC is also said to have fixed its grand rally for November 13, where its candidate, Prince Audu Abubakar, will also be presented with the flag.

Speaking on its preparedness for the election, the director general of the Wada/ Awoniyi Campaign Organisation, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, said the party would coast to victory.

According to him, the election is going to afford the people of the state to choose between Wada and other candidates.

He said, “The election is going to be between humility and arrogance. It will be between slavery and freedom.

It is between the best and the worst.”

Ogbeha said Wada had in the last three and a half years laid a solid foundation for the development of the state with the implementation of his transformation agenda across the 21 local government areas of the state.

He said the people of the state would reward the governor with another term by voting en masse for the PDP in the election But the APC believes the PDP is living in the past as the people of the state are ready for change.

The state secretary of the party, Salaam Adejo, said the people of the state were wiser and would vote for the party’s candidate.

According to him, Audu had shown commitment to the development of the state with his performance during his stint as the governor of the state.

Adejo explained that Audu laid the foundation for the infra structural development of the state, saying the 12 years of the PDP in the state were a waste.

He said the APC was prepared to take over governance in the state as the people were determined to embrace the wind of change blowing across the country.

The Federal Government will on November 9 arraign a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Peter Orubebe, on a four-count charge before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The offences for which the former minister will be arraigned border on breach of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. The date for the arraignment was fixed on Friday After service of summons on the former Minister by the bailiff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, a statement by the Head, Press & Public Relations of the CCT, Ibraheem Al-hassan has said.

The charges were filed by Peter Danladi of Code of Conduct Bureau, on the 8th of October 2015, on behalf of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

One of the charges reads: “That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29th 2011 did make a false declaration in your Asset Declaration Form by failing to declare plot 2722 Kyamu District Abuja on assumption of office on 26th September 2007 and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure), on May 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of part 1 fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23(2) of the CCB & T Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1, fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.

“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29, 2011 did made a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2059 Asokoro district, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of the CCB & T Act, Cap C15, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of part one fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and punishable under section 23 (2) of the CCB & T Act and as incorporated in paragraph 18 part 1 fifth schedule to The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on or about September 19, 2012 asked for and accepted the sum of fifty million naira from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota, as bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of the CCB & T Act CAP C15 laws of the federatiuon of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 1 Federal Republic of Nigeria and punishable under section 23 (2) of CCB & T Act as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1, fifth schedule to the Constitution (as amended).

“That you Godsday Orubebe while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about 2013 asked for and accepted the sum of twenty million naira from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota as additional bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company Chemtronics Nigeria Limited for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for the sum of one billion seven hundred and ninety nine million, nine hundred and fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty naira eighty eight kobo only (? 1,799,914,251.88K) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of CCB & T Act as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1 fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Roads: ‘Government ownership contributes to collapse’ Biola Azeez - Ilorin

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that ownership of roads by the Federal Government has contributed to continued deterioration of such infrastructure across the country.

Speaking at the maiden international conference of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) in Ilorin on Friday, the governor therefore advocated that Federal Government should divest itself from ownership of roads to improve infrastructural development in Nigeria.

The governor, who said that roads played an important role in the economy by enhancing smooth movement of goods and people from one place to another, added that the current deplorable state of Nigerian roads had made the task difficult.

He said that states where the roads are located should be made to take ownership, after the legal and fiscal adjustments necessary for their control, recommending that the respective governments should concession key roads nationwide to the private sector on build and operate arrangement.

6

news

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

BVN: Low turnout greets deadline despite banks’ warning

By Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Kola Oluwawole (middle), declaring open a two-day workshop organised by the state Public Sector Governance Reform and Development Project, under the supervision of the World Bank, for members and staff of the Assembly, at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti, on Thursday. With him are two of the resource persons, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Chief Segun Akinwumi (left) and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr Fasiku Ademiloye.

HID, benefactor of Nigerians —TUC, IBEDC boss

By Joseph Ajayi

T

rade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo as an enigma and benefactor of Nigerians who lived her life for others in the country.

Chairman of TUC, Ogun State chapter, Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi, who said this on Friday at the Ikenne residence of the Awolowos during a condolence

visit to the family, said HID Awolowo was Mama of Africa, Mama of Nigeria who lived her life absolutely in the service of the nation.

“We are here to pay tribute to Mama of Africa, Mama of Nigeria, an enigma and benefactor of Nigerians, who lived her life absolutely in the service of the nation. She provided support for her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a very prominent political leader in his time.

“And even after his death, she ensured the family continued with the legacy he left behind. The entire world respects her for what she stood and fought for all her life “TUC believes in an egalitarian society, which HID stood and fought for all her life and this is why we are here today as a trade union,” Fajobi said.

Also speaking on Friday, the Ijalani of Ido Ani, Ondo State, Oba Olufemi

Amaechi’s confirmation: Walkout collective stand against corruption —PDP THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the walkout by its members in the Senate during the confirmation of Rotimi Amaechi as minister on Thursday was a collective stand of the party against corruption.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this while briefing newsmen on the resolutions of the party’s National Caucus Meeting held in late hours of Thursday in Abuja.

Metuh said that the confirmation of Amaechi’s nomination as minister by the Senate was an indication of insincerity of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) fight against corruption.

“We salute the courage and unity of purpose of our senators, especially as demonstrated in the senate chamber on Thursday, in their collective stand against impunity and corruption. ‘’This is in line with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

“The PDP states that what the APC senators did on Thursday finally put a death

nail on their party`s war against corruption,” he said.

He said that the party was calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to stand up for justice and equity in the country.

Metuh said that the caucus had identified judiciary’s handling of elections petitions in some states, particularly Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Taraba, Ogun, Plateau and Lagos, as provocative.

He said that the PDP and Nigerians wondered why it was necessary to interfere

with the composition of the tribunal handling the petitions on Rivers elections.

He said that the party was worried over what he described as ‘’harassment” of Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on election petition matters.

Metuh called on the judiciary to take necessary steps at its appellate level to remedy the embarrassing rulings by some of the election petitions tribunals.

FRSC shifts enforcement of speed limiters Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has disclosed that April 1, 2016 has been set as the new enforcement date for compulsory installation of speed limiters by commercial motorists in the country.

This is even as the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, described as worrisome the high rate of road crashes in Nigeria, at-

tributing the ugly trend to recklessness and lawlessness by the motorists.

A statement by the Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Mr Bisi Kazeem on Friday in Abuja quoted Sanisi as saying that the rate of road traffic crashes in the world, particularly in the West African subregion was disturbing and has got to a point where every concerned citizen must support FRSC to find lasting solution to the menace.

Olutoye, described Mama HID as a woman worthy of emulation by all women.

“Here was a wonderful mother, not only to all women, but women who are married to politicians.

“A woman who stood solidly behind her husband throughout his political travails. As if that was not enough, since her husband left the scene, she held solidly forth and successfully too. I advise every woman who is in similar situation to emulate her,” the monarch said.

In his tribute to HID, Mr John Ayodele, Deputy Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), who led a team of staff of IBEDC to Ikenne, described the late HID as a matriarch of the entire Yoruba race and pillar of support for her husband.

“We have lost a gem, an example of what a woman should be today, mother of the nation. All women should emulate her because such women determine the future of the nation,” he said.

Also, Vice-President of the Interdenominational Christian Women Association, Ikenne chapter, Chief (Mrs) Comfort Olutunda described Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo as a strong Christian pillar who showed other women in Ikenne the path of Christianity.

Olatunda, who stated this while the women group, of which Chief HID Awolowo was founder and president, visited the Ikenne home of the Awolowos for a special prayer for the family, added that HID was a source of inspiration and counsel to all Christian women in Ikenne and environs.

Despite repeated warnings by the Deposit Money Banks that access to customers’ accounts will be restricted for failure to enroll for the Biometric Verification Number (BVN) before October 31, an estimated 31 million active bank accounts may be barred for want of BVN. When Saturday Tribune visited some banks’ branches at Oba Akran Ikeja, Dopemu and Oshodi areas of Lagos, there were no queues as normal banking business went on.

While some media reports had it that about 26 million bank customers are yet to get BVN, a source from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) told Saturday Tribune that though the latest number of registered customers was yet to be confirmed, available data from the apex bank as of October 25 showed that out of 52 million active bank accounts, only 20,833,635 (21 m) bank customers were enrolled for over 40 million accounts in various banks in the country. This means that about 31 million customers are yet to enrol on the platform.

Olusoji-Oluyole residents send SOS to Oyo govt

By Omotayo Fabusua Residents of Olusoji-Oluyole area in Ibadan South West Local Government have called on the state government to come to their aid, following a recent downpour that has left their road in a terrible condition.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune, Dr Samson Dare, chairman of Olusoji-Oluyole Landlords Association appealed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi to urgently come to their aid as a result of the deplorable state of their road.

Dr Dare said rain wreaked havoc on the Olusoji Bridge after its reconstruction with the attendant effect being flooding during the rainy season which disturbs residents and school children. “We thank Governor Ajimobi for the assistance he rendered to us in the past, but we appeal to him to come to our aid again,” he told Saturday Tribune.

Also speaking with Saturday Tribune, Mr Samuel Adelola, former secretary of Olusoji-Oluyole Landlords Association, who has been living in the area for the past 20 years, said the people of the area had been facing a lot of challenges, most especially the need for the re-construction of the bridge and the state of the road.

He said the construction of the first bridge was an initiative of five landlords which required 25 rings then with concrete cover for vehicles to be able to pass.

7 feature Ooni of Ife:

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Like Sijuwade, like Ogunwusi

By Kehinde Oyetimi

T

hey both upped the ante of royalty; they shifted the boundaries of kingly grandeur. They isolated the banal from the spectacular. The scenic stretch of their penetrating panache remained the popular Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The take-off point was Lagos, their destination, Ile-Ife. One ascended the pinnacle of royalty in 1980, paving way for the other in 2015. The older monarch was the late Oonirisa of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II who became one with the earth earlier this year, quickly replacing him is the new Ooni, Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 converted the ill-reputed Lagos-Ibadan highway into a regal route of sensational parade. The new head of the Yoruba race, the Ooni of Ife, father of the Yoruba ethnic stock, Enitan Ogunwusi, left Lagos for Ile-Ife, to commence the long-established rites that would crown him as the 51st monarch of Ile-Ife. Lagos, known for its virulent enthusiasm and rashness, again had the singular honour of being the take-off point for Ogunwusi, just as it did for the late Sijuwade 35 years ago.

August in audacity, mercurial in mien, stately in stature, the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade redefined monarchal elegance in African traditional circles. It will be recalled that when he would start his reign, he left no gem of royalty undisplayed. Following his selection as the Oonielect in 1980, Sijuwade made his entry into Ile-Ife in such elegance that has only been matched by the stream of splendor displayed by his successor, Ogunwusi, on his way to Ife for coronation rites. The assemblage of nobility that peopled Sijuwade’s convoy became the delight of onlookers as he travelled from Lagos to Ile-Ife. It was without doubt an astounding array of splendor. Sijuwade was reported to have driven into Ife in a Winnebago Caravan with all the trappings of royalty—tinted glasses, exquisite furniture with red-brown curtains.

Legendary for its reportorial style, the Sunday Tribune of September 21, 1980, gave an arresting vividness in the report. According to the story, it was one of the biggest throng of viewers. People trooped in from neighbouring towns—Modakeke, Ipetumodu, etc—others came from the far ends of the northern parts of Nigeria. Writing, the reporter stated that “From as near as Modakeke, Ipetumodu they came.

From as far as Lagos, Kaduna, they came to watch the reception accorded to the next Ooni who succeeds Oba Adesoji Aderemi who has joined his ancestors.

“Nearly all the taxi cabs in Ile-Ife yesterday closed down to hail Prince Sijuwade who, according to the cabmen, holds the prosperity of the cradle of the Yoruba. They lined the roads, resting on their vehicles and when he came, they accorded him the honour. As Okunade Sijuwade resumed to bear Olubuse the Second, the Ooni of Ife, traditional songs and dances specially prepared for the occasion were displayed on the road to the Ife township. The people sang heartily and at about 2.45pm when the convoy of cars that led the Ooni-elect drove in, the people were jubilating more.

Prince Sijuwade drove to town in a Winnebago Caravan with red-brown curtains, tinted glasses and decent furniture. With retired Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo in the front, his posture to people outside looked like someone resting on a hunchback cushion which is low yet able to afford a look from the window. Majority of the people inside the caravan wore white lace, and as I gathered, they were close friends of the Prince who belong to AWAWA Club in Lagos. The Ooni-elect also wore white lace. He waved and smiled as the caravan pulled along in the most tense traffic hold-up that has ever besieged Ile-Ife/Ibadan for some time.” Such glitz, such flashy advent!

Breathtaking in the period in which such grandeur was enacted by the arrival of the late Ooni Sijuwade to Ife, the entry of Ogunwusi into Ile-Ife for the commencement of his ceremonial rites eclipsed the glamour of his predecessor. Ogunwusi’s entourage was no meagre following. With over 100 cars in his convoy,

the vehicles were occupied by politicians in the ilk of Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lagos monarchs and chiefs, captains of industry, friends, family and well-wishers. Very few presidents could boast of such opulence; very few monarchs across the world could revel in such majestic homecoming. It was huge; it was phenomenal.

The Nigerian Tribune of October 29, 2015, while reporting the entry of Ogunwusi from Lagos to Ife, has this to say: “It was one long stretch of grandeur. The landscape was a snaky sweep of class. Lagos was the take-off point for Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the new Oonirisa of Ile-Ife, as he took the royal route to the abode of his kingly forbears—Ife. But such kingly elevation and splendid status would not have him drive alone. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, ill-famed for its overwhelming burden on road users, became an enchanting appeal as Prince Ogunwusi, in a stately convoy animated the highway. The over 100 vehicles that peopled his convoy glamorously authenticated the magnificence of the new Ooni.

“The weeks of speculations, hearsay and rumour finally gave birth to a validation of the succession to the throne of the Oonirisa of Ife. Before the new Ooni made his entry into Ife, the Ife-Ilesa interchange junction was in frightening frenzy as a teeming crowd waited in excited anticipation for the new leader of the Yoruba race. It was a bubbly collage of humanity. The educated shook hands with the not-too-enlightened; market folks laughed gleefully with passersby; indigenes conversed without restrictions with visitors. Palace chiefs were present in their regality of prominence; students mixed freely.

“In front of the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, the crowd’s patience was as legendary as Job’s. They had started converging as early as 10 a.m. As the crowd

grew so did the security apparatus.

“The jubilation became electrifying when the convoy arrived at the Ife toll gate. Donning a white lace with blue cap to match, Ogunwusi, who acknowledged cheers from the crowd, was led to his father, Pa Ropo Ogunwusi by the chairman of the screening committee of Giesi ruling house, Professor Aderibigbe. His father subsequently handed him over to the palace chiefs, who held a brief discussion with him before he (Ogunwusi) boarded his car as he joined the procession to the palace of Obalufe, where some traditional rites were performed. The entourage of Ogunwusi had former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Honourable Ojuolape Olagbaju, Chief Lekan Ijiyode, among other dignitaries.”

Just as the entries of the two monarchs are similar, the expectations from their subjects and the public share spirited similarity. While presenting the staff of office to Oba Sijuwade on December 6, 1980, the governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, reportedly called on all Yorubas to support the Ooni to enable him succeed.

He stated that an Oba was not a despot but a constitutional authority. He urged Sijuwade to maintain peace with his brothers and chiefs and draw from their collective wisdom for the success of his administration. In order to be win the acceptance of his people, Chief Ige, was reported to have advised Sijuwade to be guided by the interest of his people.

According to him, “Many appellations are used to describe the position of an Oba and his powers in our society. The society in which an Oba functions permits him considerable authority.”

Such call was also echoed as Ogunwusi made his entry as Ooni into Ile-Ife. Political associations, ethnic groups, varied unions, among others, had one message or the other for the new monarch. It was indeed one long week of the limelight for Ife and its dwellers.

8

31 October, 2015

For nearly a century, Union Bank has been a trusted name for Nigerians across all walks of life.

Our new identity pays homage to our past and reflects how we are evolving and embracing a rapidly changing world with renewed energy, dynamism and focus on innovation.

From our Smarter Banking Centers, 24/7 Automated Customer Care, and instant account opening to our convenient online and mobile banking channels, quicker processing times at newly refurbished branches and a new state of the art banking platform, our new identity showcases the strides we have made over the past few years and upholds our proposition for the future.

Our goal is to make banking simple, so our customers can focus on the things that matter most to them.

Discover the new ways we are working to serve you better. www.unionbankng.com/ourbrand #simplersmarterbank customerservice@unionbankng.com / +234 1 271 6816 / 0700 700 7000

Saturday Tribune

9

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

newsmaker Amaechi: Colourful in controversies

By Kehinde Oyetimi

T

he rise and rise of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi into mainstream national politics has remained one long stretch of tiring controversies and frayed relationships. In less than two years, Amaechi’s political outing has been largely pigeonholed by controversies, the most recent being the prolonged battle for the Senate’s confirmation of his ministerial nomination. For him, the last few days have been politically grueling. The Senate had received a petition detailing allegations of corruption against him, which the sponsors claimed disqualified him from occupying a ministerial position.

The group insisted that Amaechi mismanaged some funds belonging to Rivers State while he served as governor. Copies of the White Paper from the governor of Rivers State, indicting Amaechi, were also distributed to the senators.

But no, Amaechi would not succumb without frantic efforts to guarantee himself the confirmation of his ministerial nomination. He sent three letters through his counsel to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, affirming that the chamber should discountenance his indictment for alleged corrupt practices by an administrative panel of inquiry set up by the Rivers State government.

In his submission, he strongly argued that the matter was already before the Court of Appeal and the High Court, insisting that the Senate acting upon the matter could be subjudice.

To say the least, no other ministerial nominee was engaged in such burden of lobbying.

Besides writing the letters, the media reported that Amaechi’s loyalists besieged stakeholders and relevant lawmakers, praying for safe passage for the embattled former governor. It was equally reported that the former governor was also reaching out to senators from his state of origin, who are considered critical to the bid to save him.

For many, the piteous plight of the former governor reeks of his anti-PDP role which he played during the twilight days of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, particularly the emergence of the Buhari presidency and the blossoming fortunes of the APC. Die-hard PDP pundits and politicians, including lawmakers, are clearly out for their pound of flesh. In whatever guise the allegations against Amaechi have been shrouded, the underlying motive is discernable.

In its contention, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State argued that the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari would be undermined, should the Senate screen and confirm Rotimi Amaechi as a minister.

Rivers State chairman of the PDP Felix Obuah, made this statement while reacting to the letter

by Mr Amaechi to the Senate President.

According to him, “Mr Amaechi’s letter to the Senate President was “an attempt to ignore the

feature

White Paper report, undermine the crusade against corruption and expose President Buhari’s fight against corruption as partisan and targeted at only members of the opposition and perceived enemies.

“The invitation and interrogation of the Senate Minority Leader, former governor of Akwa Ibom State and one of the leaders of the PDP, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while Mr Amaechi, indicted for corruption is freely going about lobbying to become a minister, is a pointer that Buhari’s fight against corruption is targeted at the opposition and perceived enemies.

“The monumental fraud discovered by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and huge revenue lost when Amaechi was governor of Rivers State cannot be ignored.

“Amaechi has no defence to allegations of fraud against him as contained in the Government White Paper. He was invited and he failed to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.”

Obuah took his argument further as he claimed that three sections of the Nigerian constitution – Sections 66 (1) (h) and 147 (5) – “unambiguously disqualify Mr Amaechi from being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Therefore, Amaechi’s letter to the Senate President should be disregarded. It lacks merit and contradicted the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

“The letter to the Senate President further makes mockery of Amaechi and amounts to desperation and glorification of corruption,” the PDP leader said.

The challenges facing Amaechi in his oil-rich Rivers State and the political chasm between him and his state governor, Nyesom Wike added little or no luster to his political armour. Much would have been avoided, perhaps, if his home state had been in the grip of his party. Earlier, Wike had recalled in an interaction with newsmen how he was responsible for the emergence of his predecessor,

entertainment

Forced evictions leave Badia slum dwellers homeless

The 13 top-earning dead celebrities of 2015

P40 Pp32

Rotimi Amaechi, as governor, describing himself as the engine room of the former Rivers State governor.

He explained that he was teaching those in Amaechi’s camp the way to play the game of politics.

According to him, ““I was a council chairman. There is nowhere in this state that I do not know.

There is no ward I do not know one person.

“As I sit down here, I can mention one person from each ward. I know the politicians in this state. I know who has strength and who does not have strength. I never emaciated one day, the truth of the matter is that if you do the election 100 times in this state, I will win,” he said.

Amaechi’s political experimentations began when he was made secretary of the now defunct National Republican Convention at Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers State.

Amaechi’s seeming political precocity caught the attention of Sir (Dr) Peter Odili, himself a former governor of Rivers. While serving as deputy governor, Odili made Amaechi one of his special assistants.

Impressed by Amaechi’s political temerity, Odili became quite instrumental in Amaechi’s election, in 1999, into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent his constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Subsequently, Amaechi rose to become Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Again, he was elected the chairman of Nigeria’s Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies. He was re-elected into the State House of Assembly in May 2003 and was also re-elected as the Speaker.

Remarkably, in 2003, Amaechi’s political firmament brightened. The National Assembly had moved to hijack the legislative functions of the State House of Assembly but this move was rebuffed by Amaechi and his colleagues as they took the matter to Nigeria’s Supreme Court and the court gave a judgement in their favour.

The relationship between the Rivers State

executive arm of government under Odili and the legislature under Amaechi was harmonious, until he spearheaded a campaign against the state government and was involved in verbal vitriol against the person of the governor.

Amaechi’s eventual ascension as two-term governor of Rivers State became a mixed fruit bag. For many, Rivers State became the cynosure of eyes for development and remarkable progress was recorded during Amaechi’s first term in office. Clearly during his second term in office, his eyes shifted largely from state governance to the activities of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.

On 6 March 2014, Amaechi delivered a rousing speech in what he claimed to be an institutionalisation of corruption by President Goodluck Jonathan. According to him, “The response of the regime to corruption is to imprison those exposing corruption. The impunity in corruption is extended to the punishment of those who fight corruption. In his treatise, he argued that “$20 billion is alleged to have gone missing at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) just as both fuel and kerosene subsidy have become questionable.”

Attempts at bringing both sides to rest the issues that he raised met with resistance. His disagreement with former President Jonathan led to his decision to join a faction of the PDP which fought against the mainstream PDP and later saw to the defection of some governors, Amaechi at the forefront, to the All Progressives Congress. His outing as an APC governor was less than two years before he was appointed as the director general of the party’s presidential campaign.

For many, Amaechi is an embodiment of various trappings. He adorns various garbs for various interests.

The manner of his confirmation on Thursday as a minister and the sheer tension in the chambers testified to the colour of his controversies. How he manages his controversies from now on will definitely determine what kind of news he continues to make as a public figure. For now, however, he remains Amaechi, a personification of controversy.

court&crime

businessextra

What has happened to improved power supply?

Pp28

I have had enough of my wife’s ruthless beatings —Pastor ‘He is saying this ’cos he wants to marry a new wife’ Pp18&31

10

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

08050498504 toluwaniforever@yahoo.com

I

t’s observed that some women, when courting, give great attention to their appearance but neglect their looks when they are married, what do you think can be responsible for this?

A lady should always be conscious of her looks all the time. She should be clean in and out and be presentable before and after marriage. Some ladies neglect their looks because they believe they have ‘conquered’ and married their husbands when in actual fact they need to promote and instill the culture of appearing good and elegant in their children, especially girls.

What in your view makes a happy home?

The ingredients of a happy home are many. These also include, but are not limited to, unconditional love, forgiveness and tolerance. Every woman should learn to display all of these. If you do then you will always keep the spark in your marriage alive.

How old is your marriage?

We got married on April 1, 1989, so we have been married for 26 years.

And I’m glad to say I have no regrets.

Where and how did you meet your husband?

I met my husband in Abeokuta, Ogun State, through a friend of his.

Can you please introduce him?

He’s Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola, a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

How will you describe him?

He is a God-fearing, articulate, fashionable, responsible, supportive and worthy husband.

Men have different ways of proposing, how did your hus-

‘Women shouldkeep thespark intheirmarriagesalive’ Mrs. Saliat Bolanle Isola is the Chief Academic Planning Officer, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, former Family Support Programme (FSP) chairperson, Abeokuta North Local Government and wife of a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola. Here, she speaks with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE on her life experience, marriage and fashion preference. band propose to you?

There was no fuss about it. He only asked me if I would marry, him and seeing he had the qualities I desired in who I would love

to marry, I agreed to his marriage proposal.

Where were you born and how was growing up like?

I was born at the Baptist Hospital, Saki, in Saki West Local Government of Oyo State where medical facility could be accessed then, though my parents were based in Iseyin where I grew up. Growing up was fun with lots of friends in a communal living. Our parents knew one another and they were friends.

Some ladies neglect their looks because they believe they have ‘conquered’ and married their husbands when in actual fact they need to promote and instill the culture of appearing good and elegant in their children, especially girls.

Do you have any childhood memories?

The society was by far more peaceful than what is obtainable these days. There were no cases of cultism, terrorism and insurgency.

Tell us about your parents I was born into the family of the late Alhaji Musbau Atanda Shittu and Alhaja Falilat Aweni Shittu. I was lucky to have them as my parents.While my father was so caring and understanding, my mum was more of a disciplinarian.

Considering the issue of parenting in the past and now, which will you say is better?

Parenting now is better than what it was in the past. Most parents now are enlightened to the extent that adequate provisions are made for their children while growing up and fewer number of children are raised so that maximum comfort is guaranteed. Time is also created for children’s monitoring and supervision while in school by dutiful parents today.

In terms of relating with the opposite sex, were your parents liberal or conservative?

My parents were liberal. Then moral values were held in high esteem, we therefore knew we must not misbehave.

Talking about the boy-girl relationship, how was it in your youthful days compared to now?

Boy-girl relationship in the past used to take place in the secondary school because students were more mature then than now. These days some students start dating at the university.

What lessons has life taught you?

Life has taught me to be patient and humble in all that I do.

How do you relax?

I relax by travelling and listening to good music.

Do you consider yourself fashionable?

I consider myself fashionable.

What are your favourite beauty items?

I like using foundation, powder, lipstick, eyeliner and perfume.

What is your favourite music?

I enjoy Juju music.

If you have the opportunity of seeing God for a second what would you tell Him? I would say ‘Thank you Lord for your unquantifiable love and generousity’.

11

31 October, 2015

food&drink

Saturday Tribune BLESSING EKUM ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

Pancakes: Different tastes, still yummy

Chocolate pancake

The chocolate pancake is a mouthwatering variant of pancake. The recipe for plain pancakes can be used but cocoa powder is added with the dry ingredients at the beginning of preparation.

By Blessing Ekum

P

ANCAKES are simply a delight.

They are quick to prepare, rich, light and deliciously yummy.

They are ideal for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a light snack. Although several condiments and spices can be added to perk the taste, but did you know you could make pancakes out of ripe/ overripe plantain, wheat flour and even chocolates?

You can also get creative with the toppings. Though butter and syrup are classic toppings, you can also try jam, honey, peanut butter, lemon juice, powdered sugar or whipped cream.

Plantain pancake

Whole wheat flour is healthier than plain white flour and still offers the same appetizing taste. For wheat pancake, the procedure is basically the same as simple pancakes, except that wheat is the substituted flour. You will need: Ingredients: •2 cups whole wheat flour •3 tsp baking powder •1/2 tsp salt •4 tsp sugar •2 large eggs •1 cup milk •2 tsp vanilla •Cooking oil/margarine •To perk the pancake, you can add rodo, onions, shredded coconut or any other ingredient preferred.

Procedure: •Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add

Wheat pancake

wet ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix well with a spoon until there are no more dry spots; don’t over-mix.

If you have some fingers of plantain laying around, whether ripe or especially overripe, they can be incorporated to pancakes to make a delicious treat. For 10 rich plantain pancakes, you will need: •Ripe/overipe plantains •100g flour •1 raw egg •2 to 3 tablespoonful milk •1 to 2 tablespoonful Sugar •Water • Scotch bonnet (atarodo) (chopped) •1 tablespoonful onions (chopped) •Salt •Grated nutmeg (optional) • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (to make it fluffy) • 2 to 3 tablespoonful margarine (to grease the pan) Procedure: •Mash plantains until smooth and without lumps. To get a smooth consistency, you can puree in a blender or mix the mashed plantains thoroughly with a little water, pass it through a tight sieve and mash any lumpy plantains with a spoon.

•Break eggs into a bowl, add milk, sugar and mashed or blended plantains, mix together using whisk or fork.

•Add grated nutmeg chopped onions, pepper and salt.

•Gradually sift in baking soda and flour and keep on whisking. The mixture would begin to thicken and look lumpy.

•Add water and continue stirring until pancake batter is smooth with a runny consistency, but not too watery.

Leave the batter to rest for about 10 minutes.

• Fry as usual.

•Heat a large non-stick pan on medium heat. Lightly brush oil or butter to coat and pour 1/4 cup of pancake batter.

•When the pancake starts to bubble and the edges begin to set, flip the pancakes.

When lightly browned on both sides, remove pancake using a spatula. Repeat with the remainder of the batter.

•Keep warm in oven until ready to serve or freeze till needed. Frozen pancakes can be reheated in the microwave for a quick breakfast.

Pancake tips & tricks •You can use self-raising flour for pancakes because it makes them light and fluffy.

•In the absence of self-raising flour, separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Beat the whites until frothy and hold stiff peaks and fold gently into the batter. This makes them extra-fluffy.

•You can use real chocolate, melted and added to pancakes to replace cocoa but this results in very heavy pancakes.

•A non-stick pan is best used in preparing pancakes. Always grease the pan before frying.

•The lighter you make the batter, the thinner the pancakes will turn out.

•All the ingredients can be pureed in a blender for faster, smooth mixing.

•Temperature is key to making perfect pancakes. Yes, the pancake pan should be hot. But not too hot. If temperature is off, the pancakes will burn or they won’t rise. Go for a medium-high heat.

12

31 October, 2015

08055001741 (sms only)

conversewithyemisi

yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com

How do I realise my desire?

I

Dear Yemisi, am a 17-year-old girl. I am a virgin.

Last week, my boyfriend and I wanted to have sex, but his manhood could not penetrate my vagina.

I dread my husband’s homecoming Dear Yemisi, I am a 45-year-old woman married with children. I have been married for more than 15 years. I would say that my marital life has never been so peaceful as it is in the last five years.

The reason for this peaceful life I have experienced thus far has to do with the fact that my husband has been away studying abroad.

My children and I have enjoyed our company while my neighbours have been supportive.

The kids and I have created lives without him as we work, follow our routine on daily basis the way we like them.

We have been so integrated as one big indivisible family and things are so different from when he left. It is not that I am not happy about his homecoming; it is not that I have another man who has stood in the gap, but he is too rigid about getting things done.

The children and I have discovered over time that we are enjoying a more relaxed approach to life, please don’t get me wrong as this is not to suggest that our lifestyle is disorganised in his absence.

I cook whatever I want for the good of all, retire to bed when I want and watch programmes that I want to at times without anybody dictating or goading me.

Though I cherish my affection for him, I have been relieved greatly of stress. I don’t want my stress level increased with his arrival. I am saying it again, that nobody else has entered the picture with all sincerity. Dear Yemisi, all I want now is to be by myself and my kids. I have enjoyed a stress-free life as nobody in the past five years has faulted where the children dropped their wears or my dishes or the way I mopped the flat.

I seriously need your readers’ intervention because I get scared of his homecoming in December precisely. What can I do?

Bims Dear Readers, Bims needs your intervention as she gets scared of her husband’s homecoming. What do you think she can do? Kindly send your reactions to 08055001741 or yemiafolaju@yahoo.com

It is my desire to get deflowered.

Kindly help me with this problem of mine. What can I do to make this desire a reality?

Kikelomo, 081

Dear Kikelomo, Though you did not tell me why you want to be deflowered at this stage of your life, but I want to kick off with a candid warning to you to consider the dire consequences of embarking on such exercise now.

I appreciate your frankness and the courage you have in making your intent known. But I think you are putting the cart before the horse. It is even good that you have not feigned any form of pretence to suggest that you were arm-twisted by your boyfriend.

You should be happy that he was unable to penetrate for reasons that range from contracting sexually transmitted diseases and other

Saturday Tribune

life threatening issues such as the dreaded HIV/AIDS is said to be on the increase as the most recent UNICEF reports have it now that more than 1,000 girls get infected on daily basis.

Kikelomo, if you must get deflowered ensure you consider taking necessary precautions so as not to blame yourself in the end. Ensure you consult a sex therapist if you must have sex. Do you think you are incomplete

without satisfying your thirst? I am only asking you this because I cannot fathom why you want to force an act that your system is not yet mature/ developed for.

You are playing with fire.

Consult a sex therapist for a way out.

For Him

Ikechukwu, 48, from Enugu State, widower, AA, 0+, engineer, Lagos-based, needs a working class, mature, honest lady, aged between 34 and 48, for marriage. Call 08063355968.

Ola Yusuf, 47, from Kwara State, needs a lady, aged between 25 and 40, for a relationship. Call 09080511380.

Thompson, 32, AA, business man, Yoruba, needs a working class Christian lady for an affair. Contact 08146920507.

Ozovehe, 32, civil engineer, from Kogi State, needs a lady for relationship. Call 08147367291.

Felix, 34, based in Ogun State, needs a working class lady, aged between 27 and 30, for a relationship. Call 07033615104.

I have been used and…

Dear Yemisi, I am a 20-year-old lady, an ND 2 student in a polytechnic.

I am dating a 24-year-old guy and I got pregnant for him, but this I refused to tell my mother.

One of my friends decided to call my mum without letting me know and told her everything. My mother was really disappointed and told me not to tell my father about my pregnancy.

I gave birth to a baby boy whose father is nowhere to be found till date and my mother has refused to come and check me in school and she has told me not to come home either.

My friends are the ones taking care of me in school. I am confused, what should I do?

Bukola.

Dear Bukola, What you are going through is the result of your inability to control your intentions and reward for not ordering your priority. If you had thought of the effect of that singular act of having a live-in-lover while in school, maybe you wouldn’t have toyed with the idea in

the first instance.

Now that you have been left out in the cold even by your so-called boyfriend to the care of ‘concerned friends’ I will advise that you swallow your pride if it still exists, to go and make peace with your parents who you have wronged by deviating from the main purpose of making you a better woman with a future.

I am not foreclosing the fact that you have a good future, but you have derailed and delayed that from coming to fruition in due course.

Having a baby whom a man is not claiming is a big issue and shameful.

I would not want to blame your mother’s uncaring attitude because you actually embarrassed and disappointed her by your irresponsible way of life.

Her instruction that you should not let your father in the know suggests that she was really pained.

Inasmuch as you have satisfied your thirst for untimely forced motherhood,

Victor, 30, engineer, from Akwa Ibom State, needs a beautiful, working class lady aged not above 30 for a relationship. Call 08037915554. you must be remorseful and seek ways of reaching out to your parents as the biblical prodigal son. To get them to open up, especially your mother, is to identify who her close friend is and get him/her to speak with your mother who will in turn prepare your dad’s mind for a meeting.

As things are now, you cannot tell anybody that you are satisfied with your situation and it is when you are happy that you can actually give that innocent boy the care he deserves. This is the reason why you must seek your parents’ forgiveness.

Irrespective of your misdeed, they cannot deny you as their daughter. Naturally, with time, your friends will chicken out because they are equally being looked after by their parents.

Your boyfriend would not have absconded if you had made him meet your parents, Bukola, admit your fault so that you can move on. You cannot do it alone, you need a helping hand.

Bishiriyu, 35, Muslim, graduate, banker, average height, based in the South West, needs a tall, God-fearing Muslim lady below 35 years for marriage. Call 08034069812.

For Her Boluwatife, 28, dark-skinned, needs a responsible man, aged between 35 and 50 from any tribe for a serious relationship.

Call 09037886239.

Bimpe, 33, Abuja-based, needs a nice, caring, responsible, employed man for a relationship.

Call 08050544365.

Dupe, in her 20s, tall, dark, slim, single, Ibadan-based, wants a white/Caucasian Nigeria-based boyfriend. Call 07087201991.

Ayo, 48, Yoruba, accountant, widow, Ibadan-based, needs an educated, successful, elderly man as confidant/mentor aged 60 or above. Text or call 08174792918.

13

31 October, 2015

intimacy

Saturday Tribune

With Bosede Ola-Samuel 08112658560 bosedeola_samuel@yahoo.com

STRICTLY FOR ADULTS

Score your relationship with

these points

U

SUALLY, marital intimacy is frequently referred to as sexual intimacy. But, in the real sense, marital intimacy means more than the sex component of marriage. Sexual intimacy is just one of the things that make for intimacy in marriage. Thus, it follows that if the only intimacy a marriage enjoys is sexual intimacy, that marriage cannot be said to be a great marriage. For a married couple to be said to enjoy a great marriage, the intimacy level must span across almost every area of their marriage. Those other areas are the subject matter of this write up.

I read recently in the dailies about the story of a woman who had no close relationship with her husband. On a critical analysis of their marriage, I discovered that both partners were operating individually in the marriage because they hardly connect over a wide range of issues.

When this is the case in a relationship, the parties are bound to drift apart since there is little or no connecting point for them. When the husband in the said story was asked why things drifted apart for them in the marriage, he simply said he had nothing to discuss with the wife. What were they to discuss when their interests differ in so many areas? How can they become close? What will draw them together for close contact or bonding?

Intimacy means how close a relationship is between two persons, or groups, or a married couple. It speaks of how well bonded the two persons involved in the relationship are. It is expected that a marriage should produce the highest level of intimacy because a married couple is expected to have enough time to spend together.

Intimacy therefore speaks of the closeness of the partners involved in the marriage. Intimacy is a function of the amount of time each couple spends together. When a couple has enough time to spend alone together, it will positively impact

on their intimacy level.

Areas of intimacy in marriage For a marriage to succeed, a great level of intimacy is required between husband and wife. Such intimacy should span the following areas. That is, if the couple will enjoy a great level of closeness, they must be able to relate together in the following areas.

Intellectual intimacy A couple should be intellectually compatible. A couple’s intellectual level should not be like the north pole to the south pole. They should be able to intellectually connect to achieve the intimacy required for a successful marriage.

They should be able to engage in intellectual discussion.

When a couple cannot be intellectually intimate, they cannot be said to have achieved marital intimacy. Intellectual intimacy involves mutual exchange of thoughts and ideas about a wide range of issues. That is why over time a married couple begins to think alike over a wide range of issues.

Career Intimacy Both husband and wife should achieve a high level of career intimacy. That is, they must have a good knowledge of each other’s career and develop enough interest in such careers. This provides an avenue for frequent discussion between them. It affords them the privilege to have what to discuss. It brings about further bonding for a couple.

My husband and I have developed such an intimacy such that there is hardly what one does that the other is not aware of, or unable to stand in for him or her to an extent in case of need. At least, we are able to hold a brief for each other, instead of being a novice about our engagements in that wise.

Social intimacy A wife once told me that since they got married, her husband never went out with her to any of his office function, social engagement or even a day out at the mall. Rather, he would go out to the mall or eatery alone to buy things for her and their children. As far as she was concerned, her husband has no social life with her. She had been socially relegated to the background, and it was negatively impacting on their marriage. A couple should achieve social intimacy which speaks of socialising together with friends, relations, and career colleagues. When this is achieved, it becomes a serious antidote against infidelity, which is promoted by individuality between a husband and wife.

Physical intimacy This is thought to be the highest level of intimacy, whose zenith is sexual intercourse. However, physical intimacy is not all about sex, but includes other forms of physical connection such as holding hands, strolling or walking together, kissing, hugging and cuddling each other. We need to understand that physical intimacy, especially sexual intercourse, can be promoted by other forms of intimacy already mentioned in this write up. In fact, it should be the climax of these other forms of intimacy. As a couple spends time together in discussion, it provides them with the opportunity to graduate into physical intimacy, climaxing in sexual intercourse in most cases. Thus, any couple that will enjoy sexual intercourse at its best must have great connection in other areas of intimacy.

Sexual intimacy is just one of the things that make for intimacy in marriage. Thus, it follows that if the only intimacy a marriage enjoys is sexual intimacy, that marriage cannot be said to be a great marriage.

14

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

With Aunty Yemi 08056834515 ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

o g tree n a m e Th

O

man in a NCE upon a time, there lived a lazy a manwas me inco village. His only source of rd of kya bac the in ted go tree, which was plan his house. e to his house. At Some day, one of his relatives cam mangoes were served breakfast, lunch and dinner, only this and thought of to the relative. He got fed up with a plan. sleeping, the relaAt night, when the lazy man was and ran away. tree the n tive quietly woke up, cut dow had been cut tree the that Next day, when the man saw down, he cried a lot. again came to his After few years, the same relative ked and prospered. house. By now, the man had wor thanked the relative His condition had improved. He . for making him realise his undoing

Jumbled Words

The mango tree

Poem

A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses.

She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks you’re stupid, stand up!”

After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up.

The teacher said, “Do you think you’re stupid, Little Johnny?”

“No, ma’am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!”

Get Inspired

J

ke

Bir

Covetousness hath never end, And where is no end, is no rest; Where is no rest, peace doth wend; Where is no peace, God is a guest; For God Himself made His nest Where peace made his bower, And there He dwelleth, our Saviour.

—Peter Idley

th da y

Covetousness

Etiquette Class

Sit down properly (close your legs)

By Alimi Taibat

DID you know that how you sit in private place determines same in public places? Social behaviour implies that you should sit down properly with your legs closed in private and public places, be you a girl or a boy.

Join the dots and paint the picture. What does the picture look like?

Hurray!

Feyikemi

Ilesanmi

4

cutting her TH

birthday cake

15

31 October, 2015

health&fitness

Nurse Albul-Rafiu, Alani Adeniji is the national president of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives. He speaks with TOBILOBA OYESOLA on issues in the nursing profession.

N

URSING is usually considered a woman’s field, what has been your experience working in the field?

I have spent close to three decades in nursing, but as the president of the association, this is my third year. For nursing to be taken as a female profession is a misconception because a profession does not have regards for gender; a profession is not to be either female or male biased, because professional practice cuts across every gender.

Most Nigerian nurses are generally believed to be unkind and harsh, especially midwives, why is this so, and what is the body doing to address this?

That is judgement by people of which we cannot dismiss by a wave of hand because they are the consumers of health care services. Being a consumer of health care services also demands that you know what the responsibilities of this person you are talking of are. It seems that the Nigerian populace does not know the roles and responsibilities of midwives or nurses at large. So, they are being blamed for those things that are not entirely their own duties and responsibilities. In any professional settings there are ethical standards; the ethics of the nursing profession entails that you should be compassionate, considerate and be able to ensure that you deliver quality and safety health care services to the public. In this regard, if you have any nurse that is not acting according to the ethics and the guidelines of the profession, there is a disciplinary committee within the association in the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and in the court of the public justice. Anybody that is badly treated is entitled to report this either to the disciplinary committee in any of the states of the federation or to the nurses and midwifery committee in any state of the federation to re-address this. However, there would be investigation into the issue because we sometimes have some fictitious claims.

We have also found out that government has a role to play in some of the dissatisfaction by the consumers of health care services. For example, there is patient-nurse ratio in this country and that is why the International Council of Nurses and World Health Organisation has a quota for how many patients a nurse can attend to in a day. We’ve found out that shortage of manpower is one of the challenges we are facing. When you are to attend to 200 people, whereas the capacity and time you have at your disposal cannot take more than 25 people, there is every tendency that the load of work, the stress and then the impatience on the side of the patients may cause commotion. However as a nurse and a professional you must be able to know how to discharge your duties without incurring the wrath of the public and whenever this occurs, members of the public are the health care consumer and they have the right to complain, seek for redress and challenge anybody that engages in professional misconduct.

What step is the NANNM taking to tackle quackery in the profession?

Quackery is an issue in all professions. But in nursing, we guide our professional responsibilities jealously, and to every public that cares to listen, quackery is worse than HIV/AIDS; it can even be as dreadful as Ebola Virus because it can claim life. As a professional body, we are collaborating with Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and with the Federal Ministry of Health to curb the trend of quacks and their practices.

However, poverty, ignorance and inequitable distribution of health care services and personnel have aided quacks and their practice. We are calling on journalists, the government, law enforcement agencies and security agents to join forces with the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health to report anybody of questionable professional practice for inves-

Why nurses in Nigeria are perceived to be harsh —President, Association of Nurses and Midwives

tigation and if found guilty, they are liable to a period of imprisonment or nullification. In fact, they deserve every form of punishment because it is a criminal act. I’m using this opportunity to warn people who patronise private hospitals; you have the right to know the person who is attending to you because you pay for that service and your protection and safety. The ability to receive quality health

The ability to receive quality health care is your right and you must be able to ask for it. Quackery is a thing that everyone must join hands to fight because quacks in the profession live among us and we must support the professional association to fight this.

Saturday Tribune BLESSING EKUM

ekumblessing@gmail.com 08116954639

care is your right and you must be able to ask for it. Quackery is a thing that everyone must join hands to fight because quacks in the profession live among us and we must support the professional association to fight this.

More often than not, many memorial, proprietors and owners of private hospitals protect these people because of lack of adequate health care services, but they are mortgaging the safety and then endangering the life of the public How do you think the friction between doctors and nurses can be eased?

Well, I don’t see a friction between doctors and nurses. However, we can see an unhealthy working relationship.

The health sector is multi-sectoral.

In a health institution, we have the nurses, medical doctors, laboratory scientist, pharmacists, physiotherapists, all these people are professionals in their rights. While some people may want to see that there is crisis between doctors and nurses is the fact that nurses are the custodian of patients and they are the advocate of safety and health care services to the patient. As a result, if anybody, be they pharmacists, doctors or anybody that comes into the hospital, wants to do something that may endanger the life of the patient, the nurse is entitled to prevent this. In doing this, doctors may see it as effrontery, uncooperative attitude, conflict but the fact remains that the nurse is an advocate for patient safety. The nurse deserves the right to tell or correct the doctor on whatever therapy because a nurse is also trained to identify danger that can happen to patient but he is not empowered to start prescribing. He is empowered to contribute his quota by correcting certain anomaly. All the inter-dependent, dependent and independent roles are muddled together in Nigeria. And more so, because there is lack of manpower, we do not distinguish between the role of a doctor from that of a nurse and that of a lab scientist and this is creating problem. So, there is no master-servant relationship there; we have to sit together as a team and resolve whatever thing that is there. We may disagree over the safety and quality of patient care but it’s not interpersonal conflict.

How has your association been tackling the problem of unpaid salaries in government health institutions?

It is an unbecoming issue because in the past, it is the public institution that has always been seen to be up to the standard in the payment of salaries and wages of health workers but what we are having today is self-inflicted injury of ages that is now reflecting. It is a reflection of corruption, injustice, maladministration and inability of the public to demand for their rights. It is very appalling.

An injury to one is an injury to all so we used to join hands to fight the issue of how people will be well remunerated.

As a professional association, we defend our members and fight for their rights.

Do you have any advice for those who may want to pursue a career in nursing?

Nursing is a noble profession. It’s a calling and is not just a profession you go into because you don’t have any other place. You must be determined, dedicated and committed to render the services. Equally, nurses in the practice must do everything possible to ensure that the situation in the country does not make redundancy out of them.

16

healthandfitness

Worries about sperm donor I have been married now for over 15 years without an issue. After a series of tests, my husband was diagnosed with low sperm, a problem that has been unresolved despite drugs and surgery. Despite pressures from my family to marry another man, I still love my husband. We have now arranged with our doctor to inseminate me with sperm from a sperm bank. My problem now is the fear of having the child of an unknown person who may be ugly or unintelligent. Is it not better for me to be inseminated with the sperm of someone who I know have some good qualities rather an unknown figure?

Chinwe (by SMS)

Dr. Wale Okediran waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk

08055069356 (sms only)

My foul smelling discharge MY husband recently complained about a foul odour coming from my private part. This has never happened before. I need help on what to do.

Mrs B A (by SMS) You must be commended for sticking with your husband despite family pressures. As you should know, your baby from the sperm donor will carry attributes from you and the sperm donor, therefore, you don’t need to worry that the

donor will totally determine the baby’s features.

The advantage of having a baby from an anonymous donor is that nobody will turn round in the future to demand for his child as could happen if the donor is somebody known to you.

My recent weak erection WHAT can be the cause of and solution to weak erection?I had been having a good erection until about last month. I am over 40 and married with children.

My wife is no longer enjoying me as before. Please help.

Dickson ( by SMS) Factors that can lead to weak erections include, stress, anxiety, poorly controlled hypertension and diabetes as well as the use of some drugs that could cause weak erections. In view of the suddenness of the problem, you will need to examine your lifestyle to see whether or not you

Saturday Tribune

31 October, 2015

A foul smelling discharge is a sign of infection. It can occur in a woman for many reasons. Apart from some leftover debris that could

come from sanitary towels and other vaginal insertions, women on intra uterine contraceptive devices are also

Can I use postinor to abort?

I want to ask if it is true that Postinor 2 can be used to abort a pregnancy when used immediately after sex, even though I am already one month pregnant?

Kudirat (by SMS) Postinor-2, commonly known as the morning after pill, is used only as an emergency contraceptive, especially in cases of rape, incest and maternal illhealth when it is considered

unsafe for a woman to be pregnant. It is used to prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected intercourse.

No menses after delivery have been overworking yourself recently. If so, a brief holiday or change of work habit may bring the solution. It is equally important for you to see your doctor for a comprehensive medical checkup to include adequate monitoring of

O

CTOBER 29 of every year is declared as world stroke day to stir up awareness on the burden of stroke and the ways to prevent it. When it happens, the aftereffects, vis-a-vis disability or death is determined by how early the patient is taken to the right hospital. This means we must act FAST! The reason to act fast when a stroke is suspected is because for every second that a brain stroke is untreated, 1.4 million neurons are irreversibly lost, for every hour that passes without treatment, the brain ages three years.

From the foregoing we want to implore people to act and strike stroke. This year’s focus is to recruit all singers, be they gospel, fuji, reggae musicians, whether in the mosque or churches, to please come up with songs that will emphasise the need to act F.A.S.T. If someone has a stroke near you, The FAST song tells you what to do.

The letter ‘F’ it stands for face. If one half droops, no time to waste. The letter ‘A’ means an arm that’s weak, The letter ‘S’ means it’s hard to speak. The letter ‘T’ means it’s time for 9-1-1. Call right away so help will come. Call for help time is of essence. In our environment, if call and the network is bad, try and take the patient to the right hospital on time for early treatment Why all the efforts?

The burden of stroke is enormous, especially in poor resourced countries like ours. Brain stroke or acute brain attack, as neurologists would like stroke to be understood by the public at large, is an important cause of death and disability worldwide. It is the third most important cause of death and the most common cause of acquired disability. About six Africans develop stroke every minute and 3.2 million Africans have first-incident stroke every year. In Nigeria, an average of 150,000 people died of stroke every year. This trend must not continue!

Broadly speaking, two types of stroke exist. Nearly 80%

your Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar as well as any medication which you have been taking. It is only when it is obvious that your problem is organic that some sex stimulants can be prescribed for you.

prone to infections. It will be important for you to see your doctor for a proper examination in case of the presence of any foreign products in your private part. The doctor will also send a sample of your discharge to the laboratory for examination and confirmation of the type of drug to use to clear the infection.

PLEASE I will really appreciate it if you can help me because I am very scared.

My baby whom I am still breast-feeding is just 4 months old and I have not seen my period since I gave birth. Kindly help me.

Salewa (by SMS)

If you h a v e been having sex with your husband since you put to bed, it will be necessary

Postinor-2 is not used as a regular, long-term method of contraception. It can also not be used to abort any pregnancy. for you to do a pregnancy test to rule out the possibilities of any pregnancy. If you are not pregnant, the menses will eventually come.

In the meantime, if you are sexually active, you or your husband will need to use some form of contraception to prevent any unwanted pregnancy.

Dr. Abiodun Adeoye adeoyemoshood@yahoo.com

08056564360, 08072000017 (sms only)

Sing F.A.S.T to end stroke of strokes are on account of impaired blood supply to the brain, resulting in the death of nerve cells in the affected area. The remaining 20% of strokes are due to bleeding into the brain which damages the brain by releasing toxic substances and by compression and pressure effects on the brain.

Risk factors for a stroke • Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This comes with age and excessive cholesterol in the body. The artery that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain get thickened and less elastic thereby compromising its functions.

Brain cannot store food hence the need for it to get the supply uninterrupted. By eating heart-friendly diet; fruits and vegetables, this can be prevented.

• Uncontrolled diabetes. Diabetes is high sugar in your blood which can be well controlled on diet and drugs. I am not against faith or traditional healing but be careful of fake claim for cure. Many abandon their medication only to land at emergency room with stroke or other complication of diabetes.

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure is major risk for stroke. Check your blood pressure regularly and if it is high, consult your doctor. People on blood pressure-lowering drugs should please not play with the medication, it may be a saving grace from stroke. Ask your doctor for the appropriate drug that can keep your blood pressure down throughout 24 hours. If this is not the usual early

morning rise in blood pressure it can lead to stroke or heart attack.

• High cholesterol level is the major culprit that blocks arteries that supply vital organ in the body. When next you are taking that high cholesterol diets, remember the blockage to your arteries. Unfortunately the part of meal that tastes very nice or ‘sweet’ is most time the part that contains fat. May I just advise moderation on this issue?

Regular exercise can help burn off the excess fat in the body • Smoking is dangerous for your health and also the passers-by. Let us be our brothers’ keeper. One man, years ago had his destiny truncated when he developed stroke. The man was not having hypertension or diabetes but was a chronic cigarette smoker and alcoholic. He belonged to the group that finished cartoons of beer in a sitting. Apart from cancer-causing agents in the tobacco, it clogs the vessels that supply the major organs in the body like heart and the brain leading to heart attack and stroke. Please if you are in this category, make effort to stop this habit and strike out stroke.

Let me conclude this week that stroke is preventable and largely reversible if presentation to the right hospital is not delayed. The pneumonic F.A.S.T help in quick identification of early stroke please act FAST! Singers, help compose this into songs that will enlighten the populace. The delay in taking stroke patient to the hospital may mean ‘dancing with death.’

17

31 October, 2015

mediascope

Saturday Tribune With akin adewakun

akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk 08054683584

Quackery not in PR only; it pervades all sectors —Ehi Braimoh

In this interview, the Managing Director of Neo Media and Marketing, Ehi Braimah shares his experience of the nation’s marketing communications industry, especially Public Relations and event management and the recurrent challenge of quackery in the sector. Excerpts:

A

lot has been said about the advent of digital technology in every facet of our lives, the nation’s marketing communication industry inclusive. In your opinion, how has this impacted on the industry?

You are quite right, the digital age is here with everyone, not just our industry. We just have to keep up with the pace and the revolutions in the digital space. Even as students, it is possible to run an online programme anywhere in the world which is part of the virtual classroom. These are all digital technologies. With digital, you can sit down and transfer money from your account to another account, pay bill online and buy recharge card through the banks. In our own industry, technology is an enabler. We now have a budget set aside for digital marketing. Communication now has improved significantly, particularly using different channels, especially social media. These days, with the likes of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and the rest of them, everyone of us, including journalists, can use the platform to his or her own benefits. You can sit down in this room, do a story and file it in as long as you have internet access. That is the beauty of the world today that is internet-enabled and driven by technology. The world is being globalised seriously and we all have to be part of the train. The industry is definitely adjusting to the new trend. Everybody who does not jump on this technology train will be left behind.

Marketing communications industry in Nigeria remains one of the oldest professions, having been around for a couple of decades. As a practitioner that has traversed three reputable industries, what is your assessment of the industry in the last five decades?

My attitude or response to such question is that the industry is ever dynamic because what is constant is change. We need to embrace new trends, attend conferences, either in Nigeria or outside, to learn new developments, or learn how to manage people or new assets.

Take for instance, we just bought something called a media server. What it does for you is to help in the control of video and visuals for life entertainment. So, this kind of asset is driven by technology. So, when you are having an event, you need to up your game by bringing new technology. As someone who is serious about the business, you must ensure that you are not stuck with antiquated technology. That is the truth of the industry where we have found ourselves. As a matter of fact, this agency is interested in competing favourably with other agencies around the world. I really don’t like a situation where, if an agency intends to shoot a commercial, it will have to travel to South Africa. Why can’t we shoot it here? But this goes back to the challenges confronting us as a nation, which include insecurity and infrastructural decay.

In a nutshell, I think we need to have a culture of promoting excellence in the way we conduct business. Challenges are practically obvious in every sector and the marketing communication is not an exception in this regard. But if you see what is happening in different parts of the world, I think we can compete favourably. We have very intelligent people that can take the industry to a new height. Whether it is Public Relations, writing a great copy, advertising or executing a great campaign, I think we are doing great. We only need to allow technology to drive the process because we cannot afford to leave it behind. So, I will say that our industry is evolving at 55 and we still have a lot of hurdles to cross.

Over the years, the industry has been battling

with the dearth of talent which many stakeholders have described as alarming, what would be your panacea for this challenge?

I think the problem is not peculiar to our industry. It is a general problem and it’s now like an epidemic. The problem actually started with the quality of graduates in Nigeria today. Based on experience, I hear students don’t read any more in the university. Some are paying their ways into the university which never happened when we were in school.

You have to work and read to earn your degree. Reading and writing is a big problem.

So, we will continue to train our staff and also train members as we are doing in PRCAN. We will continue to build capacity for professional PR practitioners but we must realise that the dearth of talent is in every industry. The foundations for primary, secondary, and tertiary educations are seriously under attack. So, we need to do something about it. Besides, we also need to work in changing the value system because it is really a serious thing to worry about.

No doubt, PR has come to stay both in the public and private sector, but the worry over the years has been the challenge of quackery. So, what should the industry do to improve on standards, professionalism and regulation that will check the activities of quacks in the profession?

It is an ongoing engaging programme. That is why we have PRCAN to protect the interest of members. Under this umbrella, we share ideas, argue, have common val-

I have had to speak with some young women and men with the possibility of employing them. But I have found out that you get disappointed when you listen to them talk. Even ask them to write an essay. It is horrible.

So, where do you start from?

ues that will guide the way we practise public relations. If you are not a member of PRCAN, you are not ideally expected to practise as a PR consultant in this country. The issue of professionalism, quacks and briefcase practitioner is in every industry. It is not an exclusive preserve of PR practice. But when you come together under the umbrella group like PRCAN, it is easier to tell the clients that the association regulates the practice. It is important that we insist that it is a member of PRCAN that clients must work with. With that approach, standard will be maintained, practice monitored and professionalism encouraged. I think to get rid of quackery, we just need to be together as a team. If you go to the UK, you cannot violate the rules and regulations of professional bodies.

We must aim at constant improvement. We are not saying foreigners should not practise but they must follow the law. We cannot encourage Nigerians and foreigners alike to break those laws.

As someone who has traversed different professions which include journalism, public relations, publishing and marketing, do you still think it is advisable to venture into publishing with the advent of digital marketing?

To be honest with you, publishing has become an endangered specie. This is so because of technology. Technology is changing so fast that you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. Before now, you would hire a photographer when you wanted to do an interview. But with the availability of smartphones, it is easy to combine those roles together. With the phone, you can make calls, take photograph while at the same time conduct interviews with it. With that, it gives the idea of what technology can do to create new opportunities while displacing other opportunities that previously existed, forcing people to lose their jobs or looking for new opportunities in the technology sector. With technology, I can get news alert from my phone, from my iPad, I can browse through the daily newspapers. So, what the internet does is that it reduces cost of newsprints, circulation cost and even diesel cost. However, I do not know whether, in the next ten years, printing or publishing will still be commercially viable but I know digital technology is affecting publishing.

I need to state here that we also attempted to publish Entertainment Express and Sunday Express. We did it for three and half years but had to stop it because of cost. But at the moment, the online version is still operational.

18

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

crimeandcourt

I have had enough of my wife’s ruthless beatings —Pastor ‘He is saying this ’cos he wants to marry a new wife’ Stories by Oluwole Ige, Ayomide Owonibi, Taibat Alimi and Mosunmola Akano with Agency Reports A 65-year-old pastor, Kunle Akinseyi, on Thursday pleaded with an Igando customary court in Lagos to dissolve his 32-year-old marriage, alleging that his wife constantly beat him.

Akinseyi, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, told the court that his wife, Titilope, with whom he had six children, had turned him into a punching bag.

“I live every minute of my life in fear; save me from the cruel hands of my wife; I have suffered so much in silence. ‘’Anytime we have misunderstanding, she can beat the hell out of me.

“Most times, it is our neighbours that always come to rescue me from her hands,” he said, describing his wife as a “troublemaker and a fighter’’.

“My wife’s hobby is fighting; she fights me and neighbours regularly, and because of her frequent fighting, we were always ejected from any house we rented,” Akinseyi added.

He therefore prayed the court to dissolve the marriage, saying that he was tired of the union and was no longer in love.

In her response, Titilope, 56, denied that she was beating her husband.

“I have not raised my hands towards my husband since the beginning of our marriage,” she said.

Titilope, who described her husband as an “irresponsible father’’ said that he was not ready to train their children.

“When I got pregnant for our sixth child, he denied the pregnancy; he went to my family in the village and told them that I was carrying a bastard child and that they should come and take me.

“He refused to give me money for ante-natal; so, I delivered my baby in the house. ‘’It is our first born that has been training the boy till now,” she told the court.

The mother of six denied being “a fighter’’, saying that her husband always owed landlords and that was why they were always evicted from their accommodations.

Titilope alleged that her husband, though a pastor, wanted to marry another woman and that it was the reason he wanted to divorce her.

She begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish, claiming she still loved him.

President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, advised the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case till Nov. 16.

You can’t dissolve this marriage, she is carrying my baby —Husband

She has 6 lovers, committed 6 abortions —Husband I’ll go for deliverance —Wife A pastor, Mr. Colinus Ellah, has appealed to a Grade C customary court sitting at Agodi Gate, Ibadan, Oyo State to dissolve his 21-year-old marriage to Mrs. Mary Eliah on grounds of promiscuity and occultism .

“She confessed she had six lovers — three policemen inclusive and carried out six abortions.

She also confessed to having taken my shirt to a herbalist to render me useless.”

“My wife is a thief, she steals other people’s farm produce when she goes to the market and she has stolen three bunches of plantain before.”

“Our prophet in church asked her to repent her sins within six months but she has refused to do that and now she has been suspended from

Saturday Tribune

church because of her iniquities” “Her son from her first marriage came to our house to beat me up because I asked her to repent her sins for the sake of myself, herself and the five children we have.

“She went to OmiAdio with one of her policemen-lovers to a herbalist for a blood covenant on marriage.”

The defendant, however, accepted all the accusations

that were made against her but implored the court not to dissolve the marriage because she has turned a new leaf and promised to repent from all her wrongdoings.

“I have agreed to travel to our

town to go and repent in front of my family and my inlaws” “I just want to beg my husband to forgive me and I have been in denial before but now I am willing to go for deliverance,” she added.

Having heard from both the plaintiff and the defendant, the president of the court, Chief Amusa Makinde counselled both parties and asked the husband to think of their children’s future before taking any decision. He then adjourned the case till November 11 .

She confessed she had six lovers — three policemen inclusive and carried out six abortions.

She also confessed to having taken my shirt to a herbalist to render me useless.

“Starting from today, you cease to be addressed as husband and wife. You shall go your separate ways unmolested.

“The three kids who are seven years and above are to stay with their father while the other two kids four years and below are to stay with their mother and get feeding allowance of N3000 per month on each kid.”

With the above ruling, Amusa Makinde, president of a Grade C customary court, Agodi Gate, Ibadan dissolved the 13-year-marriage between Mujidat Saliman and her husband, Kabir.

The president had asked both parties if there was room for reconciliation having appeared early on but they insisted there was no chance of settlement.

However, following the ruling, the defendant, Kabir Saliman caused a mild drama, as he objected to the payment of the allowance granted the two kids who are to stay with their mother.

He then said “she is three months pregnant and wants to deny me of the child.”

The plaintiff Mujidat Saliman who filed a suit to dissolve their 13-year-marriage to the defendant over her husband’s alleged irresponsibility, burst into laughter and retorted “I am not pregnant.”

The president of the court then stepped into the drama and asked that a test should be run to ascertain the truth.

He instructed the defendant to take his wife to the hospital himself and bring the report to the court.

Trader in court for impregnating toddler

A 35-year-old trader, Maharazu Ali, has appeared before a senior magistrates’ court in Katsina for allegedly impregnating a minor.

The accused, who resides at Kwamgaya Village in the Mani Local Government area of Katsina State, appeared before the court on a court charge of rape.

The Police First Information Report (FIR) stated that one Mr M.S. Mahuta sent a petition to the Katsina State commissioner of police that the accused had impregnated his 13-year-old daughter.

The FIR explained that the petition was forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Department on Sept.

17, pleading for investigation into the matter.

It said that the accused lured the minor into his shop and had sexual intercourse with her, an act that resulted in the minor getting pregnant.

The FIR stated that hospital examination on the minor confirmed that the minor was eight months pregnant.

It said that the accused had committed an offence contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Hashimu Musa, said the police were still investigating the matter.

The magistrate, Mrs Nafisa Bagiwa, refused to take the plea of the accused.

She ordered the case file to be forwarded to the state’s ministry of justice for advice and adjourned the case till November 4.

31

My wife is stubborn, fetish —Man A 43-year-old husband, Ibrahim Kehinde, on Wednesday urged an AdoEkiti Customary Court to dissolve his 14-year-old marriage to his wife, Semiat for alleged adamant to take corrections and threats to life.

Kehinde, who lives behind Ologede Police Station, Ado-Ekiti, also begged the court to dissolve the marriage because of lack of rest of mind.

He told the court that whenever he corrects his wife, she would not heed to the corrections.

“There was a time she confessed to him and asked for his forgiveness for her bad attitude.

“She brought two bottles containing some substances with a black soap and told him that they were meant for different purposes to harm him,’’ Kehinde said.

The father of three said that there was a particular time he was taken to the hospital and the doctor diagnosed that the food he ate was contaminated.

He said that he was treated in a traditional home and was advised to be careful with the food he eats.

He claimed that his in-law was in support of her wife’s unruly attitude, noting that his mother-in-law had warned him not to kill her daughter, while the younger brothers threatened his life.

He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and award him the custody of his three children, Mubarak, 13, Qureebat, 11, and Husnah, six years.

The respondent was absent in court.

The President of the court, Mrs Olayinka Akomolede, adjourned the petition till Nov.25, for further hearing.

I don’t want her again ‘cos she refused to abort pregnancy —Man I still love him —Wife

A man has decided to divorce his wife of three years because she refused to abort her pregnancy.

Giving his reason before an Igando customary court, Morufu Ajah, a herbal practitioner, admitted that he gave his wife Deborah money for abortion but he was furious after he got to know that she didn’t carry out his order.

Ajah, 33, told the court that he gave his wife money to terminate the pregnancy because he was not sure if the pregnancy belonged to him.

“I gave my wife money to abort her pregnancy because she used to leave home without my consent to unknown destination and come back after 21 days or 30 days.

“She may even tell me she was going to her parents’ place, after some days, I would call her parents but they would tell me they did not see her.

“So, when she came back home and told me that she was pregnant, I doubted it. I gave her N7,000 to terminate it.

“She collected the money, lied to me that she had done it but never did it,’’ Ajah said.

The petitioner said that his wife turned his mother into a punching bag that most times, she beat and tore her clothes.

“My wife tore my mother’s clothes whenever she beat her.

“She always curses and abuses my mother. She calls her a witch and goes about telling people that my mother always flies in the night,’’ he said.

He described his wife as a violent and aggressive woman who is used to hitting him any time they had a misunderstanding and that always prompted him to beat her up.

Morufu alleged that his wife was fetish and on three occasions, he came back from work and saw salt sprinkled all over the house.

He urged the court to dissolve their threeyear-old marriage because he was no longer in love with Deborah while his mother’s life The police have arraigned a 16-year-old boy at the chambers of the was in danger.

Gudu Upper Area Court, for allegedly abusing a toddler sexually, reDeborah, 30, a teacher, denied all the alports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). legations, and insisted that the fight in the The accused (name withheld) of Kuje, Abuja, is standing trial on a home was because she refused to terminate charge of gross indecency. the pregnancy.

The prosecutor, Asp Adama Musa, said one Samuel Zakka of Pegi vil“My husband gave me money to abort my lage, Kuje, Abuja reported the matter at the FCT command, Abuja on baby, I collected the money but used it for anSeptember 22. other thing.

According to him, the accused deceived and took the complainant’s “When he later discovered that I did not two and a half year-old daughter to a nearby uncompleted building and do the abortion, he started beating me and abused her sexually. moved my belongings into the kitchen.

“He later left the house to unknown destinHe said that the accused dipped his finger into the private part of the ation, it was my neighbours that always conlittle girl. tributed money for me to feed till my delivMusa said that during police investigations into the matter, the girl ery,’’ Deborah said. was taken to the hospital and it was revealed that she was abused sexuThe mother of two said that she never beat ally. her mother-in-law not to talk of tearing her He said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the penal code of clothes. the Laws of the Federation.

She pleaded with the court not to grant her The accused however pleaded not guilty. husband’s petition because she was still in The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted the accused bail in the sum love with him. of N100, 000, with one surety that must reside within the court’s jurThe court’s president, Mr Adegboyega Omiisdiction. lola, urged the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case till Dec. 7, for judgeHe adjourned the case till December 17 for hearing. ment.

16-year-old boy arraigned for sexual abuse

19

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

20

Saturday Tribune

31 October, 2015

With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

1

2

3

4

feature

Rejected by job market, welcome by vocational centres Gripping tales of Nigeria’s jobless graduates

5

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER

6

1 NOVEMBER, 2015

1. Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, unveiling the plaque during the commissioning of a science laboratory complex donated by Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a Chevron company, and other stakeholders in the Agbami field, to Ibogun Comprehensive High School, Ogun State, last Monday. With him is the Director of the company, Mr. Jeffery Ewing, who represented the Managing Director, Mr. Clay Neff. Photo: OLAYINKA OLUKOYA 2. From left, former governor of, Ekiti State, Chief Olusegun Oni; PDP governorship candidate, Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and Mr. Tunde Ayeni, at the launching of a book written by Professor Tunde Adeniran, at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, Ibadan. Photo: TOMMY ADEGBITE. 3. From left, Etisalat Nigeria’s Head, High Value Events and Sponsorship, Modupe Thani; Director, Brands and Experience, Enitan Denloye; Director, Lagos Photo Foundation, Azu Nwagbogu; Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone and the Brand Director, Lagos Photo, Wunika Mukan, at the press conference to announce the forthcoming 2015 Lagos Photo Festival in Lagos, recently.

4. From left, Mrs. Titilayo Adegbite; Nollywood actor, Mr. Kunle Adegbite, Engr. Abiodun Adegbite and Mr. Kayode Adegbite, at the launching of a film titled “Star Boy” in Lagos recently.

5. The Pastor in Charge (PIC) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Oyo Province 1, Pastor Moses Amure (right) and the PIC of Lion of Judah Area, Pastor Sunday Oyewo, during the programme held at RCCG, Lion of Judah Area, Felele Rab, Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU 6. District Governor of Rotary International, Mr Mike Omotosho (middle); President, Rotary Club, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Mr Mark Malik and others, during the donation of laboratory equipment to Community Grammar School, Airport Road, Ibadan, on Saturday.

www.tribuneonlineng.com

N200

The Ayo Adebanjo interview

It appears we have a one-man govt Buhari should…

glamour

Why I’m crazy about anklet

glitz

I have never and will never kiss on set —Opeyemi Ayeola

—Dollarpicker

Plus news, sports, fashion... and more!

Book your copy

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

21

31 October, 2015

T

HE screening of minister-designate and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, by the Senate, is unarguably one of the greatest noticeable fissures of the current National Assembly that shows how fragmentary the Nigerian parliament is along ethnic, political, power and stomach lines. Taking into consideration that the former governor was about the major arrowhead of the splinter group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose defection to the then opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) became the superstructure of the rout of the PDP from power, it was natural that those who saw Amaechi as the Achilles’ hill of the PDP tumbling-down would seek to get back at him.

Sorry, I digressed. This writer’s beef with the polity today is actually tangential to the Amaechi Senate power tussle. It is with the emerging trend of a Nigerian parliament, the Senate to be precise, that is packed full former governors.

This trend that gained currency in 2007, is fast becoming a parliamentary phenomenon that deserves attention by Nigeria.

In 2007 when the fad was first noticed, twoterm governors who had served out their terms in the states, wary of life after office and the loneliness that it behooved, like a hive of bees, migrated to the Senate enmasse. Powerful, super-rich and influential, life at the National Assembly was considered a stopgap for them post-Government House. Having exhausted their constitutionally-guaranteed two terms tenure, life at the Senate hides them from the drudgery and lonely life after office.

For many of them on whose necks hung corruption charges and the unenviable absence of immunity from harassment and intimidation of the law, a hide at the Senate guarantees some espritdecorps of senators and bonding with colleagues who understand the language of graft and who could help press buttons of the hearts of investigating agents. The game of corruption, you may want to know, is like a Russian roulette, a game that is full of maneuvers, sidestepping and machinations.

For some of them too, taking into consideration the casualty figure of governors who though installed their successors but whose successors stabbed in the back, the Senate could be a platform to shakara their installed marionettes for a while before the anointed grows his own deadly fangs. It is also a refuge against fatigue, a place to be in the limelight and constantly in the eyes of the media.

Of a truth, money is the least of the articles ex-governors pursue to the Senate. Don’t forget that many of them have stolen enough to last generations, as one of them reportedly boasted

Saturday Tribune

Saturday With

ayinla mukaiba ayinlamukaiba@yahoo.com

Their Excellencies, the fat-stomached senators

recently. The truth is that, if many Nigerians are privy to the loot of some of their current and ex-leaders, they would ignite a revolution right on the spot. Not only have the governors-senators acquired licit and illicit wealth, they have in the process acquired stomachs like Eddie Iroh’s toads of war or become overfed leeches which swagger with rotund bellies filled with sucked blood of their victims.

However, for the Nigerian nation, the influx of former governors into the Senate is a big loss to the polity. Viewed first from their temperament, attitude and governmental pedigree, the Senate is the least of the places where former governors should hop to after office. They are often used to the authority, command and untrammeled power of the executive which frowns upon the long process of democratic debates, order and rules. Governors are like panjandrums in their states and could be referred to as mini-gods. They have power to kill and make alive.

Depending on the colour of their whims, a man who woke up in their presence poverty-ridden could retire to bed a billionaire. For such Saturn gods to tumbledown to the parliament and ‘condone’ the long line of debates, interlocution and canvassing lines of thoughts before they carry the day is alien to their composition.

That is why the list of former governors at the parliament who contribute meaningfully is very seldom. These are haughty big men who swagger about like colonialists.

Such senator-governors rarely depend on the ‘chicken feed’ of senate salary and allowances and most times pack

the parliament full with their aides brought from the states.

In terms of contributions, they hardly meaningfully impact on the proceedings of the Senate.

This is borne out of what was earlier discussed as a pedigree of order and execution which is alien to the process of discussion and debate of the National Assembly. Their conceit for the parliament is further worsened by the first among equals role that all the senators play in the parliament. Senators who awhile ago were governors of a state, who were like deputies of the Creator, peremptorily look down on their senator colleagues and are most times pained when hot arguments lead to the defoliation of their own submissions.

In the Senate today are powerful governor-senators who are like Oil Sheikhs in wealth and power. By the time this dispensation runs full throttle, half of the Senate would almost be made up of former governors. The danger in this trend is that of the quality of bills and the tendency for them to be elitist in their world views and discourses. Have you ever imagined how it would have looked like if the Senate was made up of those who rose from the House of Assembly down to the House of Representatives and then the Senate?

I, however, make a distinction. This submission may be bereft of concise empirical basis, but former governors who were practising lawyers before going to the Government House and now a detour to the parliament, seem to easily connect with the act and rigor of debate in the parliament. Whatever you may want to say against him, former Akwa-Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, seems to have easily pulled out the garment of order, power and authority of the Government House and learnt the ropes of the Senate. I remember the erudition of former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, at the Senate between 2007 and 2011. The latter was said to have been the first and the last, in the history of the Senate, to have delivered a committee report extempore. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of governors in the Senate has been a curse than blessing to the polity.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founder: CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Co-Founder/Chairman Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo (CON) Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797

South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Ikeja Marketing Office.

Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

(01) 8196930

Snr. Manager (Advertisements) Kayode Titiloye Sales Manager Omotayo Lewis, Ph.D Consultant/Director Segun Olatunji, Ph.D

GOT NEWS?

Contact: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com or call:07030004233

22

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Saturday Tribune

27

newsfeature Crude oil being discharged into ‘Cotonou boat’ from the oil well at Ugbodede community last Monday

Naval officers destroying a ‘Cotonou boat’ laden with stolen crude oil at Ugbodede community. PHOTOS: EBENEZER ADUROKIYA

Commodore Raimi Mohammed inspecting the environment during the raid

Impact of crude oil theft Crude oil being siphoned from an oil-well at Ugbodede community.

Face-to-face with oil thieves of Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

C

OMMANDER of the NNS Delta, Warri base, Commodore Raimi Muhammed, had just assumed duties less than 72 hours earlier. Then, he was confronted with an urgent demand to lead his men to Ugbodede, an Itsekiri community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State last Monday afternoon to halt very brazen theft of crude oil going on there.

With a gunboat and two other civilian speedboats manned by armed naval personnel, Commodore Muhammed, obviously acting on a tip-off, led his men to the community which is less than 30 minutes journey from Warri. Members of the press, including, Saturday Tribune, were on the expedition which turned out to be an eyeopener on the scourge called illegal oil business in the Niger Delta.

A few metres to the site of illegality, buyers of locally refined petroleum products were seen right in the act of discharging kerosene from an illegal refinery with the aid

of long hoses into kegs. Then they fled into the thick bush.

They ran deep into the creeks, where it was later discovered that they turned off the tap supplying the kerosene into the kegs arranged in two speedboats. Then from that distance, they turned the naval operation into an object of scorn, watching the military actions from the distance with great effrontery.

Then the commander and his men beheld a huge oil well discharging crude oil into a large wooden boat! The gushing sound of the crude oil from the well was like that made by waterfalls. Besides the wooden boat popularly called Cotonou boat, seen being loaded was another large boat getting ready for its own loading session.

It was gathered that that, particular oil well was abandoned by oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) with their departure from the state a few years ago. Then a flurry of questions: Who handed over the keys to the oil wells to the host communities or to individuals in the communities?

How did the perpetrators get to know when there was pressure in the oil well to enable them to siphon crude oil directly

from the well?

Commodore Mohammed’s first task, being relatively new in the area, was to see how the oil well could be stopped from running. Hence, with his men, he approached the nearby community, Ugbodede, which is just a few metres away from the site of crime.

At Ugbodede, several young Itsekiri boys, some with no shirts on, were seen sagging their trousers and loafing around the densely-polluted river bank. Some told the naval men they were taking fresh air. Some fled on sighting the armed naval personnel, while some just did not budge. One of them identified simply as Benson, gave an audience to the commander. Then he was pointedly asked to produce the key to the oil well. Benson declined knowledge of the person in custody of the key. Pot-bellied Benson, however, mentioned one elder in the village (name withheld) as the custodian of the key to the oil well. But he said the man was far away from the community.

Determined to see the oil well turned off and locked, Commodore Muhammed accosted some elders of the

community who all feigned knowledge of the custodian of the key to the oilwell. One of the elders, with wrappers tied around his waist, said he had just returned from Lagos to enjoy his annual leave in the creeks and so was not part of the illegal oil business.

Two other women keeping him company similarly declined knowledge of the perpetrators of the economic sabotage. They all claimed that if they said anything different, their youths could show them the way to their early graves.

Benson and three other boys whose appearances and utterances made them suspects were arrested. The intention, according to Commodore Muhammed, was to get some vital information from them.

As they were being ordered to go onboard one of the boats, one of the suspects jumped into the river, the young man, who could not swim, was however, not harmed. He bolted away deep into the creeks. Then, a woman, who claimed to be the wife of Benson took her two male children, one a baby, and forcefully jumped into one of the waiting boats, insisting that she was from Ogbomoso in Oyo State and had come to the

village from Warri to drop some foodstuff for the husband.

She said she knew no other person in the community.

Commodore Muhammed had to deploy his professional skill to get the raging woman out of the boat.

One of the boys, when told his skin smelt crude oil, said he was an Anglican missionary to the community of fewer than 10 huts. As he was saying this, a shrine (the only sign of religion) was sighted nearby where various forms of sacrifices were competing for space.

Speaking on the situation, Commodore Muhammed said the fight against oil theft would be contained at whatever cost. According to him, his area of responsibility will not be comfortable for criminals and criminality.

“There is change in the air and we are enforcing that change and anybody who believes that he has a way out, well I wish him hard luck. We are up to the task,” the naval boss declared.

He disclosed that perpetrators of the crimes were making several attempts to frustrate the force in carrying out their duties in the waterways. One of the ways, he said, was felling of trees along waterways to block access to creeks with gunboats by naval operatives.

Apart from this, accessing the illegal refinery camp was impossible for the naval operatives as there was a deep polluted river to cross by foot before they can access the camp, located on an island. In the process, Commodore Muhammed and his men could only carry out the destruction of a crude oil-laden Cotonou boat, the yet-to-be-loaded Cotonou boat, two speedboats laden with over 20 kegs of kerosene and five drums of diesel.

The Cotonou boat being loaded from the oil well was not torched for fear of causing a huge fire that could destroy the entire community. It was believed that after the naval operatives might have left, the hoodlums would return to turn off the tap with the key in their custody.

Economic Nigeria produces about two million barrels of crude oil per day going by her approved quota from the organisation, and while there are no facts available amounts reaching up to 200,000 barrels of per day is being speculated as being lost to oil theft. This accounts for estimates that Nigeria loses $20bn yearly which could have provided massive infrastructure, employment and provide social amenities like clean water, basic healthcare and schools and stronger cash reserves needed to finance development in the country.

Environmental Oil spills result in ground water poisoning, destruction of agricultural land, fishery and livestock and fast disappearing mangrove forests.

Social Crude Oil theft and militancy constitutes a major inhibitor to the socioeconomic development of the Niger-Delta. As a result the responsibility towards the area has been largely neglected by administrations, organisations and companies. Another worrisome trend is the increasing percentages of school aged children who are denied of formal education and aspiration by the various militant groups who see them as potential recruits for their illegal trade thus initiating them into a criminal lifestyle characterised by violence and restiveness, teenage parenthood and anti-societal tendencies.

Health Crude oil theft largely contributes to the deteriorating health conditions prevalent in the Niger Delta region of the country. It is reported that liquid, solid waste and residues from dumps which are not properly disposed or treated causes contamination of domestic water supplies which is responsible for a host of known diseases in this region such as malaria and diarrhea while respiratory diseases which constitute another percentage of the diseases in this area can be attributed to uncontrolled emissions and flaring.

Source:www.cot.navy.mil.ng

23

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

views.com

Whither Nigeria’s economic direction?

By Abdul Razak Odunlade

I

T is not in doubt that Nigeria is in crucial economic times. Any keen observer must, therefore, be concerned about the prospects of Lagos State which controls the largest share of the Nigerian economy. Lagos is, in many ways, the nation’s gateway to global business.

On a general note, the economic situation in the country has clearly worsened over the last few years for a variety of reasons. First is the decline in crude oil prices from $120 per barrel in June 2014 to the current $48 per barrel, which invariably has exposed the weakened structure of the Nigerian economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, GDP growth slowed to 2.35% by at this year’s second quarter, compared to the 6.54% in the corresponding period in 2014.

The violence and acts of terror in the North-East part of Nigeria has also created an unprecedented instability, without forgetting the concerns relating to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which also added to the uncertainty in the country.

These issues have resulted in, amongst many things, the funding crisis among the state governments, from which, remarkably, Lagos has been spared. Consumer demand is weakening according to our retailers and this suggests that we may not return to high single digit growth quickly, let alone the double figures that we desire.

This current downturn just adds to the existing problems of inadequate power supply, poor infrastructure, more than half of the population living in poverty and significant levels of unemployment. The effects of the crisis are being felt at all levels of society but as is often the case, it is the poorest that are particularly vulnerable.

However, Lagos appears to be enjoying the presence of a strong private sector which is poised to consolidate the state’s clear edge over others, especially in the key areas of job creation and thereby allow hundreds of thousands of young graduates and youths to enjoy brighter future prospects.

It is pertinent to stress that while it is not the role of government to create employment directly - especially in a country like Nigeria with a small tax base and reduced oil receipts, there is still much that the government can do.

The first important consideration, therefore, is the need to make Nigeria more competitive. The cost of doing business in Nigeria is high. We often think we are a low cost economy because wages are low but the truth is that businesses here face very high costs. The most obvious high input cost is power where manufacturers and other businesses have to pay twice the rate per kilowatt hour than the grid in order to provide the continuous power they need. There are other high costs too relating to infrastructure which means logistics are incredibly difficult for business. Even our wage costs are deceptive because we have low productivity.

Foreign investors have a choice and if we don’t measure up, the investment and jobs will simply go elsewhere. Sim-

ilarly our companies struggle to export with a high cost base - and if the naira is strong this makes exports still less competitive.

Another issue is that of our currency. The naira has been under pressure since the oil price collapsed and has already suffered a 25% devaluation. The Black Market rates are suggesting a further devaluation could take place and that business is difficult to do at the official rate. This is causing problems for any company that deals with the world beyond Nigeria - not just foreign companies. And new investors will not buy into the country if they fear a sudden devaluation.

It makes sense for them to wait. Business leaders are saying that we cannot delay the inevitable and unnecessary pain is being caused in the meantime.

Equally important is the need to do something about the ease of doing business in Nigeria. The World Bank ranks Nigeria at 170th in its index. This is not good enough for a country with our level of ambition and expectation. This is another factor weakening our competitiveness. In some crucial areas we are even worse –for example, on registration of property, we rank 185th. This is one of a number of areas where Lagos must revolutionise the current position through an ambitious investment in a new digital land administration system.

We need bold moves like this to make a difference. It will pay for itself in extra land taxes and very quickly too.

And then there is the issue of security. The perception of our country is tarnished by terrorist attacks and violent crimes. The public sector has a non-negotiable duty to protect its people and government must not tolerate unacceptable behaviour.

Yet, we can glean from some foreign investors that Nigeria appears to be adopting an attitude which is too insular and protectionist. But opinions from other local producers favour protectionist policies such as tariffs and banning the importation of some products. However, in some cases rather than protecting local industry it can protect inefficiency, poor quality and high prices which create a significant cost for us all as consumers. Trade barriers are usually met with more trade barriers from neighbouring countries,

thereby increasing everyone’s costs.

What then should government do differently? We need the investors to come into our country. This will create jobs and wealth at all levels of the economy and all over the country.

In the longer term we have a range of areas in which to invest to help drive the economy. The obvious ones, of course, are: more reliable power supply and the need to reduce the chronic traffic problems by investing in the transport system. Then concerted effort must be made to lower the current interest rates. The average lender borrows at interest rates of upwards of 20% per annum, which really is not sustainable.

The recent introduction of the Treasury Single Account by the Federal Government and some states like Lagos is a step in the right direction.

We need to institute economic policies that engender an all-inclusive growth. An estimated 70% of Nigerians, 125million people, live below the poverty line. This is an important consideration for any economic activities to be instituted by the managers of the Nigerian economy.

We must applaud and support the President’s drive to end corruption which has a corrosive effect on business at all levels. It is a critical weakness that makes it hard for everyone to do business in Nigeria.

Equally we must not forget the long term drivers. Our youth is our future. Our demographics are seen as favourable as we have an increasing proportion of the population at working age and a smaller dependent population. We must invest in our youths - their education, their health and improve the security of the society in which they live so they are ready for the opportunities on offer.

However, we cannot only invest in the long term. While we must be far sighted, we must also brave and take action now where we can. We must think globally and start now to build our capability to compete globally. We must listen to what business leaders are saying about our economic policies including our attempts to protect our indigenous producers and our currency. Some are saying the negative side effects of these policies are worse than the ills they are meant to cure. We must listen and look at the big picture and take such views into account. Fundamentally we should look out to the rest of the world and compete with it - not look inward. We have the biggest population and the largest economy in Africa.

Having risen to the initial challenge of traffic management occasion, apparently by the downpour and recalcitrant officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Governor Akinwunmi Ambode must now work with his new cabinet to fulfill his recent promise to take action in the short term to improve security, further reduce traffic congestion and work with the private sector to create jobs. The desirable quick-wins are to improve the lives of citizens while at the same time investing for Lagos and Nigeria of the future.

Dr Odunlade, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos

Competing narratives on Boko Haram

By John Campbell WHAT is going on in northern Nigeria? Because of the lack of official transparency and media access, combined with little or no foreign diplomatic presence and a general atmosphere of terror, rumors flourish. However, there are two broad and contradicting narratives: the official narrative is that the security services (mostly the army) will defeat Boko Haram by December, and the conflicting narrative is of continuing Boko Haram attacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari charged that the security services defeat Boko Haram by December. The army maintains that it is on track. The Nigerian military is reporting one success after another. For example, on October 28, the Nigerian army said that it rescued 338 Boko Haram captives. On October 26, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buarati, the Chief of Army Staff and an appointee of President Buratai, made public reference to a “new” brigade deployed in the northeast, though it is not clear whether this is an augmentation of military strength or a redeployment. The Nigerian media reports that in remarks to his soldiers he said, “you are bet-

ter trained and equipped than the criminals and you have to be professional and responsive. You should have no excuse not to be on patrol, ambush, or raid operations.” He went on to say, “We have to maintain the momentum to achieve Mr. President’s deadline. We must eradicate insurgency and make Nigeria peaceful.” The military consistently maintains that Boko Haram no longer occupies any territory.

The alternative narrative starts with ongoing Boko Haram terrorism. The U.S. Department of State on October 27, condemned attacks on October 23 and October 24 in Yola which left at least sixty-one dead. Agence France Presse tallies 170 people killed thus far in October and more than 1,420 since President Buhari’s inauguration.

Boko Haram’s area of operations appears to be spreading.

There have been recent attacks in Abuja and in Kogi state, not where Boko Haram usually operates. The security services claim to have arrested a Boko Haram cell in Lagos. If true, that would indicate that Boko Haram is trying to build a capacity to operate in Africa’s largest city.

Contrary to security service statements, Borno state governor Kashim Shettima on October 26, said that Boko

Haram occupies two local government areas in his state, Abbam and Mobar, and partially controls a third, Marte.

He also said that in the past, Boko Haram had “overrun” twenty of the twenty-seven local government areas in the state.

Boko Haram continues to evolve. At present, it makes extensive and lethal use of suicide bombers. Given evidence of a widening area of operations as well as Governor Shettima’s statement, it is possible that Boko Haram may be returning to a strategy of occupying territory.

What is the bottom line? Since 2011 there have been so many lies and prevarications from the security services that their statements have little credibility. On the other hand, the Chief of Army Staff is new, and the Buhari presidency is committed to the defeat of Boko Haram. Nevertheless, far from fading, Boko Haram appears to be as aggressive as ever. Two months before the end of 2015, it is hard to see how the security services can meet President Buhari’s deadline for the destruction of Boko Haram.

Campbell a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, posted this piece on blogs.cfr.org.

24

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

style

Saturday Tribune

25

With Kate Ani 08071080888 anikate92@yahoo.com

Make him accept your apology in the forgiving dress The magic of makeup!

J

ADVERTISE YOUR FASHION PRODUCTS ON THIS PAGE @ THESE AFFORDABLE RATES COLOUR: 34,475 6X3: B/WHITE: 27,230 COLOUR: 22,750 6X2: B/WHITE: 18,200 COLOUR: 18,900 5X2: B/WHITE: 14,875 COLOUR: 15,155 4X2: B/WHITE: 11,900

PROMO

UST had a quarrel with your boo and you have been apologising nonstop but he is still adamant?

Well, don’t give up just yet, there is a new fashion trend that takes care of this problem. It is called ‘the forgiving dress’. This body-clinging dress is made of latex material that hugs the body like a glove. It accentuates your curves and displays your assets in all their glory.

Every man who has blood running through his veins cannot but give you a second stare when you are clad in this sexy dress. The key to looking like a bombshell in this showstopper is to wear a spandex (tight) underneath.

This will suck in the folds around your waste to create a flawless curve.

IT’S amazing the level of effect makeup can create on women. We now live in a world where ladies hide their facial flaws through makeup transformations. Quite a high percentage of women these days spend thousands of Naira on makeup products to hide their imperfections and get some likes on their social media profiles. Yep – makeup can perform miracles, believe it or not. And, if you have any doubt about this, just check out this amazing selection of incredible makeup transformations.

2X2: 3X2: 2X1: 1X1:

COLOUR: 7,700 B/WHITE: 5,950 COLOUR: 11,200 B/WHITE: 8,925 COLOUR: 3,850 B/WHITE: 2.975 COLOUR: 1,890 B/WHITE: 1,487.5

Tinuola Ayanniyi tayanniyi@yahoo.com 08055069379

Do-it-yourself:

Napkin ring

26

31 October, 2015

outofthisworld

Saturday Tribune WITH FEMI OSINUSI

osfem2@yahoo.com 08055069292

Russia’s palatial underground train stations

F Taganskaya Metro Station

ROM their beautiful colours, columns and elegant chandeliers, these underground train stations in Moscow, Russia, look quite palatial.

Though some of them have been built since 1935 during the rule of Joseph Stalin, the stations, which are said to host over nine million passengers daily, have continued to be given very much attention in terms of maintenance.

Some of them, according to the Daily Mail of UK, despite their beauty and elegance, are still being considered for expansion.

Komsomo Iskaya Metro Station Avoto Metro Station

Belorusskaya Metro Station

Mya Kovskaya Metro Station

Kiyevsskayo Metro Station

28

31 October, 2015

businessextra

Saturday Tribune

Edited by Sulaimon Olanrewaju

lanresulaimon123@gmail.com 08055001708

What has happened to improved power supply?

Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

T

HERE is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerians were elated when no sooner than President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on May 29, 2015, there was sudden improvement in power

supply.

The power situation improved significantly that many Nigerians were forced to wonder if they were still in their country. However, in recent times, it seems the citizens have gone back to darkness and epileptic power supply.

One explanation for this which many Nigerians failed to realise was that power output never surpassed the 5500megawatts (MW) threshold as a result of the country’s transmission capacity which cannot exceed 6000MW. This is as a result of the transmission infrastructure, which is being managed by the Federal Government, through Manitoba Hydro, that cannot wheel out 6000MW at once, otherwise, the country will risk another total system collapse. Hence, even if the generation companies are able to generate 10000 MW today, the transmission capacity lacks the ability to transmit same.

Another major reason for improved power supply is the rainy season. This is because whenever it rains, the water levels at the two hydropower plants, Kainji and Jebba, rise and the dams have more water to generate more electricity.

As the rains subside, this also has an effect on the water levels and subsequently electricity supply.

Besides the issue of power supply, new challenges seem to waylay the power sector in the form of labour issues as well as the estimated billings popularly called ‘crazy billing’ system.

Recently, the controversy surrounding the ownership of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Staff Quarters at Ijede area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, came to the fore and has resulted in the organised labour under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to issue a two-week ultimatum for the Egbin Power Plc management to compensate its members for forceful eviction or face the consequences.

About two weeks ago, the management of Egbin power plant issued a security alert to the public that some old staff members of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) had refused to vacate the staff quarters,

a situation which the company said may threaten stable power supply from the plant.

In an interview with the Saturday Tribune, the National President, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC), Comrade Bede Opara, disclosed that the privatisation of the defunct PHCN assets did not include the staff quarters.

According to him, “You will agree with me that Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005 stated that privatisation covers only the core assets which will exclude staff quarters and other residential buildings. The Federal Government has introduced monetisation of public assets like cars and staff quarters of which the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was included. During the monetisation exercise, occupants of those quarters have the right of first refusal to buy the house.

“But I can tell you that the case is in court. As a result of this we have decided to write the Federal Ministry of Power and are awaiting their response on the matter. It is also important to state that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) staff members are still living in those quarters, including pensioners who have served the country for decades.

“The TCN is not privatised and the government has 40 per cent stake in all privatised entities. The TCN staff member is deployed to these quarters to offer quick intervention when necessary because after generation, the power must be transmitted through the transmission network which is

Besides the issue of power supply, new challenges seem to waylay the power sector in the form of labour issues as well as the estimated billings popularly called ‘crazy billing’ system.

managed by the THC staff members. We have taken our stand already, and within a stipulated period, we will take necessary actions.”

Opara said that he believed that the chairman (Kola Adesina) of the company did not support the compulsory forceful eviction of the occupants because “after my discussions with him, I am convinced that he wasn’t in support of the action and he has promised to look into it.”

On his part, the factional President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, stated that “We are giving the company two weeks ultimatum to repair the quarters and make it habitable for the workers.”

Moreover, the chairman of Egbin Power Plc, Kola Adesina, explained that the recent Amber security alert declared by the management was unavoidable in the light of security reports that linked illegal occupants on the facility with plans to disrupt operations and destroy property.

He said the undocumented residents had continued to occupy the plant’s housing estate illegally since the new management took over on November 1, 2013, a development he said was a huge setback to the housing needs and productivity of the company’s bona fide staff.

However, a source within the company who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak stated that “The situation will soon be resolved because the Federal Government has directed officials of the power ministry to wade in. There was a security alert and following such reports, stakeholders agreed to come together to resolve the situation giving the importance of the situation to the stable power supply that must be sustained because we are not yet there.

“Moreover, I must state categorically that the issue has not affected power supply in any way. This is because residents in those quarters are not workers of Egbin and we are raising the issues to allow Egbin workers to reside at their quarters. The plant is intact and it is generating over 1000MW. The only factors that can affect supply would be lack of adequate gas supply which is not so for now; infrastructure challenges usually faced by TCN because if TCN cannot wheel out everything we produce at a go, then, there will be drop in power supply. Egbin Power currently generates about one-quarter of the total 4000MW output for the country.”

29

31 October, 2015

ntertainment News

Society Gist

3 1 ! d l o Beh g n i n r a top-e

Oritsefemi, 2Face thrill as Baba Ijebu gives back to lotto lovers P33

with Joan Omionawele and

Newton-Ray Ukwuoma jistwtjoan@yahoo.com Twitter:@joanbajojo 08059793705

Celebrity Interviews

d a deebrities cel

Saturday Tribune

30

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

It was disastrous day I tried smoking —Gyang Continued from pg3

How often do you see her?

We see every two weeks and we talk every now and then.

I have been so engrossed in music for a long time that I almost forgot to have a love life. I have, however, come to realise that I need love at this point in my life. So, I am open to relationship.

Did you ever think you will become this big when you came to Lagos?

No. first of all, I am not even that big. Well, in my fantasy, it crossed my mind; but in reality, I didn’t think I had a chance. I had absolutely no idea that soul music will get me this far. I think it is just God and all the awesome people He sent my way.

Would you like to tell us why you decided to stick to Afro soul, even when it is not very popular?

It is not popular yet. Even the Afro hip hop, which is celebrated now, was once new to Nigeria. I believe that there is a chance to experiment with new genres.

I believe we can’t afford to stick to, or promote, one or two genres at this stage of music history. It will jeopardise our success story. I believe we are at the stage where artistes can experiment with different genres and feel okay with it. I also believe that this is the time our audiences should begin to accommodate all forms of originality new and old.

Sincerely, I love what I do. It was what I grew up listening to. It is what I am good at.

both of you, what do you have to say about that?

That is the thing. We have shared a lot together. We have a kid together. Before we started dating, we were friends for a long time. It made it easy. Secondly, because we love our daughter so much, we have decided to maintain that friendship.

We want her to see her mum and dad always together. We really put in a lot to make that work. But as for coming back together, that can’t work.

Are you single?

Yes, and searching.

How long have you been single?

I have been single for a long time – like six years. I have been so engrossed in music for a long time that I almost forgot to have a love life. I have, however, come to realise that I need love at this point in my life. So, I am open to relationship. As I speak to you, I am also telling myself that I need to open up for love.

Having begun, what are the challenges you are facing?

Afro soul is just beginning to gain acceptance. It is a not a massive market yet. We are not getting the kind of market that artistes like Olamide and Tiwa are getting. This is because the song is different. I think the greatest challenge I have is the fact that we do not have a lot of events that cater for all the music genres there are in Nigeria. They are few events. And for me that is the hardest thing, because for instance, my kind of music would be more appreciated if performed on stage.

Were you celibate all through the six years?

A lady never tells.

Are you open to only Nigerian men?

No, I like white men too, Japanese, etc.

Your songs are hugely worded, how do you write your songs?

When it comes to songwriting, I mostly collaborate. I collaborate with MI. He is my very good friend. We have been together for many years, and because he knows me well, knows what I would want to sing about and write about, it is easy to work with him. So far, he is the only one I have worked with the most.

Which is your favourite hangout live band?

The Shrine. Femi Kuti is like a god to me. I always get Oh-my-God feelings when I visit the shrine. Femi Kuti is a great artiste and performer. He is natural.

His band is just as great. No wonder he is a world class artiste. So, the shrine is the place to hang out any day. I love listening to live music.

Most callers at the shrine drink and smoke, do you smoke?

I don’t really. I tried smoking once and it was a disaster. I left it behind. Drinking is terrible on my voice, so I don’t do that too.

Who encouraged you to smoke?

Nobody actually. I was like, ‘I really need to try this thing.’ You know, I loved the shape of the sticks of one of the cigarette

brands. They really looked cute. It was actually purple. When I tried a puff, it was really terrible. And I don’t encourage anybody.

What then is your vice? I know you hardly go out.

Well, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I don’t have any of the usual vices.

As a musician and a woman, what is your personal struggle?

I want to be able to empower myself well enough to stand on my feet as a woman, as a business woman. I want to live my dream life.

What is the one thing you regret?

My daughter. I wish I had had her later in life, when I would have had time to take care of her. She means the world to me right now.

Do we see you and Jesse Jagz getting back together?

Jesse and I are very good friends. Sincerely, what Jesse and I have is really funny because you can hardly find people that share kids become as friendly as we are. But as much as we are very good friends, we cannot work.

In a recent musical video there was a lot of chemistry coming from

How should your ideal man look like?

He must be religious. My faith is extremely important to me. I am a Christian. Being a Christian is extremely important to me and should be to my man. This is because my faith informs my belief system and values. I need a perfect gentleman, one who does basic things like open doors, give compliments; you know, some courtesies. I know that some people do not regard these things, but that’s the way to my heart. That you are thoughtful and considerate is all that matters to me.

I also like a man that laughs. He doesn’t have to be funny, but one that enjoys laughing.

Five things people don’t know about Ruby.

I love dieting and exercise, though I don’t look it. I am seriously into it. I am very supportive of other artistes. I am quick to share information, advice and my experience. I don’t like artistes dissing one another. I have what is called OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

When it comes to my work or anything I am involved in, I am always hyperactive about it.

32 entertainment Forbes magazine, in this report, notes that the time since Michael Jackson’s sudden death in 2009, the financial story that has played out has been nothing short of a thriller. The King of Pop has earned more than $1 billion before taxes since then, enough to pay off his personal debts and then some. This year Jackson again leads our list of the 13 top-earning dead celebrities, pulling in $115 million over the past year.

(1) Michael Jackson •$115 million •Singer •Died: June 25, 2009 •Age: 50 •Cause: Overdose/homicide The King of Pop has earned nine figures every full year since his death in 2009. The prime drivers of his afterlife fortune: permanent Vegas Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson One, the Mijac Music catalogue, music sales and half of the Sony/ ATV publishing empire.

(2) Elvis Presley •$55 million •Singer, actor •Died: August 16, 1977 •Age: 42 •Cause: Heart attack The King of Rock n’ Roll doesn’t rule the realm of postmortem cash, but he’s making more than most living stars thanks largely to Graceland ticket sales. In August he earned his 53rd Top 40 album with Elvis Presley Forever, a compilation released by the U.S. Postal Service along with a commemorative stamp.

(3) Charles Schulz •$40 million •Died: February 12, 2000 •Cause: Colon cancer •Age: 77 The Peanuts creator has a cut of licensing revenue from the popular comic to thank for his paycheck.

Charlie Brown and Co. are now hitting the big screen in a 3-D flick, The Peanuts Movie, out in November 2015.

(4) Bob Marley •$21 million •Singer •Died: May 11, 1981 •Age: 36 •Cause: Cancer Not exactly a capitalist icon in life, the reggae legend is becoming quite the businessman in death.

Three reasons: the Marley Beverage company (home to “relaxation drink” Marley’s Mellow Mood), House of Marley (maker of ecofriendly audio and lifestyle products) and music (over 75 million albums sold).

(5) Elizabeth Taylor •$20 million •Died: March 23, 2011 •Cause: Heart failure •Age: 79 The legendary actress remains the titan of a dwin-

dling celebrity fragrance business. Her hit scents include White Diamonds, which launched in 24 years ago and continues to sell.

Fellow (living) licensing queen Kathy Ireland adopted her two Maltese dogs when she died.

(6) Marilyn Monroe •$17 million •Died: August 5, 1962 •Cause: Overdose •Age: 36 •Though she died more than a half century ago, Monroe remains an international icon, part of the reason Authentic Brand Group bought the rights to her brand in 2011. In addition to a Macy’s clothing label, there’s also a Monroe lingerie line.

31 October, 2015

The 13 top-earning

dead celebrities of 2015

(9) Paul Walker •$10.5 million •Died: November 30, 2013 •Cause: Car crash •Age: 40 Walker’s untimely death and Furious 7’s celluloid tribute to him propelled the movie to $1.5 billion at the box office, making it the franchise’s biggest intake to date. He may have died while the movie was filming, but his estate is still thought to have profited from a slice of the movie’s

7

8

1

(7) John Lennon •$12 million •Singer •Died: December 8, 1980 •Age: 40 •Cause: Murder The singer-songwriter continues to share in the Beatles’ spoils—over 63 million albums sold in the U.S. alone since 1992—both in terms of recorded music and publishing. Other ventures such as the Beatlesthemed Cirque du Soleil show Love! in Las Vegas, are still padding his coffin’s coffers.

(8) Albert Einstein •$11 million •Died: April 18, 1955 •Cause: Natural causes •Age: 76 There are avid buyers among the inventor’s cultlike nerd following: Einstein-branded merchandise includes apparel, posters and tablets designed by Israeli tech company Fourier Systems. Packed with built-in sensors, the tablets measureheart rate, humidity and temperature.

Saturday Tribune

2

9 3

4

5

6

10 •$9 million •Died: November 30, 1980 •Cause: Complications from surgery •Age: 50 The gearhead actor now makes money licensing his name and image to ongoing ad campaigns for the likes of Tag Heuer, Barbour and Persol. A McQueen-branded Porsche clothing line includes a $900 leather jacket.

11 backend.

(10) Bettie Page •$10 million •Died: December 11, 2008 •Cause: Natural causes •Age: 85 Iconic Playboy pinup Bettie Page has licensed her sex appeal into growing fashion lines, including lingerie and bridalwear, which account for most of her earnings.

13 A Vegas show featuring a hologram of Page performing one of her famous striptease acts is in the works.

(11) Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) •$9.5 million •Died: September 24, 1991 •Cause: Natural causes •Age: 87 From Green Eggs and Ham to green stacks in

12 hand, Theodore Geisel (penname: Dr. Seuss) has nonsensical kids books such as The Cat in the Hat to thank for his dough. These classics and their anthropomorphised characters sell millions annually, and have spawned merchandise, movies and Universal Studios rides.

(12) Steve McQueen

(13) James Dean •$8.5 million •Died: September 30, 1955 •Cause: Car crash •Age: 24 “You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye,” crooned Taylor Swift in her 2014 hit “Style,” introducing the actor to a new audience. Despite his Hollywood hits, Dean now makes most of his millions from brands including Jockey and Doice & Gabbana; there’s even a James Dean bar in Prague.

33

entertainment

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

2face, Oritsefemi, Femi Adebayo thrill as

‘Baba Ijebu’ gives back to lotto lovers

By Joan Omionawele

N

IGERIA’S foremost lotto company, Premier Lotto, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, has made impactful rewards to 328 lotto lovers across the country by giving away eight KIA CERATO cars and other household equipment through its ‘Baba Ijebu Give Back Promo’.

The winners emerged through an online electronic draw, which was conducted on Sunday, October 18, among Premier Lotto players who participated in the ‘Win Big in the Baba Ijebu Give Back Promo’ which lasted from 1 October to 17 October.

The event, which was held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and hosted by Femi Adebayo and Doyin Kukoyi, sparked off as Nollywood actor Adebayo extolled Sir Adebutu Kesington’s virtues. According to the actor, Kesington is a man who allows the rich and the poor to mingle by virtue of his business.

According to Premier Lotto, “The give back promo is aimed at giving back to the numerous loyal customers who have stayed with the brand over the years as part of the celebration activities lined up towards the 80th birthday celebration of the founder and chairman, Sir Kesington Adebutu, who clocked 80 on Oct 24, 2015”.

Among the eight winners of the star prize KIA CERATO cars who had been identified with their names at press time are Bamisile Michael, Victor Chukwu and Igbinoba Tony.

According to Tunde Shofowora, Chief Executive Officer of Red Ribbon Limited, the Public Relations, Experiential Marketing & Creative Event company that anchored the event, “Premier Lotto is awaiting the emergence of the remaining five-star prize winners to come forward and claim their prizes. The winning numbers had earlier been published in national dailies.

One of the star prize winners, Bamisile Michael who claimed to be a ‘doubting Thomas’ said he tried his luck following a piece of advice from a friend after seeing the promo’s advert on television. Michael also said he was overwhelmed and couldn’t believe he could own a car overnight. Joyous Michael said he intends to touch other lives with his ‘gift’ from Baba Ijebu.

Another winner of the star prize, Victor Chukwu said he had on two occasions witnessed two people around him winning a car and a million naira in past promos organised by other organisations. He insisted

that was what spurred him to give the Baba Ijebu give back promo a trial.

He claimed to have prayed before participating in the promo and expressed gratitude to Baba Ijebu. In his words, “Baba Ijebu really embarrassed me with blessings.”

He, however, happily stated that he would use the car in the service of humanity.

Igbinoba Tony, on his own, is grateful to God and Baba Ijebu for his prize, saying “this is the work of God.” Other actors and actresses who paid homage to Sir Kesignton included Funso Adeolu, Muyiwa Ademola, Fathia Balogun, Malaika and Ronke Oshodi Oke. While Ronke Oshodi Oke thanked Baba Ijebu for his humane spirit, Fathia Balogun prayed as the latest ‘Alhaja’ in town and presented certificates to the winners of the 80brand new generators.

Others included winners of 80 units of LED television sets, 80 units of split-unit air conditioners, 80 units of 2800 power generating sets, 80 units of refrigerators and lots more consolation prizes such as Tshirts, fez caps, umbrellas, and wristbands.

From October 1 to 17, Premier Lotto players

were given the opportunity to play and celebrate with Baba Ijebu at 80. To qualify for the promo, all daily Baba Ijebu games tickets played from September 1 to 17, 2015 which had a value of N500 and above automatically qualified for entry in the promo draw.

Popular comedians Akpororo and Mc Olimpia brightened up the audience as they reeled with laughter to the performance of the comedians, while Oritsefemi also mesmerised the crowd.

According to Oritsefemi, the gaming company had since taken his money when he was living at Ajegunle. ‘Today, Baba is giving back to the society and this is also a way of paying me back,” he said.

Speaking at the grand ceremony at Teslim Balogun Stadium, where the prizes were officially presented to the winners amidst his 80th birthday celebration, Sir

Kesington thanked God for the opportunity given him to positively impact on the lives of the masses and especially the numerous customers who have remained with the brand over the years.

“I take pride in being in active member of the Nigerian society and this includes giving back whenever I can. My 80th birthday anniversary celebration provides yet another opportunity to make meaningful impact on the lives of lotto lovers in Nigeria. ‘’It is also a way to say a special ‘thank you’ to our esteemed customers for being invaluable partners over the years as I celebrate my 80th birthday anniversary”.

Just as one thought the event had come to an end, legendary musician, 2face Idibia, stormed the stage amidst shout from the crowd, as both the old and the young danced to his music in excitement.

34

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

with Tunde Ayanda ayandaayotunde@yahoo.com 08034649018

Biola Adegoke is back

B

IOLA Adegoke, the owner of defunct hangout, Da Nu Grotto, is back!

The man, whose dream of running the biggest nightclub in Abuja after the closure of his Grotto in Lagos did not fly, is back after two years absence from the scene.

People in the know said Biola is back with something new, a project

set to take the entertainment world by storm.

Biola’s short reign in the nightclub business is what many of his patrons still remember and he is banking on that to re-launch himself.

For now, Biola is said to be keeping the details to himself and making consultations on how best to launch his new business.

Chivas parties With Olisa Adibua

Red-Media honours 121 media icons AS part of the activities marking the 10th anniversary of leading PR company, Red Media Africa, was the recognition given to Nigerian media icons, who have blazed the trail in the media world and were recently honoured for their works over the years at the Red Summit Gala Night, which took place at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The likes of Chief Segun Osoba, John Momoh, Mo Abudu, Biodun Shobanjo, Nduka Obaigbena, Betty Irabor, Akin Odunsi, Odia Ofeimun, Grace Egbagbe were hosted to a night of dance and music.

Others are Bayo Onanuga, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Ray Ekpu, Bisi Olatilo, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, Sam Amuka Pemu, Raymond Dokpesi, Garba Shehu, Doyin Abiola, Dare Babarinsa, Comfort Obi, Kunle Bakare, Femi Ojudu, Dele Momodu, Chris Anyawu, Ben Murray Bruce, Sunmi Smart Cole, Ajibola Ogunsola, Sir Steve Omojafor, Mumini Alao, Tunji Olugbodi and many others were hosted to a night of dance and music where they were celebrated as part of their contribution to the media in Nigeria.

Founding partner of Red Media Africa, Adebola Williams, stated that his company decided to honour the 121 legends who created the path many are now following.

The Red summit Gala night had in attendance a former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former minister, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili and many other dignitaries.

SATURDAY, 17 October was a big day for quintessential onair Personality, Olisa Adibua, when Club Quilox, Lagos, came alive as Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whiskey hosted him to a ‘Taste of Luxury’.

It was a great event that drew celebrities from the media and the entertainment industry.

Chivas Regal is known to celebrate social entrepreneurs who have contributed to the society positively as they make progress in their businesses.

Adibua was celebrated for his contribution to the media

and entertainment industry in Nigeria. He has been a positive influence on listeners and encouragement of upcoming onair personalities.

All the guests were treated to a taste of the Chivas Regal, where they were also enlightened about the luxury whiskey, its heritage and uniqueness.

TOP estate developer, Olusegun Adesuyi, is drawing friends and family members to Ibadan today as he prepares to host a remembrance ceremony for his late parents.

The young man, whose company has been rated as one of the fastest growing in the country by a reputable organisation, has picked the 4Real Event Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, as the reception ground for the 35th and 20th remembrance of Mr Stephen Olawale and Mrs Grace Adesuyi respectively.

Preceding the reception is a memorial service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Bodija Ibadan, where a solemn service will be held in honour of his departed parents .

Mo Abudu’s fifty thunderous ovation CHIEF Executive Officer of Ebonylife TV, Mosunmola Abudu, is scoring high as she brought London to a standstill a few days ago, when Fifty, the first movie ever produced by the award-winning TV host, was premiered with the cast majority of them Nollywood stars who stormed the streets of London’s Leicester Square.

The event marked the first African-style premiere in London, which witnessed a large assembly of spectators at the London Film Festival.

The stars of the night included Omoni Oboli, Ireti Doyle, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Biyi Bandele and Mo Abudu.

Fifty, which is set for a nationwide release on 18 December, captures a few pivotal days in the lives of four Nigerian women at the pinnacle of their careers.

Segun Adesuyi remembers late parents

Party time for Sumbo Blankson THE Lagos social circle is warming up for the 40th birthday celebration of top society woman, Sumbo Blankson.

The ageless beauty, a top civil servant in Lagos State, is one of the brilliant minds holding the fort at the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Environment.

The woman, who has friends in many places, is said to have preferred a quiet ceremony with a thanksgiving service at her church in Lagos Island but was prevailed upon by her friends and admirers who reasoned that her coming of age should come with a big celebration.

Making the guestlist is a number of top politicians and government officials in Lagos State and other prominent socialites.

35

31 October, 2015

With Ronke Sanya &Oyeyemi Okunlade 07036050161\ 08056834515 sanyaaderonke@gmail.com ojeleyeoyeyemi@yahoo.com

achievers T

ELL us about your innovation, Tech4herAfrica Technology is about solving our everyday problems. Women have loads of responsibilities from home chores to corporate. Most get overwhelmed, sign out of work and live substandard lives. One billion people living in poverty in the world are women.

Retooling women with technology skills is a smart step in helping them live better and even do better. So, Tech4HerAfrica kick-started with the mission to help women adapt technology tools and opportunities to their advantage.

Also, a huge percentage of Nigerian citizens are male while the females perceive technology as something for males only.

Why have you chosen to focus on Africa girls and women, particularly in science, technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, mathematics using ICT? Yes, that’s right. STEEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Mathematics are big reasons behind Tech4herAfrica. It has been speculated that 90 per cent of all formal employment would require digital skills in 2015 and we live in a digital economy and technology is embedded in all forms of businesses today. These areas, i.e Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Mathematics and ICT, are necessary to harness creativity and enable women to work in highly competitive environments.

What’s your opinion on the level of the girl-child education in Nigeria?

Perspectives are shifting gradually on this. Thanks to the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working hard to support this cause. To amplify results and dissect through the stereotyped cultural perspective, the government needs to set up policies that would favour this cause.

They should also channel more financial support towards it.

ActionAid, in a recent report stated that 75 per cent of girls in Nigeria get married before the age of 18 and that if this trend continues, 100 million girls under the age of 18 will marry in the next decade. What’s your opinion on this?

The government and policymakers, as I said earlier, need to amplify current efforts by NGOs in ensuring girls’ inclusion in education with favourable policies and financial support. Educating more girls will transform their minds; it will enable them to think creatively on adding value to themselves and their communities.

You just concluded a Digital Business Academy for women...

Yes, Digital Business Academy is one of the programmes we run to achieve our objectives. Our aim is to empower women with digital skills to build smarter businesses. The event witnessed over 200 women register from different countries in Africa. Over 20 experts from top companies like Etisalat, KPMG, Microsoft, Google, Twitter, General Electric and many more were invited to coach these women.

The women had access to resources and

Saturday Tribune

Elizabeth Olorunleke:

Computer genie digitally empowering women across Africa Elizabeth Olorunleke is a United Nations (UN) Youth Ambassador for Peace Federation, a certified digital business manager by Microsoft and Google, founder, Fundbox Africa; founder, Inspiriasoft.com; founder tech4herAfrica. In this interview, she reveals the purpose of her numerous innovations to RONKE SANYA, narrating how she is digitally empowering women across the borders of Africa.

interaction with experts on themes related to retooling their ideas, turning digital technology into business opportunities, moving their businesses to the cloud and many more. This is our first edition and we will be kick-starting the next one in January.

Another programme we run is the Kiss Digital which we do in partnership with Microsoft Education. We empower young girls with tech skills and creative thinking.

Registration is opened to all young girls across Africa.

Retooling women with technology skills is a smart step in helping them live better and even do better. So, Tech4Her Africa kick started with the mission to help women adapt technology tools and opportunities to their advantage.

How do you get fund to organise these trainings?

We are building track and positioning to get funds from ‘Big Heart Brands’ on national and global levels. Much of the funding has been from my personal business. I run a Digital and PR firm, Inspiriasoft.com anyone willing to sponsor can contact me.

How do you handle the multiple responsibilities you are tasked with, being a founder of several innovations?

I think it’s simply because I’m in total control of my time. It would be really challenging if I had a job to joggle. Other reasons would be that I’m self-driven and work with schedules.

Let’s have a peep into your background, who is Elizabeth Olorunleke?

When I was 14 years old, I really wanted to be a singer, writer and artist. I had music sessions, composed songs, and wrote poems and inspiring notes. I also did some artworks like making cards, drawing and painting.

Although I silently craved for computer stuff, that crave was even stronger when I had computer as part of the subjects I wrote for Cambridge A level examination. I had the best grade in computer. Ever since then, the energy for computer stuff has overridden my other interests.

I studied Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife. Good thing is, I’m self-thought on the tech stuff, which cost a great deal- having my laptop as my pet. Recently this year, I was certified as a digital business manager by Micro-

soft and Google and it’s really been awesome exploring the tech space.

Challenges of being a founder?

One challenge I’ll really like to talk about is the fact that you just have to keep moving forward even if it means just you. At the start of it, it takes so much energy, persistence and good vision to keep the game on, especially on the part of the founder.

Has your foundation gotten any award, nomination or recognition so far?

Yes, we have a recognition with Women in Technology for Africa. I was interviewed and featured in their news. We were also invited for the Business Technology Show in Cape Town, South Africa, this year, by Kinetic Events in South Africa.

What drives you?

In simple words, God has been my strength, wisdom and strong support.

I’m highly motivated and self-driven. I really love what I do, I have a strong belief in it and give it all it takes to make it happen.

Also, my mum and my other mentors.

Words of advice to young Nigerians in various parts of the world reading this.

The future starts now and with you. Whatever you have, need or plan to do, just start now. Asa [Bukola Elemide] says, ‘No one knows tomorrow’. I like to always ask myself if I want to die as a mere dreamer or legend?

36

31 October, 2015

weekend cartoons

Saturday Tribune

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

Just a Laffing Mata

FUNOLOGY

POLITICO

Pardon

A European who had been living in Ibadan for some years went to a popular barber’s shop in Mokola to cut his hair. When he got there and the barber was about to start cutting, he asked for the foreigner’s choice of haircut in his Ibadan dialect. But the white man who did not understand said, “pardon”. The barber who thought he said “fa dan” (shave it clean) did not bother to ask his customer again, he proceeded to shave the white man’s head completely, and applied palm oil on the head. The white man who was asleep while the barber was shaving his head, was so angry when he woke up and realized what had happened. This attracted passersby and one of them then explained to the white man that the barber is an illiterate.

Rec harge Hi s Brai n ONE day, Segeluulu’s father decided to put the batteries of his torchlight in the sun. When Segeluulu asked him why he had to do that, he explained to him that the batteries had become dull and was trying to recharge them. The following day, Segeluulu scored zero in an assignment in the class, which made his teacher to call him a dull boy. On getting home, he took a chair and sat in the sun. He was there for some hours before his father returned from work. When his father asked him what he was doing in the sun, he replied, “our teacher called me a dull boy, so I am trying to recharge my brain, like you did to your torchlight yesterday.”

Yoruba Nollywood Star goes back to school

37 feature

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

The return of police roadblocks Roadblocks not back —Police From Chris Agbambu - Abuja, Saheed Salawu, Biola Azeez - Ilorin, Sylvanus Viashima - Jalingo and Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure “HEY! Torch! Torch!” A policeman barked to a distracted colleague at about 8.20 p.m. last week. He was telling the fellow policeman to quickly shine his torchlight in the direction of a fast approaching vehicle and stop it in its track. His own torchlight had apparently waned due to ceaseless waving of the device since arriving at that junction. It was in a South West state. The policemen had been mounting a checkpoint at the place for some time now.

“What do you have in your boot?” This was the familiar question from the first policeman to the driver, a private owner, who momentarily stepped out of the car and flung open the rear of his automobile. Not done, the policeman asked for the car’s particulars, which the driver immediately produced.

About three other cars were simultaneously rendered stationary by four other cops who were talking indistinctly to the drivers.

“Wait, are police checkpoints really coming back? I thought we were done with that in this country,” muttered a distraught pedestrian, who had just dismounted a commercial motorcycle, whose operator had refused to go any further upon sighting the checkpoint a few metres ahead. The obviously embittered man shook his head as he moved past the policemen at the checkpoint and continued his homeward journey on foot, his destination being only a few metres away.

Authorities of the Nigeria Police Force have, however, said they had not reintroduced roadblocks in the country Force spokesperson, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, speaking with Saturday Tribune on the allegation that roadblocks are back and policemen are using them as avenues to extort motorists, said “it wouldn’t be checkpoints but safer highway patrols.”

According to her, “they are not roadblocks, but at times, based on information received by the police, they can block such areas, but that does not mean it is a checkpoint.”

ACP Kolawole added that “there is no coming back of roadblocks but what the police have are just safer highway patrol vehicles which are all stationed at intervals on the highways.”

Also, the Force spokesperson disclosed that the police were already beefing up security as the yuletide fast ap-

proaches, as they “don’t want to take chances in view of the security situation in the country.

“We are tightening every loose end and beefing up security, but roadblocks are not back in the country,” she said.

In 2012, as part of a reformation policy, the then new Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, had banned all checkpoints across the country. One of the reasons for the ban was the public outcry that police checkpoints which were ordinarily mounted to check crimes were actually being used as an avenue to extort motorists. Rather than check suspected vehicles, policemen at checkpoints were accused of only checking pockets of motorists.

Also in 2014, Suleiman Abba, who had just succeeded Abubakar as the country’s police boss, enforced the order banning roadblocks. Abba had directed all commands and formations of the force to immediately dismantle “all semblances of police roadblocks and permanent checkpoints that were re-emerging in some parts of the country at that time, especially in the South-East, South-South and South-West.

Mr Abba had been quoted as describing the re-emergence of roadblocks as a violation of the subsisting order and threatened sanctions against any police command, formation or personnel that violated the order.

But the checkpoints have been observed to be springing back up in Ilorin, Iwo and Osogbo, Osun State, Jalingo in Taraba State and elsewhere in the country over the past months.

There are also said to be at least seven spots where policemen have their patrol vans parked to check motorists and vehicle documents along the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway.

In the meantime, some Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to the seeming gradual return of policemen on the roads and the nation’s highways.

A commercial vehicle operator, Mr Kasali Salman, said, “From the old road of Eyenkorin in Ilorin, Kwara State, to Ogbomoso, Oyo State, there are at least three spots, where at least N50 is collected from each commercial driver, who dares not ask questions or argue. Private vehicle owners are made to part with up to N1, 000, depending on the gravity of an ‘offence.’”

Another vehicle owner in Ilorin, Mr Kayode Okunola, decried what he described as the current existence of too many police checkpoints in and around the city.

“They are back in full force. From Kwara State to Osun State, they are there checking vehicles. Commercial drivers are the worse for it. They don’t usually check the particulars.

What they do is ask you: ‘from where to where?’ Then, they go ahead and ask for ‘something.’ And then you are allowed to go.

“In Ilorin, it is too much. In parts of Osun State, the same thing applies. Some are in Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) uniform as if we are in war times. And I don’t see any effective law enforcement on these roads. They point guns at you as if you are carrying contraband. When they order you to park your vehicle and you obey, what happens in the end is that you are made to part with something. This is uncalled for. And you dare not disobey them.

“They are usually stationed at bad portions of the highways, knowing that vehicles would slow down. From there, they start their check.

“Just as you leave Ilorin for the Kwara south areas, right from Ganmo, Amoyo, Ajase Ipo, Oro, Omu Aran, Edidi and Offa axis area, you will see them, immediately after Eyenkorin expressway. They are always there, including red-capped ones. Those at Amoyo axis to Omua Aran are usually in SARS uniform.

“Those in Offa axis are usually the normal police and MOPOL men. What I am saying is that they should be made to be on the highways to look for travellers in need of assistance instead of mounting roadblocks,” Okunola said.

In his own response, a driver at one of the motor parks in Ilorin, Mr Sola Ogungbesan, said the gradual re-introduction of roadblocks by the police was not totally a bad idea, but he quickly added that measures must be taken to check corrupt tendencies on the part of men assigned to the highways “Whenever policemen stop a driver to check vehicle particulars and passengers’ baggage on the road, what comes after is a demand for money from the driver. Even if they are satisfied with the check, if the driver refuses to give them money, they would delay him unnecessarily and sometimes it takes the intervention of passengers before the situation is resolved. Situations like this have led to several accidental discharges from policemen,” Ogungbesan said.

He, however, said that there were policemen on the highways that were strictly professional about the way they carry out their duties without having to extort motorists, “but such policemen are few in number.”

In Taraba State, after a time of free movement on the roads due to the absence of police checkpoints, motorists and travellers along major roads in the state have again been plunged Continues pg39

38 interview

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

‘It requires time to clear PDP’s rot of 16 years’

The member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Shomolu Constituency 1, Honourable Rotimi Olowo, in this interview, speaks on issues bordering on President Muhammadu Buhari’s incoming ministers. CHUKWUMA OKPARAOCHA brings excerpts.

D

O you suppose President Buhari has justified the faith reposed in him with his choice of prospective ministers?

We have to get some things right by looking at some facts. There are some technocrats among politicians who have excelled in their callings. Look at someone like former Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and he did his best as governor. If you have allegations against him, they have to be proven. If allegations have not been proven, we have to be careful. Technocracy and politics go hand in hand.

Look at Ogbonnaya Onu, he has a PhD in Chemical Engineering. So, we should not politicise everything. If they are all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and they are qualified, why not? You should eat from where you have worked. Some of them were even chosen because of their service to humanity. We cannot say they are morally corrupt. Let’s even face it, who is not morally corrupt in Nigeria? Can someone be morally upright in a morally decadent society? This is a country where most people do not have the fear of God and they want to steal for old age.

The list meets my expectation because these are people that have invested in the party through hard work. They worked during campaign, risked their lives moving from one part of the country to another. They also campaigned even in the night. All these are investments. Investment is not only in terms of finance; you can invest through your activities, through your support, going out day and night.

You support the cause of the party and it is now time for you to be recognised. Why not?

People were surprised to see a lot of well known names, especially those of former governors in the list, thus fuelling the notion that the list was not worth waiting for. Do you think all these names were worth Nigerians’ wait?

They were worth waiting for because of where we are coming from. The president was not coming for a second term, he was just assuming power. So, he had to sit down to analyse the situation based on what he met on the ground.

He had to look at the magnitude of the decadence in our system. A lot of work is going on underground. Ministries, agencies and parastatals (MDAs) are being analysed and some people have been looking at their activities to determine those ones that are rotten, the ones to be re-engineered and those ones that are okay. There was a time permanent secretaries went to meet him and he gave them directives on what to do to streamline the ministries and block leakages to guarantee efficiency. That had to precede having substantive ministers. Also, the ministers would just be the coordinators of the ministries, the engine rooms would be directors and permanent secretaries. So, he needs to have them on board and bring those ones that can work effectively. Even he would have to do analyses of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) on the ones he has chosen so that he could give them relevant ministries where they can be effective. If we waited for about 16 years for bad government to leave, why are we now in a hurry? After the elections, a few months are not too much for us to prepare our home and do the right things so that we would not have structural or systemic issues. If the system is rotten, you have to make the system work before putting people that can run ministries there to get the desired results. Whether they are in his party or not does not matter, you cannot put the cart before the horse, or else you would put a round peg in a square hole.

What about their ages? Do you think it is ideal for someone like Audu Ogbe, who was a minister under former President Shehu Shagari, to come back as a minister?

Age has nothing to do with service delivery. Audu Ogbe is a very sound man. He has invested in the party and he is not senile. He has contributed his quota to driving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) away. Would you prefer a

Let’s even face it, who is not morally corrupt in Nigeria? Can someone be morally upright in a morally decadent society? This is a country where most people do not have the fear of God and they want to steal for old age. rogue to be a minister? You have seen a tested and trusted man, a man that has impeccable pedigree and character.

He stood by his ideals and made sure his party assumed leadership. We cannot put sentiments into it. Is the man not sound? Don’t we have older people in government? If somebody is good, can’t we re-circle him? Age does not matter. We are talking about integrity, tenacity of purpose, productivity and people that can work. It is only fair that where you work, you reap. Where you sow you reap, where you work, you get your wages. He has worked and committed his resources to what we are thanking God for. After all, our president is over 70 years old and we had to vote for him because he is incorruptible and blunt and we need someone like him at this time of our development. If Audu Ogbe would support that cause, let him be. Nigerians don’t appreciate quality. We should allow him to work.

Many of those in the list who were later screened and cleared by the Senate had petitions written against them. Don’t you think a wrong message has thus been sent?

It is not an issue of petitions. No matter how good or selfless you are, you would have your detractors. If you

look at the case of former governor Rotimi Amaechi, former president Goodluck Jonathan wanted to gag him and he called his bluff. You would appreciate the fact that the people writing the petitions are PDP members and the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is behind it all. If those allegations are not investigated, you cannot indict Amaechi and some of the allegations are frivolous. They feel that it would be a slap on a state that is being governed by the PDP for an APC man to be appointed as a minister from the state. Are those issues in the petition real or concocted? They wrote petitions against former Governor Fashola too. There is nobody that would be a governor or occupy an executive position that people would not write petitions against.

There is no way you can indict Amaechi until proper investigations are done. If you don’t let him sail through until investigation is done, it would be against the principle of justice. During the era of the PDP at the centre, people wrote petitions against Senator Musiliu Obanikoro when he was nominated as a minister, and the three senators from Lagos State were against him, yet, the former Senate President, David Mark, cleared him. He even told him to bow and go. That happened less than a year ago.

So, there is a precedent. David Mark is PDP, so, he did it for Obanikoro, a PDP man to go scot-free. The same thing should happen now.

A lot of people were disappointed not to find nonpartisan technocrats listed as ministers, what is your take on this?

Since we have technocrats in politics, why do we need to go and pick people who have not contributed anything to come and benefit? We have technocrats and competent people in the party. They fought for Nigeria despite the risks involved. We have qualified technocrats in politics.

We have SANs, chartered accountants, engineers, medical doctors and other professionals in politics. If all of them would even come from a state, why not, but constitutionally, we have to pick people from the 36 states of the federation. So, let us allow this government to work.

The United States of America is doing well today because Americans would continue to bless America. But we Nigerians do not support ourselves. We should support a government that is doing well, if we curse them, the curse would be on all of us because the peace of Jerusalem is the peace of the inhabitants. If Nigerians want peace, we should pray for peace and for Nigerians. If the government runs for two years and we don’t see changes, then we will be in a better position to criticise. But it is too early now. It is easy to pull down, but it is not easy to build. The rot the PDP government caused would take about eight years to clear. Crude oil used to be around $124 per barrel, now it is about $48 per barrel. We have not harnessed other alternatives to oil.

There is economic recession all over the world and Nigeria is not immune to that. Naira is being devalued because we don’t have reserve. We are not backed by production; we are consumption-oriented economy. Those are the facts that you have to look at or else you would jump to conclusions. We need to clear the debris before we start building on the land, which is why we are looking at the best persons to be ministers.

39 interview

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

‘What we have are highway patrol teams’ Continued from pg34

into the horror of police impunity on the roads in the name of checkpoints.

Some road users recounted their experiences to Saturday Tribune.

Abdulahi Shehu had been plying the Jalingo-Wukari Road for the past 10 years as a commercial driver. He said, “I have been driving on this road for over 10 years, but what the police are doing on the road now is worse than what we have ever seen. They block the roads with tree branches in the name of checkpoints and collect money from drivers without checking a thing,” he recounted.

Another driver who travels the same route, Mark Yahaya, said his experience on the road in recent times was unpleasant. According to him, “new checkpoints are coming up daily and in unlikely places. If you are carrying much load, they would collect about N100 from you, but you are carrying only passengers, they would collect N50. At times, they collect everything we have worked for up to the time of such an encounter with them.”

Gabriel Iornyaa, a driver who claimed to have travelled by the road recently, regretted that the checkpoints on the road were causing unnecessary delay for travellers.

Another road user, Chukwucherim Anor, who returned from the eastern part of the country recently, noted that the situation in the state was now worse than any other place in the country.

“I came all the way from the East and I can tell you that the situation here in Taraba [State] is worse than any other place I have been to. We wasted so much time on the road, stopping to pay bribes and you could count so many checkpoints, especially between Wukari and Jalingo. Each time the driver did not ‘settle’ them, they delayed us for several minutes before allowing us to go,” Anor said.

Those who ply the Jalingo-Bali Road also have similar experiences. Bashir Namiji drives a truck that usually conveys cows from Gyembu and Gashaka to other parts of the state.

Namiji said, “The checkpoints were gone for a while and we all celebrated that the extortion was over. But now, they are back and they don’t accept small money from us. They take N100 or more from motorists without conducting any check

on your vehicle.”

A businessman, Phillip Anaayo, said he felt more comfortable with the idea that there were security men to ensure safety on the roads. He, however, expressed worry that rarely do policemen check any vehicle once they have been settled.

“Because of all these thieves and the people that are just killing people, it is good that we have many policemen on the roads.

It is for our own safety. My problem with them is that they don’t search anything. All they want is their ‘share’ and they allow you to go even if you are carrying something. How will they know that people are carrying dangerous things if they don’t check? he wondered.

Lesku Japhet believes that the return of checkpoints is a welcome development as it “guarantees the safety of travellers.” He commended the police and the military for doing a good job. He cited the police and military checkpoints at the popular Road Block Roundabout in Jalingo where, he said, “officers are always on the alert even at night. If you have any problems at night and you call them, they will respond immediately.”

While there are no police checkpoints in Jalingo, residents have commended the state commissioner of police and officers and men of the command for patrolling all parts of the town day and night.

According to Sunday Okafor, a beer vendor, “the police are really trying. They patrol the town from morning till night and that has helped those of us who are businessmen to do our business without fear of attacks at night.”

In Ondo State, police checkpoints have resumed in areas like Ogbese town, Emure Uli, Isuada junction, Oba Akoko and Ikare Akoko. They are also prominent in Owena Ijesha, Ile Oluji junction, Akure-Ado Ekiti Road and Ore-Okitipupa Road.

Mr Kazeem Okanlawon, a commercial driver, who plies the Akure-Ikare Akoko Road, lamented what he called the high number of checkpoints between Ayede Ogbese and Ikare Akoko. According to him, policemen on the highway not only stop motorists to check their particulars but they also seek to identity the passengers. “At times, they demand for our manifest to check the identities of our passengers,” he added.

A motorist, Adeleke Folajimi, also condemned the return of checkpoints, saying most cases of accidental discharges are caused by policemen at such places while trying to exploit

drivers and innocent people.

Meanwhile, police spokespersons in Kwara, Taraba and Ondo states have reacted differently to the perceived gradual return of the checkpoints.

The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara State police command, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, denied the existence of any roadblock in or around the state, just as he gave the lie to extortion of motorists by the officers and men.

“There is no roadblock anywhere In Kwara State. What we have is visibility policing via safer highway patrol on routes across the state and their mandate does not include blocking of the highways,” he said.

Okasanmi’s counterpart in Taraba State, Joseph Kwaji, noted that the command had zero tolerance for unprofessional conduct and called on members of the public with relevant information to contact the police so that appropriate actions could be taken.

According to Kwaji, “there are no police roadblocks anywhere in the state because the commissioner is strictly complying with the directives of the Inspector General of Police on the dismantling of roadblocks across the country.

“What you have are the highway patrol teams, whose duty is to stop and search suspected vehicles for dangerous luggage and other security concerns and they are strictly warned against blocking the road under any disguise whatsoever.”

In Ondo State, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said the insecurity across the country had occasioned a return of police checkpoints.

He cited the need to eradicate kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes in our country. He said policemen on the highways were expected to search suspected vehicles and not all vehicles and the search was not supposed to create any traffic situation.

Joseph said, “We will continue to drum it into the ears of members of the public not to offer our men bribe. Any policeman caught will not go unpunished.

“No policeman is sent to collect bribe on the highway. The Inspector-General has expressed his desire to stamp out corruption from the police while the state Commissioner of Police, Mike Ogbodu, has also joined the crusade against corruption in our land,” he said.

How we created the 6 geopolitical zones —Bankole, ex-commissioner

Honourable Adebayo Johnson Bankole served as a commissioner under both Governor Alao Akala and Governor Kolapo Ishola’s administration. As he celebrates his 70th birthday, he shares, in this interview with DOYIN ADEOYE, his early years and political career, among other issues.

President Buhari’s determination to fight corruption, how feasible do you think that vision is?

I pray for him every day to succeed, because we need to pray for this country to get better. Why would graduates remain unemployed if not for corruption? This is a rich country, resource wise, but unfortunately there are many poor people to show for it, and the super-rich few. So it doesn’t match. He is determined and I am sure he will do it.

At 70, how do you combine your passion for politics, the Church and the family, all together?

I thank God for using me in the Anglican Church because with the help of other people, we were able to move from being an archdeaconry to Ogbomoso Anglican Diocese. I was the chairman of the local organising committee; I made the arrangement for the inauguration of the diocese and we thank God the diocese is still standing today, and I’m the Lay Deputy Synod of the Diocese.

The church affects my life and my faith. So anywhere I am, I have that on my mind. I know who I am, what faith I belong to and what God expects me to do.

Foray into politics, how did that start?

I came back to Nigeria in 1976 and started working with the CBN. But when politics started in 1979, I was interested, although not to contest, I just had a keen interest in it. It was later that my people pressurised me to contest for counsellorship in 1988. So I contested and I won the Oyo Local Government Council because my town, Ajinapa was part of Oyo Local Government then. So I served Oyo Local Government as counsellor. During that time, Orire Local Government, which is my Local Government was created in 1989.

You had three appointments waiting after graduation, unfortunately, the story has changed now, how would you react to that?

It’s pathetic and very bad. The present situation let itself to all kinds of bad bahaviour; somebody who is well trained or has gone to the university and has no job to do may become anything.

You served as a commissioner in Oyo State, how was the experience for you?

I was a commissioner for finance in Governor [Adebayo] Alao-Akala’s administration in 2006, and also 2007 to 2011.

I was appointed as the commissioner for health in the administration of Governor Kolapo Ishola in 1992. We served for two years before the military sent us packing.

Thereafter, in 1994, I contested to be a part of the Constitutional Conference which was held in Abuja, and I won.

So I was a part of that; I was not a nominated delegate, I

You started with CBN right from its inception, how would you compare CBN then and now, with so many vices eating deep into the system?

CBN is part of the Nigerian system, the major problem is there is no merit, you now have to balance everything through federal character, so unqualified people have found their way there. CBN is not a place for unqualified people.

was elected.

There we had landmark achievements, one of which was the idea of six geopolitical zones; we clamoured for it, it was in our report; we also focused on the devolution of powers to the states and local governments. We thought some things should be devoted to states and local governments, so that they will be able to take proper care of it. Many issues were contained in the report, but unfortunately, most of it was never implemented. The 13 per cent derivation which is being paid to the oil-producing states was part of our report then.

Another of such conference was held in 2014, with many of their resolutions yet to be implemented, why do you think it is hard for the Federal Government to work with report from these conferences?

The basic reason is that we have people of bad faith; many of them don’t have the wellbeing of this country at heart. It is selfishness because if many of these things were implemented, things would have been easier for this country but yet they refuse.

As a finance person, what is your reaction to

Early years I was born in Ghana in 1945 and I was brought to Nigeria in 1951. I lived with my uncle at Ajinapa, which is my ancestral home in Orire Local Government in Oyo State, where I started schooling in 1952.

I was transferred to St. David’s Anglican Primary School, Ogbomosho in 1954 because the school I was attending at Ajinapa didn’t have enough students to continue standard one then. I finished there in 1958 before proceeding to African Secondary Modern School where I finished in 1961.

From there, I went on to Staff Training Centre in Kaduna, coupled with the tuition courses I took, I was able to pass both Ordinary and Advanced GCE. At the same time I was working with the Nigerian Airways as a shorthand typist until 1971 when I left Nigeria for the USA. I started schooling over there in 1972, and in June 1974, I completed my course and was awarded the Bachelor of Science in Accounting. I later proceeded to Bible College, the business arm of City University of New York, where I had my Master’s in Business Administration in 1976. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) then came to the US for recruitment, I attended the interview and was successful. At that same time, the Federal Government also gave me appointment, so I had three appointments at the same time; the CBN, the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government.

40

feature

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Forced evictions leave Lagos’ Badia slum dwellers homeless

A resident of Badia sleeping in the open. PHOTO: IRIN.

By Sam Olukoya (IRINNEWS)

M

ORE than a month after security forces chased some 15,000 Nigerians from their homes in Badia East, one of Lagos’ largest slums, thousands of families are still sleep-

ing rough.

The once vibrant community now resembles a disaster zone, with houses and shops reduced to rubble.

Iyabo Benson, a 32-year-old mother of five, was among those who lost their homes during the 18 September demolitions.

She, her husband and their children spent three weeks amidst the ruins, sleeping on scraps of cardboard in a small space between two demolished homes, with nothing more than a worn, plastic sheet to shield them from the elements. Then, police came earlier this week and chased them away again.

“When it rains, especially at night, we get very wet and cold,” Benson told IRIN. “My youngest son [who is less than a month old] is ill … because we sleep in the open.”

She also worries about malaria because she no longer has a net to protect the family from mosquitoes.

Former residents say they were given less than 12 hours’ notice, by way of a few posted eviction flyers, before bulldozers rolled in and demolished their community, making it difficult to salvage their meager belongings.

Some residents have since been able to move to other slums, or stay with family and friends, but many families have settled in a narrow, overcrowded piece of public land sandwiched between the demolition site and the main road.

“The fact that the people still remain in the area about a month after their eviction shows that they have nowhere to go,” said Megan Chapman, of the Lagos-based Justice and Empowerment Initiative (JEI), one of several organisations to have condemned the demolitions and consequent “forced evictions.”

The government has yet to offer any sort of compensation or re-housing program for those who lost their homes.

Benson says she has no idea where they will go if and when they are forced away again.

Not the first time The demolition and evictions came after the Lagos State High Court ruled that the land belonged to the powerful Ojora chieftaincy family, who has been trying to reclaim the land since the 1990s.

The evicted families, the majority of who are from southwest Nigeria’s Ilaje community, insist that the land belongs to them because the government resettled them in Badia East more than 40 years ago.

People in the midst of the ruins of their demolished houses.

Many families have settled in a narrow, overcrowded piece of public land sandwiched between the demolition site and the main road.

“When we relocated here, the whole place was a bushy swamp. We cleared it and filled it with sand to make it habitable,” said 70-year-old Ola Igbayilo.

For decades, the slums existed without anyone laying claim to them. But now, as land has become scarcer in the ever-growing metropolis that is Lagos, they are considered prime real estate.

“Slums are being targeted because they can easily be taken away from the poor who lack the financial resources to resist the acquisition of their land,” said Segun Olutade, who works with Shelter Watch, a Lagos-based organization that works to improve human settlements.

“No one will attempt to acquire land in the affluent parts of the city because the rich will get the best lawyers to fight back.”

Badia East residents say they weren’t even given the chance to participate in court proceedings, which came to a close back in March 2014.

Against the law According to a number of international instruments, including the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory, authorities must respect “the right to adequate housing by refraining from forced evictions.”

Additionally: “Evictions should not result in individuals

being rendered homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights. Where those affected are unable to provide for themselves, the State party must take all appropriate measures…to ensure that adequate alternative housing, resettlement or access to productive land… is available.”

The last major evictions in Badia East took place in 2013, when the government demolished the homes of more than 9,000 people, following a $200 million loan from the World Bank destined for slum upgrading. But instead of building decent housing for the poor, the money and land was used for upmarket homes, shopping centres and offices.

Few people were compensated; none were able to afford the new homes.

The government has denied the use of security forces to oversee the demolitions this time around.

Following the demolition, the state government is said to have convened talks between the Badia East residents and Ojora family in an effort to resolve the land dispute issue.

But for most, it is too late. Their homes have already been destroyed.

Chapman says JEI, along with other local organizations, is considering legal action to enforce the rights of the evicted residents.

The nightmare continues With much of Badia East reduced to rubble, the bulldozers, which are still on site, are ready to move into Badia West, Matimininu and Ladejobi, three other slums marked for demolition.

While families there will have more advanced notice than those of Badia East, the demolitions are expected to bring the number of people rendered homeless to more than 30,000.

“To lose your house during a slum demolition is to face a bleak future,” Bimbo Osobe, who lost her own Badia East home in 2013, told IRIN. More than two years later, Osobe says she still is unable to afford another permanent accommodation.

Many of those from Badia East are likely to face a similar fate, as the majority of residents were self-employed, involved in petty commerce, or running businesses from small shacks within the slum.

When the bulldozers came through, along with their homes, they also lost their livelihoods.

“The suffering is too much,” said Kemi Ogunyemi, a mother of four who lost her home and business. “The restaurant through which I made a living has been demolished. Now I have no way to feed my family.”

41

feature

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Mystery still surrounds disappearance of Nuclear Physicist, two years after

By Laolu Harolds

J

AMES Bolarinwa Olomo checked himself into Hotel Farlem, 8, Archibong Street, Afaha Ukwa, Eket, Akwa-Ibom State on October 17, 2013. He spent three nights. Then on Saturday, October 19, 2013, walked out of his hotel room, submitted his room key (without checking out) and simply walked away.

He has not been seen every since.

The Professor of Nuclear and Medical Physics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was said to have travelled to Eket on invitation from Mobil Oil Unlimited as a Radiation Safety Adviser (RSA).

As the search continues two years after, the mystery surrounding his disappearance is getting more and more curious by the day. In the past three months, Professor Olomo is said to have been sighted at least two times in Ondo State, the first one in July.

An unnamed senior member of staff of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, claimed she sighted Professor Olomo somewhere on the campus of the institution near an ATM of an equally unnamed bank. She failed, curiously, to notify either the authorities of the OAU or members of the AAU management, which she is part of, until two weeks after.

Another person also claimed he sighted the missing professor in another remote town in the state. But these claims, to aggrieved and distraught colleagues and especially members of the family, are to be taken with the pinch of salt.

One of the representatives of the family who attended a special congress held for him in Ife on Tuesday last week by the Obafemi Awolowo University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) described such claims as nothing but a red herring, designed to divert attention from Eket and environs, where it is believed Olomo is being held.

As a Yoruba adage says: a man who is desperate to find his lost horse would search, possibly, under the table! At the ASUU congress on Tuesday last week, no possibility was ruled out, as long as it would lead to the rediscovery of Professor Olomo.

A speaker (a professor who probably is an Effik or Ibibio by birth or is schooled in those cultures) even fervidly spoke of the need for the search party to work with community leaders in Eket especially, as it is possible the erudite professor may have been abducted (and since been held) by some kinds of marine beings –a development he said is not uncommon in the area during a certain ekpo masquerade festival.

Speaker after speaker spoke glowingly of the cerebral professor, who they said left a positive mark on everyone he came in contact with, and was a stickler for details.

It would be an understatement to say that neither ASUU, nor the university community (or in fact the Otan Ayegbaju community) is impressed so far with the handling of the matter by the security operatives.

Have the police failed to tie all the loose ends in solving the puzzle? Are the security agencies indeed complicit in a way? Is Professor Olomo still alive or has he lost his sanity and is therefore (as some suggest), wandering in some forest in Ondo State? And why would he be declared missing in Eket (Akwa Ibom State) and be wandering in Ondo forests?

These are some of the posers waiting to be resolved.

But one thing is certain: everyone – colleagues in OAU, family members, friends and associates – is praying (and indeed, seems to believe) that Professor Olomo will somehow return soon. This optimism is not without basis though, as it has indeed happened before!

According to reports, Professor Olomo once went missing years ago, and after four weeks of intense search for him, walked into his Omole Crescent official quarters on the OAU campus. Will he return again this time?

Addressing members of ASUU OAU, family members and Otan Ayegbaju community representatives during the congress on last week, the chairman of the local chapter of the union, Dr Caleb Aborisade, came short of accusing security operatives who had been involved in the search efforts as well as the GSM operators, of complicity.

While acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of all involved in the search efforts so far, Aborisade insisted

that the police in Osun and Akwa-Ibom states and the SSS had not done enough in solving the crime.

Professor Olomo’s bag found in his room was said to still have one native dress, towel, sponge and three (bank) tellers. According to Aborisade, the hotel simply packed those items into a store and reallocated his room to another guest — without even reporting his disappearance to the police!

“The manager of the hotel was first arrested but later released on bail,” he revealed.

Interestingly, the native dress found in Olomo’s room was said to have no cap with it. When it brought to ASUU’s notice that his dress was presented by the hotel management, they told them that, having known the professor for so long, they knew he would never wear his native dress without a cap.

The hotel manager was later rearrested about four weeks later when Professor Olomo’s cap and singlet were brought to the DPO of Eket police command, Mr Sunday Digha,” he said.

Aborisade noted that the police did not even deem it necessary to come and interview members of the OAU community until one and half years after Olomo’s disappearance – and only after being prompted by Professor Olu Aina (an Otan indigene).

“Till date, the outcome of the investigation has not been made public,” Aborisade sneered.

Speakers at the congress also spoke on the need to appeal to the Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, to help investigate the claims that Olomo is possibly somewhere in that state, wandering, and help, if there is any merit in the claims, to ensure that he reunited with his family and colleagues.

Caleb thanked “the OAU administration, Obafemi Awolowo University community, ASUU UNIUYO, ASUU AAU, media, Yoruba community in Uyo an Eket, ASUU national, friends and the general public for their efforts so far in the search for Professor Olomo.

“We also appreciate the efforts of the Nigeria Police and the SSS. The search must continue until he is found; we need to double our efforts in the search for our dear professor.”

42

31 October, 2015

motoring

With Seyi Gesinde seyigesinde@yahoo.com 08116954632

Optima revolutionises Kia’s luxurious midsize sedans

T

HE release of the fourth generation of Kia Optima, has continued to revolutionise and advance the company’s line up of luxurious midsize sedans, the automaker has said.

Kia said the new Optima’s prowess embodies the growth and progress of the auto company as an influential and innovative automobile manufacturer, noting that it is good to reckon with the inspiration and groundwork that have shaped the evolution of Kia’s midsize sedan into the dynamic and powerful fourth generation Optima.

The origin of Kia’s midsize sedan dates back to the Concord in 1987. Even then, the

Concord boasted the kind of power that rivaled larger sedans, paving the way for Kia in the midsize sedan market. Thanks to its laudable dynamics and performance (at one point, even being used for motor sports), the Concord was affectionately dubbed “the king of the highway.

The Kia Credos succeed the Concord in 1995. Named after the Latin root ‘credo’ meaning belief, Credos caused a stir in the market for its responsiveness and outstanding handling. The Credos also received recognition for its excellence in design and its 1.8L DOHC engine performance.

The release of the first generation Optima marked

a major turning point for Kia’s midsize sedans. Incorporating a unique grille and an unprecedented 4-headlight design and establishing the signature Kia face, the sleek silhouette of the 2000 Optima

management fees.

Both corporations brokered this agreement in Lagos at the launch of the scheme designed to ease challenges associated with accessing bank credit to procure choice cars.

Hyundai Motors head of sales and marketing, Jatin Nadkarni said: “The credit scheme is in line with Hyundai strategy and direction of making vehicle acquisition a seamless experience.”

Mr. Nadkarni said: “Successful customers would aside these seamless benefits enjoy series of other offers including free 6 months service including

would become the benchmark for future models to come.

The second generation Optima, also known as the Lotze (named after the Himalayan peak, Lhotse) in Kia’s home market of Ko-

Kia Concord (1987) rea, featured the optimized handling of its ancestor, the Credos, and enjoyed immense popularity, becoming a top-seller in its segment in the Korean market only behind the

Hyundai Sonata.

The third generation Optima, known as K5 in the Korean market, debuted in 2010 and featured a sportier,more sophisticated profile.

Guinness donates breathalysers to FRSC for ember months campaign GUINNESS Nigeria has donated breathalysers to Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to kick off the “ember months” campaign.

The months, leading to the festive end of the year, popularly referred to as “ember months” have historically recorded a dis-

Hyundai Motors, Diamond Bank inaugurate credit facility for customers HYUNDAI Motors, Diamond Bank inaugurate credit facility for customers.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria in partnership with Diamond Bank PLC have inaugurated yet another vehicle finance initiative tagged: ‘Hyundai-Diamond Dream Deal: It’s time to own a brand new Hyundai.’

The unique credit initiative is aimed at helping desiring patrons and fleet managers to access low interest bank credit for the procurement of discounted Hyundai vehicles without necessarily paying commitment and

Saturday Tribune

labour and consumables; interest rate as low as 14%; discounted prices; 5-year or 100, 000Km warranty and free Samsung Galaxy tab for every car purchased.

Also noting credit facility has become a common practice in advanced markets, Hyundai Motors Nigeria sales and marketing helmsman said: “Our goal is to encourage more prospective customers to buy new Hyundai vehicles particularly now that the federal government is committed to the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

proportionately high rate of road traffic accidents in Nigeria, making the donation of the items to the campaign particularly imperative at this period.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Lagos, Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, according to a release said that “this year’s awareness campaign will see the introduction of various novel and innovative strategies geared towards

raising public awareness on the benefits of responsible alcohol consumption.

“At Guinness Nigeria, we believe that our position as a market leader places a significant responsibility on us to raise awareness about the importance of consuming alcohol responsibly.

“We are passionately committed to responsible drinking and enlightening the public about the values of responsible alcohol con-

sumption, especially during the festive period.

“We are eager to create increased awareness to ensure that Nigerians have an incident-free experience.

“Working in tandem with our various stakeholders on our responsible drinking initiatives, we have found a worthy partner in the FRSC, with whom on an annual basis we have carried out this Ember Months campaign,” Ndegwa said.

From left, Lagos Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Hyginius Omeje; MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria, Peter Ndegwa; Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Michael Onuoha; and the Corporate Relations Director, Sesan Sobowale, both of Guinness Nigeria, during the recent handing over of a set of breathalyser to the FRSC, in Lagos.

43

feature

31 October, 2015

A passage to India

By Femi Adesina

W

hat do you do during a flight that lasts nine hours and six minutes? You read.

You sleep. You wake, and sleep again. You eat. You pray (if you are the praying type). You discuss with your co-passengers. And of course, you ruminate about your destination. What you’ve heard, or read about the place, particularly if you were visiting for the first time.

But first, due credit for this headline. ‘A Passage to India’ is the title of a literature text I read in the university some 32 years ago. It was a 1924 novel by the English writer, E.M Forster. The book was on the struggle for Indian independence from British colonial rule, and the book is today regarded as one of the 100 Great Works of the 20th Century by the Modern Library, while Time Magazine also includes it in its ‘All Time 100 Novels’ list.

A Passage to India. That was what I embarked on, alongside my principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was billed to attend the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit, scheduled for New Delhi, the Indian capital, between October 27 and 30,2015.

What had I heard about India? You probably heard those childhood tales, too. India, the land of potent talisman. India does not take part in world soccer competitions, because the world football ruling body, Fifa, had banned it for life. What was the offense? Well, France had met with a country that nobody knows, in a game of soccer. But instead of depending on natural skills, India deployed its famed talisman. The opponents kept kicking the air, because the Indians had made the ball invisible.

While the opponents did all the gyrations, however, the Indians did all the scoring. When the game ended at the end of 90 minutes, India had scored 90 goals.

Blue murder, Fifa screamed! This is unnatural, and would bring the beautiful game into disrepute. So it banned India for life. Well, that was the story we heard as young boys. Believe it, and you’d believe anything.

And what of athletics. The International Athletics Federation had to ban India for life, too. What happened? It was an Olympics Games (nobody seemed to know what year, and who the host country was). India was competing, and ended up winning gold medals in all the races.

You would see all the athletes at the starting blocks, and the moment the whistle is blown for the race to begin, Indian athletes would already be breasting the tape at the other end. Talisman at work!

This is unfair competition, the rest of the world screamed. So the athletics federation banned India again.

And that was how the country was left to play cricket, hockey and other such games. But the question we did not ask ourselves was; if talisman worked with soccer and athletics, why doesn’t it work with cricket and hockey? At least, India gets defeated in those games. Some imaginations are simply fertile.

Well, we were passing to India, and it was for serious business. India and Africa had found common grounds, and were cooperating for development in what Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister calls “partnership beyond strategic and economic benefits.”

We landed in the land of film stars, beautiful damsels (hope my wife is not reading this) and, of course, medical tourism, at nighttime. Straight to Lalit Hotel, where our President and his entourage were to stay. Lalit. You need to hear a bit about the story of the hotel. It was part of the Lalit Hospitality Group, established in 1988 by Mr Lalit Suri, a very successful businessman and politician, who represented his people in the Indian parliament.

Lalit Suri had the Midas touch. The hotel chain was very successful, and can be found today in most major Indian cities. He had great plans for expansion, and was growing steadily towards the goal. But in 2006, while on a trip to London, Lalit suffered a massive heart attack, and died.

He was only 59. But his wife, Dr Jyotsna Suri, took up the gauntlet, and is today keeping her husband’s dreams alive, along with their four adult children.

A day before we travelled, a massive earthquake had occurred in Afghanistan, and the tremor was felt both in Pakistan, and New Delhi. But the organizers of the sum-

There were presidents and top government officials from more than 41 countries, and it was, indeed, a great outing for India and Africa.

Wednesday began with a bilateral meeting between President Buhari and Prime Minister Modi. Discussions focussed mainly on three areas: strengthening relations between the two countries, oil business, and helping Nigeria and Africa to develop their potentials.

India would be quite willing to cooperate with Nigeria on the military front, the PM said. She had helped set up the Nigerian Defence Academy in the early 1960s, provided instructors, and also took in Nigerian officers in its military academy. In fact, President Buhari was at the Defense Services College, Wellington, between July 22 and November 24,1975.

India wants Nigeria’s oil on government to government transactions, and President Buhari said the request would be considered in the context of ongoing reforms in the industry.

Back to Wellington. The alumni of the academy paid the Nigerian president a courtesy visit at the Lalit Hotel. Led

by Gen V.K Singh, it was time to go down memory lane.

The then Lt Col Buhari had been described thus in a confidential report by H.W Kulkam, the Chief Instructor of the College:”Tall, slim, and well-turned out, Buhari is a quiet, unassuming and honest individual.”

Major General S.P Malhotra, Commandant of the College, on his part, had written: “Sober and balanced.

Straightforward, simple and mature.” Memories are made of such.

In almost all the countries he has visited, President Buhari always spared the time to interact with Nigerians in the Diaspora, at the grounds of the Nigerian Embassy or High Commission. It was not different in New Delhi.

Ambassador ‘Sola Enikanolaiye, the acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to India had put together an impressive assemblage of professionals, post-graduate students, businessmen, indeed, Nigerians from all walks of life. He reeled out the many ways in which the High Commission supports Nigerians in India, and from the way he was repeatedly hailed, he seems quite popular with the people.

Nigerians asked many questions. The President answered them all. And he gave them his usual charge: be law abiding. Don’t lord it over your hosts. Obey the rules. Be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

From the High Commission, it was time to meet with the CEOs of Indian companies, particularly those who do, or are aspiring to do business in Nigeria. All the big names in pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, construction, manufacturing, power, oil and gas, agriculture, and many other sectors, were there. They spoke earnestly. The President responded frankly. New vistas were opened, promises were made. A very rewarding session, if you ask me.

That parley did not end without President Buhari warning the Indian businessmen not to connive with unscrupulous people to send sub-standard food and pharmaceutical products to Nigeria. To show how dear this was to the heart of the Nigerian president, it formed part of his paper at the plenary session of the summit the next day.

Thursday was the main day, in which 41 heads of gov-

Saturday Tribune

ernment gathered at the Indira Gandhi Stadium for the high point of the summit.

After a colorful opening session of cultural display, Prime Minister Modi took the floor. He underscored the raison detre of the summit: “The dreams of one-third of humanity have come together under one roof. Today, the heartbeat of 1.25 billion Indians and 1.25 billion Africans are in rhythm.”

He said further:”india is honoured to be a development partner for Africa. It is a partnership beyond strategic and economic benefits. It is formed from the emotional bonds we share, and the solidarity we feel for each other.”

Modi backed his position with statistics. In the past few years, trade between Africa and India has more than doubled to over $70 billion. India is now a major source of business investment in Africa, and 34 African countries enjoy duty free access to the Indian market. The country has equally committed $7.4 billion in concessional credit and $1.2 billion in grants since the first summit held in 2008.

In the immediate future, according to Modi, concessional credit of $10 billion would be given to Africa within five years, while grant assistance will total $600 million.

The presidents spoke one after the other. Trust Robert Mugabe, who spoke in his capacities as Zimbabwean president and chairman of African Union, he used the opportunity to fire darts at the West.

According to him, one-third of the world’s population must be respected, therefore, the United Nations must become the United Equal Nations, with its Charter amended.

Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, submitted that Africa and India could no longer be rationally excluded from the permanent seat of the UN Security Council, a position supported by almost all the presidents.

One thread ran through the presentation of nearly all the African leaders. This was a good time to promote cooperation between Africa and India. South-south cooperation must not just be political slogan, but an opportunity for the countries to to meet their growing challenges.

“Africa needs mutual partnerships leading to development, rather than aids,” submitted King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Idris Deby Itno of Chad said India and Africa had had mutual exchanges since time immemorial, stressing that partnership will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

President Muhammadu Buhari said India and most African countries have similar historical experiences, and the summit was an opportunity to review what had been achieved since 2008, stressing:”India and Africa must develop new spirit of solidarity to confront challenges.”

He equally brought the message home, saying:”as a government, we have demonstrated our strong determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of our resources through accountability, transparency, and result-orientation in governance. We are confident that India, as a tested friend and dependable partner, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the discharge of the mandate entrusted to us by our people.”

With the summit over, and planning to return home, I sent text messages to my friends in Nigeria, saying since I was in the land of talisman, they should indicate the type they wanted. The responses were rib-cracking, but you can’t beat this one from Steve Nwosu, Deputy Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers. He wrote: “Get me a money doubling ring. They call it evergreen pocket. Every money you spend finds its way back to your pocket. Hahahaha.”

No doubt, India and Africa are onto a strong partnership that may be enduring, mutually beneficial, with strong implications for development. That is the true talisman.Ever potent, ever sure.

Femi Adesina is Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to President Buhari

44

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

45

news

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Pensioners congratulate Gov Ajimobi on victory at tribunal OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has been congratulated on his victory at the election petitions tribunal with a prayer that God give him guidance and wisdom to be able to steer the ship of the state successfully for another four years.

This was contained in a press release by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State chapter, and signed by its vice chairman, Pa Gbadegesin Akande and the secretary Mr. Olusegun Abatan, a copy which was made available to the Saturday Tribune The union urged Governor Ajimobi to be magnanimous in victory and as the sun, be generous to all and sundry.

They also enjoined him to shun the temptation of spreferential treatment to those who voted for him while others who did not vote for him are treated with disdain.

However, they advised the governor that the composition of his next cabinet be all-inclusive of shades of opinions irrespective of political or religious affiliations. The union also appealed to the opposition as well to remain calm and be law-abiding and work assiduously to make Oyo State a true pacesetter state.

From left, Deputy Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Ahmed Hassan; Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Mr. Bisi Kazeem; and the Corporate Media/Brand Public Relations Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Edem Vindah, during the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign inauguration by NB Plc, in partnership with FRSC on Thursday in Lagos.

APC tells PDP to rebrand or perish Bola Badmus - Lagos

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday dismissed the communique issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caucus on the so-called political developments in the country, describing it as a rehash of the opposition party’s infantile whining which would not save it from going down unless it rebrand most urgently.

The APC affirmed that it was time for the PDP to take a long, hard look at itself in the mirror and change everything that is ugly about it, instead of wasting its energy and time on what it described as irrelevancies.

“It is time for the PDP to take a long, hard look at itself in the mirror and change everything that is ugly about the party, instead of wasting its energy and time on irrelevancies,” the APC said.

The party said this in a

statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, noting that the PDP cannot continue to do things in its old, crooked ways and expect a different result.

“The PDP just doesn’t get it, despite being the architect of its own fall from power. The days of winning elections with the aid of slush funds, brigandage, deceit and rigging are gone forever, hence the PDP must return to the drawing board to fashion out decent and empirical ways of repackaging and selling itself to Nigerians, just like the opposition did when they decided to come together,” APC said

The party said the PDP’s ceaseless and ill-advised attack on the judiciary, now its favourite whipping boy, the endless put-down of government agencies and the demonisation of everyone but itself would fetch the PDP nothing but political grief.

“Instead of a blanket and unsubstantiated accusation against the judiciary over the elections petition tribunal rulings in Rivers and Akwa Ibom, the PDP would have shown itself to be a serious party if it had provided statistics on how many of the cases filed at the various elections petition tribunals nationwide, after the 2015 elections

Kano, Taraba govts assure corps members of safety, protection and welfare Kola Oyelere and Sylvanus Viashima KANO State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured the latest batch of corps members to serve in the state of adequate protection and safety, charg-

ing them to disabuse their minds of any prejudice, misgivings, fear and other erroneous beliefs capable of colouring their opinions about the state .

The state Commissioner for Information, Com-

MI, will join Peter Okoye, Kaffy and Don Flexx as guest judge on the show.

In a statement released

by Globacom, viewers are urged to tune in to Africa Magic Channel 153 on DSTV at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday to watch their favourite contestants slug it out for the next stage of the competition.

A total of 26 contestants are left in the Dance with Peter academy.

The show is also broadcast on Africa Independent Television (AIT) at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and

on MTV Base on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

The company said that voting lines will open after Saturday’s broadcast at 8:00 p.m. and close at 12 midnight on Monday. The public can vote for their preferred contestant by sending his or her code to 55518 at the cost of N50 per SMS. Voters, according to Globacom, stand a chance of winning fantastic prizes including Iphone 5 handsets, Glo internet wifi and modems as well as Glo recharge cards.

More dancers to exit Glo’s Dance with Peter today MORE dancers are to be evicted from the Globacom-sponsored Dance with Peter reality TV show this evening.

The contestants who will be evicted during the broadcast of the show will join Captain Z, Mannaseh, Fearless and Ricky who were sent home last weekend.

Show sponsor and next generation network, Globacom, said the theme of this weekend’s dance performance is hip-hop music, and that rap artiste Jude Abaga, popularly called

have so far been decided in favour of the PDP and the APC, so that Nigerians can see whether the PDP has not won any single petition or whether all the cases have been won by the APC. “The PDP has forgotten that the same judiciary that it is wilfully castigating today had decided many election petitions in favour of the party and against the APC, whether at the governorship, national assembly or state assembly levels, and the ruling party has not opted to bring the whole house crashing down on everyone just because of that,” APC said.

rade Muhammad Garba, while speaking on behalf of the state governor at the swearing-in ceremony of 2,400 Batch ‘’B’’ corps members during the orientation course, said at the end of their service year that most of the corps members would not like to go back to their states after having tasted the hospitality and friendliness of communities within the state.

In the same vein, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State promised to boost the security and welfare of corps members posted to the state to ensure that they have a positive service year experience.

Ishaku, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Anthony Jellason, gave the assurance in Jalingo during the inauguration of 2,900 2015 Batch B corps members.

Yoruba summit: Group condemns attack on Afenifere

By Tunde Busari A pan-Yoruba group, Yoruba Solidarity Forum (YSF), has reacted to a recent attack on the Yoruba Summit Declaration resulting from the abduction of former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae.

The group, therefore, warned anyone or group against pursuing what it called anti-Yoruba agenda.

In a release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Odumosu Olajide, a copy of which was made available to Saturday Tribune, the group said the recent attack was an effort to undermine the right of the Afenifere to speak up against an injury to one of Yoruba leaders.

The YSF expressed its worry over the attack at the time the public discovered that Chief Falae was abducted by Fulani herdsmen and the suspects charged to court.

“It is interesting to note that those the attackers are working for have not denied that those who abducted Chief Falae were Fulani herdsmen. They have only been cheeky by saying they are Fulanis from outside Nigerian borders,” it said.

The YSF appealed to Yoruba people not to allow religion to be used to divide them, adding that the Fulani herdsmen destroyed farmlands regardless of the faith of the farms owners.

Delta youths laud Okowa on appointment, victory at tribunal Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

YOUTHS in Delta State have lauded Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on his victory at the elections petition tribunal as well as the appointment of Honourable Asupa Forteta as Commissioner for Youths Development in the state.

The youth urged opposition parties in the state to sheathe their sword and rather assist Okowa to move the state forward in the interest of all Deltans.

The youth from Niger-Delta Youths for Positive Change (NDYPC), National Association of Izon-ebe Law Students (NAILS), South-South Youths Assembly (SSYA) and Delta Central Youth Movement (DCYM) made the submissions at a gathering in Warri recently to brainstorm on issues affecting the youth in Delta State and Nigeria.

The youth said the appointment of Honourable Forteta came at a time youths in the state needed a leader who understands their plight, interest, disposition, feelings and agitations.

According to them, Forteta will bring transformation to the youth of the state in the areas of empowerment programmes such as skills acquisition and vocational training which, they said, would keep them away from drug abuse, civil unrest, kidnapping and other social vices.

Speaking at the meeting, president of NYPC, Comrade Preye Musa, stated that the youth believe that Honourable Forteta will deliver as commissioner based on his knowledge and vast experience, warning people attempting to tarnish the image of the commissioner to desist forthwith.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ibikunle Adrat Dunmola now ADETONA ADRAT DUNMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olaitan Muibat Jumoke now OLAGUNJU MUIBAT JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

46

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@ yahoo.com 08053789060

U-17 World Cup: Glo hails Eaglets’ qualification Globacom has congratulated the lighted that the Eaglets recovered rapidly Golden Eaglets on qualifying for the from their loss to Croatia and are now quarter-final of the ongoing FIFA U-17 within 90 minutes of reaching the last four of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.” World Cup in Chile.

“Your tenacious and harmonious disNigeria trounced Australia 6-0 in the early hours of Thursday with a hat-trick play against Australia showed that the from the tournament’s leading scorer, team is prepared to forge ahead in the Victor Osimhen, while a penalty kick by tournament and that is why we believe skipper Kelechi Nwakali, and two more you can lift the trophy for a record fifth goals from Samuel Chukwueze and time.”

Edidibong Essien completed the rout in the second half.

The four-time champions will now lock horns with Brazil which had earlier edged out New Zealand by a lone goal, in the quarter finals tomorrow.

In a statement released in Lagos, the national telecommunication carrier commended the Eaglets for making Nigeria and Africa proud, while urging them to keep their composure and concentration as they prepare for the quarter-final encounter.

“These Eaglets are indeed golden in their performances.

The Cup is not far from you. Go ahead and trounce Brazil which might pose a major hurdle and the rest shall be history,” Globacom said in the stateWednesday night in a Capital for the 2018 World Cup quali- ment.

One game with a goal and two fier against Swaziland, just The company exEaglets over their comassists. as he is also named by coach pressed the con- By Ahmed Pele prehensive victory over The Imo State-born star- Samson Siasia for the camp- fidence that the let is among the 23 players ing ahead of the African U-23 Golden Eaglets will Former Super Eagles The Joeys of Australia to invited by the Super Eagles Championship billed for Sen- return with the Cup. captain, Nwankwo Kanu qualify for the quarter-final head coach, Sunday Oliseh egal also next month.

“We are most de- has lauded the Golden of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

The winner of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1993 also urged the Eaglets to win the trophy for the fifth time for Nigeria.

Kanu, a former Arsenal star through his twitter handle said the Nigerian team has what it takes to rule the world again.

“Congratulations Emmanuel Amuneke and all the boys. That’s the way that champions play and come back from a defeat and win in style.

“Go and win the Cup,” the former African Footballer of the Year tweeted.

The Eaglets, who are the title holders will face the From left, Startimes Brand Ambassador and ex-international, Jonathan Akpoborie; Director, Startimes, Mr Maxwell Loko; Brand Ambassador, Startimes and ex-international, Kanu Nwankwo and the Chief Executive Officer, Startimes Nigeria, Mr Jack Liu, at a press conference to unveil Akpobo- young Selecao of Brazil in rie and Kanu as new Brand Ambassadors and Super Faces of StarTimes Africa, held at the Protea Hotel, on Thursday in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER the quarter-finals on Sunday.

OKORUWA.

My dad gave me confidence to join City Iheanacho

N

IGERIAN youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed he wanted to join Portuguese side, Porto FC but his dad gave him the confidence to sign for former English Premier League champions, Manchester City.

“I was close to signing for FC Porto, where I really wanted to go, but my agent said City was a much better prospect and my father told me I should join City because I would have a much better future here,” Iheanacho told The Express. “So that’s what I did.

“Nobody knows what will happen but because City is such a big team with so many fantastic players I didn’t believe I’d have a future here, but my father did and he gave me the confidence I needed. Now I’m happy I took his advice.”

The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner and Most Valuable Player (MVP) has scored two goals in all competitions so far this season.

Iheanacho who featured for Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, was the man of the match in a 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace on

—Iheanacho

Go and win the Cup —Kanu

sport

47

31 October, 2015

Saturday Tribune

‘There can’t be another Baba Eleran in football’ He was named Ganiyu Elekuru Alao. He was mostly known as Baba Eleran, (the butcher) in football circles. What is in a name? That by which we call a rose and it smells sweet. Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of the obituary of Baba Eleran.

Saturday Tribune’s DIPO OGUNSOLA recalls the life and times of

G

ANIYU Elekuru lived, loved and worshipped football, the Shooting Stars of Ibadan being his sacred temple.

After attending to his butchery business at the Gege market situated in the South East of Ibadan city, Oyo State, from 5 to 9 am, the rest of his day were spent either on the training pitch, match venue or the club house of the Shooting Stars.

With a slender frame, bending gait, dropped shoulders and hollow facial, Baba Eleran rose, fell and rose with the profile of the Ibadan club.

“The family was in trouble whenever Shooting Stars lost a top match” recalled one of the sons of Baba Eleran, Paul Olayiwola.

“It was difficult for us to approach him for any need one month after the loss to Zamalek of Egypt in 1984 in the final of the then Champions League. He mourned and mourned because he devoted most of his time and resources to the team. The Shooting Stars came first before the family. He followed the team to Cairo, Togo, Kenya and other African countries, abdicating his responsibilities. Our education, his four wives and the home suffered. The family did not like that but we have since forgiven him because we now understand better, we are coping with life with the little he gave us.”

However, 300 metres to his Ile Awa Compound at Oja Oba, Ibadan, beat the drums and melodious tunes whenever the Shooting Stars triumphed.

“It was a blank cheque for us at home after any major victory,” said Olayiwola.

“New dresses to commemorate festivals were assured,” he added.

Former internationals—Segun Odegbami and Idowu Otubusin both members of the Shooting Stars 1976 winning team knew Baba Eleran quite well.

“I stopped going to the Dugbe market because of Baba Eleran,” said Odegbami. “He ensured I got all items free of charge at the market. He was just fanatical about the club and the players. You

Paul Olayiwola, Baba Eleran ‘s son

Baba Eleran’s tomb in front of his house in Ibadan.

Ganiyu Elekuru Alao

Samuel Onifade, Remo Stars’ goalkeeper who is Ganiyu Elekuru’s grandson.

PHOTOS: OLAWALE OLANIYAN needed to see him whenever we lost. He would be so sad that you would think he was bereaved.”

Otubusin explained that with the backing of the Baba Eleran, players of the Shooting Stars could go the extra mile.

“He gave us the belief that we were better than the opponents. On match day we always looked up to him and the late Lekan Salami for inspiration. Baba Eleran would be the first on our training pitch and the last person to leave.”

A master of mind game, Baba Eleran gave the fans an enduring tune in the build-up to the ill-fated 1984 Champions Cup final against Zamalek titled ‘balubalu n tafin o, Zamalek o riran osan’ translated as “ just as the albino gropes under the sunny day, so Zamalek won’t find their direction (on match day)’.

Zamalek brought a 2-0 advantage to Lagos from the first leg in Cairo, Egypt and capped it win a 1-0 win over the Shooting Stars in the return leg. Zamalek carried the Champions Cup away from the prying eyes of the Shooting Stars fans and the balubalu magic failed.

Balubalu has since been sloganised to infer fetishism in football that backfired as the event of that day suggested.

The Shooting Stars lost a penalty kick taken by Ademola Adesina and the one retaken by Wakilu Oyenuga. As if that was not enough, Shooting Stars’ Ogbein Fawole headed the ball into his own net and

gifted the Egyptian team the Cup. Did Baba Eleran actually indulge in the dark arts to win games?

“All my time at the club, Baba Eleran never handed any charm to me,” said Otubusin.

“I have heard this story about him but what do we mean by fetish? asked Odegbami. “To win games, people seek spiritual backing in the mosque, church or anywhere they have belief and faith. It was the same with Baba Eleran.”

This is a mystery that confounded even family members.

“Whenever my dad entered the stadium, he would raise his fingers to the crowd to signify the scores. Most of the time, his prediction came to pass,” Olayiwola told Tribunesport.

“Whenever we got home I would ask him ‘Baba, you got the score right, how did you do it?’ He would tell me it was pure guess work. I am a born-again Christian and I should be able to tell you now if he ever ventured in fetishism but all I know was that he fasted and prayed a lot on Shooting Stars. Above all he was boastful and brave.’’

There is no point comparing Baba Eleran with anybody because the trend in team backing has changed according to Sola Akinwale, who won the 1992 CAF Cup with the Shooting Stars.

Akinwale explained that he had heard of Baba Eleran’s devotion to football

since his secondary school days in Kano but confirmed what he was told when he joined the Shooting Stars.

“He was a man of slender means but the little he had, he spent to motivate players.

You shouldn’t expect such a gesture from the current generation of supporters who will rather feed off the team. Things have changed, so it will be unrealistic to ask football supporters to emulate him.”

Baba Eleran, however, has a standard bearer in the game. His grandson, Samuel Onifade is a goalkeeper of a national pro league side, Remo Stars FC of Sagamu.

“I told Baba, I wanted to play for the Shooting Stars but he insisted I must face my studies and that when the time was ripe, he would encourage me to do that.

Unfortunately, he died when I was in Junior Secondary School three. I later joined the feeder’s team of the Shooting Stars from where I moved to FC Ebedei.”

Onifade hopes that someday he would hit the form that will hand him a Shooting Stars shirt.

Meanwhile, Otubusin has called for a yearly programme to immortalise Baba Eleran.

“Were it not for Tribunesport, I wouldn’t have known it is ten years after his death.

There ought to be a yearly arrangement which will keep his memory alive,” said the ex-Green Eagles of Nigeria defender.

At the family level, Olayiwola said members were planning a memorial football competition among teams in Ona Ara Local Government, where the late Baba Eleran hailed from.

“Depending on the support we get from his fans, we would like the competition to hold at the famous Olubadan Stadium in Ibadan,” said Olayiwola.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES (Saturday)

NO 1,123

N150

SATURDAY, 31 OCTOBER, 2015

Chelsea C/Palace Man City Newcastle Swansea Watford West Brom

Everton Southampton Tottenham

vs Liverpool vs Man Utd vs Norwich vs Stoke City vs Arsenal vs West Ham vs Leicester Sunday, November 1 vs Sunderland vs Bournemouth Monday, November 2 vs Aston Villa

12:45pm 3:00pm 3:00pm 3:00pm 3:00pm 3:00pm 3:00pm 1:30pm 4:00pm 8:00pm

Siasia faces sack

T

Messi

I won’t risk Messi for Clasico —Enrique LUIS Enrique has insisted FC Barcelona will not take any risks with Lionel Messi and will only play him against Real Madrid on November 21 if he is 100 per cent fit.

The Argentina international has been out of action since he picked up a knee injury in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Las Palmas on September 26.

Messi has been working hard on his rehabilitation, but it is not known if he will be ready to feature in the Clasico.

“There is no set recovery date for Messi. The most important thing for him is to be 100 per cent fit again,” Enrique stated at

a news conference.

“It does not matter when he returns. The season is still long.

“We are not thinking about the Clasico yet. What is important to me is winning the league. We have to sit top of the table come the end of the season.

“The Clasico will not decide the title race. What matters to me right now is scoring more goals, conceding less and winning games. Those are realistic targets.”

FC Barcelona sits second on the Liga table with 21 points from nine games played, level on points with leaders Madrid, who have a better goal difference.

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have put on standby a coach to replace Samson Siasia as head of the country’s U-23 team after his media attack against his employers.

Siasia has been queried by his employers after he blasted them in the media, accusing them of abandoning his team just a month before crucial 2016 Rio Olympics qualifiers in Senegal.

NFF officials have described Siasia’s comments in the media as “gross misconduct” and have moved ahead to place a coach on standby should the U-23 coach not answer the query satisfactorily.

An official said: “One of the coaches with the national team has been put on standby to replace Siasia should he not answer his query satisfactorily.

“That coach will be the one who will lead the team to Senegal if Siasia is fired.”

What has irritated the NFF leadership the most is that a top executive committee member had with Siasia to explain the federation’s financial situation to him, only for the coach to still go to the media hours later to declare he should not be blamed should the country fail to qualify for next year’s Olympics.

It was further gathered that Siasia who led Nigeria’s Dream

Team to win the silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, is already sober after he received his query.

“He is already begging and

apologising to everyone, but what is crucial is how he answers the query. That will determine whether he stays or he is booted out,” another source disclosed.

Siasia

Mourinho: I can’t promise 2016

Champions League spot

Mourinho

AFTER a dreadful start to the season, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he cannot guarantee the club Champions League football next term.

A League Cup defeat to Stoke City midweek has only increased the pressure on the former Real Madrid coach, with Chelsea rooted in the bottom half of the table.

And with another tough clash against Liverpool, on the horizon, Mourinho admitted that a top-four finish could be out of reach.

“I cannot promise it,” he told reporters during a tetchy press conference on Friday.

Asked whether Jurgen Klopp’s definition of himself raised a laugh, Mourinho was similarly

blunt: “Why should I laugh?”

“Last season Liverpool won nothing and didn’t qualify for Champions League and they are still a big club and two years ago Manchester United didn’t even qualify for the Champions League, or Europa League and they are still a monster club.

“In my career every game is a must-win.

“I don’t win always but every game is a must-win.”

Another reporter’s attempt to find out if Mourinho had been in contact with owner Roman Abramovich received similarly short shrift.

“I don’t have to tell you,” the manager fired, while a question on dismissed club doctor Eva Carneiro was intercepted by a Chelsea spokesman.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Telephone: 08165728976; 08073598322. E mail: saturdaytribuneeditor@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON EDITOR: LASISI OLAGUNJU. All Correspondence to P. O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 31/10/2015.