Osun defender may 14, 2016 edition (1)

www.osundefender.org Saturday, may 14, 2016

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VOL. 11. NO.048

N100

Ogbeni’s commendable move on Cocoa production Not given to wasting time on making moves that will accelerate development and have quick positive impact on the people, it would appear

that Ogbeni Aregbesola is the first, yet again, to swiftly respond to the call for the diversification of the economy which our present economic crisis demands.

In his characteristic self - of quickly looking for solution in the face of crisis - the visionary Ogbeni wasted no time in resuscitating the moribund Cocoa Production Industry

(CPI) in Ede, state of Osun, with a view to making Osun hub of cocoa production in the country. This is a commendable step.

At this critical stage of our history as a nation the

solution to resuscitating our economic crisis brought about by the gross mismanagement of the proceeds from our monolithic economic mainstay (oil) by those on

whose hands providence had placed the destiny of this country, lies in diversification of the economy; with emphasis on agriculture. ...continue on pg5.

Suspected Fraudsters Remanded In Prison For Cloning Aregbesola’s Phone Number

- Pg 2

Osun PDP In Disarray As Omisore, Faforijin Boycott State Congress - See Story On Page 3

•Chairman House Committee on Health, Honourable Leke Ogunsola; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Akinyinka Oluseyi Esho and Permanent Secretary Ministry Hospital Management Board, Mr Olusegun Aduroja at the grand finale of the 46th National Florence Nightingale Trophy Speech Contest in Osogbo last Thursday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

N15m Nigerians Living With Asthma - NTS President

- Pg 2

Osun Assembly Passes 2016 Budget

- Pg 3

osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

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The American Dream Limo Owned By A Car Collector And Designer, Jay Ohrberg Of Burbank, Califonia, USA.

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osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

Osun Assembly Passes 2016 Budget •Appoints New Minority Leader

revenue generation, saying the government needed to look inward for improve revenue without putting unnecessary burden on the people.

According to him, the executive must explore all avenues to block the

By kazeem mohammed building, provision of he State of Osun House of Assembly has infrastructure for the passed the 2016 budget estimate of people and welfare of N141.276 billion. workers.

The budget was passed expressed optimism that He urged the workers fol lowing a motion by the 2016 would be a better to assist in the quest for the Chairman, House year in terms of capacity Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Honourable Kamil not only to employ the Oyedele, for its final By murtala agboola services or vigilance passage at the plenary he Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of groups but also ensure on Wednesday.

Ataoja Estate Division, Osogbo, Mr that during services, The governor, Ogbeni Clement Agbemoroti, has tasked members of there are other people at Rauf Aregbesola, had the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) home to keep vigil.

The police chief on December 14, 2015, in the division to be active.

He admonished them breach of the law, except stressed the fact that for presented a budget estimate of N150.7 billion to serve as a proper link minor cases of theft, Muslims, early morning between the police and especially when devotees dawn prayers and Friday before the Assembly, but members of the public. have gone to mosques or for Jumat services are in another letter dated A g b e m o r o t i m a d e churches. times thieves exploit.

April 6, 2016, he wrote the plea at the monthly He enjoined members For Christians, a g a i n t o i n f o r m t h e meeting of the committee o f e a c h c o m m u n i t y Agbemoroti said, people Assembly on the need at the division recently.

The police chief to readjust the budget to tasked members of the N137.978 billion.

The passed budget committee to enlighten has N79.183 billion, a n d e d u c a t e t h e i r members on their duties representing 56.06 per to their communities c e n t a s r e c u r r e n t and why it is important he Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has expenditure and N62.093 for people to be lawwarned the Federal Government to handle the billion representing 43.95 abiding. raging herdsmen clashes and attacks on as capital expenditure.

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e communities with utmost sensitivity and justice.

In a statement released anywhere. Government Also, the recurrent DPO, PCRC members on Wednesday, Kunle i s g o v e r n m e n t . I f revenue covers N99.468 are indirectly permanent Famoriyo, the group’s anybody thinks he is p o l i c e m e m b e r s o f billion, representing 70.41 P u b l i c i t y S e c r e t a r y , violent, ýgovernment per cent, while the capital the community, who t h e g r o u p d e p l o r e d has the monopoly of should assist the police the statement credited violence.” revenue covers N41.808 and provide genuine Famoriyo said ARG has billion, representing information about what to Abdullahi Adamu, the C h a i r m a n , just concluded a report, 29.59 per cent. transpires in the society, Senate Committee on based on a research into The S p e a k e r , with a view to helping Agriculture and Rural the herdsmen-farmers H o n o u r a b l e N a j e e m the police to effectively D e v e l o p m e n t , a n d clashes, which will be cautioned government forwarded to the Federal S a l a a m , s a i d o n n o carry out their duties.

H e r e i t e r a t e d t h e officials and political G o v e r n m e n t a n d account should the officers to be sensitive National Assembly. executive spend beyond fact that the goal of the to the plight of victims He said hardly is present police hierarchy the approved budget of herdsmen’s terror by there a state in Nigeria, is to ensure crime-free without supplementary guarding their utterances. p a r t i c u l a r l y , t h e 1 7 society.

Adamu was quoted s o u t h e r n s t a t e s t h a t budget to the House.

In his monthly crime Describing the budget report to the committee, to have said: “Nobody has good tales about can stop the government herdsmen’s activities. as the budget of hope, he Agbemoroti stated that f r o m a c q u i r i n g l a n d “Sadly, parochial there was no serious

T

leakages.

M e a n w h i l e , Honourable Safiriyu Akinwole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ife-East State constituency was elected as the Minority Leader of the House.

His appointment followed his nomination b y Sunday Eluwole, representing IfeCentral and seconded

by Babatunde Olatunji, representing Ife-North Constituency.

should ensure that there are others to keep watch over properties on Sundays, when most people have gone to church.

The Chairman of the PCRC, Chief Gbadebo Adeyemo, tasked members to ensure that communities and areas not properly represented are made to attend the meetings.

He said, the top police echelon has mandated the DPOs to enlighten members about their duties and tasks they are supposed to perform.

Police Chief Counsels PCRC Members

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ARG Warns Federal Government On Handling Of Herdsmen Terror T

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Osun PDP In Disarray As Omisore, Faforiji Boycott State Congress T By ismaeel uthman he 2016 congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun might be the political end of the defeated governorship candidate of the party in the 2014 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the party he venue of the state funded for years.

Omisore, who was congress on Thursday.

Director-General of leading a faction of the PDP in support of a the Faforiji Campaign chairmanship candidate, O r g a n i z a t i o n , Dr Bayo Faforiji, had H o n o u r a b l e B a d e boycotted the ward, local Falade, while addressing government and state p r e s s m e n , s a i d t h a t congress of the party the contestants from for what they described their camp could not as manipulation of the participate in the congress because the party under congress.

T h e c o n g r e s s h a s the chairmanship of factionalized the PDP, Olaoluwa refused to creating a camp of the state release nomination forms chairman of the party, for them.

Falade said: “We paid Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa a n d H o n o u r a b l e for the nomination forms S o j i A d a g u n o d o , a and the annual dues. chairmanship candidate We paid N3.7 million against Omisore and or thereabout for the nomination forms and Faforijin camp.

OSUN DEFENDER N9.1 million for the gathered that contestants three years’ annual dues. f r o m O m i s o r e ’ s Despite the payment, camp were not given we were not given the n o m i n a t i o n f o r m s nomination forms. How to participate in the can we go for a congress congress, a situation that w i t h o u t n o m i n a t i o n frustrated them to boycott forms?”

Falade described the the party’s exercise.

The medium observed congress as undemocratic, t h a t o n l y d e l e g a t e s unfair and condemnable, from Adagunodo and maintaining that it was Olaoluwa’s camp were manipulated to favour present at the Osogbo of Adagunodo’s camp, T o w n s h i p S t a d i u m , as against the contestants

from Faforijin camp.

He disclosed that the conduct of the congress was against an injunction issued by a court in Osogbo to stop the congress.

OSUN DEFENDER however learnt that the Omisore and Faforijin camp had bypassed the process of obtaining the nomination forms.

A source at the PDP state secretariat disclosed to the medium that the contestants from the Faforijin camp did not want to go through PDP state executive led by Olaoluwa for the collection of their nomination forms.

Instead of going through the state executive, Faforijin camp wanted to obtain the form through the National Secretariat of the party, which was not successful, it was learnt.

The Faforijin camp had resorted to such move because of the allegation that the state chairman of the party, Olaoluwa, was supporting Adagunodo against Omisore.

An ex-officio of the PDP, Alhaji Remi Arogundade, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER said: “The congress process was

transparent and fair. I commend party faithful for their perseverance for the reasons that the congress was postponed three times, due to the shenanigans of some elements within the party structure. It is good that the party is moving forward, as we are about commencing

our local congress today throughout the state.

“Up till this morning, I honestly don’t understand what the Dr Bayo Faforiji group wanted; they have been given a long rope to normalise their quest within the ambit of party rules and regulations, but they seemed not to be in

tandem with the rules as at this morning.”

Omisore and his supporters have refused to participate in the congress, giving Adagunodo a straight ride to emerge as the new PDP State Chairman.

By sola jacobs he President of Nigeria Thoracic Society (NTS), Professor Peter Etete, has disclosed that over 15 million Nigerians are asthmatic and that a large number of them stand the risk of dying from the disease, due to inadequate education.

He disclosed further has the highest asthmatic that currently in Nigeria, patients in Africa.

75 per cent of hospital The university don admission from asthma therefore, stressed the and as many as 90 per need for strong patient cent of the deaths from education, as the disease the disease are avoidable, may not be cured, but it if only the patients had can be controlled. enough education about Etete added that globthe management of the ally, people with asthma ailment. will grow by more than Etete lamented that the 100 million by 2025, addcountry had lost illustri- ing that the condition ous and gifted person- was typically characteralities to death because ised by recurring respiof not having knowledge ratory symptoms, such about its management, as coughing, wheezing, despite the availability shortness of breath and of drugs for its treatment. chest tightening.

He described asthma He however, opined as one of the common that asthmatic patients chronic lung disease af- can live optimally well fecting 400 million people with no limitation, in worldwide, but Nigeria spite of being asthmatic

but with patient education, he will focus on the appropriate use of medication and discourage injudicious use of relievers, which are often abused.

More so, he counseled asthmatic patients and relatives of individuals with recurrent cough, noisy b reathing and breathlessness to report to the nearest health facility for necessary test to rule out asthma.

Etete, who is also the Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo, Akwa -Ibom State, declared the readiness of the association to collaborate with the government in conducting epidemiological studies to determine the exact burden of the disease and the implementation of evidence-based approach to the management of the disease.

N15m Nigerians Living With Asthma - NTS President T

•71-year-old Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for the fifth term in office last Thursday.

and irresponsible statements, like Adamu’s, is the latest in a series of media reports in which herdsmen were absolved of their crimes against host communities and their demands advanced as of absolute rights,” the statement said.

He said ARG was shocked by Federal Government’s claim that the herdsmen are foreigners and Boko Haram insurgents, when there are verifiable data and reports showing that herdsmen terror predates Boko Haram insurgency.

Some reports dated as far back as the early 90s in parts of OkeOgun in Oyo State, where many farmers,

for inexplicable reasons, have spent months in police detention in Abuja, just because they protested the invasion of their farmlands by cows, led there by herdsmen.

“Herdsmen have been labeled as militants in the Global Terrorism Index 2015 – due to their violent acts on defenseless Nigerians in agrarian communities, without any commensurate response from the security agencies.

“If indeed they are foreigners, it is the duty of the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to ensure that nonNigerians are denied the opportunity of making unlawful incursion into the country, irrespective of any affiliation, religious or political, that they may have with any part of Nigeria.

“Nigerians are wary of the fact that the proliferation of herdsmen that are armed to the teeth indicates the potential of a people preparing to subjugate others. Rather than assuage this fear by crushing the armed herdsmen, it is shocking that government’s priority is to implement reforms that apparently favour them.

“Herdsmen, like any people, entrepreneurs, and traders in Nigeria, should be free to live anywhere. However, if they need land for grazing, they should acquire it the same way other Nigerians [and foreigners] acquire land to live and operate their ventures; whilst they peacefully integrate into the host communities.”

ARG warns that Nigeria comprises of many ethnic nationalities and will not allow the people to be subjugated under the guise of Nigeria’s unity.

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osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

Group Warns Fayose Against Meddling In Osun PDP Congress

By kehinde ayantunji political group in the State of Osun, the Osun PDP Youth Mandate, has warned the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, against interfering and meddling in the affairs of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic ment issued and signed Party (PDP).

The group, in a state- by its Chairman and

A

Secretary, Oguntunmbi Adebowale and Alao Adeolu respectively, said Fayose is unnecessarily interfering in the affairs of Osun PDP because of his relationship with the interim National Chairman of the PDP, Senator

Ali Modu Sherrif.

According to the statement; “it is a known fact that Fayose and the National Chairman of PDP are friends and he (Fayose) has been riding on that to cause crisis in Osun PDP,” citing the example of the ward congress that was recently

annulled by the National Chairman.

The group accused Fayose of mounting pressure on the National Chairman to cancel the ward congress, wondering what Fayose stands to gain from the cancellation.

The release stressed

Don’t Misuse Your Employment Opportunity - Babalola Charges Staff

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overnor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reiterated his administration’s commitment of not sacking public civil servants in the state, despite the recommendation at the Forum of Governors to lay off staff in order to meet up on salary payment.

Chairman,Areas Lo(LCDAs) in the Similarly, all state Localare CouncilThe Development to source for more In- cal Government Service ternally Generated Rev- Commission in the state, enue (IGR), as whatever Elder Peter Babalola, amount each council gen- made this known while erates will be supported addressing staff of Local with ten per cent match- Council Development ing grants by the state Areas (LCDAs) during government, which will his tour of the council be used for the running areas across the state.

He charged the council of the councils.

workers to be mindful of their attitudes to work and that they should guard their jobs seriously in these trying times, by complementing the gesture of Ogbeni Aregbesola with dedication and hard work, as there are others still unemployed in the state.

He showed pleasure by commending the council staff of their presence and punctuality at work, and informed them of the sharing formula between

By sola jacobs the former and newly- keep their office envicreated LCDAs in the ronment clean and also state. ensure that all communiT h e c o m m i s s i o n ’ s ties in their council areas chairman also assured stay clean. the staff of the governor’s Babalola was accomplans to pay in due time panied on the tour of the full salaries to affected councils by his Commislevels, and that they must put in efforts in ensuring sioners, Mr. Olamolu effective service deliv- Kehinde and Mr. Omole ery to the people at the Sunday; the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dayo grassroots.

He also charged the Olaluwoye; the DirecActing Heads of Depart- tor, Finance, Establishments and others to live ment and Training, Mr. up to expectation, protect K. Ibrahim and the Direcgovernment properties, tor, Appointment Promotion and Discipline, Mrs. Modupe Irelewuyi, among others.

The LCDAs visited included Odo-Otin, Boripe, Ifelodun and others.

that Osun PDP is one big family and has been able to weather the storms it had faced in the past, and warned Fayose to stop planting seeds of disunity in Osun PDP, adding that the trend will not be in the interest of the party.

The group said the National Chairman of the PDP should maintain his stand as father to all, as this is not an era of trying to satisfy a particular politician.

It maintained that all hands must be on deck to ensure that PDP takes over the mantle of leadership in South West come 2018.

The statement claimed that the problem of Osun PDP started when Senator Iyiola Omisore openly declared that he would scuttle the peace and tranquility being enjoyed by Osun PDP if his anointed aspirant for the PDP Chairmanship position is not picked as a sole aspirant, a move, the group noted, was rejected by majority of party faithful.

Teenager Dies While Visiting Friend

By sola jacobs ragedy, last weekend, hit the family of a teenage girl identified as Adeola Jegede, who came to visit her friend in Osogbo, the State of Osun capital, as she was crushed to death by a her family members were motorcyclist.

OSUN DEFENDER contacted along with learnt that Adeola, who her host in Osogbo and hailed from Akure but were informed of the residing in Ibadan, left unfortunate incident .

The also explained that her parents to visit a friend, who was residing the late Adeola Jegede in Osogbo, when the corpse had been released to her immediate family tragedy occurred.

A family friend of the members on Monday and deceased, who is also had since been buried in a lawyer but preferred Osogbo with the consent anonymity, in a chat with of the family, who agreed the medium, said Adeola that she should be buried J e g e d e , a s e c o n d a r y in Osogbo.

The family friend school leaver, came to therefore, urged youths Osogbo to visit her friend, to be careful and always her classmate in Ibadan, seek parents’ permission but had relocated to before embarking on Osogbo over a year ago. a visit to friends and He added that the relations. deceased arrived Osogbo While acknowledging safely at Orita Olaiya, t h a t c o m m e r c i a l where she boarded a m o t o r c y c l e s h a v e commercial motorcycle been part of means of to the address given to transportation in all her by her hostess. communities, he however, However, on the way, u r g e d t h e o p e r a t o r s her motorcycle had an and the government to accident with another educate and sanction one, which resulted to her erring operators, as many instant death. promising lives have Her body was later been cut off by incessant taken to the State Hospital, motorcycle accidents.

Asubiaro, Osogbo, where

T •President Muhammadu Buhari in a chat with the representative of Queen Elizabeth 11, Major Jeremy Fern, as President Buhari arrived London, the United Kingdom, recently.

Suspected Fraudsters Remanded In Prison For Cloning Aregbesola’s Phone Number A By kehinde ayantunji gang of suspected fraudsters, accused of cloning the phone number of the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to perpetrate a fraud to the tune of N18 million have been arrested and dragged before a Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital.

T h e s u s p e c t e d counsel will file formal fraudsters; Timi Gbenro application for bail.

However, Gbenro was and two accomplices, Oladele Anthony Olutoye later arrested by the DSS and Adeniran Adetayo on Tuesday, May 10, Esho, were alleged to have 2016 and dragged before cloned the governor’s Magistrate Olusola Aluko phone number on 17th on a three-count charge bothering on conspiracy, February, 2016.

While Olutoye and i m p e r s o n a t i o n a n d Esho were earlier arrested attempted fraud.

According to the by the Department of Security Service (DSS) p r o s e c u t i n g c o u n s e l and arraigned last week, from the State Ministry Gbenro was said to have of Justice, Mr. Moses Faremi, the trio cloned escaped arrest.

The duo were arraigned A r e g b e s o l a ’ s p h o n e b e f o r e M a g i s t r a t e number and used same Fatimoh Sodemade and to request the sum of ordered to be remanded N18 million from the in the prison custody, State Account-General to pending the time their be paid into their bank

account.

The first count of the charge sheet obtained by our reporter in court reads partly: “That you (accused persons) on 17th February, 2016 did commit an offence to wit: impersonation, by cloning the Executive Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola’s phone number 08024537105 to send a text message to the Accountant-General of Osun State, requesting him to transfer the sum of N18 million to your account number 0017854919, sort code 215333358 with Unity Bank.”

The prosecutor further informed the court that the accused persons attempted to obtain the sum of N18 million from the Government of the State of Osun, by sending

false and deceptive text messages to the State Accountant-General and purporting same to come from Aregbesola.

The prosecutor argued that the defendants had committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 484, 422 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, laws of Osun state of Nigeria, 2002.

Gbenro, just like Olutoye and Esho, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

There was no lawyer to represent Gbenro, who was weeping bitterly in the court.

Magistrate Aluko then ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Prison custody, pending the time his counsel will file formal application for bail and adjourned the case till June 6, 2016 for mention.

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897, 08023191891.

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osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

Ogbeni’s commendable move on Cocoa production

..continued from pg1

There is no any other alternative than to toe this line - diversification - if we are to get out of this quagmire which we have brought on our heads by our own profligacy.

It’s unfortunate that we have to learn our lesson in a hard way. But we just have to accept the reality of our situation. For our case is synonymous with the case of the one who fails to plan.

And as we know anyone that fails to plan surely only plans to fail. This has been an incontestible fact from time immemorial. Throughout the time that rain of money was pouring heavily on our land by virtue of heavy proceeds from crude oil we failed to utilise the

money by building infrastructure and establishing industries to provide employment for the youths. Rather we engaged in profligacy of the highest order while humongous corruption - as epitomised by the Jonathan administration - became the order of the day. Now we are paying heavily for our lack of planning.

But this is no time to lament.

Rather the situation demands thinking outside the box with a view to providing solution to our present precarious condition. And as we have collectively agreed - at least in principle our solution lies in promoting agriculture over and above our dependence on oil. This is the way to go and this is why we are happy that the ilk of Ogbeni Aregbesola are not wasting time in

Cartoon

this regard. Aregbesola has taken the bull by the horn by embarking on aggressive revival of the agric sector.

Like he said Osun will very soon become the hub of cocoa production in the country. By the time this vision is realised Osun economy will bounce back and there will be enough to continue the provision of dividends of democracy for the people of the state. We believe it can be achieved.

the best example in referring to good governance and pro-people government in this part of the world. Thus if Awolowo could record such giant achievements with cocoa, then it’s high time we started cocoa production on a massive scale towards resuscitating our economy especially in the South-West here. The avatar had shown us the way, the ball is now in our court.

We must not forget that all the feats that Chief Obafemi Awolowo recorded as a Premier of western region were achieved with the proceeds from cocoa. All the giant strides he recorded were made possible with the money realised from cocoa as oil had not been discovered when the late sage ran the affairs of western region. Till date Chief Awolowo’s government

We commend Ogbeni Aregbesola for quickly responding to what our present unpalatable situation requires. We hope other state governors too will follow suit.

There is no time to waste. To waste time is to wallow for long in our present quagmire and that’s dangerous for the future. Only agriculture can provide a long term solution to our problem. Kudos to Ogbeni!

OSUN DEFENDER

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Problems And Problems Of South-West PDP If PDP Messes Up, A New Party Will Rise - Mimiko

In this report, DARE ADEKANMBI, MOSES ALAO, BOLA BADMUS and OLUWOLE IGE examine the advent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the politics of the South-West as well as the declining fortunes of the party since then, against the background of the current hoopla over leadership control.

•Continued from page 6

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ith resounding success in the South-East, SouthSouth and about 90 per cent of the 19 northern states at the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave a loud impression it was going to be the party to beat for many years in the country. Its arch-rival in the South-West, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), swept the polls in the six states of the zone, the domain of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who won the presidential election that year.

As 2003 elections approached, concerns were raised within the national hierarchy of the PDP over whether Obasanjo merited a return ticket, given the poor showing of the PDP in the South-West in 1999. Obasanjo, who didn’t take the concerns sitting down, began a series of consensus-building meetings with leaders and governors of AD with a viewing to forging an alliance that would help him silence his critics.

The PDP, as the outcome of the 2013 election showed, coasted to a disputed resounding in five of six states, leaving only Lagos State to the AD. That was the beginning of what observers have called the ‘incursion of PDP’ into the predominantly ‘progressives-dominated’ SouthWest. The battle for the control of the zone has since become fierce between the two tribes of politicians in the zone-the progressives and the conservatives. The ensuing political war without end seems to have eternally set the umbrella party up as an antithesis to the political thesis championed and vigorously crusaded by those in the ‘progressive camp.’

Since its fortunes began to plummet from 2010, the PDP in the South-West has been struggling largely unsuccessfully to get itself back into the heart of the zone by winning a majority of the states.

Hope of a rebirth for PDP in the zone was rekindled with the victory of Governor Ayodele Fayose in 2014. But such hope was quickly extinguished two months after, following the outcome of Osun State governorship election and the poor showing of the party in the 2015 general election subsequently.

With the loss of the presidential position after 16 years of PDP in the saddle, not a few leaders of the party have spoken loftily about the need to rebuild and rejig the hitherto ruling party, particularly in the SouthWest. Moves were seen to have been made in some quarters to bring back leaders of the party who had left to either join other parties or form their own, as part of the perestroika or the rebuilding its leaders contemplated.

However, with the emergence of former governor Ali Modu Sheriff as the acting national chairman of the party, the party has increased in crises rather than in size. While some have kicked against emergence, it was a herculean task for his promoters to

•MIMIKO

convince those raising the roof.

Sensing what observers tag an opportunity to perpetuate themselves, the South-West committee of the party, which control is under Senator Buruji Kashamu, paid a solidarity visit to Sheriff in Abuja and expressed support for Sheriff’s continued stay in office beyond May 21. The delegation, led by Buruji, said the South-West did not need the national chairmanship of the party to the North, a position that was quickly rejected by prominent leaders of the party in the zone as unilateral and self-serving.

Ogun PDP fractured by crisis n the Gateway State, the PDP is split along three lines. There is a faction led by Buruji, another by Honourable Ladi Adebutu, who is a current House of Representatives member representing Remo Federal Constituency, and yet another group by a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole.

The three groups have held parallel ward and local government congresses and have vowed to repeat same for the state congress scheduled for this week. There is also a case in court contesting the propriety of the Adebayo Dayo-led state executive to supervise and conduct the congress following the expiration of their tenure in February, this year.

Honourable Sunday Solarin is a chieftain of the party in Honourable Adebutu’s camp. He told Sunday Tribune what the problem is and the way forward. “The problem started in 2010 when some people laid judicial ambush and took over the party and I can confirm to you that since then, the party has been soaked in gross political misfortune.

The founding fathers of the party who struggled to make sure that the party won election in 2003 and in 2007 reasoned out that the solution to the problem is to return the party to the people since it has already been hijacked from them. Somebody has made the party an extension of his personal business and I am sure that is not supported by any known

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•FAYOSE

democratic tenet.

“What the leaders who want PDP to return to power in 2019 are clamouring for now is that the party must be returned to the people. Let there be participatory internal democracy. There is no other solution that. This is in line with the slogan of the party which sayspower to the people. We must allow a free and fair democratic process to be entrenched in the culture of the party. But while many leaders are saying power should go back to the people, somebody is agitating to be the sole custodian of people’s power.

That will not be tolerated.

“PDP in Ogun and in the SouthWest must parade a new set of leaders who will go through the crucible of integrity test and come out without blemish, leaders who don’t have baggage hanging around their neck as an albatross. Image and perception matter in politics.

We need a generational leadership shift in the PDP. If we don’t reflect what we have in terms of talented politicians, the public will continue to see us as been the same. It is only when this is done that the good people of Ogun and South-West zone can look at the PDP as a credible brand that is worth giving their votes,” Solarin said.

But the state secretary of the party, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, disagreed.

“The problem in Ogun PDP is not different from the problem in many other states in the country. There are too many power points, too many big and rich men who don’t believe the party has a constitution; who are used to running the party with their whims and caprices, a development we have been resisting for some time. We should go back to our constitution and see the way we have been doing it in those days that we have been winning elections.

“The last time we had a congress in the state was in the year 2000 when we went to the field and queued and mobilised. It was not that there were no groups of factions then. But we went ahead and won the 2003 election. The fact that

•OMISORE

some people are former governor or former speaker doesn’t mean they can sit in their houses and write the names of the executives.

Let us return to the people where the power lies according to our constitution. Without going back to the constitution, we might not really be making any headway. The current congress is the one we are having after the one held in 2000 and it will lead us to the Promised Land “The tenure of every executive from national to state has expired.

But the leadership of the party has extended the tenure and many people were involved- the National Assembly caucus, the Governors’ Forum, the National Caucus, the Board of Trustees and others. We have a letter from the national leadership to that effect. n alleged personalisation of the party by Senator Buruji, the secretary explained: “That is not true. Buruji has been standing for the PDP day and night and he is not like those who will only show their faces when election approaches. He has been calling meetings, spending millions to mobilise for the party and running it. Everybody is free to come. I can’t recollect anybody coming to the secretariat to give us N100, 000. We are not in government. We have been running Ogun PDP by the grace of Senator Buruji Kashamu.”

State of Lagos PDP The Lagos State chapter of PDP is divided between the camps of former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Before now, a group emerged shortly after the conclusion of last year’s general election to push forward a member of the party executive, Honourable Kamaldeen Olorunoje as the state chairman, claiming that they had sacked the chairman, Captain Tunji Selle.

To underscore that all is still well between the two camps, the last general assembly held by the party at its secretariat in Lagos, Chief George •Continued on page 7

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•BODE-GEOGE

did not miss the opportunity to pour out his mind about how he still feels about Obanikoro.The General Assembly was called to get members prepare ready for the ongoing party congresses.

In a veil reference, he charged party elders and chieftain at the gathering to ignore Obanikoro’ campaign of disunity. George was equally backed by former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe.

Chief George urged members and leaders of the PDP in Lagos to ignore campaign of disunity being championed by Obanikoro and his supporters within the party.

He tasked the party leaders and members to shun those who he called politricians, whom he accused of diverting the last campaign funds in the state.”This party will not go under. We can disagree, but there must be a truce. Once decision is reached, we must align with the decision reached. These people are not politicians but politricians. We should not allow impostors. This time around, the party members would be given opportunity to elect those that will run the party. Those who are treading the path of perfidy and disgrace, God would not allow them. Where were they when we were striving to build the party?” he said.

Osun PDP, going…going…

Largely regarded as the most united and solid state chapter of the PDP in the South-West prior to the 2014 governorship election in the state, the Osun PDP might cave in under the pressure of internal supremacy struggle any moment from now. The party under the leadership of Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa-led State Working Committee became the cynosure for most of the last four years due to the cohesion among most its leaders, with the race for the governorship seat, which was predicted by most political observers as capable of breaking the party.

Omisore, who is reported to be one of the biggest financiers of the party in the last few years, and

•KASHAMU

has never hidden his intention to govern the state, had allegedly moved to take possession of the party machinery during the last congress, a development that reportedly favoured his emergence as governorship candidate. The governorship election was, however, said to have created a wedge between him and most of the leaders of the party across the state including the members of the State Working Committee, as the Ife-born senator was reported to have been irked by the poor performance of the party in other local governments except those in his Ife domain. misore, Sunday Tribune gathered, had developed a serious distrust for most of the other stakeholders in the party.

He accused of being paperweight politicians, citing how most of them could not win their wards or local governments despite the huge resources available to them.

But most of these stakeholders, including Senator Olu Alabi; former chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Dr Jide Adeniji; the 2015 senatorial candidate of the party in Osun West, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; his counterparts in Osun Central and Osun East, Chief Oluwole Aina and Chief Ade Fadahunsi, as well as some members of the outgoing state working committee including the chairman, Olaoluwa, Sunday Tribune gathered, were opposed to Omisore’s alleged winner-takesall style of politics, noting that he should, in the interest of the party, not be allowed to take possession of the party machinery any longer.

Therefore, the two camps had waited for the 2016 PDP congresses to unleash the political blows already planned several months ago, by seeking to take over the party leadership through the election of party executives. While the antiOmisore group had opted to zone the chairmanship to Omisore’s Ife/ Ijesha axis, citing the need for equity and fairness in the distribution of

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party offices, Omisore had once toyed with the idea of retaining the seat in Osun Central which Olaoluwa hails from. The Ife-born senator had, however, changed tactics later by supporting the former Coordinator of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), Dr Bayo Faforiji, to become the chairman of the party in the state, while those opposed to Omisore lined up behind Hon. Soji Adagunodo.

A clear indicator of the crisis in the party came to the fore after the 30 April ward congress in the state, with the Omisore group protesting the disenfranchisement of its members, leading to the cancellation of the congress by the national leadership of the party.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune, Dr Faforiji said: “An attempt was made on the 30th of April to conduct ward congress of the PDP in Osun State. But because of the anomaly that was experienced that day due to the lopsidedness exhibited, many members were not given forms for them to contest or cast their votes for somebody of their choice”.

“There was protest by the aggrieved members before the congress committee from Abuja.

So the congress committee, in its wisdom, decided that the ward congress was inconclusive because it was not well-administered.

The national organising secretary of the PDP ordered that new ward congress be held in the state on the 9th of May, while the local government congress will now hold on the 10th of May and the state congress will hold on Thursday, 12th of May, 2016.

The anti-Omisore group, however, continued the local government congress last Thursday, which Faforiji described as a waste of time.

Attempt to speak with Adagunodo was unfruitful as he did not picl his call as of the time of filing this report.

But as things stand, there is no doubt that all is not well with the Osun PDP, as the party might be on its way to disintegration if the warring

factions do not close ranks quickly.

Will PDP get it right this time in Oyo? For the Oyo PDP, the 2016 congress presents an opportunity for redemption, as the party has reportedly been in consultations with members of the Labour Party (LP), Accord and Social Democratic Party (PDP).

Already, some of the estranged members of the PDP in Oyo had reportedly returned to the fold, it was gathered.

Unfortunately, however, the old sore of intrigues, manipulations and horse-trading, which had reportedly been the undoing of the party in the past appeared to have been opened, with the aggrieved members of the party alleging plot by some individuals to “hijack the machinery of the party as they did in 2011,” which culminated in the woeful performance of the party at the polls.

A senator elected on the platform of the PDP, Chief Gbenga Babalola, had, in an interview with Sunday Tribune, warned of plots to “perpetuate the current state working committee in office” just as he called for fair, open and accommodating congresses.

Some leaders of the party in OkeOgun zone of the state also echoed this view. ut the chairman of the party, Alhaji Yinka Taiwo, noted that the congresses, whenever they are held, will be open, fair and credible, denying plans to manipulate the polls. According to him, the claims that some leaders want to perpetuate themselves in office have no basis, because the congress would be democratic and open to all, and therefore, allow the party members to vote against whoever they felt would not advance the cause of the party.

As things stand now, the leaders that met in Akure and those that congregated at Ijebu Igbo are still working at cross purposes. Although a committee has been set up, to look at how the three slots given to the zone by the national leadership will be shared, it remains to be seen if the Ijebu Igbo faction will concur with the Akure pronouncement. But to some observers, the caliber of leaders at the Akure meeting has shown that in that segment of the South-West PDP lies the majority.

But should the PDP leaders in the South-West fail to put their house in order, what many commentators have opined as the third alternative was revealed by Governor Olusegun Mimiko in his remarks after the Akure meeting thus: “There is no doubt about it that Nigerians are waiting. If we mess it up, a new party will emerge and become the darling of this country. We need to realise our position today. If the purpose of politics is to serve the greatest interest of the people, this is the time to come together in the South-West.”

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•Culled from Tribune

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Ongoing Road Rehabilitation At Ola-Iya, Jaleyemi and Asubiaro Areas of Osogbo Last Thursday Under The Administration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Photo: GBENGA

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President Muhammadu Buhari Attended The Anti-Corruption Summit And Participated At The Leaders’ Breakfast At The Lancaster House, London, United Kingdom, Last Thursday.

•Ola-Iya area of Osogbo.

•President Muhammadu Buhari (left) being welcomed by the UK Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugo Swire.

•Ongoing road rehabilitation at Jaleyemi area of Osogbo.

•Ongoing rehabilitation of Jaleyemi road, also in Osogbo.

•President Buhari (middle); Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Rt Honourable Patricia Scotland (QC) (2nd right); Secretary of State, UK Department for International Development, Mr Jusne Greening (right) and Ibrahim Ibrahim (left).

•President Buhari (2nd right); U.S Secretary of State, John Kerry (right); Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagards (2nd left) and President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani (left).

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PDP Can’t Unseat Anybody In 2019 Salako Still On Nigeria’s Porous Boarder Honourable Dave Salako, a former member, House of Representatives and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, speaks with BOLA BADMUS on the ongoing crisis in the PDP, particularly the South-West zone, among other issues. Excerpts:

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S a chieftain of PDP in the South-West, can you address the state of the party currently?

Well, to the best of my knowledge, the state of the party is very, very unpredictable now. Unpredictable in the sense that I cannot say we are there and I cannot say we are not there, I mean the PDP. If you look at what is going on, there is so much confusion, as far as the party is concerned. The party hierarchy, so to say, is not doing what it is supposed to do. When I say hierarchy, I mean right from the National Executive Committee (NEC) down to the National Working Committee (NWC) and so far, they have not moved the party forward.

Let us start from where his Excellency, Ali Modu Sheriff came in. There were hues and cries that we sensed ulterior motives coming in. One of the accusations against him was that he was alleged to be a Boko Haram sponsor and all that.

And anyone hearing that somebody that is linked with such absurdity is going to head our party will start to be disenchanted; they wouldn’t want to really come into that fold. Even those that are there would also want to move away from such a party.

Notwithstanding that, we cannot adjudge him as accused by his powerful detractors. But we have to look inwards and do our own homework, whether or not his coming in would serve as a booster to the party and would unite the party, because already we are disintegrated.

After all the hues and cries, temper rose and came down and they now said, ‘let’s give him a chance and let him do and finish the tenure of erstwhile Alhaji Muazu, the former national chairman of the party.’

I think after persuasion of elders and leaders, they say let him have the position temporarily and he should quit the stage when the party convenes its national convention.

That is a good thinking so far. But you see we politicians, the way we think, the way we move, the way we react only God can predict; we can’t predict ourselves. Some are only supporting him because they have their own agenda; some are against him because they have their own agenda.

But suffice it to note that those supporting him the way they have kind of presented the story show that they have ulterior motives. If they don’t have ulterior motive, they should be able to say ‘our national chairman, as soon as you finish the convention, go back and take a back seat and let somebody else take over as chairman.’ We have a zoning system. If the North has finished its term, look for another zone to take over.

Was this not the agreement initially reached between those who supported Sheriff and those who were against him, if that was so, are you saying that Sherriff is reneging on his agreement with the party?

•salako

Absolutely, I think he is. The last interview that I watched on the television, when he was asked about his intention to quit during the convention, he said ‘no problem, until when I get there.’ If he had told the public point blank that ‘as soon as I finish the convention, I am not going to contest,’ that would have been okay. But for him to have said no comment and saying that when he got to the bridge, he would cross it, speaks volumes and that actually exposed him that he is not consistent.

Those who brought Sheriff had this argument going for them that Sheriff was going to take over the chairmanship of the party because he has money to spend to build the party. They said there is nobody around that has that money to invest in the party. Don’t you agree with them? o, money doesn’t come first in bringing unity, stability and peace to the party.

Money doesn’t come first. And if it is a question of money, we have some governors who can help. We have some individuals who can help collectively. If you task the leaders, they can raise whatever comes with it.

How many of the leaders are coming out to support the party with their money?

They have not been approached; they have not been contacted.

The issue of chairmanship coming to the South-West is generating a lot of controversies right now, as the party is divided between Buruji Kashamu and Chief Bode George’s

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group. How did the South-West get to this level?

It was very unfortunate and very sad for the South-West that Kasamu led people to the national secretariat and said we don’t want the chairmanship. In all honesty, is Kashamu our leader? When did Kashamu join this party? I could vividly remember that he joined in Chief Bode George’s residence.

I stand to be corrected. He joined around 2004 or 2005 and when he came in, we embraced him. If we knew at that time, we wouldn’t have taken chance with him.

Ever since he joined the party, he has been playing a prominent role.

We can recall that he was made Chairman, Mobilisation Committee of PDP in South-West for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign in 2015 and he actually invested not only his energy but also money and everything he could muster.

That was what you heard. You know in politics, there are so many ways you can move yourself to the top, either by carrying some people along and not the whole people or doing otherwise. His being anointed chairman, presidential mobilisation committee in the South-West was an error.

You think so?

It was an error.

When he was appointed, there was no reaction from PDP. You all accepted him.

There were reactions, but the top echelon of the party scheduled those reactions. Some of us shouted that ‘no, he can’t be’ and if you remember,

it was for that singular reason OBJ said he can’t be ‘my leader!’ And that was the reason Obasanjo opted out of PDP. But Kashamu led other party leaders to Abuja and if that happened, can we say the PDP is divided and it is in crisis and cannot manage its crisis?

Definitely, the party is in crisis and if care is not taken, the crisis will kill the party. There is also the issue of Governor Ayo Fayose. We don’t just open our mouths and start talking about our elders anyhow. I expected a person of Fayose’s calibre to talk with some sort of decorum; you cannot just open your mouth and condemn the leaders and elders of the party. If you do that, you are destroying the party. At the same time, you are also exposing yourself and not speaking like a leader. I know the two of them are in concert.

Do you mean that Fayose and Sheriff are in concert?

You know innuendoes have been peddled around that Sheriff wants to be president while Fayose wants to be vice-president. Well, I am not worried about that, because anybody can aspire to be anything. But you know we have to first of all behave reliably. The way they are doing it now, they want to say others are fools and they are the smartest.

If at the coming convention, Sheriff emerges the party’s chairman, what would the SouthWest do? am not going to talk about the South-West, I will talk about myself. I would form my opinion about what kind of party I am and I am sure many people would form their own opinion too if they have not formed it already.

But Doyin Okupe said should such thing happen whereby the SouthWest is denied the chairmanship slot, many people would be forced to leave PDP, do you support that too?

Doyin said this as an individual; he was not speaking on behalf of others.

Knowing that Dr Okupe is on the side of Chief Bode George, he could have been speaking on his behalf.

I don’t think so. If you ask Chief Bode George, he would tell you Doyin did not speak his mind. I think Doyin is generalising the whole thing. This thing is not good for our party and if it is carried out, people would be disenfranchised and people might say ‘okay, you can have your party, we are not going with you with that party again.’ Doyin is not saying everybody would leave the party; he is just telling us what might happen.

What does 2019 hold for the party if the crisis should continue this way?

Of course, we are nowhere; if it continues this way without amicable resolution or settlement, PDP cannot unseat anybody.

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•Culled from Tribune

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HE resurgence of carnage and arson being carried out by herdsmen in many parts of the country is yet symptomatic of the precarious state of security in Nigeria. Hundreds have been dispatched to their early graves by the herdsmen who, for decades, had never been known to possess lethal weapons while plying their trade. It becomes imperative now to question the procedure for arms acquisition by individuals and corporate bodies, as well as the proliferation of small arms and ammunition. In this connection, a most critical and worrisome issue is Nigeria’s porous land borders.

Given its huge economic potentials, Nigeria unarguably remains the commercial hub of the West African sub-region. The ECOWAS treaty on free trade encourages cross-border movements with some attendant high risks. Today, it is estimated that more than 70 per cent of the estimated eight million illegal weapons in the subregion are in circulation in Nigeria, a quantum of the figure smuggled through the land borders. Another source of such illegal arms are said to be gunsmiths who, according to the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM), contribute about 60

per cent of the illegal arms in circulation in the South-East zone of the country.

No doubt, the challenges of guaranteeing security at the land borders today are enormous and may appear daunting, especially because of the ruptures in strategic sectors of the economy. However, saddling the about 22,000 personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) with policing 770 km of land border with the Benin Republic, around 1,500 km with the Republic of the Niger, about 1,700 km with Cameroon, 90 km with Chad and 850 km of maritime border in the Atlantic Ocean, is arduous, and deserves scrutiny.

That only 500 border posts are legitimate and manned, while more than 4,000 illegal routes exist is ominous. The illegal routes allow criminals to smuggle arms, ammunition and drugs into the country, and to engage in human trafficking since those routes are hardly ever captured by the radar of the Nigerian Army, Police Highway Anti-crime Patrol, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, International Joint Border Patrol, Nigeria Immigration Service and Port Health

Services. The porous borders allow all manner of immigrants into Nigeria without let and these individuals mingle freely with Nigerians, thereby making it difficult to identify their true nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, as evident in the insinuations that the blood-sucking herdsmen are largely aliens.

We stress for the umpteenth time that the improper conduct at the offices of the various agencies relating to the movement in and out of the country also accounts for the overall challenges.

Quite a number them are averse to the due process and delight in unethical practices. Rather than doing the needful as required by law, they run after the hare after it has escaped. An unnecessarily large number of personnel also idle away their time at the Immigration offices while criminals enter the country at will.

We note the call by Comptroller-General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali, for collaborative efforts by all agencies to check the influx of small firearms into the country. Reports indeed suggested that much of the firearms used in the Libyan war and the Arab Spring found their way into Ni-

geria through the porous borders.

While the Nigeria Police steps up its mop-up operations of illegal arms, all the relevant authorities should prioritise the deployment of more sophisticated technology to the borders for surveillance, and to curb sharp practices. The officers and men of the agencies must undergo regular training on the dynamic nature of their jobs and their roles in guaranteeing national security. Issues concerning their welfare should never be compromised because their proper conduct and comportment as the first point of contact with visitors to Nigeria rub off on the image of the nation.

In conclusion, the job of securing the borders demands a new thinking and approach, an admixture of development initiatives for border communities and improved sensitisation agenda. Government officials found to have compromised in their professional duties should not be spared from appropriate sanctions.

•Culled from Tribune

May Day Lamentations

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•If it’s time for workers’ welfare, it is also time for productivity.

rdinarily , t h e annual Workers’ Day rallies commemorated across the globe on May 1 have most often been an occasion in Nigeria for the celebration of labour, with government identifying with and participating in the event across the country.

May Day usually afforded an opportunity for chief executives of governments, both at the federal and state levels, to listen to the demands and grievances of workers while also explaining existing or articulating new labour policies.

It is perhaps not surprising that this year’s May Day commemoration took a different turn across the country as neither President Muhammadu Buhari nor most of the 36 state governors bothered to attend the rallies personally. This is certainly not unconnected with the current severe downturn in the country’s economic fortunes, with workers being owed several months arrears of salaries. Many of the political leaders might, therefore, be unwilling to contend with the

likely unsavoury reactions of workers to their present pitiable plight, thus their absence at the various venues of the event.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for instance, President Buhari was represented at the rally by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige. National officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) regretted that the President missed such a unique opportunity to listen directly to, and interact with the workers. This was partly because Dr Ngige was obviously not in a position to speak on workers’ demand for a new minimum wage of N56,000.00. He therefore kept mum on the issue.

For most of the states, it was lamentation galore by frustrated and angry workers who made demands and issued threats on the nonpayment of their wages as well as the unbearable cost of living. One of the few governors who graced the occasion, Mr Umaru Tanko AlMakura of Nasarawa State did so in a rather dramatic

fashion as he appeared wearing all-black attire symbolising a mourning.

His reason was reportedly to decry the attitude of workers to his government, which he perceived as unfriendly to a government not deserving of opposition from the unions.

Adamawa State Chairman of the NLC, Dauda Maina, for instance, revealed that almost half of the state’s workforce has not been paid their salaries for over four months. In Plateau State, representatives of organised labour demanded immediate payment of the five months salaries owed civil servants of tertiary institutions as well as the four-month salary arrears of primary school teachers.

The Ndigbo Unity Forum Owerri, Imo State, issued Governor Rochas Okorocha a 60-day ultimatum to pay workers their outstanding salaries and allowances. And in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the labour leadership commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s impressive infrastructural development but insisted this must be complemented by human capital welfare to address the poverty of the

workforce.

With the exception of Edo State, where Governor Adams Oshiomhole personally announced an increase in the minimum wage of civil servants from N18,000 to N25,000 ‘with immediate effect’, it was a litany of workers’ woes almost everywhere else. But then, can the economy of Edo State be isolated from that of the nation? Is Oshiomhole’s new minimum wage offer to the state’s workers sustainable and is it the way forward?

All said, we believe that there is no alternative to elected political leaders frankly discussing labour welfare and productivity with the workers. Keeping a distance from labour cannot be an appropriate response. If political leaders demonstrate a willingness to curtail their perceived opulent and ostentatious lifestyles, it is unlikely that organised labour will be unreasonable in its demands.

•Culled from The Nation Newspaper

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Health Benefits Of Avocados Jose Mourinho Knows ‘Nothing’ About Man Nutritional Value of Avocados vocados are considered a “Super Food” and have a special position in the food calorie pyramid. Avocados are rich in various nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Avocados are also a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids, and they have a low sugar content. They are a good source of energy and contain a number of essential vitamins and minerals. Avocados contain calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. They also contain minerals such as vitamin C, B6, B-12, A, D, K, E, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin. Furthermore, they are a great source of dietary fiber, and a single serving can provide more than 40% of the daily requirement!

Avocados are rich in potassium and successfully balances the potassium to sodium ratio which is vitally important to overall health. According to CAC (California Avocado commission), a medium-sized Hass avocado contains almost 22.5 grams fat. Two-thirds of this fat is of the monounsaturated variety, and they are also very low in fructose. Perhaps most importantly, avocados have a unique collection of organic compounds like phytosterols, carotenoids, flavonoids, Health Benefits of Avocados Avocados have many health benefits.

They are packed with nutrients and are therefore considered as one of the best foods you can eat. Avocados are most beneficial when eaten raw. Many of the most well-researched and important health benefits of avocados are as follows: Good Digestion: It is believed that avocados are soothing for the intestine and therefore aid in digestion. They contain soluble and insoluble fibers that help to keep digestive system running smoothly. These two types of fiber are very important for digestion, because they bulk up stools and help to ensure the smooth passage of food through the intestinal tract. Furthermore, they stimulate gastric and digestive juices so nutrients are absorbed in the most efficient and rapid way. Finally, they reduce the symptoms from conditions like constipation and diarrhea. All in all, the huge amount of fiber found in avocados (40% of daily requirement per serving) makes this a very important food for optimizing your digestive health.

Dental Care: Consumption of avocados also helps in preventing bad breath, which is primarily caused due to indigestion or an upset stomach. Halitosis can be eliminated by improving digestive health, and the antibacterial and antioxidant flavonoids found in avocados also kill the bacteria in your mouth that can result in bad breath as well. Avocados have also been connected with preventing oral cancers!

Skin and Hair Care: Avocados are packed with nutrients that are beneficial for maintaining healthy skin.

It enriches skin that is dry, chapped or damaged. Avocados are added to a variety of cosmetics due to their ability to nourish the skin with essential vitamins and make it glow. It is also used for nourishing dry and damaged hair.

Many people use avocados to prepare skin and hair masks. Above all, avocado oil helps in treating plaque psoriasis.

Beta-carotene and lycopene are two of the organic compounds found in large quantities within avocados. Both of these have been connected to improving the health and tone of your skin and eliminating signs of premature aging.

Liver care: Avocados are very good at reducing liver damage. It has certain organic compounds that help in improving liver health. Liver damage is normally caused due to Hepatitis C. Findings of a recent research study suggest that avocados may play a major role in toning up and protecting your

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liver from a wide variety of conditions.

Healthy Eyes: Avocados help to keep your eyes healthy. They contain carot enoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which help to protect your eyes against cataracts, eye diseases related to age, and macular degeneration. Those conditions are often caused by free radicals that accumulate in the tissues of the eyes.

The antioxidant activity of those special carotenoids neutralize the effects of those dangerous free radicals.

Healthy Heart: The health benefits of avocados include a healthier heart.

Beta-sitosterol, which is found in avocados, helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Research studies suggest that the intake of avocado may enhance antiatherogenic properties of HDL cholesterol, which helps in protecting your heart from atherosclerosis, also known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease. The significant levels of potassium also make avocados a powerful fruit in the fight against hypertension. Potassium is a vasodilator, which relaxes the tension of blood vessels and arteries, thereby reducing the chances of clotting, heart attacks, and strokes. idney Health: Your diet plays a very important role in maintaining the balance of minerals and fluids in those who suffer from chronic kidney disorders.

Potassium is one of the minerals that helps in maintaining a normal heart rate. Avocados are a good source of potassium and their inclusion in your diet may provide other benefits as well. It is important to make sure that potassium levels are not too high as that can also be dangerous for the heart.

Potassium is a key aspect of maintaining fluid balance through chemical channels for cells and organs. This balance of fluid is also vital for the functioning of the kidney, which handles the movement of fluid and toxins through the body.

Vitamin K Deficiency: A Vitamin K deficiency is not very common, but is frequently seen in neonatal care. It may lead to a bleeding disorder known as Vitamin K deficiency-related bleeding (VKDB). This occurs mostly due to an insufficient intake of vitamin K during pregnancy. Inclusion of avocado in the diet of a pregnant woman may help in lowering risk of VKDB in the newborn child, since avocados are one of the rare fruits that have a very high amount of vitamin K (almost 40% of the daily requirement in a single serving!)

Morning Sickness: During pregnancy, morning sickness is very common. Avocados help to overcome nausea and queasiness during

K

pregnancy since it contains vitamin B6, which is commonly connected to reducing nausea and vomiting.

Arthritis: The anti-inflammatory properties of avocados are perhaps its most valuable attribute, and between the wide range of phytochemicals, flavonoids, carotenoids, phytosterols, fatty alcohols, and omega-3 fatty acids, avocados are one of the best foods for reducing the inflammation in tissues, joints, and muscles. Arthritis affects tens of millions of people around the world, and by consuming a proper amount of avocados, studies have frequently shown the symptoms and associated pain of arthritis can be efficiently reduced!

Anti-Cancer Properties: Health benefits of avocados include a lower risk of cancers, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Avocados contain carotenoids and monounsaturated fat, which both contribute to the significant reduction of cancer. Avocados also contain Glutathione, an antioxidant that protects the cells from cancer and the dangerous effects of free radicals. The list of antioxidant and antiinflammatory compounds in avocados is impressive, and it is almost difficult to determine which one has the largest impact. Studies have been widely done on oral, skin, and prostate cancers, and the results show that instead of metastasizing, the organic compounds in avocados cause cancerous cells to undergo apoptosis (automatic cell death). Research is ongoing in terms of avocados and cancer.

Antioxidant Properties: Avocados contain both vitamin C and E, which help to enhance antioxidant properties of the human body. Vitamin C recycles vitamin E and helps to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Avocados also contain antioxidants like epicatechin, violaxanthin, neochrome, and about a dozen others. Antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals, which are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism. They are responsible for dozens of serious conditions in the body, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, vision problems, premature aging, cognitive disorders, and many more.

Healthy Skin: Avocados contain many vitamins and minerals that help in maintaining healthy skin. Carotenoids found in avocados are associated with reducing UV-induced inflammation of the skin due to exposure to sun. Oil made from avocados helps in protecting the skin against sunburn damage.

The high levels of beta carotene in avocados can be enzymatically split into provitamin A, which has long been connected to protecting the skin from a

variety of conditions and the damaging effects of the sun.

Weight Management: Regular exercise, along with a healthy diet, is very important in weight management.

Avocados are fruits that provide nutritional value to the body and support weight control. Findings of a recent study suggest a number of beneficial effects of avocado on weight management.

Anti-Aging: Consuming avocados is also associated with healthy aging.

It contains compounds such as xanthophyll, which have antioxidant properties. Research studies suggest that an intake of xanthophyll may decrease signs of the aging process on various parts of your body.

Bone Health: Avocados contain carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and lutein, which are associated with a reduced risk of cartilage defects (symptom of osteoarthritis). Intake of foods such as avocado and soy may help in reducing the risk of osteoarthritis.

Furthermore, the levels of essential minerals in avocados are significant, including zinc, phosphorous, copper, and trace amounts of calcium and selenium. All of these are connected to lowered risks of osteoporosis and improvements in bone mineral density.

Nutrient Absorption: Avocados are best eaten along with other fruits and vegetables. This is due to the fact that nutrients present in fruits and vegetables get enhanced when eaten along with avocados. The absorption of carotenoid antioxidant molecules, which helps to protect the body against free radical damage, increases three to five times when a salad is eaten along with avocado. Therefore, adding sliced avocado to mixed salad is a good way to make a healthy meal even better.

This makes avocados a great element as an appetizer, since it prepares the digestive tract to function at its highest level during the meal to come! lood Glucose Levels: Apart from the fruit, the leaf extracts of avocados also provide health benefits. A study conducted on nondiabetic and diabetic rats suggest that the leaf extracts may help in lowering blood glucose levels. For diabetic patients, the metabolism of starch-based foods into simple sugars like glucose can cause the spikes and plunges that are so dangerous for diabetics. Fiber helps to slow the breakdown of food into usable sugars, so it is absorbed by the body in a more balanced way. Furthermore, the majority of carbohydrates in avocados are made up of 7-carbon sugars, a relatively rare form of sugar that actually inhibit the enzyme hexokinase.

This helps avocados control the way that glucose is metabolized by the body, thereby protecting the overall health of diabetic patients.

Useful for Athletes: Athletes require a lot of energy and must maintain optimal nutrition to fuel their body.

Avocados provide vital nutrients to athletes to maintain required energy levels and good health. Moreover, they contain phytochemicals that are a natural fuel source for your body.

Avocado – Health Concerns Avocados may cause migraines, a common type of headache. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light are generally the symptoms of a migraine. Care must be taken and consumption of avocado should be avoided if these symptoms are experienced.

Avocado – How to Select and Store Avocados are readily available in stores all over the world. Fresh, ripe avocados with no dark spots should be chosen. Do not refrigerate avocados unless they are ripe. If a portion of the fruit has been used then the remainder may be stored in refrigerator for future use. Unripe avocados can be stored at room temperature.

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United Opening, Plans Return Soon Jose Mourinho is certain he will be back in management before the start of next season but claims to “know nothing” about a move to Manchester United.

Mourinho has been my life which I’m doing, strongly linked with keep enjoying my family. taking over Manchester But in July I am back.”

Asked when he needs United ever since leaving Chelsea in December to sign a contract by, the — with sources telling London-based Mourinho ESPN FC last month that responded: “June 30 — the Portuguese was still that’s fine.”

Manchester United confident of going to Old Trafford despite Louis has not publicly denied van Gaal currently being months of reports that Van Gaal will leave Old in charge.

The 53-year-old, whose Trafford at the end of the second spell at Chelsea season and be replaced by ended midway through Mourinho. The 64-yearthis season’s disastrous old Dutchman is coming defence of their Premier to the end of the second League title, was back in year of his three-year the dugout on Wednesday contract, and he could in the Azteca Stadium end the campaign with in Mexico City to coach a trophy if United beat a FIFA Legends team, Crystal Palace in the FA featuring Ronaldinho and Cup final on May 21.

However, his future Fabio Cannavaro, against a Mexican All-Stars side. remains uncertain with a Managing a team again, fourth-place finish in the albeit for an exhibition Premier League now out a h e a d o f t h e F I F A of his hands. To qualify for Congress, had whetted next season’s Champions Mourinho’s appetite for League, United need to beat Bournemouth and a return to coaching. “ O f c o u r s e I m i s s rely on Manchester City [it],” Mourinho told The losing to Swansea City on Associated Press. “In July the final day of the season I will be back. So we are on Sunday.

“I don’t know. I know in May. May to July is nothing. I keep enjoying nothing about it really,”

Mourinho said, when asked by the AP about being hired by United.

“I don’t have a club and I was waiting for these guys [the FIFA Legends] to win the match to give me a hand but because I lost the match [9-8] it’s even more difficult to get the club.”

United director David Gill is also in Mexico City in his capacity as a FIFA vice-president. If Mourinho does resume employment in July he won’t have officially been involved in planning for the club’s season.

“It’s difficult because when you get a new club in this period normally the clubs they did already their work,” Mourinho said. “I give you an example. I’m not the Chelsea manager but I organised the Chelsea preseason in many aspects because I did that 10 months ago.

“Clubs have their commercial, marketing departments always involved in everything.

When a new manager arrives in May, June it’s very difficult to touch in some points but we know that.”

But Mourinho said a late appointment would not affect his ability to identify and sign transfer targets ahead of the start of the new season in August.

“Scouting is done during the year,” he

•ESPN FC’s Brian McBride rates the latest rumours surrounding Alexis Sanchez and Raphael Varane.

Comiled By Lukman Ussein

said. “It’s not even a competition like the Euros where you are going to find by miracle some new talents. We know everybody, so it’s just a question of trying to choose the players that

your team needs because the scouting, with our structures, we do it for many, many players.”

•Jose Mourinho

Cristiano Ronaldo Best-Paid Player, Lionel Messi Second - Forbes

Cristiano Ronaldo was the world’s highest-paid footballer — and highest-paid team athlete — last year, according to US business magazine Forbes.

R e a l M a d r i d s t a r endorsements.

The 31-year-old Portugal Ronaldo was said to have earned a total of $82 million captain, who became the (£56.7m), with an annual world’s most expensive salary of $53m (£36.7m) player when he joined a n d $ 2 9 m ( £ 2 0 m ) i n Madrid from Manchester United for £80m in 2009, signed a lucrative new five-year contract at the Bernabeu in 2013.

Forbes, which also ranked Real Madrid as football’s most valuable club, said Ronaldo, a threeAs well as keeping track Lukaku also keeps an eye time FIFA Ballon d’Or with how Arsenal fare on his brother Romelu’s winner, is now the bestpaid team athlete across in the Premier League, progress at Everton. all sport.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, was second in the list on $77m (£53.3m), with the 28-yearold’s $51m (£35.3m) salary Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has augmented by $26m (£18m) welcomed the signing of his former Borussia Dortmund in endorsements. The teammate Mats Hummels, telling ESPN FC the deal is Argentina captain renewed “very good for the whole club.” his Barca contract in 2014.

Forbes reported that Dortmund confirmed can pass it forward or hit this week that Hummels, long diagonal balls directly Ronaldo has made $550m who came through the to the strikers, you have (£380.9m) over the course Bayern youth academy, more options in possession. of his 14-year playing will return to the Allianz “Mats coming won’t just career, which began with Arena this summer for a help the defence, he’ll help Sporting Lisbon, while reported €35 million fee. everybody, especially in Messi, who has spent his entire career with Barca, L e w a n d o w s k i , w h o Europe.” made the same switch BVB captain Hummels has made $450m (£311.5m) in 2014, said he expects is set to make his final in his 11 years.

Former basketball star the 27-year-old Germany appearance for the club international to strike up when they face Bayern Kobe Bryant, who retired a strong partnership with in the DFB Pokal final in in April, is the only team sport athlete to have made Jerome Boateng at the heart Berlin on May 21. of the Bayern defence.

B a y e r n , w h o w i l l more than Ronaldo, with “One of the best centre- b e c o a c h e d b y C a r l o Forbes reporting that he backs in the world is Ancelotti next season, also earned $680m (£470.8m) coming to Bayern — that’s announced the signing of in a career that lasted 17 obvious,” the Poland striker Benfica midfielder Renato years.

Ronaldo and Messi, who told ESPN FC. “We don’t Sanches this week. have been the only Ballon even have to talk about his d’Or winners since Kaka’s defensive qualities.

2007 success, are some “Mats and Jerome know distance ahead of Paris each other well from the Saint-Germain star Zlatan German national team and Ibrahimovic in third. complement each other.

The Sweden captain, They both have something 34, made the bulk of his that most defenders, even $37m (£25.6m) through at this level, don’t have — the ability to do lots of good •ESPN FC’s Raphael Ho- his salary with the Ligue 1 stuff with the ball. nigstein reveals the details champions, with only $7m “When you have two behind Bayern’s latest sign- (£4.84m) coming through players at the back who ings, Mats Hummels and endorsements.

Ibrahimovic is out are comfortable to come Renato Sanches. of contract at PSG this forward with the ball, who

Oostende’s Jordan Lukaku Speaks Of Passion For Arsenal, Premier League KV Oostende left-back Jordan Lukaku has spoken of his fondness for Arsenal and believes he is suited to a Premier League move.

Lukaku, the younger been a fan of Arsenal, brother of Everton striker but I am mad about every R o m e l u , h a s c a u g h t Premier League club as t h e e y e t h i s s e a s o n , long as the club doesn’t impressing for his club have to fight against in the Belgian top flight relegation.” while also winning his While Lukaku is a first caps for Belgium’s fan of Arsenal, he feels national team. they need to spend more Arsenal, along with money in the future if they Chelsea ,Tottenham and want to be successful.

AC Milan, have all been “Arsenal has to go out credited with an interest and spend,” Lukaku said. in the 21-year-old, while a “Arsenal has become a source close to Oostende youth academy for other told ESPN FC this week top clubs. When [Cesc] that Watford are keeping Fabregas became top, tabs on him. he moved to Barcelona.

Lukaku has suggested When [Robin] van Persie that his dream move became top and singlewould see him head to handedly guided Arsenal North London to link up to a top-four finish, he with the Gunners. moved to Manchester “Do I see myself as United. He had begged Premier League-bound?” for reinforcements. Same Lukaku told The Set case with Samir Nasri. He Pieces. “I don’t know, but asked for a bigger salary. it’s a league that would Arsenal have to be less suit me. I have always stingy.”

osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski Delighted With Mats Hummels Deal

summer and has yet to make a decision on his next move, with AC Milan and Manchester United among the potential destinations.

Barcelona and Brazil forward Neymar was named the fourth biggest earner, on $36m (£24.9m).

Forbes reports that the 24-year-old is the only footballer on the list to earn more in endorsements ($22m or £15.2m) than through his salary ($14m or £9.69m).

Neymar, who joined Barca from Santos in 2013, has been tipped to sign a more lucrative deal with the Catalan club for some time, but the agreement has reportedly been held up due to financial issues.

Luis Suarez, the third member of the Barcelona attack, was ranked eighth in the Forbes list, with total earnings of $23m (£15.9m).

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale was fifth on the list with $34m (£23.5m).

The Wales international, who overtook Ronaldo as football’s most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, signed a six-year deal when he moved to the Bernabeu.

Forbes’ top five highestpaid footballers: 1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): $82m (£56.7m) 2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona): $77m (£53.3m) 3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain): $37m (£25.6m) 4 Neymar (Barcelona): $36m (£24.9m) 5 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): $34m (£23.5m).

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osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

Job Vacancies In Nigeria

SAT Verbal Instructor · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Education, Academic, Management, Consulting · Posted by Management Education and Training Limited on Thursday, May 12, 2016 · Reference: 163907 Job Details Employer: Management Education and Training Limited Management Education and Training Limited was established under the companies Act,1968 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with registration number: RC 48483 (Herein refer to as the M.E.T LIMITED).

M.E.T LIMITED (Educational Counselors and Advisors): Nigeria’s foremost firm of educational counselors and advisors on international education welcomes you to the world of unlimited educational opportunities.

M.E.T Limited, with its unrivalled expertise and experience in the field of international education is the most credible organization that can make this a reality.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position: Job Description · Responsible for teaching a large range of students who are preparing for SAT using the redesigned SAT Scheme.

Candidate Requirements · Applicants must be a Graduate of English from a recognised University. · Must also possess strong writing and speaking prowess. · Must be ready to work on weekends and travel as at when necessary.

Apply before Thursday, May 26, 2016 - 15 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………….end…………………

Leaf Warehouse Assistant · Oyo, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Admin · Posted by British American Tobacco on Thursday, May 12, 2016 · Reference: 163880 Job Details Employer: British American Tobacco British American Tobacco (www.bat.com) is a market leading, global organisation with a long, established history and a bright and dynamic future. Thanks to our people we have continued to deliver growth and exceed expectations in an increasingly complex and challenging marketplace.

Our aim is to become the leading tobacco company in each of our markets by providing excellent products with confidence and responsibility expected of global consumer brands.

If you have the talent and motivation to help us succeed you’ll find we are equally committed to helping you reach your full potential too.

Job Description · Maintenance of proper storage of all company stocks in the warehouse, effective receipts of stocks and dispatch to external/internal customers. · Management of records in the warehouse in accordance with record management policy · Ensure physical stock movement is posted in the system. · Enforcement of compliance with BAT EHS/EMS guidelines in all warehouse activities · Provision of required information/data as required. · Ensure good housekeeping in the warehouse at all times. · Provision of required information/data as required. · Adherence to warehouse processes · Ensure the security and proper storage of company stock. · Ensure that all MHE are in good condition at all times · Store stocks in well-demarcated places within the agreed incidence of stock placement. · Participate in stock cycle count. · Ensure that the procedure for accepting incoming materials and its supplies for production are adhered to. · No damage or pilferage resulting from negligence or improper security or poor handling. · Ensure gangways are clear for movement of stock. · Zero cost loss through effective use of resources. · Participate in regular spot checks on stocked items on daily basis. · Ensure strict adherence to First In First Out (FIFO) principles. · Carry out duties as assigned by the Line Manager Candidate Requirements · A minimum of OND in any numerical of financial courses, in addition to this, a good posession of computer skills will be an advantage. · Sound knowledge and understanding of warehousing processes · Ability to operate across all hierarchy levels, providing information and support as required. · Good inter-personal communication skills. · Sound analytical skills and ability to work with figures . · Ability to work under pressure, multi-task, work independently and deliver according to defined deadlines. · Ability to prioritize workloads.

Apply before Monday, July 11, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ………………………..end………………………..

Graphics Designer · Lagos, ¦ 80 000 - ¦ 110 000 Per Month (Negotiable) Benefits: Medical Aid, Pension, Bonus, Training, Maternity Leave Bonus: 13th Month · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Advertising, Design Services, Retail, E-Commerce · Posted by Yes Mobile on Thursday, May 12, 2016 · Reference: 163875 Job Details Employer: Yes Mobile · Advise clients on strategies to reach a particular audience · Determine the message the design should portray · Create images that identify a product or convey a message · Develop graphics and visual or audio images for product illustrations, logos, and websites · Create designs either by hand or using computer software packages · Select colors, images, text style, and layout · Present the design to clients or the art director · Incorporate changes recommended by the clients into the final design

· Review designs for errors before printing or publishing them Candidate Requirements · Relevant educational qualification in any IT related discipline · 3-5 years experience in same role · Young, smart and skillful with motion graphics, photoshop, etc. · Experience with a retail organization desired Required Skills graphic design photoshop motion graphics This position reports to: E-Commerce Manager Apply before Tuesday, May 17, 2016 - 6 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ………………………..end………………………….

Supply Chain Officer II · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Business Management, Logistics, Management, Graduate · Posted by ZOCODE Limited on Thursday, May 12, 2016 · Reference: 163873 Job Details Employer: ZOCODE Limited ZOCODE Limited is established is a Business Resources Provider, we to deliver corporate solutions in Training, Process and Business modeling and Automation using Software. We tell less stories and deliver more results. One of our values is “Customer Satisfaction” We are recruiting to fill the vacant position: Job Description · We are looking for dynamic, smart and highly motivated candidates who can work with less supervision.

Candidate Requirements · Candidate Must be a graduate (B.Sc/HND) in Business Administration, Economics and other relevant field. · Must have a good analytical skill. · Must have a good reporting skill.

Should be able to: · Plan delivery timetables. · Ensuring stores have enough stock · Making sure suppliers have enough stock to meet demand · Overseeing the ordering and packaging process · Monitoring stock levels · Tracking products through depots to make sure they arrive at their destination · Overseeing arrival of shipments Apply before Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 20 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………………..end…………………….

Country Leader Surface · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Admin · Posted by GE Nigeria on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 · Reference: 144831 Job Details Employer: GE Nigeria GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works.

Job Description · Responsible for growing the sales and service businesses for the subRegional portfolio – including managing the P&L (orders, sales, CM, OM, CFOA) and leading all customer facing activities for the assigned sub-Region. · Accountable for all GE operating processes for Surface within the subRegion, eg: Growth Play Book, SII planning processes, GEOS etc. · Lead the sales, service and commercial operations teams in the assessment of customer needs, solve business problems through consultative approach and develop effective marketing, sales and strategic business plans. · Develop influential relationships with assigned customers at all levels and develop strategies to win profitable business. · Engage global/ regional functions (Engineering, Marketing, IT, Legal, Finance, HR) in developing and implementing robust business practices and strategies for the sub-Regional SSA market. · Work jointly with Supply Chain management to ensure proper identification of projected load and improve order fulfillment cycle time and profitability. · Identify and implement continuous improvement and cost reduction opportunities · Continue to build and maintain an effective leadership team, focused on meeting GE’s business strategies, policies and practices and practicing effective growth values.

Candidate Requirements · - Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college · At least 10 years of Oil & Gas experience in a field sales, sales of engineered products or marketing · Minimum 5 years of leadership experience with in the SSA area · A valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate will be required (please indicate clearly on your resume) · Must have valid authorization to work full-time without any restriction in Nigeria · Proven track record of establishing a vision, strategy and executing business plans; capable of planning and executing major initiatives and change. · Demonstrated leadership in a cross-functional, matrix environment. · Demonstrated accomplishments in customer-focused problem solving. · Demonstrated ability to identify business opportunities. · Self-directed, highly detail oriented, organized and flexible. · - Clear thinker, with strong communications skills and an ability to drive clear expectations within the SSA operations.

Apply before Sunday, May 15, 2016 - 4 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………..end…………………….

You can subscribe to Job Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.jobszilla.ng

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osun Defender Saturday, May 14, 2016

Ife/Ijesa APC Senatorial Meeting Held In Ilesa On Thursday

•Senator Babajide Omoworare (standing), addressing the party leaders on the occasion.

•A cross section of the APC members in front of the new Ilesa-East APC secretariat, venue of the meeting.

•The Olosunjela, Oba Abdulrhamon Babatunde Mohmmed (left), with some party leaders at the event.

•Former State APC Chairman, Elder Lowo Adebiyi (2nd left); Hon Timothy Owoeye, Majority Leader, Osun House of Assemby (right); Hon Babatunde Komolafe, representing Atakumosa West/East in the State House of Assembly and some other party leaders on the high table on the occasion.

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saturday, may 14, 2016

D

emocracy is about the best system man has fashioned to govern the society. It involves majority participation, free choice, free association and the rule of law.

With all these attributes, however, the system does not guarantee that the best candidates would emerge as winners in elections. Democracy will only ensure that the candidate with majority of votes wins in an election.

A demagogue, who can sweet-talk the electorate to vote for him/her, will win an election, whereas, a more qualified candidate may lose.

However, the good thing about enduring democracies is that they have fashioned a way to handle elected representatives of the people, who do not conform to the requirements of the society.

In the parliamentary democracy like England, a vote-of-no-confidence can be passed by the parliament and that exits such a government from power, regardless of the number of months or years it has been in power.

In the American presidential system, recall is used to exit a member of the legislature that is not up and doing, whereas impeachment is adopted to remove a chief executive like the President or the governor.

A deep analysis, however, shows that whereas we imported the benefits and the perquisite that go with these systems, we fail to take along with them the sanctions.

On this page sometime ago, I wrote to enquire what happens if we are being misruled by the executive and the parliament is helpless? As I write now, am yet to get the appropriate response.

In view of the current situation we find ourselves, the question is not only apt but more appropriate.

The government of President Muhammad Buhari has announced through the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulation Agency (PPPRA) a new price regime of N145 for a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, taking effect from May 11th, 2016.

According to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who doubles as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who spoke with the State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Wednesday, “the Federal Government finally ended the subsidy regime on the product and approved an increase in the pump price.”

Kachikwu said the decision was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting presided over by Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and attended by the leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, and Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

The minister said; “it has become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take some critical decisions among which are, all oil marketers to be allowed to import the

Audacious Exploit with Murtala Agboola Tel: 0806-119-7897 E-mail: murtalamuag@yahoo.com

The Price Of Our Collective Docility

Plausible as that may be, a governor once told his private audience that this Constitution invests so much power on the governor. “The power is enormous and wholesome. The governor rightly hit the nail on the head.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which has been in the National Assembly for the past ten years, has been “technically” passed not by the elected representatives of the people in the National Assembly feeding fat on our commonwealth, but by exigency of our present predicament.

I watched Kachikwu who tried, albeit, laboriously to justify how the government finally arrived at the decision on a private television station monitored in Lagos.

Kechikwu in Abuja was responding to questions from Channels Television based in Lagos on the new development on the price of PMS. I saw genuiness in him. He was frank and sincere and deployed intellectualism in his analysis. I saw that he means well to the economy but whether these actions will really bring about a lasting solution to perennial fuel scarcity, attendant queues in filling station and the price increases is yet to be seen? Time will definitely tell. t is, however, instructive to state that Nigerians no longer have trust in their leaders. The leaders will preach one thing but do another thing. This discrepancy became very glare during the General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime.

Except other things happen, Nigerians would have to live with the current reality. It is, however, apt to state that an increment of 80% on an essential product like fuel, which runs our economy is by every standard drastic.

Analysts who compare PMS with either diesel or the telecommunication sector are either naive or mischievous.

PMS and Household Kerosine go together. The usage of these two commodities is very high. How many consumers use diesel? Except for huge generators and lorries, all small generators and most vehicles make use of petrol. Kerosine, until recently, is consumed by the common people, who are in the majority.

For the government to gain the trust of the people again, it has to do much.

Now that bills are being passed by people through exigencies, the people may be compelled to ask whether it is important for us to keep the bicameral legislature at the national level.

Like the late Chief Obafemi Awolwo said, there will come a time when the people will fight for themselves. May be this is the time.

Last week I goofed by writing that the late gangling striker Rashidi Yekini was born in Ora. He was actually born in Ira not Ora. Until we meet again on this page next week, have a splendid weekend.

I •Jonathan

PMS on the basis of foreign exchange procured from secondary sources and accordingly, the PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.

In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specification.

The minister further said the government expects that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as has been experienced with diesel. And above all, it would encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector.

He capped it by saying; “we share the pains of Nigerians but, as we have constantly said, the inherent difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current time imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues.”

Good a thing the minister appreciates the fact that it was a tough decision to be taken and its domino effect on the people would be profound. But in spite of that, the government is left with no option but to take that drastic decision.

It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria has to box itself into this corner because we needn’t to. As a partaker

in the Nigerian project, I hope that the expectation of the government would be met in this area, otherwise, this government would go down in history as the one that inflicted the biggest pains on the people. f the truth must be told, we are all culpable to some extent in the situation we find ourselves today.

Where were we when President Jonathan made the former Minister of Petroleum now-turned fugitive, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke untouchable? Where were we when the former Governor of Central Bank, now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, raised fundamental questions on the running of the NNPC? We were all docile and pretended as if all was okay but we cannot escape the price. We all have to pay it now. The alleged misapplications of resources by the powers that be yesterday are gargantuan enough to attract our personal attention. Some privileged Nigerians cannot pretend not to be aware, while the ruination was going on?

The national parliament as a body was as helpless as its committees on finance, appropriation, petroleum downstream and upstream.

The fact of the matter is that this Constitution is not helpful to the average Nigerian. Yes, one may argue there is nothing wrong with the Constitution but the practitioners.

I

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