www.osundefender.org thursday, may 19, 2016 “Intensely selfish people are always very decided as to what they wish. They do not waste their energies in considering the good of others”. Ouida Wanda. This opening quote is apt in describng our
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VOL. 11. NO.050
Death sentence for kidnappers; what about corrupt public officials?
legislators at the National Assembly especially the Senate - now being widely referred to as ‘legislooters’ - due to their selfishness and corrupt tendencies.
While we see the Senate’s endorsement of death penalty for kidnappers as a welcome development, we frown at her silence on what punishment should be
appropriate for corrupt leaders especially as it affects the members of the National Assembly. The silence is bothersome since it smacks of
hypocrisy and double standards.Why on earth should the Senate okay death penalty for kidnappers only to keep mum about corruption of
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which she (the National Assembly) is the worst culprit? After all it is the corrupt behaviour of our political leaders that have given rise to kidnapping and all other criminalities that have found abode in our society as monies that were meant to provide
....continue on pg5
Omisore In Trouble Over N442.6m Dasukigate
Invitation To Fake Crusaders ‘ll End Frivolous Petitions - Bureau
•As EFCC’s Invites Osun Civil Society Group
- Pg 4
- See Story On Page 2
•State of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left) in a handshake with Bishop Mike Bamidele (right) while his wife, Titi (left) and former state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere watch during the 2016 Pentecostal Day at Government Technical College, Osogbo, last Monday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI
Osun Assembly Recommends Reinstatement Of Sacked Lecturers
-Pg 4
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osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
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osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Invitation To Fake Crusaders ‘ll End Omisore In Trouble Over N442.6m Dasukigate Frivolous Petitions - Bureau •Invited By EFCC For Interrogation
•As heEFCC’s Invites Osun Civil Society Group Government of the State of Osun has group is a group that
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said that invitations to fake petitioners and paid agents of destabilization will put an end to frivolous petitions in Nigeria. C i t i n g F r i d a y ’ s local governments in the i n v i t a t i o n b y t h e state by Governor Rauf Economic and Financial Aregbesola, the Bureau Crim es Co m m i s s i o n o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n to the Civil Societies a n d S t r a t e g y i n t h e C o a l i t i o n f o r t h e Office of the Governor Emancipation of Osun in a statement signed (CSCEO) over its petition, by its Director, Semiu alleging diversion of Okanlawon, said the selffunds belonging to the appointed civil society
had been making bogus claims against Governor Aregbesola and his government without producing evidence to substantiate any of the allegations. For instance, this was the group that accused Governor Aregbesola of embezzling the N34.988 billion bailout loan obtained last
year as part of the Federal Government’s intervention to assist states meet their salary obligations. The same group had accused Governor Aregbesola of borrowing over N750 billion, which, according to it, has not impacted on the socioeconomic lives of the people of Osun. The government had also been accused of
Suspected Scan Woman
•The Radiographers’ Registration Board of Nigeria arrested a suspected fake scan woman, Mrs Adebayo Bukola and sealedl-off her centre, Adeyol Ultrasound Centre, Ikirun, State of Osun, last Tuesday. Inset; Her machines that she has been using. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.
planning a mass sack of civil servants in the state, especially in the wake of the challenges to meet salary obligations by the state. “It is instructive that none of these allegations and others from this same group has been proved to be true,” the bureau stated. It described the CSCEO as a dubious two-man contraption put together and masquerading as a pro-people organization. “We must remind Nigerians, lest they take this group serious at all, that Mr. Sulaiman Adeniyi, who claims to be the leader of the group and Seun Adeoye, have been no more than two hired hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun and its allied opposition elements. “It is pertinent to state that the so-called civil society group is a contraption hurriedly put together by Adeniyi and Adeoye to push the dubious agenda of their sponsors, the humiliated governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore and Mr. Segun Akinwusi respectively, to blackmail Governor Aregbesola and his government. “When all their antics
Oyo Police Arrest Serial Rapist, Robber Of LAUTECH Students
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espite has finally come to students of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, as the Oyo State Police Command said its Special Anti-Robbery Squad has arrested a suspected notorious armed robber and rapist, Habib Ajadi, 30, who specialised in attacking and robbing students of the university. assaulted his female According to the State victims. Commissioner of Police, Thirty five mobile Leye Oyebade, the arrest telephone sets, a Toyota of the suspect on May 2, Camry salon car with 2016, was made possible number plate KSF 563 by a distress call made to DU, laptop computers, a the command after the wheel spanner and other suspect had successfully items were found in the robbed one of the students victim’s possession after in the school, James Timi, his arrest. at a bar. The police boss added The commissioner said that Ajadi threatened his the suspect also sexually victims with a gun if they resisted his wish. Change Of Name “The suspect waited I, formerly known as for his victims along Miss awe opeyemi ol u wa s e u n n o w secluded roads and wish to be called and attacked others in their addressed as mrs hostels. He was arrested adesina opeyemi ol u wa s e u n . A l l at a criminal hideout by former documents remain SARS operatives after a valid. NYSC and general complaint was made by public should take note. one of his victims.”
Ajadi said, he attended the Nasarawa State University and graduated with a degree in Computer Science. “I am from Kwara State and I have been stealing
By shina abubakar for some months. I did it number, I would run alone and I have collected away with the phones. I p h o n e s f r o m m a n y went to the school with female students at night. a car, which I bought I sometimes pretended to from the proceeds of my make friends with them profession as a mobile and after they gave me telephone engineer. I their phones to save my am not a student of the school,” the suspect said.
Toogun Charges Industrialists To Be Fire Safety Conscious
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hairman, Special Committee on Fire Safety in the State of Osun, Honourable Mudasiru Oguntola Toogun, has charged industrialists in the state to be fire safety conscious. T o o g u n m a d e then advised them to pay t h i s c h a r g e w h i l e their taxes as soon as o n m o n i t o r i n g t o u r possible. In their responses, to industries and e s t a b l i s h m e n t s i n Managing Director, Amorit Produce Nig. Osogbo and Ilesa. He said, Ogbeni Rauf Ltd, Mr Sunday Adeniyi; Aregbesola is concerned Director Island Bar, Mr with the safety of lives Luqman Olanrewaju; and property of every Director, Solitaire Food , Mr Oluyemi Joshua resident of the state. He therefore, urged a n d M r O k e b i o r u n owners of establishments Julius of De Shallom in the state to comply with Pharmacy, commended fire safety conditions. He the governor for taking
interest in the welfare of the citizenry in the state. They therefore, assured that their taxes would be paid soon. Present were Secretary to the committee, Mr Toba Aluko and men of the Fire Services led by the Deputy Director, Mrs Moni Lawal.
against the Aregbesola government failed, Nigerians must recall how these characters procured the services of a High Court Judge to write a petition with all forms of spurious allegations, which she equally failed to defend. “It is on record that when the EFCC and the State of Osun House of Assembly invited Justice Folahanmi Oloyede to defend the claims in her petition, she developed cold feet,” the bureau stated. The statement added that all the allegations levelled against Aregbesola are the same, as those allegations made by Omisore, Akinwusi and Justice Oloyede, noting that it is clear that the motive of these is to set the state on fire by misinforming the people. Describing the step taken by the EFCC as a welcome development, the bureau stated. “This is a welcome development as perhaps this will put an end to frivolous activities of the likes of hired groups like this and their cohorts in the trade of making allegations that they cannot substantiate. “The Osun example in local government funds administration is a study in transparency and accountability. Perhaps, it is only in Osun that the governor introduced Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLAs), to the monthly allocation meetings. “The HLAs have full knowledge of how much is received and other allied information. A governor with a plan to divert council funds would not bring such a novel addition to the way funds are administered.” The statement also urged the petitioners to check out Osun’s record of payment of council salaries and pensions and compare those with what obtains in many other states of the federation.
By Ismaeel uthman in particular, the illegal a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h influx of terrorists into the Office of National h e E c o n o m i c a n d F i n a n c i a l C r i m e s is solicited.” executed, in line with the the country. Security Adviser (ONSA) Commission (EFCC) has reportedly invited According to sources, recommendation of the T h e N 4 4 2 m i l l i o n through a third party, to Senator Iyiola Omisore, the defeated the contract was awarded Presidential Committee proposal centred on: wit: the late Ooni of Ife, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic t o t h e c o m p a n y b y on the procurement of Border protection and Oba Okunade Sijuwade”. Party (PDP) in the August 14, 2014 election in the the former NSA, and arms and ammunition. Intelligence Services He said N370 million State of Osun for interrogation on a N442.6 million Omisore was a director The anti-graft agency Programme; Supply was paid from the N442 contract awarded to a firm linked to him by the of the company when the w a s a c t i n g o n t h e of Armoured Personnel million and the contract former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo contract was awarded intelligence report that Carriers (APCs); and w a s n o t “ r e n e w e d the N442, 600,000 was not Provision of training due to the change of case in which your name and N370 million paid. Dasuki. The sources alleged executed. The letter of invitation, featured prominently. In s u p p o r t f o r n o n - government.” Sources close to the conventional countersigned by one Abubakar view of the above, you are that part of the N370 Famadewa said Madaki on behalf of requested to interview the million contract fund was i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a i d a terrorism methods. N52,600,000 was the Acting Chairman undersigned on Monday, deposited into Omisore’s company, Fimex Gilt The Managing Director outstanding. L i m i t e d , s u b m i t t e d of Fimex Gilt Ltd, Adetona o f E F C C , r e a d s : April 11, 2016, at No.30, personal account. However, after facing EFCC was investigating proposals to Dasuki on Famadewa, alleged that a C o n t r a c t R e v i e w “ T h e c o m m i s s i o n i s Harper Crescent, Wuse investigating an alleged Zone 7, at 10 am. Your how the contract was combating terrorism and, the company “established Committee, the company cooperation in this regard was directed to “refund the payment it received from ONSA”. The company was the development of our r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e represented the State By sola jacobs among 241 referred to the Head of Service, Sister nation by being civic in he Chief Imam of Osogbo Central Mosque, our responsibility and in yearnings of the people, Akintola of Jaleoyemi EFCC for investigation, Alhaji Musa Animashaun, has charged unity, as members of one especially in the provision O r p h a n a g e H o m e , leading to Omisore’s of basic amenities. invitation. Nigerians to own up to their responsibilities indivisible nation. D i g n i t a r i e s a t t h e among others. The EFCC is probing to the government and their individual families. Awowole also urged service included Mr how part of the N370 Animashaun gave this as good citizens, we the government to be S o l a P o p o o l a , w h o million paid to Fimex Gilt admonition at the Osogbo must play our parts in Limited was remitted Central Mosque at OjaHowever, Omisore, Oba during a service in commemoration of this through his lawyer, year’s “International Day Wole Jimi-Bada and Co. of Families” last Friday. wrote the EFCC that The cleric stressed the the scheduled interview importance of healthy should be rescheduled to relationship among April 14. family members as The counsel said in part: essential ingredients to “Your letter dated April the building of a healthy 7, 2016, and addressed to nation. our client and delivered “The various families to his security at our are the components of client’s residence has the nation; the current been passed on to our unhealthy situation chambers. in our nation is a true “We regret to reflection of families in inform you that our Nigeria,” he said client travelled briefly Representing the out of Abuja but will state government at the return by Wednesday commemoration service, evening accordingly the Permanent Secretary, to our instructions. Ministry of Women, Consequently and Children and Social unfortunately, he will Affairs, Mrs Omolara Ajayi, who led other •Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun (right); Executive Director, French Development Agency, Mrs Laurenace not be able to attend the staff of the ministry, also Breton Moyet (left) and other dignitary signing a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the activities of FDA interview schedule, as enjoined the people on in Nigeria over the next three years in the areas of electricity, agriculture and urban infrastructure during the one-day requested in your letter the need to be dutiful visit of President Francois Hollande to Abuja last Saturday. under reference. and responsible to one’s “On his behalf, we family and the nation at humbly request that the large. interview be rescheduled She posited that for April 14, 2016, for as the nation is currently him to honour your irresponsibility in different homes takes experiencing its trying invitation. “We regret toll on the government times, stressing that he any inconvenience this and the nation at large. political group and an arm of the All see nothing good in could see a brighter light request may cause you.” Prayers were later Progressives Congress (APC) in the State the current Governor at the end of the tunnel. EFCC sources said, offered for Nigerian “There is hope for rather than coming for of Osun, Forum for the Patriotic Members R a u f A r e g b e s o l a families and the nation. of the APC (FOPAMEC), has descended heavily administration in the us in this country, as interrogation on the In a similar service on those individuals and groups condemning the State of Osun. the nation is blessed appointed date, Omisore held at St. Benedict “To a great extent, the during its trying times approached the High recent removal and deregulation of the downstream Catholic Church, Popo, governor has not, since Osogbo, in honour of petroleum sector, describing them as those that do his assumption of office, with a selfless leader Court to restrain it from that commands so much performing its statutory not have the genuine interest of the masses at heart. the International Family left anyone in doubt on respect in the comity functions. This was contained in press statement issued and Day on Sunday, which by Aluko, the State Chairman theorder. group, Elder his sincerity to make his of nations. We have Omisore in the of theofold Ajasegun while also had the Permanent signed mark in governance and “One cannot but be make Osun better than never had it this good application asked the S e c r e t a r y a n d o t h e r reacting to the various at such moments in the court to restrain EFCC members of staff of the statements credited to taking aback by the he met it. ministry in attendance, individuals and groups utterances of those we “A visit to all nooks past. People can be rest f r o m a r r e s t i n g h i m , R e v e r e n d F a t h e r o p p o s i n g t h e n e w all believe should know and crannies across the assured that they will all saying that there was Claudius Awowole, in deregulation policy of better. They should be state would confound smile at the end of it all,” “imminent danger” that his sermon, stressed the Federal Government. the ones who should be the worst of his critics, the State FOPAMEC boss he would be arrested and the essence of family as subjected to inhuman A c c o r d i n g t o t h e educating the masses on a s v i r t u a l l y e v e r y stated. ordained by God and group, all the hues and why and how the new c o m m u n i t y h a s o n e treatment. the duty of parents to be cries by individuals policy should be seen as In an affidavit deposed responsible and dutiful to and groups against the one in their best interest,” form of positive report to by Detective Nuru to give of the governor’s their children. Buhari Dalhatu, dated increase in the price of Ajasegun stressed. determination to impart H e a d d e d t h a t a Premium Motor Spirit May 6, 2016, the EFCC The FOPAMEC healthy family will in (PMS), popularly called leader in the state also o n l i v e s , ” A j a s e g u n prayed the court to turn produce a healthy petrol, are all products of took a swipe against emphasised. dismiss Omisore’s He therefore, n a t i o n , n o t w i t h o u t idle minds, as the same some faceless groups application. the cooperation of any set of people have been and individuals whose admonished all on the member of the family. s t o c k i n t r a d e i s t o need to be patient with In the same manner, found to be beneficiaries all tiers of government,
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Be Patriotic - Clerics Tell Nigerians T
Fuel Price Hike: APC Group Condemns
Anti-deregulation Forces A
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osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Osun Assembly Recommends Reinstatement Of Sacked Lecturers T
By kazeem mohammed he State of Osun House of Assembly has recommended the reinstatement of some of the sacked teaching and non-teaching staffers of the state-owned tertiary institutions. The S p e a k e r , of the report of the House Ho nou r abl e Na j eem a d h o c c o m m i t t e e s , Salaam, dropped the hint i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e during the presentation d i s e n g a g e m e n t o f
some teaching and non-teaching staff of the institutions at the plenary on Monday. The management of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; Osun State Colleges of Education, Ilesa and Ila-Orangun had earlier disengaged about 204 lecturers and non-
teaching staff of the institutions. The Assembly subsequently set up adhoc committees to investigate the circumstance surrounding the actions, the report of which were presented to the House and adopted following a motion by the Leader of the house, Honourable
•A cross section of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) members at the 2016 Pentecostal Day at Government Technical College, Osogbo, Last Monday.
Timothy Owoeye and seconded by the Chief Whip, Honourable Folorunsho Bamisayemi. Salaam said the reports have been deliberated upon at the executive session and justice has been done to them, saying, the Assembly would follow it to the letter to ensure that the recommendations of the House are implemented. He said: “I want to say that in the report, people have been reinstated and the committees confirmed where necessary, the decision of the councils. “In the course of the investigations, the committees went through all the records of those involved and the reasons for their reinstatement or otherwise have been stated by the committees in the report. “So, for the lecturers and other affected staffers, there is nothing to fear because, justice has eventually prevailed on their matters,” he said. According to him, the Assembly, during the course of the investigation, took into
No Court Injunction Against Osun PDP Congress - Oduoye
anywhere. We are lawrebuilt and rebranded. By ismaeel uthman “ W h a t t h e o t h e r abiding people in our he House of Representatives candidate of the faction has that is being camp.” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 Oduoye, popularly interpreted and presented general elections, Mr Kayode Oduoye, has to the public as court called Super Kay added: cleared the air on the purported injunction secured injunction is just an order “We meant to hold a zonal by the Senator Iyiola Omisore faction of the party to serve a party outside congress on Saturday, against the conduct of the just-concluded party the jurisdiction of the May 13, 2016, but because congress. knowledge. And more court in the suit they filed there is a court injunction According to Oduoye, also, I am also involved at Ikirun High Court. and the party upheld there was no injunction in the process in getting There is no injunction and obeys. We believe against the ward, local our party restructured, and state congress of BIZARRE! Fake the PDP in the state of Osun, explaining that Crusader At Work what the Omisore faction presented to the public as injunction was a mere court order to serve the national secretariat of the party on a suit filed at a State High Court in Ikirun. Oduoye, who is a lawyer, spoke in a telephone interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday. The PDP stakeholder said: “Pertaining to what they called court injunction, there was •A MAD MAN? NO.: A self-acclaimed ‘Bishop’ of a Pentecostal church, Mr Seun no any court injunction Adeoye, who has been masquerading as a human right activist in a show of shame, against our congress. We protesting the recent deregulation of petroleum price on the street of Osogbo on need to put the record Monday. straight, I know and by Adeoye who hails from Ilobi area in Egbado division of Ogun State has been an active what I have before me, member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State of Osun. there is no record of any Adeoye, a former Guardian correspondent in Osun was also an ex-state chairman of injunction. “I speak not as an Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) where he is wanted ordinary member of PDP for handing-over since he lost re-election sometime ago. Who then is deceiving who? but as a stakeholder in He owns a Pentecostal church at Okinni where he conferred the title of a ‘Bishop’ on the party, and at this himself not too long ago and he was the Editor of the defunct Osun Mail Newspaper level, I don’t think which later metamorphosed to West Mail, the mouthpiece of Osun PDP. anything would happen Whether such conduct as being exhibited by Mr Adeoye is adding value to Christianity to the party, where I am is left for the public to fill in the gap. deeply committed to, without coming to my
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in the rule of law. We respect the law and that is why we suspended the congress that was scheduled to hold that day because we were properly served with an injunction from the Federal High Court that made the zonal congress not to hold particularly in South-West. ”But for the one that concerns us in Osun, there is no subsisting court order from anywhere at all, and as a result of that, we went ahead and conducted our congress at the wards, local and state levels.
consideration the extent to which it could go, as an arm of government, saying, it has not gone beyond its powers. He stressed that the adoption of the report by the House has made it compulsory for all concerned stakeholders to comply with the directives of the State House of Assembly as stated in the report. Salaam then cautioned the Governing Councils of the institutions not to go against the decision of the House or hide under the matter to make it look as if the Assembly was at logger heads with the executive. According to him, the Assembly found out that after it gave a directive that the status quo should remain, until investigation was concluded on the matter, some of the institutions complied, while some still engaged in sacking of workers He stressed that the action was against the order of the House and declared it null and void. Noting that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a man who believes in the rule of law and always abide by the decision of the House, he said, the Assembly would not allow anyone, inside or outside the government to jeopadise that relationship.
Ogunsua Loses Wife
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he traditional ruler of Modakeke in Ife-North East Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Oba Francis Adedoyin, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, has lost his first wife. M a d a m R e b e c c a Anthony Adedoyin, an Bolanle Adedoyin was Immigration Officer; Mrs said to have died of old- Omolara Ajiferuke and age- related ailment last Mrs Adeola Alabi who Thursday in the town are both nurses. According to Oderinde, at 85. b u rial arrangement According to would be announced by information from the family later. one of the Ogunsua’s grandchildren, Mr Benjamin Oderinde, the deceased is survived by her widower and children among whom are Mrs Joju Oderinde, a trader in Modakeke; Mrs Denike Awojide; Mr Soji Adedoyin, a building material merchant in Port-Harcourt; Mrs •The late Madam Rebecca Roseline Adeleke, a trader Adedoyin. in Ibadan, Oyo State; Mr
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sun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Death sentence for kidnappers; what about corrupt public officials? ...continued
from pg1
employment for youths, provide enabling environment through the building of infrastructure that could have led to the realisation of dreams for the youth, have been criminally siphoned by the elite. The opportunity cost of stealing by the elite has resulted in the rise of deviant behaviour including kidnapping. Corruption is a heinous crime which has destabilised the whole of the society. Kidnapping is an offshoot of the denial of opportunities wrought by corruption. From this perception what is sauce
for the goose must be sauce for the gander. The penalty for both criminal infractions should be the same. The malfeasance of the people in the National Assembly has cost the country a lot, not least in terms of perception. This is reflected in the now infamous comments of the British prime minister David Cameron recently. It shows that due to the actions and inactions of the National Assembly all Nigerians are now tarred with the same brush as criminals. What this means is that we must now like China make corruption a capital offence with death penalty attached. A drastic remedy is clearly required before corrup-
Let us be absolutely clear
With Petrol At N145, Welcome To Reality
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ost
Nigerians don’t realise we’ve been living in The Matrix. This subsidy removal is the red pill that may wake us up to the reality. We are poor. We are broke. We’ve been raped, pillaged, looted and left for dead. All these years, our economy has been sustained on the junk food of corruption. We have kwashiorkor but because we look chubby, we think we are healthy. Those two bedrooms in Abuja going for N700 million; those makeup artists charging N500,000 and pre-wedding photo shoots for N700,000; Aso
ebi for N90,000; buying Rolexes, Ferraris and Range Rover Sport, all over Lagos like Keke NAPEP. They are all fake. It’s all a mirage. We’ve all been living off the spoils of corruption. That’s why the country is so hard now. No money
circulating. Because no money to steal and rent flats and shop for girlfriends. For civil servants to pay bogus tithes of N500,000; for senators to spray dollars at their daughters’
weddings; for Lagos big boys to spend N2 million every Friday night at nightclubs. It’s time to face reality. The party is over. Now we may see the real Nigeria and Nigerians. Now that money will go into our roads and bridges and hospitals.
It will benefit those who don’t have a rich corrupt uncle with connections in oil and gas; those who can’t travel to Dubai to celebrate birthdays; those who don’t know what Coldstone ice cream tastes like.
about it; this country is not going anywhere unless it launches a no-holds barred assault on corruption. The capital punishment must be brought into play to counteract this scourge. Therefore it’s high time the Senate broke its silence on the issue of corruption and urgently and in the most earnest manner come up with a legislation that will not spare corrupt public officials of the same punishment they have okayed for kidnappers. To endorse capital punishment for kidnappers and keep silent on the critical issue of corruption which has brought us to this sorr pass and which directly concerns them, is most hypocritical and selfish.
tion destroys the country. As clly stated by PMB “we must destroy corruption before corruption destroys us”. Thus we must all key in to the President’s vision as the debilitating effect of corruption has already torn aside the social fabric leading to all manner of criminal behaviour. The detterence must therefore be punitive. The Chinese had to take this step because they know that corruption would halt the magnificent advance they have already made. The need is actually more imperative here because we have not realised the hopes of independence; no thanks to corruption.
Hopefully, the real estate markets will crash, as the thieves with 15 houses in Abuja will be forced to sell them fast for cash. I would prefer if EFCC seized and auctioned them, though. All those in the service industry will have to revaluate their pricing. You can’t charge N500,000 to paint faces anymore; free money don finish. Welcome to the real world.
OSUN DEFENDER
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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the above mail address. ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com
interview
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osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
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politics
osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Sheriff Not Qualifed At All To Be PDP Chairman - Babatope Sheriff Not Qualifed At All To Be PDP Chairman - Babatope In this interview with GBENRO ADEOYE, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, says the internal wrangling in the party could affect its chances in the next general elections.
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our p a r t y h a s z oned its national chairmanship to the North. What do you make of that? It is not a bad idea; no. Taking the national chairmanship of the party to the North is not a bad idea as long as whoever is selected from the North is not from the North-East. And if we are going to go to the NorthEast, I must say it must not be Ali Modu Sheriff. But whoever is elected from the zone cannot midwife a northern presidential candidate for the party in 2019. So we must still have another convention that will appoint another person from another zone, like the South to midwife a northern presidential candidate of the PDP. But endorsing Sheriff as the chairman of the party is totally wrong. He is a stranger to the party and he is a man who has nothing to offer except to cause confusion and destroy the party. What is really the problem? Is it that you have something against Sheriff being the Chairman of the PDP or about wanting the position zoned to the South-West? No! I know Sheriff very well; I don’t have anything against him. But the truth is that he is not a member of our party. The man just joined the party. There are rules and regulations in the party that explain whether a man can contest for any position or not. Apart from that, he just joined the party. He was brought by some people and then became the national chairman. Even though they said he was taking the position of the former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the point is that if anyone would take the position of Muazu in office, it is not Sheriff that should be there. So even if the position is zoned to the North-East, it should not be Sheriff that should occupy the position. No! No! No! He is not qualified at all by any standard to be the chairman of the PDP. Even if for the purpose of argument, we say that the North-East should provide a chairman, why should it be Sheriff? It could be any other person. There are so many people in the North East. But the issue is that a chairman from the North cannot midwife a northern presidential candidate for the PDP in 2019. After the Ike Ekweremadu report, The PDP agreed that the candidate of our party for the presidency must come from the North. So somebody from the region cannot say that he is going to midwife the nominations and election of candidates from the North. There must still be another convention that will appoint somebody from the South, who will now superintend over all the electoral affairs that will determine the northern presidential candidate of the party. A former presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, recently said that the SouthWest PDP has been marginalised over the years. Do you agree that the PDP has been taking its members in the South-West for granted? I won’t say that. But honestly speaking, do we have a credible committee of the party, in terms of the National Working Committee? But nobody can come out and say within the NWC that the South-West should not have the chairmanship position. That is the point we are making. They must get these things right and determine the priorities of the party and know that the PDP wants to return
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to power and the Nigerian people are supporting the PDP now. We must not dampen the spirit of the Nigerian people who are supporting us once again. So since the presidency has been zoned to the North for 2019 election, are you insisting that the national chairman of the party must be from the South-West or another region in the South? Speaking objectively, we cannot dictate what to do to the party. I have told you the objection of our people to the fact that somebody like Sheriff is being asked to come and preside over our affairs. He is a stranger to our organisation. This is a man who has spent lots of money fighting against the PDP. But the PDP South West has got the right to demand and say that the PDP should kindly look towards its right to have the next chairman of the party. One, the PDP South West has never been elected chairman of the party. Two, we believe that we have got the people that can make the party to be strong, progressive and viable. That is what we are saying. We are not forcing the party by saying it must bring the national chairmanship of the party to the South West. No, we can’t do that. That is not party politics. Some people have described PDP members from the South-West as behaving like Oliver Twist, that after all, the region had the presidency for eight years, a position that some zones in the country have not had the opportunity to hold yet. Why are you making so much fuss about the party’s national chairmanship? The South-East has been chairman of the party and when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was President, you would not find the South-West clamouring for other positions in the party. No, we didn’t do that. President Obasanjo won and became President for eight years. Today we believe
that the South-West should be given a chance. But if the party believes that the position should be zoned to another part of the country from the South, there is no problem, everything will be okay. But if it feels that it can give South-West a chance, let the party go ahead and do that and we will not disappoint the party. t appears that the people behind Sheriff are the PDP governors and some party chieftains, including from the South-West like Governor Ayo Fayose. Do you see such persons as traitors to the cause of the SouthWest caucus to have the national chairmanship? No! No! No! I am not mentioning names now because that is not my problem. But except there is anybody from the South-West who says we must not have the national chairmanship and argues that it must not come here; then he will be a traitor to the cause of his own people. But we cannot say the governors are traitors. No! No! No! We cannot say that. This is democracy and people are entitled to their own opinions. All we are saying is that if after all said and done, our party, the PDP, decides that the chairmanship should go to a particular place in the country outside the South-West, no problem, we are going to work very well with that person. All we know is that our objection to Sheriff is based on principles. The man has not been a member of our party. He was just brought to come and be the chairman of our party and the man told us initially when there was opposition to his emergence that he was going to leave before the Port Harcourt convention. Now his supporters are saying that he wants to go back to the position; that is very wrong. I will continue to say it is wrong. I will continue to say that he should not be there. That is all. Dr. Okupe said that some members
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would reconsider their membership of the party, but none has gone yet. Are you one of those planning to quit the party? You cannot blame Dr. Okupe for making that statement. That is his opinion and it is tolerated and permitted in a democracy. Even people from the South-West that are saying ‘don’t bring the chairmanship to the South-West’ are expressing their opinions. But we are saying that it is not done like that anywhere in the world. But having said that, as far as some of us and I are concerned, we know that we are not toddlers. We cannot abandon the PDP for Sheriff and his supporters. We cannot do that. So we will not say that we will quit the PDP for Sheriff. We will not also do that. We will remain there and fight constitutionally to ensure that justice is done and fair play is upheld. We will make sure that the man does not remain in the position to preside over illegalities in the party. He is now trying to amend the party’s constitution- a constitution that he has not been used to observing. Those are the things we are fighting for. Dr. Okupe is free to express his own opinion and people are free to move to other parties. For instance, my very good friend, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has left the PDP. In my first comment on it, I said Nnamani was free to express his opinion and to leave. e was a big asset to the PDP, so we have lost somebody who is credible and good. So we will still prevail on people to stay in the party and fight. We are going to fight. We will fight with our constitution, the Nigerian constitution and everything we have to ensure that we convince PDP supporters never to succumb to the whims and caprices of those who want to destroy the party. Just to be clear, are you saying that you are not going to leave the party no matter what? No! No! No! I won’t leave the PDP. I’m too old to do that. Besides, what for? To go and join the APC? If I were to leave and join any party at all, the party that would attract my attention and interest would be the Unity Party of Nigeria, which was my party led by the great statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the Second Republic. But I’ve not considered that now because I am in the PDP and I want to remain in the PDP. I pray to God that he will make me to be alive when the PDP returns to power in Nigeria. If the situation continues as it is and some key members of the party decide to defect to other parties, do you know that it will affect the party’s chances to return to power and make your wish come true? Of course, it is going to have serious effects on the party and that is why we will continue to prevail on people that escapism will never be an answer to what is going on- leaving the party will never be an answer. We should stay and fight together. If they leave, we are simply going to miss them; we are missing Nnamani and some of them already. Therefore, we must remain in the party and fight to make sure all the people who want to destroy our party are clinically removed from it using our constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. •Contined on page 7
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•Contined from page 6 Some people ask why the issue of Sheriff is causing so much controversy in the party. I don’t know. Some people are supporting him for selfish reasons. What selfish reasons? There are those who feel that Sheriff will help them fight their case if they have any kind of criminal matter. But that is selfish. There are some of us who believe that if you want to deal with anybody on legal aspects, it must be done within the laws of the land and in a way that it will not harm the legal interests of anyone. All of them supporting Sheriff are doing so because of selfish reasons; that is all. It is not because of any party interest. But some PDP members have said that Sheriff knows the APC inside out and the way to deliver the presidency to the PDP come 2019. Shouldn’t you all want that? That is not correct. Why did he not deliver the presidency to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, which was his party before? Even though some people are saying that he is President Muhammadu Buahari’s in-law, then can we now say that President Buhari has sent Sheriff to come and destroy the PDP if it is true that he is an in-law to the President? Even if it is so, then it is morally wrong for the PDP to give chairmanship to such a person because interests are involved. Some former ministers are also against the choice of Sheriff. Is the South-West caucus meeting with them to have a strong front to fight the battle? ormer ministers or former anything within the party are free to come to any meetings of the PDP as long as the meetings are legally called. Many of the former ministers that served this country from 1999 have expressed their opinion that they don’t want Sheriff. That is a good voice coming from them. But as far as I’m concerned, I have objected to the choice of Sheriff based on the things I have analysed. I have nothing personal against him. Sheriff and I are former members of the United Nigeria Congress Party during the Sani Abacha era. At that time, we were in the same party. But what I’m saying now is that this is a different ball game. This is a new situation. We are of the PDP; he was of the ANPP. He had never been with us and he just came from nowhere to now say he wants to dominate our affairs. We say no to that; it is wrong. I will fight it on the basis of that legal principle. So what is your next plan of action since you have made it clear that you won’t leave the party and it looks like Sheriff will retain the position? We will fight on. I tell you, we will fight on, constitutionally and peacefully too. There are rumours all over the town that some of them are trying to engage political assassins; I wish them the very best of luck. But we will fight on through our recourse to legality and through our recourse to what makes a party like the PDP to be a genuine peoples’ oriented party. We understand that there will be a meeting of the Board of Trustees soon where the issue is likely to come up. What do you expect to get out of it? When a meeting of the BoT is called, I will be there. I’m still a member until they go ahead and get rid of us because we are told that they have even chosen a new chairman of the BoT by themselves. One of the programmes we are told they want to implement is to ensure that their man becomes the new chairman of
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•BAbatope the BoT. We are even told that the new chairman of the BoT will be appointed from the South West. We wish them the very best of luck. It doesn’t stop us. But when the BoT, as properly constituted, calls a meeting, we will all be there to ensure that we attend and the issue will be openly discussed and then decisions will be openly and democratically arrived at. So are you saying that the Sheriff camp is already trying to lobby some members of South-West caucus with cash and positions such as the BoT Chairmanship you have just mentioned? I’ m talking for myself; I cannot talk for any other person. I can only talk of myself and a few of my friends that I know very well. I cannot talk for any other person. If they are convinced and they join them, that is their own problem, not mine. It doesn’t stop the struggle we are in. We are having this struggle on the basis of sound and noble principles that can be defended at anytime. You must really be disappointed by all this since people say you also have an ambition to become the national chairman of the party, so realising you may never get it must really be painful to you. Let me say clearly to you now, I have no ambition whatsoever to become the Chairman of the PDP. My ambition is to stay with the PDP, build the PDP and make sure that the PDP returns to power. If anything at all, I’m one of those who believe that we have got men of experience and any of them can be the Chairman of the PDP. We have Chief Olabode George; we have Chief Yekini Adeojo; we have Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun. The three of them are former deputy national chairmen of the PDP. And if you ask me for my own opinion, I will tell you that I have been the person behind the move that Bode George should become the chairman of the party, but it is not for me to do. It is for me to say my own and for other people to democratically take a decision. But I’m not interested. I was never interested. I wanted to be secretary of the party and the party rejected me and I have taken a decision on that. In fact, my children have all taken a decision with me that I must not be interested in anything of that nature. So I’m not interested. You once said that the PDP will get
the APC out of the Presidential Villa in 2019. Do you still think so with the internal wrangling in your party? ell , i f o u r i n t e r n a l wrangling should continue till that time, then it will depend upon the electorate; I can tell you that. But if we are able to stop this internal wrangling and allow someone who is qualified to be the chairman of the party, we will get Buhari out of power in 2019. The Nigerian people are for us now and it will be a tragedy for those of us in the party to now move against the interest of the people. I can assure you that if we have collective leadership in 2019, we will get Buhari and the APC out of power. But some people have said that for the PDP to have any chance in 2019, it will need to bring up young people with clean records and do away with old people. Even Governor Fayose made reference to this recently. Who has not been giving the young people the chance to move up? The PDP has always allowed young people to emerge and people who are old can also emerge. Where has God said all my creations are divided into old and young? So to the man who says he wants to get all of us elders killed, we wish him the best of luck. Is he not going to get old? And if he gets old, will he want someone to say they want to kill him or relegate him to the back seat? Honestly, it is nonsensical talk. I’m very surprised that that should come from Ayo Fayose, to say that all elders (in the party) should take the back seat. If it is the wish of the people to be led by young people, of course, it is good and nobody has ever stood against that kind of principle. But to say that the old men should take the back seat, I mean it is nonsensical talk and it should just be taken as nonsensical talk. Do you think that Buhari is doing well under the circumstances as his government clocks one year? I’m not in the APC and I cannot be campaigning for the party. But if we were to talk objectively, I think that we should allow him to finish his programmes within the next one or two years. He has a mandate of four years and I am not impatient to see him out of power because he has not done one thing or the other. Let him do his programmes in whatever way
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he wants to do them. And besides, I’m a bit selfish in the sense that Buhari is from my generation. He is only one month, seven days older than me. So I want him to succeed. But when you talk in terms of the PDP and the APC, I will be the happiest person if the APC and Buhari continue to blunder from one thing to the other because it is going to strengthen our hope to return to power and the Nigerian people are going to give us the opportunity to come back to power. Is it true that you still have a grudge against Buhari since you were jailed when he was military head of state? I’m a Christian; I have forgiven those who have offended me. Though, it is difficult for me to forget that President Muhammadu Buhari put me in detention for 21 months without committing any offence. But I have forgiven him. I’m not in his party; I’m in the PDP and I can never be in the same party with him. All I can say is that I wish him the best of luck as he governs but I cannot forget the fact that for 21 months, he kept me in detention. My father died; he didn’t allow me to bury him. Even though later on, his mother died and before he arrived home, she had been buried. But that notwithstanding, it is difficult for me to forget and I will not forget until I go to the world beyond. What do you make of his anticorruption war and the fact that many of your party members have been found to have allegedly looted this country dry? support anything Buhari or the APC does to ensure that the wings of corruption are clipped in Nigeria. But my problem is this; you are saying that the PDP did this and that, but what about the APC? Did the APC spend stones on elections? Did it not spend money? Where did they get the money from? So to be fair, we must also investigate the APC and bring out facts that we will show to the world that they spent money to the advantage of the party. This government can do whatever it likes with corruption. It can arrest anybody who is culprit, even in the PDP, but I’m saying that fair is fair. We must be fair to all. We must know that the APC is made up of men and those men also did virtually worse things than what they are now accusing the PDP of.
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•Culled from The Punch.
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phototalk
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State Of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Attended 2016 Pentecostal Day, At Government Technical College, Osogbo, Last Monday. Photo: GBENGA
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Some Completed Schools In The State Of Osun Under The Administration Of State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Photo:GBENGA
•Deputy Governor, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) in a handshake with former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere.
•Professor Wole Soyinka High School in Ejigbo.
•A cross section of Ministers of God at the event.
•Front view of Wole Soyinka High School.
•A cross section of Choristers during the programme.
•Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School in Osogbo.
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osun Defender Thursday, May 19,
Health Benefits Of Mushrooms Fayose Should Be Arrested - Orire osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
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he h e a l t h b e n e f i t s o f mushrooms include relief from high cholesterol levels, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and diabetes. It also helps in weight loss, and increases the strength of your immune system. Almost all of us are familiar with mushrooms and their miraculous, beneficial powers. Particularly those who have read or heard a lot of fairytales such as Alice in Wonderland, Three Bears and a baby or even those who have played the Super Mario Brothers video game. You have probably seen mushrooms making someone bigger or acting as a shield against some dangerous monster. These aren’t just popular culture references, they are actually symbolic representations of the actual health benefits of mushrooms. They truly can make you bigger and protect you against diseases and infections, as they are full of proteins, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antibiotics and antioxidants.Mushrooms are edible fungi with various scientific names, but the family name is “Agaricus”, and then there are many secondary names for different species. They are essentially Saprophytes, the organisms (plants without chlorophyll) which thrive by extracting nutrients from dead and decaying plant and animal matter. They vary greatly in their color, texture, shape and properties. There are approximately 140,000 species of mushroom-forming fungi in the world, but science is only familiar with about 10%, while only 100 species or so are being studied for their potential health benefits and medicinal applications. Some of the most wellknown benefits of mushrooms are explained below. Health Benefits of Mushrooms Cholesterol Levels: Mushrooms themselves provide you with lean proteins since they have no cholesterol or fat and are very low carbohydrates. The fiber and certain enzymes in mushrooms also help lower cholesterol levels. Moreover, the high lean protein content in mushrooms helps burn cholesterol when they are digested. Balancing levels of cholesterol between LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol) is essential in the prevention of various cardiovascular diseases like artherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Anemia: Anemic patients are characterized by having low levels of iron in their blood, resulting in fatigue, headaches, reduced neural function, and digestive issues. Mushrooms are a good source of iron, and over 90% of the nutritive iron value can be absorbed by the body, which promotes the formation of red blood cells and keeps people healthy and functioning at their full potential. Breast Cancer & Prostate Cancer: Mushrooms are very effective in preventing breast and prostate cancer due to the significant presence of BetaGlucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid, which both have anti-carcinogenic effects. Out of these two, linoleic acid is particularly helpful in suppressing the harmful effects of excess estrogen. This increase in estrogen is one of the prime causes for breast cancer in women after menopause. The Beta-Glucans, on the other hand, inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in cases of prostate cancer, and numerous studies have shown the antitumor properties of mushrooms when applied medicinally. Diabetes: Mushrooms are an ideal low-energy diet for diabetics. They have no fats, no cholesterol, very low levels of carbohydrates, high protein content, and a wealth of vitamins and
minerals. They also contain a lot of water and fiber. Moreover, they contain natural insulin and enzymes which help the breaking down of sugar or starch in food. They are also known to contain certain compounds which help proper functioning of the liver, pancreas and other endocrine glands, thereby promoting the formation of insulin and its proper regulation throughout the body. Diabetics often suffer from infections, particularly in their limbs, which tend to continue for long periods of time. The natural antibiotics in mushrooms can help protect diabetics from these painful and potentially life-threatening conditions. one Health: Mushrooms are a rich source of calcium, which is an essential nutrient in the formation and strength of bones. A steady supply of calcium in the diet can reduce your chances of developing conditions like osteoporosis, and can also reduce joint pain and general lack of mobility that is associated with bone degradation. Nutrient Absorption: Vitamin D is a relatively rare vitamin to find in vegetables, and in fact, edible forms in general are not particularly common. However, mushrooms have it, and this essential vitamin can facilitate the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. Mushrooms also contains levels of these two nutrients, so the combined effects of having all of these nutrients in one powerful source, mushrooms, makes it a good idea to eat them whenever possible. Immune System Strength: Ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant present in mushrooms, is very effective in providing protection from free radicals as well as boosting the immune system. It is actually an amino acid that contains sulfur, which is something that many people are deficient in, despite not knowing it or seeing its effects. That being said, the presence of this “master antioxidant” which is unique to mushrooms, can give you a major boost to immune system health. It helps to eliminate free radicals, which are the dangerous compounds that are released during the metabolic processes of cells, and can float throughout the body and cause significant damage and disease,
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so antioxidants, like ergothioneine, are vital elements for overall health. Mushrooms contain natural antibiotics (similar to penicillin, which itself is extracted from mushrooms), which inhibit microbial growth and other fungal infections. Those same polysaccharides, beta-glucans, can stimulate and regulate the body’s immune system. They can also help heal ulcers and ulcerous wounds and protect them from developing infections. The good combination of vitamins A, B-Complex and C that is found in mushrooms also strengthens the immune system. Blood Pressure: Studies of various types of mushrooms, including shitake and maitake mushrooms, have shown them to be high in potassium content. Potassium acts as a vasodilator, relaxing tension in blood vessels and therefore reducing blood pressure. High blood pressure is connected to a number of deadly conditions, particularly heart attacks and strokes. Potassium also increases cognitive function, because increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain stimulates neural activity. Studies have shown that increased levels of potassium improve memory and knowledge retention. Copper Content: Copper has a number of beneficial effects on the body, and can be found in mushrooms. Calcium can regulate and stimulate the absorption of iron from food, and properly utilize it by getting it released from primary storage spots in the body like the liver. Mushrooms also have high levels of iron, so the two work together for healthy bones and preventing anemia. Selenium Content: The selenium content in mushrooms is one of the most beneficial elements that is often overlooked. The primary source of selenium is in animal proteins; however, due to their classification as fungi that feed off animal and plant matter, mushrooms are the best way for vegetarians to obtain the necessary amount of selenium.. Selenium is found in large quantities in mushrooms, and can benefit bone health by adding to bone strength and increasing durability. It also strengthens the teeth, hair, and nails. Furthermore, this essential
nutrient is a powerful antioxidant, which rids the body of free radicals and generally strengthens the immune system. The bioavailability of selenium in mushrooms differs on species, but the majority of commonly consumed mushrooms have significant levels of this important mineral. Weight Loss: Would you believe me if I said that a completely lean protein diet is ideal for losing fat and building muscle mass? Well, believe it or not, it’s true. Most fats are burnt to digest proteins found in our food, more so when the protein is accompanied by a very low carbohydrate count, no fat or cholesterol, and a good amount of fiber. This is exactly the combination that mushrooms offer to help in losing weight! Due to their nutrient density, they actually rank higher than most fruits and vegetables, and some researchers say that mushrooms are one of the rare foods that people can eat as often as possible, with no side effects. One study replaced red meat with white button cap mushrooms, approximately one cup per day, and found that those test subjects who ate mushrooms not only lost a significant amount of weight over a standard period of time, but they also decreased their waistline, and were better able to maintain their new weight, rather than ballooning back to the original weight as in most crash diets. Few Words of Caution: On a much more serious note, mushrooms can be very dangerous! Most species of mushrooms are not edible, are highly poisonous and look strikingly similar to their edible counterparts. Don’t ever try picking mushrooms for consumption from the woods unless you have been trained to identify them very well. Mushrooms have the unique ability to absorb the material that they grow on, either good or bad. This quality is what gives mushrooms so much of their beneficial power, but also their dangerous aspects. Many mushrooms, when picked in the wild, contain heavy metals, which can be very toxic, as well as air and water pollutants. Also, do not trust any unknown vendors when you buy mushrooms. Always trust sealed products from reputable companies or those which you have grown yourself under controlled conditions after buying their seeds (called spawns) from a trusted source. A single poisonous mushroom among others in a dish can threaten a large amount of people’s health, resulting in comas, severe poison symptoms, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, cramps, insanity. Many species can even be fatal if ingested. Always avoid eating discolored mushrooms or those which are different in color than the typically accepted color of their species.
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Reverend (Dr.) Adebayo Orire is an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder and governorship aspirant in Ado-Ekiti. Orire is the proprietor of Orire Hospital Complex located in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital; a reverend gentleman, General Overseer and founding father of God Tenet Church. In this interview, he addressed sundry issues on political situation in Nigeria, while expressing outright condemnation and dissatisfaction on the performance of Governor Fayose in Ekiti State. Orire describes Fayose’s ruling style as: “A system full of obnoxious policies.” He among other things lamented the recent loss of six Ekiti doctors in a ghastly motor accident.
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SDF: Recently, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in a bid to warn Fulani herdsmen from spreading their perpetual killings to Ekiti, threatened to poison water in Ekiti. What’s your reaction on that? ORIRE: Everybody would go against the unruly attitude of the Fulani herdsmen, but poisoning water is one of the rantings, superficial and empty talks of the governor. There is no way you are going to poison water that people of Ekiti would not drink from it. You don’t know where the herdsmen could go. How many streams are you going to poison? He talks at times unprepared, so we have to excuse him. OSDF: You are aspiring for governorship in Ekiti come 2018. Why are you just declaring at this time? ORIRE: Even though it’s not yet time to come out, I have interest in the governorship position in Ekiti State because if you look at Ekiti 19-20 years after creation, it still remains a virgin land. No single industry in Ekiti, no mechanised farming, no private enterprise firm that can employ people and pay hundred thousand naira, no good road. Although, Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni, Fayemi did some jobs. But we need to take Ekiti away from penal level of livelihood. It is not about doing some roads that would wear out three or four years after they have left office, maintaining civil servants, the way they are not even maintained. We have to give Ekiti modern age. This is 2016! An average civil servant is not even proud of himself. We can make them proud of themselves; we can pay them as and when due; we can rate their salaries according to their levels. Look at agriculture, even the farm settlements we have twenty years ago now are worse-off. We buy things like pepper, tomato from the North. This is unthinkable. I know my people as farmers. We are the best producer of Cocoa during the old Western Region; we cannot even rate ourselves as one of the producers of Cocoa now. We need to go for industrialization; small scale and medium scale. We are going to take Ekiti from this primary level to a level that can be envied. We are going to create wealth and labour. OSDF: Looking at the issue of Ekiti APC zoning gubernatorial candidate in 2018 election. How viable is your chance, considering the fact that you are from the central zone? ORIRE: My chance derives from my passion in Ekiti. I love Ekiti. I have stayed in Ekiti almost all the days of my life after graduation from school. The issue of zoning is not in our Constitution. There has been no time the governorship race was on, that a southern aspirant will not come forth. They were always losing in the primaries. When we agree for the Northern one, it was everybody from the three senatorial districts that sat down and made the agreement. But this time around, we are not in government. We cannot zone in a situation where we should be looking for the best aspirant to become a candidate. We cannot go and pick somebody living abroad because he has some money to throw around and deceive people because he’s a southerner. The candidate must understand the terrain of Ekiti for good governance. All the APC stakeholders and other well-meaning individuals in the party from national level to the state
•ORIRE have declared that there is no zoning. My chances are very high, because I have what Ekiti wants. I want them to see it from my life history. Am I managing my life, businesses, health, successfully? Am I a peaceful person? Am I dependable? OSDF: Recently, Senator Buruji Kashamu, in a newspaper interview, condemned Governor Fayose’s criticism on Buhari’s administration, especially the governor’s letter to the Chinese government, describing the act as selfishness and demarketing Buhari’s administration. What’s your view on that? RIRE: Any well-meaning, realistic, reasonable and mentally-sound person would criticize Fayose, because he is not acting the way a matured person should. Playing opposition to the level of felony and treason; abusing somebody who is old enough to be your grand father; playing to the gallery to the extent of going to the outside world, inciting the society against government. What is more personal than saying someone would die? He should not limit himself to Nigeria, majority of people who rule the world are between the ages of 60 and 80, that is where you have a bank of experience that is dependable; maturity, sincerity, integrity, patience and foresight would come to play. Governance is not for toddlers and all comers. As a governor, you don’t just open your mouth and talk, because you should know it has a reverberating effects. Writing letter to Chinese government is the cake of the insult. It is treasonable felony. The governor should have been arrested. Governance is not an act of Kangaroo arrangement. Even there is legislative process surrounding the recovered loots. So what is Fayose talking about? This is democracy, occasionally you could get emotional, but in a normal clime, if a governor goes outside of his country to talk like that, he would be arrested before he comes back. OSDF: What about the immunity clause of our Constitution? ORIRE: Immunity is our bane in
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By sola jacobs this country. Immunity is not against constitutional matters. He has turned against the integrity of this country. He has shot himself in the leg by destroying what gave him the immunity. Immunity doesn’t cover such act. Immunity does not rate you above the country that gave you the immunity. Fayose has become a laughing stock. One day, I was talking outside the state, discussing with some people. They asked where I was from and I said Ekiti. They said: “We don’t expect an Ekiti man to be talking like that intelligently. Your governor is another thing.” On another occasion, a carpenter was scolding his apprentice. He said; “lazy, crooked, greedy man, go to Ekiti and be a governor, there is no way for you in my shed.” That is outrightly ridiculous! We have to pardon this man and we have to pray that next time, Ekiti would better decide. Buruji, Bode George and other PDP national chieftains have disclaimed him; they have dissociated themselves from his senseless talks. OSDF: Some people on the other side have said that Buruji is romancing the ruling party to cover up his court cases. What about that? ORIRE: But it is better to romance somebody who can save you than abusing the person. You cannot crucify him until you prove him guilty. OSDF: On the political situation in Nigeria, masses are yearning that politicians behave in sharp contrast to their promises on improving the welfare of the masses. Masses claim that politicians in Nigeria get to power to turn politics to private businesses, alleging and attacking one another on personal issues, rather than focusing on governance. ORIRE: Nigerians are politicians. Politicians are Nigerians. There is a Nigerian factor in everything Nigeria, which is how we have gotten ourselves to this callous state. There are some things we should handle officially and officiously. All over the world, people are in politics for two reasons; the state and self. Even in America, Britain, nobody is excused for taking his own personal interest above the
state interest. Nigerians in any political party have to wake-up. If Nigerians have been serving the state more than themselves, economy, industrialization and Nigeria, as a nation, would be better. How can you imagine a single person stealing billions of naira? What’s he going to do with it? From what Buhari and his people are doing now, we know we are putting a stop into it and we know it would stop. OSDF: What’s your reaction on Fayose’s recent face-off with some banks in Ekiti over alleged refusal of the banks to pay certain amount? The governor was said to have issued directives to civil servants using those banks to close their accounts. ORIRE: It is a ridiculous thing. Banking has regulations, the state has regulations. The banks, state and the people have been doing businesses together since inception. I have not heard the time when bank doors would be locked or closed by the government. They must pay tax, but there are ways of doing it. If you are in court for five years, take your tax, interest and they would pay, now you are destroying their businesses. ow are people going to have confidence in these banks? How are they going to make the wave to pay your tax? These banks can sue the state; you can lose all the tax you have collected, because in such case, they might win. In civilized countries, you end up paying a lot of damages. These are the things that get us pissed off about the governor. We are not apportioning blame, but there are some things that are obscene. Even if you are taking it personal, you must be civilized with it. OSDF: What’s your reaction as a medical doctor to the incidence that happened recently to your junior colleagues, who lost their lives while travelling to Sokoto State for NMA meeting? ORIRE: Most unfortunate. I was in Israel on pilgrimage, when a truck ran into another stationary truck around 4.00 am, about fifteen kilometres away from the nearest village. Ten minutes later, there were about seven different vehicles including the medical, fire, road repair train to take care of the victims of the accident in a special way. They carried the patients with special ambulances with all doctors and paramedics. The road was diverted immediately. As at that time, the patients were already undergoing surgery. Although, before we took-off, we were informed that the patient died during surgery. Here is a country, where we lost six doctors in a day to bad roads. People die all over the world from accidents, but the nature of our country is a sad story. If they had help early enough, maybe some of them could have survived. It’s obscene! That is what happens everywhere in this country and unfortunately, these boys never had insurance cover. During one of my interviews and recommendations, I said every doctor and para-medicals should have life and accident insurance cover. It’s unfortunate that fine men like that, brains, diligent workers and good people were lost unnecessarily in circumstances that could have been prevented. It’s our loss, not their families. God would give the families fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. I call upon the state to give the families all their entitlementsm on time.
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Why I Support Deregulation opinion
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.....I was at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday May 11th where a stakeholders meeting involving the leadership of the National Assembly, governors, Labour leadership, minister of state for Petroleum, ministers of Information and that of labour held. The meeting was chaired by the Vice President. It was a consultative meeting ostensibly to get the buy in of stakeholders. I was pumped and ready to challenge any proposition for an increase in pump price and my position was known to most people I spoke with. owever b y t h e t i m e t h e Honourable minister for petro leum finished his doomsday prognosis and gave a graphic account supported with facts and figures of where we are and where we would be in a matter of months if we did not alter the approach or fundamentally change the status quo, I had no option but to capitulate. It was the first time I had been confronted with such a gloomy picture. I found myself between a rock and a hard place. The facts were incontrovertible and the prognosis and consequences dire. We were in an economic cul-de-sac and the country was spiraling down fast due to no fault of this present administration. In fact it was clear that any responsible administration needed to apply the brakes, bring this to a screeching and painful halt and at least for now remove subsidy and deregulate. It was a short term remedy which, all things being equal, would produce a long term solution when the economy would have recalibrated. I struggled with my inner angel and knew this was the only way out. It was made abundantly clear to all seated that in two months there would be no federal allocation to states and no state would be able to pay salaries, including the buoyant ones. The Nigerian nation was on tenterhooks. That’s how bad a picture it was. Indeed I was the first to ask questions after the presentation still looking for a way out when I knew there was none. Whilst I still believe in the principles I held on to so passionately years ago, including the need to bring any deregulation exercise in conformity with the law and the constitution, I believe this is such a time when we should look at the times we are in and our practical situation as a country. I believe (without sounding Trumpist) that Nigeria will be great again but we must rejig and reboot our economy and take another look at the subsidy regime. Many will say, but why did some of us kick in 2012 and if it was not good then why is it good now? It’s a great question and they are right, but again the times are different. In 2012, we were earning a lot of money from oil. Oil was selling at about 100 dollars or thereabout. We had foreign exchange and
osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
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•gbajabiamila
petro dollars to continue with subsidy. Now things are different. The economy is comatose and Nigeria is on life support. Oil is selling at below 40 dollars and the currency (dollar) needed to purchase the refined petrol is no longer available. I want to plead with my constituents and all Nigerians to work with government. You are the most important stakeholders, never mind those of us that gathered around a long table and cushy chairs in the Vice President’s Office on Wednesday May 11th to take this far reaching decision. We did so only in a representative capacity. I urge that you please give this government the benefit of doubt and lets take a chance on whether or not the analogy and parallel often drawn by proponents of deregulation in the oil industry to telecommunications industry may end up a truism and that the price of fuel in a laissez-faire, free market will come crashing in months. Lets consider it a temporary sacrifice for the greater good, with the hope that as promised we will be better off in the long term. This problem is not peculiar
By femi gbajabiamila
to Nigeria. It is instructive that other oil producing countries e.g. Bahrain, have been hit hard by the crash in oil price and are towing the same line and reviewing their subsidy policies. ith this new development I in tend to fight with all I have for a review of the minimum wage of all workers in Nigeria. Our country was built on social justice and I cannot, no matter the realities, accept a situation where the cost of living will be increased without a corresponding increase in wages. The sacrifices that we need to make must be comprehensive. Indeed I believe the “wealthy” must not only pay their fair share of taxes, if need be, there must be an upward review of taxes paid by the highest income earners to enable government review the wages of those on the lower rung. It is time to be our brothers’ keepers. I know this is a painful road to take and I hate that I have to flip flop on this one,
W
•Gbajabiamila is Leader of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Abuja; femigbaja1@gmail.com.
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editorial from other newspapers
osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Varsities: The VC Appointment Crises
There is a spectre of succession crises in many public universities across the country. It is particularly visible when the tenure of a vice chancellor is due and a process of appointment of a new one begins. In the last one year, internal upheavals have occurred in a number of federal and state-owned universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, among which are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; University of Maiduguri, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Riverse State University, and the University of Abuja, to name a few. Currently, the process of appointment of a vice chancellor has been suspended at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, where the process has been entangled in a court case and threat of violence, leading to the closure of the institution. The Federal High Court, Osogbo, granted an order halting the process. The order was sought by the institution’s Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) which have been at loggerheads with the university’s governing council over alleged ‘compromise of due process’ in the entire exercise. The unions had also claimed that the council took a pre-emptive move to award marks and rank candidates without the constitution of the joint council and Senate selection board, the statutory organ empowered to rank
NIGERIANS may have long accepted it as something of a déjà vu; yet, most were caught by surprise when the announcement came Wednesday last week that Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) will henceforth sell for N145 per litre. As announced by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, any Nigerian entity is now free to import petrol, “subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by regulatory agencies”. Oil marketers, he said “will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of forex procured from secondary sources…”; finally, a new price band for PMS not above N145 per litre effective …11th May, 20163 . Only last week, we had argued – sequel to the latest price template released by the Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) showing under-recovery of costs – that the subsidy regime had become unsustainable and quite frankly, unaffordable. A second kernel of our argument in that editorial is that the sale of petrol at the so-called official retail price of N86.50 is actually limited to the Lagos metropolis and perhaps, Abuja. That elsewhere, motorists and other fuel users were buying the
the candidates. Thus, the appointment of the heads of higher institutions, especially vice chancellors, has become very challenging and disruptive of academic life in the universities. There are several factors that account for the situation of things. The first is that the office of vice chancellors has been politicised. In addition, the universities run significant budgets. Thus, the resources of the universities, including employment opportunities, have become objects of patronage. The office of vice chancellor provides the visibility that some academics need to enhance their political ambitions. Thus, many professors who want to get ahead regardless of their competitive academic standing have mobilised to get selected. For instance, when the University of Abuja announced the vacancy for that office last year, over 100 professors applied. The appointment eventually made was challenged in the National Industrial Court. Competition for that office has become very keen indeed. The second factor arises from the first. The perception of the office of vice chancellor as a political position guaranteeing access to patronage has generated interest in groups and individuals outside the university system in the selection process. These include a motley of groups in the local communities, including youth groups, social clubs and ethnic associations. A few years ago, Nyesom Wike, then the Supervising Minister of
Education, met with the heads of tertiary institutions and Chairmen of their Governing Councils in Abuja where he condemned the localisation of appointments of heads of tertiary institutions by host communities. For these communities, university positions, of which the office of the vice chancellor is the highest, are a part of the national cake to be shared on the basis of state or locality of origin. Professors who want to be vice chancellors must go to universities in their state or locality of origin as the case may be to become vice chancellor. Thus, ethnic identity is increasingly mobilised to influence the council decision and foreclose the chances of non-indigene professors. Thirdly, because of the keen competition into that office, the appointment of vice chancellors has become a do or die. Thus, the process has been inundated with controversies, including claims of corruption, disregard for the due process and pre-determined outcome. There are allegations that council members have transformed the process into a means of self-enrichment. They are often accused of being compromised. Thus, merit and competence have become less and less visible as central factors for the appointment of vice chancellors in public universities. The localizing of appointments of heads of higher institutions will hinder the quest of Nigerians to have quality education for the development of the country. This is because it is through meritorious
The New Fuel Price
•We urge Nigerians to see it as necessary sacrifice product at prices dictated solely by the marketers – so long as it was available. When this is added to the difficulties faced by oil marketers in accessing forex – a situation that has since reduced the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the sole importer of petrol – the picture of a nation consigned to endure the crisis interminably comes as stark clear. We had argued that a different path, in such dire circumstance, had become inevitable. It is heart-warming that the Federal Government gave heed to that admonition. As it is, Nigerians know too well that the root and branch of the current problem is inadequate supply of petrol. Solving the problem would therefore seem as simple as boosting the supply. Nigerians are also not unaware of constraints inhibiting supply. Today, even with the determined efforts by the administration to turn them around, the nation’s four refineries – combined – still fall miserably short in meeting domestic requirements. Left with no other choice but to
import the product at enormous costs to the foreign reserves, the state of the foreign reserves in the environment of severely constrained inflow has rendered access to forex by fuel importers difficult, if not impossible, hence, the monopoly by the NNPC of the fuel import trade. The result, as we have seen in the last few weeks, has been, to put it mildly, catastrophic. Last week’s move, although in several respects belated, is nonetheless a positive development. Allowing the private sector to import fuel with funds sourced from secondary, autonomous source, and also allowing them sufficient margin to recoup their investments obviously accord with the current realities. We can only hope that the move signals the final resolve of the Federal Government to yield the scene to the private sector. The new price is, no doubt, the beginning, a first step in the long journey. Although, we are not under any illusion that the hike will be anything but a difficult pill for Nigerians to swallow, we nonetheless welcome it
appointment of qualified candidates to such positions, regardless of where they are coming from, that the process can be depoliticised and capable hands selected. We call on the government to be wary of who it appoints to university councils. Only individuals with the requisite experience and capacity to contribute to the growth and development of the university system should be appointed into the councils. We also call on the heads of councils and vice chancellors to ensure that they work together with host communities to ensure peace, harmony and progress in the universities. Governing councils should ensure that they observe the due process in the selection process. While local unions may be interested in the appointment of vice chancellors in their universities, they must not intervene to compromise the process or create a crisis in the universities. The appointment of vice chancellors should not be characterised by bitterness and desperation among contestants. Professors should not resort to blackmail, ethnicity or tribalism or even religious war to get into office, like politicians in the larger society do. The university must be a beacon of light in a society where elections and selection processes are notoriously riddled with malpractices, violence and disruptive failures.
•Culled Sunnday Tribune
because of the potentially great benefits lying ahead. We urge Nigerians to accept it as part of the necessary rites of transition to full deregulation of the sector. Of course, from the players, we expect to see, in the immediate term, improvement in product supply across board. In due course, we expect to see competition coming in to moderate the price. As against what obtained in the past, Nigerians expect to see the players adhere to the rules of competition and fair play. Above all, Nigerians expect the Federal Government to move massively, particularly in the coming weeks, to give practical effect to the clamour for the socalled dividends of democracy, to mitigate the hardships from the fuel price hike. And, as we have always argued, price deregulation is only a means to an end. The end is more investment in the downstream sector – particularly in refining and ancillary infrastructure. Nigerians, we reiterate, can no longer wait to see new refineries come on board.
•Culled Sunnday Tribune
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osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Job Vacancies In Nigeria
Strategic Project Manager · Abuja, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Agriculture, Logistics, Management, Graduate · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165219 Job Details Applications are invited from suitable candidates to fill the vacant position in a commercial farm establishment in North central Nigeria. only credible, self-driven and result-oriented candidates should apply. Candidate Requirements · A degree in finance, Agricultural Economics or related disciplines with minimum of 5 years working experience in development sector. · Candidates should be experienced in sourcing development finance to support the company’s agricultural programs and efficiently engage and communicate company’s activities. · Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Apply before Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 15 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ………………………end………………………… Account Assistant · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Accounting, Medical, Finance, Health, Fitness & Beauty, Graduate · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165218 Job Details We are an international company majorly engaged in manufacturing and marketing of health products. we wish to engage suitably qualified persons for the vacant Position: Candidate Requirements · Candidates must possess at least a BS.c/HND in Accounting or Finance, a professional degree will be an added advantage. · At least 5 years cognate experience in similar position. · Must be conversant with the Nigerian Taxation Law. · Must be familiar with taxation procedures and best practices. · Must have thorough knowledge and understanding of accounting principles, theories and practices. Apply before Friday, June 17, 2016 - 32 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ………………….end…………………….. Creative Graphics Designer · Rivers, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Design Services, IT, Technology, Pharmaceutical, Graduate · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165210 Job Details We are an international company majorly engaged in manufacturing and marketing of health products. we wish to engage suitably qualified persons for the vacant Position: Candidate Requirements · BS.c/HND in Graphics Design or related field. · Must possess a creative flair, versatility, conceptual/visual ability and originality. · Demonstrable graphics design skills with a strong portfolio. · Must possess ability to interact, communicate and present ideas. · Must be up-to-date with industry leading software and technologies (in design, illustrator, dreamweaver, photoshop, coreldraw, etc), Ability to create animation and multimedia will be an added advantage. · Must possess 5 years cognate experience in graphics designing. Apply before Friday, June 17, 2016 - 32 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………………………end…………………………………. Human Resources Manager · Oyo, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Admin, Human Resources, Management, Pharmaceutical, Graduate · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165198 Job Details We are an international company majorly engaged in manufacturing and marketing of health products. we wish to engage suitably qualified persons for the vacant Position: Candidate Requirements · Candidates must possess at least a BS.c in Human Resources management or any social sciences. · Professional certificate in Human Resources. · At least 5 years working experience in similar position. · Must be familiar with Nigeria Labour Law. · Must have extensive knowledge of personnel and human capital practices. · Must possess excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills. Apply before Friday, June 17, 2016 - 32 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………………….end………………………….. Web Developer · Cross River, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: IT · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165195 Job Details A reputable company is currently seeking to employ an ambitious, intelligent, hungry for success career minded individuals. Our goal is to recruit and train the best available staff who Will be expected to make significant contributions to the successful running and profitability of the business.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Writing code in one or more programming or scripting languages, such as PHP or JavaScript; · Planning and prototyping new applications; · Designing the architecture of the components of an application; · Deciding on the best technologies and languages for the project; · Testing sites and applications in different browsers and environments; · Problem solving; · Fixing bugs in existing projects; · Testing new features thoroughly to ensure they perform the correct task in all cases; · Running performance benchmarking tests. Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a relevant experience. · 3 - 5 years cognate experience.
· Attention to detail; · Logical approach to problem solving; · Ability to work independently and in mixed teams; · Experience of development methodologies; · Ability to manage a complex range of tasks and meet deadlines; · Good communication skills. Apply before Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 30 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………..end…………………. IT Officer · Cross River, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: IT · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165194 Job Details A reputable company is currently seeking to employ an ambitious, intelligent, hungry for success career minded individuals. Our goal is to recruit and train the best available staff who Will be expected to make significant contributions to the successful running and profitability of the business.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Rapidly establishing a good working relationship with customers and other professionals, such as software developers. · Testing and evaluating new technology. · Conducting electrical safety checks on computer equipment. · Providing support, including procedural documentation and relevant reports. Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. · 3 - 5 years cognate experience. · the ability to think logically; · A good memory of how software and operating systems work; · Excellent listening and questioning skills, combined with the ability to interact confidently with clients to establish what the problem is and explain the solution; · The ability to work well in a team; · Good problem solving skills. Apply before Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 30 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ……………………….end……………………….. Event Manager · Cross River, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Hospitality · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165192 Job Details A reputable company is currently seeking to employ an ambitious, intelligent, hungry for success career minded individuals. Our goal is to recruit and train the best available staff who Will be expected to make significant contributions to the successful running and profitability of the business.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Liaising with marketing and PR colleagues to promote the event; · Liaising with clients and designers to create a brand for the event and organising the production of tickets, posters, catalogues and sales brochures, plus social media coverage; · Coordinating suppliers, handling client queries and troubleshooting on the day of the event to ensure that all runs smoothly; · Overseeing the dismantling and removal of the event and clearing the venue efficiently. Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a related field. · 3 - 5 years relevant experience. · Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail; · Project management experience; · Time-management skills and the ability to work under pressure; · Problem-solving skills and diplomacy; · Strong communication, teamwork and negotiation skills. Apply before Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 30 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………….end………………….. Warehouse Manager · Kaduna, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Admin, Warehousing, Medical, Health, Fitness & Beauty, Graduate · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165179 Job Details We are an international company majorly engaged in manufacturing and marketing of health products. we wish to engage suitably qualified persons for the vacant Position: Candidate Requirements · BS.c/HND in logistics or any related field. · 5 years cognates experience in warehouse management. · Experience in warehouse management procedures and best practices. · Must possess strong knowledge of warehousing key performance indicators. · Hands on experience with warehouse management software and database. · Must possess high level of integrity and very positive character. Apply before Friday, June 17, 2016 - 32 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………end………………….. Creative Graphics Designer · Enugu, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Design Services, IT, Technology, Pharmaceutical, Graduate · Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 · Reference: 165173 Job Details We are an international company majorly engaged in manufacturing and marketing of health products. we wish to engage suitably qualified persons for the vacant Position: Candidate Requirements · BS.c/HND in Graphics Design or related field. · Must possess a creative flair, versatility, conceptual/visual ability and originality. · Demonstrable graphics design skills with a strong portfolio. · Must possess ability to interact, communicate and present ideas. · Must be up-to-date with industry leading software and technologies (in design, illustrator, dreamweaver, photoshop, coreldraw, etc), Ability to create animation and multimedia will be an added advantage. · Must possess 5 years cognate experience in graphics designing. Apply before Friday, June 17, 2016 - 32 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………………end………………………………..
You can subscribe JobRSN Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.jobszilla.ng •Cullled to from
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sports
Qatar’s Akram Afif Chases La Liga Dream, 2018 World Cup Qualification
Patrick Vieira and the De Boer twins, used to ask him why he wasn’t in Europe. It wasn’t his choice. The 33-year-old hopes that Abdulrahman can become a pioneer for the UAE. But, despite real interest from some of Europe’s stellar clubs, the 24-year-old playmaker has showed no signs of leaving his comfort zone. If the best talent from UAE and Saudi Arabian continue to show reluctance to leave, then Qatar are already stealing a march on their
I
osun Defender Thursday, May 19, 2016
Compiled By Lukman Ussein
biggest regional rivals. It is could well be that Afif’s progress will be closely watched, not only in Doha, but Dubai and Riyadh. “It is a dream come true for me to be the first Qatari player in La Liga,” Afif told Qatar media this week. “I hope I can be one of the best players in La Liga for Villarreal, and to help Qatar for the World Cup and represent the players from the Aspire Academy. I want to do
f Qatar’s biggest football dream was to host the current club, wanted him 2022 World Cup, then a close second is to qualify to stay and stay he did. for the 2018 edition. And it could happen with the “The problem was when Qataris among the 12 countries in the final round, I started, I won the best trying to take one of Asia’s four automatic spots in player at 2003 World Cup Russia. championships and cups but UAE football still not Finishing in the top in England, Germany professional,” he said. two in a group containing and Italy. But La Liga, “The mentality of the S o u t h K o r e a , I r a n , that most technical of owner was to try and Uzbekistan, China and competitions, has been a take the maximum from Syria will be difficult different matter. the player: ‘I created this but not impossible for Shunsuke Nakamura player’. You know what a team who easily won was the highest profile I mean?” their group in the second star to give it a try in Matar recalls that round of qualification. 2009 but played just a European icons, such National team coach handful of games with as Clarence Seedorf, Jose Daniel Carreno Espanyol. Lee Chunwas satisfied with the soo headed west after draw but feels that to the 2002 World Cup but keep progressing in the is barely remembered long term, Qatar need to by fans of either Real follow in the footsteps of Sociedad or Numancia. South Korea and Japan. Take Javad Nekounam, “It is important for and the Iranian’s six Qatar to have players seasons with Osasuna out going to Europe to play of the equation in modern over there,” Carreno told times, and the cupboard ESPN FC in April. “This is bare. is what the best teams in Apart from a few Asia do and something Iranians and Iraqis, West we have to follow.” Asian teams have rarely It is starting to happen. sent players to Europe Not only are Qatar the at all and Qatar’s biggest first country in West Asia export so far is Hussein to host the tournament, Yasser. He played a cup they are the first in the game for Manchester City region to make systematic in 2005. efforts to help their young United Arab Emirates prospects head to the big have produced plenty leagues. of talented players over I n 2 0 1 4 a n d e a r l y the years. Ismail Matar, 2015, six of the country’s g o l d e n b a l l w i n n e r under-20 internationals a t t h e 2 0 0 3 W o r l d •Akram Afif, centre, is hoping to become the first Qatari to play in La Liga. were sent to Belgium to Youth Championships play for K.A.S Eupen, a (forerunner to the U20 club owned by Qatar’s World Cup) was the Aspire Zone Foundation. country’s star until the reached the final of both T h e t e a m a r e b e i n g recent golden generation, tournaments in recent used, at least in part, as i n c l u d i n g O m a r a professional starting Abdulrahman, started to x-Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme years, but they lost the point for graduates of the come through earlier this says that the reason his country have not won 2015 Copa America final famous Aspire Academy. decade. an international trophy recently is that Lionel to Chile after suffering similar disappointment Akram Afif impressed Matar told ESPN FC in Messi “plays alone.” in the German-speaking January that he regrets not Argentina’s last big World Cup goes back to when being beaten in extra time by Germany southeastern corner of being given the chance success was the 1993 1986. Belgium and last week to move to Europe. Al Copa America, while With Messi as captain in the 2014 World Cup signed for Villarreal. Wahda, his boyhood and their barren run at the the Albiceleste have decider. Already an international Asked on FOX — his father was a Sports why the Barcelona Tanzanian player of talisman had not yet lifted Yemeni descent whose a trophy with his country, ended up in the Middle Riquelme said the blame East — the 19-year-old is lay with his teammates. hoping to become the first “Because Messi plays ohn Terry has cancelled a scheduled private cut and the loss of Terry’s Qatari to play in La Liga. party at Stamford Bridge as he continues to weigh long-held status as a alone,” Riquelme said. Afif is fast and loves up Chelsea’s offer of a one-year contract regular starter at Chelsea. “He is the best in the T h e 3 5 - y e a r - o l d ’ s world. We must look after n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n extension, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN running at defenders. FC. But Chelsea’s surprise decision is made even him. He is Argentine, and He is an exciting prospect R e p o r t s l a s t w e e k decision to offer their more difficult by the I have no doubts that in a region full of them. revealed that Terry, captain a new one-year presence of lucrative if he is in good form, However, even if Afif determined to play at d e a l , a n n o u n c e d b y interest from clubs in Argentina will be very played at the same Doha Stamford Bridge one the club on Friday, has China and the Middle close to winning this club as Xavi, represented last time despite being turned the situation on East, though sources Copa America.” Sevilla at a 2013 youth suspended for Chelsea’s its head and raised the told ESPN FC earlier Riquelme played tournament and scored final two Premier League possibility that Terry’s this month that no MLS a l ongside Messi at clubs have indicated a the winning goal in the m a t c h e s , h a d b e e n 18-year professional the 2006 World Cup, willingness to offer Terry career at Stamford Bridge granted free use of the final of the 2014 AFC a d e s i g n a t e d p l a y e r where they exited in the U19 Championships, he pitch and other stadium may yet continue. quarterfinals to Germany. T e r r y r e v e a l e d o n contract. faces a steep learning facilities by the club to Asked about Terry The pair then reached curve. Going to the team hold a farewell party with Friday that he needs in his final media in fourth place in La Liga friends and family on t i m e t o c o n s i d e r a conference as Chelsea the final at the following contract he says would year’s Copa America, Monday. is an obvious step up and require him to accept i n t e r i m m a n a g e r o n only to lose 3-0 to Brazil. it remains to be seen how “a different role,” and Sunday, Guus Hiddink T h e y f i n a l l y s h a r e d the youngster will cope. the 35-year-old stopped said: “I’m happy that international success Asian players have s h o r t o f c o n f i r m i n g they are talking. For me at the 2008 Summer struggled to make any that he would sign in it’s not good to make Olympics, both featuring kind of impact in Spain, an emotional speech to speculation. Personally, through the tournament perhaps surprisingly Chelsea supporters after I hope they manage as Argentina won the so, given the technical Sunday’s 1-1 draw with to come to a solution. ability of Japanese and champions Leicester City Although he is 35, he is gold medal. The former Barcelona, South Korean players, still very physically and at Stamford Bridge. the best-travelled of This “different role” mentally fit, so he can V i l l a r r e a l a n d B o c a continental nations. East is widely reported to contribute a lot wherever Juniors player said he Asians have won league •Terry had never seen anyone include a significant pay he wants to play.”
something for Qatar.” Even if he doesn’t make it at Villarreal or in Spain, it is surely only a matter of time before another Qatari does. When 2022 comes along, the nucleus of the national team could well be playing in Europe’s biggest and best leagues. That would be perfect for the country, especially if there is an appearance at the 2018 World Cup, too.
Lionel Messi ‘Plays Alone’ For Argentina Juan Roman Riquelme
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John Terry Cancels ‘Farewell Party’ As He Weighs Up Chelsea Deal - Sources
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with Messi’s talent or application. “There is nobody like Messi, not here, or anywhere,” Riquelme said. “I am Argentine and I had the good fortune to play with him. He is a marvel. A player who has won so much, who keeps competing every year to win titles, never settles for what he has. People should enjoy him.” Riquelme said he was confident about Argentina’s chances at this summer’s Copa America in the United States, unless Messi picked up an injury problem. “I am confident about this Copa America,” he said. “Argentina will be closer. They have good players, and Messi is in good form. If Messi does not get injured, we will win the Copa America.”
•Lionel Messi
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Thursday, may 19, 2016
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n May 1, 2016, Nigerian workers, just like their counterparts all over the world, celebrated Workers’ Day, which is a day set aside globally for reflections on the working conditions of the workers with a view to proffering ameliorative solutions. Here in Nigeria, the day was commemorated at the federal and state levels with marches in which Mr. President and the governors or their representatives addressed the workers on the state of affairs and the way forward and as expected, the leadership of the labour union didn’t shy away from making their demands in line with modern realities to the authorities. Despite the present economic and social challenges, one must congratulate Nigerian workers on this auspicious occasion for what it represents and wish them the best. Days before the commemoration of the great day, the central labour union, the NLC, just like it did on May 1, 2016 at various march past grounds in which affiliate unions were present, restated its demand for a new minimum wage of N56,000 from the previous N18,000, in line with subsisting agreement. For being alive to its responsibility by making the demands for a new minimum wage based on ”The National Minimum Wage Act, which former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law in April 2011, that has a five-year reopener clause for new negotiations to review the minimum wage, one sincerely and wholeheartedly congratulates labour for charting a new path of responsibility and responsiveness, which is a radical departure from its previous conduct of docility and lackadaisical attitude to issues of agreements to the detriment of the welfare of the Nigerian workers from time immemorial. However, while not losing sight of the fact that labour’s demand for a new and increased minimum wage is a legitimate one, in view of the prevailing circumstances, a lot of issues need to be examined holistically, if we are to be rational, logical and objective for the good of society. Here, one needs to ask some salient questions such as: 1. Who is a worker? 2. Are there other functions of the labour unions apart from agitating for salary increase? According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a worker is a person, who does a particular job to earn money, or to express it in simpler terms, a worker is someone who is engaged in a work or trade for productive ventures, for which he or she earns salaries or wages. What this means is that our labour force is comprised of persons engaged in the formal sector who are earning salaries as well as those in the informal sector who are earning negotiated, daily or weekly wages such as traders, artisans, craftsmen, hawkers, transporters, food sellers, etc who constitute the bulk of our workforce and are perhaps the biggest contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Searching through the books, one realized that apart from fighting for the interest of workers through salary increase, the labour unions had other functions which include the following: 1. Collective bargaining with the management to settle terms and conditions of employment. 2. Advise the management on personnel policies and practices.
How Feasible Is Labour Demand For N56,000 Minimum Wage?
3. Taking up the individual and collective grievances of the workers with the management. 4. Work for achieving better say of workers in the management of affairs of the enterprise which influence the lives of the workers directly. 5. Organizing demonstrations, strikes, etc, to press demands of workers. 6. Education of workers and their children. 7. Welfare and recreational activities for their members. 8. Representing of workers in various national and international forums. 9. Securing legislative protection for workers from the government. Looking at these other functions of the labour unions, we need to ask, how efficiently have they been fulfilling these functions? We also need to ask that, if the working population is comprised of both the formal and informal sectors and the labour unions have focused their attention on the increase in salary of those in the formal sector alone, what happens to the interest of the informal sector, which one is aware, is also affiliated to the central labour union? Or can we assume that since these categories of persons don’t earn a minimum wage, their income and working conditions are not deserving of the attention of the central labour union? Definitely, this shouldn’t be the case because labour is supposed to cater not only to the needs of the formal workers but also ensure that the working conditions and laws governing the business of the informal sector is not anti-labour and suffocating, as well as being concerned about the plight of the unemployed, pensioners and the society in general. However, it is a well-known fact that the economy of the Nigerian state is presently under serious straits as a result of the decline in revenue, occasioned by the fall in the price of the mainstay of the economy, which is crude oil, at the world market and this has culminated in about 26 states governments including the Federal Government encountering difficulties in paying workers’ salaries as at when due. In fact, while the Federal government had had to borrow to pay salaries and emoluments as confessed to by the ex-Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, during the days of the previous administration and which has been carried over to the present administration due principally to paucity of funds, the state governments,
save for some very few, owed workers salaries, which range from between 2 to 5 months and above and had to be rescued by the bailout funds from the Federal Government. But be that as it may, the situation still persists till now, as the states are still requesting for help from the Federal Government to fulfill their primary obligation of paying workers’ salaries promptly. A major contributor to this pitiable economic state of affairs, which is reflected in the worsening conditions of living of the Nigerian workers and people, is predicated on a number of factors which include the mismanagement of the economy by successive governments and the most fundamental of which is the lopsided and faulty political arrangement, which permits the Federal Government, which is so far away from the people, to have control of 52% of federal allocation, at the expense of the two other tiers of government, vest the powers of states creation in the federal authorities, which carries it out on the basis of political expediency, rather than on economic viability and other indices and the operation of a centralized unitary system but deceitfully called federalism, which the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, aptly once described as feeding-bottle federalism. In a true federal system, the uniformity of workers’ salaries is not a straightjacket affair, as states exercise this responsibility according to their ability to pay based on resources generated, rather than idling away with cap in hand like beggars for federal allocation, which these days is insufficient to service that function, talk less of other areas requiring government attention. The absurdity of the skewed federal system of Nigeria can be explained by the fact that whereas when federal allocation is low, elected and appointed public officers across the states continue to receive uniform and humongous salaries and emoluments, but it is the peasant workers, who bear the brunt, as states complain of inability to pay and thus owe workers’ salaries and pensions of retirees for months and even years. This is nothing but irresponsibility of the state to the welfare of the people, who generate the wealth of the nation. Notwithstanding, an indisputable resolution to the quagmire of the unworkability of the Nigerian state for which the input of the workers union is needed, lies in the restructuring of the country along the lines of true federalism, in which states endowed with natural resources should take
“We need to remind our labour union leaders that in as much as we recognize the need for them to make this legitimate demand for a new minimum wage in view of an existing Act, they must be conscious of the reality of the times, which makes its implementation not feasible for now based on paucity of funds as a result of the fall in global oil prices and our faulty political structure which needs to be reworked”.
By nelson ekujumi control of them and only make contributions towards the running of a thin and responsive Federal Government and not the other way round for the smooth functioning of the system. We need to restructure the country now, to allow for states to take control of their Godgiven resources to develop at their own pace and engender healthy competition and development, because doing otherwise will amount to postponing the dooms day, as this recurring issue of non-payment of salaries at all levels of government is a fallout of our faulty federation, which is here to stay and a breeding ground for other problems in the nearest future. We must awaken the consciousness of the central labour body to the fact that the whole essence of labour is to create wealth and so, it would amount to gross dereliction of responsibility for them to focus their attention all the time on increased salaries for the formal sector workers while neglecting other sectors of the economy, because even if the salaries are increased geometrically without commensurate social policies to engender the creation of jobs for our teeming unemployed youths, provision of basic social infrastructure, security, reduction in crime, quality and affordable education and health systems, social security schemes, etc, such increment would hardly make any impact on the living standard of the worker and his family. he labour union need to be innovative and focused in creating jobs and wealth by engaging in productive ventures in areas such as in oil and gas, agriculture, solid minerals, transportation, etc like they did with the defunct Labour Mass Transit which should be resuscitated. The labour unions should be encouraged to realize that their responsibility should not be focused on increment in salaries of workers in the formal sector alone but to the welfare of society as a whole, since the worker is a member of a family, a community and the society at large. Thus, it behooves on them to engage the government in areas of governance, which have direct effect on the lives of the people, by being involved in research, debates, discussions, dialogues, etc on societal issues with a view to coming up with alternative ideas on how to move the country forward for the good of all. The labour unions, because of their spread of membership and expertise in all segments of the society, also have a responsibility to ensure good governance by monitoring the budgets and making sure that projects therein are implemented according to what is proposed and approved. We need to remind our labour union leaders that in as much as we recognize the need for them to make this legitimate demand for a new minimum wage in view of an existing Act, they must be conscious of the reality of the times, which makes its implementation not feasible for now based on paucity of funds as a result of the fall in global oil prices and our faulty political structure which needs to be reworked. But, that is not to say that they cannot commence discussions and negotiations with relevant stakeholders now in this regard, in line with the provisions of the Act, which they must realistically and patriotically agree will become implementable when the conditions are sufficiently right.
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