Osun defender may 21, 2016 edition by OsunDefender

www.osundefender.org Saturday, May 21, 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.051

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 which she (the National

N100

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

Sales Of Dredged Waterways:

How Unpatriotic Land Speculators Sabotage Aregbesola’s Govt - See Story On Page 2

- Pg 3

•Gridlock of trailers along Ola-Iya-Gbongan-Ibadan road in Osogbo due to the protest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and civil societies against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, in Osogbo last Wednesday. INSET: The protesters blocking the road at Ola-Iya roundabout in Osogbo. Photo: GBENGA

BoI Partners Ooni On Youths’ Employment

- Pg 4

Ministry Sets Target For Osun Private Schools

- Pg 3

News

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

How Unpatriotic Land Speculators Sabotage Osun Assembly Orders Full Automation Of Tertiary Institutions’ Accounts Aregbesola’s Govt osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

Waterways:

By shina abubakar Efforts of the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in curtailing flood in the state of Osun may soon be a waste ifunpatriotic land speculators’ action is not checked. It would be recalled that the former Commissioner

for Environment and Sanitation, Prof. (Mrs) Bukola Oyawoye stated sometimes ago that dredging of waterways was part of the SixPoint Integral Action plan of the Aregbesola administration. She disclosed

further that the aim of the programme was to prevent incessant flooding and pave way for healthy living and enhance communal peace among various communities in the state. The administration at inception in 2010

introduced measures of controlling flood and ensure right of passage for streams and rivers across the state. By the end of 2012, according to the former commissioner, 123 kilometres of waterways have been dredged in

•The rescued Chibok school girl, Amina Ali (left) with her baby were examined at the Airforce medical facility last Wednesday.

Boripe LCDA APC Inaugurates Elders’ Forum

By our reporter Member of the State of Osun House of Assembly representing Boripe/Boluwaduro Constituency, Honourable Bello Osuolale, who doubles as the Chairman, Elders’ Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Boripe North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has said that the creation of the new LCDA will be one of the milestones and enduring legacies of Governor Rauf Aregbesola after leaving office. According to the lawmaker, the creation of the LCDA will bring governHe equally dismissed ment closer to the people the rumour of disunity and make life more abun- among the four commudant for the people in the nities over the location four towns and villages of council headquarter in Iree, Ada, Aagba, and in Iree, saying those who Ororuwo. opposed the location Osuolale stated this are opposition parties while addressing APC leaders, who were not leaders at a meeting held comfortable with the sucin Iree, headquarters of cess recorded by GoverBoripe North LCDA nor Aregbesola, adding during the constitution that political and comof Boripe North Elders’ munity leaders in the Forum of the APC last four towns have been Saturday. working together for According to Osuolale, the success of the new the constitution of the LCDA. new elders forum was The party leaders at in line with the directive the meeting adopted Osof the state party Chair- uolale as the Chairman man, Prince Gboyega of the Elders’ Forum, Famodun, and urged the and Prince Bola Adetraditional rulers, APC jumo from Ororuwo as leaders, community lead- Secretary, while other ers to cooperate with the positions were shared Council Manager for the among the four commusuccessful take-off of the nities and later visited LCDA. the temporary Secretar-

iat of the LCDA located at Agboola Estate, Ikirun road, Iree, to inspect the facilities. Members of the Elders’ Forum in attendance included Elder Luke Abidoye from Ada, Mr Kareem Oluyeye from Aagba; Otunba Ponle Ebo; Mr Yinka Adeojo; Prince Adebayo Adeleke; Chief

Mike Omolaja; Mrs Foluke, the Women Leader from Ororuwo, past and present party chairmen in the new LCDA among others. Meanwhile, the community leaders in the four communities on Sunday attended a thanksgiving Church service at First Baptist

Church, Iree to thank God and pray for the successful take-off of the new LCDA.

over 100 communities. Among the beneficiary communities are IpetuIjesa, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Ejigbo, Iragbiji, Ode-Omu, Iwo, Ila-Oragun and Osogbo. However, having cleared the river ways, some land speculators across the state are begining to claim ownership of some of the use of some waterways that used to be waterlogged lands and even preparing to put structures on the lands. In some of the areas visited by the medium, structures have already been erected in some of the areas, while people have returned to other structures marked for demolition to allow for easy movement of water from the close-by rivers. Meanwhile activities of traders in areas closed to such streams are gradually blocking free flow of waters which may eventually lead to flooding during this rainy season as traders throw waste into the water ways without checks. In some rural areas where dregding was done, land speculators are gradually returning to the area claiming ownership of such land and are either trying to sell or construct shops on the land, a move that may compound loss of lives in the event of heavy downpour. It would be recalled that Governor Aregbesola warned residents and indigenes of the state against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into water ways, saying such action could make government intervention in the area a waste effort.

3 Apprentices In Court Over N100m Theft At Electronics Shop Three apprentices at 121 Ebenezer Electronics Shop, Ayetoro, Osogbo, the State of Osun capital, were on Monday arraigned at an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing a sum of N100 million. The suspects were: I n s p e c t o r A b i o d u n Ebenezer Olatunde, (33), F a g b o y i n b o , a l l e g e d Oluwafemi Jayeoba (30) that the accused persons and Sunday Olamitemiju conspired with others (44). believed to be currently According to the charge at-large to commit the sheet read in court, the offence on August 24, apprentices stole the 2014. money at different times Fagboyinbo told the with different amounts court that accomplices of that accumulated to the the accused person had N100 million during their fled, saying that police stay in the shop. were on their trail. The money, according The owner of the to the charge sheet, Ebenezer Enterprise had belonged to their master, reportedly complained t h e s e p t u a g e n a r i a n to the police that he business mogul, Chief suspected fraudulent Ebenezer Apojulosun. activities in his shops, P o l i c e p r o s e c u t o r , as he discovered that

his apprentices were not remitting sales as usual. According to Fagboyinbo, the accused persons committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 and 390 (6) of the Criminal code, cap 34, volume II, laws of Osun state of Nigeria, 2003. The three suspects however pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy slammed on them. Defence counsel, Mr. A. Olaogun and Mrs Dad Adeyinka prayed the court to grant bail to the suspects, promising that they would not jump the bail, if granted. They maintained that the accused persons were presumed innocent until contrary is proved in a

court of law. Objecting the bail application, Fagboyinbo, the prosecutor, argued that releasing the suspects on bail would jeopardise police’s efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects. Abiodun added that the stolen money was huge and the accused persons may elope. However, the presiding magistrate, Magistrate Adejumoke Olowolagba, granted bail to each of the accused persons in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. She ordered that one of the sureties must reside in Osogbo, while the other must be a close relative of the accused persons. The case was adjourned till May 30, 2016 for mention.

The State of Osun House of Assembly has ordered full automation of various fees payable in all the state-owned tertiary institutions within three months. The directive followed the House Committee the adoption of the report on Public Accounts on of the audit exercise by the management of the

Internally-Generated Revenue of the four state-owned tertiary institutions at the plenary on Monday. The affected institutions, were Osun

State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; Osun State Colleges of Education, Ila-Orangun and Ilesa respectively. Presenting the audit

•President Muhammadu Buhari (right) in a handshake with Dr Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam Sheikh Al-Azhar from the Arab Republic of Egypt while other Islamic clerics watch at State House, Abuja, last Wednesday.

Triplets’ Dad Seeks Mrs Aregbesola’s Aid By shina abubakar

An Arabic teacher, AbdulRasheed Akinyemi, whose wife was just delivered of a set of premature triplets, has appealed to the wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, to assist in rescuing the babies from dying. Akinyemi, 40, who N10,000, N20,000 and teaches Arabic lesson more on daily basis in his local community for the treatment of the in Osogbo, said he does babies since the babies not have stable income were taken there. and has incurred huge The couple was debts in the course of having two female his wife’s pregnancy. children before, According to him, Nasirat Akinyemi, 14 his wife, Nafisat, 37, and Azizat Akinyemi, was delivered of a set 11. They also had a of triplet in a private set of triplets in 2012 hospital, Royal Crown but they all died due Hospital, Osogbo on to lack of care and Saturday, May 14, financial challenges. 2016. At present, Akinyemi Nafisat, who is a s a i d t h a t C r o w n full-time housewife, Hospital is demanding w a s d e l i v e r e d for N140,000 delivery through Dilation and and treatment charges. Curettage (D&C) He added that he operations. has been borrowing H e s a i d t h a t h i s money to meet the wife had, at the early daily treatment of the stage of the pregnancy, triplets at Life Line registered for maternity Hospital and does not treatment at the state know yet, what will be general hospital in his final bill and how to Osogbo, but that when raise the money. it was time of delivery, Akinyemi lamented she was referred to a that the survival of private facility. the babies and health According to him, of his wife were his the premature babies primary concern as he are currently in an has no financial means incubator facility at of taking care of them. the Life Line Hospital, Already, he said Oke-ontii, Osogbo. has incurred debts He lamented that close to N200,000 and the hospital has been still growing as both collecting monies in the triplets and their

mothers are under intensive care. He therefore, appealed to the SeriCare Foundation (SCARF), a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) and pet project of the wife of State of Osun Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, to come to his aid. “I am appealing to our First Lady in Osun, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, to kindly come to the aid of my family. “Right now, the hospital, where my wife was delivered, was asking for N140,000 for the Dilation and Curettage (D&C) operations. “The babies too, because they are premature, are under incubator and the hospital keep asking for money every day for the care of the babies. “As I speak, I am running from pillar to poles, borrowing money from families and friends, just to make sure that this set of triplets do not die like those we had in 2012, who did not survive as a result of the same premature condition,” he said. Akinyemi also appealed to other spirited corporate and

individuals, to come to his aid so that this set of triplets would not suffer the same death as the first set that died in 2012.

By kazeem mohammed report, the Chairman annually, adding that of the Public Account the payment of salaries Committee, Honourable and allowances should R a s h e e d A f o l a b i , be put on the first revealed that the actual line charges from the a m o u n t g e n e r a t e d income generated by the on school fees were institutions. not disclosed to the It also added that from g o v e r n m e n t b y t h e September to December institutions. 2016, the institutions Afolabi also said should support the that the investigation payment of their monthly unveiled that there was staff salaries by 75 per no record to substantiate cent, while they should how the grants from the be made to be fully Federal Government’s responsible for same as T E T F U N D w e r e from January 2017. being utilised by the The Speaker, Najeem institutions. Salaam, shortly after the H e a l s o d i s c l o s e d adoption of the report, t h a t t h e e n r o l m e n t said automation of all the figure disclosed to the accounts of the affected g o v e r n m e n t b y t h e institutions are no longer institutions were highly optional. understated, just as the He said the actual enrolment in r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s some of the part-time were indications that programmes could not the institutions must be ascertained. be more serious in the T h e l a w m a k e r management of the f u r t h e r n o t e d t h a t resources of the schools. due to the anomalies The Speaker stressed in the institutions, the that the executive would government has been be monitored to ensure responsible for the full proper implementation payment of the salaries of the report. and allowances of staffers of the institutions. The report then recommended that the institutions should be made to be self-financing, while the government gives them subvention

Ooni Commences Replanting Of Cocoa In Ife Axis By sola jacobs In his quest to provide jobs for the unemployed youths and diversify the nation’s economy, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has unveiled cocoa seedling plants, aimed at replacing old cocoa plantations in the axis, creating job for the unemployed youths in Ifeland, especially victims of communal clash of Ife/Modakeke. S p e a k i n g a t support of government the unveiling of the cocoa and partnership from nursery, Oba Ogunwusi corporate organisations, berated the negligence the feat is achievable,” the of cocoa farming, which foremost traditional ruler was once a major foreign stressed. exchange earner in Speaking on the Nigeria. support he had garnered The monarch said that for the success of the a tonne of cocoa at the p r o g r a m m e , O b a global market today sells O g u n w u s i s a i d t h e for $3000 and it could Federal Government h a v e b e e n a p e r f e c t had pledged its support, alternative to dwindling a s t h e M i n i s t e r o f crude oil, which is the Agriculture, Prince Audu mainstay of Nigerian Ogbe, had pledged to economy for now. provide logistic support The Ooni, who is noted and supply of hybrid for his giant strides in improved cocoa seedlings business and passion that will yield up to about agriculture, which 2000kg per hactare and he described as a veritable will be harvested all-year tool for living standard round. enhancement and wealth Still on partnership, the creation for the youths, Dynamic Green Concept posited that 10 million Limited, a USA-based c o c o a s e e d l i n g s a r e company in Dallas and targeted to be replanted t h e C o c o a R e s e a r c h within a year. Institute of Nigeria “ E a c h e n r o l l e d (CRIN) are also had y o u t h w i l l b e g i v e n partners in the project. 2,000 seedlings to On the need for be planted with the replanting the cocoa

plantations in Ife axis, the monarch said, the existing plantations in the area had existed for about 100 years, as the cocoa trees have become weak and less-productive. The Ooni posited that the major way of taking youths off the streets is to encourage them into lucrative farming jobs. On collaboration with other monarchs in the country to engage the unemployed youths through agriculture, Oba Ogunwusi said he was partnering with the Sultan of Sokoto and six notable Emirs in the North on the possible agricultural exchange expertise on cultivation of rice, onion, and cotton planting in Ife axis, the” Greenfield of Ile-Ife ” as the project is christened, will only kick start with cocoa plantation and other crops will follow simultaneously. Appraising security in Ile-Ife metropolis, the Ooni said that the effort of his palace has paid off, as crime rate is gradually reducing, as confirmed by security agencies in the area, while more youths have kept off the streets through the effort made to provide them with legal and lucrative jobs by the palace.

News

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

Osun Assembly Orders Stoppage Of Filling Stations’ Construction Works

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

By kazeem mohammed

to e ns ur e t ha t t he appropriate procedure is not bypassed. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Architect Wale Ojo, urged all stakeholders in town planning to synergise and ensure that no approval is granted without proper procedure. He said, a signal

should be sent to town planners in the state and local government service that no approval should be granted to filling stations developers in any area where it would have effect on the welfare and lives

Osun State House of Assembly has ordered the house and efforts are Honourable Wasiu stoppage of work on the ongoing construction being made for its final Adebayo said, while of filling stations that have not complied with passage, he said, until the procedure was the bill is passed, the depriving government the required rules and guidelines. The Assembly gave the order during a approving authority revenue, the welfare of should comply with the the people is still being meeting with official their practice. threatened. N o t i n g t h a t t h e convention regulating of the state Ministry He urged the town of Environment, Land, Regional and Town such approval. of the people. planners in the state Also, the deputy and local government Physical Planning and Planning Bill before the o f service to wake up Urban Development Assembly has passed C h a i r m a n and directors of Town the first reading of the t h e c o m m i t t e e , and do the needful Planning in all the local government areas of the state. Speaking at the meeting, the House Committee Chairman, Land, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Honourable Nurein Adebisi said, the level of indiscrimate siting of filling stations was worrisome. Noting that the house would not hesitate to recommend the demolition of such filling stations that have not complied with all guidelines, he said, this would go a long way in sanitising the environment. According to Adebisi, siting of filling station in residential areas and close to schools, •Political tension is mounting in South Africa and things got even more intense in parliament when opposition members resisted police officer who without leaving the tried to eject them from the chambers. required setback was worrisome and constitute danger to the lives of the people. Litigants were seen By sola jacobs The lawmaker discussing about the pupils were not seen, the past governments decried the unconcern possibility whether the court would sit for the only pupils of private for not giving priority attitude of town As the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria day’s business as they schools were sighted to agricultural sector planning departments Labour Congress assumed the second day on could not gain entrance going to their various b e c a u s e o f o v e r in the state and local dependence on oil Thursday, government offices in Ile-Ife complied as to the court neither was schools. government service Private b usinesses sector which had led to the High Court, Local Government secretariat and there any court staff who towards the granting public schools were under lock and key could give them any a r o u n d M a y f a i r , the present economic the interim approval Lagere, Ondo Road in lull as currently being At 8.30 am on Thursday, Central local Government information. to developer of filling O s u n D e f e n d e r waiting outside their At Elementary School Modakeke and other parts experienced in the nation Speaking further on s t a t i o n s w i t h o u t witnessed workers at premises as they were situated at Ajebamidele of the two communities the strike, some said recourse to law guiding the High Court and Ife under lock and key. area, both teachers and opened for business.

NLC Strike: Courts, LG Secretariat, Schools Close

In Ife, Modakeke

BoI Partners Ooni On Youths’ Employment

By sola jacobs The Bank of Industry has partnered the Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi with a view to training the youths in the ancient city of Ile-Ife on Entrepreneurial Training in other to assist them in job creation and acquisition training. The two-day intensive Ife / Modakeke, he said, programme which took an average youth in the place at Oba Okunade areas is versatile either Sijuwade Memorial Hall in acquisition vocation Enuwa, Ile-Ife had more or field of study, but lack than 3000 youths in of capital and access to attendance. continuous training is the T h e c o n v e n e r o f bane of unemployment the two-day training, and crimes in the areas. Oba Ogunwusi, said He therefore, urged the t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e youths to avail themselves programme is to acquaint t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o the youths with better r e c e i v e n e c e s s a r y skill to excel in their training that will boost vocations and trainings their knowledge and More so, the project is accessibility of loan for to provide for the youths the development of their access soft loan for the enterprise. development of their skill Speaking at the by the Bank of Industry seminar, the Managing S p e a k i n g o n t h e Director of the Bank of potential of youths in Industry, Alh Waheed Olagunju, stressed the

importance of human capacity-building in entrepreneurship as important as other factors of production interplay with it. He said, that most business collapse because of lack of building human capacity at the expense of other production factors. Olagunju also commended Ooni Adeyeye for his passion for the youths development and empowerment, as he referred to him as the first monarch to partner with the Bank of Industry on Small and Medium Enterprises as well as youth development. The chief host of the two-day programme tagged ‘Ifeprenuer’, Senator Babajide Omoworare, tasked Ife youths on job creation rather than seeking white

Most of the residents in both communities who spoke about the labour strike and the increase collar jobs. in fuel price , urged the He enumerated the Federal Government to opportunities available reach a compromise on for the youths in the the new pump price of area as the axis is rich in the commodity as the agricultural products and inflation price of essential cultural practices which commodities had gone up could earn them fortune which have debilitating if properly harnessed. effect on the lives of the Senator Omoworare citizenry of the nation. tasked the youths on the They also tasked the development and growth F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t of Ifeland. that outright banning V a r i o u s s p e a k e r s of rice, a staple food for at the event included the masses is not in the Dr Bola Olayiwola, Dr interest of the poor, as Gbenga Adesiyan of Ife the local production of Business School, Mr Layi rice is not enough to feed Oyebamiji and many the masses. The respondents others The business section h o w e v e r , c a r p e t e d of the event attracted t h e i n a b i l i t y o f t h e M a r k e t W o m e n government to provide Association, Plank and storage facilities for excess T i m b e r A s s o c i a t i o n , production of vegetables, Artisans, and Cocoa onions, tomatoes and plantains, as well as other Produce buyers. agricultural products. Some of them who said they are farmers blamed

the Obafemi Awolowo University students who were on break has been a blessing in disguise as it could have made the demonstration messier, as commercial buses’ conductors said, they might kick against the present cost of transportation. Markets in the ancient city opened for business as commercial buses and cyclists went about their businesses, but with a sharp hike in the cost of transportation. Banks in Ile- Ife opened for skeletal services as they partially opened for transaction, while customers making use of Automatic Transmission Machines situated at the Bank premises. The labour strike had been peaceful as residents went about their business unhindered, while only the government offices were closed down due to the strike.

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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 corruption

Cartoon

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. Let us be absolutely clear 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.

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opinion

osun Defender Saturday, May 21,

The Difference Between 2012 Fuel Subsidy Removal And 2016 Fuel Price Regime Is About Trust

ince the announcement and implementation of the increase in the pump price of fuel from N86 and N86.50 per litre to a cap limit of N145 per litre respectively under the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, one has read and listened to a lot of commentaries from various quarters either innocently, ignorantly or mischievously trying to equate former President Goodluck Jonathan’s policy of removal of fuel subsidy which resulted in the increase in pump price of petrol from N65 to N141 per litre and President Buhari’s policy of liberalizing the downstream sector which resulted in the increase of pump price of fuel from N86.50 to a cap limit of N145 per litre as one and the same. Regrettably, some of the opponents of the new fuel price regime, instead of coming up with facts and statistics to buttress their position by educating and convincing the people against the present government policy in this age of intellectual discourse, have resorted to abuses, insults and politically partisan statements which clearly expose their standpoint which is at variance with that of the majority of the people who have queued up behind the new fuel price regime. Some of these persons and groups have even resorted to tactics of humiliating and intimidating the Nigerian people into a mindset of regret by their relentless assaults, attacks and abuses that Nigerians are hypocritical for stoutly and massively rejecting Goodluck Jonathan’s policy in 2012, but supporting the fuel policy in 2016. They have uncharitably called persons and groups with whom they were together in the trenches against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s policy in 2012 but who are not with them now on the opposition to the new policy regime due to the reality of the times or for reasons best known to them, all sorts of names and thereby exhibiting ignorance of the fact that “We can’t all sleep and think in one direction” because variety is the spice of life. Infact, it was the philosopher Heraclitus who postulated that “You could not step twice into the same river”, meaning that no two situations are exactly the same. Even in families, agreements and disagreement occurs on issues, but the truth of the matter is that, one’s position must be rational, logical and based on facts rather than on sentiments and emotions which is like a mob action mentality. A critical tenet of democracy as a system of government which a

budget by the federal government for a ten-year period of 2006 - 2016: From the above table, one can see clearly that the astronomical increase in subsidy payments from N421. 5 billion in 2009 to N1.3 trillion and 2.2 trillion naira in 2010 and 2011 respectively can be noticed from 2010 when ex President Jonathan assumed the reins of leadership of the country as acting President. We need to remind ourselves that in January 2012 when the federal government implemented the removal of fuel subsidy, we could afford it if it was transparently managed because our major foreign earner, the crude oil per barrel was selling at above $110 at the international market, the country’s foreign reserve was about $40 billion and there was low or no pipeline vandalism unlike now that the cost of crude oil per barrel has dipped between $40 - 45 or even lower, there is high scale vandalism of oil pipelines which has depleted our income because of a fall in production of crude oil, the foreign reserves was hugely depleted to the tune of about $27 billion by the previous government which went aborrowing to sustain the running cost of the federal •BUHARI government before exiting office By nelson ekujumi lot of our people are yet to come to as attested to by the then Minister grasp with is that, it recognizes that For records sake, it is imperative of finance, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonji while the majority will have their to state clearly just as it has been Iweala. way, the minority must have their canvassed from certain quarters he federal government say. So, if a person believes that in explaining the true situation credibility crisis with the he or she is endowed with more of things vis a vis the 2012 and people began when she wisdom than even King Solomon 2016 fuel price regimes, that announced towards the end of in the Holy Bible and the mass the major difference between 2011 that she was going to remove of the people put together and the former President Goodluck the fuel subsidy allocation in he assumes that the people have Jonathan and President Buhari’s the 2012 budget because it was committed an error in taking a administrations was the issue of unsustainable which was the truth, decision on an issue, it is the height transparency, accountability, trust but was not prepared to render of immaturity and lack of civility and responsibility of leadership. account of stewardship on the to assault and deride peoples In explaining our position further, management of the fuel subsidy sensibility because of payments which the differences on issues Year National Budget Subsidy Paypeople viewed as a which is natural. ments fraud because of the owever , 2006 N1. 9 trillion N151. 9 billion astronomical rise of the to put the 2007 N2. 3 trillion N188 billion payments against logic records and rationality. 2008 N2. 45 trillion N256.3 billion straight, the Unfortunately, instead attempt to intimidate 2009 N3. 049 trillion N421. 5 bilof the government to a n d a s s a u l t t h e lion hearken to the cries peoples’ sensibilities 2010 N4. 6 trillion N1. 3 trillion of the people for an by attempting to 2011 N4. 9 trillion N2. 19 trillion investigation into what equate the 2012 fuel 2012 N4. 7 trillion N1. 049 trillion the people believed was s u b s i d y r e m o v a l 2013 N4. 98 trillion N971 billion a fraudulent subsidy and 2016 fuel price regime, she played deaf 2014 N4. 69 trillion N971 billion regime, is obviously and tried to sweep under incorrect and far 2015 N4. 49 trillion N1 trillion + the carpet the demand from the truth. Thus, 2016 N6. 06 trillion —————— for accountability on there is the urgent — how the fuel subsidy need to place issues funds was managed and in proper perspective rather embarked on a for the sake of discerning minds it becomes pertinent to reel out the vigorous campaign on why the fuel and posterity sake, lest the maxim facts which is incontrovertible subsidy regime must be eliminated of the infamous Nazi propagandist about the fuel subsidy regimes in a display of utter insensitivity. Joseph Goebbels that “Tell a lie, a from previous governments. Stated However, when the fuel subsidy thousand times and it becomes the below is the amount expended on •Continued on page 7 truth, holds sway. fuel subsidy viz a viz the national

feature

osun Defender Saturday, May 21,

The Difference Between 2012 Fuel Subsidy Removal And 2016 Fuel Price Regime Is About Trust •Continued from page 6

was unilaterally removed on January 1, 2012 by the federal government which resulted in an increase in the price of fuel from N65 to N141 per litre without providing answers to the peoples queries on accountability, the battle line was thus drawn and the mass of the people without prompting came to a logical conclusion that if a government which derives its mandate from the people is running away from the tenets of transparency and accountability, which is an essential ingredient of democracy, then such a government does not deserve to be trusted, which was why the people aligned forces in the occupy Nigeria protests all over the country. It was this deficit in credibility that extended thereafter and culminated in the government being voted out of office at the 2015 general elections.

he position of the people that the government cannot punish them for its incompetence and criminal complicity in the fuel subsidy fraud which she was not prepared to investigate and prosecute, was however reinforced by the outcomes of the House of Representatives investigative committee and the Mr. Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede committee which was set up by the federal government as a consequence of the fuel subsidy protests after the irreparable damage to its reputation for aiding and abetting corruption. The report of both committees indicted some persons and companies of fuel subsidy fraud for which they are still standing trial in courts till date. To correct the misinformation and blackmail of equating the 2012 fuel subsidy situation with the 2016 fuel price regime, we need to make it abundantly clear that the 2012 Occupy Nigeria Protests which witnessed massive turnout of people on their own volition was not a rejection of the removal of fuel subsidy which the

people themselves believed was a fraud perpetrated against our commonwealth, but was a rejection of a government that was hands in glove with corruption in violation of the constitution and our values as a people of honour. Before assuming office, President Muhammadu Buhari explicitly stated at campaign foras that the fuel subsidy regime is a fraud which was in tandem with the thinking of mass majority of Nigerians and has been validated by the ongoing prosecution of alledged fuel subsidy fraudsters, hence in the submission of the 2016 budget which was his first national budget to the National Assembly, there was no provision for fuel subsidy payments. Moreover, President Buhari is widely regarded as a man of high moral pedestal not only with the Nigerian people but also in the international community because of his Spartan lifestyle which endeared him to Nigerians who voted him into office and are solidly behind his government on this new

fuel policy. It is this credibility of responsible leadership that indisputably separates the present leadership from its predecessor and is the difference between 2012 and 2016 because leadership is about trust. n a final note, one would like to admonish the opponents of this new fuel policy who have resorted to abuses, insults, attacks and blackmail instead of putting up superior arguments, to realize that in 2016, just like in 2012, there is divergence of opinions on the issues, but it will make sense if they can come up with incontrovertible reasons of why people should see things from their lens as against the reality on the ground, because a society becomes endangered when issues are not dissected dispassionately on its merit but on the basis of who is involved.

news

Minisrty Sets Target For Osun Private Schools T Ministry of Education registration for WASCE Science and Technology has vowed not to f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n Exam. The Permanent compromise the required standards and procedure and prevent quality in teaching, learning and infrastructural e m b a r r a s s m e n t S e c r e t a r y t h e n facilities in private schools in the state. t o t h e m b e f o r e conveyed government p p r e c i a t i o n Mr O l a j i d e s p e c i a l g e n e r a l ato the private The Permanent school inspection to private S e c r e t a r y o f t h e maintained that the owners for their s c h o o l s b y t h e existing relationship ministry, Mr Festus contributions in the Olajide, emphasised between private school Permanent Secretary’s areas of employment team commences. that the only means o w n e r s a n d s t a t e Olajide also made generation and revenue by which students government can further special appeal to the generation for the can perform optimally be strengthened if they proprietors to assist state and urged them and be self-confident cooperate with the to redouble their the state government in any examination Ministry of Education efforts in the payment w i t h o u t r e l y i n g to identify “miracle in retrieving Opon Imo of rates and taxes to from those students on examination centres” where government coffers. malpractices is e x a m i n a t i o n who left public Also speaking, s c h o o l s w i t h t h e i r b y d r a w i n g f r o m malpractices strive. the WAEC Branch Opon Imo to register He then appealed opportunities Comptroller in the state, p r o v i d e d i n g o o d t o p r i v a t e s c h o o l for WASCE in private Mr Ayo Oluwafemi, s c h o o l s f o l l o w i n g quality infrastructural o w n e r s w h o a r e expressed worries over facilities, qualified operating illegally their failure to meet the spate of examination criteria for government education personnel to link up with the and good quality lesson delivery in private schools. The Permanent Secretary disclosed these in Osogbo during an interactive meeting with Proprietors and Managers of Private Secondary Schools under the umbrella of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and Association of Muslim Islamic Schools (AMIS). He explained that ownership and operation of private schools is a special business which is heavily regulated by the state government because it deals with the moulding and building of the state human capitals for the future of the state, Nigeria and the world •Professor Wole Soyinka High School in Ejigbo, State of Osun. at large. he State of Osun Ministry of Education,

malpractices in Nigeria with particular reference to some of the private schools in the state. The WAEC branch comptroller therefore urged school owners to operate with the fear of God in their minds and be more concerned about good future for the students, rather than urgent financial gains. Other speakers included ANCOPSS President in the State, M r D ahunsi Osundina and Director of Schools and Special Education in the Ministry of Education,

Mrs Adeyeye, who both advised the school proprietors to always see school as a business involving lives and must be given priority. Mrs Adeyeye disclosed that private schools that are without standard facilities such as required number of buildings, laboratories, library, furniture, perimeter fencing among others are capable of endangering the lives of students and would be adequately sanctioned.

phototalk

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Protested Against The Removal Of Fuel Subsidy By The Federal Government In Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Wednesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016 phototalk Federal Executive Council Meeting In Abuja Last Wednesday.

•President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with his ministers during the meeting.

•A cross section of members of NLC, Civil Society and Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) members during the protest in Osogbo last Wednesday.

•Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the meeting.

•NLC members using their banner to block Ola-Iya road, Osogbo, during the protest.

•Youths playing football at Ola-Iya roundabout, Osogbo, later in the day last Wednesday.

•A cross section of public school pupils waiting at Ola-Iya Bus stop to have a glimpse of the action.

•Another cross section of ministers after the FEC meeting.

•(R-L) Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Minister of State, Agriculture, Mr Heineken Lokpobiri and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, after the meeting.

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osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

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osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

I Was Surprised, Confused When I Was Named Prelate I Was Surprised, Confused When I Was Named Prelate - Sunday Makinde, Former Prelate, Methodist Church - Sunday Makinde, Former Prelate, Methodist Church The immediate past Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Sunday Makinde, shares some of his experiences with Ademola Olonilua in this interview

How is life after retirement? t has been great. When you retire and continue to pray, exercise, keep your old friends as you acquire new ones and you do not live above your means, you will enjoy retirement. Are you as busy as you were when you were Prelate? Not in terms of travelling duty but people still invite me to various private and church activities and that keeps me occupied. I reject some because I want to live long. What is the secret of your youthful looks? Everything is by the grace of God and healthy living. When I wake up in the morning, I do some exercise and I say my prayers. I sleep late which is something I acquired many years ago, especially during my days at Wesley College in Ibadan. Since I retired, I wake up late, have morning devotion with my family and those that would go to school would go to school. I spend time with my wife who is also retired. Nothing worries my mind, even when I am ill, I leave everything to God because he is the greatest healer. I don’t allow anybody to worry me, I place all my anxieties on God, and he is the one that cares for me. That alone is therapeutic. What would you describe as your high and low points during your tenure as the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria? The low point came when the work was not going as speedily as I desired and the high points were when I was getting the results of my work. When you labour hard and there is no result, you will be despondent but I am blessed because God gave me good lieutenants. I had good and faithful advisers. The low point was when we were working hard and got no results, I would not want to mention some of those instances. However that is one of the characteristics of leadership. When one is in a position of leadership, you cannot get it right all the time. There are certain times you will lay your hands on some things and it will not work out as expected. At such point, I tell God that I have done my part and I have prayed about it. My highest point of joy is that I worked with a church that appreciates its workers; the Methodist Church of Nigeria appreciates its workers. How would you describe your childhood? My father had two wives and we encouraged him to marry the second wife. Why is that? It is because we were all grown and had begun to bear children, so our mother was coming to look after our kids. In those days, we could not get house maids to stay with him or work on his farm. We did not want him to suffer. Shortly after my elder brother gave birth to his first child, he asked our mother to come and take care of the child. We

day, he went to the owner of the farm only to be told that we did not uproot his yam. My father then told me that I should not have gone to another man’s farm to cut firewood when there was more than enough in his farm. That is how I was given 36 lashes of the cane. When I grew up, I loved my father for that because if you train a child the way he should go when he is old, he shall not depart from it. I took some traits from him because when my children were growing up, if they heard that I had returned from work, they all ran into their various rooms. It is now that they are all grown up that they confess to me. They ask me why I do not train my grandchildren the way I trained them and I tell them that it is because life is changing. These children do not have the stamina to withstand the training that we had. We were given native herbs and that gave us strength and stamina, if you beat them the way our parents beat us, they would have to be rushed to the hospital the following day. There were no hospitals during our childhood days. It was when I came to Ibadan in 1948 that I first saw a hospital; there was no hospital in our village. We learnt you got your first shoes when you were about 19 years, how were you able to cope? obody sees you in the village. Before I started wearing pants, I was almost nine years old. You would be dangling your manhood everywhere, nobody was looking at you. Life was very controlled and it was not as permissive as it is today. Who would buy you shoes? You bought shoes probably only during harvest. We ate rice only during weddings, Christmas or harvest. It was not part of our daily menu but it is a common food today. Those days, if you ate egg, my mother would beat you and say that it is only thieves that eat eggs. But when I had my first daughter, my mother would buy eggs and keep them for her. When I confronted her, she said it was because she had no money to buy eggs for me and they did not want me to resort into stealing eggs and destroy our reputation in the village. She said it is good for the body but we didn’t have money for it. We were taught table manners and we all ate together as kids. Whenever we ate, if your mussel was too big, our parents would give you a knock, same thing with if you rushed your food. When you were eating, you shouldn’t talk. All those taboos were there. They told us that if you went out when it was raining, thunder would strike you but it is because they did not want you to catch cold because there were no hospitals back then. We were told that you don’t sit at the entrance of the door or else you would be gluttonous but they said that because they did not want you

N •makinde

thank God that we are father figures to the children of the second wife. We trained them like our children and they don’t see us as their half siblings; my mother backed all of them as kids. Even though there was no milk in my mother’s breast, they would still be sucking it. We have a very close knit family. As a young boy who grew up in the village, were you mischievous or quiet? hen I was a young boy, I was not mischievous or stubborn but I was a radical. One thing you can do and never go scot free is to abuse my mother. If you do such, I will fight you pants down. In those days, we had teachers living in our village and they would not permit you to be a radical. If you were reported to them, that night they would invite you over and cane you. My father was also a disciplinarian. He would not permit his children to go and watch masquerades; he said only infidels do such. They kept us indoors and I regretted it when I went to the university to study African traditional religion because it would have been a good thing for me to see them, study them and use

them in comparative religion. But in those days, you dare not. It seems you were close to your father despite the fact that he was a disciplinarian… I was close to him out of fear because there was a day he gave me 36 lashes. He forced my door open before he could gain access to me and beat me. After he had beaten me, he realised that I was not guilty of the offence. What were you accused of doing? We went to the farm sometime around June and my friend said something to me in a coded manner by whistling. He said, ‘Sunday come and see one big yam’. That day, we went to the farm to cut firewood which we were to take to school because in those days, during nature studies, we took things like firewood, snails, etc, so that we could study nature. We did not touch the yam, we were only surprised that in June, a yam could be that big and we admired it from afar. We did not know that my uncle was watching from a distance. He reported me to my father and said that we went to another man’s farm to uproot his yam. My father beat me thoroughly and the following

•Continued on page 11

•Continued from page 10

to disturb the people that want to go in and out of the house. They had taboos for every behaviour. We learnt you started your education early in life, how come? t is because my father was a society steward in the church and he was very active. It was the teachers that told him to bring me to school. My hand had not even touched the other side of my ears then because that was part of the criteria to begin school. When I started school, one of the teachers suggested to my father that I could live with him and that was how I started living with missionaries. That is why I became what I became in life. If you were not a priest, what other profession would you have found yourself? I would have been a teacher. I am an extrovert and I am a quick learner. Anything outside teaching and preaching, count me out. That impacted a lot in my life in modern school. It took me five years to pass my exam to Wesley College. I was determined to go to the school and those who taught me went to Wesley College. I said that if I didn’t gain admission to that school, I would not go to anywhere else. Some people advised me to learn a trade but I refused. I was a teacher and a catechist in local churches. My father was so happy the year I gained admission into Wesley College because the school was very prestigious. Personally, I was so happy I gained admission and that opened a lot of doors which led me to my chosen profession. As a youth, did you indulge in any vice like drinking alcohol, smoking or womanising? Such vices were around but you could not indulge in them in the face of your teacher. We dreaded teachers in those days even more than our parents. They were like little gods. You dared not do that when teachers were around. They are not like modern days teachers. We were given all round education. We had to go to the farm both in school and at home. Some people indulged in that but they did not make it in life. If you submitted yourself to the school authorities, it meant that you had to go to the church at least four times a day and the church was very far from school. There was no time for frivolities. I also had chores like pounding yam flour, egusi and the likes. There was no time for laziness or indulging in a wrong act. How was your experience during your first travel out of Nigeria? The first time I boarded an aircraft in my life was when I went for my graduation at the University of Calabar. Before then, I always travelled by a lorry from Lagos to Calabar. When I graduated with flying colours, Papa H.O Davies, who was a great politician, gave me money to travel by air because as a graduate, I was a big man. He paid

•makinde

for my trip and the ticket cost only N7 or so. I was so happy. When I entered the plane, I did not close my eyes before I reached Calabar. It was a great experience and anytime there was turbulence, I would hold the handle of the chair tightly; I also pretended so that the person sitting next to me would not know it was the first time I was flying so that people would not laugh at me. hen I w a s g o i n g t o America to study for my PhD., I flew from Lagos to New York, to Chicago then Minnesota. When others were sleeping and snoring, I could not do so, I was just praising God and thanking him that poor me from the village could be in an aircraft going abroad to study. My mother and my wife were weeping the day I was going and I left my two months old son behind. Before my departure, I gave my son a kiss and I wept. I had to explain to him that I had to leave him. For the first three hours I spent in the sky, I was weeping because of my family that I left behind. I had to lie to my grandmother that I would return after a year because she really loved me. Immediately after a year after my departure, she called my father and told him that I promised her I would be away for only a year. She said she could not wait for me that she was going to her God; four days after, she died. When you learnt of her death, how did you feel knowing that you lied to her? I wept. I was living with a white man who did not see death as anything. When he asked me how old she was and I told him she died at the age of 101, he said I should be laughing and rejoicing. I was the only black in that seminary. My father said that he would not do the final burial of my grandmother till I returned because she always asked after me. The day I defended my thesis, I was so happy and one of my

lecturers came to me to commend me then I got a call from home that I had become a bishop. I could not believe it, so to be sure that I was not dreaming, I cut myself with blade. I called some people to confirm the news before I accepted that I was not dreaming because I could not believe how someone who was not at home could be made a bishop. That is why I pity people who struggle for position. You will not enjoy it. Let God bring it to you at the right time. He never forgets anybody. I have never struggled for a post in church. When I was to be made an archbishop, I was in Abuja. When I became prelate, it was the same thing. How was your relationship with your fellow classmates as the only black man in the class? I was a thorn in their flesh and a bone in their throat. They could not spit me out neither could they swallow me. Some of them pretended that they loved blacks but they did not, so I made a big inscription on the wall which said, ‘black African, white lie.’ Why I did that is because I defeated all of them in table tennis, so they went to bring people from other seminaries. They asked how I learnt to play because they were made to believe that we lived on trees. Some of them asked how I got to America and I told them that a plane landed on the tree and from there, I hopped aboard. They used everything positive for the white. I told them that snow is white and Americans are not white while charcoal is black and Africans are not black. I thank God we were all friends but I did not allow them to use derogatory words on me. Also, when they saw my performance, they were shocked. When they heard that I had become a bishop back home, they said I merited it. They offered me a church to nurture at $45,000 a year but I turned it down even though I had not been made a bishop then. I told them that my ministry was not in America but

among my people. I told them that I was sent to America to acquire knowledge and return home. How was the reunion with your child when you came back to Nigeria? He did not even know I was his father. If I said come, he would run away. It took about five months before he knew I was his father. Now he is a graduate with a family of his own. He has children too. Whatever you want to become in life, you have to work for it. Without pain, there can be no gain. Look at Jesus Christ who wore a thorn of crown before he was resurrected and has given us eternal life. You do not enjoy what you do not suffer for. People do not want to suffer today. How did you feel when you were told you had become the prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria? I felt confused, surprised and worried. I asked myself, could it be me? I realised God is a faithful God and he would do whatever he says he would do. When you serve him faithfully, he would be true to you. How did you meet your wife? met her when I was in school. I was in theological school and she was in teachers training college. I went to see my sister in United Missionary College in Ibadan on an opening day and my sister introduced her to me. We chatted but we did not discuss anything amorous. During the holiday, she came to my house to see my sister and we usually spoke. She was from a strong Muslim home and her father was a Chief Imam in Ibadan. Did they permit their daughter to date a clergyman? My father-in-law did not allow but we went into prayer session and God appeared to me in my dream that she is my wife. God showed me a vision of my father-in-law handing over my wife to me and asking me not to make her suffer. Immediately I saw that, I surrendered everything to God. It was not easy and we had a hide and seek love. I only went to see her when I knew her father had gone to the mosque. She was a born again Christian and she had converted before we met. Her father beat her a lot for converting but she said it was her choice and chosen religion. When we met and I told her I was a minister in training, she told me that I was the husband she wanted.

•Culled from The Punch

health

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

Fresh Deadly Disease Breaks Out In Nigeria T

By Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu, Fisayo Falodi, Gbenro Adeoye and Eric Dumo from time to time in the hospital. he Federal Government on The disease is mostly managed by Friday alerted Nigerians to dermatologists. the outbreak of a killer “We encounter it all the time disease known as Stevens-Johnson especially among patients using Syndrome in the country. certain types of drugs like Septrin, The Minister of Health, Prof. Metirapin, and a host of others. Isaac Adewole, who announced Some individuals are sensitive the outbreak of the disease at a and so their bodies react to news conference in Abuja, said medications in different ways. the disease had killed one person. “Beyond medications, infection He added that another person can also play a role in persons affected by the disease was being afflicted with the ailment. responding to treatment at the It is something we see and deal National Hospital, Abuja. with all the time in the hospital.” Urging Nigerians not to he Medical Director of panic, Adewole said that the OAR Hospital, Ile-Epo, Federal Government was doing Lagos, Dr. Abiodun Ojifinni, everything possible to check the also said that SJS was not a new outbreak. disease in Nigeria and that it does The minister described the not break out regularly. health condition as an unusual O j i f i n n i n identified the allergic reaction to medications symptoms of the disease as found in Nigeria and some parts rashness all over the human body of Europe. and fever, among others. He said, “We have to find a “The disease is contagious and means to communicate with once it kills one or two people, Nigerians, so they should all be it disappears to break out some aware of this dangerous disease years later,” he said. and it is the sole business of the The symptoms of the disease government to enlighten the include facial swelling, tongue society by trying to increase their swelling, hives, skin pain, blisters awareness, knowledge and to on the skin and shedding of the improve their quality way of life.” skin, according to Mayo Clinic. The minister urged Nigerians It described the disease as a to be vigilant and seek urgent “rare and unpredictable reaction”, medical attention should they which is usually “triggered by a notice any sign of a rare disease. mouth care. medication or an infection.” Adewole urged members of the potentially life-threatening A pathologist, Dr. Idris Drugs identified as possible public to be more careful while c o n t a g i o u s d r u g r e a c t i o n . Durojaiye, described SJS as “a causes of SJS include antiIncidence of SJS is estimated very severe reaction to drugs.” using medications of all kinds. gout medications, such as He announced that the call between 1.1 and 7.1 cases per e said, “The whole skin allopurinol; pain relievers such as became necessary considering the million per year and is more will peel off but it is acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), fact that a sibling of marathoner, prevalent in women than men. usually linked to a drug ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, Fedeshola Adedayo, died of the Incidence in Europe is two per that the person has taken, so if others); and naproxen sodium million per year.” ailment. there is an outbreak, it is because According to him, the incidence people are reacting to a particular (Aleve). He called for increased Others include medications to awareness in the use of drugs of the disease is higher in Africa drug being circulated. fight infection, such as penicillin, and in the reading of drug leaflets. because of the extensive use of “It is usually doctors that can medications to treat seizures or The minister also called attention herbal drugs and the prevalence try to identify the drugs that may mental illness (anticonvulsants to the need for thorough scrutiny of HIV. be responsible because if there is and antipsychotics) and radiation Falodun explained that the an outbreak, it means there is a therapy of drug leaflets before taking such drugs to guide against adverse symptoms of the SJS disease pattern. So basically, it is the duty The clinic identified infections include fever, sore throat, runny of the health authorities to trace that can cause the disease to effects. He urged Nigerians to always nose, fatigue, general aches the pattern to know if there is a include: “Herpes (herpes simplex involve health practitioners when and pains, ulcers in mouth, particular drug that is responsible or herpes zoster); Pneumonia; unexplained reactions occur as genitals, anal regions as well as for it. HIV and Hepatitis.” a result of infections or in the conjunctivitis. In the United States, about 300 “Normally, a patient cannot A c c o r d i n g t o h i m t h e know if he would react to a new diagnoses are made each year. use of drugs as the syndrome is unpredictable and more prevalent health complications include drug because you cannot know The condition is more common in pigmentation problems, skin if you have never reacted to the adults than in children. Women in women. At the press conference, a scarring, scarred genitals, joint drug before. So my advice is that are affected more often than men, Senior Consultant Physician/ pains, lung diseases, obstructive whatever drugs that people have with cases occurring at a two to Dermatologist at the National disorders and eye complications, reacted to in the past, they should one ratio. Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Olanrewaju adhesions, ulcers, and blindness. try and avoid it. But the problem If 10 per cent of the body surface The medical doctor said the is that if you have never taken a area is involved, the disease has a Falodun, explained the symptoms of the disease and the cases being cause of the disease was unknown, drug before, you cannot know if mortality rate of around five per adding that self-medications you will react to it. cent. treated in his hospital. “SJS is an immune complex appeared to be one of its causes. “If the health authorities can find He urged Nigerians to avoid out if the patients took something mediated hypersensitivity reaction that typically involves self-medication, adding that that is common to both of them; the skin and mucous membranes individuals with previous drug there has to be a link somewhere and was first described in 1922 reactions should report to health if the patients are in the same by Albert Stevens and Frank care practitioners. location.” The management of the disease Johnson,” Falodun said. Former Chairman and Secretary, “SJS is a rare and unpredictable include cessation of suspected Nigeria Medical Association, reaction, and is also a minor form d r u g s ; h o s p i t a l a d m i s s i o n , Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Olusola of toxic epidermal necrolysis with p r e f e r a b l y i n b u r n s u n i t / Olowoselu, described SJS as not less than 10 per cent body surface intensive care; nutritional and completely new. fluid replacement; temperature area involvement.” He said, “It is something we in “SJS is a rare but serious and maintenance; pain relief and the medical profession encounter

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editorials from other newspapers

Meltdown

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

•That appears the lot of general civil society, as divided Organised Labour becomes the prime casualty of the fuel pump price hike he jury may still be out on

the relative success or failure of the nationwide strike Organised Labour called to protest the hike of the price of petrol from N86.50 to N145. But what is beyond dispute is that Organised Labour, now thoroughly disorganised and factionalised, has emerged the prime casualty of the strike. But Labour’s unravelling is only a reflection of much of Nigeria’s civil society pressure groups — professional and trade bodies, and advocacy groups alike. They all appear comatose, when they should be vibrant and alive, to debate and challenge the present order; and help fine-tune public policy. That is not good enough for Nigerian democracy. But back to Labour and the controversial strike. Many say Labour was hasty in embarking on a strike, over the fuel matter. True. But so was the Federal Government, that sensationally announced a hefty hike in fuel pricing, a move not a few have dubbed audacious, without much ado, or any worthwhile consultation. The government pleaded scary, economy-melting numbers to justify its new policy. It was the only way to keep Nigeria wet, since

the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could only import 50 per cent of the products locally consumed. The new policy would therefore make the market much more open, for whoever can muster the required foreign exchange. But Labour riposted by rightly pointing at widespread pains, in an economy already buckling under 13 per cent inflation, mass poverty and scary youth joblessness. Both the government and Labour are right from their own perspective. So, both would have benefited from extensive dialogue, before taking any action. The result would have been more beneficial than the ensuing disruption. Still, it would appear Labour suffered more from its felt past misdeeds than the justice — or even persuasiveness — of its present campaign. Its nemesis was the controversial ending of the January 2012 ‘Occupy Nigeria’ antifuel price increase campaign, with protesting partners alleging Labour leaders struck illicit deals with the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, and left them in the lurch. The allegations against Labour remain allegations. But that many seem to believe it, thus rating Labour below the usually distrusted

government in credibility, has done Labour’s brand equity no good. So, if the strike is not as total as many would have expected, it is because Labour’s publics have lost so much trust in it. That is not good for any organisation. Indeed, compared to its classical days, when it boasted credible leaders like the late Michael Imoudu, the irreplaceable Labour Leader No. 1, and Hassan Sunmonu, hero of the reformed Labour movement under the Obasanjo military government in the late 1970s, Organised Labour, basically comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) would appear much compromised. But then, that appears the lot of other critical pressure groups: Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and others, who appear to have lost their voice, at a critical juncture of Nigeria’s democracy. Overall, it is not the best of times for civil society. Let Labour and others suffer for their past misdeeds. That would help to chasten Labour and prepare it anew for its sacred duty as a democratic pressure group, that must help keep the government

on its toes. But let no one demonise Labour to the extent that it becomes utterly irrelevant and discarded. That would be unfortunate for everyone in the long run. However, Organised Labour should use this strike nearfiasco to remake itself and employ fresh and workable strategies to fight its cause, beyond wild strikes. But no matter how the strike is perceived, the Buhari Presidency should realise its level of success, no matter how low, points to the harshness of the new fuel pricing regime. If should therefore use it as a gauge to eventually soften the pains by staying true to, and aggressively implement, its local refining programme. That is the only logical way to exit this seasonal madness of hiking prices and risking strikes.

service of the states; and further downsizing at an annual rate of about 10 per cent for five years. This, he argued, was necessary, in order to ensure that the states did not keep begging for bailouts. In addition, such restructuring would create space for the controlled employment of new, youthful and better-trained civil servants. Similarly, while addressing members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun had, on May 5, said that the N165 billion being paid to federal civil servants monthly represented 40 per cent of the total spending of government, a figure she said was too high. She further said the Federal Government was pursuing aggressive measures to detect and prosecute ghost workers and other saboteurs in the system, and that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) introduced by the previous administration was sabotaged by those benefitting from salary fraud. According to her, many federal establishments including the police were yet to be captured in the system. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which is not fully functional, still has 10,000 workers on its payroll. As part of the condition for bailout, the states have been asked to develop a fiscal restructuring plan to drive efficiency. This includes carrying out biometric capture of their staff and putting in place efficiency, like

the Federal Government has done. This became necessary because of the pervasiveness of ghost workers and the level of savings expected from restructuring. Earlier in 2013, the current governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai, had called on the government to cut the size of the civil service, blaming the infrastructure gap in the country on the civil service pay, which he said was draining public funds. The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, accused Okupe of flying a kite filled with lies and half-truths, aimed at hoodwinking the governors across the states. But we disagree. Instead, we think there is a need to restructure the public service. The reasons include the fact that there is a lot of fraud in the payroll system in the public service that must not be allowed to persist. Two, the service is inefficient. It is filled with many redundant and idle workers that need to be offloaded to productive investments outside government but with the support of government. Some of these workers would have to be trained and supported in some cases to set up their own outfits. Three, the service needs to be modernised and reorganised for efficiency. This means that it must be better trained with the requisite skills to adopt technology, especially information and communications technology designed for administration and governance. It is indeed regrettable that

Nigerian politicians lack the political will and the enlightened self-interest to prevent the rot that has paralyzed the public service. The Vision 202020 document had indeed provided a vision and a reform plan for the public service. According to the plan, there are three phases in the reform of the service. The first phase is the rebuilding phase designed to restore professionalism, merit and client focus, equipment and infrastructures for the public service, covering the period 2009-2011. The second phase is the value- driven phase (2012-2015). The goal is to transform the service into a valuebased, strong and well performing institution. The third phase, the World Class Service Phase, covering the period 2016-2020, is to achieve a world class public service, where performance management has penetrated to levels of departments, units and individuals. This vision is far from being realised. Besides, current developments show that reform must be targeted at all levels of government rather than the federal service alone. Nigeria cannot develop meaningfully without an effective, efficient and service delivery oriented public service.

Restructuring The Public Service

oyin Okupe, former Senior Special Assistant to exPresident Goodluck Jonathan, recently called on governors to reduce their workforce instead of begging for bailouts from the Federal Government to pay workers’ salaries. According to him, it had become clear that the governors could not meet the financial needs of their states with the dwindling revenue accruing to them from the Federation Account. He stated further that many states might face imminent bankruptcy if the economic situation in the country worsened. He provided figures, some of which have been contested by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to buttress his argument. As Okupe pointed out, state governments have bloated public services. For instance, between 2008 and 2009, Ogun State received N2 billion monthly from the Federation Account and paid out N1.8 billion as staff salaries, wages and overhead costs. The total public service staff strength was about 50,000 while the population of the state was about 5,000,000. In effect, 10 per cent of the population consumed 90 per cent of the wealth of the state. In many states, the percentage of the resources of the state that is consumed by the civil service ranges from 70 per cent to 80 per cent and members of the service comprise no more than 10 per cent of the population. Okupe therefore called for the immediate retrenchment of between 20 to 30 percent of the civil

•Culled from The Nation Newspaper

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

Job Vacancies In Nigeria

Admin Officer (Security, Procurement/Logistics · Adamawa, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Admin · Posted by Oxfam Nigeria on Thursday, May 19, 2016 · Reference: 166112 Job Details Employer: Oxfam Nigeria Oxfam is a confederation of 17 Affiliates committed to creating a just world without poverty. In Nigeria Oxfam works in the areas of Economic Justice/Sustainable Livelihoods, Humanitarian programming to save lives, Advancing Gender Justice and Good governance, adopting a rights based approach.

Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN) is a Christian, not-for-profit, Non-Governmental Organization, working to ensure that Nigerian communities experience sustained food security, improved household nutrition, economic justice, natural resources management, disaster risks reduction, conflict transformation and humanitarian aid without bias to faith, gender or ethnicity. Development Exchange Centre (DEC) is a non-government, not-for profit organization with a mandate to support rural and urban women to improve living conditions. This is pursued through the provision of social and micro finance services for socio-economic empowerment. Oxfam, CRUDAN and DEC seek multiple positions for the anticipated four year EU- funded pro resilience action (PRO-ACT) aiming at building food security and resilience in Northern Nigeria The program will improve the food security, nutrition and resilience of vulnerable groups in 7 LGAs in Kebbi and Adamawa States of northern Nigeria. It will (i) deliver rapid improvement in livelihoods and preparedness toward risks for vulnerable populations and communities including women and youth; (ii) strengthen resilience, food security and natural resource utilization of small holder farming communities; (iii) improve strategic linkages for food security and support to local market systems and; (iv) improve response capacity of government towards social protection, early warning systems and strengthen local frameworks towards resilience building. We are recruiting for this position Job Description · Managing and tracking of all vehicles on the fleet, including movement planning and day-to-day allocation · Manage, maintain and repair vehicles in safe and efficient working order · Ensure that vehicles are checked on a daily basis, and that regular service and maintenance is carried out as per agreed schedule · Responsible for administering litigations and traffic offenses. · Ensure vehicles have current and lawful documentation. · Manage service agreements related to vehicle maintenance and fueling. Monitor fuel consumption and submit monthly reports · Receive travel requests, and maintain trip schedules and Staff Movement Board. · Liaise with airlines for flight travel ensuring value for money. Coordinate with incoming and outgoing travelers on pick up an drop times ensuring drivers are briefed of movement plans · Ensure accommodation is arranged for travelers. Ensure best value for money and that travelers are clearly informed well in advance · Maintaining up-to-date control of all assets including tracking donor, value, and location, managing staff issue, and recording all asset movements and disposals · Oversee the issuance and return of assets to/from staff · Ensure good condition of assets, and maintain asset condition reports. · Ensure leased properties are in good habitable conditions. Overseeing repairs on these houses, liaising with the caretaker and landlord where necessary. · Establish and maintain a list of contact details for preferred service providers including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, generator servicers and builders and make this list available to staff. · Ensure the telephone system is operational and cost effective (PABX and CUG). Report any defective equipment or service. Check on running costs with Finance to ensure no misuse occurs · Ensure the data network (internet) is operational and cost. Report any defective IT or office equipment to the Log Assistant or Logistic Officer. Candidate Requirements · Level of Education - Bachelor Degree · Communication & Interpersonal Skill Level - Excellent · Language Requirements - English - Excellent; Hausa (spoken) - Good · Level of IT Expertise Required - Good · Experience Expectations: · Desired Number of Years Prior Experience in a Similar Role - 4 · Experience in procurement and logistics with INGO · Experience in a relatively insecure state based environment Apply before Thursday, June 16, 2016 - 29 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………end………………….. IT Officer · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Engineering, IT, NGO & Non-profit, Graduate · Posted by Samuelson Management Limited on Thursday, May 19, 2016 · Reference: 166114 Job Details Employer: Samuelson Management Limited Established in 1989, SAMUELSON is a firm of multi - disciplinary consultants, offering a wide range of professional consulting services to various organisations such as state governments, government agencies, financial institutions, African and multinational companies, foreign organisations and not -for-profit organisations Over 15 years, SAMUELSON has partnered with virtually hundreds of organisations in several sectors of the economy to assist them meet their objectives and to provide proactive solutions to the myriad of special business needs and organisational challenges We are recruiting to fill the vacant position: Responsibilities: · Conceptualizing, evaluating & supervising ICT based projects. · Formulate, review and enforce ICT policy. · Recommend purchases of IT infrastructures, consumables and software need of the organization. · First line business and technical liaison with consultants and vendors on organization IT needs. · Manage software, hardware and networking issues.

· Manage ICT event log culture for the purpose of audit. Candidate Requirements · BSc in Computer Science, Software Engineering or any related course · Must have prior experience in business transformation from ICT Unit. · Sound leadership qualities and also a good team member · A clear understanding and ideas about technology trends · Ability to recognizes and respond to the need for change whilst energizing, motivating and supporting staff throughout this process to improve service delivery. · A commitment to improving organizational performance through growth, innovation and continuous improvement. · Added advantage - Ability to Drive · Preferred candidates should reside in Lagos Island and environs. Apply before Monday, July 18, 2016 - 61 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ……………………..end…………………… Technical Commercial Executive · Abuja, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Agriculture · Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2016 · Reference: 166110 Job Details We are an agro-allied company that is into livestock farming, feedmilling, and marketing of animal health products. We are committed to animal health and production and focused on being the foremost operator in the livestock industry in Nigeria. We are currently recruiting to fill this position. Candidate Requirements · Candidate must possess first degree veterinary medicine (DVM). · Candidate must not be older than 30 years. · Computer Appreciation skills (Microsoft office suite). · Good record keeping and reporting skills. · Good interpersonal relationship skills. · Strong oral and written communication skills. · Good team player. · Good financial acumen. · Must be assertive, focused and confident. · Must possess a sense of urgency Apply before Saturday, July 2, 2016 - 45 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………end…………………… Investment Specialist · Abuja, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Finance · Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2016 · Reference: 166108 Job Details We are a leading Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) company who render services to major oil exploration and production companies in Nigeria with special focus on major onshore/offshore fabrication, heavy duty and pressure vessels fabrication in the Oil & Gas industry. We are currently recruiting to fill this position. Responsibilities · Provide investment information related to new equity products, regulatory issues and new policies. · Identify and convey issues or constraints associated with product, operations, systems, platform, pricing and propose alternatives. · Ensure conformance with entire company guidelines and regulatory policies. · Identify customers ‘ investment needs by basic financial planning modules. · Provide different investment products to attain successfully identified needs. · Maintain and update records as well as files on existing customers. · Prioritize customer requirements and cross-sells services and products of varied company business lines. Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Psychology, Liberal Arts or Economics as well as any other related field of expertise. · 6+ years of asset management/ financial services experience. · MBA is an added advantage. · Keen understanding of the markets and investment processes. · Excellent communication skills both verbal and written. · Ability to work well under pressure. Apply before Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 28 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………………..end………………………….. Quality Manager · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: FMCG, Medical, Management, Procurement, Graduate · Posted by FMCG Distributions Limited on Thursday, May 19, 2016 · Reference: 166106 Job Details Employer: FMCG Distributions Limited FMCG Distributions Limited is involved in trading (wholesale and retail) merchandising and redistribution of products using our vast network of over 17 branches spread across 21 states of Nigeria and still expanding. We are strategically located in all major commercial cities and towns in Nigeria to help our partners achieve even distribution of products to deliver quality services to our clients. FMCG Distributions Limited is requires the services of suitable qualified candidates to fill the vacant positions: Candidate Requirements · Education: Graduate or Masters in Science/Pharma from reputed Institutes. · Knowledge of local Drug Regulatory/ Metrology will be an added advantage. · Experience: 8-10 years of experience in Quality and regulatory management. · Languages: Very good command of spoken and written English. Apply before Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 43 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. ………………..end………………….

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515

sports

Mats Hummels In Spotlight As Bayern Munich Face Borussia Dortmund B ayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund face off this Saturday to decide the German Cup. Mark Lovell (Bayern) and Stefan Buczko (Dortmund) preview the showdown in the DFB Pokal final, with Mats Hummels among the many intriguing subplots. Make a case for why Bayern have collected their umpteenth trophy you’ll win this one M a r k L o v e l l : T h e in recent times, the Black B a v a r i a n s c r u i s e d t o and Yellows failed again t h e i r f o u r t h l e a g u e and have now not picked title in a row and will up any major silverware be confident of success since their famous 5-2 cup against a Dortmund side win over Bayern in 2012. who are clearly struggling It means that Marco Reus to come to terms with (who signed that summer) Mats Hummels’ imminent is yet to win a trophy in departure to their big Dortmund and, after three rivals. BVB failed to win consecutive losses in the their final two league Champions League and games against average DFB cup finals in the past sides (Eintracht Frankfurt, three years, the club have a 1-0 loss; FC Koln, a 2-2 to prove they will not draw), while Bayern took always be bridesmaids. How will the fans react the opportunity to stretch the chasm at the top to 10 to Mats Hummels? ML: Incredibly, points, despite falling once again in the Champions H u m m e l s f a c e s t h e prospect of flak from League semifinals. Victory in the cup final both sets of supporters would provide a happy a s t h e t w o G e r m a n end for Pep Guardiola’s heavyweights go toe-toreign in his final game toe. He can expect a few in charge, sending the whistles from Bayern departing Catalan off into fans as captain of the the Manchester sunset opposition, having spent with his second domestic over eight years as an double in three seasons enemy of the Bavarian and the 11th in the club’s state. And, following his acrimonious exit to their illustrious history. S t e f a n arch rivals, Dortmund Buczko: Dortmund will fans may turn on him too, arrive in Berlin full of especially if their side are energy after taking it slow trailing in the capital. SB: I’m sure Bayern in their last two matches. fans will try to antagonize But, in all seriousness, going by the last two BVB supporters with matchdays, there isn’t “Mats Hummels” chants. much to suggest that Though there isn’t much Dortmund will be at their of a reaction to be expected from the yellow half of the best on Saturday. Thomas Tuchel was Olympiastadion. BVB fans angry about his team’s got the anger out of their performance on the final system in the home match Bundesliga matchday against VfL Wolfsburg — “it’s much easier to which followed the ad-hoc keep your form than to announcement, so there regain it” — but the good may be nothing left in the news is that, apart from tank. Key Battle Ilkay Gundogan (whose M L : R o b e r t pressing and precise passing will be dearly Lewandowski vs. Mats missed), no key player Hummels Hummels has made will be out for the match. his decision to leave and Perhaps the emotional Pep farewell could throw re-join Bayern under a Bayern off, but that’s significant cloud and, to probably clutching at put it mildly, has a lot on his mind in his final straws a bit. W h o d e s e r v e s c u p outing for Dortmund before “returning home.” success more? M L : C l e a r l y , t h r e e It’s hardly a coincidence s t r a i g h t C h a m p i o n s that the club have failed to League semifinals losses win their final two league weigh heavily in the end. games since Hummels’ Bundesliga success is a i n t e n t i o n s b e c a m e given at Bayern so, despite common knowledge. On four easy league titles on top of all this, he’s up the spin, defeat against against Lewandowski, Dortmund in the final h i m s e l f a f o r m e r would mean Bayern fall Dortmund goal machine, way below expectations but who made the same for a second consecutive move with his reputation campaign — with just a in tact back in 2014. single trophy to show for Lewandowski topped the their efforts. Cup success league’s scoring charts would be a fitting end to with 30 goals in 29 starts Guardiola’s high-profile this season and has made stay in Bavaria, enabling a habit of scoring against him to leave with his head his former side in the past held high, basking in a two seasons. SB: Gonzalo Castro vs. second domestic double Arturo Vidal in three seasons. With Gundogan injured, SB: Just like FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund could a lot will hinge on Castro’s use a cup win to console form for Dortmund. It will themselves from losses on be very much down to the European stage. While him to retain possession

and give his team a break from Bayern’s pressure. In the Champions League, Atletico Madrid showed that Bayern are vulnerable when midfielders keep their cool against Bayern’s pressing and don’t make hasty decisions. With a good game against Vidal and Xabi Alonso, Castro could make all the difference for BVB. An early marker for next season? ML: With a new TV rights deal imminent, few people, apart from diehard Bayern fans, want to see the club romp away with the title once again, but that’s the way it’s looking even before the new season has started. With all due respect to the rest of the Bundesliga, it seems that all Bayern

have to do is finish above a Dortmund side shorn of the services of their captain and leader. There have been 25, 19, 33 and 10 point margins between the two German heavyweights in the past four seasons so, barring a spectacular collapse, Bayern should seal their fifth straight league title in Carlo Ancelotti’s debut season. SB: The 0-0 draw in March showed that Borussia Dortmund can play on a level with Bayern in a single match. If Dortmund can defend well right from the start of the season, they might give Bayern a chase, which will very much depend on BVB’s transfer dealings (replacing Hummels and Gundogan). Overall the

osun Defender Saturday, May 21, 2016

Compiled By Lukman Ussein

club should profit from their development under Tuchel and should keep it close, but in the end there will only be a tense title race in the Bundesliga if Bayern struggle. Ancelotti doesn’t have the best domestic record, does he?

•Mats Hummels

Frankfurt’s Marco Russ To Feature In Playoff Despite Tumour Diagnosis

intracht Frankurt captain Marco Russ is set to feature in the club’s relegation playoff against Nurnberg despite being diagnosed with a “severe tumour disease” after failing a drug test. E a r l i e r t h i s w e e k , that Russ, 30, failed a Frankfurt were informed drug test with his blood by the German FA (DFB)’s showing elevated levels anti-doping commission

of the hormone hCG, an indicator for either the use of anabolic steroids or a cancerous disease. Following a medical check-up on Wednesday with a urologist and

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez To Miss Olympics

eal Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and James understand that.” Rodriguez are both set to miss August’s It has already been Olympic Games football tournament in Brazil. confirmed that Barcelona Portugal captain C o l o m b i a n F A and Brazil star Neymar Ronaldo and Colombia president Ramon Jesurun w i l l m i s s t h e C o p a midfielder James are both i n d i c a t e d t o E S P N America to take part in eligible to be selected as Deportes that James the Olympics on home overage players for the has already made his soil. tournament in Rio de decision in conjunction The Olympic football Janeiro, but the duo will with management. tournament in Rio is being also be representing their “James spoke privately countries earlier in the with coaches from the played between Aug. summer, with the former Colombia senior team and 3-20, with the Primera at Euro 2016 in France the decision was taken for Division season due to and the latter at the Copa him to go to the Copa kick off on Aug. 20. Barca America Centenario in America,” Jesurun said. will also face Sevilla in the United States. “It is understandable. the two-legged Spanish Portugal Olympic team It was very difficult Supercopa, which is due coach Rui Jorge has told for him to go to both to take place on Aug. 10 Lance that, although the tournaments, you must and 15. final decision on Ronaldo has yet to be made, he is not making plans around the 31-year-old. “We do not yet know exactly about the three players over 23, we will ary Cahill was absent from England’s first wait, but I don’t believe training session ahead of Euro 2016 on Cristiano Ronaldo will be Wednesday. there,” he said. Park. Without those involved He added: “I don’t Chelsea centreknow. We are not thinking in the Europa League back Cahill was the about that. Of course he and FA Cup finals, Roy is one of the two best Hodgson was able to o n l y a b s e n t e e f r o m players in the world. Any call on 17 players of his those available for the afternoon session due to club or country could use 26 players at St George’s a knock picked up in the his contribution.” 1-1 season finale at home to Leicester. The severity of the knock was unclear ahead of England’s first preparation friendly against Turkey at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The England training was gate-crashed by a member of the public, •Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez will play at Euro just days after the Old 2016 and the 2016 Copa America respectively. Trafford security scare.

Gary Cahill Out With A Knock As England Squad Open Training

additional blood tests, Russ was diagnosed with the disease. Despite the news, the Eintracht captain, who has featured in 28 matches for the club this season, will take part in the first leg of the playoff at home to secondtier side Nurnberg on Thursday. “Despite the tragic diagnosis, the player said he is ready to play,” Frankfurt said on their official website. Both Frankfurt and Nurnberg have strong records in the relegation/ promotion playoff going into the tie. Nurnberg, who finished third in the second tier behind Freiburg and RB Leipzig, have twice come out on top and did not concede a goal in either of their two playoffs, against Energie Cottbus and Augsburg, since the reintroduction of the two-legged ties for the final Bundesliga berth in the 2008-09 season. Frankfurt twice managed to preserve their top-flight status against second-tier opposition during the 1980s, beating Duisburg in 1984 and Saarbrucken in 1989. Frankfurt were sent to the playoffs by relegation rivals Werder Bremen on the final day of the season, but Nurnberg forward Guido Burgstaller said he did not mind who they face. “Bremen or Stuttgart would not have changed our starting position at all,” the 27-year-old said. “In any case we would have been up against a superior opponent, but we still have a chance if we bring everything to the pitch.” The second leg will be played on Monday.

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or the first time since the advent of the fourth republic, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) induced national strike was not successful. It has almost become a tradition that whenever the federal government effect a hike in the price of petroleum products in the country, the next thing is for the organised Labour to give ultimatum of reversal of the price or the government faces national strike. It all started with the NLC led by the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration. The NLC and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) paralysed the economy after which a compromise was arrived at. This became a recurring decimal because the only strategy the government had was to increase the price of petroleum products citing the same excuse of cheaper prices of the products. The action of the labour too was one way, revert the prices of face the wrath of the people by way of strike. It is quite unfortunate that our organised labour and the civil society organisations have left undone a lot of things. What are the better alternatives being put forward to counter the arguments of the federal government as espoused by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu. According to him the new price is not about subsidy withdrawal but that the price is determined by the exigencies of our present precarious position. The revenue generated from petroleum continues to dwindle which is beyond the control of the Nigerian government. The price of a barrel of oil in the international market which used to sell above 100 dollars now sells below 40 dollars. The shortfall is a very big margin bearing in mind that our economy is mono-cultural. The activities of Niger Delta Avengers (NADA) have to a great extent reduced the output of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil output. A corollary to all these is the fact that the Central Bank of Nigeria does not have enough foreign currency to cater for all our basic needs as well as for the importation of fuel. At a point the federal government felt it could solely import the petroleum products through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the use of Nigerians. Again it was realised that it was not feasible. It not only brought out long queues in petrol stations; but created artificial scarcity. Furthermore, the government fixed the price at N86 for premium motor spirit (PMS) at NNPC and N89.50k at other filling stations. The government now decided that the market should be deregulated to allow all entities capable of importing fuel to do so subject to the ceiling price of N145. According to Kachikwu the

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Gains In Our Pains?

use of research. If we do, maybe we would not find ourselves in the present predicament. To the common man, it is a fact that we have to accept the current situation as a reality and adjust accordingly. It is very painful considering the fact that these times are hard. It is unfortunate but we have no option but to adjust. For the NLC, ASUU and other CSO, it is my firm belief that they have left undone what they should do. They should work on the high remuneration of public office holders. Considering the sacrifice the people are being called upon to make, the political office holders should be made to either voluntarily shed some of the excesses or be compelled to do that. he research department of these bodies should come out with relevant data to explain why with the current economic situation our office holders cannot earn what they earned hitherto. Among the benefits which our legislators earn is severance package which is earned at the end of a session. This simply implies that after a legislator has finished a tenure, he is paid severance package for the end of that tenure. If he is reelected he earns his normal salary again after collecting the package. If the person is fortunate or his constituency is generous like that of the erstwhile Senator President, Mr David Mark, then his severance package alone is sufficient to do something meaningful in a society or state where the civil servants are being owed salaries of five months. At the end of this tenure, Mark would have been in the Senator for 5 sessions. For the government, the lasting solution is to provide conducive atmosphere for the establishment of refineries to make the product available. Nigerians have been leadership by example in the current leaders and they should not only continue but endeavour to always seek to protect the interest of the masses. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot even offer a better alternative rather than condemn the hike in price. The NLC should not be fixated on the idea that whenever price is increased, then strike is the next option. The decay in the system is more but we can put our leaders on their toes to make them do the right thing. I am of the view that ultimately there will be gains in our temporal pains.

â&#x20AC;˘BUHARI

market forces will bring down the price after six months. This can be realised through the demand and supply nexus. Erroneously a lot of Nigerians are of the view that any hike in price is about withdrawal of subsidy. This is certainly not about it but the reality of our economic situation. Rather than meet the government officials to counter their arguments; the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Mr Ayuba Wabba elected to go on strike. They called out workers last Wednesday, even though the strike was not successful in most states. The two major unions that carried out the strike were the Wabba led NLC and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Joe Ajaero led NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led by Mr Bobboi Kaigama refused to be part of the strike. It is interesting that for the first time Nigerians saw reasons in the explanation offered by the government. Nationals with openminds chose to go with government. According to Kachikwu if that step was not taken, it would get to a point when governments at all levels would not be able to pay salary of workers. Currently, some state governments are indebted to

their workers with meagre resources from the federation. If the situation were to continue, according to the minister, all the available resources would be mobilised to import fuel. However, with the present situation, all these entities interested in the business can do business subject to government specification. POSERS he current scenario to my mind raises some fundamental issues. Does the NLC want the government to spend all our revenue on the importation of fuel on the simple excuse of subsidy? In reality how many poor Nigerians have access to the PMS at the government-fixed prices? Should the government continue to pay subsidy fraught with fraudulent activities? It is a fact that during the administration of the immediate past government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan that an amount of over 1 trillion naira was paid in the name of subsidy to marketers. How much is the total budget of Nigeria that over a trillion was paid as subsidy? RECOMMENDATIONS It is my honest view that Nigeria as a country does not make effective

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