1st July 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,536

FRIDAY, 1 JULY, 2016

Constitution amendment: Reps adopt Confab report

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Lawyer withdraws suit challenging Buhari's certificate—P4

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I'm ready to return entire N400m —Metuh

Abia: One state, 2 govs —P9

—P10

•Confusion as Ogah, Ikpeazu claim governorship seat

•INEC issues certificate of return to Ogah •Ikpeazu gets court order restraining CJ from swearing him in •INEC explains position •Heavy security at Government House •Ikpeazu declares today, Monday public holiday for Maduekwe —P3 Forgery case: AGF not answerable to Senate —Aide —P10

Alleged N270m fraud: You have case to answer, court tells Ohakim —P31

National Commissioner in charge of South-East, INEC, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku (right), giving certificate of return to Dr Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah as the winner of the April 2015 gubernatorial election in Abia State in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: INEC.

Edo/Ondo: Court restrains INEC from accepting Makarfi's candidates —P8

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

3 news Abia: One state, 2 govs

Friday, 1 July, 2016

•INEC issues certificate of return to Ogah •Ikpeazu gets court order restraining CJ from swearing him in •INEC explains position •Heavy security at Government House From Lanre Adewole, Jacob Segun Olatunji, Yejide Gbenga Ogundare, Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin and Celestine Ihejirika

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EGAL confusion enveloped Abia State, on Thursday, as two claimants to the governorship seat emerged.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) caught political watchers by surprise, by issuing a fresh certificate of return to Dr Uchechukwu Emeka Ogah, superseding the one earlier issued the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

The commission said it acted in deference to the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, sacking the incumbent and enthroning Ogah as the lawful candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 governorship election.

The court also ordered immediate issuance of certificate of return to him, but Ikpeazu filed an appeal against the judgment.

However the swearing-in of Ogah that should have ordinarily followed the issuance of the certificate was stalled by an order of a High Court in the state, which barred the Chief Judge, constitutionally-empowered to undertake the exercise, from conducting it.

The order, obtained at Osisioma judicial division High Court, ruled that “an order is hereby made restraining the second defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the first defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with Section 143(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010, (as amended) and pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

“That the third defendant (Chief Judge of Abia State) or any other Judge of the Court or any Judicial Officer are hereby restrained from swearing-in the first defendant while the claimant remains in office in accordance with Section 143(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010, (as amended) and pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”

Legal opinions have been varied since the unusual political development surfaced in the state.

Top echelon of the nation’s judiciary, Nigerian Tribune gathered, had also been watching the unfolding scenario with keen interest, with a view to ensuring that there was no constitutional

meltdown in the state.

Though a couple of those who called the shots at the zenith of the nation’s judiciary were said to be abroad, findings revealed that they had been well briefed.

A top judicial source told the Nigerian Tribune that with the emergence of the duo, both could be considered as lawful governors as well as being constitutionally-deficient in laying claim to the seat.

The return of the decisionmakers within the system, expected to be soon, could change a lot of dynamics, Nigerian Tribune was told.

Osisioma Ngwa High Court in the state, on Thursday, issued injunction restraining the swearing of Ogah by the state Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe.

Ikpeazu, who was billed to deliver the maiden edition lecture on “social cultural diversity and economic development in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospect,” at Abia State University, Uturu was caught midway when the news filtered through that he should vacate his seat for Ogah.

Reacting to the development, Ikpeazu called on the people of the state to remain calm and move about their normal businesses.

He said he received with concern report of issuance of certificate of return to Ogah, despite the pendency of notice of appeal and motion for stay of the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The governor contended that the nation’s laws were clear on the matter of issuance of certificate of return and swearing-in as governor, where there is a subsistent appeal and application.

Addressing newsmen at

the Government House, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Bonny Iwuoha, said the state had filed a process restraining the swearing-in of Ogah, adding that the process was to take immediate effect.

Also speaking at the joint press briefing, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Eme Okoro, corroborated the claim that the state had secured court injunction restraining the chief judge from taking any further steps on the issue of Ogah’s swearing-in.

State chairman of the PDP, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, alleged that there was an unholy plan to invade the state by the powers-that-be, stressing that democracy was being threatened.

He argued that those who did not believe in the rule of law were behind the latest alleged assault on the nation’s democracy.

He further stated that with the court order already appealed, the process should have been seen to a logical conclusion judicially.

Onuigbo added that even

Ogah did not, in the first place, accept the results of the primaries nor sign the result sheet.

Calling the Abuja development a rape on the nation’s democracy, the party boss alleged that the state was not safe, because of rumour of a plot by certain elements to invade it Thursday night.

There were claims of Ikpeazu’s special assistants and other top government officials attached to the Government House in Umuahia seen hurriedly packing out their belongings.

Meanwhile, INEC has explained reasons it issued the certificate.

The National Commissioner representing the South East, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, said “INEC issued the certificate of return to Ogah as Abia governor-elect in obedience to the order of court.”

According to him, “the situation is that we are simply obeying the court order.

The court said with immediate effect, we should issue him certificate of return and that is what we have done.

If court tomorrow issues

another order, we will obey the same. By the grace of God, I am the INEC National Commissioner in charge of South-East.

“I will do the same thing if court orders us to do so, that we should issue the same certificate to another person. In this case, court ordered us to issue certificate to the person who won the election, that is Uchechukwu Ogah.

“I was the person who issued certificate of return to Governor Ikpeazu because he was declared winner.

Now the court is saying otherwise. One thing is that, we are not above the law and we cannot disobey the law of the land. After the court, another person we obey is God. And my conscience is my God. I will urge you, members of the media, to go and study the court decision very well. It was wonderful, it was direct,” Nwurukwu said.

Speaking on whether the commission was aware of the appeal filed by Ikpeazu, Nwuruku said “if he does that, we will give him another certificate. We write

it, the certificates are there.

Even the certificate of Mr President is there. It is just the signature that matters.

We will just file it.”

According to him, “we strictly want to obey court order. If there is another court judgment overruling us that it was wrong to have issued certificate, by God’s grace, I am still alive, I will do it again, I will give it to Ikpeazu. After all, I was the person that gave it to him in Abuja and the same thing is happening today.

On enforcement of the order, he said “INEC is not army or police that monitor court orders. We have our own responsibilities, to carry out and do election.

“If we give certificates and somebody says he cannot execute it, that is left for him to talk with law enforcement.”

Ikpeazu had earlier written to the chairman of INEC, intimating the commission that he had filed an appeal against the judgment.

Ikpeazu, in an open letter written to the commisContinues pg10

I’m ready to return the entire N400m —Metuh Sunday Ejike -Abuja THE embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, restated his readiness to refund the entire N400 million paid to him by the former President Goodluck Jonathan for image laundering prior to the 2015 presidential election.

The former PDP spokesman, in a statement by his counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, in Abuja, declared support for the fight against corruption by the present administration.

Metuh said he was willing to refund the entire N400 million, regardless of the fact that the money had already been expended on the directive of the former president and that the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) had already recovered part of the fund from a prosecution witness.

The counsel confirmed that the defence team had been holding discussion with the Ministry of Justice, the EFCC and other necessary bodies on how to refund the money and resolve the issue.

Ikpeazu said in the statement that it had become

obvious from the evidence of prosecution and defence witnesses that at the time the money was released to Metuh after his presentation to former President Jonathan, he had no knowledge of the source, but had every cause to believe that the money was from the ex-president, to whom he made presentation, received directives and rendered report and accounts accordingly.

“When the matter first came up and Chief Metuh was invited to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in December 2015, he requested to know

the source of the money and expressed his readiness to make refund if it was from government coffers, not minding that the money had been expended as directed by the former president. Officials at ONSA never got back to him as they promised, until his arrest by the EFCC in January 2016.

“It was, however, while in court that a document was brought regarding the source of the money and since then, our client had made manifest his willingness to refund the money and had, indeed, approached his family, friends Continues pg10

Forgery case: AGF not answerable to Senate —Aide Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja THE Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami is not answerable to the Senate. By virtue of the principle of Separation of Powers, he is answerable to the president who appointed him. And he has not done anything wrong.”

Special Adviser to the President on Public Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Okoi ObonoObla, who represented the AGF before the Senator David Umaru-led Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters yesterday said this while speaking with reporters.

The AGF was first sched-

uled to appear on Thursday, June 23, before the committee, but was adjourned on his request.

It was, however, rescheduled for Thursday, June 30.

However, his absence on Thursday, according to Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, is because “he’s on national duty, outside the country.”

The appearance of Mr Okoi Obono-Obla did not go down well with Senator David Umaru as he said “this is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and this invitation was for the Justice Minister to appear in person, hence, we cannot interact with you on this matter.”

The committee chairman, therefore, adjourned the

meeting pending the decision of the Senate after considering the panel’s report at plenary.

In an interview with journalists after he was chased out, Obono-Obla said: “The AGF has not done anything wrong. The AGF has not undermined democracy, he acted pursuant to his powers vested on him by the Constitution, Section 174 (1) which says he can prosecute anybody and he has done that.

“The Senate is not on trial.

He has not taken the Senate to court. He has taken four persons to court. They are not the Senate. Being President of the Senate does not make you the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The matter was investigated by the police and a prima facie case was established and the AGF invoked his powers under Section 174 (1) to initiate criminal proceedings against those persons.

“This matter is now before a court of law. There is separation of powers in Nigeria.

It is not position of the Senate to constitute themselves into a court of law.

“If I go to the chambers of the National Assembly to shoot you, would it be an internal affair? If I forge certificate, will you say that the police did not give me the certificate? What is the duty of the police? To investigate crime and they investigated a DIG, a very experienced

police officer, carried out forensic investigation.

“They established that these rules were forged. Anybody who’s not satisfied should go to the court and ventilate his defence, but not to take the position that the AGF has committed a crime.

“It doesn’t matter whether Saraki was invited by the police or not. So, let him go and tell that to the court.

That is why he should hands off. And allow the court to hear this matter.

“At the end of the day, if it is established that this charge is frivolous, the court will discharge him, but not to take the position that the AGF has committed any crime.

4 news Lawyer withdraws suit challenging Buhari’s certificate Friday, 1 July, 2016

Sunday Ejike -Abuja

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, struck out the suit challenging the eligibility of President Muhammadu Buhari to contest for the office of President of Nigeria on the grounds that he lacks the academic qualifications to do so.

The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, struck out the suit, following a notice of withdrawal of the matter by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaiwe, who filed the suit challenging Buhari’s eligibility to contest the presidential election.

Justice Ademola, who gave no order, striking out the suit without cost, had delivered a ruling on an application asking the court to stay execution of the decision of the court made earlier against the defendants.

When the matter was mentioned on Thursday, counsel for the plaintiff, Chikordi Okeorji, informed the court that the plaintiff had filed a notice of discontinuance pursuant to order 50 rule 2 (1) of the Federal High Court Rules.

The notice of discontinuance was filed on June 27, 2016.

Defendant’s counsel, Paul Ajiboye, did not oppose the application, though he complained that he was not served.

In view of the non objection to the application for discontinuance of the matter by the defendant, Justice Ademola then went ahead to strike out the suit.

The plaintiff, NwokochaAhaiwe, had filed an application asking the court to nullify the election of Buhari as President of Nigeria on the grounds that he did not possess the minimum academic requirement for the position.

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

Buhari had raised a preliminary objection to the suit on the grounds that he was not properly served with the processes of the

court in the matter.

In the preliminary objection of the president, he challenged the mode of

service of the originating summons on him, insisting that he ought to have been served at an address

in Kaduna, instead of by substituted means at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress

(APC), in Abuja.

Justice Ademola, however, dismissed the preliminary objection on the grounds

President Muhammadu Buhari, flanked by, from left, Chief Judith Burdin Asuni; Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo; the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete Spiff and the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, shortly after receiving the Niger Delta dialogue and contact group, at the State House, on Thursday.

that it was incompetent and upheld the service of the originating court processes on Buhari by substituted means.

Ademola said the service of the court’s processes on the president through the secretariat of the APC was proper.

Not satisfied with the court’s ruling, Buhari took the matter to the Court of Appeal, asking the court to set aside or discharge the ex-parte order granted in favour of Nnamdi Nwokocha Ahaaiwe on February 16, 2015 to serve him with the originating summons by substituted means.

The president also prayed the court to make an order setting aside the respondent’s (Ahaaiwe) originating summons for being incompetent.

Following the appeal, Justice Ademola had adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely) as the Court of Appeal has seized of the matter.

Court sends ex-Adamawa gov, Fintiri, to Kuje prison Sunday Ejike -Abuja A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered that former governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, be remanded at the Kuje Prisons, Abuja, pending the determination of his bail application.

Fintiri was, on Thursday, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge, bordering on money laundering.

He was said to have defrauded the Adamawa State government of the sum of N970 million and another $4, 830 while he held sway as the governor of the state for three months.

Fintiri pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read out to him.

His counsel, Mahmud Magaji, applied for his bail on the grounds that the alleged offence, for which he was charged, was bailable.

Magaji hinged his argument for the bail of his client on Section 35 (6) of the 1999 Constitution,

RAMADAN MESSAGE O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah , “They are dead.” Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not. And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.

—Surat Al-Baqarah verses 153-157

which presumes his client innocent until proven guilty by the court.

He also relied on Sections 158 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in urging the court to admit the defendant to bail.

“We rely on these sections in seeking the order of the court admitting the defendant to bail pending the determination of the case.

“At this stage, the accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the prosecution,” Magaji added.

According to the defence counsel, bail was discretionary and that before the arraignment of the defendant, he had been on administrative bail of the anti-graft agency.

Part of the requirement for the bail of the defendant, he informed the court, was the deposit of his international passport with the EFCC. Magaji assured the court that Fintiri would not jump bail and that he would always be available to defend himself in the charges slammed against him by the EFCC. In opposing the bail application, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Peters Aso, referred the court to a document filed by the defence concerning a medical issue of the defendant.

Aso said it appeared that Fintiri had lied on oath about the date he said the doctor examined him, which, he said, was different from the

date he said the doctor told him of his ailment.

The prosecuting counsel said although he was not a medical personnel, he believed that until one was examined before he would be told of his health.

He prayed the court to deny the defendant bail on the grounds that he was sure the defendant would not come to court for trial if granted bail.

The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, however, fixed ruling on the bail application for Friday July 1, 2016 and ordered that Fintiri be remanded at

the Kuje Prison in Abuja, until the determination of his bail application.

The five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR /131/2016 and signed by Sylvanus Tahir of the legal and prosecution department of the EFCC read in part, “That you, Ahmadu Umaru (Alias Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri) and Mayin Construction and Properties Ltd on or about October 2, 2014 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did indirectly disguise the origin of the sum of N80,000.000.00 only

transferred from an account number 0313000301 domiciled at Eco Bank Plc operated by Timeplex Nigeria into account number 5742019591 domiciled at Eco Bank Plc operated by Mayim Construction and properties Ltd which sum you know is proceeds of an unlawful act; to wit: bribery and corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2), (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.

Pacify your people, Buhari tells Niger Delta leaders Promises to rebuild region, fulfill Amnesty commitments Leon Usigbe -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has called on leaders of the Niger Delta region to appeal to their people to be patient, promising that his administration will rebuild the region.

Receiving a delegation of Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group, led

by His Royal Highness, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, he stressed his administration’s commitment to rebuilding Nigeria, including the Niger Delta region, and therefore, solicited patience and understanding from the citizenry.

He had, last week, made a similar appeal to people in the region to cease the vandalism of oil and gas assets over which, he said, he was agonising.

Buhari pledged that under his watch Nigeria would witness judicious utilisation of resources.

He used the occasion of his audience with the group to reiterate his appeal to those who perpetrate violence to embrace peace and give government a chance.

He said: “We intend to rebuild this country; so that our children and grandchildren will have a good place they can call their own. A lot of damage has been done, so I want you to tell the people to be patient.

“When you get together

with other leaders, please pacify the people. We will utilise the resources of Nigeria with integrity and rebuild the country.”

The president said the gazette on the Niger Delta amnesty programme by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration was being studied with a view to determining what had been fulfilled, promising that whatever was left would equally be addressed.

“I want to get as much intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you, in order to have enough information to deal with the issues once and for all, “the president said.

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

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Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 1 July, 2016

Lagosmetro Gunmen abduct Babcock fresh graduate, demand N10m ransom Opeyemi Owoaseye JUSTINA Anochie, one of the newly-graduated students of Babcock University, Ogun State, has been abducted.

Anochie was said to have completed her nursing course in May and graduated from the school in June.

She was said to have returned to her resident off the school campus at Ilisan, Ogun State, where she was kidnapped on Sunday around 9.00 p.m.

It was learnt that no one knew when the abduction took place until she was declared missing due to the noise of the generator.

The case was reported at the Ikenne Police Division and was later transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Lagos Metro was told that

Siblings accuse 70-year-old brother of forging father’s will Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A 70-year-old man, Obasola Adebowale, has been accused by his siblings of allegedly forging the will and letter of power of Attorney belonging to their late father.

Adebowale was, on Thursday, arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court on charges bordering on forgery, fraud, assault and breach of peace preferred against him by the police.

It was gathered that the defendant, sometimes in 1982 after the death of his father, Josiah Osholanke Adebowale, ?in 1980, without his siblings’ consent, fraudulently converted their father’s property to his personal use.

The 70-year-old man was further accused of forging a letter of power of attorney purportedly signed by him as genuine signature of the deceased.

It was further alleged that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by depriving his siblings access to their late father’s properties.

The offence committed is punishable under sections ?363, 285, 171 and 166(d) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.

Adebowale, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

the kidnappers, who had made contact with the family, demanded the payment of N10 million as ransom, which was later reduced to N5 million.

Judith Nze, the victim’s sister, said all effort made by the family to persuade the kidnappers to collect N300,000 had been abortive.

She added that the kidnappers were threatening to kill her sibling if the matter was not withdrawn from the police.

“She is done with her graduate studies in the school and was only waiting for some clearance.

“I learnt that she resides in an isolated area. She was kidnapped on Sunday and since then our mind had not been at peace.

“We actually thought it was a joke until the kidnappers contacted us and demanded N10 million ransom. Although they later reduced it to N5 million. They rejected the N300,000 we offered them and threatened to kill her.

“They also said we must withdraw the case from the police as a condition for her release. My mother spoke with her this morning (Thursday) and she was not sounding good at all. We pray they don’t harm her,” she said.

A police source, however, said investigations had shown that the victim was kidnapped based on information from an insider.

The source explained that a female undergraduate student of a school in Lagos had been linked with the abduction.

“It was an organised crime and based on preliminary investigations, it appeared it was a conspiracy by her colleagues. It was a set up.

The kidnapper thought they could make money from her parents, believing she is from a wealthy home. A female student of a school in Lagos has already been arrested,” the source said.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, adding that a suspect had already been arrested.

“The incident happened on Sunday. We have started investigating the case immediately we heard about it. A suspect had been arrested and investigations are ongoing,” he said.

An accident scene at Awori Itowolo, on Ikorodu road, on Thursday. PHOTO: OVADJE ELLIOT

Kidnapping: Lagos to raise new local security outfit Chukwuma Okparaocha

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AGOS State House of Assembly has commenced moves to aid law enforcement and security personnel to begin identification of hideouts of criminals in all communities in the state.

Speaker of the state assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, said the Neighbourhood Safety Agency Bill, which was

recently passed by the assembly, would go a long way in helping the security agencies to achieve the goal.

The bill, which currently awaits Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s assent, according to information gathered by Lagos Metro, among other things, seeks to empower the state government to raise local security officers who would be legally empowered to comb neighbourhoods,

with a view to fishing out perceived criminals.

Obasa, while addressing leaders of the state command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), who paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Wednesday, pointed out that the bill was not meant to discriminate against existing security organisations in the state.

“Crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, abduction and assassination have

been on sudden increase in the state.

“We are happy that we have people like you that are not being paid by the government, and yet are protecting the people and their properties,” he said.

In his remarks, the state commander of VGN, Jones James Udoma, said the group had been doing its best to secure the state, while lauding members for assisting the police to provide security in the state.

Tenant charged for renovating Lekki home without landlord’s consent Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A tenant, Ayo Adegbite, ?who allegedly damaged and stole items belonging to his landlord, was, on Thursday, arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court.

It was gathered that 42-year-old Adegbite rented an apartment at 25, Adedeji Street, Lekki Phase 1, but was later accused by his landlord, one Ken Orji, of stealing and damaging some properties in the compound.

The defendant was accused of unlawfully damaging 60 KVA sound proof generator valued at N3.5 million; six units of two horse power Samsung air conditioners valued at N290,000? each; two. 1.5 horse power remote controlled air conditioners valued at N200,000 each; exotic light valued at N200,000; one unit of Samsung Hifi player valued at N95,000; one unit Samsung TV valued N153,000 and three bulletproof doors valued at N800,000 each.

The total value of property allegedly damaged amounted to N11,188,000.

The landlord also accused Adegbite of threatening him and also renovating the property without his consent.

He further stated that the defendant threatened the life of one Dr Emeka Egbuonu through phone calls and text messages to intimidate him.

Adegbite’s offences are punishable under sections 409, ?337(1) (2)(3), 278(1)

(a)(b)(2)(a)(f), 285(1), 338 and 56(1)(a) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

The presiding? magistrate, W. Balogun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum, who must depose to an affidavit of and also have his address verified.

The case was adjourned till July 20.

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Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 1 July, 2016

Edited By Lanre Adewole

08037863902 | olanreade@yahoo.com

Ibeju-Lekki residents protest Baale’s appointment Chukwuma Okparaocha SCORES of residents of Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, on Thursday, staged a peaceful protest to the state House of Assembly, over the alleged imposition of Baale (local chief) on the community by the Onibeju of Ibeju Lekki, Oba Olusegun Salami.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions.

Prince Alade Ogunlana, who led the protesters to the assembly comple, alleged in an interview with journalists that one Mufutau Olamiji in Okegun Odofin proclaimed himself as the Baale of ‘phantom’ community called Okegun-Ladeseso community.

“We gathered that the Onibeju of Ibeju-Lekki, Oba Olusegun Salami, had submitted his name before the governor of Lagos State and other relevant chieftaincy bodies in the state for approval and absorption as the Baale of an alleged Okegun-Ladeseso community,” he said.

He then condemned the alleged purported and or appointment by the monarch.

According to him, the actions had unnecessarily startled the Aladeseso descendant families of the Aladeseso Ruling House of Ibeju-Lekki “and made us bitter and enraged about the affront impersonation.”

While disassociating the family from the action, Prince Ogunlana added that

there was no place in the entire Ibeju-Lekki Kingdom called Okegun-Ladeseso, adding that it would be a direct affront on the family for someone to “impersonate and use our family name to commit fraud, hence, we are saying that he is not qualified.”

Responding, speaker of the assembly, Honourable

Mudashiru Obasa, promised that the matter would be investigated, adding that the assembly committee on public petitions would handle it appropriately.

He advised the protesters to continue to be peaceful, adding that the state governor had just inaugurated a committee on land grabbing matters.

Residents of Okegun Odofin community protesting alleged land grabbing and imposition of traditional chiefs, at the House of Assembly, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

Maryland mayhem: 48 new buses destroyed —BRT operator Bola Badmus LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, ordered a full scale investigation into the attack on some Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses said to have been vandalised on Wednesday by miscreants, over alleged killing of a hawker by one of the buses at Maryland.

•Ambode orders probe

Forty-eight new buses belonging to a private investor, Primero Transport Services, were reportedly vandalised, while some of their drivers were wounded by the angry youth.

Governor Ambode, who was said to be irked by the development, directed police and other relevant se-

curity agencies to launch a manhunt for the perpetrators by arresting and bringing them to book.

Managing Director of Primero Transport Services, operator of the damaged BRT buses, Mr Fola Tinubu, disclosed this to newsmen, saying investigation showed that their buses were not in-

volved in the accident that occasioned the death of the hawker.

“We want to thank the governor for his concern because he called me this morning personally to commiserate with us. He promised to assist us and assured us that he would help in ensuring that the perpetrators are arrested. We thank him for his generosity of words

Incest between fathers and daughters no longer family •Nollywood stars, Odumakin walk against rape affair —Police Chukwuma Okparaocha LAGOS State police command, on Thursday, described prevalent domestic violence against women and young persons in the society as unfortunate, noting that cases of fathers who rape their daughters should henceforth not be regarded as a family affair but rather a national issue.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, gave the remarks while speaking at a protest march organised by

Women Arise, at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja.

The protesters were led by the convener of the group, Dr Joe Odumakin.

In his address, Speaker of the assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, appreciated the group for campaigning against domestic violence, saying that “I would congratulate you for this beautiful outing.”

Obasa stated that the assembly had passed a number of laws that were related to protection of women and

children’s rights, saying that it would continue to support the cause of the group to ensure a violencefree society.

While lending her voice to the campaign, Badmus said “I am here representing the Lagos police command. We are aware of the various laws passed by the Lagos Assembly to address domestic violence. People should come up regularly with the issues for us to execute the laws.”

She urged those who had experienced domestic vio-

lence to summon the necessary boldness to report such cases as the command would always come to their aid in ensuring that justice was done.

The march culminated in the decoration of “champions” and “ambassadors” of campaigns against domestic violence. Some of the ambassadors included Nollywood actors such as Tunde Kelani, Saheed Balogun, Dayo Badmus, Dayo Amusa and the popular comedian, Ali Baba, among others.

From left, Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Speaker, Mr Wale Jafofo; Honourable Segun Oluade; Nollywood President, Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin (sixth from left); Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, star, Mrs Foluke Daramola; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa; President, Dolapo Badmos (seventh from left) and Nollywood stars, during the Public Awareness/Sensitisation roadshow Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and Honourable (Mrs) Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, during the awareness.

PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA. on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

and all he promised to do,” Tinubu said.

He lamented the level of destruction and the buses affected, saying the losses ran into several millions of naira.

According to him, the Nigerian public must be educated to draw a line between private investment and public assets, saying, “we need to seriously ask ourselves in Nigeria if we want private sector to create jobs, and want an employment in this country.”

Tinubu said no amount of provocation should justify the destruction of 48 new buses belonging to a private investor who had provided over 2,500 jobs since the commencement of operations in November 2015 and still counting.

“At about 12 noon on Wednesday, June 29, a pedestrian street hawker scrambling to avoid being arrested by the Lagos State enforcement agents ran into an approaching bottling company trailer, crushing the pedestrian to death. The blue BRT buses did not in any way, directly or otherwise, have contact with the late young man.

“Unfortunately, suspected hoodlums took advantage of the incident to unleash mayhem and terror on our drivers, while also causing severe damages to our buses at the scene of the accident. Some of our drivers are still receiving medical treatment and some commuters had some of their belongings stolen.

“Damages on the buses range from broken windshields, front, sides, rear, to side mirrors, while some had their interior dented. The buses will be parked in our depot until repair works are carried out, which we expect to run into millions of naira,” he said.

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

Ajimobi reiterates commitment to repositioning education sector

By Wale Akinselure

From left, Oyo State Commissioner for Special Duties, El-Hadj Mudathir Ganiyu, representing Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and a former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdul-Waheed Akin Olajide, during the seventh annual Ramadan lecture, organised by the Oyo State Judiciary Muslim Community, held at Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Thursday.

Edo/Ondo: Court restrains INEC from accepting Makarfi’s candidates Sunday Ejike -Abuja

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he crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a different dimension on Thursday, as the Federal High Court in Abuja, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting list of candidates for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo from other leadership of the party, except from the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Justice Okon Abang, in a ruling on Thursday, also granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law (regarding the gubernatorial elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to any other persons or group other than the Senator Modu Sheriff, Professor Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC of the party The judge directed INEC, the party and their agents to “recognise, deal with and accord all facilities required by law” to the Modu Sheriffled NWC in the conduct of Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

Justice Abang also directed INEC and the PDP to “reject and ignore any activity (including primaries

elections/congresses for the nomination of candidates of the PDP for the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, purportedly conducted on behalf of the second defendant (PDP) by any other persons or group of persons other than the Senator Modu Sheriff, Professor Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC.” The judge said the interlocutory orders were to subsist, pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/439/2016 filed by two governorship aspirants of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states – Chief Benson Akingboye (Ondo) and Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo).

Justice Abang’s ruling was on a motion on notice for interlocutory orders pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit with INEC and PDP as first and second defendants, respectively.

Before the hearing of the motion on Thursday, the judge resolved the dispute between two senior advocates, Emmanuel Ukala and Olagoke Fakunle, over who should represents the PDP in the suit.

While Ukala claimed to have been briefed by the Ahmed Markafi-led faction of the party, Fakunle said he was briefed by the Sheriff faction.

In resolving the dispute between the two lawyers, the judge noted that while the Federal High Court in Lagos, in two separate orders on May 12 and May 20, recognised the leadership of Sheriff and restrained parties from proceeding with the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, the Markafi leadership of the PDP emerged from a convention against which there was a pending order.

He said there was doubt about the legality of the convention from which Markafi-led Caretaker Committee emerged, while there was a subsisting order recognising the Sheriff-led NWC. The judge consequently recognised Fakunle as the lawyer for the PDP and excused Ukala from the proceedings.

Shortly after, plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede accompanied by Babs Akinwumi moved the motion for interlocutory injunctions.

Fakunle, who represented the PDP said he had filed a response to the substantive suit, but that he was not objecting the granting of interlocutory injunctions in the case.

Lawyer to INEC, T. M. Inuwa, said he would prefer to remain neutral, as his client would abide by any decision made by the court.

After listening to all the lawyers, Justice Abang

National database risks shutdown at NIMC over cash crunch Adetola Bademosi -Abuja The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) may be forced to shut down its database due to power outage and inability to fuel its power generating set.

While on a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Nigerian Tribune noticed outright blackout and was told that the generator supplying the

entire building was faulty, as it had been overstretched in terms of capacity.

It was gathered that this had been the trend for about two weeks, with no possible solution.

It was also gathered that the commission had stopped printing the e-Identity card due to lack of funds.

Meanwhile, during an interview with the General Manager, Operations, NIMC, Mr Abdulhamid

Umar, he denied that the commission had stopped printing.

While also expressing shock over cases where banks do not accept the NIN slip as a form of identification in banks, he blamed this on lack of enforcement.

He, however, said the commission was in the process of taking this up with the Federal Government , expressing hope that this was promptly addressed.

granted the fourth prayer contained in the motion on notice dated June 21, 2016 and adjourned to October 25, 2016 for hearing of the substantive suit.

The plaintiffs are by the suit, asking the court to among other prayers, determine between the Sheriff-led Committee and the Markarfi-led committee, who the legitimate leaders of the PDP are in view of the various court orders obtained by various interests in relation to the dispute over the party’s leadership.

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has reiterated his desire to reposition education in the state, in view of the unimpressive performance of the state in the public examinations.

Ajimobi, who made this known at the seventh Annual Ramadan lecture, organised by the Oyo State Judiciary Muslim Community, held at Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, decried that the state came 26th out of 36 states in the last Senior School Certificate Examination.

Speaking on the theme: “The state of the nation and lingering poverty,” Ajimobi, represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Mudathir Ganiyu, associated the challenges faced by the state in the education sector to poverty.

He expressed displeasure at the unimpressive performance of students of the state in public examinations, assuring of determination to revamp the sector to a pride of place.

Ajimobi reiterated that the state had no intention to sell any school to individuals, groups or intend

to return schools to their former owners, but that the state, in view of the parlous state of the nation’s economy, needed other persons or groups to assist the government in its plan to reposition the education sector of the state.

He noted that the state required support of others with handling its 631 secondary schools and about 15,000 teachers.

He reiterated that no decision, as of now, had been taken, maintaining that the state government would carry all stakeholders along in its policies.

Ajimobi called attention to the dilapidated nature of educational infrastructure in the state, ranging from lack of basic facilities to truancy.

Guest lecturer on the occasion, Dr Abdulhamid Adekunle, advised every individual to give priority to the education of their children, especially moral education.

Adekunle, Chief Iman of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, also enjoined leaders to be conscious of the fact that they had only limited time on earth, adding that they would be accountable to Allah when they leave earth.

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Nigerian Tribune

Constitution amendment: Reps adopt confab report as working document

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HERE are indications that the report of the 2014 National Conference may form a core plank of the ongoing bid by the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution, again.

Already, copies of the report have been distributed to members of the Adhoc Committee of the House of Representatives for the Review of the constitution, to enable them prepare for discussion on the report as soon as the House resumes from Sallah break.

The decision of the House to make it part of its working document is coming on the heels of widespread demand by major stakeholders in the country for the implementation of the final report of the confab.

The two-volume report formed part of the documents handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari by his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on May 29, 2015.

Discordant tunes from top government functionaries in recent times on the fate of the conference report had triggered angry reactions by most Nigerians who insisted its implementation would go a longer way in saving the federation from the precipice.

Deputy Speaker of the

House, Honourable Lasun Yussuff, confirmed last night that arrangements had been concluded for the lawmakers to incorporate the report in the agenda of the adhoc committee, which he doubles as the chairman.

Though he was silent on the list of major recommendations in the report that would form part of the proposed amendment, a statement by his press secretary, Mr Wole Oladimeji, said consultants hired by the House were also given copies to digest and guide the committee on its critical assignment.

“Copies of the report have been circulated to members of the committee to go through and come up with recommendations to the committee while the consultants to the committee have been given the report to advise the committee on how to go about it.

“Some of the salient proposals in the report would be turned into draft bills which would be presented to the House for adoption and passage. The committee would commence work on the review immediately the House resumes from its Sallah break,” he assured.

More than 600 resolutions contained in the conference report were passed

through consensus by the 494 delegates to the conference that spanned five months.

Eminent persons, including elder statesmen, traditional rulers, legal luminaries, labour leaders, and other representatives of mass based ethnic nationalities and civil society groups were among delegates to the conference.

Some of the resolutions and recommendations of the conference bothered on devolution of powers, forms of government, immunity clause, local government administration, legislature, independence candidacy, fiscal federalism, governance, anti-corruption, true federalism, revenue allocation formula and state creation.

According to the deputy speaker, the decision to incorporate the confab report in the agenda of the Special Adhoc Committee for the current process of amending the constitution was reached at a retreat held in Abuja for the members.

His statement on the issue read: “The House of Representatives Special Adhoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has adopted the report of the National Conference, 2014 as part of its working document. The decision to adopt

the report of the National conference was taken at a

working session/retreat of the committee recently held

at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

news

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

UCH records breakthrough in cancer care

By Sade Oguntola

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HE University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has recorded a major breakthrough in the diagnosis and management of different cases of cancer, with the commissioning of its purpose-built Molecular Diagnostic Centre in the Pathology Department, which is the first of its kind in the entire West African subregion.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Ibadan, on Thursday, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, disclosed that the million-naira complex, equipped with six standard size medical laboratories and office spaces, was put in place with support from an octogenarian indigenous philanthropist, Alhaji Nurudeen Akanji Oluwasola, in response to the clarion call from the hospital for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the health care delivery, to stem the tide of medical tourism abroad.

According to the CMD, the newly commissioned Special Diagnostic Centre had the capacity for preventive and clinical diagnostic services, as well as state-ofthe-art research opportunities in Karyotyoping (Sex determination); Molecular Oncology (Solid tumour mutation panel); Haematooncology (Flow cytometry to evaluate lymphoproliferative diseases) and HPV genotyping (for screening women for risk of cervical cancer).

Others include Tissue bio-repository services to facilitate basic, developmental and translational studies in many areas of cancer research, including molecular biology, immunology and genetics, as well as forensic sciences notably STR analysis for disaster victim identification, disputed paternity

tests and criminal investigation like the semen, blood stain, hair shaft, among others.

“The vision of the designers is to put an end to out-

sourcing of critical tests from overseas facilities at exorbitant costs, which are often beyond the reach of the average Nigerians,” he said.

and associates to mobilise funds to refund the entire N400 million to the government, regardless of the fact that the money had been expended based on the directives of the former president and that part of the money had been recovered from one of the prosecution witnesses.

“We want to confirm that since then, we have been in talks with the Ministry of Justice, the EFCC and other necessary bodies, on how to refund the money and resolve the issue,” Ikpeazu said.

Stating that Chief Metuh

promote multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary partnership to foster a healthy and harmonious atmosphere for quality and excellent health care delivery in

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu and other NNPC officials, signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with officials of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Sinopec Limited, in China, recently.

Abia: One state, 2 govs Continued from pg3

sion by his lawyer, Valentine Offia, informed the INEC chairman that he had lodged appeals against the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, adding that mere pendency of appeal did not serve as a stay of execution of judgment, he also filed an application for the stay of the execution of the said judgment yet to be determined.

He consequently asked the commission to maintain the status quo and refrain from issuing a certificate of return until his appeal had been heard by the appellate court.

“This correspondence is aimed at notifying your good self of the fact that His Excellency has taken all requisite steps available to him to ensure that matters are left in status quo, pending the determination of the appeals lodged against the decisions

of the Federal High Court.

“In this stead, there is a need to refrain from issuing a certificate of return, pending when the constitutional right of appeal of His Excellency is fully ventilated or at least when applications for stay of executions of the judgments are heard and determined,” the letter stated.

The letter concluded that the right of appeal is constitutional and eloquent principle of law and that nothing shall be effected to stultify the exercise of that right.

He had, also in the letter, enjoined all authorities to observe and preserve the rights reserved in the constitution, especially when such rights involve the civil rights and liberties of citizens of Nigeria.

Speaking on the development, Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa, categorically said that the

I’m ready to return the entire N400m —Metuh Continued from pg3

While calling for continued public support in building capacities at the teaching hospital, the CMD remarked that the newlycommissioned centre shall

was more of a victim of circumstances, Ikpeazu said refunding the entire sum was in line with Metuh’s support of the ongoing war against corruption in the country.

“Our client occupied no government office. His commitment and dedication to his official duties have been confirmed by even prosecution witnesses. In this whole saga, he has been an unfortunate victim of circumstances. His refunding the money, therefore, goes to show his support for the anti-corruption war, as well as serve as a testament to his sincerity, integrity and honesty in this matter.

“There is no doubt that the prosecution has considerably embarked on some expenses in the course of this case. It is hoped that by not discounting the sum already recovered, whatever cost so far incurred would have been defrayed. By this, a critical objective of recovery of funds would no doubt be achieved.

“It is pertinent to restate our client’s continued support for the anti-corruption campaign, which is necessary to ensure probity in the affairs of Nigeria, to the extent that it is conducted within the rule of law,” the statement said.

move was a wrong one.

“With all due respect to the court, this judgment is wrong, both in law and morality.

“The issue of payment or non payment of tax cannot invalidate an otherwise valid election.

“Furthermore, the consequences of a failure, by any public officer, to pay tax, are well articulated in the various tax statutes. In this case, it is said that one of the documents furnished by the governor was said to have been forged, because it was issued on a Saturday.

“Under the Public Holidays Act, all days are working days except the ones specifically declared as public holiday.

Indeed, section 1 of the said Act states public holidays as New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Workers’ Day, National Day, Christmas Day, Id el Fitr, Id el Kabir, Id el Maulud or any other day so declared by the president or governor.

“So, Saturdays and Sundays are not public holidays to nullify official acts carried out on those days. This was why the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, signed the appropriation bill of Lagos State on a Sunday.

“So the fact that a document is signed and dated on a Saturday or Sunday does not, of itself alone, render it invalid. In any case, any mistake occurring upon a document issued by the Abia State government cannot be blamed on the beneficiary of the document itself,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of tax, Adegboruwa noted that issue of tax evasion or tax default is a matter to be resolved between the citizen and the government, being one affecting revenue.

“I cannot see how that can lead to the annulment of the votes lawfully cast by the people of Abia State for their choice of governor.

“The other point that makes the judgment totally unacceptable is that it is totally against the tenets of democracy and the rule of choice, for courts to be supplanting pubic office holders that have been conferred with a sacred mandate by the people.

“This is why matters relating to elections have been limited to election petitions, so that it is only those who canvassed for the votes of the people that should expect to enjoy their mandate.

“The courts should not be imposing leaders on the people, to annul their mandate, through judgments that have no bearing with and cannot be traced to the votes cast,” he said.

Anxiety in Abia

Meanwhile, on Thursday night, a combined force of soldiers and police took over the Government House in Umuahia.

The whereabouts of the incumbent governor was also said to be unknown as of press time (8.15 p.m.).

The entire Government House was said to have been thrown into total darkness by unknown persons, compelling everyone to scamper to safety.

all fields of clinical care.

Professor Alonge noted with concern that an evaluation of the major causes of death carried out in UCH last year, revealed that cancer remained the topmost killer disease from the hospital record from 2012 to date, with prostate cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer forming the bulk of the cases, “hence the decision of UCH to partner the oldest Cancer Institute in the World to find out how they managed to sustain their excellence and replicate same here in Ibadan.”

Also speaking on the occasion, coordinator of the newly-commissioned Diagnostic Centre, Dr Olayiwola Oluwasola, who is one of the children of the donor, attributed Pa Oluwasola’s gesture to his belief in contribution to human development from his God-given endowments.

There were also indications that Ogar could be sworn in today by another top judicial officer in the state, following a court order restraining the Chief Judge from performing the exercise.

Reports reaching the Nigerian Tribune last night said he was already in the state capital as he earlier promised in Abuja to take over the reins of government.

He was said to have been quartered at the office of the Department of the State Security Service in Umuahia, from where he would allegedly be led to the Government House for his swearing-in today.

Officials of the DSS in Abuja reportedly saw him to Umuahia, before he was said to have been handed over to the state command of the Service.

Ikpeazu declares today, Monday public holidays for Maduekwe

The Abia State government has declared today and 4 work-free days, in honour of the late elder statesman, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who died on Wednesday.

The public holiday was announced on Thursday.

Ikpeazu, through the state Information Commissioner, Bonnie Iwuoha, asked the people to pray for the family the late Maduekwe left behind.

The PDP chieftain, who hailed from Abia, was the secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees until his death.

businessnews Naira eases to N282.97/$ at interbank market 11

Friday, 1 July, 2016

As BDCs hold talks with CBN Chima Nwokoji - Lagos

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HE naira, on Thursday, recorded 0.92 per cent depreciation as it closed at N282.97 to the United States dollar compared to N281.23 to a dollar on Wednesday and slightly weaker than the N282.3 to the dollar it traded at on Tuesday.

While some currency traders attributed the depreciation to low dollar liquidity, others said it was because of the rumoured resumption of dollar sales to bureau de change operators by the central bank was confirmed to be false, thereby triggering another round of hoarding.

At the same time, the naira at the interbank market traded for N380 to the British pounds as against Wednesday’s N371 to the British pounds, while it exchanged for N314 to the Euro as against N310 which it ended at on Wednesday.

The local currency which traded for N345 in certain unofficial markets on Wednesday and closed at N350 to the dollar at other parallel market locations closed at N350 to the dollar on Thursday.

However, Nigerian Tribune’s findings reveal that many banks are transacting at the “floating” interbank market rate of between N280 and N284 to the dol-

GSM subscribers in May over 148 million —NCC THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) subscribers increased from over 148 million in May compared to April which recorded about 147 million.

A statement from the NCC in Abuja made available in the commission’s website on Thursday gave the statistics.

The statement said that the May figure was an increase of 1.4 million subscribers over that of the previous month.

It said that Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) in May was 487, 141 compared to April which had 525,743.

On the fixed wired/wireless for May, the figure was 171,974 as against April of 176,211.

It stated that the total subscribers for May were as put at about 150 million, while total number for April was about 149 million.

The commission said that teledensity for May was 106.32 and April was 105.41 Teledensity is calculated based on the National population of 140 million, according to the 2006 population figure.

lar, while some have continued to complain about scarcity of the greenback.

Meanwhile, the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), has been holding series of meetings with the Central Bank

of Nigeria (CBN) in order to fashion out appropriate modalities that will enable BDCs participate in the new foreign exchange regime.

Acting president of ABCON, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe confirmed that mecha-

nisms are being put in place to ensure compliance by the BDCs at all levels.

He stated that transactions done by BDCs would be displayed on their online terminals with all the documents attached, such that

the information can be accessed by not only the public but also regulators such as the CBN, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

From left: Mr David Kruyt, App Owner, 474Recharge App; Dr Inderpal Mumick, Chief Executive Officer, Kirusa Incorporated; Mr Charles BillyFrank, Head of Enterprise Business, Kirusa; Mr Vishavjit Soni, Product Manager, MyGenie App and Mr Oluseyi Akinnibosun, Country Manager, Kirusa Nigeria at a press conference to announce the launch of MyGenie App in Lagos, on Thursday.

Ogbeh dismisses alleged agro-dealers’ outstanding N2bn payment Collins Nnabuife - Abuja THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Thursday dismissed a recent publication on the social media alleging that he and the Minister of State got N2 billion bribe from the N37 billion agro-dealers outstanding payment.

Reacting to this, the minister said that it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance to pay agro-dealers not the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

It will be recalled that the previous administration under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) owed agro-dealers some pay-

ments which the present administration have been battling to pay, which in turn led to the review of the GES in order to cut cost.

According to the minister, “We read on the social media that there have been a bribery scandal in this ministry, and that in paying the agro-dealers we got money, paid out N13 billion and the Minister of State and I shared N2 billion.”

He therefore explained “first this was a debt which we inherited from the previous administration, the total debt was N37 billion and when we arrived, the agro-dealers said the couldn’t operate because they didn’t have enough money to carry out their

business, so we pleaded with the government to see what they could do, to give us money to pay these debts.

“They gave us N20 billion to pay the debt profile we have on ground, then about a total of N67 billion out of which N37 billion belong to the agro-dealers and fertilizer suppliers.

“When the money got to the Ministry of Finance, we met with them, and they decided to handle the payment. The money never got to the ministry of Agriculture, we are happy they decided to do so because it took the burden off us.

Chief Ogbeh further said “We have met with the agro-dealers and said to

Turkey airport bombing: FAAN beefs up security around airports Shola Adekola - Lagos THE management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has alerted the airport users and travellers to be more security conscious across all airports in the country.

This is just as the authority has beefed up security around all airports in the country.

The latest advise has been attributed to what it called the spate of recent security breaches, including bomb blasts, at some airports around the world, the latest being the bombing that took place at the Ataturk Airport in Turkey, where over 40 people died with over 200

injured.

According to a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Yakubu Dati yesterday, “Passengers are advised not to accept any luggage from anyone and to report any suspicious movements or behaviour immediately to Aviation Security Personnel in the terminals.”

On its part, the authority said it has put adequate security measures in place at all Nigerian airports, to forestall any form of security breach, including the installation of 3D screening machines, metal detectors and CCTV cameras.

“Apart from the statutory security and safety mea-

sures already in place at the airports, sniffer dogs and members of the Bomb Detection Unit of the Nigerian Police Force have also been deployed at the airports, to complement the effort of our aviation security personnel at the security screening points.

“Inspite of these heightened security measures, passenger facilitation at all our airports has also been enhanced by the installation of more modern and bigger conveyor belts and metal walk-through detectors.

Airport terminals have also been expanded and modernised to provide better ambience and more space for passenger comfort.”

them that we will... The payment, the minister of Finance on the other hand said the big producers, the main manufacturers of fertilizer, the bid blenders, they hold such a high profile that most of them have given notice of close down and it is them who make the production before agro-dealers buy them off to supply.”

“So they decided to pay off the big producers so that they can continue in business and pay the agro-dealers a portion of their money pending when more money will come.”

Nigerian Tribune

CBN establishes N2.5bn fund for NYSC entrepreneurship scheme CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has established a N2.5 billion special fund to finance serving Youth Corps members who develop and show commitment to good entrepreneurial skills.

Speaking at the formal launch of the scheme at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Abuja on Thursday, CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the N2.5 billion is part of the N220 billion Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund launched in 2012, but which was yet to be assessed.

Emefiele, said that each successful corps member would be entitled to a maximum of N3 million loan adding that their degree certificates and their NYSC discharge certificates will serve as collaterals.

He, however, enjoined beneficiaries to display the highest level of probity saying “character must remain sound to the extent that they take the loan and they pay the loan. It is very important that this is emphasised and that is why I am saying that it is not a grant and it is a loan that must be paid.

“We are determined to give support to the youth and I truly must thank the National Youth Service Corps who has helped us to put together the first set of NYSC, both present and past ones so that we can nurture them as young entrepreneurs not as people who go into the world looking for jobs, but nurture them as people who are developing the entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurial skills, not only for their good but also for the good of the country.

Equities market relapses by 0.72%, as Seplat leads declining stocks KehindeAkinseinde-Jayeoba - Lagos EQUITIES trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) relapsed by 0.72 per cent on Thursday as lead market indicator, the All Share Index (ASI) dropped by 225.12 points to close at 29,597.79 points. This is in comparison with a gain of 0.80 per0cent recorded on Wednesday when ASI settled at 29,812.91 basis points.

Market capitalisation dropped by 0.72 per cent or N74 billion to close at N10.165 trillion compared to previous appreciation of N81.6 billion to close at N10.239 trillion, bringing the NSE’s Year-to-Date (YTD) returns to +3.34 per cent.

Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc topped the day’s losers with a decline of N10 in its share value to close at N330 per share. Forte Oil Plc shaved N3.69 to close at N190.34 per share, Nigerian Breweries Plc closed at N138 as it lost N2.01, while Dangote Cement Plc also depreciated by N2 to close at N192 per share and Eco Transnational Incorporated Plc dropped 51 kobo to close at N16 per share.

Conversely, Guinness Nigeria Plc led the gainers chart with an advancement of N2.85 to close at N109.25 per share. Conoil Plc followed with a gain of N1.1 to close at N23.1 per share, Union Dicon Salt Plc added 78 kobo to close at N16.53 per share.

12

news

Friday, 1 July, 2016

Mark wins at tribunal Johnson Babajide-Makurdi

T

HE election petition tribunal in Benue State, on Thursday, struck out the petition filed by the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Daniel Onje, against the former senate president, Senator David Mark.

In the ruling, read by Justice Gloria Anulude, said the petition was filed out of time by one day, adding that all other motions and applications filed on the March 13 were “thereby struck out.”

The judge said, in her ruling, that the petitioner, while filing his petition, deliberately refused to state the day of declaration of result, stressing that “this tribunal is bound by the decision of the Supreme Court, being the highest court of the land.”

According to the judge, “By arithmetical calculation, the day of declaration is inclusive in computing the mandatory 21 days of filing an election case,” adding that, as a result, the judge submitted that the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the petition and, therefore, threw it out.

The APC senatorial candidate in the Benue South February 20 rerun had filed the petition challenging the victory of the former senate president, David Mark, saying he was wrongly declared the winner of the election.

Counsel for the petitioner, Mr Adetunji Oso, did not agree with the ruling, adding that there was opportunity at the higher court, stating emphatically

TROOPS of 118 Task Force Battalion, 8 Task Force Division, on blocking position, at Garere Junction, ambushed Boko Haram terrorists at Gudumbali, Northern part of Borno State, while they were crossing to another location with some logistics.

During the operation, the troops killed two and wounded one of the Boko Haram terrorists.

They also recovered two AK-47 and a G3 rifle. In addition, they recovered 660 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and yards of military uniforms.

The troops also recovered a truck earlier stolen by the terrorists in Kangarwa.

Also, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade, accompanied by a large number of Civilian JTF from Gwoza, embarked on a very aggressive patrol that dislodged remnant Boko Haram terrorists hibernating at

bunal was sound because it was a validation of the free mandate given to the senator.

He recalled that people of Benue South senatorial

district unanimously voted Mark in which the Appeal Court overruled. This prompted the rerun and the people of the senatorial district also revalidated

their support for Senator Mark “which the tribunal has judiciously ruled on.

This shows that the court is the last hope of the common people.”

It’s not that we have not been paying salaries but ... —Oyo govt •We got N37.044bn in past 12 months

By Wale Akinselure

OYO State government has chided those insinuations that the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration deliberately continued to pile up salary arrears, noting that the Federal Government allocation of N37.044 billion that has accrued to the state in the past one year was inadequate to pay salaries monthly.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi, maintained that in spite of committing 100 per cent of the Federal Government allocation to the payment of salaries, the current deficit of the state on salaries stood at N29 billion.

“There is backlog of salaries of six months, because if you look at the inflow of N37.044billion in one year, we get an average between N2 billion and N3 billion monthly, whereas the average monthly wage of N5.2billion. We agreed with labour that 100 per cent of Federal Government allocation be used to pay salaries, but we have

Troops ambush Boko Haram terrorists at Gudumbali Chris Agbambu-Abuja

that his client would surely appeal the ruling.

Dr Adakole Elijah, the media aide to the former senate president, said the position taken by the tri-

Ngoshe and Gava villages, located close to Gwoza on the mountainous terrain.

The essence of the robust patrol, which was supported by the Nigeria Air Force and Cameroonian Defence Forces, which provided air cover and real time intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, was to clear the remnants of the terrorists hiding in the mountainous area and rescue all persons held hostages by the Boko Haram terrorists.

While advancing towards their objective in Ngoshe, the patrol team encountered Boko Haram terrorists. They have to clear the delay positions staged by the terrorists through the support of the Nigeria Air Force fighter jets.

“Although, the number of terrorists killed could not be ascertained, quite a number of them were seen falling over the mountains when engaged. It is equally believed that several others escaped with gun shot wounds.”

an average deficit of over N2 billion monthly and it continues to pile up every month.

“As of now, the state government has a total deficit on salaries of N29 billion.

It is not that government has not been paying salaries but the money accruing to the state government is not enough to offset pay salaries. Moreover, there has been an agreement with labour on how we will be paying salaries.”

“How will it be insinuated that the government deliberately does not want to pay salaries? The figures we have supplied are not manufactured. We are using 100 per cent of what we get from the Federal Government to pay salaries and we have a deficit of N29 billion. We have 10

billion people in Oyo State and we use our IGR of just over N1billion to service these people.”

Adekanmbi, while presenting the details of the inflow of income to the state since May 2015 till date, showcased that the state government had collected amounts less that N3billion for nine months, after statutory deductions had been made.

A breakdown of the inflow of income to the state shows that Oyo State collected N3.094 billion in June 2015; N4.004 billion (July 2015); N3.919 billion (August 2015); N2.9 billion (September 2015); N2.5billion (October 2015); N3 billion (November 2015); N2.7 billion (December 2015); N2.6 billion (January 2016);

N2.5 billion (February 2016); N2.2 billion (March 2016); N2.1 billion (April 2016); N2billion (May 2016); N2.1 billion (June).

He also argued that the ‘bailout’ sums of about N26 billion and recent N14.16 billion, when added to the monthly allocations, were inadequate to pay salaries, adding that they were repayable debts.

“There is no N84billion that has come into the coffers of Oyo State government from May 2015 to May 2016. It has been N37.044 billion actual cash that has hit the account of the government of Oyo State and the amount that has hit the account of the local government (Joint Allocation Committee), which is a separate account, over which the

SATURDAY, 2 JULY, 2016

N150

entertainment

feature

I was planning to travel to South Africa when I was arrested

state government has no control, and from which the state government cannot draw money for salaries is N40.484 billion.”

“There are statutory deductions. Oyo State has some financial obligations like the assistance we got from the World Bank for the August 2012 flooding in Ibadan through the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project. That is not a grant, it is a debt.

Also, the salary bailout that we got last year is being deducted. Bailouts are repayable. Even an addition of the recent N14.16 billion that we have accessed, as part of the Federal Government’s financial sustainability plan, to our monthly allocation, is still not enough to pay salaries.”

—Robbery suspect

Weekend Lagos

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Untold story of Ijaw millitants’ murder of 9 landlords, several others

Bizzare things that happen under Lagos bridge

Ondo 2016:

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Will Akure people have their way this time?

Why celebrity marriages end in divorce —Angela Okorie

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13

editorial

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Redeeming the fight against graft

HE failure of past governments to frontally combat corruption has almost elevated the menace to statecraft. Corruption is so endemic in the country that it is difficult to single out a sector or segment that is not tainted by it. The situation is so horrible that many who seek public offices derive their motivation from the corrupt enrichment those offices offer, not any intention to make the country better.

The cost of corruption to the country is evident in brain drain, dilapidated hospital structures, failed roads, near comatose education system, high rate of unemployment, inability of state and local governments to pay salaries, swelling population of the poor and environmental degradation, among others. Hence, the determination of the current government to wage war against corruption is a welcome development. It is a war that every wellmeaning Nigerian should join to wrest the country from the jaws of this monster.

The leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, so far, been exemplary in operations, conduct and character. The operations of the agency have given Nigerians hope that the nation could really be saved from the jaws of graft, greed and all forms of economic malfeasance. However, the agency should shame its critics by conducting its businesses strictly with respect to the laws of the land. Whatever is done in contravention of the constitution, no matter how well intentioned, is unconstitutional.

To make a success of its campaign against corruption, the government must deliberately take the battle to the doors of every corrupt Nigerian. The government is currently probing campaign funds. We commend the steps taken so far on this and call for an extension of the battle to all other political parties. When campaign funding is made right in the national politics, the end product will definitely serve the nation better. There are nagging questions that must be answered. Who are the people that raised the funds and how did they come about the huge resources deployed to the campaigns? Questions should also be asked about how the funds were managed and by whom.

If corruption transcends political parties, the government should also beam its searchlight beyond them to bring to

justice those who are responsible for bringing the country to its knees because of their corrupt activities. Indeed, the civil service is reputed to be the bastion of corruption in the country, and should be interrogated by the administration.

To disabuse the minds of those who think the government is one-sided in the fight, therefore, it should act on all the petitions filed by aggrieved Nigerians, irrespective of the political party involved.

However, as critical and germane as the war against corruption is to the reinvigoration of the nation, there is a concern that the government is selective in this combat.

To critics, the war comes across to many Nigerians as a device to decimate, weaken and silence the opposition. We however note that the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies have also beamed their searchlight on members of the ruling party, even though the preponderance of ongoing cases are those of opposition party members.

The government should realize that selective justice ensures no good. It breeds contempt for the system by those who hold the wrong end of the stick but emboldens the warped to be more daring in their corrupt practices, knowing there is a loophole which could be explored to beat justice. If the body language of the government suggests to the people that all they need to do to escape investigation and prosecution is to be on the side of government of the day, many of those who milked and bilked the nation dry will align with the ruling party with the intention of protecting their ill-gotten wealth. With that, corruption grows stronger while both the country and the war against corruption are enfeebled.

The foregoing notwithstanding, the government also needs to up its game and understand that fighting corruption with raw force is no longer fashionable. It must deploy technologies which make it extremely difficult for the corrupt-minded to carry out their intention. It is always better to prevent people from depleting the people’s patrimony than trying to recoup same from them after the malfeasance has been committed.

That, coupled with the determination of the government to bring to book every corrupt person irrespective of their affiliation, is what makes the anti-corruption war winnable.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 1 July, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo. com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Simple method to curb poverty in Nigeria

C

HILD bearing is a thing of joy most couples cherish.

It is tormenting to witness when families are denied this blessing.

The beauty of love carries us away when we discover that we are expecting a child. We quickly brace up and open our minds to welcome the responsibility of parenthood. The acceptance of parenthood shows

a sign of maturity. The poor, in many cases, seem to neglect this realisation.

There is nothing wrong with couples having as many children as they can emotionally and financially support. The issue is when they mindlessly give birth to children as if it takes air to raise them. This behaviour often has roots in culture and religion.

Interestingly, in this

We need peace in Niger Delta LAST week, it was widely reported that President Muhammadu Buhari begged the Niger Delta militants ‘in the name of God’ to cease all hostilities.

With this, the president has shown a human side to his person, and I want the militants, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers, to take the president’s ‘hand of friendship.’

The president is the Commander-in-Chief of the military, and he has the power and right to use force in the Niger Delta region against the militants, but he knows that such will add to the suffering of the

people.

It is a great opportunity now for the militants to start a dialogue with the president.

The people of the region have suffered for so long, and it won’t be fair again to have them hiding at the sight of military warplanes.

I am, therefore, calling on the region’s elders to speak to youths who are causing trouble in the region. The leaders must let the youths know that one cannot really achieve anything with violence.

•Philip Osakwe, phillysak@gmail.com

As electoral process kicks-off in Ondo POLITICAL activities will soon be set in motion as the people of Ondo State will elect another governor later this year.

As an oil producing state, the expectations of the Ondo people have always remained high on rapid transformation of the state in terms of industrialisation, road development, revitalisation of cocoa farming as the main stay of the state’s economy, inflow of local and foreign investments, resuscitation of moribund manufacturing outfits such as Oluwa Glass Company at Igbokoda, the Oil Palm Processing Company at Okitipupa, and provision of qualitative and affordable education, and provision of dividends of democracy to the masses but unfortunately, the Olusegun Mimiko administration could not achieve all these.

Ondo State has continued to be the richest state among 10 states in the country, and it shouldn’t be an Herculean task to make it one of the most developed states in the country.

It is on this note that the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State will avail Ondo people the opportunity to elect another government that will continue from where Dr Mimiko stopped.

For now, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has started the registration of new voters who have attained the mandatory voting age of 18 years.

There is no doubt that the opportunity of this will be taken to improve the low voting trend that has remained the hallmark of election in the state.

•Ayo Joseph 12 Salawu Street, Iju, Lagos State.

matter, there is the folly of social pressure, especially when couples have babies because they can, or because it makes them feel that they are better than others. By the way, one cannot prevent poverty in families that have more children than they can support.

One frequently comes across a poor couple who has five or six children and the wife is pregnant again.

The apparent difficulty they have raising the children makes one wonder why they should be looking for another. Perhaps, it is out of ignorance.

However, one positive side of a poor large family is that one or two children occasionally manage to become successful. The wretchedness the family is subjected to still does not justify this choice of having many children.

We live in a modern era where planning of limited resources is required to make living pleasurable.

The burden of raising too many children prevents poor parents from getting out of poverty, instead, they

descend lower. Prudence is needed to bypass unnecessary hardship. Life is not easy as it seems. The era is

gone for one to believe it is a sin to plan one’s family.

• Pius Okaneme, Anambra State.

PDP crisis: Sheriff, Makarfi should go now THIS is the right time for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to solve its differences. Everyday, the party is losing politicians elected on its platform to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As if that is not enough, the party has no voice now, and all that the public is being fed with are stories about the crisis in its fold, instead of offering strong opposition to the APC. Today, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff are fighting for the control of the party, but with what is going on, I don’t think both leaders have the interest of the party at heart.

If nothing is done to stop what is going on in the party, then it is a matter of time before the party collapses,

and this is not good for democracy in the country.

Even, it will be difficult to recruit members into the party now, and this is what the leaders should be concerned about, instead of the in-fighting.

For the PDP to fluorish again, then it needs untainted new members.

What we are hearing everyday as regards corruption in the last 16 years that the party was in power at the centre has not really helped portray the PDP in good light among Nigerians.

The PDP has lost a lot of ground with its loss of the presidency, and it will take a while before it recovers; however, the in-fighting among the leaders is hanging the party’s existence in the balance.

It will be a terrible news if the party folds up as a result of the crisis rocking it.

Even though Nigerians may not like the party again, they will still prefer it to be around to serve as opposition to the ruling party.

Having said this, I want both Makarfi and Sheriff to go now, while a chairman from the South West is appointed to oversee the revival of the party. One good thing about this is that the South West has never produced the chairman of the party since its inception.

So all warring stakeholders should allow the South West take over the party for its survival to be guaranteed.

•David Kayode, Osogbo, Osun State.

15

opinion

Friday, 1 July, 2016

Of British colonialism and failed states

By Sunday Adole Johah

S

OVEREIGN nations today would do well to reflect for a moment or so whether pre-nationhood contact with more influential foreign powers or “guests” was beneficial or damaging in the long run. If such contact was beneficial, then it would do not to say the word “colonial” with bitterness. This is so because time and expenses are gained by not having to re-invent the wheel.

The time and expenses thus gained could translate to exponential growth and development of the “host” nations. The Japanese encounter with Admiral Perry did not turn out that bad in the end. Surely, too, the Chinese did no wrong by signing a pact with Her Majesty’s Empire to develop the Hong Kong province or protectorate.

Post World War II West Germany did not rail against “occupation” by the Americans for good reasons. Ditto the South Koreans after the 1953 armistice.

It would seem like a natural progression for nations and cultures to interact for the common good of the human species; this is most apt because human communities have not necessarily developed at the same pace. Basically, technology savvy and educationally advanced “empires” ought to help those communities that are less well-endowed “move along” without loss of dignity and national identities. The erstwhile British Empire was well-suited for this task, believe it or not.

The following countries were, five years ago, amongst those identified as having failed or are failing: Bangladesh, Burma, Congo, D.R., Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. Failed states are essentially those countries where the instruments of government are non-functional and weak, where personal freedom is heavily curtailed, where economic indicators are very weak, and so on. Nigeria and Pakistan have always fascinated me.

My obsession with both of these countries is based on my personal conviction that the over 300 million people who call these countries home would have been relatively well-off today were some key decisions not taken about the fate of these countries by the British colonial government.

The decision to amalgamate the then Northern and Southern Protectorates to create the present-day Nigeria was in gross error. Ditto the decision to partition the Indian Subcontinent prior to independence in 1947 to create Pakistan.

Today, Nigeria and Pakistan are tethering on the brink, with attendant deepening concerns about their abilities to reasonably chart their own future courses. Both countries are over-

whelmingly religious, have very healthy (“stratospheric”) birth rates, and are constantly whacked by civil unrests. It is reasonable to posit that the Pakistanis, as we know them today, would be better off being part of the modern-day wonderful Indian economic revolution than being citizens of a nuclear-armed state constantly on the brink of implosion. The reasons the British proffered for the partitioning of the Indian Subcontinent to create the state of Pakistan were purely sensational and were not based on any reasonable and objective projection for the future of the citizens of this newly-minted nation.

Despite differences in religious beliefs, the peoples of India pre-partition were culturally and anthropogenically connected; ultimately their similarities would outweigh their differences. I believe that, deep down in the minds of the Pakistanis, underneath the veneer of agitations and nationalism is a deep frustration at being “left behind”, trailing their more illustrious neighbour. Modern-day Pakistan is in a state of flux; it is a hotbed of religious fanaticism, unveiled hate, and is continually being put under pressures from factional terrorist groups. Pakistan has the fifth highest birth rate in the world, after the Palestinian Territories, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. (Suffice to mention in passing here that these five “baby boomers” are not quite self-sufficient in food production and they depend heavily on food importation from such “western” countries as the U.S., Ukraine, and Australia to feed their teeming population.

I have always argued that if the U.S. is involved in the internal affairs of any of these countries, this is not because the U.S. is flexing its military muscle but because the U.S. is a strategic producer of cheap grains and sundry foodstuff.) The next nuclear bomb to go off for destructive purpose on the face of the earth may well have a Pakistani connection; directly by threatening India or indirectly as a result of the nuclear black market knowledge disseminated by the rogue scientist Khan, or still by the explosions of nukes obtained through the back door when

the mullahs finally seize control.

The British must be feeling ill at ease about their “deft” creation, no doubt, especially after the 7\7 episode and several other near-misses. A politically contiguous Indian Subcontinent plus present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka would have been a kind of stable entity to which countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, the Central Asian republics, would look up to for direction. Methinks the world would have been breathing a little easier today if that were the case. We are not necessarily looking to the American-Russian face-off to set the doomsday clock anymore, but to other increasingly unstable regions of the world.

The year 1914 was a watershed in the history of Nigeria because the dual Protectorate regions became one contiguous entity. In retrospect, the Northern Protectorate should have been nurtured into full maturity as a separate republic (Arewa Republic, say) whilst the Southern Protectorate should have evolved into a western republic (Oduduwa Republic, say) and an eastern republic (Biafra Republic, say). The peoples of both regions were not exactly cut out for co-habitation. I wonder why Lord Lugard got it wrong. Nigeria is a country of some three nations, and it is inherently tribal.

Tribal sentiments are deep-seated and they are not easily brushed off. Tribal sentiments are a native thing that bar openness to one’s nearest neighbours. Any such system comprising of several native parts simply would not work. That was the point the Brits missed. Fifty-five years after independence Nigeria is, from most indicators, hanging on the edge of a cliff.

The fragile tribal cohesion at independence was soon shattered by adventurous young men fired up in no small measure by ethnic fuels.

Today, Nigeria is deservedly wretched. Truth, like the saying goes, is bitter indeed. Healthcare, education, public works, law enforcement, and more, are in shambles. Average life expectancy is about half of that in the developed world. Those who hold public offices suffer from identity crisis: “Nigerianness” is one big ambiguity to them, and hence the commitment to make any laudable policy turn out right is lacking. Really, our togetherness is an inverse gravity analogue: “pull” becomes “push”. Nigeria and Pakistan plod along amidst other progressive nations in a stately-dance-of-the-dinosaur fashion, their very existence a harsh reminder of failed British colonial policies.

•Jonah is of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Lessons from Edo APC primaries

By Inwalomhe Donald THE governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has come and gone but the lessons learnt are still with us. For everyone, who gathered at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium that day, and who followed events that surrounded the gubernatorial primaries, the message was clear and simple--democracy and popular political participation have taken root in Edo State. Gone are the days of godfatherism and favoritism; the people now lead and decide who presides over their affairs. Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, had earlier declared his role in the primary of his party few days before the conduct of the exercise. He said as the chief security officer of the state, his duties were to ensure that there was no violence that day and to ensure that the life of everyone connected to the exercise was protected.

One must say that one is not prepared to rehearse the ignoble drollery of the past here. Governor Oshiomhole had taken it upon himself the task of liquidating the godfathers and godfatherism in Edo State. This determination became the operational mantra of Oshiomhole’s first term in office and to that effect, he erected billboards across the state proclaiming war against godfatherism. Not done with that, jingles were aired on radio and television stations proclaiming the end of godfatherism.

When Oshiomhole declared some few years ago that godfatherism had been banished from the politics of Edo State, not many people took him serious because of the powers wielded by the then godfathers. Oshiomhole first annihilated the godfathers and their co-travelers in 2008 when the Appeal Court declared him winner of the 2007 Edo State governorship election.

No thanks to Abuja, these men, who hitherto held Edo State by the jugular, survived on an oxygen supplied them by the notorious government in Abuja. The final conquest was completed in 2015 as the godfathers and their evil party were completely uprooted from the seat of government, leaving their hangers-on in Edo without lifeline.

Terminally ill and gasping for breath, the godfathers and

their collaborators, who nearly grounded Edo State, are trying to stage a comeback in order to continue to dehumanise and pauperise the Edo people. Oshiomhole, however, showed them how the business of politics should be conducted with the June 18, 2016, governorship primaries of the APC. The governor saw the need to support Edo people to produce the governor that will take them to the next level and he worked with them. For the avoidance of doubts, Oshiomhole did not say he would impose a governor on Edo people. What the governor said was that fairness, equity, justice and good conscience demand that Edo people should be supported to produce the next governor.

This is a sentiment, whose time has come and Edo people should commend our governor for having the presence of mind to situate the true position of the socio-political challenges facing our dear state. The fact that the September 10, 2016, Edo State governorship election presents a viable opportunity to begin this novel and peaceable system should be welcomed by all and sundry. The fact that Oshiomhole carries the cross and the crown of Edo State at this point in time should also make his depositions sacrosanct. For this important reason, the governor cannot be frightened away from this path of sanity to address the periodic schisms and recriminations that play out whenever we want to elect a governor.

Oshiomhole’s declaration is without prejudice to political platforms. Interestingly, the governor did not at anytime say the democratic process of nomination by political parties and voting by the people of Edo should not be observed in the election

of Edo Governor in 2016. As he said, the challenge for every true Edo son and daughter is to search for credible, patriotic and honest citizens from Edo State to support the APC agenda to put Edo State on the path of sustainable development.

The good thing is that the winner of the primary election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, does not need introduction in Edo politics.

Obaseki currently serves as the chairman of the Edo State Economic and Strategy Team. He served as founding secretary for a New York based US Africa Chamber of Commerce as far back as 1992. Obaseki as chairman of the Edo State Economic Team has advised Governor Oshiomhole to take upon himself some seemingly impossible but ambitious tasks that are about to turn the economy of Edo State around.

The Azura/Edo Independent Power Project and Edo Water Storm project are two examples. The former is a $1 billion project and the first Nigerian power project to benefit from the World Bank’s risk guarantee status that was covered by the global bank’s Partial Risk Guarantee structure for developing needs of emerging global markets. It is an evidence that the state is a viable centre for global investment. Obaseki was also instrumental to the setting up of the 450MW Azura-Edo gas power project, BUA Cement Okpella, Dangote Cement Okpella and others.

Our people are tired of the incessant fight by our big political businessmen for power. Narrowing the search for a competent person to succeed Adams Oshiomhole has made the whole thing easier. Oshiomhole’s pronouncement represents the view of the generality of Edo people because it would help to avert bitter struggles, entrench peace, brotherly love and unity. There can be no going back from this determination if the search is for enduring peace, unity and greater prosperity of Edo State.

We should support Oshiomhole to produce the next governor in 2016 and demonstrate to Nigerians that he has done well.

•Inwalomhe, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin City, Edo State.

16

Friday, 1 Juy, 2016

D

EATH is the price all mortals must pay in their journey through life. Death is what makes all men and women to know and affirm the Supremacy of God, the Maker of mankind. I woke up one morning in the last two weeks to read of the death of Niki Tobi, a former Supreme Court judge, who was one of my university mates at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba during the civil war years.

Niki was an intellectual, even while he was an undergraduate. He dissected issues and events like an intellectual who seeks the relevance of facts and matters through research and investigation. Ever neat, Niki was a lawyer’s lawyer. We all respected his intellectual capabilities. Niki Tobi was then at UNILAG, a law student who had studied law at the feet of the great jurist, Justice Taslim Elias, a former Attorney-General of Nigeria during the First Republic who contributed immensely to the reputation of UNILAG as centre for law studies; the late Professor M.I. Jegede (SAN), the late Professor Abiola Ojo, and several others.

Some of the classmates of Niki Tobi at the Faculty of Law include Bros Ladipo Fashade, who came to study Law from his desk as the famous Conrad Rover of the Express Group of Newspapers, Barrister Isagwade, the late Barrister Olowu, Barrister Dipo Odujinrin, the late Chief J. Olatunji, an Ibadan born lawyer who remained a bright legal mind to the very end of his life; the late Muri Okunola aka “OMO PRESI,” and equally a successful judge of the Appellate Court in Nigeria, and others.

Niki Tobi later moved to the University of Maiduguri where he eventually became the Dean of the Faculty of Law. He equally rose to become the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university. It was from the University of Maiduguri that Niki moved to the Bench as a judge. He made his greatest achievements to the progress of Nigeria through the Bench.

Niki Tobi was a very fine judge of the Supreme Court who never allowed injustice, and fair-play to characterise his dispensation of justice to the poor and the needy in Nigeria.

To Niki Tobi, justice in all its ramifications must be made available to Nigerians. Niki never allowed Nigerians (during his entire stay on the Bench) to doubt whether they could get justice in the courts of law.

There is a story told me by my friend, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, of the Fourth Dimension Press, Enugu some years ago about Niki Tobi.

Justice Niki Tobi had given a verdict in a court of law that gave a litigant who had lost all hope of ever getting justice victory. The litigant, after the verdict decided to visit Niki Tobi with gifts to express his gratitude.

Unfortunately, the man did not meet Justice Niki Tobi at home. He, however, decided to leave the gifts with a note of gratitude to Tobi for giving him justice in his case.

He was surprised the next day when he found Justice Niki Tobi at his residence in Calabar with his gifts to him neatly packed and returned to him. Justice Niki Tobi warned the Nigerian never again to bring gifts to him in appreciation of whatever favourable decision he (the litigant) must have secured in his legal application to the court of law. That was truly him Justice Niki Tobi who in his entire career at the Bench, gave hope to the hopeless and dispensed justice with total commitment to justice and fair-play.

In 2005, Justice Niki Tobi was appointed by the former President Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo government as the judge to preside over the affairs of that year’s constitutional conference. I was a member of that constitutional conference, and Justice Niki Tobi gave the country a fine display of a pure legal mind that was not prepared to compromise his intellectual principles of being a defender of poor Nigerians on pots of porridge.

His regime as the head of the conference was flawless.

He never permitted any invasion of the conference by government with any ideas or suggestions that could prove difficult to the smooth operations of the conference.

When I read in the newspapers of the death of Niki Tobi, my mind immediately went to our days at the University of Lagos some 50 years ago. We, as undergraduates, were dreamers of a great Nigeria. We were all set to join the patriots in offering the best of service to our dear country. Many of us left the university in 1969, never to meet again. Now, we are dying. Niki Tobi

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

And Justice Niki Tobi is dead

•The late Justice Niki Tobi

has gone to join the “Saints” in heaven. May his soul rest in peace! Niki, good-night and good-bye!!

AND DR. EMEKA ENEJERE TOO By the time you read this, Dr. Emeka Enejere, the former President of the National Union of Biafran Students during the civil war years would have been buried in his village in Nsukka area of Enugu State.

He came into the limelight during the Nigerian civil

When I read in the newspapers of the death of Niki Tobi, my mind immediately went to our days at the University of Lagos some 50 years ago.

war when he emerged the leader of the Biafran Students from the campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. We served as student leaders in Nigeria nearly the same period between 1967 and 1968. Emeka was assisted by men like Nwosu and Charles Iyizoba, who were great names in student unionism in Nigeria at the time.

Emeka Enejere later became a known public figure in Nigeria. He was a politician of note and was equally like Niki Tobi, a fighter for the socio-political rights of Nigerians. He was later appointed by the government of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the Pro-Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He gave the institution the best of service.

The rest, however, is a story told! His son was kind enough to inform me of the death of this illustrious son of Nigeria. I was unable to attend any of the activities put forward to honour the memory of Emeka Enejere as a result of age related reasons.

‘Emekus’ (as I was fond of calling him) was a great mind. He did justice to every assignment he performed in the services of Nigeria. Nigeria will learn how to remember Emeka Enejere!

Emeka Enejere is dead and his struggles for a great Nigeria counties!!

EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK DR. BUKOLA SARAKI AND NIGERIA (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

eyesof islam muslim

sermon

with AbdulJaleel Solaudeen 0703 030 7232

Rounding off the Month of Mercy THE month of forgiveness and mercy is winding up. This is the period when the righteous feel sad because the gates of Al-Jannah will soon be closed and the gates of Hell reopened and the evil one (Shayton) released from bondage. What saddens the righteous ones gladdens the evil ones among mankind and Jinns. This period of spiritual attachment to Allah is getting to a close till it comes around again next year.

Traditionally, the end of Ramadan is marked with two events, both of which should serve as acts of ibaadah.

These events are the distribution of Zakatul Fitri and the ‘Eid festival that follows immediately. Zakatul Fitri or Sodaqatul Fitri is a command of the Prophet which must be obeyed. Every adult Muslim, especially the household head (father), is expected to buy food items in the form of grains and pay it on behalf of his wife (wives), children and others under his guidance and give to the poor and the needy among the Muslims in his immediate community. In an ideal Muslim state, Sadaqatul Fitri is collected and distributed by the Caliph or Imam. In the absence of that, the local Imam is saddled with the collection and equitable distribution of the food items.

The ideal time for the payment of Sadaqatul Fitri, according to the most acceptable opinion, is immediately after Solatul-fajr (the early dawn prayer) before going to the ‘Eid ground. The Holy Prophet was reported to have said: “He who gives it out before ‘Eid prayer has indeed given an acceptable Sodaqah but whoever pays it after the ‘Eid prayer has only given ordinary Sodaqah.” The quantity to be given on behalf of every individual is one Arabian soo’I, which equates four mudd or to the nearest, 14 milk tins. Scholars agree that apart from grains like rice, beans, millet, corn (maize), guinea-corn, barley, wheat, oat, soya beans and the likes, powered milk and garri can be used.

Sodaqatul Fitri serves as food for poor Muslims and also as purification for the inequities that might have been committed during the period of fasting. Therefore, it is highly recommended that Sadaqatul Fitri be paid.

The day of ‘Eidul Fitri is the first day of Shawwal after having completed 29 or 30 days of Ramadan. It is a day of celebration and great festival sanctioned by Allah and His Prophet for the believers.

It was the practice of the Holy Prophet throughout his nine years of fasting in Medina to advance to the Eid ground on the day of Fitri and the day of Adhah. Ummu’ Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Holy Prophet (SAW) instructed them to go out (the women) on the day of ‘Eidul Fitri and ‘Eidul Adhah, including the young ladies, the menstruating women, but the menstruating women would stay away from ‘Eid ground but witness the good day of the Muslim and prayer (dawah) of the Imam and the followers. Ummu ‘Atiyyah further asked the Prophet, “What about those who have no Jalbab (i.e. the long outer garment prescribed for the believing women), the Holy Prophet answered: “Let her borrow from her near sister in faith.” This saying of the Holy Prophet is establishing the compulsory nature of going to the Eid ground by every Muslim, male or female, young or old.

On the day of ‘Eidul Fitri, we are expected to start the day with light food because the Prophet used to take odd numbers of date fruits. Then, we should also take bath (ritual), put on our best garments and the males should adorn themselves with perfume. The Holy Prophet encouraged us to walk to the ‘Eid ground. The ‘Eid ground is the proper place to observe the prayer, not the Jummah mosque. The only condition that can necessitate observing the ‘Eid prayer in the mosque is a heavy rain.

We should observe the limits of Allah in our celebrations.

No alcohol and other intoxicants should be consumed.

Wasteful spending and all indecent acts should be shunned so that we may earn the pleasure of Allah. Don’t forget to fast six days in the month of Shawwal.

Taqobbala llahu minni wa minkum.

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

Remaining steadfast after Ramadan S UFYAN ibn ‘Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam, after which I won’t need to ask anyone besides you.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: “Say: ‘I believe in Allah’ and then be steadfast [upon that].” [Muslim (38)] The narration is proof that the servant is obligated, after having faith in Allah, to persevere and be steadfast upon obeying Him by performing the obligatory acts and avoiding the prohibited ones. This is achieved by following the Straight Path, which is the firm Religion, without drifting away from it, to the right or to the left.

If the Muslim lives through Ramadan and spends his days in fasting and his nights in prayer and he accustoms himself to doing acts of good, then he must continue to remain upon this obedience to Allah at all times. This is the true state of servitude, for indeed, the Lord of the months is One and He is ever Watchful and Witnessing over His servants at all times.

Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadan and the rectification of one’s statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadan and striven in obedience. They are tokens of reception and signs of success.

Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end with the end of a month and the beginning of another, rather they continue and extend until he reaches death.

Allah says: “And worship your Lord until the certainty (death) comes to you.” [Qur’an 15: 99] If the fasting of Ramadan comes to an end, then indeed the voluntary fasting is still prescribed throughout the entire year. If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan comes to an end, then indeed, the entire year is a time for performing the optional night prayers. And if the Zakaat Al-Fitr comes to an end, then there is still the Zakaah that is obligatory as well as the voluntary charity that lasts the whole year. This is the same for reciting the Qur’an and pondering over its meaning as well as every other righteous deed that is sought, for they can be done at all times.

From the many bounties that Allah has bestowed upon his servants is that He has placed for them many different types of righteous acts and provided many means for doing good deeds. Therefore, the ardor and zeal of the Muslim must be constant and he must continue to remain in the service of his Lord.

It is unfortunate to find that some people perform worship by doing different types of righteous deeds during Ramadan. They strictly guard their five daily prayers in the Masjid, they recite the Qur’an a lot and they give in charity from their wealth. But when Ramadan comes to an end, they grow lazy in their worship. Rather, sometimes they even abandon the obligations, both generally, such as praying in congregation, and specifically, such as praying the Fajr prayer.

Additionally, they commit forbidden acts such as sleeping through the time of prayers, indulging in places of foolishness and entertainment, and mingling in parks, especially on the day of ‘Eid. Thus, they demolish what they have constructed and destroy what they have established.

This is an indication of deprivation and a sign of perdition.

Steadfastness after Ramadan and the rectification of one’s statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadan and striven in obedience.

They are tokens of reception and signs of success.

We ask Allah for His safeguarding and protection.

Indeed, this type of people take the example of turning in repentance and ceasing from committing evil deeds as something specific and restricted to the month of Ramadan.

And they stop doing good acts when the month stops.

Thus, it is as if they have abandoned sinning for the sake of Ramadan, and not out of fear of Allah. How evil are these people who do not know Allah, except in Ramadan!

Truly, the success that Allah grants His servant lies in the fasting of Ramadan. His assisting him to do that is a great favor thus the calls for the servant to be grateful to his Lord.

This understanding can be found in the Saying of Allah after completing the favour of the month of fasting. Allah says: “He wants that you must complete the same number of days, and that you must magnify Allah (by saying Allahu Akbar) for having guided you, so that you may be grateful to Him.” [Qur’an 2:185] The one who is grateful for having fasted will remain upon that condition and continue to perform righteous deeds.

Verily, the true way of the Muslim is that of one who praises and thanks his Lord for giving him the ability to fast and perform Qiyaam. His condition after Ramadan is better than it was before Ramadan. He is more receptive to obey, desiring to do good deeds and quick to enforce the obligatory acts. This is because he has benefited from this prominent institute of learning. It is that of one who fears for having his fast not accepted, for indeed Allah only accepts from those who fear Him. The righteous predecessors would struggle to complete and perfect their deeds, hoping afterwards, that it would be accepted and fearing that it would be rejected. From the reports of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Be more concerned with having your deeds accepted than the deed itself. Did you not hear Allah say ‘Verily Allah only accepts those from those who fear Him. (i.e., possess Taqwa).’

[Quran 5:27]” [Lataa’if ul Ma’aarif, p. 246] ‘Aa’ishah said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah concerning the ayah: ‘And the one who are given what they are given and their hearts tremble with fear.’ [Qur’an 23:60] Are they the ones who drink alcohol and steal?” He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention) said: “No, o daughter of As-Siddeeq, rather, they are the ones who fast and pray and give in charity, yet fear that it won’t be accepted from them. They are the ones who rush to do good deeds and they are the first to do them.” [Saheeh Sunan AtTirmithi 3/79-80] So, be warned and again be warned of turning backward after having attained guidance of going astray after persevering. And ask Allah to provide you with duration in doing righteous deeds and continuity in performing good acts. And ask Allah that He grant you a good end, so that He may accept our Ramadan from us.

Source: islamweb.net

islamicnews Ignorant Muslim enemy of Islam —Lagos commissioner

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Bola Badmus -Lagos

T

HE Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul-Lateef Abdul-Hakeem, has described somebody who purports to be a Muslim but is lacking awareness of the teachings of Islam as the greatest enemy of the religion.

Abdul-Hakeem, who is also the Chief Imam of the state House of Assembly, said this in a lecture he delivered at the

Iftar: BOMYOF feeds 500 daily THE Bodija Muslim Youth Forum (BOMYOF) has provided free iftar for 500 people daily since the beginning of this year’s Ramadan on June 6.

The chairman of the forum, Alhaji AbdurRahman Balogun, said in Ibadan, Oyo State, during one of the iftar sessions that residents of Bodija and its environs had formed the bulk of the beneficiaries.

Balogun said that the decision to provide the free meal on a daily basis was informed by a discovery that many people were unable to provide for their families during this fasting period.

He said the idea was also to assist some government workers facing months of unpaid salaries and others having difficulty feeding their families.

Friday, 1 July, 2016

ninth annual Iftar and Ramadan lecture at the Gbagada praying ground, Bariga Lagos, organised by the Chief Whip of state House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Abiru, for Muslim members of his constituency.

According to him, “anyone that claims to be a Muslim but fails to learn Islamic teachings would always be an element of chaos and instability in society as his or her character would negate what Islam preaches.”

The commissioner, speaking on the topic “Peaceful Coexistence and Harmonious Relationship: Islamic Perspective,” stated that irrespective of religions and tribes, Nigerians should learn to tolerate one another.

Islam. Inviting people to Islam, according to the teaching of holy Prophet Muhammad, should be done through showing good examples, courtesy and kindness and being at the vanguard of displaying sound character,” he said.

‘Follow leadership example of the Caliphs of Islam’

By Saheed Salawu MUSLIMS, especially those occupying positions of leadership in any capacity, have been advised to follow in the footsteps of the Caliphs (successors to

Prophet Muhammad) by continuously striving to attain self-refinement and piety.

Dr Adam Akewula of the Department of Islamic and Arabic Studies Department, University of Ibadan, gave

the advice in Ibadan, Oyo State, at one of the 2016 Ramadan lecture series of Yusrullah Association of Nigeria, also known as Alasalatu Irorun Oluwa.

In the lecture, entitled “The Caliphs as Models in

From left, the Otunba Olubadan of Ibadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Engineer Lere Adigun, chairman on the ocassion; Engineer Seyi Makinde and the guest lecturer, Sheikh Muritala Atanda Bada, during the third Omitutun Ramadan lecture, held at NTA premises in Ibadan, recently.

Pray for Nigeria —Olukoyi

Islam,” held at association’s Islamic Centre at Alegongo, Akobo, Dr Akewula said that the key to success in playing an administrative role in the affairs of men is for everyone to see themselves as vicegerents of God on earth.

The Caliphs, chiefs of whom were Abubakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, according to the lecturer, displayed sterling leadership qualities by applying justice in their administration of the Islamic empire after the demise of Prophet Muhammad.

The don urged all those in positions of authority to develop a sense of accountability, show leadership by example, do away with propaganda and ensure even development of domains under them for the well-being of the society.

Dr Akewula emphasised the need for Muslims to begin exhibiting leadership right from their home lives, saying a person who has been established as a failure in their domestic life would have difficulty achieving progress in public office.

He described those who are good to their wives and the rest of their families as

the best of men in the sight of God. In the same vein, he advised Muslim women to take a leaf from the lifestyles of wife of Prophet Muhammad and those of his Companions and constitute pillars of support for their husbands in order to ease their tasks and make them succeed in their endeavours.

As Ramadan draws to a close, Dr Akewula appealed to Muslims to keep the heightened sense of devotion developed during the holy month as a regular feature of their daily living.

A former Head of Service in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, who was a guest of honour at the event, urged parents to prioritise the acquisition of the knowledge of the Qur’an and Western education by their children so that they could succeed as future leaders and in all the ramifications of life.

The president of the association, Alhaji Akinjide Sadiq, called on Muslims not to desist from their dedication and commitment to the cause of Allah as Ramadan winds up.

Adedoja advises Muslims

By Gbenga Olumide AS the Ramadan period comes to an end, Muslims in Ikoyi-Osun community in Osun State and Nigeria at large have been urged to use the remaining days to seek Allah’s favour for the country.

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the Olukoyi of Ikoyiland, Oba Yisau Bantale Oyetunji Otunla and members of his and Olukoyi-in-Council comprising the Oosa, Chief Yekini Oyewumi; the Asalu, Chief Abeeb Olaposi Akinola; the Aro, Chief Oladimeji Oladapo and the Onju, Chief Azeez Ishola Sanni.

According to the statement, signed after a meeting between the Olukoyi-in-Council and Muslim leaders last Sunday, “the country needs our support and cooperation at this moment through our prayers, which is the only antidote to every situation in life.”

The cleric, relying on Chapter 10 verse 99 of the holy Qur’an, noted that if God had wanted, He would have created the world as one community.

“It is, therefore, necessary to note that you can’t force anyone to follow

Morality and Financial Transparency in Islam,” Olatunbosun said that the security and economic challenges facing the country would have been curtailed had previous administrations taken courageous steps.

The lecturer listed the qualities of a good leadership to include honesty, transparency, courage, fear of God, trustworthiness and ability to project into the

future.

He added that a good leader must be committed to the needs of the people and live up to their expectations.

The cleric, who noted that anyone lacking in capacity and passion to move the nation forward is not fit to govern the country, charged those in leadership positions to always protect the interest of their followers.

A former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, has enjoined Muslims, especially youths, to let the teachings of Ramadan last beyond the period of the holy month of fasting.

Professor Adedoja made the plea while hosting members of Muslim youth associations who came to break their fast with him at his Ikolaba, Ibadan residence last Friday.

He also called on his guests and, indeed, all youths to put God first in all their undertakings and exemplify the lessons of

THE Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Badmus, has called on Muslims to continue using this period of Ramadan to atone for their sins and make peace with their neighbours as is a teaching of Islam.

Alhaji Badmus, who

made the call at the Ramadan lecture he organised in Osogbo, Osun State, urged the faithful to also use the period to pray for divine guidance for President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other leaders in tackling the

myriad of challenges facing the nation.

Alhaji Badmus used the occasion, where Alhaji Tajudeen Arikalamu was the guest lecturer, to distribute food items and other gifts to groups, orphans, the physically challenged and other categories of people.

From left, former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu; the lecturer, Dr Adam Akewula and president of Yusrullah Association of Nigeria, a.k.a. Alasalatu Irorun Oluwa, Alhaji Akinjide Sadiq, at a 2016 Ramadan lecture of the association, held in Ibadan, last Sunday.

Only visionaries can lead Nigeria aright —Cleric A cleric, Dr Asif AbdulAzeezOlatunbosun, has said that only visionary, courageous and transparent leaders can restore peace and economic stability to the nation.

Dr Olatunbosun said that the fact that most Nigerians put in positions of leadership were lacking in vision, courage, fairness, morality and financial transparency was responsible for cases of padding of the national budget and conversion of public funds to personal use.

The cleric stated this during the 21st Ramadan lecture organised by Ola-Olu Muslim Society of Nigeria held at the central mosque of The Wings Group of Schools, Iwo, Osun State, in honour of Sheikh Tiamiyu Oyebode-Adisa.

Speaking on the topic “Challenges of Leadership,

Badmus charges Muslims

the holy month by being prayerful, straight and kind to their families, friends, and neighbours, particularly the underprivileged.

“The month of Ramadan is going gradually but the fear of God and the five daily prayers remain. Live the way you do now in the holy month of Ramadan the rest of the year and beyond,” the former minister said.

Professor Adedoja also advised youth to wait on Allah as regards acquisition of wealth and not employ dishonest means to get rich.

“Rely on Almighty Allah and be prayerful. Your prayers, patience, hard work and dedication will take you to a high level in life, not hooliganism, fraud, etc. God gives wealth at His own time.

“Fear Allah in all your undertakings and always remember that one day, we will accountable to the Almighty,” he added.

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

fridaytreat BET Awards 2016:

Fals returns

as Africa’s choice artiste I

T is no longer news that Nigerian representative, Falz the bahd guy, won the Viewer’s Choice Best International Act Award at the 2016 BET Awards.

The rapper earlier nominated for the Award, was named the winner at the awards that held in Los Angeles on June 25, 2016.

Falz has continued to stand out in terms of his creativity and ingenuity, and has carved a niche for himself in the Nigerian industry.

He is known for his funny skits on social media, breaking out into a fast rising entertainer in Nigeria and far beyond.

Falz Biography Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz The Bahd Guy is a Hip-Hop recording artiste who returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom to pursue a rap career.

Son of highly respected lawyer and activist Femi Falana, Falz was born into a family of three children. He attended St Leos Catholic Primary School, Ikeja Lagos and Olashore International Secondary School, Osun State. After studying law at the University of Reading in the UK he moved back to Nigeria to attend law school and was called to bar in February 2012.

Falz’s passion for music can be traced way back to secondary school where he met a friend of his who wrote rap lyrics before they formed a little group ‘The School Boys’.

After forming a little group ‘School Boys’ he joined the choir in church and released a mixtape in 2009 which was a compilation of what he had been recording just to get his name out there and a little recognition. After that, he released about five singles. The rapper who became an Instagram sensation with his funny ‘ello bae‘ skits, says he is not a comedian.

According to him, “I have a passion for film, so acting is something I would probably do sooner than later. I plan to have my own TV show. I’m not a comedian”. Falz, who is still a practicing barrister, has decided to still keep that part of him alive and still goes to court when chanced.

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

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Friday, 1 July, 2016

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat

fridaytreat

trending

Celebrity PROFILE

Yemi Alade stuns at BET Awards 2016 with N2.5m dress

Funmi Wakama:

Celebrating a glamour girl @50

E

VERY once in a while, a star rises like the comet, thrusting itself out of the pack and galaxy of stars. Funmi Wakama, a name synonymous with the Nigerian Television Authority for close to three decades, waltzed into the world and shall celebrate her golden Jubilee as she turns 50 gracefully today.

Over the years, the screen goddess enlivened many with her sonorous and angelic voice on the popular NTA Network news. That was until she served as the first female Chief Press Secretary to the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, during his first tenure and indeed the only female to have served in that capacity to a state governor.

Prior her appointment as the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the governor, she was also the first Media Manager, Programme and Outreach, of the International Republican Institute (IRI), an Agency under the United States Government (USG) USAID, programme in Nigeria. In a recent interview, she described her experiences at the IRI and OGSG as most fulfilling, adding that what she learnt from the two institutions could not have been taught within the walls of any institution, “not even Harvard”. These lessons seem to have prepared her for another half of a century.

As a broadcaster, Funmi is success driven and assertive, knowing what she wants and finds ways to get it without compromising her dignity and integrity. A very rare quality in this morally depraved world. Indeed, Funmi is a bubbly personality, effervescent, whose essence cannot be misinterpreted. Presently an Assistant Director of News at the Abuja Headquarters of the NTA, she has, at various times in her career, being a presenter, reporter, news editor and trainer. She is also the News Producer of news segment of Sunday Sunday tonic, Newsline. This piece cannot document her story and life as fluidly or chronologically as she deserves.

Born in Lagos fifty years ago, as Olufunmilayo Coker, she began her foray into a career in broadcasting in 1985 at the then Lagos Television, LTV 8. She later joined the services of the NTA in 1988 after the mandatory one year Industrial Training. She once recounted one of her experiences while on Industrial training at the LTV8. “It was a chance meeting with one of the greatest musicians of our times, ‘the Abami Eda’, as he was fondly called; Fela Anikulapo Kuti”. He had gone to pay his condo-

lences at the Newswatch office over the death of Dele Giwa and suddenly the betacam tape they were recording on ran out and she was asked to rush downstairs to pick up another tape. Low and behold, Fela was descending the stairs, and better still, he had his hand outstretched for a handshake with her.

He held on to her hand and refused to let go. There were whistles and catcalls.

She said she almost died of fright. There she was barely out of her teens with the great Fela Anikulapo Kuti. According to her, not even the producer, Mr. Tunde Okeowo could save her as people teased her, asking her not to wash the hand as a mark of respect for Music maestro.

Funmi, a graduate of Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration; (MPA) from the University of Abuja, a Post Graduate Diploma from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism and also in Public Relations from the Business Education Examination Council, Lagos.

There is a deep side to Funmi. She might not be your flash-in-the-pan society lady who you see at every societal function but her carriage, sense of style, glamour and simplicity cannot be ignored. Very choosy about the function she attends. Style for her means different things at different times, depending on the occasion. Sometimes she keeps it simple and at other times, it could be glamorous. She pays attention to every detail in her choice of what to wear and how to mix and match fabrics yet remaining resplendent.

Married to a Civil Engineer from Rivers State, the mother of two, describes her husband as a God fearing, kind, loving husband and wonderful father, whose only ‘vice’ or ‘passion’, depending on how you look at it, is his love for football.

He has been a big fan of Manchester United since 1973. Her husband, who she sometimes refers to as her best friend and biggest critic, has been a very strong pillar of support, encouraging her, thus enabling her to flourish.

When she chose a career in the media world, there was no cyrstal ball to show what the future held, whether she would succeed or not and whether the terrain will be slippery, thorny, mine-filled or rewarding. All she had was her passion for the screen, hard work, an innate desire to succeed and to carve a niche for herself.

Funmi is a likeable person. She is

Yemi Alade wasn’t just nominated but also attended the 2016 BET Awards and to say she looked totally fabulous in her dress is an understatement.

Here is some vital information you should know about the stunning and apparently luxurious dress Yemi Alade wore.

It’s a Zuhair Murad 2016 resort dress which allegedly costs £5000, that’s about N2.5 million.

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

Define and position your music and personality for music business success

uniquely humble, a total package of brains, brawn and gumption. She also has a rare zest for life, a natural affinity for good taste and the good things of life. A few of her colleges say she can actually be talkative if in good company, though they say she has very few friends. For someone so well known and a public figure in her own right you can count her friends on the fingers of one hand.

She loves her own company and that of family members.

Another aspect of Funmi is her kindness and benevolence. She is generous and she feels the pulse of the common man. As part of events lined up for her 50th birthday, is the distribution of items to some internally displaced persons at their camp in Abuja where she intends to show them love and care. “I wish I could do more for the needy in our society”. Apart from the Thanksgiving service, to return all glory to God, for having kept me, the other important aspect for me, is putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged”. She does this quietly from time to time, having learnt this act of charity under the tutelage of her former boss, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who would usually mark his birthday visiting Prisons and feeding the aged.

At 50, Funmi doesn’t just look good but fabulous, showing no trace of the calendar years.

EVERY song/music and every artiste/musician in the public sphere at every time is always under the conscious or subconscious scrutiny and judgement of the music audience. These audience are constantly forming and influencing opinions, comparing and positioning artistes/musician’s personality and their music based on perceptions created by the totality of all information and communications they received passively or actively about each artiste and his/ her music.

It is important to understand as an artiste/musician that you are always sending out information spoken or unspoken about your music and your personality as an artiste/musician.

Your image is the totality of all the information verbal and non-verbal about you and your music that your audience are exposed to, which shapes and forms their perception of who they think you are as an artiste/ musician. Success in the music business therefore has to do with a combination of fundamental factors such as the quality of music, image appeal, message in music, xfactor, musicality etc which determines how audiences rates and position artistes/ musicians.

It is therefore important for you as an artiste/musician to be conscious, deliberate and in control of the kind of image and information that you project through your music, personality, character,

affiliations etc by making a clear definition of your personality and music for the public. The biggest duty and responsibility of every artiste/ musician in the commercialization of their music beside the mastery of their talents, is managing public perception about their music and act/ personality deliberately. It is about defining and positioning your act and music with the objective of differentiating yourself from all known and unknown competitors in your market segment. It is about having a well-defined competitive advantage over other artistes/musicians in your music market.

Managing your public’s or audiences’ perception of your music and personality is an art and a science that at

some point in your career in the music business, would require you to enlist the help or services of professional public relations expert to help you build, acquire and manage the right image and perception in alignment with the goals and objectives of your artiste/musician’s vision and mission statement. If you don’t make a conscious effort to define and position your music in the way that you want audience/fans to perceive your act, the market (audience) will define and position you in comparison to their perception of your competitors, which may not favour your music or career. In other words, your audience will judge/rate you and your music by using your close competitors with

stronger positioning in your market as a benchmark for defining you. You don’t want to live under the shadows of your competitors!

What is your vision for yourself as an artiste/musician? How do you see yourself as an artiste/musician?

What do you want to stand for with your music? What are your dreams and aspirations as an artiste/musician?

Decide early on in your career what kind of image and positioning you would love to give your music and personality, then work to ensure that everything aligns with that defined image.

Adequately defining and positioning your music and act impacts on your success and sustainability in the music business.

JTehela music debuts with gospel music fiesta @ the Voice Live screening were...

JTEHELA musical, entertainment and production company, from Miami, Florida, has berthed with a unique show billed for July.

The vision of Gospel extravaganza to be held on the 15th and 16th of July 2016, is to bring together different artistes from all religious denomination for the first time in the United States of America to perform under one canopy.

There will be artistes from different countries, such

as Ireland, South Africa, Haiti, Nigeria etc.

This event, according to organisers, will be a yearly event as awards will be given out for life long spiritual gospel musical accomplishments.

Jtehela Entertainment and production company has various shows running through the year; a family Christmas fun fair, a throwback game night which comprises different game contests such as Opon-ayo, draft, table

tennis etc. as done in the sixties settings with traditional music, refreshments like Asun, Suya, Oguro among other African traditional delicacies, and musical battle of the sexes.

According to one of its executives, “Our goal and objectives is to bring a little bit of Nigeria and other African culture and traditions to the US and vice versa. Also, some of the proceeds is donated to charity”.

L-R: Busola Tejumola, Head, Strategies and Consumer Insight, MultiChoice Nigeria; John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria and Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, Africa Magic during the Live Screening of The Voice a reality show on DStv held at Land Mark Event Centre, Oniru Lagos on Sunday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

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Friday, 1 July, 2016 ’Wale Olapade 08055201323 wale11g3@gmail.com

travelpulse&m.i.c.e A chef at the Live cooking station Vista Restaurant, Le Méridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort.

Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Le Méridien Ibom style up with live cooking station Le Méridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort is proud to introduce her inherently Nigerian and innovative live cooking station at Vista Restaurant. ‘‘As one of its primary focuses is cuisine, we infuse passion into our dining experience in order to provide guests with cultured touch points at every turn thus providing them with the element of discovery as they dine at Vista.

The live cooking station, offers guests the opportunity to experience a variety of delicious food prepared by in house professional chefs whilst they dine a

theatre settings.

The live cooking as the hotel christened it, offers guests the option of choosing different core traditional soups, varying from Afang, Atama, Editan, Okra, Edikang Ikong and more.

It also displays varieties of condiments and spices to add to goat, beef, chicken, smoked fish, fresh fish, crayfish, ponmo etc.

Le Méridien Ibom preffered selection is then tastefully prepared, extravagantly garnished and creatively presented with choice of food to give a special hospitality experience.

Where is Lai Mohammed’s summit committee on tourism action plan?

Lai Muhammed Stories by ’Wale Olapade

I

S the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed finding it difficult to give tourism promotion the expected boost it deserves to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economiy?

This question becomes the heel of the delay in making remarkable move to restore stakeholders’ confidence in the multi-billion naira tourism industry in Nigeria.

Unarguably, this notion gave birth to a tourism summit hosted by the Minister of Information and Culture in Abuja months ago.

However, there are fears that the summit will bring no fruits at the end of the day, while others stakeholders said they are tired of hope upon hopes, knowing that lip-services always give birth to stillbirth.

It could be recalled that it took the minister almost a year or so before he struggled to call a press conference where he announced a

date for a tourism summit.

The summit has come and gone, with little or nothing to give tourism the desire push, unless for the committee setup to submit a recommendation for tourism promotion and development in Nigeria.

However, two months have gone and nothing concrete is on ground to stimulate tourism activities. How long will it take the ministry to prepare a blueprint for a country rich in tourism resource to turn around the Nigerian economy?

According to a member of the eight-man committee and President of Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr Tomi Akingbogun, “The committee was given four weeks to submit an action plan, but we have exceeded four weeks, basically because there was no fund from the ministry and I think the ministry is very broke!

“To make things happen, when we noticed that they were not calling for meetings, we now asked what the problem was and the reply they gave was that it was difficult to get fund as things are tight in the ministry.

“So as private sector players, we decided to provide a loan which would cover feeding and venue for the ministry reiimburse us whenever their is the money. This was like a soft landing for the meeting to go on.

“With that offer, we were able to meet two weeks ago and we again met yesterday to round it off.’’

When asked how soon the paper on tourism action plan will be ready, Akingbogun said, “We are rounding off, like I said, this

is the last meeting and it has been a good deliberation, so we are hopeful that something good will come out of it because the minister wants action plan, not just a paper work.

“The major things we are concentrating on are things that can easily be done and also we are looking on areas where government had in the past invested in, the game reserve is there, the zoos, stadia, theaters, museums among others.

“However, areas of low hanging fruits we have outlined and focused on are tourism sites that have already been developed and operational or need little investment to reactivate a full fledge operation, and we have them across the country.

“We are looking at areas like the wildlife, parks, stadia, national theaters and cultural centres, which have become under-ultilised and losing their values.”

Akingbogun added “we are also looking at those areas of businesses where some private sector have invested greatly, but having problem with state governments, just like what the Managing Director of Tarzan Jetty and Boat Services, Mr Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun is experiencing in Lagos.

The FTAN president explained further, “Of course there are problems in the communiqué because of its bulky nature but we ‘ve already corrected all those things.

The committee member said they are on course with the mandates given to them, adding that the report will be submitted, but explained that it depends on the minister’s acceptance. This depends on what he expects, since

he was the one that inaugurated the committee and he made it clear to us.

Akingbogun, however, confirmed that the report will be submitted to the minister today.

The aim according to the hotel is to introduce customers to the unique cuisine experience of destination and the cultural essence of food.

Travelscope seminar:

KQ Holiday takes essay winner on tour of Kenya ONE of the participants of the seventh edition of Travelscope Magazine youth Tourism and hospitality seminar held in Ibadan has won the post-event essay competition organised by KQ Holiday.

The organiser of Travelscope Youth Tourism & Leaders Forum, Mr Omololu Olumuyiwa disclosed on to Travelpulse&MICE Wednesday in Ibadan that among the five shortlisted participants of over 250 entries, Ebenezer Oladipupo Oyawale of Federal Polytechnic, Ede emerged the best.

The essay which was given to the participants mainly students of over 10 higher institutions across Nigeria was to test their tourism knowledge and exposure based on the global trend thereby asking them to highlight 10 ways to improve tourism in Nigeria.

Olumuyiwa, however has announced Oyawale as the winner of the free Kenya Airways ticket to Nairobi/Dubai.

The ticket will be formally presented to the winner at a later date.

AHIF 2016 steps up Togo hospitality offers FIRST lap of the just concluded Africa Hotel Investment Forum held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Lome, Togo has stepped up the country’s hospitality pride in West Africa.

The event, which hosted over 250 delegates in Lome was in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Kalyan Group.

In his welcome address, Managing Director, Bence Events UK, Matthew Weighs said, “AHIF is all about making the connections and gaining the knowledge to assist in moving business forward.”

The conference kicked off with networking and speed-dating sessions for delegates to meet

minds on areas of interest affecting the hospitality in Africa as well as charting ways to open new vista of opportunities for hoteliers and brand promoters.

The Prime Minister of Togo, Komi Selom Klassou, in his welcome address enjoined all participants to feel at home and witnesse the hospitality prowess of the Togolese, during their short stay.

The programme had over 70 industry leaders who made presentations on most pressing topics facing West Africa’s hotel investment industry today, more than 250 delegates from various countries across the continents were on ground for the B2B platform.

Resource persons at Africa Hotel Investment Forum, held in Lome, Togo, recently.

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features

Friday, 1 July, 2016

Herdsmen: Dilemma

of a nomadic lot

By Kehinde Oyetimi

Herdsmen, let us appreciate, are perhaps humanity’s earliest known tourists. They must be taught however that there is a culture of settlement, and learn to seek accommodation with settled hosts wherever encountered.

—Wole Soyinka

T

HERE was a quiet despondency in his gaze. It was long, frail. His words were few and far-between, revealing a depressing nostalgia.

Tanko Ali, 45, had a most memorable childhood. He was raised in Kwambai, Bauchi State. He knew no other life than that of a herdsman. He intoned that, as a boy, he would move the cattle to graze from a “mere shouting distance” from his village. But his narrative took an aching trajectory when he lamented that the grazing lands were no longer there, only long stretches of grassless plains, imposed by a rapidly growing desertification. With no pasture, Tanko resorts to grazing even outside the immediate boundaries of Nigeria.

“We know no other life than the life that we share with our animals; when they are fat, our joy knows no bound. Again, when they are ill, we have no reason to be happy. When I was a boy, the grass that surrounds our village used to be tall as human beings. There was enough and even surplus for our cattle. But it is no longer the same—no grass, no water. We lose our cattle to hunger and thirst,” he said, dispelling a hurting sigh.

Tanko’s dismal narrative is not a personal tragedy as it is shared by a huge chunk of cattle rearers who had plied their

craft through the years in the northern part of Nigeria. This unnerving challenge is due to the growing advancement of the desert into areas and plains that had one time or the other being fertile for grazing cattle and farming.

Today, a large part of Nigeria’s North has been taken over by desertification due to the area’s Sahelian and arid topography. With the years of such painful realisation, the herdsmen, with a pressing duty to affirm the survival of their cattle, have continuously pushed their way down south in search of water and vegetation for their cattle. The fight for space and the limited arable land resources have left trails of sadness and tears in the wake of herdsmen/farmers’ conflict.

Desertification, grazing lands and El Nino Musa Ibrahim, in his 30s, is another herdsman from Borno State, who traces the problem of search for grazing lands to an occurrence that dates back to many years.

According to him, “Unlike what we had when growing up when the grass was lush and plentiful, and water was not a problem, things are changing. I just hope people would understand. We have no choice but to find better pasture for the cows. In fact, it is not new to find herdsmen venturing far from home, as far as the South and the West because the problem with the desert dates back to over 30 years ago. We have not only lost homes, but farmlands and even means of livelihood.”

Ibrahim probably refers to the Great Drought in the Sahel region which took place between 1968 and 1973 and which had far-reaching negative effects on parts of northern Nigeria. The situation

affecting Nigeria’s northern region as stated by Ibrahim above is typical of the El Nino occurrence in Southern and Eastern Africa, which is reflective of drought and rising temperature levels, with the World Food Programme warning that “More than 40 million rural and 9 million poor urban people are at risk due to the impacts of El Nino’s related drought and erratic rainfall.”

In fact, Ngozi Thelma Mohammed, in her study entitled “Desertification in Northern Nigeria: Causes and Implications for National Food Security,” published in the Peak Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities in March 2015 reveals that “Desertification is one of the most glaring of environmental hazards and the phenomenon has affected some states in the northern part of Nigeria, but the impact has been more glaring since the famine of 1971-1973 in this part of the country. By location, Northern Nigeria is situated in the semi arid areas with average annual rainfall or less than 600 mm bordering on the Sahara desert which is considered as the hottest and longest desert in the world. The soil in this area face a lot of threat ranging from deforestation for domestic fuel, overgrazing by livestock and agricultural practices that fail to conserve soils such pollution from the improper use of agricultural pesticides, herbicides and chemical spills from both liquid and solid fertilizers.

“Generally, desertification affects eleven (11) northern states of Nigeria referred to as the frontline states, these include: Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi and Gombe. These states are agricultural producing areas and are affected by desert encroachment that is

fast moving southwards. Desertification is attributed to loss of the lands biological productivity in arid, semi arid and dry sub humid areas. The impact is significant in developing countries especially Africa which is the most affected because its economy is predominantly agrarian, rain fed and fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather.”

She further posits that “Most conflicts in Northern Nigeria are environmentally based, a large number of which is overgrazing, farmland and water. The conflicts are mainly between farmers and cattle herdsmen. The struggle for the remaining farm land has degenerated to communal clashes and also, when cattle herdsmen move downwards in search of grazing land for their cattle, they encroach on people’s farms and this usually leads to crisis. The conflict between the Agatu people and Fulani’s in Benue State, Biroms and Hausas in Plateau are good examples.

A lot of these conflicts go on in Nigeria, some with large scale killing and property destruction.”

Lake Chad: Africa’s vanishing basin Once spread across the far west of Chad and Nigeria’s northeast, the Lake Chad basin provided 90 per cent of the area’s water supply. Remarkably, it used to be Africa’s largest water reservoir. It is said to cover about 26,000 square kilometres, bigger than Israel or Kuwait, about the size of the US state of Maryland.

Painfully, things are different now.

Those who live around the lake’s shoreline are strangely terrified by the speed with which the lake is vanishing. By 2001, the lake was said to cover less than onefifth of the area. Abbas Mohammed, a climatologist at the University of Maiduguri, claims that it may even be worse now.

Vegetation and water which characterised the spread of the Lake Chad basin and provided for the needs of both farmers and herdsmen have Continues on pg24

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features Continued from pg23

Friday, 1 July, 2016 Lake Chad used to be Africa’s largest water reservoir. Today it is an ecological catastrophe.

diminished significantly. Today, the Lake Chad basin reflects despair and death. In its estimation, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) described the situation as an “ecological catastrophe.” It claimed that the lake could disappear this century.

In his remarks, the FAO Director of Land and Water, Parviz Koohafkan, stated that “the Lake Chad basin is one of the most important agricultural heritage sites in the world, providing a lifeline to nearly 30 million people in four countries – Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.”

With such uncomfortable recognition and ripple effects seen in job losses and the constant threat to human and animal existence, there is an expected migration en masse by herdsmen, thereby placing much pressure on the sparse land distribution down South of Nigeria.

Yet, it does not displace the fact that through the years, herdsmen have tended their cattle through many terrains of the southern corridor, albeit with very scanty herds.

Herdsmen and farmers don’t share same concept of space —Prof.

Obono, sociologist In his submission, Professor Oka Obono of the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, stated that “Conflicts occur between pastoralists and farmers because they do not share the same concept of space. The nomadic pastoralists have been using territories and spaces over long generations and have mentally appropriated them. And then suddenly one day, they may arrive in such appropriated territories and be confronted with new obstacles that prevent them from continuing their traditional modes of life.

“The southward migration of the Fulani attracts hostile reactions from host (usually farming) southern communities.

The response of Nigerian pastoralists has been to maintain a sedentary base on the outskirts of communities, which can be swiftly dismantled to take advantage of grazing opportunities elsewhere or to avert attacks.

“Grazing lands are threatened by desertification and other environmental forces, intensified by climate change. The regular pastoralist response has been to migrate. Migration presents challenges that undermine the very reason for moving encounters with sedentary communities that may be hostile to cattle that destroy crops or compromise biodiversity.”

We have never had it this bad —Farmers Since the renewed clashes between herdsmen and farmers, the devastation has been total. States like Benue, Enugu, Imo, Taraba, Adamawa, and others have been largely hit. A rather disturbing twist was witnessed when the herdsmen had bloody clashes with farmers in some parts of the South West. Quite prominent in the fight against the deadly clashes between farmers and herdsmen was the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, after residents were killed by herdsmen. The governor placed a ban on cattle rearing in the state by herdsmen.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Adeniyi Olubi, a farmer, bemoaned his lot. “We used to have just damages to our crops and farmlands in the past.

What is disturbing to us is the murderous dimension that it has taken. Many of us nurse fear about visiting our farms. Nobody wants to die. Our farms are destroyed; our women are raped when they go to farm and we are targets. It is affecting us so much. The Federal Government should do something drastic about this.”

Sharing a similar temperament, John Gbemileke, another farmer, told Nigerian Tribune that providing

Agric Minister Chief Audu Ogbeh

Ag IGP, Ibrahim-Kpotun-Idris

grazing reserves was unwelcome. “We are farmers. South West is known for farming and education. Why can’t the Federal Government do something about this? It is wrong to convert our farms to grazing reserves. We have lost a lot since this madness started. Our people must be protected. We must be protected. Why can’t their governments provide grazing reserves for them in the North? We will not take this anymore. It is affecting our farm produce and means of livelihood,” he said.

We are developing appropriate husbandry, feeding methods —Agric Minister Speaking on the challenges thrown up by these realities, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Olukayode Oyeleye, stated that “Nigeria has an estimated 15 million cattle, 34 million goats and 22 million sheep that need to be fed daily. Compare these statistics with Nigeria’s population of about 170 million and think of how many cows, sheep or goat per person. Considering the short duration of rainy season in most parts of the savannah regions of the middle belt and north of Nigeria where animal rearing is done mostly the traditional way, Nigeria has been glossing over some threats and opportunities. One of the threats to the existing system is that of climate.

Uncontrolled grazing by animals is capable of exposing fragile land to erosion and land degradation. This is in addition to the well-known crisis and conflicts that have become associated with incursions of roaming animals into crop farms, leading to human fatalities. If there were enough grasses on the vast landscape, these conflicts would have been non-existent.

“The economics of nomadic animal production have been poorly documented.

These are both causes and consequences of poor organisation of the sub-sector.

We used to have just damages to our crops and farmlands in the past. What is disturbing to us is the murderous dimension that it has taken. Many of us nurse fear about visiting our farms. Nobody wants to die.

Herdsmen and farmers don’t share same concept of space —Prof. Obono, sociologist

The current status of dairy production in Nigeria shows that 85 per cent of cattle in Nigeria are managed by 12 million indigenous pastoralists who are essentially constantly on the move. The volume of milk produced by a cow in a single year averages just about 200kg in most areas.

Compare this with the European cows producing an average of 6,500 kg per cow.

Yet, milk production is not growing fast enough to satisfy Nigeria’s expanding milk appetite. Even the milk yield of traditional breeds of cows in Nigeria can be improved with better feeding. To meet the needs of Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million and an annual milk demand of roughly 1.5 billion litres, but less than five per cent of its milk produced locally, requires a new approach.

“Nigeria spends more than $200 million on milk imports from abroad every year. This makes no sense. Importation may bridge supply gap in the short term, but it is not sustainable in the long run. We need to develop appropriate husbandry and feeding methods that will boost our dairy production and supply chain, create business opportunities and reduce our dependence on importation.”

Many have repeatedly asked of the Northern governors’ involvement in addressing the challenge posed by this.

We have earmarked 30,000 hectares of land for grazing —Sokoto govt Speaking on the Sokoto State’s government initiative in tackling the menace, the Media Adviser to the governor, Imam Imam, stated that “We are working with the Federal Government in addressing this challenge. As we speak, we have earmarked about 30,000 hectares of land where we expect to plant the grass that the Ministry of Agriculture is importing. We cut out the land from some local government areas in the state. We are expecting the grass from the Federal Government. It is expected to meet the nutritive demands of the herds and also their hide. We also want to improve their leather.

“As a state, we are working with some Chinese entrepreneurs and Argentine investors to see how best we can improve on the quality of the cattle in Sokoto. At the moment, we have contacts with the heads of the herdsmen. We are keying them into the wider plan to see how we can modernise the whole essence of cattle-rearing.

“As a state, we met a N2 billion agreement with some investors from Argentina on dairy farming. We met this on ground and we intend to follow through.

We have expanded the negotiation with them. We want to use some Argentine technology to improve on the yield.”

Following similar lane as the Sokoto State government, Senator Abdul-aziz Nyako, representing Adamawa central senatorial district, is constructing water earth dams to address water shortage during dry season which often springs up clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Joining in the campaign at stemming the challenge, FrieslandCampina WAMCO is partnering with the Federal Government on an ongoing multibillion naira dairy developments and expansion programme, including its work with over 2,500 local dairy farmers.

The objective is to raise raw milk quality and safety, increase farm productivity and support farmers in getting a market for their milk.

Managing Director/CEO, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Rahul Colaco said: “On our part, we are committed to raising dairy farming to a higher level in Nigeria and making small scale entrepreneurs to have pride in agriculture.

Through our dairy development programme, we develop local farmers in three ways: through practical knowledge transfer by local FrieslandCampina dairy development officers; expert training on feeding, breeding, hygiene, disease control and milk payment, and financing of local infrastructure such as milk collection centres, boreholes, and milk collection trucks.”

Ranched cattle produce better milk, meat —Vet. doctor In his submission, Tope Odunsi, a veterinary doctor, University of Ibadan stated that “the benefits of ranching are immense. There are countries in the world today like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and the United States of America who have embraced ranching on a large scale. This has had multiplier benefits for their countries’ economies.

Ranching helps to deploy the best of modern technology for animal husbandry.

“I must also say that ranching improves the milk quality gotten from the herd and even the quality of meat. Many people do not understand that cattle that are made to roam long distances do not produce the best of milk and meat. We must embrace ranching. It is inevitable.”

While the arguments go back and forth, the issues are in themselves germane.

Drastic and more modern approach should be encouraged to harness the inherent benefits in animal husbandry and to quieten the tide of violence between herdsmen and farmers.

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politics&policy

N August 9, 2010, former president Olusegun Obasanjo declared of himself: “I dey kampe.”

He had to do so to the public after rumour became rife that he was shot dead. Reports had emerged that he was assassinated in his home town Ota, Ogun State by unknown gunmen and was confirmed dead at the town’s General Hospital a few hours after his convoy was ambushed. It was a devious lie apparently.

To prove to the world that he was alive and well, he announced that he had successfully performed the tasks he set out to do that day and had returned home safely.

Obasanjo nevertheless thanked all those who had expressed concern over his safety, convinced that as it is in the belief of his Yoruba people, his rumoured death meant that he still has many more years to live.

President Muhammadu Buhari returned from London penultimate Sunday after his 14-day medical vacation and also declared himself kampe. Before he left for the trip, there was no rumour of his death unlike Obasanjo except speculation, strong enough to suggest that he was very unwell and this caused a lot of anxiety. It turned out that he was afflicted by a condition known as Meneire Disease. The infection in one ear left him with persistent pain. Some experts had confirmed that the condition causes pains and hearing impairment and in some cases, loss of balance of the individual afflicted. It did make Buhari to drastically reduce his official engagements just before he made the decision to go abroad for treatment.

The president had been slated to spend 10 days but Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who had acted as president during his absence, later announced to us in State House that Buhari had decided to extend his stay by a few more days to enable him to rest for the weekend. This announcement caused a few agitations in the minds of some people who wondered whether Buhari had indeed been properly healed despite the several photographs emerging from his London holiday home indicating that he was in great shape. Therefore, not a few people were curious to see how things would pan out when he arrived back in the country.

He returned to be confronted with questions about his true state of health. When he alighted from the presiden-

Friday, 1 July, 2016

inside

aso rock WiTH LeOn USiGBe

Buhari dey kampe tial aircraft, Nigerian Air Force 001, he inspected a guard of honour mounted by men of the Brigade of Guards and after the usual exchange of pleasantries with government officials in the welcoming party, it was time to field a few questions from State House correspondents. He was asked to confirm his state of health. Buhari retorted even though tersely: “I am okay. You can see me inspecting the guard of honour. You can see I am taller than you. Do you want to wrestle with me? You can do so.” But who dares wrestle with the president?

An obviously elated presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, expatiated with his popular refrain as his duty required of him, telling reporters: “Mr President is fit.”

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who was part of the

Things are yet to go full blast in the presidential villa up till now but the president is rearing to go, ready to continue the wrestle he has begun on many fronts,

08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk

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welcoming party, went a step further, personalizing the president’s return. When approached for his comments, his face lit up and he wasted no time singing like an over excited child, “Our daddy is back. We thank God for bringing WiTH himLeOn back to the08078891838 country. It is a good thing he leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk went on break and returned to his people hale and hearty.

Our daddy is back. He has gone to take a rest. We are happy that he is back.”

Buhari took things easy in his first few days of resumption. There was nothing officially on his programme in the week of his return except that he received briefing from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, accompanied by the incoming Secretary General of the Organisation of Oil Producing Countries (OPEC), Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo. He thereafter decorated the new acting Inspector General of Police, AIG Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

Things are yet to go full blast in the presidential villa up till now but the president is rearing to go, ready to continue the wrestle he has begun on many fronts, particularly on corruption, and social-economy spheres. It will be an understatement to say that he needs renewed strength to bludgeon the burgeoning economic and social crises in the country. His two-week leave may not have been enough to gather enough strength at his age but he has certainly had time to do a deeper introspection of the state of affairs of the nation away from the hurly-burly of Nigeria and should be brimming with fresh initiatives.

aso rock

Emergency declaration mandatory for Nigeria’s rescue

By Adebiyi Odekanyin Today, all Nigerians should see themselves as a rabbit which, when devoured by the hunter in the bush, held its peace uncorcernedly. But when it was later brought to Ife market as dry meat to be sold for human consumption, it raised its arms and hands up wards in praise of its follies!

Thus, Nigerians come to the stark reality that, for over 55 years, our socio-economic and political unwellness has been induced not only by the conditioned souls among the leadership, but also by the hydra-headed monster known as corruption.

Conditioned souls and the unprecedented massive corruption are now holding the entire nation to ransom! Before the 2015 general election, the APC initiated an amazing slogan: CHANGE. This term can be viewed from two perspectives. First, in its literal or ordinary sense, it may mean replacement of the existing regime for a new one to enable its own aims, objectives, programmes and policies be carried out. Secondly, the change may be deep-rooted and fundamental to enable a new and flourishing state emerge in all its ramifications.

Thus, when the APC came on board, Nigeria and the party itself discovered to their dismay that the needed change is not the ordinary, for all know too well that., Nigeria- now in an awful widowed state; our urgent task is to remarry; otherwise, we may till our farm to the points where the gods would snatch our hoes and cutlasses! Therefore, the real change as earlier stated is deep rooted and fundamental change. The term given to it by Flinch, H.L. is epochal change.

He asserts: “The change we are speaking about is an epochal change that will be at once subtle and

all pervasive. The expressions that come to mind to describe it are a new way of looking at things, a new way of thinking and a new arrangement of emphases on what is important and not important in human life.This kind of change has occurred only two or three times in the course of Western civilization at the beginning of the 5th and 5th before the common era (BCE) Athens, Greece, at the beginning of the Christian world in the 4th century of this era (C.E) and in the renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries. Flinch, H.L. (1995).”

Why emergency declaration Before the emergency declaration, our attention should be focused on the following crucial issues: (a) Recovery of looted funds at home and abroad as well as properties from all Kleptocrats and embezzlers at all the three levels of our administration-centre, state and local

government council areas. (b) Establishment of a formidable National committee to probe into the causes, effects of corruption in our body-politic and strategies to combat and reduce corruption to the bearest minimum. (c) Constitution of a constituent Assembly to fashion a True federal constitution to ~ccommodate our most complex ethnic dimensions. (d) Establishment of a two-party system. (e) Embrace of parliamentary or cabinet system of the 1st republic. It is less expansive and could accommodate the non-elected indigenous leaders obas, emirs and chiefs.

Though the life span L.F cabinet system may be fragile, where liberated souls or products of the schools of man and nature are elected, there would be no course for alarm! (f) Review of the Nigerian educational system and its philosophy. I humbly recommend the programme and philosophy of Education in the two of Baba Awolowo's invaluable books. The peoples's Republic (1968) and Thoughts on Nigerian Constitution (1966). Another book which critically focused on the analysis of Awo's theory of Education is by Akin Omoboriowo’s Awoism (1982). (g) Solutions to Boko Haram and Fulani cattle rearers’ debacles and terrorism. (h) Ethnicity and religion-divisiveness, dogmatic rascality and lawlessness must be addressed in the interest of our nation- state. (i) The idea and policy of tagging any group as minority must be discarded for ever. All humans are, by right, God- incarnate. (j) Gender equality must be embraced and accorded impartial recognition both in the moral and legal dimensions. All mythological claims in churchianistic and popular re-

ligions are not only religious lyings but they are as well the deep rooted ignorance and imbecility in the products of the schools of man- Awon Igi woroko ti n da inu ru!

In the history of mankind from the inception of creation, male and female have been working together for development and progress of their societies. (k) Downward review of the salaries and allowances of all political appointees. elected members-executive and their surrogates.

The annual salary and allowances of a senator in Nigeria is 353,756,988. For an average Nigerian worker on N18,000 minimum wage per month, it will take this Nigerian worker 1628 to receive a Nigerian senator's pay. An outrageous and kleptocratic payment which has thrown the nation to economic, social and political dislocation and embarrassment.

Politics is an ardent call to service, not a call to ruin the peace, harmony and prosperity of the nation. (l) Nigeria's cultural heritage must be revisited and brought back to life; it is the bed rock of eternal development for any nation.

Emergency rule mandatory Now that a number of critical items which Nigeria needs most to survive has been itemized, what shall we do to achieve their essence to rescue us for good from self-induced ruin and retrogression?

Before national emergency is put in place, the Presidency shall hold a crucial parley with the National Assembly, the judiciary and the National Council of State to deliberate and review; the nauseating problems and, difficult Justs, steering Nigeria in the face.

Odekanyin is a former special adviser at the Presidency

26

interview

Friday, 1 July, 2016

How to resolve PDP crisis —Chieftain

In this interview with Senior Deputy Editor, JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI, the Peoples Democratic Party and deputy national youth leader, Honourable Alonge Niyi Dennis, bares his mind on various issues, including the crisis rocking party.

meaningless where we’re not carried along. That’s our position. The deputies should be carried along in the resolution of the crises. As at today, it is just the governors forum, the national caucus, BoT and the Makarfi led caretaker committee are meeting here and there but, nobody has consulted the complainants. We have court judgment that still recognises us as national officers of the party. So if you ask me today, I’ll tell you that I am still the deputy National Youth Leader of the party.

That’s the position of the law.

HAT is your take on the crises rocking the PDP? It’s very unfortunate that PDP as a party found itself at this level. I tell you any member of our party that says he is not worried is only deceiving himself. I’m worried because as a party today, it is expected of us to provide a viable opposition to the ruling party. But it is unfortunate we have found ourselves at this level. Let me just say the G84, I mean all of us, the Deputies that make G84, are all worried and even in the embattled National Working Committee, nobody is happy.

A member of the National Working Committee has already declared his support for caretaker committee put in place in Port Harcourt, what’s your position on this?

It’s not just one of the members. I’ll say the former deputy national chairman of the party led by Prince Uche Secondus lured six NWC members to declare support in the committee. I don’t see anything wrong in what they’ve done because they must know why they took such decision. But let me say that information at our disposal actually showed that they were influenced by the governors’ forum to take such position. And as usual, the same people do take drastic decision anytime something exchanged hand. So, we’re not surprise for the position Secondus and Co have taken now.

But the decision taken by them will not solve the crisis on ground because this is not the best approach for them — to dump the national chairman, national secretary and co; supporters of the Alhaji Modu Sherif-led NWC. We’re part and parcel of the NWC and deputies because our elections were conducted same day and the same court ruling binding the party from conducting the election to their offices really is binding the other 18 officers. So, in my view, it is expected that before they took that decision, they should have sat with all the national and deputy national officers to discuss the matter. For them to have been influenced by the governors’ forum, it a brings lot of embarrassment to the party and it will not quicken the resolution of this crisis.

W

What effort is being made by the G84 for the peaceful resolution of the crisis?

The issue on ground goes beyond the G84. They, as a body, may not have a specific role except for them to mediate if the leadership of the party carries them along.

Let’s just put the G84 aside and discuss the role of the deputy national officers. The eight deputy national officers were elected at the Special National Commission on August 2013 and they have gone to court to seek legal interpretation concerning their tenure. The judgment some weeks ago by Justice Mohammed of the FCT, Abuja did rule that the tenure of the 18 national officers would not expire between now and 2017. The judgment led to the deputy national officers of the party publishing a statement to warn members from contesting election to any of these positions. This is where we are.

Up till date, nobody in the party has consulted us. Al-

Hon. Alonge though we’ve been meeting here and there, as a body nobody has consulted us and we are still waiting. We believe that the party should be allowed to move forward.

But, there is a need for every member of the party to be carried along.

You said you and others are ready for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, what form of sacrifice are you ready to make?

It is in our interest that PDP should move forward. As party members, it is our interest that all the crises in the party be resolved but, our position is that we should seat at a round-table to discuss these issues holistically so that everybody will be happy at the end of the day.

We’re ready to make sacrifice but the sacrifice will be

politicscommentary NotTooYoungToRun bill: The renewed hope and future of Nigerian youths “Let us acknowledge and celebrate what youth can do to build a safer, more just world. Let us strengthen our efforts to include young people in policies, programmes and decision-making processes that benefit their futures and ours.”

—Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on International Youth Day, 12 August 2010.

Some have argued that Nigerian youths of today are inexperienced and not ripe enough to govern, but I must point out clearly that such minds are still living in the dark, failed to delve into the history and have refused to realign themselves with the present realities around the world.

Experience and evidence have shown that youths are change makers, critical thinkers, innovators, communicators and natural leaders. Analyses below are concrete arguments and evidences from various perspectives.

IT was a renewed hope and excitement for Nigerian youths on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, when the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill passed Second Reading at the House of Representatives. The bill was firstly introduced and sponsored by Hon.Tony Nwulu, Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II of Lagos State on Wednesday May 26th, 2016. The bill, with gazette number HB. 544, seeks to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate 35 to 30, House 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25 respectively. The bill also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.

The bill if completely and successfully passed, the interest of Nigerian youths will be more protected and their destinies will be in their own hands. It will also enhance and increase opportunities for youths to contribute to democratic governance in Nigeria; will promote inclusive politics which will guarantee a level-playing field for all; promote adult-youth partnership in public governance which is inline with international best practice. The bill will limit the youths’ involvement in political hooliganism, gangster-ism, racketeering, violence and thuggery. The bill, which will give way for independent candidacy, will truncate the corruption and lack of internal democracy in the political parties, will discourage godfatherism, imposition of candidates, monopolisation etc which over the years have discourage the youths from politi-

International Perspectives At the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 25-27 September 2015, 193 world leaders, including Nigeria’s president converged for the first time and signed an agreement to have a global and common agenda which are the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs). The goals are set of all-inclusive and achievable group of objectives that, if attained or achieved, will make this world a more just, peaceful, and a sustainable place for all. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets aimed at eradicating extreme poverty in all its forms, promoting economic prosperity, ensuring environmental sustainability, promoting social inclusion and achieving global peace and Security.

It is important to point out clearly that one of the basis and foundation the 17 SDG goals are built upon is to “Reduce Inequality” that is: NEVER LEAVE ANY ONE BEHIND in other word, if we must achieve the maximum development, just, peaceful and sustainable world; inequality and injustice must be addressed and reduced. For example, there must be equal rights between women and men, the gap between the rich and poor must be reduced, and the youths must be given the adequate rights in-line with the principles of equality and non-discrimination to participate in governance and decision making process.

Adebowale Adeniyi is the Executive Director, Centre for Global Solutions and Sustainable Development(CENGSSUD).

By Adebowale Adeniyi

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Reps cal participation.

The Nigerian youths constitutes the largest constituency of over 60 per cent of the 170 million population, which amounts to at least 120 million youths. It is worrisome how the youths in the last one decade have been schemed out and marginalised from governance. The present administration insensitiveness to being inclusive in terms on youth’s inclusiveness in governance is a point of worry and needs urgent attention.

In the Federal Executive Council, where decisions are being made, no single youth to represent and negotiate for the youths, even the Minister for Youths and Sports is about 52 years old. The youngest of the 36 Ministers is Alhaji Abubakar Malami, SAN (Minister of Justice), who is 48 years old as at the time of his appointment. This singular act alone is a bogus slap on the faces of all Nigerian youths and this signifies that the youths have no place in the affairs of governance and decision making in Nigeria, and this is a total disregard to the global call towards reducing injustice and inequality world-wide.

27

Friday, 1 July, 2016

hers

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

H

OW do you mean with Venivici?

Venivici Health Club and Urban Spa focuses on preventive health as well as beauty enhancement. Spa has been in existence for thousands of years and they would not have withstood the test of time without proven results. Spa is not new, though when I started this business, there was nobody out there called spa. So in everything that we do, we look for the result and that is the essence of the centre. The word Venivici means ‘I came and I conquered’. It is an Italian/Roman language. It was purposely named through generation because I worked with a consultant from day one before I started the business. Looking into the history of spa, it was the Italians that started it. We wanted a link to the culture, history and the efficacy of spa and that’s why we named the centre Venivici, because you will never leave the same way you came in.

You came from the banking industry, how come you arrived at healthy living?

This arose out of a personal need. There is much to life than just having a career, climbing up a corporate ladder, which most of us do when we joined the workforce; young on high heels going to high places and neglecting the other aspect of life. At the point I became a management staff, I realised I didn’t have work life balance. The truth is, there are three dimensional beings, the body, soul and spirit. If your body is not sound, it affects the way you think; there has to be a balance. I later realised while I was still in the bank that every time I did a massage or took one hour out to relax, there was a difference. It was in the process of trying to take care of my body that I developed the vision because we push our bodies so much, it is the only one we have to live till we take our last breath. If you do not take care of it, it won’t serve you well. We have servicing times for everything, but not our body. The mortality rate in Nigeria has been put at 52 years by World Health Organisation, while our parents and grand-parents lived to their 90s and above 100 years without slumping or getting down with stroke.

People are burnt out by the modern daily syndrome. 24hours is not even enough for a lot of people to catch up targets from their bosses, especially women who need to please their in-laws, take care of the home, children school runs, among other daily routines. The bug applies to both sexes, where we are doing too much in too little a time. Everybody is in a hurry, the stress level is too much and I realised that every time I did this, I felt better and it was usually when on vacation, something that is supposed to be an everyday thing. The truth of life is all about balance, There is massive distraction everywhere. The mind is not aligned to where it is going as a result of technology. From history of spa, in some European countries then, it was taken as part of the medical treatment for people to get restored, calm, renewed, refreshed, happy and more productive. Our life styles are sedentary.

Venivici sounds elitist, how affordable is it for an average Nigerian to be a member of the club?

It is not elitist. If you place a huge value on yourself, you would take care of yourself and create time for yourself. Because right now, life is being run as emergency services, catching up with one appointment, hopping up and down the plane. The weekend is more dramatic with all sorts of ceremonies and church activities. There is always something to do. Once we are not balanced, we begin to make mistakes. All these bottling up result in stress that builds up inside of us, which

Ms Arinola Adeniyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Venivici Health Club (Sanctuary of Wellness), left the banking hall for a career in healthy living, and in this interview with YEMISI AOFOLAJU, she speaks on why she took that great decision when everything was going on well for her in the banking sector, while also highlighting why Nigerians now have a lower life expectancy.

EXCERPTS

Greatest problem in workplace now is

presenteeism, not absenteeism —Arinola Adeniyi

makes us to yell at the first person who meets with us having been in traffic for hours. Then some of us wouldn’t want to take vacation because we want to convert it to cash but you need time for yourself that is all I am preaching.

How do you go about disseminating this information?

Always ask yourself on a daily basis ‘what’s my value quotient? What’s the quality of my life? The easiest way to spread this gospel of wellness is by adhering strictly to these five takeaways: make sure you drink enough water daily(hydration), get to exercise- the body is made to move, avoid stress as much as you can, eat as close to nature as you can(nutrition), create time for yourself- remember that you are somebody, you have value, work value quotient and believe in yourself.

We need to increase our life expectancy. In Japan, the life expectancy is 90 plus, in China it is 89, in some of the European countries it is 87, 88; so why is ours 52? Now it is a passion, I have done this for 17 years and I’ve seen the efficacy of holistic lifestyle; it is not about make-up, it is for all of us.

How daunting are the challenges in the Spa business?

For me, every challenge is a stepping stone to the next level, because what you focus on becomes what you get. Initially when I came, it was like a whiteman business in Nigeria, so people were not even listening. So why do the whiteman think it is important to have a work life balance? Medical bill will reduce, while productivity increases. What we have in Nigeria now is more of presenteeism and not absenteeism; presenteeism people are present, but are not productive. You are just present, but not producing anything; so stud-

ies have shown that the greatest problem in the work place now is presenteeism not absenteeism. Organisations have to start thinking and stay on the preventive side of things.

It is all about choices, you need to take control of your health in your hands. And even World Health Organisation has defined health not as the absence of disease, but the multi-dimensional state of your physical, emotional and mental well-being.

What is your opinion on emphasis of entrepreneurship in higher institutions?

Entrepreneurship, to me, is a welcome idea because there is so much unemployment in the country. We can no longer afford to get out of school to join the queue for whitecollar jobs. In those days, skilled workers, even those abroad earned more than the people who sit in the offices, like a plumber will charge you per hour in England or in America. It is a deliberate choice not to look down on people who are skilled workers, because then we had skills acquisition, where the trainee learnt from a successful master.

Talking of entrepreneurship now is to be self sustaining, which didn’t happen when we went to the university. So getting them off the wrong side of life equally helps them towards paying their fees.

Have you any memorable time when you were in the banking industry that you cherish till date?

I don’t believe in living in the past; you can never have a better yesterday, since the path of the righteous shines brighter, brighter and brighter. If you are looking in the review mirror, you need to be moving forward. My banking years were fantastic; they were good.

I was very young, I graduated before I was 21 and I always knew I wanted to be a banker, and by the time I got there I said was going

to become a bank MD, so with my MBA and Economics, I went straight ahead into the banking examinations. I enjoyed the banking world while I was there, but I did not sit down to say ‘oh I should not have left’. I wish I had left earlier than I did. All I saw when I left was the results people would benefit from, that there is a place for peace in their lives.

What informed that decision of yours?

There is a difference between ambition and vision. Vision is inspired spiritually, but ambition was to be a bank MD, but the vision is to help other people appreciate that they have to make choices to live well, live long, live better and enjoy life.

Your guiding philosophy There is no impossibility in my dictionary. I am guided by excellence, discipline and cando spirit.

How will you define a total woman?

A total woman is one who has found her purpose and is able to live a balanced life, because we all must live purposefully. Are you achieving purpose? Life is all about choices and a wise man said every day we do one of two things, either produce disease in yourself or health, so it’s a choice. I can choose to drink a bottle of water or ask for a fizzy drink or eat vegetables or junk! Regimen is superior to medicine. We all have to begin to develop a regimen that works for us.

How stylish are you?

I dress fit for purpose. I dress to fit the occasion. It is not about styles; it’s about being comfortable with what you do and not overboard with everything, everything in moderation.

Continues on pg30

28

features

Friday, 1 July, 2016

When Akwa Ibom community in Oyo State honoured Amba Asuquo, Okon Umiom

By Segun Adebayo

M

EMBERS of Akwa Ibom State Community (AKISCOM) in Oyo State, recently, rolled out the drums recently to honour one of their own, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Finance and Administration), Mr Amba Asuquo, who they described as a man of unquestionable character, whose sheer hard work and commitment to the Police force earned him new position as a DCP. Held at Beulah Events Centre, opposite BJ rentals, Sango Ibadan, it was an afternoon that revealed the richness of the Akwa Ibom people as their cultural groups entertained their guests with their dancing steps that moved the Asuquo and his colleague in the force, Chief Supritendent of Police (CSP),Okon Umiom and his wife to part with some money to appreciate the group.

Speaking during the traditional breaking of Kolanut to welcome their guests into the community for the first time. President of AKISCOM, Pastor Godspower Umanah, described the two senior officers as gentlemen who have displayed a rare commitment to their duties and the development of their people, especially in the area of recruitment to the Police force.

According to him, “The coming of Amba Asuquo to the state as the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Okon Umiom is

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Finance and Administration), Mr Amba Asuquo, receiving a gift from president of AKISCOM, Pastor Godspower. With them is Apostle John Umosiang.

From left, AKISCOM president, Pastor Godspower, presenting another gift to Chief Supritendent of Police (CSP), Okon Umiom and his wife, Gift.

From left, SA Media to Senate Minority Leader, Jackson Udom, Chief Supritendent of Police (CSP), Okon Umiom and his wife and AKISCOM president, Pastor Godspower at the reception.

Cultural group performing at the event.

symbolic. His activities and assistance to Akwa Ibom people, especially in the recent recruitment exercise into the Police Force and other armed forces have unveiled him as another Joseph in the land of Egypt.”.

He charged Asuquo to demonstrate humility, selflessness and dedication to his job which in return would help in fulfill-

Ruth needs N720,000 to walk

By Paul Omorogbe “PLEASE, I am begging you to help me with whatever you can.

Help me so I can remove the iron in my leg and walk again.

I want to be free from this pain and suffering so I can provide for my family.” These were the words of Mrs Ruth Ehimhen, a woman who once was active and productive. She, however, had an accident in August, 2010 in which leg was badly damaged; since then life has not be the same again.

With support from family and friends, she has done three surgeries in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

According to her doctor, it will take a series of surgeries for her full recovery.

However, having spent so much on the previous surgeries, Mrs Ehimhen and her family have been incapacitated financially. These financial constraints have halted the final surgery which the doctor’s report signed by Dr M. Moin, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Zimran Medical Centre, Benin City, puts a sum of N720,000 that is required for the removal

ing the yearnings and aspirations of many Akwa Ibom people resident in the state.

While responding to the honour bestowed on him, Asuquo expressed his readiness to continue to provide neccessary support to his people, adding that the major responsibility of any leader is to always rise up to the demands of his people

and put their interest at heart.

Dignitaries present included traditional chiefs and others, part of which were the grand patron of the association, Professor Etteh, Reverened Etteh, Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT), Legal Adviser, Tony Akpan and SA Media to the Senate Minority Leader, Jackson Udom.

N3.5m will save Lekan from relapse

By Vera Onana IN 2013, mother of 15-year-old Lekan Yussuf and his uncle walked into the premises of the Nigerian Tribune’s headquarters in Ibadan, devastated, yet clinging onto hope.

The doctors assured that the boy would live but only if a kidney transplant was done immediately. Their mission was raising the money for the transplant by soliciting help from well meaning Nigerians via the media.

That call for help was answered and Lekan was transferred Indrasprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, India.

After a successful operation, he was given a long list of follow up drugs to be taken re-

ligiously with an admonishment to return to India for a transplant follow up on 21 January, 2014. That was two years ago. Lekan’s father is now deceased; his mother has sold property just to buy the very expensive drugs but has fallen short.

Till date, Lekan has not been able to return for his follow up and his drug regimen has been compromised as his widowed mother cannot afford the expenses.

Before her only son relapses, help save his life because every day that the followup transplant costing N3.5 million is delayed is a day that brings Lekan closer to danger. Donations can be made to Yusuff Yidiat Romoke, 3070008659, First Bank; her phone number is 08055370148 or Yusuff Olaleken Hamzat, 3072058971, First Bank.

Ruth of the implant in her leg.

She is appealing to the general public to help her become productive again by raising the required sum for the surgery.

Donations can be sent to: FirstBank A/C No. 3098346580- Ruth Ehimhen. Ehimhen can be reached on: 08162486160.

Lekan before the first operation

Lekan’s present state

29 features

Friday, 1 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

U-N-C-O-M-M-O-N L-O-V-E

Meet pastor’s wives who share same business, account, house HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, who had an interaction with two jolly wives of a popular Akure, Ondo State-based pastor, writes on how the two wives have done a lot of things together in the last three decades without rancour.

T

HEIR lifestyle is unique.

What others quarel over, they smile at. Their husband is a pastor in one of the very popular churches in Nigeria. They are both married to him. They live under the same roof. They are into the same business. Infact, they are joint owners of the business. They operate same account and do so many other things jointly.

Lydia and Funsho Ogundari are both legitimate wives of Pastor Alaba Ogundari. On a daily basis,they do what a lot of people perceived to be unusual by venturing into a common business of running a food canteen by the name “ Iya Henry” along Irese Road, Shagari Village, in Akure, the Ondo State capital together for over two decades without any misunderstanding or grudges.

Interestingly, the head of the home, Pastor Ogundari finds it difficult to unknot the mysteries behind the special bond between his two wives who have been living in peace in the last 30 years.

Speaking on the special love that exists between her and her junior wife, 61-year-old Mrs. Lydia Ogundari, who said she has been married for about 40 years, explained that the hand of love extended to her by Funsho before she moved in as the second wife gave birth to the present situation in the family.

She described Funsho as a humble person with uncommon respect, that is courteous and above all, accommodating. She said, “My first encounter with her was when she got pregnant for my husband. She approached me secretly and confided in me that she has been asked to terminate the pregnancy. I advised her against it and I called my husband to desist from such act.

“We quickly organised to meet

Funsho Ogundari attending to customers

her family and ever since she moved into this house, we never engaged in a heated argument.

She is much younger than me and gives me so much respect, that people living around us usually think she’s my first daughter.

She relates with all my children very well and takes good care of them.”

The younger wife, Funsho who turned 50 recently, said though she was from a polygamous home, she had the determination since she got married that she would be a blessing to the home, and prayed to God to give her the wisdom to live peacefully with her husband and her senior wife.

“The love that exists between me and mama is greater than what I share with my husband.

She is a mother, sister, teacher and everything to me. She’s endowed with a special ability on how to correct people. She is gentle, mild and even reciprocates the respect I give to her, making me realise always that respect begets respect,” Mrs Ogundari junior said.

While reminiscing on how the food selling business came into being, the senior wife explained that she never had any inkling that she would be involved in such business as she initially specialised in selling clothes and batik until the business went down the drain.

Lydia said, “The idea was not mine but that of the younger wife. I provided the initial capital and we started the business. Initially, our husband objected, but to God be the glory, within a little period, we were able to establish ourselves in the community and our canteen became a household name in this area.

“Since we started this business, I never for a day went to the market; the junior wife usually does

Funsho and Lydia Ogundari all the purchases while we will cook together. Our normal routine starts by 5:30 am and by 7am, pounded yam and other food should be ready for our customers.”

The two wives also have some things in common. While Lydia, the first wife is blessed with five children, three females and two males who are all university graduates, Funsho also has five children: two girls and three boys, with her firstborn in 200 level at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.

According to Funsho, she has been reaping the fruits of her humility saying, “ Two of my children are in Abuja, staying with one of the children of mama, who has been taking care of them for the past years; two others are in boarding schools while the last born of the house is at home with us.”

When asked how they share the profits from their business, Lydia said, “In the beginning, we were making good profit, but

Lydia Ogundari at the canteen kitchen.

the present economic condition has greatly affected our business.

We used to buy a bag of rice for N7,000 but we are now buying between N14,000 and N15,000.

So, the profit margin is low these days. All we do on a daily basis is to save a little amount through daily contributions and monthly contributions.”

They also commended their husband for his periodic support whenever they complained about low sales. The duo said their husband has been very supportive financially and morally by encouraging them especially during the current economic downturn, and by praying for the progress of their business on a daily basis.

A deep bond exists between the women who said whenever there was disagreement between their husband and either one of them, they always took sides against their husband. Furthermore, the younger wife said whenever her husband sneaked in to sleep in her room, she would inform the senior wife.

She said, “ When mama travelled to America to visit her daughter who put to bed, each time she called, we talked on a daily basis and if our husband visited my room, I will tell her that our husband was in my room that day.”

The two wives of the clergyman said there were a lot of things and lessons they wanted women who found themselves in their shoes to learn from them. Lydia believes that whatever has been designed by the Creator must come to pass and there was no need to turn back one’s destiny. She said though she felt bad initially but life goes on.

She said, “I trust that everything happens for a reason, even when we are not wise enough to see or understand it.”

While Funsho said with trust, love and prayer, nothing seems impossible. She said, “Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything.

Love still stands when all else has fallen. I let go of the reasons that it won’t work and firmly believe it will work and ready to make sacrifices to be happily married throughout the days of my life.”

A regular customer at the canteen was surprised to discover that the two women were married to the same man. Adeola Ilesanmi who was eating while the women were sharing their experience with our reporter stopped eating to inquire from them if they were really married to the same man.

She said, “ I have been eating here for the past three years and I find this revelation too real to believe because they are like mother and child. They hardly argue on issues relating to their business and you see them on a daily basis wearing similar dresses.”

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HIS is what you want for your child: for her to be completely self-sufficient and independent of you.

You want your children to make their own living. To raise their own healthy, well-adjusted, responsible kids. To be happy and financially secure and not need you for one thing other than your love.

To achieve this you have to master the five Basics of parenting; then you must decide what you want your child to know in order to become a responsible, productive adult.

Finally, you have to let her stand on her own and suffer the pains of her mistakes.

Many parents aren’t willing to let their kids stand on their own and experience any independence. I was at dinner with some family friends who have an 18 year-old son. Great kid, great parents, but definitely an overprotective mother who is desperately trying to hang on to her “little” boy. When we were placing our orders with the waiter, the 18-year-old placed his order and his mother immediately jumped in, saying, “You don’t really like that very much; why don’t you pick something else? You had meat just the other night so you should order fish .” Everyone at the table heard me sigh, watched me shake my head and roll my eyes. She looked at me and said, “What?” I said, “He is a grown man.

Parenting The host of Straight Talk!

With Olufunke Adetuberu

08023242389

cryonmenow@yahoo.com

The ultimate parental goal: Independence

President of his own company. Makes a lot of money. Surely he can order dinner all by himself without your help or approval.” The rest of the guys at the table all laughed, as did the wives. All except his wife, of course. I then told him to grow a pair and eat what he wanted to eat for dinner. I reminded him that he was a big boy, she wasn’t his mama and besides that, he was paying for it.

That display told me exactly how he had been raised. It told me how his wife had been raised, too. Clearly, he was a guy who was too insecure with his manhood to even be able to order his own dinner. You also have a domineering wife who was probably the product of a domineering mother and a weak father.

See how you can perpetuate this cycle if you don’t allow and encourage your children to become independent?

Allow your child to grow up. Encourage him to cut you loose and head out on his own.

Let him make his own mistakes. Let him suffer the pain of his decisions. Let him enjoy the fun of making good decisions. In other words, butt out. No more than that, —just butt out if you are one of those parents who just can’t seem to let go, and trust me, there are plenty, then you are not going to raise independent adults. If you smother them and try to control them you are not loving them, you are crippling them and they will end up relying on you for everything

until you die. Then when you die, they won’t be able to survive successfully without you.

Please, don’t be one of those horrid parents who stays involved in the lives of their kids to the point that the kids never get to live their own lives.

Let ‘em go!

At some point, you release the outcome.

Yes, you worry. Yes, you care. Yes, you will witness them making mistakes and you will know better. But you have to let your kids be and do what they are going to do based on what you have taught them.

Eventually, you have to release them and let your kids make their own lives even when you know they are making mistakes.

I get letters every day from parents concerned about their kids. They are concerned with how their kids are spending their money, the people their kids have chosen to be with, how their kids are raising their own kids and more. I always respond with the fact that people change when they want to and not when you want them to. That isn’t much consolation if you have kids who are messing up as adults, but that’s all I’ve got. The key is to do your best when you have control of your kids and when they are old enough to be in control of their own lives, let ’em go.

Skin-loving salt tips and tricks NOT all salt is the same and not all salt garnishes the same skin-loving results. Salt is generally produced one of three ways: deep-shaft mining, solution mining, or solar evaporation.

Real sea salts are produced by evaporating seawater. This process leaves different trace minerals and elements depending on where the seawater is from. There are a wide variety of sea salts available. These include everything from salt harvested off the coast of France, to Israel and Pacific sea salts.

All sea salts offer a different mineral makeup and all have different properties that are good for skin.

Table salt mined from underground salt deposits is more heavily processed and also contains an additive to prevent clumping. The processing of table salt eliminates the minerals and elements that are beneficial for skin.

Salts from deep shaft mining or solution mining, such as Epsom or Himalayan salts, can also have a unique mineral component that is beneficial for skin and bath soaks.

All salts are not created equal when it comes to skin and bathing. For this reason, I only use salts that contain a mineral and trace element content that aide in the desired outcome I want to achieve when I teach “make your own” classes to both the public and professionals. When used correctly you can create effective products at home. One simple way I like to illustrate the difference between the makeup of salts is to have my students taste a grain of (pure with no additives) Dead Sea Salt (do not do this at home if it has scent or there are additives in it) and a grain of pure Pacific Sea Salt. The flavor speaks volumes on how different the mineral make up of salt can be!

There are so many beneficial uses for salt. When used as a bath soak, salt does everything from help heal psoriasis

and eczema, to help in regulating the activity of more than 300 enzymes, flush toxins, relive stress and revive you. Bathing in Epsom salt helps raise sulfate levels in the body, which can get the detoxification pathway flowing again.

When used as a scrub salt gently cleanses pores and exfoliates (sloughs off dead skin cells to both promote skin renewal as well as reveal the softer, more youthful looking and healthier skin underneath). Exfoliating is imperative for healthy, youthful, glowing skin. Dead skin cells not only clog pores, they also make your skin look dull and lackluster and can make your appearance age. When you exfoliate, you remove the outer layers of dead epidermis (skin) cells, which also speeds up the skin renewal process, allowing smoother, healthier skin cells and reduced wrinkles.

Economical, powerful and readily available, salt is a perfect at-home spa treatment you can both afford and use to make potent products yourself. This cost-effective beauty wonder will not only save your skin and wallet but also eliminate waste from packaging and manufacturing when you buy in bulk and make your own.

Age defying facial scrub: • 1 teaspoon honey • ¼ teaspoon salt (Finely milled. If you cannot find finemilled you can put it in a food processer for a few whirls) Optional: • ½ teaspoon strongly brewed coffee, white, green, black or red tea

• ½ teaspoon soymilk or cream Directions: Place all ingredients in a food processer or blender and pulse till combined.

Stress relieving bath soak: • 1 ½ cups of Epsom salt • 1/8 cup of well ground oatmeal (Try to get as close to a powder as you can with the tools you have at home) • ¼ cup of milk (Fresh or powdered. Powdered is more concentrated) Optional: • 2 drops of lavender essential oil • 3 drops of carrot oil • 2 drops of vitamin E • 2 tablespoons of orange juice Note: If you use powdered milk you can mix the main ingredients in advance and keep in a sealed container, and add the optional ingredients directly into bath.

Muscle relief soak: • 2 cups Epson salts • 2 cups dead sea salts • 1/8 cup powdered mustard • ¼ cup sea salt Optional: • 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil • 1/8 a teaspoon fresh ginger • 2 tablespoons of strongly brewed tea of chamomile, licorice, valerian, devils claw or cramp bark Note: You can mix the main ingredients in advance and keep in a sealed container, and add the optional ingredients directly into bath.

‘Greatest problem in workplace now is presenteeism, not absenteeism’ Continued from pg27 and a wise man said every day we do one of two things, either produce disease in yourself or health, so it’s a choice. I can choose to drink a bottle of water or ask for a fizzy drink or eat vegetables or junk! Regimen is superior to medicine. We all have to begin to develop a regimen that works for us.

How stylish are you?

I dress fit for purpose. I dress to fit the occasion. It is not about styles; it is about being comfortable with what you do and not overboard with everything, everything in moderation.

How will you describe your growing up years?

It was fantastic, easy smooth ride. May be in our own days it was different, I came from a very strict background and upbringing, so I am happy. You know then the family unit was quite tight, compact. I didn’t have to fend for myself even up till university. I see that I had a privileged background.

What do you think is missing in homes these days?

You know in those days your mother would look at you, before you went out. You just didn’t take things from anybody, one look then made us sat up and behave. But now, kids are not complying. Is it technology or modernisation to be blamed? In

those days, just a look tells you that you needed to be back in shape and then even with our teachers, Ha! Mummy chill, chill to where? I think it is just a different dispensation because kids are probably closer to their parents and a lot of barriers and boundaries have been broken down now.

What do you think can be done to bring about sanity?

To yourself be true, I believe each family unit should go back.

Because working with younger girls now I found out that most of them don’t even know what is right. I now see parents coming to say ‘thank you, we’ve seen a change’.

How do you strike the balance between your career, home and social life?

It is a conscious effort; you need to prioritise which is more important to you. I work on Saturdays for instance, so if it is not really family-oriented or I can’t do without it, you can’t find me at a social function. Saturday is a full working day for me. I can’t honour all invitations because I also need to honour the invitation of the people that I need to consult for.

Who is your model?

God is my role model or anybody who has shaped or in-

formed my thinking or anybody who has gone ahead and succeeded in their calling.

How do you relax?

I purposely create my own mid-term, so I don’t reach burn out. I exercise every morning. I have two doctors -my left leg and my right leg, every morning I wake up, I lace up my shoes and go for a walk.

Your word for the woman out there who appears to be suffering from depression The most important thing is to be balanced. I counsel a lot of married people. There is not much of such support in Nigeria apart from what some churches try to do for singles. It is about being able to understand that you need to be happy because as women, we are carrying so many other people, so you need to be strong, no two marriages are the same; you need to understand the peculiarities. Every woman must find her purpose. Your purpose might just be to be a great homemaker; once people find their purpose, it is easier to live with other people. The woman must be happy in body, soul and spirit. The body heals with play, the mind heals with music and the soul heals with spirituality; never allow others put you down or define you.

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Nigerian Tribune

Buhari, Saraki, Atiku, govs, Anyaoku, others mourn Maduekwe, Tobi, Amadi From Leon Usigbe, Jacob Segun Olatunji, Dapo Falade, Tunde Ogunesan, Ayodele Adesanmi and Jude Ossai

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the families, government and people of Abia, Delta and Rivers states on the passing away of their illustrious sons, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Justice Nikki Tobi, retired Supreme Court judge and Elechi Amadi, a literary icon.

A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, on Thursday, said Buhari received the news of the death of the former Nigerian ambassador to Canada with profound sadness, Buhari said in all his years of service to Nigeria as a diplomat, minister, politician and ambassador, Maduekwe was an ardent believer in the unity of Nigeria and gave all to that pursuit.

President Buhari also paid tribute to Justice Nikki Tobi, describing him as a brave jurist who served Nigeria creditably and brought his many years of training, knowledge and wisdom to the Bench.

The president also joined the literary and academic community in mourning Amadi whose writings and postulations as a novelist, poet and playwright introduced many generations of the world to the vibrant Nigerian culture.

The Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, also expressed grief over the death of Elechi Amadi and Chief Maduekwe.

While Amadi, one of Africa’s finest novelist, poet and dramatist passed on at 82 years, Maduekwe, a former minister who took charge of three federal ministries at different times and later served as Nigerian Ambassador to Canada and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, was 71.

Saraki described Elechi as a literary giant whose impactful life will continue to be of immense educational benefit to Nigerians and the world at large. He noted that Elechi contributed greatly to national development having served in the Nigerian Army.

He also extolled the virtues of Maduekwe describing him as a “socialpolitical engineer” whose exploits in the nation’s political landscape will re-

main evergreen in the annals of the country.

Former vice president and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday also expressed shock and disbelief over the sudden death of former PDP chieftain and former Foreign Affairs and Transport Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.

Atiku, in a press statement released by his media office and made available

to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, described the sudden death of the former minister, and Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada, as a rude shock.

Also, the former Secretary-General of Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described Chief Maduekwe as distinct diplomat who gave his best when called to serve Nigeria.

Chief Anyaoku said the sudden death of Chief Ma-

duekwe was “shocking and most unexpected.”

In exploiting the virtues of the late secretary of PDP, Chief Anyaoku said his interaction with the late diplomat availed him the opportunity of accessing him, as a true patriot.

He said “Ojo Maduekwe in his life achieved a rare combination of distinction in domestic and foreign affairs. He attained great heights in Nigeria’s do-

mestic politics in becoming the secretary of his political party, the PDP, and its Board of Trustees. And he equally distinguished himself as the country’s foreign minister in fathering the policy of Citizen Diplomacy.

“As Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, I interacted with Ojo Maduekwe on many occasions recalling in particular, his eloquent role when I led a presidential delegation to

From left, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; Artistic Director and CEO, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr Akinsola Adejuwon and Chairman, Z-mirage, Alhaji Teju Kareem, at the National Troupe of Nigeria preview event in Lagos, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN.

Alleged N270m fraud: You have case to answer, court tells Ohakim •Opens defence Oct 10 Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed the no-case submission filed by former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, who is standing trial over allegations of corruption and money laundering.

At the resumed trial yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, dismissed Ohakim’s nocase submission application and held that the prosecution, led by Festus Keyamo, has established a prima-facie case against Ohakim, necessitating him to open his defence.

Ademola then adjourned till October 10 and 13, 2016 for the defence to call its witnesses.

Ohakim was arraigned July 8 last year by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count charge of money laundering, arising from his al-

leged purchase of a house in Abuja, with cash payment of dollar equivalent of N270 million in November 2008.

He was alleged to have committed the crime while he was governor of Imo State.

Ohakim, according to an EFCC witness, had paid

the sum in hard currency of $2.29 million to acquire a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

He was admitted to bail by Justice Ademola on Thursday, July 9, 2015 after his

arraignment on three-count charge of money laundering by the EFCC. The prosecution, in establishing its case against Ohakim, called six witnesses. When the prosecution closed its case, instead of Ohakim to open his defence in the matter, filed a no-case submission.

Eid-el Fitri: FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday public holiday Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Federal Government has declared Tuesday, 5th and Wednesday, 6th July, 2016 as public holiday to mark Eid-el Fitri celebrations.

Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

This was contained in a statement by the Permanent

Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr Bassey Akpanyung and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Dambazau enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice to their daily living and through this contribute to the development of the nation.

He also urged all Nigerians to use the opportu-

nity of this spiritual rejuvenation to reflect on the imperative of unity and peaceful co-existence in strengthening the bond of togetherness for a strong, virile nation.

While wishing Nigerians a peaceful celebration, the minister urged total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed determination to bequeath to the nation an enduring political legacy.

Washington for President Obama’s first inauguration. He will be remembered as a true Nigerian patriot who throughout his career at home and abroad always strove to give his best in service to his fatherland.

“I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and pray that his soul will rest in peace,” Chief Anyaoku stated.

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has described as shocking the deaths of Chief Maduekwe and literary icon, playwright and novelist, Dr Amadi.

In his condolence message issued by the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, Governor Mimiko who is also the Chairman of the PDP’s Governors forum, said Chief Maduekwe was a man of peace who was goal-oriented.

Also describing Amadi as a force in the literary field, Mimiko said he would be missed sorely, especially by the many lives he was able to touch and influence through his writings.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has described the death of Nigeria’s literary icon, Amadi, as a loss to the country.

The governor, in a condolence message to the family, people of Rivers State and the entire country, said Amadi’s contributions to the development of the nation were legendry.

In another development, Governor Wike described the sudden death of the late chieftain of the PDP, Ambassador Maduekwe, as shocking.

Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and Senator Tunde Ogbeha on Thursday also expressed grief over the death of Chief Maduekwe as well as foremost writer and former instructor with the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Captain Amadi.

Former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, also described the death of Chief Maduekwe as shocking.

Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; claimant of the office of the national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and other party leaders, have expressed their condolences to the family of Chief Maduekwe.

Also in his reaction, the former governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, said that the loss of the erudite and eloquent politician will be felt by the PDP and the nation in general.

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Plateau Assembly in rowdy session over LG chairmen’s tenure extension 14 APC members vote for six months extension I saac S hobayo - J os

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HE existing cordial relationship and spirit of camaraderie between 10 lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the Plateau State Assembly and 14 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the House, was severed on Thursday, as the PDP members walked

out of the chamber in protest against a move by the executive arm and the APC lawmakers to extend the tenure of management committee chairmen of 17 local government councils by six months.

At the plenary, the Speaker of the House, Honourable Peter Azi had read a communication from Governor Simon Lalong, ask-

ing for the extension of the tenure of the management committee chairmen to six months for stability and focus.

According to the governor, the six months extension is to allow the government to put necessary machinery in place for a hitch-free conduct of local government elections in the state.

The move, however, turned rowdy as the 10 PDP members vehemently kicked against the extension by six months, insisting that it should be extended by just two months based on the earlier agreement and also subjected to the performance of the chairmen in the past months.

In his contributions, the

From left, Professor Deji Akinwande, recipient of 2016 United States Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and one of the 105 top scientists recently hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House; Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Professor Olurinde Lafe, Director, Centre for Renewable Energy Technology, FUTA, after Akinwande of the University of Texas, Austin, United States, delivered a lecture in FUTA, on Thursday.

Police kill 2 robbers, recover stolen vehicle in Delta

New IGP visits Ugborodo, Gbaramatu today Ebenezer Adurokiya Warri

OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police, Warri Area Command, late Wednesday, engaged four suspected robbers in a shootout, killing two in the process.

This is just as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotun Idris,will today visit Ugborodo, Oporoza and other com-

munities in Warri South and Warri South West local government areas of Delta State.

The four suspects were said to have snatched a Toyota Highlander jeep with registration number Lagos KJA 320 BK from Azubike Nwajuana at Ajamimogha near Okere in the heart of Warri, at about 5: 00p.m.

The police operatives, who were said to be on a routine

patrol, pursued the bandits all the way to the bridge linking Chevron office complex and Delta State Broadcasting Service (DBS), where they engaged them in a shootout, after the jeep the robbers were escaping with skipped and summersaulted.

The robbers, according to a witness, dived into the river under the bridge to escape, but were swiftly swooped

UNILAG students drag management to court over suspension of union Naza Okoli – Lagos

THE University of Lagos students have dragged the institution’s management before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, to challenge the dissolution, in April, of both the executive and legislative arms of the University of Lagos Students’ Union (ULSU).

Counsel for the students, Dr Kayode Owolabi, told the Nigerian Tribune, on Thursday, that the suit would be heard in court today.

“What we are seeking is interpretation as to whether the University of Lagos, its organs, and its principal officers have the right to proscribe, dissolve or suspend the University of Lagos Student Union, given the

constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of association, freedom to protest and freedom of assembly.

“We wish to find out whether the University of Lagos, its organs, and its principal officers have the right to dissolve or suspend the executive council of the union; whether they have the right to dissolve or suspend the students’ legislative council; and whether they have the right to suspend the constitution of the union.

“Generally we are asking that the court should make a final pronouncement as to whether the university’s authorities has the right to interfere in the running of the students’ union.

“This particular case is what we call, in legal par-

lance, public interest litigation. That prayer is not for the University of Lagos alone; it is something that is going to rub off on all similar unions across the land.”

Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yusuf Gagdi representing Kantana constituency on the platform of the PDP, disclosed that the House had received 11 petitions against the management committee chairmen, adding that if they were doing well, petitions would not have been issued against them.

He pointed out that they were allegations of massive corruption levelled against them, arguing that their tenure should not be extended beyond two months.

Also speaking, member representing Jos North, North constituency, Honourable Ibrahim Baba Hassan, urged the House to consider the six- month tenure extension to the pave way for proper planning of the councils’ election in the state.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that as the Speaker was about to subject the motion to a vote, the 10 PDP lawmakers walked out of the chamber in protest while the 14 APC members voted in support of the sixmonth tenure extension of the local councils’ chairmen.

upon by the security agents, who eventually killed two of them.

Gallant leader of the patrol, ASP Johnbull Aigbodion, was said to have sustained gunshot injuries in his wrist, and was rushed to the Warri Central Hospital for medical attention.

Aigbodion,who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, in bandaged wrist, said the robbers engaged his men in the shout-out even while inside the river.

Confirming the incident, the newly posted Commissioner of Police to Delta State, CP Zanna M. Ibrahim, in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune in Warri on Thursday, said the bodies of the suspects had been deposited in a morgue

at the Warri Central Hospital.

He said two of the robbers were killed while the other two escaped with gun shots injuries, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered from the bandits, as well as the stolen vehicle even as efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspects.

The police boss vowed to make life unbearable for criminals of various shades in the state except they repent or relocate from the state in their own interest.

Meanwhile, the new IG is said to be visiting the violence-ridden creeks to consolidate on the peace move already being initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari with aggrieved militants in the region.

doctors that he had slim chances of returning to the country as scheduled.

The priest, who is in charge of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, spoke through his media aide, Ike Maximus Ugwuoke, insisting that some Nigerians were trying to cause disaffection between him and the president.

According to him, “ our attention has been drawn to a report in a section of the

media alleging that Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, said the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has slim chances of surviving from his ill-health.

He added that some persons were poke-nosing into the affairs of the ministry, with a view to causing unnecessary rift between the ministry and the presidency.

Mischief-makers causing disaffection between me and Buhari —Mbaka Jude Ossai-Enugu

FIERY Enugu Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, on Thursday, made a u-turn, saying he did not make any negative prediction concerning President Muhammadu Buahri’s ill-health.

Mbaka said contrary to earlier media reports that he made negative predictions concerning the president’s ill-health, he merely alluded to the reported claims by

Bauchi gov releases 146 prison inmates to mark Ramadan Isaac Shobayo -Jos

BAUCHI State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has released 146 prison inmates across the state, based on qualification and the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the prerogative of mercy.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Umar, who disclosed this on Thursday, when the committee on prerogative of mercy visited him, said the governor had since June 21, 2016 endorsed the immediate release of the prison inmates.

Ibrahim, who stated that the Governor chose the month of Ramadan for the extension of mercy, said the prisoners released were those sentenced to three years and above. He said they had only six months left to complete their jail term or long term prisoners who had served for more than 10 years, above the age of 60 years and of good conduct.

“The council took time to visit all the operational prisons in Bauchi State which included Ningi, Jama’re, Azare, Misau and Bauchi to ascertain and ensure all due process and compliance with relevant rules.”

Shiite to hold Qud’s Day across 24 cities in Nigeria today Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

THE Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has said that preparation to hold the Qud’s Day today across 24 cities in the country, had been concluded.

The Qud’s Day is held every last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan by the Shiites throughout the world to sympathise with the people of the Palestine.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna, and signed by the spokesman of the movement, Ibrahim Musa.

The statement noted that this year’s event will hold today 26 Ramadan, 1437 equivalent to July 1, 2016.

“IMN hereby calls on all people of conscience to join in commemorating this annual event by leading a voice to the oppressed people of the Palestine,while condemning the Israel atrocities on them.

The statement added that the day is commemorated based on conscience and not religious consideration as victims of Zionism and illegal occupation of palatine included Muslims and Christians alike.

Moreover, pro-palestine protest and marches such as this are organised in all parts of the world including Europe and America to mark the International Qud’s Day.

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Pensioners lock up commissioner, workers over outstanding arrears Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

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HERE was mild drama on Thursday afternoon, as pensioners in the local government stormed the Ministry of Finance, in Ogun State, locked up the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Adewale Osinowo and other workers of the ministry, over outstanding pension arrears.

The retirees, under the umbrella of Association of Local Government Pensioners blocked the entrances leading to the ministry, demanding payment of their May and June 2016 pensions.

They were said to have been angered following an attempt by Osinowo to sneak out of the office of the Accountant-General, having sighted them.

The retirees, led by its chairman, Sikiru Ayilara, partially paralysed activities at the ministry; this development forced the commissioner to come out of his hide-out to attend to them.

Fulani attacks: NSCDC beefs up security at Ekiti boundary communities Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State command has announced that it has beefed up security at the boundary communities in Ekiti State and assured that no efforts would be spared to rid the state of rampaging Fulani herdsmen allegedly invading Ekiti towns and killing innocent residents.

The Commandant of NSCDC in Ekiti, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna, who addressed newsmen on Thursday, also warned vandals of public utilities and those diverting petrol products meant for Ekiti to other states to desist.

Ikemefuna said the warning became imperative because “our men are on ground to arrest and bring vandals and those diverting petroleum products to justice.”

Ikemefuna added that one conviction had been obtained on those arrested for the vandalism of government property and for selling adulterated petrol and diverting same products while others were being prosecuted in court.

They claimed that no fewer than 60 of its members had died in the last two months.

The commissioner, after about 30 minutes, came out and immediately went into a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the association while others stayed back.

Two members who stayed

back fainted and were quickly revived by those around.

The commissioner, while addressing newsmen after the meeting, said the delay in payment of May pensions was as a result of communication gap between the ministry and the pensioners.

He said the money had

been paid to the bank handling their account.

The commissioner assured that it would ensure that the bank comply with the directive to pay them within the shortest period of time.

He said, “It was a family meeting, a communication gap at that, we have paid the money since yesterday

(Wednesday) and same has been transferred to the bank but the Bureau failed to communicate with them.

“I have called the bank and they have all seen that the money has been paid, the fund has left us and I am not going to leave office today until the bank credits their accounts.”

Members of Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) protesting alleged closure of their shops by officials of the Pharmasists Council of Nigeria (PCN), at Foko area, Ibadan, on Thursday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

Nigerian Tribune

OBSG appeals to Oyo govt, labour leaders on ongoing strike THE Olalekan Balogun Solidarity Group (OBSG), Ibadan, Oyo State, has appealed to the Oyo State government to consider the demands of the workers on strike in the state.

This was contained in a press statement issued and signed by its coordinator general, Mr Samson Akintayo and the secretary general, Adewale Olaoye, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Thursday.

The group called on the labour leaders in the state to embrace dialogue with the state government so as not to paralyse the economic activities of the state.

While stressing the need for the workers to resume work earnestly, the group expressed concern on the ongoing strike as it has affected the activities of the state negatively, especially the education sector.

The group equally commended the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and other relevant stakeholders in the state for their efforts at ensuring a permanent solution to the ongoing strike.

Stop harassing Fayose, Ekiti NASS caucus, PDP leaders tell FG Jacob Segun Olatunji, Kolawole Daniel - Abuja and Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti MEMBERS of the National Assembly caucus in both the Senate and House of Representatives from Ekiti State on Thursday, advised the Federal Government to stop harassing the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and face true governance with a view to

delivering dividends of democracy to the populace.

This was contained in a statement issued by the caucus and signed by the Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, and made available to news men in Abuja, in which the caucus urged the All Progressives Congress led Federal Government to address the nation’s multi faceted problems especially the dwindling economy and insecurity.

It observed that it was

becoming worrisome that democracy was being endangered by the persistent harassment of opposition figures by the APC led Federal Government.

The caucus, while condemning the freezing of the bank accounts of the state governor and harassment of members of the state House of Assembly maintained that it was absolutely illegal, and an affront on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for bank ac-

Patent drug dealers protest alleged shop closure by PCN

By Tunde Ogunesan NO fewer than 1,000 members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), on Thursday, stormed major streets in Ibadan, protesting alleged illegal closure of their shops by some officials of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

The patent drug dealers, who assembled in front of the Customary Court, Foko, Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Ibadan, carrying placards with various inscriptions said the decision of PCN to close their shops was a flagrant violation of a Federal High Court judgment delivered on Sep-

tember 24, 1996 in Lagos, which did not authorise the organisation to issue license to and do not have right to challenge the licence of NAPPMED members.

They described the incessant closure of their shops and business premises by PCN as an act of “illegality and contempt of court.”

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “The former Inspector General of Police is aware of the position. He gave the order before that police must not join hands with the PCN in a matter that is subjudice,” “PCN should abide by the existing court judgment,” “NAPPMED says no to Pharmacists,” “PCN stop closing our members’

shops,” “Pharmacists Stop Harassing NAPPMED members.”

Others read: “The Federal Ministry of Health cannot delegate its power to another body (see Judge I.N. Auta’s judgement),” and “NAFDAC has been very busy checking our shops throughout the country and we have been licensed to operate,” among others.

The Chairman, Board of Trustee, NAPPMED, Apostle Moses Alebiowu, while addressing newsmen, argued that members of the association were complementing the development of health care delivery system in the country; hence PCN could not stop the practice of patent dealership.

counts of any Nigerian to be blocked by the EFCC without court order, not to talk of a sitting governor that enjoyed absolute immunity.

The National Assembly caucus, which declared support for the governor, said; “We remain resolute in our support for our governor, Ayodele Fayose and we are confident that he is not a man that can be intimidated by anyone.

Meanwhile, leaders of Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State on Thursday protested in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state, against what they described as “subtle plot

by Federal Government to silence Governor Ayodele Fayose as the lone opposition voice in the country.”

The protesters also threatened to recall any of the lawmakers in the state, who worked against the interest of the state and thereby scuttle the government of the state led by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Chief Idowu Faleye, the immediate past chairman of the PDP in the state said, “Any of the lawmakers in the state assembly that works against the governor is working against Ekiti interest and we won’t hesitate to recall the person.

“They are all in the state

assembly on the benevolence of the governor, so any act of betrayal will be taken as a coup against our collective interest.”

Chief Faleye claimed that the APC was working to frustrate the government of Governor Fayose because the party had lost relevance in the state.

He said: “APC is now in oblivion in the state. They have destroyed their political base because they ran the state into N76bn debt. So Fayose cannot be blamed for being unable to pay workers. If former Governor Kayode Fayemi had not obtained loan in excess, Ekiti would not have run into this crisis.”

He charged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services against over-zealousness, saying “the people are ready to resist any plot to remove Fayose with their blood.”

He said: “We are ready to resist any attempt to hijack powers from Fayose through the back door with our last drop of blood. We have sensitised our people and they know the truth.

We will continue to expose the lies and scheming of the Federal Government against the governor.”

34 CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 1 July, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Aremu Taiwo Olawumi now MRS ADEBAYO TAIWO OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Hospital’s Management Board and general public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

I, Babatunde Joshua Onoruoiza am the same person as Babatunde Joshua Yusuff.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE JOSHUA ONORUOIZA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

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I formerly Ajibola Shola Basirat now AJEWOLE OLUWATOYIN BASIRAT. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and general public take note.

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CORRECTION OF NAME

I formerly Oluwagbemi Oluwatolani now MRS ACHIMUGU OLUWATOLANI. All former documents remain valid.

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I, Okeowo Abiodun Gabriel my name was erroneously written as Okeowo Sunkanmi instead of Okeowo Abiodun Gabriel. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OKEOWO ABIODUN GABRIEL All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Moruff Akinjeje Bolaji now MORUFF AKINJEJE AKOREDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Adeoye Jumoke Funmilola now MRS BABALOLA JUMOKE FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ayofe Aina Toriola now AYOFE AINA AWANAT. All former documents remain valid.

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I, Adetoro Bamidele Alao, Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADETORO ABASS OLASUNMBO and my correct date of birth is 19th April, 1978. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Fidelity Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF ACCOUNT NAME

I Osabeyi Mary Eseoghene, am operating a savings account with Ecobank Plc where my name was wrongly written as Osabeyi Mary during BVN exercise. My full names are OSABEYI MARY ESEOGHENE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, Christian Edema Okugbeni am the same person bearing Christian Edema and Christian Okugbeni.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTIAN EDEMA OKUGBENI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mukaila Sadia Asabi now BULIAMINU SADIA EJIDE. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Adegoke Nureni Ojo now ASHIRU DHUNURAIN OJO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That I, Ojo Oluwaseyi am still the same person as ADEGOKE ADEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Anaebo Jecy Chinyere now ANAEBO JESSICA CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akintola Oluwakemi Cecilia now MRS GBOYEGA KEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Latoya Nichole Love now LATOYA NICHOLE MOSOBALAJA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Mrs Apantaku Wuraola Olanihun now MISS ABIRI WURAOLA OLANIHUN. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Ibiyemi Funmilola Esther now MRS OGUNBINU FUNMILOLA CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Owumi Amos Adaguen now AMOS EKOKOJE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Mrs Dorah Oviwhroye Dede now MISS DORAH OVIWHROYE ONOKPACHERE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Nkwodimmah Onyinye now MRS EDOSOMWAN ONYINYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Aliu Tajudeen Olakunle now OLASIMBO DAMILOLA TAJUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Aratunde Blessing Oluwatoyin now MRS OLANIYI BLESSING OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Akerele Anuoluwa Elizabeth now MRS ADEYEMI ANUOLUWA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Adewale Olubunmi Opeyemi now MRS AKINWALE OLUBUNMI OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

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CORRECTION OF NAME I, Shiyaka Saliu, my name was erroneously written as Shiyaba Saliu instead of Shiyaka Saliu on my UBA Account. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as SHIYAKA SALIU. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Muideen Biola now ISIAKA MONSURAT BIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Adeniran Bukola Aderonke now MRS DUROSARO BUKOLA ADERONKE. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Oyebamiji Mutiu am the same person as Oyebamiji Mutiu Kolawole. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYEBAMIJI MUTIU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Onoyibo Asivweneta Ovie Urhomeyoma am the same person bearing Onoyibo Asivweneta Ovie and Onyoyibo Urhomeyoma. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ONOYIBO ASIVWENETA OVIE URHOMEYOMA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mr Nzekwe Cresent Nonso now MR OBI EMEKA. All former documents remain valid.

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CORRECTION OF NAME I, Ige Florence Omoyemi my name was erroneously written on my BVN as Ige Florence David instead of IGE FLORENCE OMOYEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Oriowo Omowunmi Rebecca now MRS ADEKUNLE OMOWUNMI REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Busari Funmilola Adenike now MRS ADEDEJI FUNMILOLA ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Taiwo Titilayo now MISS OGUNWALERE TITILAYO BIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Ismaheel Khadijat Abiola now MRS ABOLAJI KHADIJAT ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Raheem Taiwo Basiru am the same person as Fabiyi Basiru Taiwo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RAHEEM TAIWO BASIRU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Mrs Osanyingbemi Titilayo Abimbolaji now MISS OLADOSU TITILAYO ABIMBOLAJI. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mrs GbaderoAdeyemi Omolara Enitan now MRS ADEYEMI OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mrs Bello Mutiat Bolanle now MRS OWOLABI MUTIAT BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Idowu Islamiyat Adekunle now IDOWU ISLAMIYAT OGUNDARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Odunewu Temilola Serah now ODUNEWU TEMILOLA NIKE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Mayowa Funmilayo Temitope now MRS SAKA FUNMILAYO TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Akande Alaafia Odunayo now ADEYEMI ALAAFIA ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Kanmodi Basirat Abimbola now MRS AKINLOYE ABIMBOLA GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. Teacher Establishment and Pension Office, TEPO, GTBank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, Odueko Oluwatosin Funmi am the same person bearing Odueko Oluwatosin Zainab. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ODUEKO OLUWATOSIN FUNMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Olarinoye Iyabo Nike now MRS ROTIMI IYABO NIKE. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I formerly Mr Muhammadu Lawal Yakub now MR YAKUB MUHAWAL. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Oguntoye Olayinka Temitayo now MRS OJO OLAYINKA COMFORT TEMITAYO. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Momoh Olajumoke now MRS OBASESAN BILIKISU JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Akanji Tawa Yetunde now ADEBIYI YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

I, Sulaimon Kamoru am the same person bearing Sulymon Kamardeen. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SULAIMON KAMORU. My correct date of birth is 1st day of January, 1955. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH I, Mr Adeyemo Michael Olusegun am the same person bearing Adeyemo Olusegun. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMO MICHAEL OLUSEGUN. My correct date of birth is 5th day of March, 1967. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I formerly Sheriffdeen Kehinde now ADEGBENRO SILIFAT KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Amos Funmilola Tunrayo now MRS AFONJA FUNMILOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35 CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Raheem Anifa Idowu now RAHEEM SADIA IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Sosanya Mary Fayobi now ODESANYA MISTURA OYETOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Oyekanmi Anuoluwapo Seyi now MRS TAIWO ANUOLUWAPO SEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Miss Johnson Grace Fortress now MRS OYETUNBI GRACE OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Solaja Tobby am the same person bearing Solaja Tobi Stephen. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as SOLAJA TOBI STEPHEN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Aderogba Alolade Tolulope now MRS OYEBAMIJI ALOLADE TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid.

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Friday, 1 July, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Mrs Bello Abidemi Lilly now MRS BELLO ABIDEMI TAWAKALITU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Adeleke Bukola Bolaji now MRS AKINPADE BUKOLA BOLAJI. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Azeez Muhammed Hijablahi now AZEEZ MUHAMMED ALAMU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Miss Olukayode Oluwaseun Ige now MRS ADEDEJI OLUWASEUN IGE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Miss Yusuf Folashade Suliyat now MRS OLADIPO FOLASHADE SULIYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Mr Emefiele Sunday James now MR EMEFIELE MONDAY JAMES. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Oseremen Destiny am the same person bearing Okhira Destiny. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OKHIRA OSEREMEN DESTINY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Jolaoye Mariam Abolade now MRS SALAKO MARIAM ABOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Odofin S. now ODOFIN OLORUNFUNMI SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Akinnodi Oladamola Dick now AKINNODI OLADAMOLA DICKSON. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Iwalaju Omosuyi Sola now IYALAJU OMOSUYI MONDAY. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Mrs Moji Adesanya now MRS MOJISADE ADESANYA OLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Adewale Simon now ADEOSUN ADEWALE SIMON. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Onyekachukwu Gabriel now IWUCHUKWU GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Abdrauf Jimoh Adio now ABDULRAUF JIMOH ADIO. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Fola-Emmanuel, Ayanfe-Oluwa now OYADEYI, AYANFE-OLUWA FOLAEMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Kadiri Fatai Alao now OYELOWO FATAI ALAO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, First Registrars Nig. Ltd and general public take note.

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I formerly Fatai Tiamiyu Alimat Modasola now FATAI SADIATU MODASOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Fola-Emmanuel, Alaafia-Oluwa now OYADEYI, ALAAFIA-OLUWA FOLAEMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Sunday Ngozi Cynthia now NWABUOKE NGOZI CYNTHIA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Babatunde Yisau Taiwo am the same person bearing Babatunde Taiwo. My correct date of birth is 27/7/1974 and not 2/11/1974 or 20/4/1973. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Abosede Anuoluwapo Oluwakeyede now MRS ABOSEDE ANUOLUWAPO ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Garba Adamu Maryam now MRS USMAN MARYAM ADAMU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Adisa Idayat Ajibola now MRS MOSOBALAJE IDAYAT AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Bamidele Yemisi Muibat now BAMIDELE YEMISI MUINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Lateef Adijat now AKOREDE ADIJAT AYOKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Salami Oseni Opeyemi am the same person bearing Oseni Akanni. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OSENI AKANNI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Miss Adeyeye Kehinde Esther now MRS ADEBISI KEHINDE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Jimmy Genesis Onah now OGBAJI GENESIS ONAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jimoh Rofiat Olayinka now MRS ADEBOWALE OLAYINKA ROFIAT. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Babalola Veronica Oluyemi now MRS ADEOYE VERONICA OLUYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Bolarinwa Bose now BOLARINWA ABOSEDE NAFISAT. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc, GTBank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Adekola Adeola Olufisayo now MRS ADENIYI ADEOLA OLUFISAYO. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Alhaja Mustapha Mosunmola now ALHAJA MOSUNMOLA IBRAHIM ABOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Owoade Funmilola Adewumi now MRS ADEKOLA FUNMILOLA ADEWUMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Babalola Olaitan Esther now ABORIGHO OLAITAN ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Kazeem Ajibola Adesina now KAZEEM AJIWE ADESINA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Falese Bunmi Damilola now MISS FALESE ESTHER OLUWADAMILOLA BOLUWATIFE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Mrs Olarinoye Obiageri Abosede now MRS OLARINOYE OLUYEMISI BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Fola-Emmanuel Itunu now OYADEYI ITUNU FOLA-EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Ikusaanu Rebecca Adeola now MRS ADEPOJU REBECCA ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adebayo Muideen Opeyemi born on 9th day of September, 1992 am the same person as Adebayo Opeyemi Arodinho. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAYO MUIDEEN OPEYEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ajifolawe Bukola now AJIFOLAWE OLUBUKOLA IYABODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Akintola Grace Oluranti now MRS ADEBONA GRACE OLURANTI. All former documents remain valid. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Oladejo Iretiola Kemisola now MRS SHITTU IRETIOLA KEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Oritsegbubemi Mabeline Eyimofe now MRS OGUNKOYA MABELINE EYIMOFE. All former documents remain valid.

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CORRECTION OF NAME I hereby declare that my full name is Awoyemi Bolanle Mary not Awoyemi Bolanle. Now, I wish to be known as AWOYEMI BOLANLE MARY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and general public take note.

I, formerly Muftaudeen Taoheed Akande now MUFTAUDEEN TAOHEED KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Adedini Dorcas Ayodeji now MRS OMOPARIOLA DORCAS AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mr Kokumo Samson now MR KOKU ADISA. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Saliu Serifat now ADEBISI SERIFAT NIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mrs Abasiama Akpan Okon now MISS NNAMNSO AKPAN MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid.

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CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Bolanle Adeniji now MRS BOLANLE ADEDIGBA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Justina Ekpen Orukpe now MRS CHUKWU JUSTINA EKPEN. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Mrs Adewoyin Alice Titilayo now MRS AMOLE ALICE TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Tiamiyu Taofikat Ajoke now ADELAKUN TAOFIKAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Asimiyu Adeyemo am the same person bearing Asimiyu Orelope Adeyemo. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ASIMIYU ORELOPE ADEYEMO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Plc and general public take note.

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Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OTOKITI AINA ELIZABETH. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

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I, Asobere Oluwagbenga Babatunde am the same person bearing Olajide Gbenga. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ASOBERE OLUWAGBENGA BABATUNDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

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news INEC holds rerun in Imo, Kogi, Rivers, Kano July 23, 30 36

Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

A

T last, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday and other stakeholders,agreed on dates for the completion of the rerun in four states of the federation.

According to the chairman of the commission, Professor Mamood Yakubu, at a national consultative forum with relevant stakeholders, the rerun in Imo and Kogi states have been scheduled for July 23 while those of Rivers and Kano states, would hold on July 30, respectively.

“However, the meeting advised the commission to further engage the stakeholders and where necessary, after due consultations, review the dates with respect to all or any of the states”.

The INEC boss stated that if the need arises to “adjust the dates due to any circumstances, we shall do so. So, nothing is cast in iron,” he said.

The INEC chairman had earlier said in his opening remark: “For us in INEC, stakeholders engagement is central to our commitment to credible and transparent elections.

You would recall that following the 2015 general election, 80 constituency elections were nullified by tribunals out

Friday, 1 July, 2016

of 627 election petitions filed nationwide. Majority of the elections have since been conducted by INEC”.

He lamented that inconclusive elections were due to the perpetration of violence in the affected states, stating that although, INEC is determined to conclude all the elections .

According to the INEC helmsman, elections anywhere in the world are not automated processes as they are conducted by human beings, stating that disruptions in one polling unit can change the

tide in the results, hence, the commission would not improperly conclude elections.

He, however, lamented the violence unleashed on some INEC staff and materials in the areas where the reruns were earlier suspended.

“In Kogi State ,it was as a result of large scale disruption and physical assault of staff. In Kano State, it was suspended due to violence and intimidation of staff on duty. In Rivers State, which account for about 50 pe r cent of the 80 nullified

elections, many of our staff were assaulted. One of them, Samuel Okonta, was killed.

There was widespread violence”, he said.

The Inspector General of Police, who was represented on the occasion by a Commissioner of Police, Habila Joshua, expressed the readiness of the police to mobilise men for the reruns.

Other stakeholders such as the National Orientation Agency(NOA), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the National Union

of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) , political parties and their candidates, all expressed readiness to play critical roles but called on INEC to ensure adequate provision of security at the election venues.

However, Senator Magnus Abe, who is one of the candidates in the Rivers State senatorial rerun, said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) ,in the state should be sacked, having compromised his impartiality.

From left, bride’s mother, Mrs Monisola Jaiyeola; groom’s father, Mr Francis Adeshola; the couple, Julius and Shade Adeshola; groom’s mother, Mrs Victoria Adeshola and the bride’s uncle, Mr Lanre Jaiyeola, during the couple’s wedding ceremony in Ilorin, Kwara State, last Saturday.

Only courageous leaders can move Nigeria forward —Islamic cleric A Muslim cleric and university don, Dr Asif AbdulAzeez-Olatunbosun, has said only courageous and transparent leaders could run the affairs of the country and restore peace, as well as economic stability .

The Islamic cleric, who is a principal lecturer and Chief Imam of Tai Solarin College of Education, OmuIjebu, Ogun State, said most Nigerian leaders lacked vision, courage, fairness, morality and financial transparency, lamenting that such is responsible for the recent incident of ‘budget padding’ at the National Assembly and series of cases of diversion of public funds to personal usage, involving some public officers.

He said this when he delivered the 21st Ramadan lecture of Ola-Olu Muslim Society of Nigeria ,at the Central Mosque of The Wings Group of Schools, Iwo, Osun State, held in honour of Sheikh Alhaji Hamoda Tiamiyu Oyebode-Adisa.

Delivering the lecture tagged “Challenges of leadership, morality and financial transparency in Islam,” he insisted that the current security and economic challenges facing the coun-

try would have been curtailed had former President Goodluck Jonathan, taken a courageous step towards curbing the menace of corruption before it escalated to the current level.

Among the people present on the occasion are, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba

Abdulrasheed Olabomi, Dr M.O. Aremu of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, and Professor Lai Olurode.

Also, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, on the occasion, charged leaders to be

God-fearing, adding that they should remember that life is ephemeral and whatever position they hold today is transient.

The traditional ruler stated that a leader should always see himself as a servant of the people who is saddled with the responsibility of en-

suring the well-being of his people, advising them to desist from any act capable of tarnishing their image On the state of the nation, he commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his relentless effort towards moving the country to the promised land.

Downward review of workers’ salaries unacceptable, NLC tells Al-Makura

By Godwin Agwam- Lafia

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nasarawa State chapter, has reiterated that it would oppose the downward review of workers’ salaries in the state.

The state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-makura, had, last month, constituted a committee to review the salaries of workers, of which it prescribed a 50 per cent cut in the state workers’ salaries.

The state chairman of the union, Abdullahi Adeka, said this at the 5th quadrennil state delegate conference of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, in Lafia, on Thursday.

According to him, the labour pulled out of the salary review committee on the last day of its plenary when it became clear that the sole reason for the constitution

of the committee was to cut workers’ salaries in the state.

He said that workers in the state had already sacrificed enough by losing promotions and annual increment from 2012 till date.

Workers’ salaries cannot

be reduced in the face of fuel price hike, inflation and its multiplier effect on the cost of living, more so that, there is an expection of an upward review of salaries at the national level”, he said.

He urged workers to be

law abiding while the union watches the next step to be taken, adding that it had already told the state government to jettison its planned reduction of national minimum wage in the interest of industrial harmony.

US donates 160 metric tonnes of seeds to IDPs in Borno, Adamawa From Christian Okeke Abuja

THE United States government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), has delivered over 160 metric tonnes of seeds (maize, sorghum, millet, groundnut, and cowpea), to over 6,000 households in Adamawa and Borno states, in June.

More than 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the local government authorities of Madagali, Michika, Gombe, and Fufore of Adamawa and Kaga

of Borno State, benefited from the effort, according to an information obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, on Thursday.

It was gathered that the USAID collaborated with the Adamawa State Ministry of Agriculture, the American University of Nigeria’s Adamawa Peace Initiative and the Borno State government to ensure the distribution occurred ahead of 2016 planting season.

“These distribution efforts are literally sowing the seeds for recovery and resilience of

IDPs,” said Michael Harvey, who is USAID/Nigeria mission director.

He noted that by working with the Nigerian government and other partners, USAID plays an active role in helping the North East to realise its full potential.

USAID supports several humanitarian, transitional and longer-term development activities in the North eastern Nigeria, totaling $133 million in collaboration with the Nigerian government at the federal, state, and local levels.

Delta Assembly approves life jail for kidnappers From Alphonsus Agborh – Asaba

ANY person convicted of kidnapping in Delta State, will now spend the rest of his life in jail.

This followed the amendment of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping Law 2016 and approved by the state House of Assembly, on Wednesday.

The state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, in a letter to the House, appealed for reconsideration of Section 4, Sub-Section 1 of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping Law, 2016, as passed by the House, which made provision for death penalty.

“The Honourable Speaker and Honourable members of the House are aware that death penalty is globally no longer fashionable as it breaches human right to life and torture, both of which are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948.

Besides, there is heightened campaign and overwhelming support for the abolition of death penalty globally.

“Since the world is a global village, Delta State cannot be an exception, hence, the passionate call on the House to reconsider the Section under reference and change the death sentence prescribed therein to life imprisonment.”

LASU promotes 40 staff, dismisses 1

THE Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU), has approved the promotion of 40 non-academic staff of the institution and dismissed one staff for absconding from duty.

The information was contained in the university official bulletin obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos, on Thursday.

The bulletin noted that the promotion was approved by the University Governing Council, at its reconvened 111th statutory meeting.

It added that the approval was given following the recommendation of the Appointments and Promotions (Administrative and Technical) Committee.

It stated that the governing council also decided that Mr Nasiru Abdullahi, a senior system analyst, Information Communication Technology (ICT) unit, should be dismissed from the services of the university with effect from July 18, 2014.

According to the bulletin, the governing council notes that Abdullahi’s abscondment is “’a rape on the university.

37

Friday, 1 July, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Brexit: I won’t run to succeed

Cameron, says Boris Johnson

Former London mayor, Boris Johnson

B

oris Johnson, one of the leading voices in the Brexit campaign and the man considered to be the favorite to replace outgoing

Prime Minister David Cameron, delivered a bombshell Thursday when he announced he didn’t want the job.

Living up to his reputation as a political maverick, the former London mayor outlined the demands of the role over the course of a lengthy speech in London and then said: “Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that that person cannot be me.”

The charismatic Conser-

vative MP played a decisive role in the campaign to lead Britain out of the European Union an endeavor many saw as partly an effort to position himself as the future leader of the ruling Conservative Party, and of the country.

The announcement drew a stunned response across the UK and beyond. On social media, it was met with disbelief and anger.

Since the unexpected Leave vote sent the pound tumbling, hurt global markets and inspired renewed talk of Scottish in-

US election: Clinton extends

lead over Trump —Poll

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by six points, 44% to 38%, in a Fox News poll of registered voters released Wednesday, marking an uptick from similar polls released in May and June.

The Fox News results follow a rough patch for the Trump campaign: In May, the presumptive Republican nominee enjoyed a three-point lead in the same survey. But by early June, those numbers had flipped, with Clinton jumping out to a 42% to 39% advantage.

CNN’s Poll of Polls an average of results for the five most recent publicly

Donald Trump

released national polls that meet CNN’s standards for publication has Clinton leading Trump 46% to 40%.

Her lead among women in this latest round 51% to 32% outpaces Trump’s with men, where his edge has dwindled to 10 points, 46% to 36%.

The state of the race remains essentially unchanged when Libertarian Gary Johnson is thrown into the mix.

Johnson wins 10% of the vote in a three-way competition, taking about equally from Trump and Clinton, whose lead scales down to

41% to 36%.

Despite having seen off his last primary rival nearly eight weeks ago, Trump also lags behind Clinton on the party unity front.

His lead among Republicans is down to 74% from 82% in May. And only 52% of registered GOP voters who had previously supported one of his opponents picked the billionaire businessman over Clinton.

On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders voters appear more willing to shed their primary loyalties and back the party’s likely nominee.

other NEWS

Roadside bomb kills 20 killed in Somalia

Residents gather to look at the wreckage of a minibus destroyed in roadside bomb in Lafoole village near Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, on Thursday.

Somali officials have said that at least 20 people have been killed in a massive

roadside explosion that engulfed a passenger bus on the main highway linking

Mogadishu to Afgoye, 30 kilometers west of the capital.

A police officer at the scene, Abidkadir Mohamed, told the Reuters News Agency it was a remotely controlled bomb along the road that exploded.

Deputy Chairman of Afgoye, Abdullahi Hassan, who went to the scene, said the blast destroyed the minibus.

dependence, many have seen Britain as a casualty of Johnson’s now-thwarted leadership ambitions.

“I am very surprised #BorisJohnson ran the campaign to get us out of the EU and didn’t have the guts to re establish the country!

Odd move,” tweeted entrepreneur Mark Wright.

Wright said Johnson obviously did not truly want a Brexit. “He wanted a close race to show campaign leadership skills for a PM move later on. At what cost to us(?),” he tweeted.

Labour MP Jo Stevens responded with disgust, describing Johnson as “narcissism personified.”

“Cameron & #BorisJohnson wrecked the UK. And now neither will take any responsibility,” she tweeted.

CNN political contributor Robin Oakley said that “undoubtedly (people are) going to feel let down that he’s not standing,” adding that he had spoken to many people who had voted Leave due to the campaigning of Johnson, the larger-than-life former journalist.

Saudi Arabia introduces e-bracelets for Hajj safety Saudi Arabia has announed plans to introduce electronic identification bracelets for all pilgrims heading to Mecca as part of a safety drive.

Containing personal and medical information, the e-bracelets will help authorities provide care and identify people, the official Saudi Press Agency SPA said on Thursday.

Water-resistant and connected to GPS, the devices will also instruct worshippers on timings of prayers and a multi-lingual help desk to guide especially non-Arabic speaking pilgrims around the various rituals of the annual Islamic event.

Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca and Medina, Islam’s holiest sites, which are under the custody of Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera said.

Last year, authorities say 769 pilgrims died in the stampede in the Mecca district of Mina when thousands of pilgrims converged on a walkway intersection.The majority of the victims were Iranian

nationals.

To address the security issues, nearly a thousand new surveillance cameras have been installed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, monitoring pilgrim movements, Saudi newspapers have reported.

Taking part in the pilgrimage at least once in one’s lifetime is a major obligation for all able-bodied Muslims of financial means, and between two and three million people participate in the six-day ritual every year.

The annual Muslim pilgrimage re-enacts the actions of the Prophet Muhammad in his “farewell pilgrimage” in AD 632.

Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud

Boko Haram suicide bomber kills 11 at mosque in Cameroon A suicide bomber belonging to Nigerian jihadist group, Boko Haram, has killed at least 11 people when he blew himself up close to a mosque in Cameroon near the Nigerian border, military sources and local officials said on Thursday.

The attack, which took place late on Wednesday, according to Reuters, occurred after the breaking of the fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“After the prayer, the

faithful gathered under a tent in Djakana,” said a local official. “A suicide bomber exploded and killed 11 people. Four others were injured.”

A Cameroonian army officer said the bomber was a young boy.

Since a regional offensive last year drove the insurgents from most of their strongholds, Boko Haram has been waging a guerrilla-style campaign targeting civilians. In Cameroon, teenage girls have killed

dozens in suicide bombings.

More than 15,000 people have been killed and 2 million displaced in Nigeria and neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon during Boko Haram’s seven-year campaign to create an Islamic caliphate in northeast Nigeria.

The group pledged its allegiance to Islamic State last year, although the practical extent of its links with the Syria- and Iraq-based group is not known.

Guinea-Bissau faces budget shortfall after IMF stops payments Guinea-Bissau is facing a “catastrophic” economic situation, with a gaping budget deficit, after the International Monetary Fund suspended its support over two private bank bailouts, the finance minister said on Thursday.

The IMF, according to Reuters, said on June 3 it was halting payments after the tiny nation’s government went against its advice and took on around 35 billion

CFA francs ($59 million) in underperforming debt from Banco da Africa Ocidental and Banco da Uniao.

“The economic situation of the country is catastrophic.

The state has a deficit of 22.4 billion CFA francs,” Finance Minister Henrique Horta told reporters. The deficit amounts to about 3.5 percent of GDP. While inflation remained steady at 3 percent and the

Guinea-Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz

state had earned 113 billion CFA francs from sales of cashews, Guinea-Bissau’s primary cash crop, he said the IMF’s suspension of support was crippling.

communitynews Igbologun: A community yearning for improved maternal, child healthcare 38

I

n the thick vegetation of Snake Island in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State lies Igbologun,

Friday, 1 July, 2016

a riverine community in its natural state.

The community, populated by fishermen and petty traders, lacks the basic

amenities of life even as it is close to the bubbling Apapa axis, a major gateway to the nation.

Igbologun which is not

more than 30 minutes ride by boat from Under-Bridge Coconut Jetty, Apapa, is enmeshed in its swampy topography, cut off from

A flooded area at Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State. PHOTO: OLAYINKA OLUKOYA

FG, Delta govt urged to develop Sapele, Okpe communities Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

AN appeal has gone to the Federal and Delta State governments to lift Sapele from its present decadence.

Chairman, Sapele, Okpe Communities, Mr. Moses Ogodo, made the appeal during the opening ceremony of skills acquisition workshop/ empowerment programme of Sapele, Okpe communities jointly sponsored by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and SEPLAT. Ogodo said the Federal and Delta State governments should complement the effort of the people in aggressively transforming Sapele and environs.

He said the two tiers of government should endeavour to include Sapele and Okpe communities in their development programmes.

Ogodo explained that since his emergence as chairman, he had initiated projects such as the construction of a six-classroom block at Oton quarters in Urhuakpa.

He said plans were being made for the construction of an ultra-modern market in Orodje and an ultra-modern police station.

He further stated that an empowerment programme through which members of Sapele community would be given revolving loan facilities between N100 and N250 each had also been set up.

The chairman further disclosed that the communities, due to the poor supply of

electricity in the area, procured four transformers for the four quarters of Sapele and Okpe communities, adding that they were training young men and women on the repair of GSM and laptops while expecting the proposal on their starter packs by the empowerment committee.

While congratulating the

empowerment committee and its chairman, Chief Lucky Ayomanor, for their efforts, Ogodo commended SEPLAT management for development strides in the community.

In his comments, Chief Ayomanor appealed to spirited individuals, government and corporate bodies to initi-

ate programmes that are human capital driven so as to eradicate social vices.

He explained that the empowerment programme is for men and women between the ages of 28 and 40, advising participants to take full advantage of the programme to gain economic independence.

civilisation with the attendant absence of health and educational facilities and other social infrastructure.

Indigenes of the community are yearning for the establishment of a health facility and improved sanitation in their area to help to stem the tide of maternal and child mortality.

They expressed the belief that government’s presence will take care of the poor sanitation in the community and stem the habit of open defecation which often see the people, young and old, expelling faeces directly into the lagoon.

Their plight attracted the attention of a non-governmental organisation, Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS), which champions the cause of maternal, newborn and child health.

To present the community’s yearnings to the world, the NGO recently organised a tour of the community for journalists to showcase the absence of health and educational facilities as well as waste disposal system.

The tour brought to the fore the people’s challenges in accessing health facilities in neighbouring communities and the leading to maternal and child deaths, especially in hardto-reach communities.

Mrs Abiodun Owo, Training, Research and Communications Officer,

DEVCOMS, told journalists that “for Igbologun community, the challenges of accessing maternal and child health services contributed to the increase in the rate of maternal and child deaths.

“These challenges are absence of health facilities, qualified medical personnel, practices and attitudes.

“The only and supposedly Primary Health Centre there, which is actually a maternity centre, has no qualified doctor, nurse or midwife.

“There is an urgent need for government’s intervention to prevent needless deaths of women and children in riverine communities,’’ Owo said.

A general physician, Dr Sodipo Gbolahon, who runs a private practice, is the only qualified medical doctor in Igbologun community of no fewer than 20,000 people.

According to Gbolahon, whose clinic is called “Igbologun Medical Centre’’, the situation in the community is pathetic.

“What we have here are small chemists, people who treat wit h herbs and Traditional Birth Attendants.

“So, there are frequent emergencies and complications, especially for pregnant women and children,’’ he said.

Asaba/Ogwashi-Uku Road now a death trap —Ozoma Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba

A community leader and Ozoma of Ogwashi-Uku, Chief Lawrence Okolobi, has described the AsabaOgwashi-Uku Road in Delta State as a death trap due to the increasing number of casualties on the road and appealed to the state government to resume work on the abandoned road project.

Over 30 people have lost their lives on the road this year alone. Fifteen persons died on the spot in Ibusa section of the road two months ago.

A medical doctor, an Anglican priest and a couple were reported killed in an accident which Chief Okolobi reasoned was enough to attract government attention and by mobilising contractors back to site.

Speaking with Community News in OgwashiUku, the Ozoma said of particular note, is the mobile police base/pris-

on gate area of the road which is more of a dangerous zone.

“Many road users have died on this axis of the road which has been abandoned.

“It is even more dangerous for first-time users of the road.

“A one-time police public relations officer in this state died just opposite the mobile police base some years ago because of the negligence on the part of the state government as regards the road project.

“The dualisation of the road, which was started by the immediate past administration is commendable. The project was initially awarded to three contractors for the Asaba-Ughelli section of the road.

“While the middle (Ossisa-Isoko) section has been completed and Isoko-Ughelli section almost completed, the Asaba-Ossisa axis has been forgotten and not even the state

government which commissioned over 30 roads in its first year in office is saying anything about it,” he said.

According to him, the remedial measure of heaping sand on the mobile police/prison gates axis to check erosion is causing

more harm as the sand has been washed down to the front of the Board of Internal Revenue office, thereby obstructing traffic.

Govt approves appointment of 17-year-old Ubulu-Uku monarch Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

THE 17-year-old traditional ruler of Ubulu-Uku, Delta State, is set to receive the staff of office as the state government has formally approved his appointment as the Obi of the agrarian community.

Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze I, resident in United Kingdom was installed on February 18, 2016 after the death of his father, Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III. But the Onishe of UbuluUku, Chief Emma Ejiofor, had stirred the hornet’s nest when he described the late Ofulue III as a usurper, insisting as the Onishe, whose responsibility is to crown a new king, that he

never installed Ofulue III as king and that he did not install the young Akaeze I and, as such, cannot be king.

Briefing newsmen in Asaba, on Wednesday, on the outcome of the state executive council meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said despite speculations that Ubulu-Uku was divided over the enthronement of the young king, the state government was yet to receive a petition from any quarter asking it to withdraw the approval given to him.

According to him, his appointment followed due process, adding that the traditional rulers

council, at his local government area (Aniocha South) and at the state level, approved his obiship.

Mr. Ukah disclosed that approval had also been given for farmers in the state to participate in the Federal Government “Anochor Programme” through the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The programme is meant to boost agriculture at the grass roots.

Similarly, approval has been given for the release of funds to the state job creation office to identify graduates and train them for employment under the Grass roots Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP).

39 tribunesport

Friday, 1 July, 2016

The frustration of a football mega-star, Messi

By Ganiyu salman

L

IONEL Messi’s exit from international football after Argentina lost 2-4 via penalties to Chile, in the final of the Copa America Centenario indeed came as a shock to many football addicts especially his faithful.

To some, the time to quit should have been after a major victory but Messi, who missed his kick during the penalty shootout believed he has had enough of ‘failures’ with his country. It was his fifth penalty kick miss this season.

He was in tears during the post-match conference where he announced his retirement after lamenting the loss to Chile.

Arguably, Messi with five-time Ballon d’Or, eight La Liga and four Champions League titles with FC Barcelona, remains the best all-time player of his generation. However, his success in international football largely centred on his exploits at age-grade global championships.

He had the Beijing 2008 Olympics gold to show as well as the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, while he holds an enviable record of being Argentina’s all-time goalscorer with 55 goals.

Messi, was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2005 U-20 World Cup and he has since remained in the world reckoning given his feat.

Many great players had in the past missed crucial spot kicks at major finals such as Italian Roberto Baggio at US ‘94 World Cup final, Frenchman Michel Platini at ‘86 World Cup quarter-final against Brazil and Messi, perhaps was unhappy to have joined the list.

Last Sunday’s Copa America final was not the first time Messi had missed a penalty kick, In fact, despite his precision in front of goal, which has made him become a nightmare to many goalkeepers, Messi also holds an infamous record of being the only Barcelona player to have missed eight penalties in La Liga history.

Messi also missed more penalty kicks in one season than any player in La Liga in the last decade.

Thus, when the Albiceleste missed the Copa title again last Sunday at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, US, the petit forward believed the 113th cap should be his last game for his country.

Messi did not hide his frustration after what turned out to be his valedictory game for Argentina.

“For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can.

It hurts not to be a champion,” he declared after losing two Copa America finals on penalties to Chile, including the 2007 edition and was in the squad which lost 0-1 to Germany at the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.

Messi, who made his debut for Argentina in 2005 further

defended his decision to quit international football.

“It has been four finals. It was what I most wanted. It didn’t work out. I think that’s it. It’s what I feel now, what I think. There is great sadness. I missed the penalty, that’s it.”

Perhaps, Messi might soon be joined in the party given the remarks of his team-mate, Sergio Aguero. ”We’re all messed up. But that’s the worst I have seen Leo. He did everything he could to get us here. But Messi probably won’t be the only one to quit the national team.

Several us are thinking about not carrying on,” Aguero said.

The Manchester City striker had said during last year’s Copa that “it would be a failure if this generation of players didn’t win anything” and his team-mates all agreed with that statement.

But they still haven’t and now the likes of ‘Kun’, Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain could all follow Messi out of the national team.

However, Messi believes his retirement from the national team of Argentina will be a source of joy to many of his kinsmen.

“It’s for the good of everyone,” he said. “For me and for everyone. Many want that. People aren’t happy with reaching the final and we are not happy either.”

But one person who is not happy over Messi’s exit is his

However, Messi believes his retirement from the national team of Argentina will be a source of joy to many of his kinsmen.

Barcelona team-mate and Chile’s Copa America-winning goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo, who hopes the former should have a rethink.

“For me Messi is the best player in the world,” said Bravo, who claimed the centenary tournament’s Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper.

“We know too well the quality of person he is. I’ll take the best player in the world. I hope he continues playing for Argentina for many years.”

Also, Argentina President, Mauricio Macri and the country’s soccer legend, Diego Maradona have joined the growing list of those who want Messi to stay on.

“He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him,” Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion newspaper online. “He will go to Russia in form to be world champion.”

The 1986 World Cup winner, Maradona, believes Messi is a victim of the rot in the Argentina Football Association (AFA), saying “Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won`t see what a disaster Argentine football has become”.

President Macri was said to have urged Messi to shelve his plan for now.

“He (Macri) called him and told him how proud he feels of the national team’s performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism,” a spokesman for Macri told AFP by telephone.

Also, another team-mate at Barcelona, Luis Suarez, believes Messi’s decision was based on the spur of the moment.

“I’m sure that he will change his mind, but whatever he decides he will still be the best ever,” the Uruguay striker told Radio Tenfield.

“Knowing Leo, I’m sure it was said in a moment of sadness and helplessness. It would be a shame for football if he took this decision, but I’m sure he will reconsider and change his mind. It’s a difficult time. Everyone has the right to make decisions and they should be respected.”

But will Messi make a U turn, only time will tell?

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 1 JULY, 2016

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ARETH Bale has branded Wales’ Euro 2016 quarter-final clash with Belgium today as the nation’s biggest game in decades.

The game is scheduled to hold at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d’Ascq, while referee Damir Skomina of Slovenia will take charge of the proceedings.

Having ended a 58-year wait to reach a major tournament, Chris Coleman’s men have already matched the achievement of the 1958 team who reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Sweden before they were knocked out by a Pele goal for Brazil.

“Yes, I think it is fair to say it could be the biggest ever game for Wales, especially during my time and recent times,” said the Real Madrid star.

“We know about the quarter-final in 1958 but since then it’s definitely the biggest game in Welsh football.

“It is one we’re looking forward to, eager to get started and excited about.

We just want to enjoy the occasion, take it all in, and hopefully we can get into the semis,” Bale added.

“We don’t need extra motivation, they are a very good team, we understand that, their goal

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Euro 2016 q/f: This is Wales’ biggest

game in decades—Bale

Gareth Bale with his daughter after Wales victory in the EURO 2016 round of 16 match. Wales will today face Belgium in a quarter-final fixture. PHOTO: EPA.

is to win the Euros.

“They see every team they play as a stepping stone to the final.

That’s not disrespectful, that’s

their opinion.

W e ’ r e happy about that.

“But it’s about us, concentrating on ourselves and trying to

Quadri tops Commonwealth rankings NIGERIA’S Aruna Quadri has become the first African player to top the rankings of players in the Commonwealth.

According to the latest rankings released by the technical committee of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF), Quadri who has been playing a second fiddle to players from Singapore became the highest rated player among players from the Commonwealth nations.

Among the 277 players on the rankings, Quadri, who remains Africa’s best player garnered 2385 points to beat Singapore’s Gao Ning, who had 2384 points, as England’s Pitchford Liam had 2277

Quadri

President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Solomon Ogba, claims that part of the reasons why Nigeria failed to win any medal at the last Olympics was because some pregnant women athletes featured for the country in the Games. If one may ask, does it mean Nigeria also paraded ‘pregnant men’ at the London 2012?

points to occupy the third spot on the ladder.

Africa’s most decorated star, Segun Toriola is rated 12th with 2014 points behind players from India, Canada and England.

Also Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun is ranked 22nd with 1822 points.

Prior to the May rankings, Quadri had been playing a second fiddle to Singaporean Ning.

In the women’s rankings, no Nige-

rian made the top 20 list as Edem Offiong and Olufunke Oshonaike were ranked 23rd and 26th respectively.

Meanwhile, Quadri’s aided his French team, jura Morez to remain in the elite division of the prestigious French Table Tennis League.

But it was not the same story for Omar Assar as the Egyptian failed to save his club from going into relegation.

execute our game plan. We’ve beaten them before so it can be done again.”

Wales is the last of the British nations remaining in the competition after knocking out Northern Ireland in the last 16.

Wales have plenty of experience of facing Belgium, with the two sides having met four times in the last four years.

The Dragons of Wales were

Ibrahimovic confirms Man U move SWEDEN striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed he will sign for Manchester

N5m up for grabs at Ochei wheelchair international basketball

By Niyi Alebiosu

THE Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria has earmarked N5 million as prize money for winners at the 5th Sir Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Championship scheduled to hold from September 19 to 24 at the Indoor Sports hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

President of WBFN, Bukola Olopade made this known on Thursday in Lagos, during a media parley to herald the championship being sponsored by the former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Sir Victor Ochei.

Olopade, who commended the

sponsor further informed that 15 states have signified intention to participate in the tourney adding that three countries; Ghana, Benin Republic and Cameroon are being expected from the continent, while para-military teams might also feature in this year’s edition.

The former Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State stated that the championship would help discover new talents and put the national U-23 team in shape ahead of the U-23 World Cup elimination billed for Durban, South Africa from October 1 to 8, 2016.

Olopade also disclosed that the WBFN will subsidise the feeding

unbeaten in the last three of those games, picking up a famous win over the Red Devils in Cardiff last June.

Bale scored the winner that night, and believes it was an epochal moment for the entire Welsh set-up.

“It was my most important Welsh goal, for sure, especially at that time in the campaign,” he said.

allowance of all the participating teams as a way of motivation.

“Let me use this opportunity to express appreciation to Sir Victor Ochei who after leaving the office has continued to sponsor this championship. This really shows that he is committed to the course of special athletes and the development of the game in the country.

“He has been our sole sponsor to major international championship and I want to assure everyone that this year’s edition will be bigger and better,” Olopade said just as he assured of a hitch-free championship with adequate security to be put in place.

United after leaving Paris StGermain (PSG).

The 34-year-old, capped 116 times for his country, was out of contract after four years at the French champions.

He will link up again with his former Inter Milan boss, Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

“Time to let the world know.

My next destination is Manchester United,” he wrote on his twitter handle.

United, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League, have yet to confirm the move.

Ibrahimovic is set to complete a medical today and sign contract with the Old Trafford club.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 1/7/2016.