22nd September 2015

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,332 TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER, 2015

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Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

HID Awolowo: The grammar of fortitude

By Wale Adebanwi IT was the afternoon of Wednesday, June 3, 1964. Most people in Ibadan held their breath as the convoy of Chief Michael Okpara, the Premier of the Eastern Region and National President of the NCNC, rolled into the city. A fes-

tive of party supporters joined Okpara’s entourage, heralding his arrival as he drove to the Awolowos’ home in Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo was waiting to receive him. Waiting with the 49-year old wife of the former Premier of the Western Region – who was later to

be popularly known as HID – was Alhaji D. S. Adegbenro, the acting leader of the Action Group (AG), who had been denied his position as the premier of the region.

When Okpara arrived at the Awolowos’ compound he was met by HID and Adegbenro. HID and Okpara later emerged at the

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balcony of the front house to have a famous handshake. The crowd in the compound and in the outlying areas of the compound who could see them roared with excitement shouting, “Awo! Awo!!” and “Zeek! Zeek!!”

Read more on pages 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Asset declaration: Appeal court

—P14

refuses Saraki's bid to stop trial

•I will appear today —Senate President •Dollar rain allegation rocks Senate Shekau making noise —COAS

•Army approves promotion for 5,000 soldiers fighting Boko Haram —P15

—P35

Unpaid salaries: I want Students hold to die like Osun dep gov Mama HID hostage

—Osinbajo's mother

From left, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, Senator Daisy Danjuma and General Theophilus Danjuma, at the Awolowo's Ikenne residence, on Monday. PHOTO: D'TOYIN.

How Fulani herdsmen kidnapped Olu Falae •Abductors demand N100m

—P14

—P39

Tinubu, Ayorinde, Bamgbetan, Idris make Ambode's cabinet list —P39

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tribute

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo (1915 - 2015)

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Nigerian Tribune Photos: D’Toyin

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Wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode (third right); deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs Idiat Adebute (middle); Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran (second right); Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (third left) and others, when a delegation from Lagos visited the Ikenne residence of the Awolowos, on Monday.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal (left), exchanging pleasantries with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (second right). With them are Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo.

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From left, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Mrs Victoria Omolara Kazeem, Mr Michael Adewale Kazeem and Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu.

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A cross section of Ikenne Archdiocesan clergy men at the residence.

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Wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi (left) and Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran.

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Professor A. B. O. O. Oyediran (right) and Admiral Akin Aduwo.

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The Eze Ndigbo delegation, led by Dr Alex Anozie, with Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

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Mother of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mrs Bisi Osinbajo (left) and Mrs Taiwo Sennuga.

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Former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend Sam Adesua (left) and former Executive Director, Finance, ANN Plc, Dr Jimoh Laoye, signing the condolence register.

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Members of the House of Representatives, led by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Lasun Yussuf (second left), with Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

3 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915 -2015)

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

H.I.D. Awolowo:

The Grammar of Fortitude How much direction and discernment it requires to be the wife of a great man!

—Louisa Adams (wife of President John Quincy Adams)

Mrs. HID Awolowo shaking hands with Premier of the Eastern Region and National President of the NCNC, Chief Michael Okpara, during a visit to the Awolowos’ home in Oke-Ado, Ibadan on June 3, 1964.

By Wale Adebanwi

I

T WAS THE AFTERNOON OF WEDNESDAY, June 3, 1964. Most people in Ibadan held their breath as the convoy of Chief Michael Okpara, the Premier of the Eastern Region and National President of the NCNC, rolled into the city. A festive of party supporters joined Okpara’s entourage, heralding his arrival as he drove to the Awolowos’ home in Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo was waiting to receive him. Waiting with the 49-year old wife of the former Premier of the Western Region – who was later to be popularly known as HID – was Alhaji D. S. Adegbenro, the acting leader of the Action Group (AG), who had been denied his position as the premier of the region.

When Okpara arrived at the Awolowos’ compound he was met by HID and Adegbenro. HID and Okpara later emerged at the balcony of the front house to have a famous handshake.

The crowd in the compound and in the outlying areas of the compound who could see them roared with excitement shouting, “Awo! Awo!!” and “Zeek! Zeek!!”

That handshake was to signal the agreement between the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) to work together in forming the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA). UPGA contested the following 1964 and 1965 elections against the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA), the alliance formed by the ruling party at the centre, the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the unpopular party in the Western Region, the Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintolaled Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).

What Mosunbade – HID’s less known byname – did that day in receiving Okpara in Ibadan was an act of courage in the face of intimidation. A couple of weeks before Okpara’s visit, the NNDP government, after imposing a “ban” on the Eastern Region Premier’s proposed tour of the West, “threatened war” if Okpara visited the region. NNDP’s spokesman, Richard Akin-

jide, whipped up ethnic hatred by saying that if Okpara “had the guts to come to the West,” he would know “whether or not the Yorubas are a decadent tribe as stated in the Ibo National Caucus Memorandum.” In the light of the threats, when HID received Okpara, party stalwarts described the visit as “epoch-

making,” one that cemented “an understanding between the two foremost nationalist parties.”

Okpara told the huge crowd at Awolowo’s house that the AG and NCNC had to come together because “for more than a decade, the imperialists, the reactionaries and the neo-colonialists ‘had succeeded in driving a knotty wedge between the NCNC and the Action Group.’” He added that “Both the NCNC and the Action Group have fought on different plans to achieve our national independence, we must now come together to build a prosperous nation where oppression would be unknown.”

With the handshake, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, who died on Saturday, 19 September, 2015, at 99, announced herself to the regional, as well as national, publics as a determined and resilient political actor who was ready, not only for the personal sacrifice needed to protect and promote the public career of her jailed husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but one who was also ready to propagate his political philosophy and defend the egalitarian ethos which Obafemi Awolowo, more than any other politician of his age, represented. That event signalled the transformation of a loving mother, loyal wife of a great man and resourceful business woman into a persevering and astute politician and great campaigner.

Subsequently, HID embarked on a campaign tour of the region rallying the people to the cause of good governance, egalitarian rule, justice and equity.

“I think she enjoyed [the campaign],” recalls her eldest daughter, Revd. (Mrs.) Tola Oyediran. “She enjoyed herself.

She had company of other people. You know, somebody who had been through so much, [therefore] people showing her love neutralized a bit of the sorrow…”

While her husband remained in jail, it was agreed between the AG and the NCNC that HID should be the candidate for the prime ministership if the alliance, UPGA, won the highest number of seats in the 1964 federal elections. She was expected to then pardon her husband and release him from jail. Subsequently, she was expected to resign and allow Awolowo to replace her as prime minister. There was no other person in the world that the late sage could trust with that task except the woman who would later be described as the “Mother of the Nation.”

Obafemi Awolowo was arrested on November 2, 1962 on the charges of treasonable felony and remanded in prison.

But his travails, which he will later capture in the Adventures in Power series (My March Through Prison and The Travails of Democracy and the Rule of Law), started shortly after the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Western Region on May 29, 1962. He was restricted to Ikenne two days later. Twenty days after that, that is, on June 20, he was ordered to proceed to the mosquito-infested island of Lekki where he would be restricted to an abandoned government building. After thirteen days in Lekki, he was yet again ordered to return to Ikenne to continue his restriction. He returned to Ikenne on July 4. Sixteen days later, the Majekodunmi-led emergency regime in Ibadan, once more ordered Awolowo to leave for his official quarters on Bell Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, for another spell of restriction. He arrived in Lagos on July 22.

Through it all, even though the then Leader of Opposition at the Federal Parliament did not want his wife to follow him around in the places of restriction, HID insisted. She with him every inch of the way, making the different places of restriction as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

She was there with him on Bell Avenue, Ikoyi, when the restriction order was changed to house arrest on September 22, 1962. She was there on November 2, 1962 when the villainous Irish police officer, John Lynn, came to arrest him.

She, followed them to the court and was there when they drove Awolowo to Broad Street Prisons after reading the charges against him. She drove behind the police convoy to the prison before returning home to prepare his lunch. She was repeatedly humiliated every inch of the way.

Continues on pg 4

4 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915 -2015)

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

She was with Awo every inch of the way

Continued from pg 3

When the authorities changed the restriction to house arrest, HID had to endure invasive and degrading search conducted on her person every time she left or returned to the house on Bell Avenue. When she took his food to prison, the warders forced her through demeaning processes of entry and exit. Their adversaries, whom Awolowo described as “formidable and merciless,” ensured that it was not only Obafemi Awolowo who suffered from 1962 to 1966, his wife and children too went through the most turbulent period of their lives in that era. When she returned home after her husband’s first appearance in court, the authorities had cut the power supply. She had to look for alternative accommodation in Shomolu on the Lagos Mainland so she could still prepare her husband’s meals to take them to him in jail.

“This was the greatest humiliation….” recalled the great woman we all call “Mama,” when she spoke to me in July this year.

In the middle of all the harassment and humiliation, Hannah lost her first son, Olusegun Awolowo. The Cambridge-trained lawyer died tragically at 24 on July 10, 1963. She was waiting for him to join her in Lagos to drive to the prison to see his father. She waited in vain. At Aba-Nla about 15 miles from Ibadan, Segun Awolowo’s car was involved in an accident.

Yet, through all the tribulations and tragedies and the successes and glories of her life, HID remained a study in fortitude, grace and dignity….

ONE JULY AFTERNOON IN 2015, I was interviewing Mama HID in Ikenne in the company of Dr. Segun Olatunji and Mr. Edward Dickson, the Consultant and Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the African Newspapers (ANN) Plc, respectively. The ANN Plc publishes the Nigerian Tribune, the newspaper founded by HID and her husband in 1949. Her youngest daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, formerly Nigeria’s ambassador to The Netherlands, was with us.

I was writing her biography. For three years, she had wanted me to do this. As a student of Awolowo’s public life, she was sure I needed less time than any other person to write the book to mark her centenary. It was a rare honour for someone who had been taught from childhood that “Awolowo lo s’aye d’ero” (literally, “Awolowo made life easy”) – a simple acknowledgement that captured, in the early 1970s, the transformation of the Western Region by the unequalled administrative genius of Obafemi Awolowo.

In embracing the project, I didn’t expect that HID would have as much time and energy for interviews as she had when I first met her about two decades earlier. Having visited her Ikenne home many times and interacted with her on a number of occasions, I was hopeful that this task could be accomplished in record time, as she demanded. Mama’s humour was sure to smoothen the process.

During one of the round of interviews, Segun Olatunji warned me that I had taken too much of the 99-year-old’s time and needed to let her go back to the room to rest. Too late, Mama shot back. I had “strained her neck” already!

We all laughed. At 99, Mama’s sense of humour was undiminished.

About a decade earlier, I had visited her alongside Segun Olatunji, who was then the MD/Editor-in-Chief of Tribune. Mama had mentioned something that a very prominent man in Lagos told her during his visit the day before. Before she was done, Olatunji interjected that he doubted the veracity of the man’s claims.

“Ha! I know,” Mama responded. “Once the man sits down, a torrent of lies is unleashed!”

We laughed heartily. The eminent man would have assumed that he had successfully deceived the old lady who was then an octogenarian. She is one of the most attentive human beings that one could ever have met.

Even when she pretended not to notice things, she was fully aware of her environment. And she had an incredible memory. There was no one she ever met whose name she forgot. Only a few hours before she passed on, she still displayed her amazing memory. “[OBAFEMI AWOLOWO] HAD A VERY

deferential attitude towards his wife so that her comfort appeared to matter so much to him,” observes Odia Ofeimun, poet, public intellectual and Awolowo’s private secretary in the Second Republic.

Indeed, theirs’ was an exceptional union. As Yomi Mamora describes them in his book, Obafemi and Hannah Awolowo were “two of a kind.”

Unknown to most people, the man who was reputed to be one of the most self-assured in Nigeria’s political history suffered years of self-doubt. HID’s steadfastness and fortitude in standing by him like a Rock of Gibraltar helped in no small measure in ensuring that Obafemi Awolowo overcame his psychological and psychical battles, so much so that, in the end, he was able to proclaim that “I am the Master of my Fate, I am the Captain of my Soul.” And no one recognised the important role that Hannah played in Obafemi Awolowo’s life – a role which was so decisive that it was indispensable – like the man himself. When he declared her his “jewel of inestimable value,” he was paying her the greatest compliment but also affirming an indisputable fact of his public and private life.

“I supported him wholeheartedly,” Mama says with a sense of fulfilment last July, twenty-eight years after his demise.

She stood unflinchingly by his side for almost fifty years. Her five children, Olusegun Awolowo (deceased), Omotola Oyediran, Oluwole Awolowo (deceased), Ayo Soyode (deceased) and Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, were all witnesses to the unsurpassed affection which their parents shared. The same is true for the grandchildren. Hannah’s attentiveness to, or attentive courtesy concerning the demands and needs of her husband were almost mythical.

“I don’t know of any woman whose husband loved and revered her the way Papa loved Mama,” says Yemi Subair, HID’s fourth grandchild. “[When we were] growing up, their relationship thrilled us.”

HID constantly replenished Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo. At the same time, she was a powerful influence on him in many ways. She managed the gulf between his public ambiContinues on pg5

5 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915 -2015)

‘I knew what he wanted and I wanted him to be...’

Continued from pg 4

tions and his private obligations and stabilized things when the one threatened to challenge the other. Therefore, Obafemi Awolowo could not have succeeded in his public ambitions if HID didn’t help to manage and maintain his private obligations. This was what he attested to in his autobiography where he credits her with making their home “a true haven: a place of happiness, and of imperturbable seclusion from the buffetings of life.”

Indeed, while Obafemi Awolowo may have instilled in himself an uncompromising conviction regarding his own potential greatness – which he describes in his memoir as his “great and immortal role” – undoubtedly, it was Hannah, with her abiding fortitude, exceptional devotion, constant encouragement, industry and above all, transcendental love, that pressed Awolowo, without any hesitation, towards, and sustained him in his greatness. She was the first to identify and nurture Awolowo’s potentials with enthralling care, shrewd awareness and helpful goading.

Therefore, when he called her an “ideal wife” and “a jewel of inestimable value” in his autobiography, it was partly to capture what he later explained as her “outpouring of her love and devotion” which were “beyond words.”

The “Grace of God” and his “Spartan self-discipline” added to “a good wife,” confesses the man who is popularly called “the Sage,” were the three factors responsible for his remarkable life.

However, while most people who have written, and who speak constantly, about the love shared by Hannah and Obafemi Awolowo often repeat that golden phrase (“a jewel of inestimable value”), what they often fail to account for is the fundamental challenge to his psychological and mental – and, by that implication, physical – health which Hannah helped Obafemi overcome. Even Hannah herself never articulated this publicly. It is perhaps one of the reasons why people, including even some members of their immediate family, fail to understand the deep and abiding love between the two and their unbroken bond, a space of mutual love and enduring trust into which not even their children and grandchildren could intrude.

Without doubt, Obafemi Awolowo’s colossal intellectual and political ambitions for regional, national and continental transformations could not have blossomed without

Hannah Idowu Dideolu’s astute capacity to nurture the home as he embarked on his ventures – which culminated in his description as “the best president Nigeria never had,” by the leader of the secessionist Republic of Biafra, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Yet, many who have paid close attention to Awolowo’s eventful life often miss the fact that the earliest years of his marriage to Hannah were the most traumatic – financially, socially, psychologically and also psychically – in his entire life. Lay commentators often concentrate on the years of his trial and tribulations which eventuated in his incarceration as the most traumatic. Certainly, those years were very distressing to Awolowo – and Hannah. But he had achieved such a high level of moral, psychological, intellectual and spiritual development by the time of the Coker Inquiry, treasonable felony trial and imprisonment (and the death of his first son, Olusegun), that he was able to cope well with these challenges much more easily than he was able to cope with the morally and psychologically destabilizing afflictions of the first six years after marriage.

Obafemi Awolowo himself emphasizes this in his autobiography where he notes that the years between 1938 and 1944 – when he left for the UK – that is, the first six years after marriage in December 1937, were years of “severe condemnation of self and deep regrets” of his past. In those first six years of marriage, starting from when she was only twenty-two, HID had to nurture a man who was entertaining the fear that his life of “unbroken difficulty” since his father died had been transformed into “a life of permanent difficulty and failures.” These frightening tasks were pressed on a young lady who had been warned not to marry the “intransigent” and “rascally” young man, Obafemi Awolowo….

IBADAN IN THE LATE 1930 when HID moved there to begin a new life with her husband was an effervescent city. The old warcamp turned city-state which became a tradomodern city was in rapid transformation.

“He wanted two things – politics and law,” Hannah said on the eve of her seventieth birthday, justifying her decision to obey her husband’s wishes in the early years of their matrimony. “When I married him, he was in business – transport and produce-buying. But he had always said, ‘One day I want to be a frontline politician. One day I want to be one of the first class lawyers in this country.’ So, I

HID (arrowed), waving the broom presented to him by the people of Gbongan in Osun division in August 1964 to “sweep away” the NNDP from power in the Western Region.

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

knew what he wanted, and I wanted him to be what he wanted to be.”

“I have never seen her speak negatively to Papa. She deferred to him always. It was always what Papa said. I know she had her moments when she disagreed but …Mama’s will [always came] second to Papa’s will,” discloses HID’s first grandchild, Funke Awolowo.

With the moral support of Hannah, by the close of 1942, Obafemi Awolowo was free of all the debts which had “enthralled and cramped” him and family. His business failure, which forced them to sell his personal effects, his car and their uncompleted house in Ikenne, was over.

Now “financially liberated,” the couple began a new life in which the head of the home was able to re-launch his delayed plan to travel to England to study for law. They had torn the mask, therefore, the “beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity” was on the horizon. As he acknowledged, Hannah’s support was critical to this recovery.

He confessed that “With my wife on my side, it has been possible for us to weather all financial storms.

Because of her charm, humility, generosity a n d ever-ready sympathy and helpfulness for others in distress, she is beloved and respected by all our friends and acquaintances.”

One early morning in 1943, after morning prayers, Obafemi Awolowo told his wife that they had something critical to discuss.

He had resolved to make a “last and powerful bid” to attain his ambition, professional and political. To be able to attain the second, he needed to accomplish the first. If by the time he clocked forty in seven years, he had not been able to study law in the United Kingdom, he would focus on business as his major source of income for the rest of his life. Therefore, he was

launching a five-year personal development plan which would start on his thirty-fourth birthday, that is, on March 6, 1943.

This plan, Obafemi intimated his wife, would involve living a private life that would produce intense intellectual fortification, moral elevation, financial security, and the acquisition of a profession. Hannah responded that she was committed to supporting him in achieving the four cornerstones of his ambition. Beyond this, she would also increase the tempo of her prayers to ensure that he achieved his ambition.

In this period, even though he “found it hard to disbelieve in or doubt the existence of God,” Awolowo had “become a hearty admirer of agnosticism.”

He only attended church occasionally. But Hannah sometimes insisted that he had to keep her company when attending church services. She had become what the Pentecostalists would later describe as a “prayer warrior.”

Obafemi Awolowo credited HID Continues on pg 6

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Continued from pg 5

with “courage of a rare kind”, a quality which he believed he also possessed. However, he confessed that “I am no match for her at all in her exercise of infinite patience and forbearance under all manner of circumstances. She absorbs without a word of complaint all my occasional acts of irritability.” These were the unique virtues which were on display in the trying period of their early lives as a couple.

She showed the enduring nature of these virtues in the years that followed. In all the period that Awolowo was raising doubts vehemently about “the legends and fictions which the Israelites and their successors in dogma have woven round” God, Hannah remained a steadfast Christian. As Awolowo later wrote, “Throughout the period of my oscillation between agnosticism and Christianity, my wife stood immovably for the later.” However, he eventually returned to Christianity. “Her constant admonitions and steadfastness did more than anything else to restrain me from going beyond the point of no return….”

She did more than that. Her business acumen ensured that the family, even in the worst of times, never lacked. She provided for the children and even supported her husband financially when he was studying in the UK in the second half of the 1940s….

“ORI MI WU O!” (“I am overwhelmed!”)

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, in an emotion-laden voice, told the gathering at Lekki Island 47 years and five days after she and her husband left the island to return to restriction in Ikenne. “I don’t know what to say at all because this event has brought back the sad memories of our travails in this area. I remember this ocean where I used to go and pray every morning….”

It was Friday, June 25, 2009. Mama was visiting the site of her husband’s restriction for the second time since they left there in July 1962. Her first return visit was in 1988. Her husband was dead then. She visited the town as part of her memorial of a dark period in the private and political life she shared with her husband. On that visit, she was accompanied by her son, Oluwole Awolowo, and others. But the house they visited in 1988 had only been nominally transformed from the one they occupied in 1962. On that visit, she was followed round the small town by the locals. She looked around and saw that the well from which they drew water was still there. She also visited the Anglican Church she attended with her husband. The church’s roof was made of bamboo sticks in 1962 when they arrived. Hannah and her husband paid for asbestos roof for the church. She had a small thanksgiving in the church when she visited under the leadership of Rev. Bankole.

‘A lot of us ’ ll miss her in very deep ways’ But the site of the restriction that Mama HID, now 94, visited in 2009 had been totally transformed. The town too had been transformed. Even though it remained “far,” it was no longer regarded as “remote” or “mosquito-infested.” The house had been rebuilt and slightly remodelled to accommodate the newly created Awolowo Museum, which was part of the Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy (OAIGPP) started by the Lagos State Government. On the walls of the museum were framed images of Awolo-

wo’s eventful, difficult, but ultimately glorious political journey with his loyal wife.

Mama recalled that there were no chairs or mats to sit in the house when they arrived 47 years earlier. She told the gathering that she and her husband sat on the bare, cold floor.

Their visitors also did. “It brings back sad memories and turbulent moments for a man who stood for the truth but was incarcerated for his beliefs. We ate eba every day and slept on slept on the floor,” she told the audience.

But the memories of what those who Chief Bisi Akande – the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute – accused at the event of attempting to impose “political feudalism” on Nigeria, did to H.I.D. and her husband could not hinder her joy.

“Thank God that I’m alive to see a day like this,” she announced. “I’m alive; I give appreciation to God who made us to be alive today to see this dungeon where my husband and I lived has transformed into an institute…. I have come today as a celebrant of the transformation of the house to a museum,” said Mama. “I am sure that my late husband will be very elated in heaven today for what the Lagos State Government has done in transforming this dungeon and slave camp into an Institute for Research toward good governance and public policy,” she added….

THE LONG AWAITED DAY OF JOY WAS FINALLY HERE. From the splendour and glory of Obafemi

Awolowo’s elevation to the position of Premier of the Western Region through the dark disquiet of his days of restriction in Ikenne, Lekki and Ikoyi to the unutterable sorrow of Segun’s sudden death, which was followed by his 10-year jail sentence, HID had journeyed through it all with grace and self-possession.

Now, the exhilarating bliss of her husband’s release from jail was provoking far greater positive sensations than she had ever experienced in the course of their lives together.

Her animated state and the powerful glee that coursed through her mind agitating her limbs this morning of August 4, 1966, were inversely proportional to the numbing emotions and grief heralded by the break of dawn on July 10, 1963, when she was bereaved.

What was she to do? Where was she to meet her Ever Devoted and Affectionate Husband, as Obafemi Awolowo had described himself to her in his last dispiriting letter? What would she do when she first beheld him in freedom for the first time since November 2, 1962? He had predicted in his letter to her in May 1964 that “In God’s good time we will meet again in a most happy reunion, and that before very long.” “Before very long” took three years, nine months and one day. Awolowo was pardoned on August 2, 1966. He was flown to Lagos the next day.

Working with Awolowo’s political associates and members of the larger family, HID readied herself for the challenges of the momentous change in the country which had been signalled by her husband’s release. Alhaji D. S. Adegbenro, Awolowo’s deputy and acting leader of the Action Group, volunteered to go to Lagos with other party faithful to welcome Awolowo and travel with him to Ikenne. Hannah could go on with the plans to receive her husband at home, as thousands of people had started to troop to Ikenne as the news of Awolowo’s release spread. It was a new dawn for Nigeria, particularly in the Western Region.

When he arrived in Ikenne, she flew into his hands and they embraced warmly. “After darkness,” he had said in his allocutus in 1963, “comes a glorious dawn”.

The dawn had come…

ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015, I called Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu on the telephone from the United States. It was afternoon in Nigeria. I wanted to check a few things with her concerning the plans for Mama’s centenary scheduled for November. I knew that the children and grandchildren were meeting that day in Ikenne. I assumed that the meeting would have been over by that time.

“Mama is gone,” she announced to me on the phone as the line went dead.

As I learnt from her later, she had just leaned Mama against her on the bed to make her comfortable when she breathed her last. I called at that moment….

“I think a lot of us are going to miss her in very deep ways…when the time comes,” Ayotola Ayoyinka Ayodeji, HID’s granddaughter, tells me earlier in the year.

The time has come.

One day, the question will be asked: who was the single most important person responsible for Obafemi Awolowo’s capacity to accomplish so much as to be described as “the best president Nigeria never had?”

The answer will be uncontested: Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

Goodnight, Yeye O’odua.

• Excerpts from a biography of Chief (Mrs.) HID Awolowo, entitled In the Radiance of the Sage, authored by Wale Adebanwi, who teaches at the University of California-Davis, USA. The book will be released in November 2015.

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Yoruba, Nigerians will miss her —Okowa Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

G

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said that the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty will be greatly missed by Ogun State, the Yoruba race and Nigerians.

Okowa made this known

in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu

RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has stated that Mama lived a development centred life,

who deserved a special mention among nation builders.

Adeyemo recalled her roles in the first and second republics and how she stood by her husband.

THE National Orientation Agency (NOA) described Mama as a woman of peace and a nationalist.

The agency’s DirectorGeneral, Mike Omeri, in a statement noted that Mama Awolowo stood

worthy of emulation by Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity and political affiliations.

FORMER Senate Majority Leader and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State in the April election, Senator Teslim Folar-

by her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the struggle for a truly independent and prosperous Nigeria.

Omeri lamented that Chief H.I.D. Awolowo departed at a time when preparations were ongoing to mark her 100th birthday.

FORMER governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said that the best that could be done to immortalise Mama was for all Nigerians to remain

in, has commiserated with the Awolowo family and the entire Yoruba race on the exit of their matriarch, Mama HID Awolowo.

Folarin described Mama as a great woman of substance, adding that “Nigeria will miss her interventions and wise counsel.”

A press statement made available noted that, “among the wives of first Republic politicians, HID was without doubt, one of the most visible and outstanding women of that glorious era.”

... a virtuous woman —Adesua, Olaoye FORMER Managing Director/Editor in Chief of ANN Plc, Pastor Sam Adesua and former Chief Accountant of the company, Dr Jimoh Olaoye,

described Mama as a good leader and a virtuous woman.

Adesua said, “At last, the second half of integrity has departed.”

An ideal mother —Yinka Ayefele GOSPEL singer, Dr Yinka Ayefele, described the late Chief HID Awolowo as an ideal mother and a great wife worthy of emulation by women.

“Mama gave us a reason to wish that our loved ones live forever with her sterling personal and public life that made her a strong pillar behind one of the country’s foremost nationalists,” said in a release signed by Ayefele.

She was exemplary —Rasaki, Faseyi THE senators representing Ekiti North District, Duro Faseyi, and Ekiti Central, Mrs Fatimat Raji Rasaki, have commiserated with the Yoruba race and Nigerians over the demise of Chief HID Awolowo.

In separate statements made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Sunday, the serving senators said the death was a great loss to the Yoruba race in particular and Nigeria at large.

The release added “while we understand that death is inevitable, it is my secret wish that Nigerian women emulate the late HID’s love for her family and nation, her life of industry, selflessness and abiding faith in God.”

Governor Wike described the passing away of the matriarch of the Awolowo family and the

She lived a life of love —Oyinlola

A woman of substance —Folarin

She was a nationalist —NOA DG Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

He described the wife of the late Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Obafemi

Awolowo, as a woman who exhibited an uncommon ability to sustain not only

the structure left behind by the sage, but also added a motherly perspective.

Mama lived a development-centred life —Wike

Nigeria has lost a great amazon –Oyo speaker THE Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo, has described the death of Mama HID Awolowo as an exit of an uncommon role model who during her lifetime represented everything a Nigerian woman should represent.

In a condolence message personally signed by the Speaker, he described Mama as a great amazon

and made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Warri, Delta State.

Nigerian Tribune

Also, the Committee of Local Government Transition Chairmen in Ogun State equally paid a visit to the family.

The chairmen, led by Dr Kiadese Adeola, commiserated with the family over the demise of the Yeye Oodu’a.

He said, “It is a colossal loss to the entire Yorubaland. The vacuum she left behind is difficult to fill.

We can only take solace in the good deeds she left behind.”

united, especially the Yoruba race.

Oyinlola, who was accompanied by his wife, Omolola, said this when

FORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, in his condolence message wrote “Mama was dedicated and loyal to her late husband till the very end.”

“Mama, we thank God for your life. Your dedication, sacrifice, loyalty and fidelity to causes dear to you and Papa Awolowo are legendary. We love you, but we have to let you go.”

You remained my loving adopted Mama —Aduwo

VICE Admiral Akin Aduwo (retd) expressed his happiness for having a “mother”

and “son” relationship with the deceased.

“Mama, I had the privilege of meeting you on January 16, 1952 when you brought your (now late son), Segun, to report to Igbobi College as

Joe Nwachukwu - Owerri

THE governor of Imo State and chairman, All

he paid a condolence visit to the Awolowo’s home in Ikenne on Monday.

He said, “I think the only tribute we can pay to retain

the memory of Mama is for us to honour her by ensuring the actualisation of our dream; that is to unite under the same umbrella.”

Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, described Mama HID

Passage of last amazon —PDP govs Clement Idoko - Abuja

THE governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed their sadness over the death of Mama HID Awolowo, describing her death as “passage of the last amazon.”

The governors, under the

aegis of the PDP Governors Forum, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by its chairman, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, said HID was an amazon of extra ordinary courage.

Coordinator of the forum, Osaro Onawiu, issued the statement on behalf of Mimiko.

Awolowo as a representative of an era.

Governor Okorocha said “Mama Awolowo had lived life that was action–oriented, and several years after the husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, had died, she kept the flag flying by giving her whole life to the service of God and humanity.”

Governor Okorocha noted that the spontaneous reactions of Nigerians of goodwill over her death could only explain the fact that she had lived a fulfilled and exemplary life.

Vacuum left by HID will be difficult to fill —Ladoja

By Dare Adekanmbi

A former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has said that the vacuum created by the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, will be difficult to fill.

In a condolence message by his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, Ladoja described the death as shocking and a great loss not only to the family, but also to Nigeria.

Ladoja said although Mama lived to 99 years, she would be missed as a

my classmate and friend (1952-56). You remained my loving adopted Mama till your end, even as Yeye Oba/Yeye Oodu’a of the source, Ife. May your motherly kind soul rest in peace.”

Mama has crossed the threshold —AMORC THE Grand Administrator and President, Rosicrucian Order, AMORC (Nigeria), Chief Dr Kenneth U. Idiodi, in his tribute to Mama said, “Mama HID Awolowo has crossed the threshold to the higher cosmic realm. Beyond being a jewel of inestima-

He stated that Mama was a pillar of support to the nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

She was a representative of an era —Okorocha

Mama was dedicated –Prof Akinyemi

By Olayinka Olukoya

co-founder of the Nigerian Tribune as an irreparable loss to the entire nation.

ble value, she remained a quintessential spiritual mother to all of humanity.

“We’re glad about the life she lived, the legacy she left behind, the role she played in holding Papa’s followers and the ideal that both Papa and Mama stood for.”

courageous and diligent mother who stood solidly

behind her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Nigeria has lost a true heroine —UPN national chairman

By Rotimi Ige

THE Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), through its National Chairman, Professor Bankole Okowa, has described the passing of Mama Awolowo as a national tragedy.

In a statement released yesterday and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, Okowa said the nation had lost a true heroine.

He said, “The revived UPN, whose initial founder

was the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1978/79, is duty bound to identify with the passing of our mother, Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, at the very ripe age of ninety-nine.

“When the UPN and its governorship candidate for Ogun State, Prince Rotimi Paseda, paid a courtesy visit to Ikenne for Mama’s blessings last March, in the company of the new UPN torch-bearers, we hardly knew that we were paying her our last visit.”

A huge blow to quest for unity —Harry Akande Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

FORMER presidential aspirant of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Harry Akande, said on Sunday that the demise of Chief HID Awolowo was a huge blow to the quest for unity within the Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a country.

Akande, in a condolence message made available on Sunday, said that the Nigerian political firmament had lost a huge resource, whose contributions, he said had been remarkable since the First Republic.

He stated that over the years, HID had filled the void left by her husband,

Chief Obafemi Awolowo and kept the flame of political unity burning without making noise about her contributions.

Exit of a great era —Odebo

FORMER Sole Administrator and Chairman, Ikenne Local Government, Chief S.A. Odebo, said that “If Baba was the Best President Nigeria never had, Mama was the Best First Lady Nigeria never had.”

“Mama was a focal and rallying force among Baba’s associates, especially after Baba’s glorious exit.

Her hospitality and her retentive memory were unparalleled in all ramifications.”

8

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Lagosmetro Workers and sympathisers at the scene of fire incident at the Good Shepherd house at Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Chukwuma Okparaocha

T

here was pandemonium on Monday in the Alausa area of Lagos State, as fire gutted the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) headquarters, at the Good Shepherd House, Alausa.

Lagos Metro gathered that the third floor which houses the office of the Director of Administration was on fire, said to have started at around 8.30am and is be-

Fire guts internal revenue office

lieved to have resulted from a power surge in an air conditioner unit.

Men of the Lagos State Fire Service whose station is a stone throw from the tax office said they were prompt in responding to a distress

call put out to them as a result of the fire.

The fire was put out about 30 minutes after it started.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele, told

parked indiscriminately on both sides of the airport along Ajao Estate Road.

The indiscriminate parking has continued to create heavy traffic on the road while the three-lane road was reduced to one for other motorists to ply.

Apart from the aviation fuel tankers, tankers carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also parked along the airport road.

It will be recalled that FAAN had in August 2013 relocated the tanker drivers to a permanent site within the environment after years of creating problem on the highways at the airport.

Despite the relocation to a permanent site, the tanker drivers who hide under the guise of lifting aviation fuel for airlines, line up their vehicles on the road, and have threatened to down tools whenever their action

is challenged by the airport authorities.

Lagos State government had, on September 6, restricted the movement of heavy duty vehicles within the metropolis to between 9pm and 6am, following a trailer accident in Ojuelegba which resulted in at least three deaths.

Passengers groan as trucks block airport Shola adekola

Lagos airport users have continued to suffer untold hardship no thanks to the heavy traffic created by the movement of trucks and tanker drivers to the Oshodi-Airport road.

The movement of the articulated vehicle drivers to the airport was as result of the ban on daylight operations by trucks and all articulated vehicles on Lagos roads by the Lagos State government.

Lagos Metro observed that many of the fuel tankers and other articulated vehicles having withdrawn from the Lagos roads have now turned the airport to an alternative park.

When Lagos Metro visited the Oshodi end of the airport on Monday, many of the fuel tankers and the articulated vehicles were seen

newsmen that the command centre in Alausa was alerted about the fire at 8:45am, saying that the fire service and LASEMA responded swiftly.

“The fire service got here three minutes after they got a distress call and was able to curtail the fire that affected only one office,” he said.

Acting Director, Administration, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Abbeydeen Akande, in a statement said that no life was lost before the fire was contained.

He stated that the fire which affected only a space of about two metres was caused by a faulty capacitor in one of the air conditioners in the office.

Lagos Island distributes free books, learning kits Sylvester Okoruwa Lagos Island Local Government Council during the eighth edition of “My Complete Students” initiative on Monday distributed free school kits, such as books, uniform, sandals and sock and other learning materials to pupils of eleven primary schools and five secondary schools located in the local council.

The Executive Secretary, Lagos Island Local Government Council, Adetoyese Olusi while delivering his address at the event, said that “We are touching lives

of Nigerian citizens positively by lifting the huge burden of school cost off parents.”

He added that the council was equipping the children to give them the opportunity of becoming great future leaders.

He added that the initiative was aimed at preventing children from wandering the streets due to the excuse of inability to afford school materials.

“The council under my leadership will continue to commit resource to making our public schools better and well equipped,” he said.

Police begin hunt for bridge railings vandals Olalekan Olabulo The police in Lagos State have begun a hunt for vandals who destroy railings of bridges in the state.

The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the state has also transferred a suspect, arrested in connection with vandalising the railings of one of the bridges, to the Special Anti Robbery Robbery Squad of the state police command.

Three members of a pickpocket gang, who were arrested on the island of the state, have also been arraigned in court.

The suspect, Musa Inusa, was a few days ago arrested by operatives of RRS who were on a routine patrol around the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu.

Lagos Metro gathered that the police at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State police com-

mand have begun investigations to arrest other members of the gang who escaped.

The commander of the unit, Olatunji Disu, an assistant commissioner of police, confirmed the transfer of the suspect to Lagos Metro.

The police are also to investigate and arrest receivers and buyers of the stolen railings in other parts of the state.

Disu, while speaking with Lagos Metro said “We have

transferred the case to SARS for further investigations.

“We are working on how to arrest other members of the gang as well as their buyers to prevent the bridges from becoming a death trap,” Disu said He also added that the three suspects, who were arrested for picking pockets on the island of the state had been charged to court by the Special Task Force of the state government.

9

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Edited By Lanre Adewole 0811 695 4647

Fadeyi pedestrian bridge...a disaster waiting to occur.

Photo: Newton-Ray Ukwuoma

Residents excited over completion of works on Akinola Bridge Akin Adewakun

Gridlock caused by articulated vehicles at Apapa, Lagos on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Fake iron rods flood market — Consumer rights group Shola Adekola The Federal Government has been implored to take urgent actions against any iron and steel manufacturing companies discovered to be flooding the market with sub-standard iron rods.

Making the appeal in Lagos at the weekend, a consumer rights group, Safety Initiative In Construction Industry (SAICI) noted that iron rod markets have been flooded with products that are not carrying Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) labels, and were also found to be defective.

Speaking in Lagos, the group’s spokesman, Mr Folabi Ajisola said the influx of the sub-standard iron products posed a serious threat to the construction industry.

According to him; “As a consumer rights group, we are also a stakeholder in the building and construction industry. Our association is worried by cases of

collapsed buildings, and consequently we set up an independent investigating team. The result of our investigation revealed that today there is an influx of sub-standard iron rods in the market, and this is one of the reasons why we have an increase in cases of collapsing buildings all over the place especially in Lagos and Abuja. We want government to take urgent action to stop this ugly development.”

While pointing accusing fingers at some foreign owned steel companies operating in the country for the development, Ajisola said, “We discovered that these fake products are finding their ways into the market because the companies that are involved in this unhealthy practice now bypass distributors and take these iron products directly to the buyers especially to the sites where constructions are taking place. These fake iron rods being sold to unsuspecting customers

don’t carry the SON labels, and receipts are also not issued to buyers so that it will be difficult to trace the source of these fake products.

“Our investigations further revealed that these companies are by-passing the local distributors who used to be in charge of distribution. We learnt that the local distributors are being by-passed because the always insist on seeing on having SON labels

on iron rods to be bought and also for receipts to be issued to them and the foreign companies are refusing to co-operate with them’’.

Highlighting the danger posed to the society and government by the unhealthy practices, Ajisola said the steel companies involved are denying revenue ought to be remitted to government coffers while at the same time endangering people’s lives.

Residents of Aboru, in Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos, have expressed delight over the completion of works on Akinola Bridge that had been under repair for the past few months.

The bridge, which links the community with the rest of the metropolis, had been defective for months before it was eventually knocked down by the state government following outcry from residents, who believed the bridge constituted serious danger to the lives of motorists and pedestrians in the community.

“We are just very pleased, it’s quite a relief. It had been tough for us as motorists living in the community. Driving out was

Employee charged to court for stealing soap, deodorant Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has slammed a N100,000 bail on a 26-year-old company employee, Dayo Moses, who allegedly stole toiletries worth N6, 000 belonging to his employer.

The accused, who resides at Block 133, Jakande Housing Estate,

Lekki, is facing a charge of stealing.

It was gathered that the accused stole six pieces of Nivea roll-on, Joy soap and Nivea body cream valued at N6, 000, property of the company.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Ishola Samuel, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 11

at about 7.20 a.m at the premises of Spar Company Ltd, Lekki.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 285 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Magistrate Olanike Olagbende, who gave the ruling, adjourned the case till September 30 for mention.

extremely difficult,” stated Mr Adepoju Hassan, a resident.

Hassan described the period the bridge was under repairs as traumatic for residents in the area since it required going extra distance to move out of the community.

A member of the Tricycle Operators Association in the area, Alhaji Yusuf Badru, believed the re-opening of the bridge would drive down transport costs in the area.

“This is the shortest route to and from the community, and for the bridge to have been shut down for that long was quite a big problem for us that eke our living on this route. That was even one of the reasons there was an upward review of transport costs in the area in the first instance,” Badru stated.

“We are happy as residents of this area. At a point, we knew our lives were in serious danger; the makeshift bridge that was constructed for us was like a death-trap.

At a point it was looking as if the wood would cave in,” argued Gbadebo Raphael, in a chat with Lagos Metro.

Raphael, however, expressed the hope that the recent repairs on the bridge would be long-lasting; since that would be the third time in the past three years the bridge would be undergoing such repairs.

10

businessnews

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

ABCON suspends BDC operator over money laundering C hima Nwokoji - Lagos

T

HE Executive Council of the Association of Bureau De Change OPerators of Nigeria (ABCON) has suspended Amazon Bureau De Change (BDC), its directors and staff for alleged involvement in money laundering by swallowing dollars for export.

The Association said that

Standard Alliance boss re-joins NIA governing council

in line with its zero tolerance stance, the Disciplinary and Investigative Committee of ABCON has commenced comprehensive investigations of Amazon BDC and the actions of its directors and staff.

Addressing Newsmen in Lagos on Monday, ABCON’s acting president Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe stated that the suspension of Amazon BDC, though not intended to pre-empt the outcome of these inves-

tigations remains indefinite pending the outcome of the investigations.

The ABCON acting president disclosed that the investigation is being carried out in conjunction with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“While this is not to preempt the outcome of these investigations, the suspen-

sion is to serve as strong warning to all ABCON members that any case of illegality and unethical conduct will be severely dealt with by the Association.

“We call on all BDC operators not to allow anyone to use their services or license for money laundering or any act of illegality and criminality, Gwadabe stated.

It should be recalled that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on last Thursday arrested six mem-

bers of a suspected money laundering syndicate that specializes in swallowing dollars.

NDLEA had said that the group, which includes a bureau de change operator, at Amazon Bureau De Change were caught in connection with swallowing US$156,000 (about N32 million) meant for export to Brazil.

It was the second arrest in two months of suspected money launderers involving a bureau de change.

Gbemi Solaja - Lagos THE Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Mr Bode Akinboye, has been co-opted into the Governing Council of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), the umbrella body for all insurance companies in Nigeria, for the year 2015/16.

In a letter issued by the association conveying the council’s decision to the Standard Alliance Insurance boss, the Governing Council noted that his cooption was expected to add value to the deliberations of the body, adding that the decision to co-opt him was in line with the provision of article 6 (1) (d) of the association’s constitution that provided for the co-option of members into the council.

Akinboye, who assumed office as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc in January this year after leading Gemrock Management Company Limited to acquire strategic stakes in the company, is returning to the association as an old member having earlier served on the Governing Council.

Sir Ademola Kuti and his wife, Lady Oluwaseun Kuti (middle) with Glo ambassador Basket Mouth (right) and Jos-based comedian, Osama during the Surulere edition of Glo Laffta Fest in Lagos, on Sunday.

Okonjo-Iweala bags 2 international jobs FORMER Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has accepted two key international positions.

The first is to serve as Chair of the 28-member Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, GAVI, (http://www.gavi. org/about/), an international public-private partnership committed to saving the lives of children and protecting people’s health by improving access to immunization in developing countries, including Nigeria.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala was elected to the position after a competitive international search process.

GAVI is a $12 billion multilateral partnership which disburses grants of upwards of $1.8 billion annually to developing countries for immunization programmes.

GAVI brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialized and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil

society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists.

GAVI is funded by governments of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, Spain, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States as well as the European Commission, the OPEC Fund for Interna-

Glo treats Benin residents to night of music, dance FUN-seeking residents of Benin City were on Saturday night treated to a night of high octane music and dance as Nigeria’s most entertaining musicians took the centre stage to perform at the Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert in the city.

The ancient city literally exploded in a snowball of energetic lyrics with the quartet of Korede Bello, Burna Boy, Wizkid and D’banj taking turns to perform at the show that will

remain evergreen in the memories of the crowd.

Anchored by the inimitable comedian, Okey Bakassi, the Saturday night was one like never before as the ace comedian sent the audience reeling with laughter in between the music performances by the super stars from Lagos and the Benin-based artistes who made their city proud.

There was also DJ XGee who dished out popular dancehall tunes from the turntable.

The first sign that the night was going to be fun all through came when the “I don get alert” crooner, Korede Bello, entered the stage and opened the night of fun with panache, assuring the crowd that he had the right formula to tickle their fancy. He thrilled the crowd with “Na God Win” and “Adaobi”. He was followed by the energetic Burna Boy, who re-enacted Fela Anikulapo’s stage stunts. Burna Boy dazzled the crowd with songs like

“Beat of no Nation” and “Run My Race”.

While Wizkid was simply electrifying with his life band as he did songs including “Ojuelegba”, the Koko Master, D’banj, had a memorable night as he was on stage for close to one hour, with the crowd asking for more. Acclaimed as one of Nigeria’s best entertainers ever, D’banj performed songs like “Orin yato sorin” and “Eni to ba ta felefele” with incredible energy to the amazement of his fans.

tional Development (OFID) and other institutional and corporate partners.

It will be recalled that, from 2000-2015, GAVI disbursed $425m in grants to Nigeria, an average of about $30m per annum for vaccination and immunization of children, including polio vaccines.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala succeeds Dagfinn Høybråten, a former Norwegian Minister of Health and current Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers as Chair of GAVI. Previous Chairs include Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and respected education activist and former First Lady of South Africa, Graca Machel.

In the second appointment, the former Managing Director of the World Bank has also joined the highly respected 167-year-old global investment firm, Lazard (https://www.lazard.com/) as Senior Advisor. Her focus will be sovereign advisory.

“We are proud to welcome Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as a Senior Advisor to our world-leading sovereign advisory group,” said Matthieu Pigasse, Global Head of M&A and Sovereign Advisory of Lazard.

Emirates’ Boeing 777 Fleet tops 859,000 flights EMIRATES, the world’s largest operator of the U.S. -built Boeing 777, celebrated the fleet completing over 859,000 flights while logging over 4,720,000 flight hours since its first delivery in 1996. On 3 September, the airline and Boeing marked the 150th Emirates 777 delivery milestone, with a triple delivery of two Boeing 777-300ERs and one Boeing 777 Freighter.

Emirates’ 147-strong Boeing 777 fleet criss-crosses the globe, currently serving 98 destinations on six continents.

These staggering operating milestones underscore Emirates’ long-term commitment to the Boeing 777 programme and its contribution to aerospace manufacturing and related jobs in the U.S. “Emirates’ approach to global air travel has created substantial additional demand for U.S.-made aircraft and engines, and benefited millions of travellers,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline.

“The Boeing 777 makes up the majority of our fleet, and gives us the range and flexibility to provide nonstop services to almost any city within a 16 hour flying range of our hub in Dubai.

Our orders for these efficient jets have come on the back of our steady growth in the U.S. and globally.

“We are proud to connect U.S. cities to tourism and trade opportunities in destinations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East which were previously underserved by direct air transport links. It’s clearly a win-win situation when our investments in U.S.made technology together with our global operations, help to support U.S. jobs and strengthen American prosperity.”

Supporting American jobs through committed investments in Boeing Aircraft, Emirates’ multi-billion dollar investment in the Boeing 777 programme over the past 19 years, with committed deliveries for the next decade, continue to support jobs and innovation in the US aerospace manufacturing supply chain.

Including its recordsetting order in November 2013 for 150 GE-powered Boeing 777Xs, Emirates currently has an order book of 196 Boeing 777s valued at US$93 billion at list prices.

11

businessnews

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

NLNG reduces gas flare to 20% Olatunde Dodondawa - L agos

T

HE Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has stated that it has been able to reduce gas flaring in Nigeria from about 70 per cent to less than 20 per cent.

The General Manager, External Relations, NLNG,

Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, said: “Crude oil exploration was never achieved in isolation but with associated gases.

Nigeria did not explore for gas but crude oil, so the gas becomes a nuisance because you have to get rid of the gas before you get to the oil.

“So you must find a way

to get rid of it. That’s why we flare. One of the reasons for establishing the NLNG is to convert waste to wealth by converting gas flare to cash. Right now, gas flare has reduced to less 20 per cent from about 70 per cent.”

On domestic gas pricing, Eresia-Eke stated further

that the NLNG was not primarily into domestic gas policy but strictly for export.

“NLNG Act stipulates that we should produce for export but we only dedicated certain percentage for domestic LPG market as a responsible corporate citizen.

“When the refineries,

that used to be the main source of LPG supplies to the domestic market, were down, Nigeria resulted into importing petroleum products including LPG. “But as a corporate entity, we were asked to start supplying LPG to the markets through the off-takers,” he said.

Rotary Ojodu gets first female president, to raise N25m for charity

By Rotimi Ige IN fulfilling its humanitarian mandates, the Rotary Club of Ojodu has concluded plans towards raising N25 million for the execution of its projects for 20152016 rotary year.

This projects’ fund raising will be part of the activities marking the official installation of Rotarian Ezinne Obioha as the club’s 11th and first female president on September 26, 2015 at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja in Lagos.

According to Ezinne, the club’s projects are in line with Rotary’s six areas of focus which include “basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, and economic empowerment and community development.

“Others are conflict resolution and prevention, water and sanitation and disease prevention and treatment and they are aimed at serving humanity, especially members of Ojodu community.”

While highlighting the projects, Ezinne emphasized that the idea behind the fund-raising is to galvanize support of Rotarians and Rotary friends towards the realisation of the club’s set objectives for the year and beyond. She enumerated the projects the fund is meant for to include “the construction and equipping of a standard library for Isheri Grammar School, Isheri; the provision of standard soccer pitch for Ojodu Grammar School, Ojodu; sponsorship of 40 youths to Rotary International Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) programme this year and the organisation of Literary Competition among students of selected secondary schools in Lagos State.”

Kogi State governor, Capt Idris Wada (second right), inaugurating the Ecobank/National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Friendly Centre at Kogi State University, Anyigba, recently, assisted by Director, Partnership Coordination, NACA, Emmanuel Alhassan; Head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia; Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Professor Hassan Isah, with others.

Shipping lines bemoan too much officialdom in Nigeria’s maritime sector Tola Adenubi - Lagos INTERNATIONAL shipping lines operating in the Nigerian maritime sector has bemoaned the too much officialdom that exists in the Nigerian maritime sector.

Speaking to journalists recently in Lagos, the chairman of the Shipping Association of Nigeria, Chief Val Usifoh, said too many paper works were killing the Nigerian maritime sector.

According to him, “Notable among challenges to Nigeria’s maritime sector

growth is that as a developing nation, there is too much officialdom in the ports.

“Although this is gradually coming down, in the past, every government agency wants to be in the ports. It is only now when discipline is being enthroned as a way of life here that we now see that some of them are no longer physically present at the ports.

“Another challenge is that there is too much paper work involved in the clearing processes. The world has gone on to the level of

e-commerce, e-trading, but there are some government agencies that still believes in the manual paper documentation, and this is another serious challenge to the growth of Nigeria’s seaports system. There is need to reduce man-to-man contact in the port clearance system.

“When I was the chairman of the Ports Industrial Development Committee, we tried to reduce the menace of man-to-man contact in the ports because it breeds corruption.

Everybody wants to have his share of

the national cake before some papers are signed or processed. We tried then to minimise physical contact in the ports. However, that challenge is still there.

“Another problem we have at the seaports is the challenge of infrastructural decay. Nigeria has not put enough investments on a regular basis to upgrade infrastructure in the ports. That is why Apapa ports and Tin-Can ports are the major ports that are active even now when there is a lull in cargo throughput.

‘FLP transformation in Nigeria unprecedented’

By Gbenga Olumide PRESIDENT, Forever Living Products International Inc., Mr Gregg Maughan, has said that Forever Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented transformation, saying it is expected to strengthen its performance taking advantage of the Forever brand that is accepted around the world.

Mr Maughan, who made this submission in Lagos during his visit to Nigeria also enjoined Forever Business Owners, who market

Forever products to believe in themselves, as well as utilise the opportunities provided by the company to improve their health and livelihood.

According to him, “the multi-level marketing company has changed the lives of many who come into the business and that is the reason hundreds of young people and professionals are joining the Forever business on a daily basis.

“The atmosphere is fantastic because it is unique and genuine. You look at

the faces of the people and you see excitement that is out of this world. Forever, truly is changing the lives of the people. Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunity offered by this company to change their lifestyles. People feel better, the atmosphere is soothing.

The people are in this business to change lives, every one of them. You need to set goals, conquer rejections, earn additional income and enhance your own health.”

Also speaking at the event, Forever Director of Opera-

tions, Africa, Mr. Jackson Adagala, asked those involved in the business to avoid stereotype and embrace innovation.

Speaking earlier, Forever Nigeria, Country Sales Manager, Mr. Olusegun IsraelAdegboye, said the company is doing new things and committed to doing its part in reducing the high level of unemployment in the country by encouraging young people and unpaid employees to come forward and benefit from the opportunity that forever provides.

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business

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

daily summary (equities) for monday, 21 SEPTEMBER, 2015

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

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news

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Asset declaration: Appeal Court refuses Saraki’s bid to stop trial •I’ll appear today –Senate President •Allegation of Dollar rain rocks Senate From Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi, Sunday Ejike and Dare Adekanmbi

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HE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, threw out an application brought before it by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, seeking the setting aside of an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which issued a bench warrant of arrest against him.

Moving the ex parte application, counsel for the Senate President, Adebayo Adelodun, had prayed the appellate court for an order to stay the execution of the ruling of the tribunal delivered on September 18.

Saraki, through his counsel, also wanted an order of stay of charge No: CCT/ ABJ/01/2015 preferred against him, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on Monday and still pending before the Court of Appeal.

The appeal, according to Saraki's counsel, was hinged on 12 grounds and backed up by a 16-paragraph affidavit, four exhibits and a 17-paragraph affidavit of urgency, urging the court to grant all his prayers in the ex parte application.

But, the three-member panel of the appellate court, presided over by Justice Moore Adumein, in its ruling, held that though the court had the general power to make an interim order or grant any injunction; for the court to exercise such power, the application for interim order shall be by motion on notice.

“Consequently, the ex parte application is hereby refused and struck out,”

FG declares Thursday, Friday Sallah holidays THE Federal Government has declared Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25 as public holidays, to mark the celebration of this year’s Eidel-Kabir.

The Federal Government made the announcement in a statement by the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Yusuf Isiaka Alhaji, on behalf of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abubakar Magaji, on Monday.

Justice Adumein stated and adjourned till September 29, hearing of the motion on notice, with proof of service on the respondents.

He said it was not in the character of the Court of Appeal to interfere with the proceedings of the lower court, saying that “to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal is not a death sentence.”

Similarly, at the resumed hearing of Saraki's matter at the Code of Conduct tribunal, sitting in Abuja, the tribunal chairman, Justice Danlami Umar, said it had the jurisdiction to hear and determine the ongoing false asset declaration case instituted against the Senate president, despite the ruling of the Federal High Court.

He acknowledged the request for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.

Umar then re-issued a bench warrant of arrest on Saraki, who failed to appear before it to take his plea and insisted that he must appear or be brought by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase,

today, to answer to the 13-count charge slammed against him by the Federal Government, bordering on alleged false declaration of assets.

He said the tribunal took notice of the fact that the case had been ruled by the Federal High Court in Abuja to show cause why it should not be restrained from arraigning Saraki over allegations bordering on false and improper declaration of assets said to have been acquired during his tenure as governor of Kwara State (2003-2011).

He also took notice of the fact that the Appeal Court had entered into its registry the request by the defendants, asking for a state of proceedings.

He, however, argued that in the two instances, no ruling or decisions had been taken, which barred it from jurisdiction or going ahead with proceedings and adjudication of the case before it.

Despite the appeals to the contrary by the lead counsel for the Senate President, Joseph Daudu, the tribunal agreed with the

prosecuting counsel that Saraki must appear in person unfailingly today.

Meanwhile, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has slated September 30 to hear the preliminary objections along with the substantive matter of the ex parte motion which Saraki brought before the court.

Reacting to the development, Saraki, on Monday, said he would appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal today.

The Senate president, who spoke to newsmen in the Senate, said with the ruling of the Court of Appeal asking him to appear before the CCT to take his plea, he would appear before the tribunal, as, according to him, he had nothing to hide.

“Well with the ruling of the Appeal Court, I think, based on legal advice, we will exercise our right and, being a lawyer and by the Directive of CCT saying that one should be there tomorrow, I will be there.

I have nothing to hide,” he said.

Also in a statement on Monday, Saraki’s media office said the Senate helmsman was ready to appear before the CCT. Nigerian Tribune on Monday learnt that the forces against Saraki’s ouster had taken the game to another level, with reports indicating that a signature drive might have commenced.

A source close to the Senate President told the Nigerian Tribune that: “I can tell you that the plot to remove Saraki is taking another dimension right now.

From Sunday, a strange gift called ‘Sallah gift’ said to be dollars had started moving around senators, with no fewer than 30 of them already partaking in the gifts,” a source said.

It was also gathered that a signature drive was already afoot since Sunday.

It was gathered that the second phase of the battle against Saraki would surface immediately he appeared before the CCT, with the plan to intensify the campaign that he “resigns honourably.”

The essence of the “Sal-

How Fulani herdsmen kidnapped Olu Falae Abductors demand N100m Hakeem Gbadamosi -Akure FORMER Secretary to Government of the Federation ( SGF) and chieftain of Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Olu Falae, on Monday, his 77th birthday kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers who invaded his farm.

Falae was said to have left his home in Akure, Ondo State capital, to his farm in Ilado, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday morning.

According to a source, the gunmen, numbering 20, invaded the farm around 12 noon, while announcing their arrival with gunshot before overpowering the former finance minister and whisked him away.

It was gathered that some of the workers on the farm, who tried to rescue the old man, were injured by the kidnappers, as they were infuriated over their attempt to rescue Falae.

The source said the kidnappers, taken to be Fulani herdsmen, on arrival at the farm beat up Falae and took him away in the thick forest.

Speaking on the development, a brother of Chief Falae, Sunday, said the el-

der statesman set out for the farm early, with the hope of returning home to celebrate his birthday with the family.

According to him, the abductors met the farm manager, Bruno, at the dam and attacked him with matchet before proceeding to the farm house, shooting sporadically before picking their target and escaped into the bush.

According to him, the kidnappers, numbering eight, were armed with guns, while three of them put on masks.

He confirmed that the abductors went away with Bruno’s telephone which was used to call the wife of Chief Falae, demanding for ransom of N100 million.

Spokesperson of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Remi Olayiwola, who also confirmed the development, said “the kidnappers have called the wife of the septuagenarian, saying ‘Baba is safe and sound with us, but you must make available the sum of N100 million between now and tomorrow.’”

Olayiwola, however, said the abductors did not allow Chief Falae to speak with his wife, but they only

assured her that he was in safe hands.

He said the accent of the man who called Mrs Falae sounded like a Fulani, adding that the abductors might be using that as a decoy to distract police from tracing them.

Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO), Wole Ogodo, said his men had been drafted to the scene of the incident to rescue the former SGF. Ogodo said about 50 policemen had been drafted to Ilado village to comb the area, saying the operation was headed by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operation.

The PPRO explained that Chief Falae had, earlier in the year, reported Fulani herdsmen in the area to the police for destroying his farm produce when they took their cows out for grazing.

He said the Fulani herdsmen in the area signed an undertaking to avoid re-ocurrence, adding that some of the injured workers on the farm had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

Reacting to the development, Ondo State government, speaking through

the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, described the act as unfortunate and condemnable.

Akinmade, in a telephone interview, said the act showed the level of decadence in the country and clearly indicated that “nobody is safe.

“This is disturbing and sad, especially when it involves an elder statesman like Chief Falae, but I'm sure the man will be rescued very soon and the perpetrators will be brought to book.”

Akinmade said an emergency security council meeting had been summoned by the governor, while he assured that the elder statesman would soon regain his freedom.

Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, described the development as embarrassing to the group, the state and the nation.

He, however, expressed optimism that the former finance minister would return home safely.

Also, the national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, in a statement on Monday, called on the security agencies to track the abductors swiftly.

lah gifts,” it was gathered, was to soften the minds of the lawmakers, so as to ensure the rug could be swept off the feet of the former Kwara governor.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yussuff, has said focusing on the political class alone to the exclusion of the top civil servants in the area of asset declaration is unhealthy for the country.

Yussuff spoke at Ikenne Remo, Ogun State residence of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, during a condolence visit to the family over the death of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo.

He expressed dissatisfaction that Nigerians were unaware that the constitution mandated top civil servants to also declare asset, but were only beaming the searchlight on politicians alone.

The deputy speaker, who spoke against the background of the ordeal of Saraki over alleged false asset declaration, said he saw nothing wrong in the drama playing out.

“These are clearly intolerable. Security forces must rise to the occasion by taking steps to combat these mindless lawlessness going on in the country,” he said.

In its reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state blamed the porous security in the state for the incident.

In a statement by its publicity secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the party called on the state government to expedite action and to safely free Chief Falae from his abductors.

In his own reaction, former Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said the abduction of Falae was not only unacceptable, but also an exceptionally dangerous development.

He called on the president and security agencies to effect expeditious and immediate release of the elder statesman, adding that “we cannot sit down idly and watch our leaders and elders being endangered, shamed and humiliated in this manner.

“If he doesn’t come home hale and hearty, we will hold the Federal Government responsible and there will be consequences.”

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Suspected suicide bombers kill over 60 in Maiduguri James Bwala - Maiduguri

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OMB explosion in six different places within Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, claimed the lives of over 60 residents of Ajilari cross ward on Sunday, newsmen have learnt.

According to residents, the explosion, which occurred at a mosque, viewing centre, checkpoint Majalisa and two other locations, also killed two soldiers and a police officer.

Ajilari cross, outskirts of Maiduguri, had witnessed series of Boko Haram attacks, including bombings in recent past.

The explosions which were suspected to have been masterminded by suicide bombers occurred simultaneously at about 7.38 p.m, while the last one took place at about 8.00 p.m, forcing residents to flee to the main city for safety.

Mallam Ali Babagana, a survivor based in Ajilari, told the Nigerian Tribune on phone that the incident occurred at a popular telecommunication service point, where many people gathered to buy/sell GSM recharge cards and other petty businesses.

“I was close to the scene of the multiple blasts, but God saved my life, as many were feared dead and injured. I saw many shattered bodies at the scene before I ran for my dear life,” Babagana said.

Another Usman Tijjani told Nigerian Tribune that he counted four simultaneous explosions suspected to have been carried out by some male and female suicide bombers, who sneaked into the town from Sambisa forest.

“Already, we have started parking out of Ajilari and now looking for a safer place in Maiduguri. Many bodies littered the scene of

the blasts as we sought an escape route to Gomari Airport,” he said.

In another development, some suspected members of the Boko Haram sect am-

bushed an operational vehicles of security forces along Maiduguri- Dikwa- Gamboru Ngala road on Saturday.

Dikwa and Ngala was captured by terrorists some

couple of months ago, only recently that the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai led some troops to recapture the two towns from the insurgents.

Due to poor telecommunications networks in the area, details of casualties on the side of the security operatives and the terrorists were sketchy as

From left, Chief of Policy and Plans, Major-General Lincoln Ogunewe; Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai; acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman and the Chief of Army Administration, Major-General Adamu Abubakar, during the Chief of Army Staff’s third quarter conference, in Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Shekau making noise to remain relevant —Buratai Rekindles hope on rescue of Chibok girls C hris Agbambu - Abuja with A gency R eports THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, on Monday, reacted to the latest audio message released by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, describing it as “another desperate move by the group to find relevance.”

He said the group no longer had the capacity to hold any ground or plan co-ordinated attack on strategic locations or key public facilities.

“I think the new Boko Haram leader, in the latest audio, was just trying to sound relevant; but as far as I am concerned, he is irrelevant

in the scheme of things; he is irrelevant to me.

“Have you seen any of them come out apart from the suicide bombings? You can see the number of terrorists that are escaping from their camps; he is just making noise to remain relevant,’’ he said.

The Army chief also rekindled the hope of Nigerians on the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014.

Buratai gave the assurance while fielding questions from newsmen on the sideline of the Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference held at Army Headquarters, Abuja.

He said the safe return of the girls remained a priority of the military in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

He said there were strong indications that the girls were still held within the fringes of the Sambisa forest.

The COAS explained that though the exact location of the girls in the forest was yet to be ascertained, the military was mindful of their safety in the bid to secure their release.

He said: “The issue of the Chibok girls is very crucial, as we are making all efforts to clear the terrorists and after clearing them, rescue the Chibok girls in one piece.

“I believe that the girls

must be somewhere within the general area of the forest, but we are not yet sure exactly where they are.

“As soon as this is confirmed, we will attempt to see what we can do to bring them back in one peace, it is very crucial, because their safety is very important.”

Buratai pledged that the military would continue to work with the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to end insurgency and secure the release of all their captives.

On Sunday’s bomb blast in Maiduguri, the Army Chief urged residents of the area to remain calm, as measures were being taken to forestall recurrence.

Army approves promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting Boko Haram THE Nigeria Army has approved the promotion of 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the North-East and others involved in other operations, as part of steps to boost their morale.

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, made the announcement on Monday, in Abuja, at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference, held at the Army Headquarters conference hall.

He said the approval of the promotion of the soldiers was one of the many measures introduced by the

of press time, but sources said both sides suffered severe casualties during the ambush.

When contacted on phone, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the 7 Division in Maiduguri, Colonel Tukur Gusau, told Nigerian Tribune that he was busy somewhere, but promised to get back when he might have obtained details from troops in the affected communities of Dikwa and Ngala, even as he said he had not heard of any explosion in Maiduguri as of the time of going to press.

Hospital source at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri told Nigerian Tribune that many corpses were brought to the hospital last night, but the number was not known.

“They are many that were brought to the hospital, but I don’t have the figure,” he said.

The police Public Relations Officer, ASP Emmanuel Isuku, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations.

He added that it was also in line with the vision of the Army command to reward gallant troops in any way deemed fit to boost their combat readiness and willingness to serve their fatherland.

He said troops serving in the North-East and in other operations in the country would regularly receive rewards from the Army High Command for their selfless service to the nation.

“Since we came on board, we have introduced several

measures aimed at encouraging our troops to give their best in the service of their nation.

“The approval of the accel-

erated promotion of 5,000 soldiers was to redeem the promise made by my predecessor to the troops fighting insurgents in the North-East.

“It is my belief that this promotion, coupled with other incentives, will encourage our troops to fight for our country,’’ he said.

Ebonyi gov lauds military, donates to IDPs MILITARY operations in Nigeria may soon begin to enjoy support, as critical stakeholders have begun to donate to the upkeep of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-East.

Ebonyi State governor, Engineer Dave Umahi, on Monday, committed to give bags of rice and other essen-

tial items to the IDPs and the troops in the contested area.

The governor made the commitment when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, noting that for the Nigerian Armed Forces to win the war against insurgency in the North-East, it was im-

perative for all and sundry to give them their support and encouragement.

Governor Umahi said in addition to individual and corporate supports, the military would also require the general public to champion the campaign of effective isolation of the terrorist elements in that corner of the country.

He said the bomb attack had provided clues of the remaining areas the insurgents were operating from in the state.

Earlier at the opening of the conference, Buratai urged the participants to brace up to the challenge posed by the presidential directive on ending insurgency in the shortest possible time.

He implored field commanders to propagate the `Change Agenda’ in their various units and formations, in order to transform the Army, in line with the vision of the present administration.

Buratai said the third quarter conference would provide the opportunity for the Army to assess it strength, weaknesses, threats and opportunities in the wake of emerging security challenges in the country.

On the over 3,000 soldiers that were convicted for cowardice by the military court martials set up by the former chief of Army staff, LT General Kenneth Minimah, General Buratai disclosed that they have all been deployed to the North-East and joined in the combat operations.

Also, on whether their salaries for the period they were dismissed will be paid, the Army chief said they would not be paid, but would only start earning their salaries from the day they started their training.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Femi Ibirogba adefemi2007@yahoo.com 0811 695 4646

Getting higher farm yields with maximum plant population

By Femi Ibirogba

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s now is the time to plant certain crops, such as beans, lowland rice, cassava stems, second batch rain-fed maize, tomatoes, watermelon and land preparation for yam in Nigeria and other African countries, most farmers need to shift from the past and embrace good new agronomical practices, among which is right plant population per hectare to ensure productivity and food security.

Underutilising arable land with fewer plant populations has been identified as one of the major factors responsible for low agricultural productivity in Nigeria despite huge available arable land, leading to heavy dependence on importation of food crops, disinterestedness in agriculture by younger generations, and poverty of farming households.

Planting fewer seeds per hectare of land leaves the farmer with scanty harvests, weed infestation and its costly maintenance, loss of labour hour, inability to cultivate more hectares and eventually lack of interest and poverty.

Surveys reveal, as Dr Richardson Okechukwu of International Institute Tropical Agriculture (IITA) said, that most farmers still plant their grains, root and tuber crops wasting resources by leaving unnecessary space between plants.

More than half of Israeli land area is desert; the climate and lack of water resources are unfavorable to farming and only 20% of the land area (294,800 hectares) is naturally arable, but the country produces 95% of its own food requirements, while Nigeria, with 84 million hectares of arable land, depends not only on food import but also almost every other finished product.

To complement other efforts to reverse the trend, agricultural scientists and technologists say even without the sophistication of mechanisation, fertiliser application and other technologies, productivity can be doubled by maximising plant population per hectare.

Plant population per hectare varies from crop to crop and experts have recommended the followings.

Maize A maize breeder at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Dr Samuel Olakojo, said a minimum of 50,000 and maximum of 55,000 maize kernels would

be required to plant one hectare of land if the maize is not intercropped at 75cm by 25cm spacing. Olakojo said planting fewer kernels per hectare had been responsible for costly and unprofitable maize production in Nigeria, saying the waste associated with weed maintenance could be avoided if proper current planting spacing is followed.

He maintained, however, that if intercropped with cassava, the maize population could be fewer.

However, Country Manager of Pioneer Seeds in Nigeria, Mr Olumide Ibikunle, recommended a planting spacing of 75cm between ridges and 20cm spacing on ridges, as against 1 metre between ridges and 50 or 75cm on the same row/ ridge common with most farmers. He also recommended just a kernel in one hole, contrary to the usual practice of two or more kernels per hole. He said with this spacing, about 60,ooo kernels of maize seed would be planted per hectare. This, he added, would eliminate weed control cost, give maximum yields and better profit margin to farmers.

Rice Dr Francis Nwilene, Coordinator/Regional Representative, Africa Rice Centre, said to have good population of rice plants per hectare of farmland, 50 to 60kg of rice seeds should be planted on one hectare of lowland ecology, while 80kg of rice seed is recommended for the upland ecology.

He added that this would leave the farmer with right population and right harvest if combined with other good agronomical practices.

Cassava Dr Okechukwu, a cassava breeder at IITA, said with right spacing, farmers can make a lot of profit by increasing their productivity using the same number of hectare, time and other resources by 100 per cent.

Israel produces 95% of its own food requirements, while Nigeria, with 84 million hectares of arable land, depends not only on food import but also almost every other finished product

“So, getting different variety and not getting the right plant population, you are not doing business. Even if your soil is not rich and you are able to take the right plant population, getting 20 to 25 tonnes per hectare is very easy and this is the message we need to take home.

“A commercial farmer or a cassava farmer who wants to make money should consider not doing inter-cropping. The money you make is a function of yield and the cost of input you used in growing the farm. The root you want to sell is subject to some prices and some other forces that you cannot control. The processor who wants to buy fresh roots will want to price you down because there are so many people producing. So, you don’t have that power to push up price as a root producer, thus, you can only gain by decreasing your expenditure and by increasing your yield. That is where the money is.”

He added that “the business is to get the right planting population at the time of maturity. We should also know that one way to lower cost is mechanisation. Farm labour is very expensive. Not only that, it is also scarce and so mechanisation is one of those few things that can bring the youth back to the farm. It can also lower your cost of production and your our aim is to lower cost and get higher yields.”

Mr Paul Ilona, Country Manager of HarvestPlus Nigeria, an organisation promoting bio-fortified crops, said planting cassava stems 1m by 0.8m gives 12,500 stands per hectare, but spacing stems 1m by 1m gives the farmer 10,000 plants per hectare.

He argued the former would help the farmers to spend less on weed control, thereby reducing cost of production and would help the farmers to record higher yield per hectare.

If one plant of cassava yields four kilogrammes, the farmer with plant population of 12,500 will get 10 tonnes of the root crop extra, spending less time and resources than a farmer with 10,000 plants per hectare.

Yam Dr Norbert Maroya, Project Leader of Yam Improvement for Income & Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said planting spacing depends on ecological zones.

The yam breeder said some farmers space the farm 1.2m by 1.2m, while some plant 1m by 1m, depending on the texture of the soil and the size of the heaps.

In Kogi State, he specifically recommends 1m by 1m, saying the soil texture allows yam to do well even with that.

Overall, he implied that to maximize the hectare, no fewer 10,000 of yam seeds should be planted per hectare.

Watermelon The old tradition in watermelon planting spacing is 1m by 1m, giving a plant population of about 10,000 plants per hectare, though each plant can have three to four balls.

Dr Emmanuel Ajayi, a plant physiologist at NIHORT, Ibadan, said farmers could double their productivity if a planting spacing of 1m by 0.5m is adopted, giving less room for weed infestation and preventing unnecessary costs.

Farmers’ usual practice Most farmers revealed that their planting spacing is usually determined by whether they intercrop the farm or not.

With intercropping of maize and cassava, spacing between ridges is 1m while spacing between plants on the same ridge is between 1 and 1.2ms to give room for the intercropped plants.

A farmer, Dauda Mohammed, ignorantly, was of the opinion that enough space should be left between plants and ridges to make the plant healthy and enhance higher yields, not minding fewer plants and weed control.

An elderly farmer who did not want his named published also said he would not always worry himself with space measurement, adding that what mattered was getting the right seeds or seedlings and good yields to justify his labour.

He, however, expressed willingness to adopt practicable recommended spacing.

agriculture WAAPP, UI graduate 47 fish farming trainees 17

By Stories Femi Ibirogba

W

est Africa Agricultural Productivity P r o g r a m m e (WAAPP) and the University of Ibadan, again, graduated 47

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

trainees in the second edition of the entrepreneurship training series aimed at equipping youths and women for self-employment and job creation, last week.

WAAPP-Nigeria has taken it upon itself to train, empower and equip Nigerians selected from

all the geopolitical zones of the country, leveraging on expertise and human resources of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management of the University of Ibadan.

Professor Bamidele Omitoyin, Head of Department,

Economy: Agric experts chart way for

sustainable development As the oil price continues to plunge, it goes without saying that over reliance on oil wealth is no longer sustainable for the development of Nigeria, it was against this backdrop that experts in agriculture

FG to implement fertiliser quality control system The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has resolved to develop a regulatory framework for quality checks and enforcement to ensure that farmers access quality fertiliser.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Sonny Echono, represented by Director, Farm Input Support Service Department of the ministry, Mr Akinbolawa Osho, disclosed this at the launch of a soil project on the establishment and implementation of fertiliser quality control system in Nigeria, fully supported by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Echono stated that the legal and regulatory framework for fertiliser quality control would enable the Federal Government inspectors to undertake periodic quality control at fertiliser production plants, ports of discharge and market outlets.

He said that fertiliser samples would be drawn by inspection officials for laboratory analysis.

The permanent secretary said the government had identified some violations in the subsector, including plant nutrient deficiencies, misbranding, adulteration, short weight of bags, bagging quality, operating without certificate of registration or with expired certificate of registration.

He, however, condemned the activities of some unscrupulous players who have been ripping off farmers the benefit accruable from their investment in fertiliser.

Echono stated that a Draft Fertiliser Bill the ministry sent to the National Assembly had passed the first reading and would ensure its success soonest.

development studies, researchers and scientists gathered at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, to chart way forward for sustainable management of the nation’s dwindling economy.

The theme of the national conference, ‘Food security, sustainable livelihoods and rural revitalisation in a challenging economy,’ perfectly fits the present economic situation in Nigeria, which is affected by sinking oil prices.

The conference, which is the third in a series, was organised

by Sustainable Livelihoods and Development Network for Africa (SLIDEN Africa).

Speaking at the conference, the Project Director of Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Project (CAVA II), said that for Nigeria to insulate itself against the falling oil price and respond effectively to the development demands placed on, it there was the need for the nation to find sustainable resources.

“Sustainability is vital; unless resource use is sustainable, no economy can respond effectively to the ongoing demands placed on it. At a time when the realisation that continued over-reliance on oil wealth in Nigeria is not sustainable for its development, it is apt that revitalisation and unlocking of the potentials of the nation’s rural power- houses is the subject of the academic and development discourse,” Prof Adebayo said.

Making emphasis on food security as it affects the economy and rural development, the Vicechancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho, Professor A. S Gbadegesin, explained that Nigeria’s population growth rate stood at 2.8 per cent per annum, while food production growth rate stood at 2.5 per cent per annum, an indication that food demand in Nigeria has grown faster than food production, thereby leading to food importation to augment the shortfall in food production.

“Although, the rural places, as much they are important to human societies, can also be economically, socially and culturally vulnerable.

The economies and identities of rural communities often develop around single resources, which is an indication that they can be threatened by volatile resource markets. Therefore, in order to sustain rural vitality, the need to understand how rural

communities can revitalise from this period of economic meltdown in Nigeria and build local resilience against further exogenous shocks is highly imperative,” Prof Gbadegesin said.

Aquaculture and Fisheries Management of the university, said, “we are grateful to WAAPP for giving us the opportunity to partner with it to reduce youth unemployment, malnutrition, food insecurity, and to enhance sustainable fish production in Nigeria.

“The participants were exposed to requirements for starting fish enterprises, fish feed formulation and production, fish farm management practices, processing, packaging ….”

He disclosed that participants would be equipped with starter kits, including fish fingerlings, smoking kilns and training allowance of about N120,000

Nigerian Tribune

each.

Acting National Project Coordinator of WAAPP-Nigeria, Mr James Apochi, commended the university over the partnership to reduce unemployment in Nigeria and for deploying its best human resources and expertise to execute the WAAPP project, saying the institution was helping WAAPP to achieve one of its objectives of creating a national/ regional centre of specialisation in aquaculture.

He assured the trainees that “WAAPP-Nigeria will not stop at just training you, but will continue to support you to ensure that what you have learnt is put into practice.”

Dons urge govt to support tissue culture yam seeds production

By Tunde Ogunesan Stakeholders on yam production have called upon the Federal Government to support the setting up of a public-private initiative to facilitate an emerging tissue culture-based yam seed production in the country.

This was contained in a communiqué arising from a yam seed production workshop held at the University of Ibadan, and made available to the newsmen on last week.

The three-page communiqué was signed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (academics), University of Ibadan, Professor Gbemisola Oke, and the workshop facilitator, Dr Morufat Balogun, a geneticist in the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology.

On the workshop, which was on using temporary immersion bioreactors (YAM TIBs), they noted that there was limited availability of yam seeds from TIBs. The stakeholders also identified scarcity of planting materials as the major constraint to yam

production in Nigeria.

“In order to allay fear or reservations towards acceptability of tissue culture produced yam seed among other farmers or general populace, there should be advocacy for acceptability of the technology through different media,’’ it said.

The communiqué stated that stakeholders had observed that there was need to use TIBS to speed up the production of planting materials also known as clean yam seed.

According to the communiqué, yam is an important food crop in Nigeria and the country is the world’s largest producer.

“Having identified possible market glut that might result from rapid propagation technologies, the workshop opined that NRCRI and National Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, should develop and advocate for improved harvesting, post-harvest handling and storage.’’

The workshop also called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of priority, revitalise the yam export market in line with the alternative revenue drive of the

present administration.

It equally canvassed for youth training and development using National Youth Corps members so as to overcome inadequate skill and low farmers’ level of education on the novel seed production system.

This, the communiqué added that such would reduce ruralurban drift and expansion of farmland in seed yam production.

“As part of strategies to reduce cost and fatigue associated with yam production, gender responsibility should be identified, so that there will be more interest in farming’’, it added.

The stakeholders also recognised irregular electricity and availability of materials and reagents as threats to sustainable adoption of the technology.

To this end, it urged researchers to seek alternative, environmentfriendly and cheaper sources of power and reagents.

“In addition, there should be specialisation for different levels of production chain to accommodate high, medium and low skilled labour’’, the communiqué stressed.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Republicans’ debate: In defence of Obama

I

T was really interesting watching the Republican aspirants on television contesting to succeed Barack Obama debate last week.

All the aspirants tried their best to explain what they would do differently if they become the president of the world’s most powerful country.

Bailout fund and the survival of states I am happy that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has come to say that it would not take it lightly with any state governor who diverts the bailout fund approved to settle the backlog of salary and pension arrears.

This is a good development as it is being alleged that some state governors had already planned to divert the fund for other purposes.

The apex bank’s statement has, therefore, made it a criminal offence for any governor not to use the money for what it was released for.

While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the release of the fund, I want a situation whereby the states and local governments would restructure.

How can a state be receiving N10billion monthly allocation from the federation account, and it is using N8billion to pay salaries and pensions. Would such state ever develop?

A state is like a business empire, and the governor is like the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The governor should be able to manage the state in such a way that it would not be burdened by the payment of salaries.

The governor should be able to utilise everything at his disposal to run the economy of the state. Not all states are rich as Lagos, or the oil producing states, but all states can embark on agricultural ventures.

Brazil is an emerging economic powerhouse today, but apart from oil, it is generating a larger percentage of its revenue from agribusiness; Nigerian states can do the same.

A state like Osun, for instance, can focus on cassava production. Cassava is

so popular that apart from it being taken locally, it can be exported. Global feeds companies add cassava to their feed components.

The South South states can focus on oil palm business. Indonesia and Malaysia are surviving today through oil palm.

Our governors should not just sit, while waiting for federal allocation. Any illiterate can also do that.

They should be managers and not just governors.

•Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

In most of their remarks, aspirants attacked President Obama for being weak, thereby making Russian president, Vladimir Putin, do anything he likes in the world. From Donald Trump to Bobby Jindal, and even Carly Fiorina, all the candidates lambasted Obama for withdrawing US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, thereby creating a vacuum for the Islamic State to thrive.

However, I want to disagree with the claims of the Republican aspirants; when Obama was sworn in as president, morale against the war in Iraq and Afganistan was so low that there was nothing else he could do than to pull the troops out.

American marines were being killed on a daily basis, and they were being returned to be buried in America; it was a really terrible period for Amer-

ica. However, Obama, as a man of peace, wanted a world where dialogue would be more important than war equipment. He felt the world would actually experience peace with dialogue, and that is why he was able to settle with Cuba, and also Iran.

I, however, don’t think this symbolises weakness.

How many of the Republicans can allow their children to face the war? Are

those being killed on a daily basis not other people’s children?

Having said this, I want to support Carly Fiorina’s suggestion that Russia needs to get a clear message from the US about its role in Ukraine and Syria.

In the last few months of the Obama administration, I think he can actually start rebuilding the missile defence systems in Eastern Europe again.

This will infuriate Russia.

The US should also do more to support Ukraine in the war taking place in its Eastern region. No one is left in doubt that Russia is behind the rebels, and the US must also reassert its influence in the world.

•Femi Ibiyemi, Maryland, USA. femi_biyem2002@yahoo.ca

Saving for Nigeria’s future THERE was a time when former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon said Nigeria’s problem was not money, but how to spend it. When we were making such huge money, we mismanaged it. We have earned billions of dollars from the sale of crude oil and gas over the years, but we have not done anything serious with it.

The world we are now in is a competitive one; there are now many oil producers, and when there is a glut of any product, it results in lower prices. Earlier this year, oil was almost reaching $100 per barrel, but today, it is a little lower than $50. We still have the opportunity to invest our earnings from oil. We shouldn’t just squander

everything today, as we will need money to cater for the future generation.

It has been estimated that Nigeria will hit about 350 million in the next 10 years, with more than half of the population being children. We, therefore, need more schools, health facilities, housing, recreation centres, among others, and as such, we need to put something in savings for the future.

In Norway, another oil producing nation, there is a fund they have which they hope would provide for the needs of future Norwegians.

Norway is a country of four million people, but they have set aside more than $400billion for their coming generation. This is not the case with Nigeria; we are spending all the money we are earning, and that is why our politicians are the richest in the world today.

Unfortunately, with the fall in price in crude oil, there is no other way we can save money for future Nigerians.

What I think can be done now is for government to slash unimportant spending; salaries and benefits of political office holders should also be slashed, and we should start saving a certain percentage of money annually. If this is done, our coming generations would not say we have done nothing for them. We need to make the world more conducive for them than what it is right now.

•Akin Akande, Ikoyi, Lagos.

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editorial

T

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

NBC’s spectrum sale controversy

HE National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is currently embroiled in controversy over the sale of the 700MHz spectrum, a national frequency meant for telecommunications services, to telecoms giant, MTN Nigeria, for N34 billion, allegedly without the knowledge of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the agency superintending over telecommunications sector, with the necessary regulating powers. The NCC by law is the agency empowered to sell such spectrums through a transparent bidding process.

Mr Ojie Panama, a Senior Partner at a firm, Integrated Network Management Consultants, had recently blown the lid off the deal, urging that the spectrum be returned to the NCC and calling on the Federal Government to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter with a view to punishing those involved in the infraction.

Responding to the controversy, however, the DirectorGeneral of NBC, Mr Emeka Mba, claimed that the spectrum was still under the control of NBC at the time it was sold, and that the licensing was handled transparently as part of the commission’s convergence service. He did not, however, respond to the allegation that the NBC was supposed to free up the spectrum to the NCC after the country’s planned migration from analogue to digital broadcasting on June 17, 2015 failed, and that the NBC, a regulator for broadcasting companies, had no right to sell the spectrum, a telecoms frequency which can only be handled by the NCC. Predictably, MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, while reacting to the controversy, insisted that the deal the company struck with the NBC was neither controversial nor lacking in transparency.

In our view, the NBC’s defence of what is obviously a flagrant violation of the law is a daring attempt at justifying illegality. Assuming the NBC has legal authorisation to sell the spectrum, did it follow through with the necessary bidding process? Where was it bidded for and how many companies submitted their bids? The outright sale to MTN Nigeria is a disincentive to other investors, particularly as they could have come up with better bids in an open and transparent process. Certainly, a situation where eligibility of bidders is not authenticated prior to opening bids, and where bidders are not subjected to post-qualification test where the accuracy of submitted documents are ascertained, is obviously questionable. The kind of auction that the NBC engaged in while ignoring other competitors in the country’s telecommunications market pollutes the business atmosphere. The transaction is made worse because it chose not to carry the NCC along

in the deal, cashing in on the country’s failure to achieve digital switch over to handle an issue clearly beyond its constitutional purview.

As is well known, proper bidding for government facilities engenders a competitive spirit and fairplay.

Interestingly, one of the ways in which government itself has fostered corruption over the years is through the sale of government property without first creating the necessary atmosphere of trust and inspiring confidence in the citizenry. Since government ministries, departments and agencies which carry out or supervise these infractions are acting on behalf of all Nigerians, it is the entire nation that is undercut in the long run, especially where the properties to be sold are grossly undervalued. Such corrupt dealings only empower those with connections to the seat of power, leaving the masses of the misgoverned populace in virtual limbo.

To be sure, if investors know that the bidding processes are lacking in transparency and fairness, this will ultimately erode confidence in the economy, with disastrous consequences for business and ultimately the country’s Gross Domestic Product. A review of the 700MHz spectrum sale is definitely called for because the process was skewed and undervalued. Indeed, if bidded for afresh in a fair and competitive process, it may, in fact, even be won by the telecoms giant to which it was sold initially. However, unless the process is seen to be free and fair, what the nation will continue to witness is a reign of impunity.

Corrupted bidding processes make a mockery of the level playing field for businesses, especially for younger, innovative companies eager to compete in a fair manner but lacking political connections.

Underhand dealings hurt the economy more than is realised. The Muhammadu Buhari administration, which has made anti-corruption a cardinal objective, needs to realise that the process of ridding Nigeria of corruption must involve getting involved in cases like the sale of the 700MHz spectrum.

According to Transparency International, through the Open Government Partnership, 40 countries now have commitments on making government contracting more open. Several countries including Canada, Colombia, Mexico and Romania are implementing the Open Contracting Global Principles and/or its data standard, and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. In the final analysis, putting up structures to check insider abuses in government ministries, departments and agencies has to be seen as a continuous exercise.

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20 opinion

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

veracity

The jewel frees her horses

A

NIMATEDLY, we shouted them over the mountains and they echoed in the depths of the valleys. We tossed them into the seas and they rippled across the hydrosphere, those words “happy new year” that chronicled the emergence of 2015 and ushered us all into the New Year stuck the midnight sky like fireworks, but we were all benighted of what was hitherto interred in the womb of 2015.

Which mortal would have been divinely insightful enough to have fathomed out the Janus-faced intentions of the dreadful Grimm Ripper and the epic harvests his sickle would make in 2015? Alas, between the second quarter and the first month of the last quarter of 2015, we had painstakingly dug the earth to a depth of six feet and employed bards to sing at the demise of notable Nigerians.

It wouldn’t be an aberration, therefore, if the year 2015 assumes the epithet “the year fountains dried up” for yet again, the Grimm’s sickle has not only unscrupulously but unequivocally obnoxiously plucked a quintessential woman, an embodiment of motherhood, but has, without doubt, orphaned the Yoruba nation.

The inexplicable tragedy of a child, who has barely ricocheted from the blow of losing its father and has to deal with the twinge of watching its mother’s breath evanesce aptly, describes the disposition of the Yoruba nation as such lamentations as “Oh Grimm, couldn’t you have stayed your sickle till after 25 November?” or “you could have made your harvest after 25 November” rent the atmosphere of the Yoruba Land.

25 November, about a centenary ago, was gaily adorned with beautiful colours for Deaconess Elizabeth Oyesile and her husband, Chief Moses Odugbemi Adelana as they heard the first cry of a daughter, who unknown to them, would metamorphose into a national mother after years of agony of casting about six seeds to mother earth with their own hands.

On November 25, 1915, the one that endured and evaded the spade with which her parents interred her siblings into the depth of the earth, emerged and began a sourjourn that would propel her, her family and her little community in Ikenne onto very high pedestals.

The same 25 November in 2015, would have made history for posterity as the one that many thought would not have lasted a year prepared for her 100th birthday celebration, but in precisely three scores and seven days

Not every human can achieve immortality, but for the tiny fraction who do so against all odds, there is no death, no mourning, only celebration.

with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08054680688 before the monumental event, Yeye Odua of Ife, pushed up the daisies.

On September 19, 2015, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, slept eternally. A huge shock like the magnitude of severe eruptions not only travelled through the bedrock of the Yoruba nation, but resonated in every nook and cranny of the nation. In the afternoon of 19 September, Nigeria lost a gem as Papa Awolowo’s jewel stopped breathing and an epoch of the finest Nigerians was terminated. Indeed, HID Awolowo’s death, as aptly described by Noble Laureate Wole Soyinka, is the recession of an era.

How the nation prepared to honour, in grand style, the last of genuine nation builders. Time would not suffice in adequately capturing the bewilderment of the nation and words would fail to depict the nation’s emotion as the news of HID’s death flew across the four cardinals.

But what do we do? Do we put on sack clothes and mourn because the music changed abruptly? Do we dignify the Grimm’s irresponsibility by breaking into sobs when we had initially prepared to celebrate? No, we dare not! We dare not mourn or compose sorrowful elegies for a woman that has a reputation of displaying stupefying courage in the midst of tumultuous storms. On the contrary, we roll out the drums and felicitate. We put on princely garments, dancing shoes and let the melodies of celebration serenade us.

By this, we cast a cloud of confusion over the Grimm for the harvest which he thought would devastate us has made us stronger. True, there has been an abrupt volte face, but this transmogrification does not leave us shattered. We cannot mourn HID because though she has dumped the flesh, she lives on in our hearts. Her name has been engraved on our cardiac muscles and her works are as evident as the subtle caressing of morning sun.

All humans enter the earth as mortals, many die remaining ordinary men and are soon forgotten like the mountain snake that leaves no trace on the rock, but a few others trade their mortality for immortality with the indelible marks they leave behind. Not every human can achieve immortality, but for the tiny fraction who do so against all odds, there is no death, no mourning, only celebration of a life that lives on. HID has freed her horses and gallantly, she gallops into immortality and so we dance!

Towards achieving a professional customs service

By Yomi Olomofe

The task before the new helmsman at the Nigeria Customs Service, Colonel Hameed Ali (retd)is onerous. The first few weeks of the retired army officer in the saddle of the customs service will be instructive as to the likelihood or otherwise, of achieving some quantum leap from the status quo as they stand configured presently.

A legion of germane questions agitate the mind concerning what the mandate of the new customs boss is, and, what his mandate ought to be. In essence, is Ali mounting the saddle with a clear, succinct and achievable work order, or has he come on board with a “rough sketch” and an ample latitude to “whip into line” by sheer use of power and its accoutrement of coercion and intimidation, any and all recalcitrant rank and file of the Nigerian customs official?

For starters, what is the service delivery level of the customs at the present time? Is it( the service) operating at optimum or near optimum levels in terms of its statutory functions( a highlight of these major functions includes, but are not limited to: maximum revenue collection, reduction of smuggling to its barest minimal level, trade facilitation, enhancement of informed compliance with the provisions of the customs and excise management act and other supervening laws and regulations of government by relevant import/export stakeholders, security of ports and border formations,etc.) Following very closely on the foregoing is the further question of public perception. How does the Nigerian public perceive the officers and men of the customs service? How do these revenue and enforcement officials present to the public?. A third set of question could be summed by an overview of the official emolument package accruing to the rank and file

of the Nigerian customs official. Is such a package commensurate to the toil?, Is it adequate? Is it regular? Is it industry competitive? What provision is in place for life after service?

As I indicated at the onset of this piece, these and very many more salient questions trail the appointment of Ali, as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service. These questions will also, in very substantial ways, determine how much success he is likely to record on this tour of duty.

It is my view that time has come to give more than a passing thought to the issue of national ethos. For as long as we refuse to confront headlong, the need to clearly define our essence as a people, and evolve paradigms that will guide our precepts of who we are and how we and our nation should be perceived, we would not have started any meaningful drive in any direction. What President Muhammadu Buhari must begin to vigorously ponder at this point is how to begin to lay, in the minds and psyche

of Nigerians, an enduring national etho that seeks, first, to make all of us willing to buy into a more edifying Nigerian spirit, and then, do our utmost to project and protect that Nigerian spirit. The swansong on every lip is that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of our nation, and I say, that is as it should be, considering that visionary, focussed and meaningful leadership and governance had long ago, been abdicated in the nation space called Nigeria. But, I digress. The Nigeria Customs Service, being an important revenue collection agency of government, the institution takes not a little pride in the sobriquet “second highest revenue earner for Nigeria”, second to its other behemoth counterpart, the NNPC, has, for far too long, in my view, allowed itself to be subjected to undue and mostly unfair battery by the Nigerian intelligentsia, a sizeable percentage of whom are also,direct beneficiaries (in one capacity or the other) of the sleaze the institution is accused of (I will dwell extensively on this in my subsequent interventions).

So, going forward, as a result of the clear fact that Nigeria, a near non-production/manufacturing country, albeit a very rampart consumptive economy, is Africa’s biggest market for nearly every shape, size and description of finished product. Africa’s veritable dumping ground! It is in this regard that I make bold to submit that in terms of stepping up our act in the area of improved trade facilitation, and, compliance informed strategies to boost trade, yes, the new customs boss and the service can!. In terms of doubling or even trebling its current revenue collection capacity, yes, the service can.

•Olomofe, a journalist and public affairs analyst wrote via yomi.olomofe@icloud.com

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015 Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08065167178

Drama as law enforcement agents engaged in fracas Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

T

HE work hours on the fateful day commenced like those of other days, but later progressed to an unfortunate note as lawenforcement agents engaged in what residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) described as shameful display of physical abilities.

Some of the residents went comic about the incident though and said they were rather pleased to have been entertained, when the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) team, which had security operatives as members, clashed with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) while carrying out an enforcement exercise at Wuse Zone 5.

As was expected, the clash attracted onlookers at the scene which happened to be the NSCDC headquarters.

The unfortunate incident which occurred around 11am caused serious traffic jam around the area.

When Abuja Xtra visited the scene, it learnt that the AEPB team, Naval officers and policemen attached to the board were on a mission to arrest hawkers selling food items at the gate of the NSCDC. The board created by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has, as part of its responsibilities, a mandate to end hawking and to generally preserve the environment in the territory. It was in the course of discharging the duties that the team extended the enforcement dragnet to Wuse Zone 5 where the headquarters of NSCDC is situated.

Abuja Xtra gathered that the

Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials in one of their raids in Abuja

Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB)’s operation bus after an exercise by the board in Abuja.

NSCDC personnel resisted the arrest of the hawkers who operated close to their headquarters and this resulted in heated argument

among the NSCDC personnel, AEPB officials and the Naval officers.

As the argument continued,

some top officials of the NSCDC attempted wading into the rift, but the AEPB task team had already felt that they were stopped from

UNITED Kingdom (UK) and Nigeria cultural season 2015-2016 has opened with Abuja as the major focus.

At the official launch of the season in Abuja, many arts entrepreneurs and enthusiasts, alongside

government and private sector guests gathered to witness the occasion.

In her opening address, the British Council Programme Director in Nigeria, Louisa Waddingham, noted that the year-long cultural season aimed at creating increased access to arts while facilitating the

President’s wife fetes Army Secondary School students —pg22

CREW

1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@yahoo.com 08030947856

Nigeria/UK cultural season opens Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

discharging their duties.

In the long-run, the argument became uncontrollable, leading to physical combats among the AEPB officials and the NSCDC personnel.

When the misunderstanding was finally resolved, the onlookers made jest of those involved, demanding a repetition of the unfortunate act.

The regrettable incident lasted for about an hour and was described as shameful and unfortunate by passersby.

Earlier in the same day, another incident was reported between the AEPB team and a policeman attached to Heritage Bank in the same Wuse Zone 5.

Abuja Xtra gathered that the police officer in question had advised the AEPB task team which was on the enforcement exercise to make way in order to allow for free flow of traffic in front of the bank, but the advice did not go down well with the officials of the board who were said to have verbally engaged the policeman.

Abuja Xtra was informed that as the confusion continued, some of the members of the team jumped down from their truck possibly to attack the policeman but were restrained by another police officer attached to the board.

The AEPB team had previously visited a garden following a report that the garden felled some trees without proper permission from the board.

When the team arrived at the garden, they were said to have taken on a staff and insisted that he followed them to their office until the management offerred an explanation.

creation of new digital work, innovation and work with young people in Nigeria.

According to her, this year’s edition will be the biggest cultural art ever seen in Nigeria.

“The creative event is a symbol of partnership between Nigeria and UK that will promote existing

Osinbajo orders FCT administration to legalise compensation for inhabitants —pg22

relationship as well bring more development to the Nigerian economy,” she said.

She went further to say that the British Council Cultural Season contained about 30 projects and 80 events and represented a new programme where the British council was increasing its art programmme in strengthening creative economy in UK and Nigeria.

She said, “This is a programmme that will contribute immensely to life prosperity and strengthen capacity building, developing people, finding people in Nigeria who have passion and interest in creativity and giving them opportunity to get the platform.”

2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo.co.uk 08034412281 3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782 4. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 5. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@gmail.com 08182214290 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@gmail.com 0805450140

22

abujaextra

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

President’s wife fetes Army Day Secondary School students Christian Okeke - Abuja

W

IFE of the President, Aisha Buhari, has paid a visit to Army Day Secondary School, Mambilla Barracks in Maitama, Abuja, where she urged the students to embrace education to enhance the quality of their lives and to promote national development.

At the school, she participated in teaching and learning exercises and assured the students that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to improving the quality of education in the country.

She noted that without adequate education of the younger generation, the future of the country would be in jeopardy.

Mrs Buhari observed that the quality of education children received determined the future of any nation and advised the students to take their studies seriously.

The wife of the president recalled that she got married after her secondary education, but stated that the quest for further knowledge propelled her to acquire a Masters degree through the support and assistance of her husband.

Her words: “I will support all efforts aimed at improving the standard of education in Nigeria, especially the girl-child education.”

She advised parents and guardians not to prevent their children, particularly the female children from acquiring formal education.

Earlier, the FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, commended the president’s wife for her initiative and for choos-

Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari (right), making a speech when she paid a courtesy visit to Army Day Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja, while the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr John Chukwu listens. ing one of the FCT schools for her first visit.

Chukwu described the visit as motivational and observed that it would encour-

Osinbajo orders FCT administration to legalise compensation for inhabitants Christian Okeke - Abuja VICE President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has directed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration to make payment of

compensations to Abuja original inhabitants legal using what he described as traditional contract model as well as public private partnership approach.

He was emphatic that issues of compen-

Farmers angry over under-pricing of produce, demand marketing board Adetola Bademosi - Abuja THE situation whereby buyers determine prices of farm produce no longer goes down well with farmers in the country as a group of farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have demanded an urgent establishment of agriculture commodity marketing board to protect their interest.

The farmers, who spoke with Abuja Xtra, noted that the board would assist to increase food production and promote large scale farming in the country.

Speaking during a meeting with the Programme Director of African Centre for Food, Agriculture and Sustainable Development (Afri-CASD), Bolaji Akindehinde, the farmers insisted that it was inappropriate for farmers to be at the mercy of buyers before farm harvests were sold.

A representative of the farmers, Mr Sulieman Azeez, said: “Farmers are suffering in this country. This is a country where the buyers fix the prices for our farm produces. But if there is agriculture commodity marketing board, you cannot tell me you will buy my rice for N5 when everyone knows in the country that it is being regulated for sales at N10 across the country.

“So it is bad for farmers not to have control over sales of their farm produce,” he said.

In his remarks, Akindehinde supported the establishment of the board, noting that such agency would better the lots of the farmers and boost the country’s over-

age the students to aspire towards achieving academic excellence.

The protesting farmers with placards in Abuja. all food production.

He cited instances of South Africa and the United States of America which he said regulated and guaranteed markets for farmers’ yields to prevent post-harvest losses.

The programme director argued that if the country must be food sufficient, farmers should be properly taken care of.

He stressed the need for the incoming Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to make the issue of farmers’ pro-

tection a core agenda.

He said, “If we must get it right by properly motivating our farmers, the agric sector should be accorded same attention given to the NNPC. “Imagine that the sector had a department like the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Commission (PPPRC) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) also performing a similar function in the agriculture sector, farmers would do much more than expected.”

sation and provision of social services in Abuja be situated within extant laws.

Osinbajo gave the directive at a retreat organised for lawyers in the services of the FCT administration.

He told the lawyers that there was the need for the legal secretariat of the FCT administration to be alive to the onerous responsibility of ensuring that the administration runs smoothly within the law.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Rahman Adeola Ipaye, the vice president also directed that the administration provided legal backing for the removal of illegal structures, general development control, massive infrastructural development and general land administration.

He gave the assurance that President Muhammadu Buhari and himself were very much interested in the development of the capital territory, especially the upliftment of the capital city.

Osinbajo told the lawyers that the significance of the role of legal outfit in a major government organisation such as FCT administration could not be over-emphasised as such organisation could only attain optimum service delivery goals if they were supported and guided by vibrant and dynamic legal outfit.

He said: “Government or for that matter any institution of government must of necessity function within the law as provided by the constitution, statues and laid-down rules and regulations.”

Speaking, FCT Permanent Secretary, Obinna Chukwu, stated the need for the legal secretariat with its host of lawyers to do much better in terms of professional efficiency.

He said: “You will have to concede that any keen reader of the dynamics of the management of the legal services secretariat would quickly come to the conclusion that much is desired to strengthen its management and organisational scenario.

23

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

& management

Nigerian Tribune

leadership

with Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

Reverse branding:

Mining the core - 2

leaders’ forum

Who you know is superior to what you know

The 60-second business coach

5 Characteristics of successful managers

Questions that turn the tide

in leaders’ favour

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

G

REAT leaders make use of questions to improve themselves, bring out the best in their team members and set up their organizations for real growth. By asking the right questions, the leaders get new information and many things that

were hitherto hazy become clear.

Through the instrument of questioning, the leader is able to chart a new course for his organization and a struggling organization is transformed into a thriving one.

Questions hold the key to endless possibilities.

Continued on pg24

Book review Mike Ikpoki, CEO, MTN Nigeria

Quote

To achieve what you have not, you must become what you are not. You have to grow into your goals.

— Darren Hardy

24

25

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

leadership&management Book review The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business

By Charles Duhigg A few months ago, I assigned a book to my senior managers — Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit.”

They smiled wanly as they accepted the books, prepared to slog through a business book with little bearing on their real lives. We were all pleasantly surprised — the book turned out to be more interesting and potentially transformative than any of us expected.

The premise is simple — we create and maintain habits to conserve mental energy so we can think about more complex and difficult issues; these habits can be good or bad or neutral, but once established, they never really leave us, but lurk, waiting to be rediscovered; and creating habits is straightforward, but choosing which habits to create isn’t.

Let’s talk about creating habits.

The “habit loop” consists of a cue, a routine, and a reward. It’s that deceptively simple. Your alarm goes off in the morning (cue), you shower, eat breakfast, and brush your teeth (routine), and you get out the door on time and without

forgetting anything (reward).

Tooth brushing provides one of the more interesting stories about how each element comes into play.

About a hundred years ago, there was no cue for brushing your teeth.

Teeth were not thought about in that manner. But then it occurred to some enterprising business people that the film that builds up on your teeth could be a cue for brushing. Nice thought, but how do you create a routine? Well, you need to create a reward. The nice people at Pepsodent were the first to hit on a reward — add mint flavor to the toothpaste. Mint has a peculiar blend of a pleasant taste and the ability to change your mouth’s pH in just the right way to make it feel clean. This “clean” feeling (that “just brushed” feeling) became the reward. Soon, through advertising and product usage, the cue (sticky, coated teeth) and the reward (fresh, minty mouth) had created the routine of brushing your teeth.

Perhaps the most riveting story of many in this book is the story of Alcoa. A new CEO took the helm, and at a meeting to introduce him to investors, the normal expecta-

tions prevailed — here is a person who will inspire us, promise us increased sales, a stronger company, and long-term vitality. What did he deliver? A speech about the importance of workplace safety. A hush fell. So did the stock price.

But the new CEO turned out to have an uncanny appreciation of how to pick what is termed a “keystone habit” — a habit that, if embraced, changes everything. In this case, the habit of workplace safety aligned the interests of employees (who didn’t want to get injured), management (who hated to have to deal with missing staff and the paperwork around injury claims), and investors (who paid for injury claims and downtime).

Within a few years, Alcoa — a company working with sharp metal, molten metal, and tons of metal — was a safer place to work than a contemporaneous graphic design company. In addition, the efficiencies created by making the workplace safer along with less workman’s comp and less downtime had driven profits up significantly. That’s the power of a keystone habit.

The 60-second business coach

5 characteristics of successful managers

By Joshua Turner In line with changes in the workplace, today’s managers require different characteristics and qualities to succeed, compared to the managers of yesteryear. The world of work is undergoing major developments in both technology and staff dynamics. Hence, a manager who was effective in the past might not be effective today. Here are the five characteristics of successful managers: 1. Be technology literate Not to be confused with being a techy. It is not essential for all managers to suddenly become computer engineers. Nonetheless, managers should be aware of the broader technological landscape, and the way it impacts on the workplace.

This means keeping up to date with e-commerce developments, and understanding which collaborative and social technologies are emerging onto the market, and what the wider implications of these technologies are. Managers with a good knowledge of the latest technology will always be better placed to stay one step in front of the competition.

2. Believe in the value of collective minds Managers used to rule the roost in

organizations, and have access to all the necessary data to take decisions.

The manager would give orders and the staff had to obey those orders, without questioning them.

However, modern managers do not hoard information. Rather, they embrace collective intelligence by sharing as much data as possible.

Managers have to ensure that their staff can engage with one another, and with the data they require to do their job, on any device and in any location or time zone.

Nowadays, instead of marginalizing staff input, managers depend on staff to help with the decision making.

3. Be a collaborator, not a dictator Modern management is focused on eliminating obstacles standing in the way of staff, so that they can be successful. This is about more than just people management, it is about motivating and empowering those in your team.

In the past, managers adopted a fear based approach, which was centered on the concept of command and rule. Previously, staff members would work hard to ensure the success of their managers. Nowadays, the managers have to work hard to ensure the success of their staff.

4. Make your vulnerability an asset This is part and parcel of being transparent and open. Historically, businesses have been modeled on the military. Obviously, military commanders have to be anything but vulnerable. Notwithstanding, times have moved on and we do not run our businesses like the army anymore. Indeed, the well known publication, “Daring Greatly”

by Brene Brown, points out that vulnerability is a courageous way of standing up and being counted. The book claims that vulnerability is integral to creativity and innovation.

5. Let actions speak louder than words Historically, it was always okay for a manager to state that they approved of something. The manager would just have to agree to a spending plan, and say “Go ahead.”

However, in the modern, collaborative workplace, this is not sufficient anymore.

Managers have to do more than simply authorize a funding proposal. They have to be there on the front line, using the same equipment that all the other staff are using. Understandably, it is impossible for the staff to grow and develop, unless they are set an appropriate example by their manager.

Arunma Oteh, Vice President & Treasurer of the World Bank

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founder/CEO, Andela

Bolaji Edu, CEO, Broll

Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne

Audu Maikori, President, Chocolate City Group

Questions that transform organisations Continued from pg23

Leading through questioning is a concept that was developed by Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, who used it extensively to improve himself, his leadership as well as his associates. He premised this style on the assumption that his understanding could be exponentially enhanced if he managed to ask the right questions. He was wont to say “All I know is that I know nothing.”

With that he sought to know more by asking questions and the more he knew the better he became and the more effective those around him also turned out to be.

For questioning to have the desired effects, it must start with the leader.

How can I get better?

A leader that wants to go far never stops working on himself, he never stops probing himself. This is for both the neophyte as well as the veteran leader. The assumption is that there is nothing so good that cannot be made better, so the leader asks himself this question with a view to becoming better as an individual. This creates a deliberate thirst for continuous improvement in him and he takes conscious steps to satisfy this urge.

It is very vital that a leader keeps asking this question because the shape of an organization is a reflection of the state of the leader. As the

leader is, so is his organization. The personality, perspective and style of the leader eventually become the insignia of the organization he leads. No leader can take his organization higher than his level.

In other words, if a leader does not get better, his organization remains the same. So, it is important that a leader should always strive to improve himself so that his organization and people do not remain stagnant because stagnation is the first stage of regression. By taking conscious and calculated steps to get better, a leader is positioned to serve his team members better and to lead his organization to its desired height.

What are we doing right?

The sustainable success of an organization is linked to its understanding of its strength. No organization excels in everything; every organization has an area where it has an edge (or can have an advantage) over others. But unless this is understood it is of little or no advantage to the organization.

It is not enough to just assume that the organization’s strength is in one particular area, the leader and his team must be on the same page concerning what this is. Hence, the leader must consistently ask his team as well as the organization’s other publics what the organization is good at. He needs to ask his team members what the group is doing

right. He needs to find out the area or areas in which the organization has recorded success repeatedly and find out what brought about the feat. Knowing this will help the organization to keep repeating successes in these areas.

All organizations that have become great have one thing in common; they all have identified their strengths and have made capital of it. An organization becomes great because of what it does right.

The essence of asking the question ‘what are we doing right?’ is to find out how this can be improved upon for maximum returns to the organization. Great leaders, having found out what the strength of their organizations is, deploy the bulk of their resources to this area so that the organization can enjoy the full benefit of its strength.

What do we need to improve upon?

The journey to building a great organization involves finding out areas of its operation and activities that require improvement. This is a continuous exercise that does not end even after the organization has attained appreciable level of greatness because any organization that does not consistently improve will not remain successful for long.

The leader and his team need to constantly answer the question of what the organization needs to improve upon. This can be in the

area of process, operation, marketing, human resource management or any other aspect. By probing into these areas, the organization is able to get invaluable information that, when utilized, positions it for improved performance.

An area that requires improvement is an area of strength that is currently underutilized or underdeveloped. Until this fact is recognized and corrected, the organization will be moving at a level below its capacity in the area. Therefore, finding out what should be improved and going the whole hog of improving same will set the organization on the journey to perpetual performance excellence.

late Baroness Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister, realizing that the handling of some public utilities by the government was costing the state huge resources while the utilities were not delivering optimum value to the populace, asked the question, ‘What do we need to change?’ And the answer was that the ownership structure of the public utilities should be changed. With that, the state decided to embark on the privatization programme. This was done and the country and its people are the better for it.

Many leaders are unable to let go of what worked in the past but is a hindrance in the present. They hold

What do we need to change?

Success can lead to a false sense of fulfillment which may not only kill innovation and cripple creativity but also has the capacity of shutting the leader’s eye to areas of grave weakness. But great leaders never allow themselves to get caught in that web because they always ask the question, what do we need to change? They know that change is inevitable so they are not goaded by the mantra ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ They ask probing questions that can reveal areas that require change and when these are discovered, they leave no stone unturned to effect the required change.

This line of reasoning gave rise to the concept of privatization. The

If a leader does not get better, his organization remains the same...

A leader should always strive to improve himself so that his organization and people do not remain stagnant because stagnation is the first stage of regression.

on to it in the hope that the tide would change. But that is the wrong route to go. For as long as they refuse to change what they ought to change, their journey to greatness will suffer avoidable impediment.

What do we need to drop?

This question is similar to the previous one. The difference is that while the situation addressed by the previous question could be remedied through a tweaking of the process, the one addressed by this question is beyond correction and so has to be jettisoned altogether.

A leader must never shy away from asking the question of what should be dropped because travelling in the wrong direction, irrespective of the speed, never results in arrival at the right destination. Leaders must regularly ask this question to find out what constitutes a drag to the whole system. They do this because of the consciousness that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And they know that to consolidate on their areas of strength, they need to make their weak areas as strong as possible. Hence, they always try to find out which of the activities their organizations get involved in is retarding progress. Once they find this out, they drop it and move on to new things. There is no point flogging a dead horse; it is putting time and resources to unprofitable use. Pragmatic leaders change

whatever is not working to avoid frustrating themselves and members of their team.

Are we making the right decisions?

One major thing that shapes an organization is its decisions.

Therefore, a leader must always ask questions to find out if the organization is making the right decisions.

Before taking actions on the answer to each of the questions above, he must ask and answer the question; ‘Are we making the right decision?’

This is critical because one wrong decision can bring down a hundred year-old organization. Therefore, the leader must always go the extra mile and take extra care to avoid making wrong decisions.

A leader should always get feedback on the decisions taken and their effects on all major stakeholders and make corrections where necessary because every decision made by an organization eventually makes the organization. The leader should endeavour to find out how decisions taken by the organization impacts on staff members, its products or services, its customers and clients, the image of the organization and other members of the society. By constantly asking this question, the probability of making the decisions that would improve the fortunes of the organization becomes very high.

26

tribunebusiness

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

TOPE POPOOLA is a Human Capital developement Consultant and Pastor. Please feel free to send questions, feedback comments on this column to

topheritage@yahoo.com or visit http//turbochargedforsuccess.blogspot.com

Reverse branding: Mining the core - 2

SINCE last week, the airwaves have been awash with news of the case between the Senate President, Olusola Saraki and the Code of Conduct Bureau. Many people have adduced all kinds of reasons, some downright jejune, for his arraignment. Some even imply political persecution. And I ask, what for? My take on the matter is simple. If we as a people are ready to confront the monster of corruption in this nation, then we must be willing to sacrifice sacred cows. What is the difference between Saraki and any other Nigerian who has lately been arraigned or is being investigated for corruption charges? Cleaning our Augean stable demands that we do the needful no matter whose ox is gored! If Saraki or anyone else for that matter claims innocence, let him have his day in court and stop grandstanding.

Period! Our discourse continues.

In mining the core of a brand, we begin from the intrinsic and work our way outwards by establishing the raison d’être for the brand. The next stage in the process of mining the core is to define WHAT we set out to achieve or the platform on which we project WHO we are and WHY. This is the point at which the Value Proposition or the promise of the brand is codified in a product or a service that solves specific problems. When He returned from the wilderness after the episode of His temptation, Jesus went to the synagogue as was His custom. However, this time around, the tenor of the visit was different from previous ones. It was to witness a declaration of His promise, the platform of value that His brand had to offer. Let us read it from Luke 4 from verse 16 to 21: “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for

THEY call it information age, but I call it relationship age. In this generation, on the condition that you do not know how to relate very well with relevant people in this generation, you will not be able to get much done with what you know. As a matter of fact, you cannot succeed beyond your capacity to relate with relevant people. It is the inability of many people to relate very well with appropriate people that make them to suffer, experience and put up with lack in the midst of abundance.

Last month, I was teaching a group of leaders and would be leaders in Lagos. After my presentation that attracted a standing ovation, during the interactive session, one of the leaders under the sound of my voice rose to say: “It’s been very difficult for me to really breakthrough in business…” To which I responded: “Because you have been doing it alone...” Many doors will not open unto you both in business and leadership unless two things happen: When you go in the name of someone or you go with someone. There are too many doors that are beyond your strength and vigor to open. You will need relevant men and women of influence to open them for you.

We live in a generation where information can be accessed within a split second. In other words, information is not a problem in this age. In the twenty-first century, people know so much but they relate so poorly, hence many people are struggling both in leadership and business. Knowing so much without developing strong relationship skills does not translate to success both in leadership and business. As an effect of my close to two decades of towering experience in the field of adding rare value to companies, government agencies, religious bodies, nations and individuals, I have come to realize that the inability of people to relate well with relevant people is the major reason why they are not being successful in life.

Many years ago, I went beyond the shores of Nigeria in search of knowledge. After my lunch on an afternoon, within the four walls of the place of learning, I went to meditate under a tree, on how to put flesh on my tall dreams. After about two hours of being alone, it became very clear to me that the connecting link between where I was at that time and where I desired to be was my capacity to relate skillfully with relevant people. This has made a world of difference in my life, business and leadership.

The reason many people’s dreams are not coming to pass is not because they are either ignorant or lazy, it is because they do not know how to relate dexterously with relevant people. I have met with too many youngsters who know virtually every-

the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ ... and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”

Having established a motive and a corresponding value proposition, the next is to establish a motivation. This has to do with the definition of possibilities inherent in the brand as well as the corresponding value system that guides conduct in the delivery of the brand to the market. This was amply illustrated in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was vexed by all that man was created to be but was not as a result of his dalliance with sin. He was inspired by man’s possibilities in God. Hence the need to reconnect man back to his Source. Furthermore, He was driven by the twin motivation of anger and love-fueled compassion.

Angry at what sin and the devil, sin and empty religion had done to man but compassionate towards the human victim.

Several times in the Gospels, we see these traits manifested in His dealings with people. He had no kind words for the Pharisees whose main preoccupation was to foist empty religion on people even as they were pushed deeper into sin and insensitivity. But He never hesitated to reach out and touch even lepers at the risk of getting infected. Compassion made Him feed a hungry, forlorn multitude. It made Him open the eyes of the blind. It propelled Him to raise the dead. It made Him associate with people who the rest of society regarded as persona non grata. For this reason, the common people could not seem to have enough of Him. When a brand is driven by strong core values, the values provide a motivation not only for service but service delivered on the platform of unbridled quality and attention to detail. A further source of motivation would be the uniqueness of the brand, that quality which makes the brand stand out from the pack. It is known as brand differentiation.

It is known either by the offering of a unique product or service or the delivery of a common product or service in an uncommon way that consistently guarantees the “Waoh!” factor in the

leaders’ forum

market. Everywhere Brand Jesus went, people never stopped talking about Him and His unique ways of doing things. Luke 4:32 records “They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.”

On one occasion while Jesus was talking to the multitude, a woman in the audience was so enthralled that she shouted, “Blessed are you and blessed are the breasts that nursed you!”

In another place, it was stated that the common folks heard Him gladly. This kind of response to a brand is what makes the brand worth its presence in any market. Of what use is a brand that is hyped but not embraced? Jesus’ problem was primarily with the Pharisees who felt that He had come to demystify them and deliver the ordinary people from the yoke of dry religion that the Pharisees had hitherto subjected them to.

The fourth consideration has to do with the strategy that drives the brand. It is about the broad framework that spells out HOW the brand is connected to the end-user. It begins with a segmentation of the market in order to ensure that resources are not unduly dissipated. No product serves every market. On several occasions, I have counseled with budding entrepreneurs who could not define, with any specificity, the market that their product serves. Any product meant for everybody is really meant for nobody! At the onset of Jesus’ ministry, He left no one in doubt as to what He came to do and the people He was sent to. Asked why He fraternized with tax collectors, publicans and others regarded as sinners and social outcasts, Jesus told the Pharisees point-blank that healthy people hardly need a doctor. He had not come for the righteous. His assignment was to call sinners to repentance! Following the script written even before He was born, He defined His audience and primed Himself to reach them. What market is your brand designed to reach? Strategy has no thrust until you know the market you are meant to serve...continued.

Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!

with Ademola Adeoye 07067869718

leaders_forum@yahoo.com

Who you know is superior to what you know thing about every aspect of knowledge, but they are too swollen with pride to relate with relevant people. They are too big to ask for help. They are too educated to submit to those who are ahead of them. This is one of the reasons they are suffering in the midst of abundance.

Not long ago, I set aside time to read through the controversial book written by one of the ex-presidents of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo. I am talking about “MY WATCH.” When Obasanjo came out of prison and General Badamasi Babangida came to congratulate him on his release from prison, Chief Obasanjo said that while accompanying Babangida to the car, he said to him: “God and Nigeria need you.” After general Babangida mentioned that to him, many people also emphasized the same thing to him. After this, Obasanjo began to explore his relationships with many people of influence across the length and breadth of Nigeria. It was after this rung that he declared his intention to run for the highest office in Nigeria. Without this crucial step, he would not have become the president of Nigeria. It is not enough to have a beautiful vision and to have a lot of knowledge; you will need to learn how to adroitly and deftly leverage the power of relationship in order to become successful in life, business and leadership. The next dimension to the issue I am raising today is how you can develop people skills. This is non-negotiable.

To start with, how do you become someone—who everyone will like to relate to? You will need to adeptly develop people skills. People skills are, in short, the various attributes and competencies that allow one to play well with others. Having good people skills means maximizing effective and productive human interaction to everyone’s benefit. Having the ability to relate to others and their position or viewpoint is crucial in

business. By having a well-rounded personality and set of experiences, it is usually possible to relate to almost anyone. Sometimes being able to relate with others simply means that you are willing to agree to disagree with mutual respect; letting them know you understand their position.

Strong communication skills are also non-negotiable. This is the most fundamental people skill because it encompasses your persona and ability to get along with other colleagues, persuade others to listen to your ideas, and much more. If you do have a gift for the spoken and written word, you will always put your best foot forward. Being articulate is highly prized in the twenty-first century. The good news is this: The skill can be learnt.

Of what good is it when you know so much, but you do not understand what it means to be patient with others? To succeed in both business and leadership in this century, you have to develop patience with others. If you are patient with others and can keep a level head in stressful situations, it will definitely be noticed by all and perceived as a very strong asset. Every leader and would be leader will need to master this superb skill.

Lastly, you can only accelerate your career if you are trustworthy. Without it, you cannot get projects done or get cooperation. No one can operate in a vacuum for long. Buddy, when you become trustworthy, you will start attracting to yourself men and women of influence. Many people want to be trusted, but they do not want to trust anyone. The truth is this, when it comes to the issue of relationship, you’d need to develop the ability to trust others. You will not be able to relate well with people on the condition that you do not have the ability to trust others. The lifeblood of successful relationships is trust. Remove trust from any relationship, it will die a natural death. Do not forget this: Who you know is superior to what you know.

27

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

brands& marketing

anchor Akin Adewakun

m:08054683584 e:akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk

La Casera: A brand in the eye of the storm Akin Adewakun, Lagos

O

f late, one of the giants in the nation’s Carbonated Soft Drinks market, The La Casera Company, has been in the news; though for reasons brand analysts and enthusiasts would rather see as very corrosive to the equity of a brand built over the years.

First, it started with a rumour that the management of the company was at a loggerhead with its workforce, that had been a key factor for its success stories in the past.

About 780 irate workers of the soft drinks company, were said to have, on Monday, shut down the Mile 2 Site of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway of the soft drinks company, in Lagos, over what they described as improper termination of their appointments by the management of the company.

Brands & Marketing authoritatively learnt that trouble started last week Sunday when the workers, mostly factory hands, were told that their services were no longer needed by the company and that they should proceed to an office on the Victoria Island to collect their severance stipends.

The workers were said to have been, in the past few months,agitating for a labour union within the company, an agitation that never went down well with the management; hence the sack. The workers believed a lot of things were wrong with the well being of workers in the place and the only way to correct those things was by speaking with one ‘voice’, unionism.

But in a futile attempt at explaining the real reasons for the management’s action, Managing Director of BD Consult, the company’s public relations firm, Mr. Tola Bademosi, confirmed that the company actually shut down operations at its Mile 2 Site of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway because ‘it could no longer guaranty the safety of workers’.

A statement issued by Bademosi, after initial denials from a certain Sulaimon from BD Consult, explained that the Mile 2 Site of the company was invaded, over the weekend, by over 200 demonstrators led by representatives of the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco of Employees (NUFBTE), leading to disruption of its production.

‘Caught unawares with no prior notice, security guards were unable to hold back the unruly group who broke into the complex, entering offices and production areas.

Production line workers were compelled to stop work and assemble in the factory yard where they were forced to sign membership consent forms to join the union on the spot.

Some of those who refused to sign were brutalized,’ the statement read.

According to Bademosi, employees who tried to film the disturbance on mobile phones were manhandled and had their phones taken away, while others signed under duress before taking the opportunity caused by a heavy downpour to flee the scene.

‘Unable to guarantee the safety of its workers, Management was compelled to shut operations and send everyone home. The plant has remained closed over the weekend with its fate uncertain as leaders of the mob have threatened to return again with an even

La Casera workers, when the going was good. larger force,’ he concluded.

But Brands & Marketing’s findings however showed that the development was a direct consequence of the slide in fortune of the company in the past few years, noting that the workers were actually sacked by the company’s management.

La Casera in the good old days Besides being the first brand in the nation’s carbonated soft drinks market to come in a Pet bottle, La Casera had in the past been able to bond itself with teeming consumers then through various initiatives, designed to enhance the equity of the brand.

For instance, its Miss La Casera initiative, which went with a brand new car and a cash prize of One Million Naira then was seen by many as a way of giving back to the society where the brand had made a substantial fortune and name.

Besides the initiative, the company also

delved into its innovation arsenals sometimes ago when it unveiled a first-of-itskind Floating Bottle, as part of the innovative outdoor media for the brand.

The Floating Bottle outdoor media which was deployed into the Lagos Waterways, was designed to upholding its status as a trail blazer in the nation’s Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) market.

The La Casera brand today Besides the increasing loss of dominance of the carbonated soft drinks market in Nigeria to competition, another huge challenge the brand seems to be facing today is the issue of workers’ welfare. A source who was also affected by the recent decision of the management to sack its workforce stated that the issue of workers’ welfare had been relegated into the background; hence the agitations from different quarters in the first place.

Shoprite extends store’s CSR initiative to Festac school

The Progressive Nursery and Primary School, Festac Town has become the latest beneficiary of the Shoprite’s corporate social responsibility initiative in partnership with Save Our Needy International non-governmental organization.

The retailer which opened its new outlet in Festival mall Festac town of Lagos donated a set of chairs, tables, whiteboards and stationeries to the principal of the school. The donation is part of Shoprite’s commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where they have stores.

Speaking on its contributions to the school, Shoprite’s Festac Store Manager, Jide Ahmadu described the donation as part of the store’s CSR plans to impact their Community.

“we understand the fact that learning materials are important because they can significantly increase students’ achievement by supporting their learning as well as assisting the teachers to efficiently perform their professional duties” “We also want a better life through Education for our youths that’s why we support early childhood development and also assist to create a conducive environment for learning” Ahmadu enthused.

It would be recalled that the retailer recently partnered with the Kwara State Waste Management Agency to drive the message of keeping the environment clean. In the same vein, it also organised a free breast cancer screening event in Ibadan and donated shopping vouchers to NGO’s in Kano and Abuja.

According to him, the management would not want the workers to speak with one voice, in spite of their not -too –comfortable conditions of service.

‘For instance, they knew if they should allow workers to unionise and be under NLC’s umbrella, all these abnormalies would be in public domain. Honestly, they never knew the workers could be this resolute this time around,’ explained the source.

While refuting the claim that the crisis was externally motivated, the source added that the agitations had been on for some time, and it was when the management now decided to wield the big stick that it now, for the first time, saw this resilience in the workers.

Experts’ views Not a few stakeholders in the integrated marketing communication space believe that the current development if not quickly checked, might sound the death knell of the once vibrant carbonated soft drink brand.

‘For instance, it does not enhance a brand equity when it is reported as not really having the interest of its workforce at heart. You need ideas, tools and people to run a business effectively and as a brand owner, if you think one is superior to the other, then you are digging your brand’s grave,’ argued a practitioner, who would not want his name in print due to the nature of the subject matter.

A PR practitioner, Yusuf Jimoh, would rather see the way the company is going about managing the crisis as “rather pedestrian and belittling the intelligence of an average consumer in that market segment.

Why would you try to deny an issue that was already trending on the social media platform?

“Besides, the tone of the statement issued at the end of the day by the Public Relations Arm of the company was rather insulting.

Why would you describe a group of activists, unionists as hoodlums?”

28

brands&marketing

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Sendible, PRCAN partner on digital PR training

Enterprise and social media management organisation Sendible has endorsed the three-day “Digital PR and Social Media Communications Master Class”, organised

by Cihan Group in collaboration with the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), expected to hold next month, October, in Lagos.

Sendible is a world renowned Enterprise Social Media Management and Intelligence Platform company headquartered in London.

The Head of Sales and Marketing at Sendible, Jonny Costello would handle two sessions during the workshop. Costello, who holds a Masters in Marketing Practice from the University of Dublin, has developed social media tools and strategies for start-ups and multinational organisations.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cihan Group, Mr Celestine Achi, announced

that additional benefits to participants of the training programme include free social media engagement tool from Sendible, free SEO/SEM software from UK-based Rankwatch, the opportunity for campaign amplification on Cihan Influencer network and one-month post-certification digital PR support.

‘The capacity building initiative is designed to develop practical and enduring expertise covering the full range of concepts, skills and platforms required to unlock the power of the digital media to support individual’s reputational goals,’ Achi stated.

According to PRCAN and CIHAN, the modules for the training have been carefully planned and designed for communications, public relations and marketing professionals whose roles include engagements with stakeholders through online social media.

“Effective social engagement is not just

about responding to every complaint in social media. It requires companies to stay laser focused on what’s important and to bring in the right team who can solve customer problems. Sendible’s accuracy in isolating and understanding all of the relevant posts from across the social web makes it possible to classify, route and assign action in a way that was never possible before,’ . said Gavin Hammer, Founder of Sendible, while confirming the partnership with the organisers of the workshop.

“Creating social intelligence out of the social media analysis tools takes a village,” said Celestine Achi, CEO Cihan Group. “Ideally, social analytics tools should empower organisations to use customer intelligence for guidance, decision-support or corrective action deemed most advantageous in meeting business objectives,” he further said.

Expressing delight at the support for

From left: Human Resource Director, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Adediran Aderemi; Commercial Director, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mark Pfister; Fundraising Officer, SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria, Ashionye Enumah; Finance and Controlling Advisor, SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria, Abu Tunde and Legal Director and Company Secretary, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Uche Uwechia during GSK’s visit to the SOS Children’s Village, Isolo, Lagos.

Airtel’s CEO urges innovative approach to digital technology Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, has advised business leaders to be innovative and deliberate in their use of Technology, E-Commerce and Social Media.

While speaking at the just concluded 45th Annual Accountants’ Conference organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja, Ogunsanya noted that an innovative approach in leveraging technology will help create real value for critical stakeholders of an organization and others in the value chain.

According to him, Airtel Nigeria has pioneered this approach with the roll-out of its Catapult-a-Start-up programme, a unique initiative designed to empower exceptional and innovative application developers in Nigeria.

He noted that the programme has provided a good example of how a company can combine innovation with monetization, stating that Airtel, under the initiative, has empowered and transformed many lives with groundbreaking mobile application services.

According to Ogunsanya, these innovative digital platforms are helping to resolve many issues around diesel delivery, boosting students’ performance at important examinations, empowering job seekers, aiding e-commerce and cementing relationships, among others.

Specifically, he listed mobile application services such as Yuzah, a real time delivery platform that allows the ordering of diesel in minutes; PassNG, an educational service that enables students prepare for important examinations and PushCV, a service equipped to prepare job seekers for opportunities.

the workshop, PRCAN President, John Ehiguese, assured of value for the investment of their sponsors with the quality of the faculty as well as access to cutting-edge facilities and strategies from renowned platforms.

On the team also are Chuddy Oduenyi and Muyiwa Akintunde. Adjunct lecturer at the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, Oduenyi is Managing Director of Compact Communications, a leading PR consulting firm. He was Head of Marketing, Dunlop Nigeria Plc and Director, Corporate Communications at Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc. Akintunde, a PR trainer and CEO of Leap Communications, is the Vice President of PRCAN.

Knorr Quest 3 stirs up emotions in the kitchen

The stakes are getting higher in this season of Knorr Taste Quest “The Masterclass”. The culinary quest this week focused on the mastery act of cooking and this episode was quite interesting because of the emotions exhibited by the contestants at the end of their task.

The kitchen got heated up when the contestants were informed they would cook individually in order to convince the judges that they are emerging Master Chefs.

They were given an hour and 10 minutes to prepare a three-course meal which should include Margarine, Mushroom, Vinegar, Speckled Red Beans as compulsory ingredients for the starter, while Cocoyam, “Egusi”, Local Walnut, Coconut and Varieties of pepper such as Chili pepper, green pepper and Ata-rodo were required as ingredients for the main dish.

However, the dessert should comprise essential ingredients such as: Cheese, Lemon, Strawberry, Pears and Condensed Milk.

The hilarious aspect of the show was when some of the contestants struggled with the cooking equipment to complete their tasks, for instance, Dapo and Hauwa struggled with the pressure cooker while Davies had difficulties with the blender. Moments after the contestants exhausted their time, Dr. Robert did the countdown that left Tunji in tears while some contestants expressed uncertainty because they couldn’t complete their task.

Fortunately, the judges enjoyed every bit of Tunji’s delicious meals, which triggered excellent comments as he emerged the winner of this week’s task, going home with a reward of a sum of N20,000 while Balogun, Hauwa, Jeremy and Dapo emerged the last four; this however placed Balogun and Dapo on probation while Jeremy was evicted.

Expert calls for stricter enforcement of PR statute A public relations expert, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya has stressed the need for relevant authorities in the nation’s public relations practice to ensure that laws and regulations guiding the practice in the country are strictly adhered to.

YBO, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of CMC Connect, a public relations firm, argued that for the practice to get the needed attention and recognition, those who want to practise public relations in the country should be ready to go the whole hog, instead of doing it through the backdoor, as being presently done by some.

The former Lagos Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), explained that the institute, was set up to regulate the practice of PR in the country, while insisting that unless it is alive to its statutory responsibilities, its recent war against quackery might not achieve the desired results.

‘We need to get these things right. Like in every field, we also in public relations must be strict about what we want to do with PR practice in the country. For instance, there is no way one can be a lawyer without going to the Nigerian Law School, and you can

not be a medical doctor without getting the endorsement of the Nigerina Medical Association, so why should PR be different?’ he asked rhetorically.

While throwing his weight behind the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) in its fight against illegal PR practice in the country, YBO condemned those opposed to some steps taken by the association in the past to sanction some operators in the integrated marketing communication space, insisting that the concerned practitioners actually violated the laws guiding PR practice in the country.

29

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

infotech

anchor Bode Adewumi

m:08055001765 e:bodekafi@yahoo.com

Govt needs to empower Nigerians through ICT —Florissi, EMC boss

By Bode Adewumi Experts have continued to react to the Nigeria Cybercrimes Act 2015, the new law that was made to contain the growing spate of Internet offences by seeking to arrest, prosecute and sentence anyone found guilty of committing cybercrime and allied offences.

The new law was commended for eventually coming to make the Internet a safer place but a cross section of experts and stakeholders also seek an improvement to the new legislation to complement efforts at combating Internet offences in Nigeria.

This was the subject matter at the Technology Times Outlook Review of Nigeria Cybercrimes Act 2015, the thought leadership series that attracted various profession including legal professionals, the media and leaders in industry and government.

Mr. Basil Udotai, the Managing Partner of Technology Advisors LLP, a specialty law practice that focuses exclusively on ICT and who delivered the thought leadership keynote presentation at the event, said that the new law is a welcome development for Nigeria.

Udotai said that the new legislation is a major step forward in the nation’s attempt at making Nigeria’s cyberspace a safer place to live, work and play for the Nigerian Internet community.

“For years, the Nigerian digital economy had carried on with the absence of a legal framework for cybercrime/cybersecurity; a glaring gap in law enforcement/ national security framework as well as a debilitating weak link in our digital economy value chain”, he told attendees at the event.

Udotai believes the enactment of the legislation is an attempt to bring Nigeria in line with global best practices and modern trends in the justice sector.

According to him, “it is a truly ground-breaking with potentials to greatly impact jurisprudence and legal development; governance (eGovt); businesses and commercial activities; law enforcement and national security; foreign direct investment and economic growth.’’

He added that, “the Cybercrimes Act, though long in coming and beset with certain challenging components, may be applied to effectively tackle Nigeria’s cybercrime and cyber security challenges. But deliberate efforts have to be made by the key players; Office of National Security Adviser and the Office of Accountant General of the Fed-

From left, Mr Shina Badaru, Founder/Group Chief Executive Officer of Technology Times; Mr Alex Muoka, ex-Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch; Ms Sola Salako, President of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) and Mr Basil Udotai, Managing Partner of Technology Advisor at the Technology Times Outlook Review of Nigeria Cybercrimes Act 2015, which took place in Lagos, recently. eration working with stakeholders to make this a reality.’’

In his welcome address at the event, Mr Shina Badaru, Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of Technology Times said that the Technology Times Outlook thought leadership series is organised to refocus technology issues, policy and market trends that will foster innovation, job creation and overall economic growth for Nigeria.

In today’s connected world, the Internet, which he described as the new domain after land, air and sea, it has imperative for Nigeria to keep the Internet a safer domain to live, work and play, added Badaru.

According to Badaru, Technology Times Outlook was created in 2008 as a platform to promote thought leadership that continue to foster growth across the diverse segment of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry in Nigeria.

Mr Emmanuel Edet, Head Legal Services & Board Matter Unit, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who also commended the enactment of the new law, cautioned that the definitions provided in the Act are “too specific” and may give room for offenders to devise other means of committing crimes outside the specific definitions of the law.

Edet, a member of the Technology Times Outlook panel said that “one of the major challenges we had when going through the law was definitions. There is a danger of confusion when we use specific definitions’’ According to him, “definition of terms may be a problem in enacting this law. For example, if we say someone commits a crime with an ATM machine and in the future we have another machine that is not called ATM to commit fraud-

ulent act, that means by definition the person has not committed any offence or done anything wrong.’’

He also raised the issue of the Cyber Security Fund provided for in the new law saying that, “there is nothing that defines what those funds are used for.”

According to him, “there is need for the government to fully articulate all these issues and collaborate with the citizens to have a proper framework as to the workings of the Act.’’ He noted that the law is no doubt a welcome development but more needs to be put in place if we most win the war against cyber attacks in Nigeria.

“It is a good law but it has fundamental flaws which should be addressed to comply with international standard”, Edet said adding that, “we (NITDA) have dealt with so many issues regarding the legal aspects of information technology in Nigeria. Basically, we try to put in place a legal environment so that information technology will be properly developed in Nigeria.’’

On his part, another panellist, Mr Olufemi Awoyemi, the Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of Proshare Nigeria Limited identified that with an estimated

I am sorry to say it is one of the irresponsible legal legislations I have ever reviewed.

It is structurally deficient.

improved GDP contribution, it is obvious that the ICT industry is a key growth industry and as such deserves the design and execution of a well articulated cyber security law.

According to him, if we are talking about cyber security, it should be regarded as our way of life, which means by implication means that what is happening offline is also obtainable online According to Mr Awoyemi, the core competence of Nigeria is not oil and gas, not banking; it is the ICT sector “because if we look critically into it, the ICT sector has the highest employers of labour in the country.

“We may not have a perfect law but we don’t need to reinvent the wheel”, said Mr Awoyemi who suggested that Nigeria we should take a cue from other neighbouring countries like Ghana and Kenya that offer good mobile banking system backed by an effective legal framework.

Ms Sola Salako, President of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), who was also a panellist acknowledged the situation of Nigerian consumers and called for a united front in the fight for rights of consumers in the face of poor services by some technology companies.

Salako particularly urged the legislators to clarify areas where there could be problems that would affect the take-off of the law while listing concerns such as ATM fraud, illiteracy and lack of awareness of the law.

Speaking on the objectives of the event, Sola said it was to alert consumers to possible areas of vulnerability in transactions especially online, saying it especially seeks to equip consumers with adequate information to help protect themselves from exploitation.

“To address these issues, there is

always a need for such a forum to evaluate the ubiquitous consumer issue encountered in the area of online services and also create an avenue for consumers, service providers, regulators, legal and sector consultants to connect, with a view to enlightening, empowering and resolving these issues as much as possible”, according to the CAFON President.

She said CAFON, a non-for-profit organisation was gravely concerned as consumer advocates about the blatant case of neglect from the regulatory authorities and an alarming case of ignorance on the part of consumers most especially on how and where they can report cyber offences.

“The Cybercrime Act should clearly state places or organisation where consumers could lodge their complaint each time they are defrauded such that they are protected from exploitation”, Salako added.

Another panellist, Mr Alex Mouka, the immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch in his intervention said the law is a radical piece of legislation but that it “is structurally deficient.”

According to Muoka, “as a lawyer, when I reviewed the Act, I asked myself who was responsible for this legislation. I am sorry to say it is one of the irresponsible legal legislations I have ever reviewed. It is structurally deficient.”

According to him, there is no structure in place to give life to the law.

“It is surprising that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) responsible for the Act through an Advisory Council is not itself a member of that Advisory Council. This is real funny. I also wonder who administers the alternative taxation foisted on Nigerians by the creation of the Cybersecurity Fund under this Act,” he added.

On his part, Mr Tobe Okigbo, the Chief Corporate Service Officer of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, who gave a network operator’s perspective as a panellist at Technology Times Outlook said that the new law is risky from the compliance point of view.

According to Okigbo, “from an operator’s point of view, I think the law is a major risk. The risk comes from the compliance issue. In my view, they should have made it possible for an agency like the Nigerian communications commission (NCC) to get involved in advising the President on information on critical infrastructure.”

Okigbo believes that going forward; Nigeria’s National Security Adviser should call for a stakeholder engagement on the new law if Nigeria must catch up with developed countries of the world in technology advancement.

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infotech

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

NBC announces June 2017 date for digital migration Stories By Bode Adewumi The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has announced June 17, 2017 as the new date for the country to complete the digital switchover and achieve analogue switch off.

This was made known by the Director General of the NBC, Mr Emeka Mba during a press briefing at the Protea Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, last week. He said the new date was arrived at after a coordinated agreement with Nigeria’s West African neighbours, while lamenting the failure of the country to meet the initial deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that the world must switch from analogue broadcasting to digital by June 2015.

He said part of the reasons the country was unable to meet the June 2015 deadline was in part due to paucity of funds and bureaucratic bottlenecks that did not allow the White Paper on the issue to come out until June 2012 when the ITU had set the terminal date since 2006.

“We copiously explained how much work we had done since June 2006 when the deadline was announced, using our meagre recurrent resources, while waiting for government to provide both direction and financial support to enable us meet the high expense elements of the transition.

“It was not until June 17, 2012 that the White Paper giving direction to the process came out.

From left: Deacon Ojinta Oji-Alala, Provost, College of Fellows, NCS; Mr. Babachir David Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Professor Adesola Aderounmu, President, NCS, and Professor Vincent Asor, President, CPN, during the visit of the NCS to the SGF in Abuja, recently.

Again, we continued doing those things we could which included engaging and sensitising the broadcast sector, setting out the technical specifications for the set top box and putting in place then Electronic Programme Guide system, in addition to a successful pilot project in Jos, Plateau State.

All this while we were waiting for

the financing of our budget of 70 Billion Naira from the government.

“Meanwhile, we have now coordinated another agreement with our West African neighbours and have agreed on a new deadline of June 20, 2017 to complete the digital switchover and achieve analogue switch off. When it became

Ceragon opens new office, set for broadband revolution in Nigeria Ceragon Networks Limited, the global number one wireless backhaul specialist, has commissioned its new office in Lagos, Nigeria equipped with million dollars state of-the-art broadband revolution facilities.

According to the Company, investing in the Nigerian IT space shows its desire to ensure mobile

and fixed-line carriers, as well as private network operators, have the cost-effective transmission capacity to deliver the voice and premium data services.

Speaking at the official launch, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ceragon Networks Limited, Mr. Ira Palti, said that from telecommunications operators

NCS visits SGF Babachir, commends Buhari The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, and in particular the Ministry of Communications Technology and other ICT agencies in the country have been described as the solution to the employment problem facing the country and that if the sector is well-managed, will not only resolve the unemployment conundrum, but will also further create wealth for the nation.

This was the position of the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Professor Adesola Aderounmu, when he led a delegation of the association on a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr Babachir David Lawal in Abuja recently.

To this end, the NCS said the

administration of President Muhammadu Buhari should consider seasoned ICT professionals to head critical ministries, particularly the Ministry of Communications Technology and ICT agencies and to give priority to the use of registered local ICT professionals and registered local ICT companies to execute ICT jobs.

According to a release issued at the end of the visit, the NCS said it concurs with the president on the harmonisation of the national database for the country, but that in addition, should deploy ICT to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and that the NCS is ready to provide practical solutions using the instrument of ICT to help solve the problem.

to mobile service providers, public safety to offshore operations, energy to distance learning, in today’s interconnected world, everyone needs network capacity to provide the latest services, expand into new markets and to meet the growing communication demands of people and devices.

According to him, Ceragon promises affordable, high-capacity networks solutions, designed to eliminate bottlenecks with cost-effective, high-capacity and future-proof hauling connectivity while boosting network performance and services.

“We have the best equipment in the microwave transmission. We have invested much on R&D and surveys including in Nigeria. Due to the structure of Nigeria, there are a lot of limitations on the frequency spectrum. Then, our equipment can provide the best use of the spectrum. We usually provide almost 30 per cent additional capacity than any one else.

“We have equipment to double that which gives the customer about 200 per cent high capacity and can effectively use the spectrum to provide data to the excess towers, backbone, carriers, ISPS, government and where ever you need the data.

obvious that government could not spare the money, and in order to avoid missing another deadline, we began to consider other options. Our broadcast frequency, which is to eventually form part of the digital dividend after the DSO, had portions of it lying fallow while our broadcasters were still using parts of it. We therefore proposed and got proper permission from government to license part of our spectrum lying fallow and to use the proceeds to finance the DSO,” Mba explained.

H e also announced that NBC has successfully licensed MTN Nigeria to use a part of the 700 MHZ to provide digital pay TV broadcasting services. This, he said, allowed the NBC to raise N34 billion, a figure he said represented 50 per cent of their budget.

He pointed out that Nigeria has through this singular move, shown the way for other African countries struggling with the effort of finding financing for their own digital switchover programmes.

Nigerian Tribune

How Victoria Island stood still for Glo Laffta Fest Penultimate Sunday will remain indelible in the minds of Glo subscribers, who attended the Laffta Fest comedy show at the Eko Hotels and Suites Victoria Island, Lagos. Guests numbering over 6,000 thronged the venue from Victoria Island and environs, to relish top of the range comedy and music.

The list of comedians billed to perform at the show would tell probing minds that the guests were in for a night of unlimited entertainment. The guests roared endlessly with laughter while the comedians performed.

The comedians, which included Ace comedian, AY, Bovi, Basketmouth, I go dye, Seyi Law, Funny Bone and Gordons performed beyond expectation, jolting the guests off their seats intermittently. Salvador who arrived from Uganda to perform at the show, blended into the Nigerian comedy sphere with ease. His jokes revolved around Nollywood errors and Nigerian foods.

Musical artistes were not left out of the groove as top Glo ambassadors; Wizkid and Burna Boy performed veritably, eliciting cheers from the enthusiastic crowd. It wasn’t surprising when their fans rushed towards the stage to have a feel of the super stars. The manner in which Basket Mouth introduced the comedians in turns was dramatic and entertaining.

Bovi was outstanding. His style of stand-up comedy was engaging and interactive. He introduced the fastest-fingers game into his show, calling out a set of recharge card digits for the audience to load. He raised the bar when he invited a number of guests on stage to recite the national anthem.

Also present at the show were Nollywood actors and Glo Ambassadors, Ini Edo and Odunlade Adekola. Other personalisties who attended the show include; comedienne Helen Paul, Dija, Rickardo Banks, Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun Samuel and Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Cooperative, Dorothy Gimba.

Nigeria gains Chairmanship, Sec Gen positions at CTO The 54-member nations of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) rose from its yearly Forum and Council meeting recently in Nairobi, Kenya, with the Election of Professor Umar Garba Danbatta as the new Chairman.

Danbatta is the acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Chairmanship of the CTO by its rules is usually country specific and the position is held by that country’s Chief telecoms regulator.

Nigeria won the position in 2014 and by last week’s election, the first tenure ended and another began.

Side by side with the election of Danbatta was the resumption of Engr. Shola Taylor as the Secretary General and Chief Executive

of CTO. Taylor was named Secretary General on June 16, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. Danbatta who assumed office immediately after the election thanked the member nations for the honour done to Nigeria and promised to provide visionary leadership that will take CTO to the next level.

With the re-election of Nigeria to the Chairmanship and Secretary General positions the country has effectively taken control of the affairs of the close-knit CTO. Danbatta was also full of praises for the immediate past Secretary General Professor Tim Unwin for his dedication to duty and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Island of Fiji was also named as the next host of the CTO Forum in 2016.

31

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

property

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Gbemi Solaja

m:08186819081 e:expensivsolaj@yahoo.com

‘Why developers cannot meet housing demand for lower, middle class ’ Gbemi Solaja - Lagos

M

anaging Director, Realty Point Limited, Mr Debo Adejana, has urged government’s intervention in providing housing for the lower stratum of the society, whom according to him may never be able to afford housing without any intervention.

Adejana, in a chat with Nigerian Tribune specifically tasked the Buhari administration to make housing provision for the common people a priority, to bridge the over 17 million deficit and avoid a crisis situation.

According to him, the government was not helping and made the task a herculean one by not providing an enabling environment where developers could adequately function to full capacity.

“As a developer, you are in business to make profit, so that you can sustain the business. If you have people who invested in your business, you need to make good returns to them otherwise business will not be profitable, so it is not a Father Christmas venture. What this means is that the forces of the market will dictate what you do so if there is ineffective demand which is what happens in the lower end of the market. The demand is latent, but it is ineffective because it is not backed with economic power. There is shortfall, but people don’t have money to but if you create the property.

“You will have to go to where there is economic power backing the demand that is where supply will come in. So what we are seeing is that people are

providing housing to people that can afford to buy it, that is simple and so what the government needs to do is to create an enabling environment for people to be able to provide housing for the lower sector.

“They tried to do that for the NHF or the Federal Mortgage Bank and that is what they are trying to do with the MNMRC , if it succeeds and it is consistent, well , it has to be addressed in a multi headed way.

It cannot be a singular approach to solving this problem, there has to be multiple ways because we did not get here in a day, so we will not just get out of it. We have

projects cutting across lower income and upper income and our experience has not been funny,” he said.

According to him, his company has applied for NHF now in the last four years; Estate Developers Loan and has not gotten it.

“What is the reason? at a time they said they stopped it because some people got money and are not paying back and some government are not contributing to the fund and all of that so they don’t even have enough money and so it is not managed properly and if you look at it corruption will be part of what is the problem. So we could

Construction industry should be a major contributor to GDP —Naphtal Chief Executive Officer, InstinctWave, Mr Akin Naphtal has called on government to take advantage of the construction industry as a major driver of growth and a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.

Naphtal said the industry cannot be neglected because it has become a veritable index in terms of employment generation for both skilled and unskilled manpower.

The Instinct Wave boss who maintained that the industry’s potentials was immeasurable said it has witnessed considerable growth in recent years and now contributed about 3. 2 per cent to the GDP. At a press conference to unveil the first ever construction awards held in Lagos recently , Naphtal said that though the construction industry played a key role in economic growth , it has been overlooked in terms of rewarding innovation and creativity, stressing that the award ceremony was set out to reward efforts and open windows for synergies in the sector.

According to Naphtal, every ambition that the Nigerian government has, such as creating the much needed housing, improving public services, developing its tourist sector, improving transport links, creating new jobs and eradicating poverty can be linked to the construction sector.

“The award ceremony will not be just another networking opportunity but companies and individuals will have the platform to tell their success stories and accomplishments while creating inroads

to generate synergies in the sector’’ he added. Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director, Realty Point, Mr Debo Adejana; housing is a reflection of how well an economy is doing. The level of mortgage participation and contribution to the GDP is an indication of how well an economy is doing. Right now, that sector is not contributing as much as it should despite its potentials, this is also as a result of the shortfall and I must say that we need to address it as if we are in a crisis situation.

not continue to provide housing in that sector so we had to change direction because we have to sustain the business. We have to provide housing for the people that can afford it. We will continue to draw the attention of government to the plight of this people so that it can be solved.”

Housing is not affordable to the common man and the challenge is that they are not even built ordinarily for the common man because the common man cannot afford it.

All because he cannot get loans that will be single digit. In some cases, he doesn’t even have a job, where he has one, the job doesn’t pay enough for him to be able to afford even a loan for that and to construct a property.

“Building materials prices are not funny, so they come at a cost and so the housing that are available are not within the reach of the common man. Rent is gradually going beyond the reach of the poor and government does not have any sustainable provision for the low income earners and no income earners.

“Social housing is probably exiting or not existing in this country and that is the reason why we have slums, and people live in all kinds of conditions in the country and if that is not tackled seriously it will lead to many other crisis,” he said.

He described that corruption had eaten so deep into the sector and had burdened it so much that it refused to grow.

1500 get C of O in ‘Ogun Homeowner’ charter initiative About 1500 Ogun State residents have been issued their certificates of occupancy through the Homeowners’ Charter scheme. According to the Ogun State government, the Homeowners Charter initiative is designed by them to allow residents and homeowners ratify their building approval and title.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the arcade ground of the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, who represented the governor at the occasion implored other applicants who were yet to get their C of O to exercise patience and do away with any unnecessary apprehensions, while assur-

ing them that they would be attended to soon.

The beneficiaries and homeowners were drawn from different parts of the state. It will be recalled that the Homeowners Charter was introduced by the state government in December 2013 as part of its efforts to liberalise development in the state.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

HID Awolowo as a bridge builder KUNLE ODEREMI captures the sustained efforts by Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo to strengthen the bond of understanding and cooperation among Nigerians even till her last moment.

D

ATELINE: Thursday, December 13, 2013, and the venue was the historic Efunyela Hall, Ikenne, Ogun State. The place had hosted many of such great and national events for decades, yet the one slated for that day was no less germane and critical, as it was at the instance of the patriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo. It was part of her consistent efforts at promoting and sustaining unity in the country.

As hosts, eminent persons from the Southern part of the country had arrived early and converged on the premises ahead of the commencement of the high-level consultation between Northern leaders and their Southern counterparts, especially from the South-West. All the leaders recognised the importance of the meeting and were determined to use the opportunity to reinvent the country. This fact was amply accentuated by the high calibre of personalities that comprised the delegation from the apex Northern organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), under the chairmanship of Alhaji Aliko M. Mohammed.

The list composed of retired Major General Lawrence Onoja; Senator JNK Waku, a former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, who is the current ACF chairman, just to name a few of the eminent Northern leaders that came for the meeting.

Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, led other leading leaders from the South-West.

The opening remarks of Mama Awolowo on the occasion were thought-provoking.

She was deeply concerned that Nigerians were allowing political issues to create some challenges for the country. in the speech, which was read on her behalf by bishop Gbonigi, she outlined the necessity to fortify the bridge of cooperation nad understanding between the North and the South. She said though pro-democracy activists had been networking for some time, a lot still needed to be done to place Nigeria on a good stead for progress. “Your visit is historic, timely and propitious, all at once. It is historic because, even though there are some meetings between some pro-democracy individuals from the North and some leaders of NADECO in the West towards the tail end of the Abacha regime, this will be the fist meeting on record between the political leadership in the entire North, across all political divides, as embodied in the ACF. It is timely, given the widespread outcry over the parlous state of our country today, duty beckons on all her patriotic leaders to put aside their ethnic and other differences and jointly seek a redirection of the polity. .

“Our meeting today is thus a useful step in bringing all patriotic leaders across the country together towards the crying imperative of charting a more auspicious course of our country. Finally, today’s meeting is propitious because experience has shown that when the West and the North are able to forge a consensus on our national problems and on a corrective agenda, a broader na-

Mama HID Awolowo tional consensus is often much more readily achieved, “ Mama Awolowo stated.

She set a specific agenda for the leaders: to evolve ways of creating a new Nigeria, which should be the pride of all stakeholders. Thus, she enthused: “I am very optimistic that our meeting today will signal the turning of a new page in the history of inter-ethnic cooperation and harmony in our country and the beginning of a new era in the search for true national unity, a unity that will be based on equality of all Nigerians, equal access to political and economic opportunities, respect for our diversities and the uncompromising commitment to justice and equity. “ The Northern leaders were excited about the initiative of Mama Awolowo and her penetrating remarks. Their enthusiasm was further captured in the speech of the

ACF chairman, Alhaji Mohammed, who observed that the time had come for a concerted effort to take Nigeria to the next level by dismantling all discernible barriers against national unity and stability. He said: “The aim of this visit is to have a dialogue on how to move our country forward and strengthen its unity. Because we know progress is often the result of change due to robust discourse, ACF is firmly convinced that sociocultural organisations like YUF, Ohanaeze.

South-South Peoples Assembly and others are well suited to interact with each other obn behalf of the people for the soecific purpose of building bridges and breaking down whatever barriers are still standing in the way of achieving better understanding, trust nd confidence among all Nigerians.”

The success of Mama Awolowo’s initia-

I am very optimistic that our meeting today will signal the turning of a new page in the history of inter-ethnic cooperation and harmony in our country and the beginning of a new era in the search for true national unity.

tive, which was similarly evident in the rapprochement of YUF with the SouthSouth like Dr Alex Ekwueme, as well as the South-East leaders, including Chief Edwin Clark, was reflected in the communiqué issued by the leaders involved in the NorthSouth handshake. Part of it read: “Nigerians should de-emphasise issues that divide us such as ethnicity and religion, while emphasising issues that bind us together as a nation; that he challenges confronting the nation, including corruption, bad governance and insecurity are all traceable to bad leadership; that“a national dialogue was desirable in order to address these and other challenges, just as they stressed the need for such interactions among all the various groups and interests to be sustained with a view to boosting mutual trust and confidence.”

The issue of national dialogue agreed upon by the leaders later took the centre stage in national politics the following year, when the Jonathan administration agreed to hold such conference. The aim of the confab was to give stakeholders in the Nigerian federation to articulate how to achieve a more harmonious and efficient structure by tackling core issues impeding national growth and progress. The arduous task of preparing the agenda for the conference later fell on the Secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Senator Femi Okurounmu.

The report of the eventual conference is currently before federal authorities.

In all these circumstances, Mama Awolowo tactically provided the necessary goodwill and other forms of support to facilitate moves aimed at re-engineering the Nigerian project towards better performance. The issue of workability of the project belies the views once expressed by retired Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade, as the leader of the Yoruba Assembly , which birthed in Ibadan, the political headquarters of the Yoruba race, on August 30, 2012. He said: ”I am Alani Akinrinade, a Yoruba and Nigerian patriot. I believe in the unity of our federation and have spent most of my adult lending credence to that assertion…

We must not continue to look askance, at a political structure, and Constitution which continue to deny us our place in the sun as it completely rubbishes our freedom to develop at our own usual pace as eloquently demonstrated in the days of Awolowo and his team when each region had the authority and the freedom to grow as it wished.

We believe this should not be a matter that divides the country or even the region into warring groups.”

The history of the country is replete with Mama Awolowo’s outstanding contributions to nation-building during the active political career of her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. She stood by him like the Rock of Gibraltar, especially when he walked through murky waters. It is on record that she bestrode the political arena in the First and Second Republics, lending more than a helping hand in her husband’s quest to strengthen his political network across the country.

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politics&policy

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Sani

el-Rufai does not have what it takes to be governor —Senator Sani

Senator Shehu Sani is representing Kaduna State in the National Assembly on the platform of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). He speaks with MUHAMMAD SABIU on the direction of the administration of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, among other issues. Excerpts:

Y

OU have lately been a critic of your party, APC. Are you not afraid that you may be sanctioned by the party leadership?

I come from a political movement. Nigeria’s history didn’t begin from 1999.

Facebook and Twitter began in 2003, but Nigeria’s political history started a long time. If we had not spoken against Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and others there wouldn’t have been any democracy. This democracy which people criticise, is as a result of the people’s struggle. Now, I can’t imagine myself beingunable to speak, even when I have a gun to my head. The democracy which we now enjoy was brought about by the sweat of our struggle. I will speak to anybody even if such a person is the founder of my political party. I am not afraid of anybody or whatever consequences there may be.

And about fear of my life, we have had

that so much. If we were able to mobilise against tanks and guns, I think there is no reason for anybody to say I cannot speak my mind.Most of the people in positions today are beneficiaries of the sacrifices made by heroic Nigerians. People who fought like the Dele Giwas, BagaudaKaItos and others who stood firm for the realisation of democracy. We liberated Nigeria from military rule during the struggle

and we cannot have any fear now. So whoever is today speaking freely or posting messages on Facebook and Twitter is a beneficiary of that struggle in which many have lost their lives. So, I can tell you that part of the reasons why I am speaking has to do with genetics of my political history.

I am not the normal stereotypedpolitician.

I have spent all my life in political movement. I have spent all my life standing up

When presiding over human beings, you do not think of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). You think of three square meals, school fees and the house rent for the masses.

against dictatorship, and even in Kaduna State, I spoke vehemently against Makarfi when he was the governor ofthe state for eight years and we have engaged in media wars with his aides and commissioner of information. I spoke viciously againstNamadi Sambo, when he was the governor of Kaduna. We exchanged words with his media directors and commissioner for information. I spoke vehemently against Patrick Yakowa, when he was the governor and too, we exchanged words with his own media people. I chided Mukhtar RamalanYero. So, if we had not criticised Makarfi, Sambo, Yakowa and Yero there could not have been an el-Rufai. What I am telling you is that with all due respect, el-Rufai has not lived in Kaduna since 1999 and I have been in the state since 1999. We fought those who were there before him but now we are not fighting him.

We are simply telling him the truth. The way things are, perhaps because he has been out of Kaduna for a long time, he doesn’t know what it takes to run a government. Running a state is not like running a Twitter or Facebook account. When presiding over human beings, you do not think of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

You think ofthree square meals, school fees and the house rent for the masses.

The different between the governor and me is that he came from the right wing and I come from the left.

Most of our young ones today may not understand what political left and right means. For academic purpose, the political right belongs to the old-time conservative class. In that class we have people who espouse the capitalist ideologies of privatisation, of removal of subsidy, of commercialisation, and so on. From the political left, we have people who are grounded in the ideologies of the masses, human development, the uplift of humanity from poverty and also the need for state control and also the need to protect and defend the dignity of man. You don’t find progressives on the right side of the political divide, progressivesare on the left side of the political divide. But our party, the APC, is not founded on ideology. People came from different political parties to form the APC and what brought us together was the urge to evict the Jonathan government. After the victory, the characters are now manifesting. You come from the Congress for Progressive Change, you have CPC’s tendencies. The one from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has his own and likewise the one from All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). And now, we are seating down with the realities of marriage after the honeymoon of victory and anti-Jonathan agitation.

What exactly is the problem between you and Governor el-Rufai?

I want him to succeed as a governor and give credit to our party. But we differ in two ways. The first is what he did to me personally and that was after we won elections. He gave every elected office holder in Kaduna a slot in the positions in the state. But when it came to my turn, he gave the slot to the person I defeated in the primaries and if you are a politician, will el-Rufai keep quiet if President Muhammadu Buhari asks his opponent, Isah Ashiru to present candidates as ministerial nominees and all the positions in the federal parastatals? Will he be happy? He will never be happy. What he cannot tolerate he cannot ask me to tolerate. It’s not possible, no matter how much you like him, you have to air your views. Secondly, the way he is running the affairs of the state is continues I pg34

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

continued from pg33

not just fair. Like I told you for a long time, he has been out of the state and hedoesn’t understand the feelings of Kaduna. His relationship with Kaduna is mostly on the social media. He only knows much about New Nyanya, Nyanya, Maraba, Pape, Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3, Lugbe, Kuje, Area 1, Area2, Area 3. So he knows more of Abuja than he knows Kaduna, Ungwan Rimi, Ungwan Yelwa, Ungwan Shanu, Sabo, Tundun Wada, Rigachukwu, Kawo, Rigasa, Hiyin Banki. He doesn’t know more of these places. People say why have I not met him? I have not been able to see him after inauguration. Ask any party executive at the local government or state whether they have his number to call him or if they can reach him. Pick some party officials and tell them to take you to him; whether they will have access to him. So, he is not accessible not just to me but to people who ares upposed to have access to him. Many people, who led the party, are nowhere to be found in the place of governance. Alhaji Hakeem Baba Ahmed was the first interim chairman of the party in the state. There were five people that contested the governorship with himIsah Ashiru, Sa’ed, Lukman and the other one. Infact, all those who contested are nowhere to be found. Nobody has invited them. So, in my case, so far he is supporting my adversaries, which he cannot tolerate and he cannot ask me to tolerate. So,I am telling you that there are two issues, the personal and the local political issue and there is the ideological issue. I want him to succeed but he has enacted some policies and those policies fail to work. He banned beggars but he didn’t provide an alternative place for them to go and unfortunately those beggars are back now.

Go to his house now in Ungwan Rimi you will see beggars there. They even have a line where they lie down now very close to his house. Secondly, he has also banned hawking. But unfortunately from your place, the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat, you will see so many hawkers on the street. Has that worked out? Now he embarked on a demolition exercise in Zaria zone and wanted to extend it in my zone but see the serious number of litany of litigations and court injunctions making it impossible for him to succeed in that aspect. So, like I said, it may not be his fault because he has been out of Kaduna State for a long time. You can demolish anybody’s house in Abuja and get away with it because most of them don’t want public to know their houses. But not in Kaduna. You want to demolish a house I inherited from my father or my grandfather, it is not going towork. Now if you want to demolish in the name of recovering governmentl and, give the people alternative places to go. Every day people queue up in front of our houses begging for assistance.

When you are dealing with people who are pressed to that extent,there are certain things you need to do. el-Rufai wants to remove beggars on our streets and plant flowers;el-Rufai wants to remove destitute from Kaduna and build amusement parks;el-Rufai wants to remove beggars and build Shoprite shopping malls; elRufai wants to hide our beggars and build a five-star hotel, now where will they go?

I am not encouraging begging but these beggars need to be on the street and knock on our tinted BMWs and tell us that we are still here so that we will know that there is a problem. We don’t need to send them to Rigassa or out of town; they should be where they are. So, all I am telling him that he should provide alternatives. I want to

Sani

APC has no ideology see shopping malls and hotels. But if you are coming to Kaduna, they want to give a false impression that we have been turned into Amsterdam or Paris or London. So, if you come to this town and you enter from Goni-Gora and you don’t see beggars or destitute if you come to me, I will take you towhere they are being kept. I will show you where the lepers are kept, where the blind and beggars are, where we hid them.

So, that is where we differ I believe in uplifting the poor and not hiding them.

Your asset declaration recently came as a surprise to many. Why did you declare your asset?

The public declaration of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was a challenge to all men of conscience. What they did, literally was to remove the tinted

glass from the moral vehicle of power. By that public declaration, they put all public officials in the dock. As far as I am concerned, the war against corruption should begin by leaders setting a personal example. Over the last 16 years, politicians have developed a ritual. After winning elections they make claims of hundreds of houses and billions of naira. That is simply an anticipatory looting. What we need to understand is that Nigerians deserve to know how rich are their leaders or otherwise. It is not enough to declare your assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau; there is need to speak to the public and present the assets to the public. People would want to flaunt their CVs showing where they attended primary school and secondary schools, and how much they have served the country and how many first class they have got, from their first, second and third degrees.

Whoever refuses to declare his assets is not fit to speak on issues of public accountability, credibility or on corruption.

But why are people scared of disclosing the number of houses and the amount of money they have in their accounts? Whoever refuses to publicly declare his assets is not fit to speak on issues of public accountability, credibility or on corruption.

Since 1999 we have seen people when they win elections, they will tell you that they have been billionaires in their mothers’ womb. Or they were accomplished business men. The public declaration by the President and his Vice has set a moral standard for public office holders. The next step for the government to take is to protect the Code of Conduct Bureau, to protect the staff and the institution, because by the public declaration of assets by the President and the Vice, there could make some of public office holders to go and change or alter the documents they had presented before the Code of Conduct Bureau simply to wave off moral burden.

Public declaration does not in no way make you a saint but avails the public the knowledge of a degree of sin. It also avers the public knowledge on your degree of uprightness. The public will be able to know what you have. It is not enough for public office holders to claim to want to sanitise the society without themselves coming open and clean before the public.

We should wash our undies in the public for people to see how neat we are or how dirty we are. We live in a country whereby hundreds of billions of dollars have been diverted by public officials.

We also live in a country where government is the major business; a country where the economy has so long been bearish. We need to press our public office holders to disclose what they possess publicly. If this generation of leaders refuses to disclose what they possess but leave behind these mountains of debts, then we have no moral right to ask our children to pray on our graves. There is every possibility that this generation of leaders will have weed growing on their graves because the people they will leave behind will be too occupied trying to clear the mountains of debts left behind and will have no time to weed their graves.

I made this public declaration for a number of reasons. One is to accept the moral standard set by President Buhari and Osinbajo. And secondly to choose to be faulted rather than carry the burden of suspicion and categorisation of my person among those who have tones of skeletons to hide in their cupboard. The the last one is that our leaders have a habit of securing loans which they call soft loans and these are meant to be paid in the next 30 to 45 years. When you see soft loan, they are loans that will be paid by our children and grandchildren in the hard way. What has happened in the last 16 years is that many public office holders looted the funds from our oil wells and have enrich themselves and their families and impoverished our people and destroyed the present and the future of our young people. So, it is necessary that our people be informed on the level which people have corruptly enriched themselves while in public office.

Anybody who refuses to declare his wealth has certainly got something to hide. Like I said, there is need to also protect what people have declared; if care is not taken, there will be an attempt to change or alter or even fill in new forms and backdate it for the purpose of making a falsified public declaration. So, I did it a day after Buhari public declared his own. Some people are not doing it because what they will say to the public will tally with what they have filled in the form and you cannot say anything different from what is there.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Editor: Bayo Alade featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08055001747

features

I want to die

like Mama HID — Vice President’s mother

48 Hours after the death of Mama HID Awolowo, VERA ONANA was at Ikenne to attend the second of several services that will be held in her honour and later interacted with people who knew Mama personally. She reports.

T

HE double black gates bearing the golden inscription ‘up Awo’ swung open to reveal a magnificent edifice, there was no disputing the palpable fact that it was home for legends. The Masoleum which houses the tomb in which the great Papa Obafemi Awolowo was laid to rest stood gallantly to the left and to the right was the Awolowo museum. Sitting peacefully in it, was the Mercedes Benz with which the late Premier toured the length and breath of the nation twice. The main building sat majestically, starring directly at the black gates like an eagle staring from heaven, watching over all who drove in. At the centre of the Awolowo compound stood a flowing fountain, depicting the never ending brilliance embedded in the core of the mansion.

However, in front of the compound stood four men, trumpets in hand, releasing melodies that make the head double its side.

Their solemn tune would leave the hair on

one’s back no other choice than to stand at attention. While they played, a solemn service was ongoing at the other side of the fountain in the history-filled Efunyela Hall.

Its walls were adorned with histories from decades before and stories that could not be exhausted from one dawn to its dusk. In this hall of great historical relevance, Papa Awolowo had held several political meetings decades ago. It was also in this same hall that late Mama HID held her last meeting before going to re-unite with her eternal love.

The voice of the preacher filled the air as he

The testimonies about Mama coming from all over the world, assuredly point to the fact that mama sits at the side of the Lord in heaven.

A band playing

preached a sermon from the book of John.

A solemn service like the one going on at the hall had taken place the day before and would continue everyday till Mama HID’s remains are interred, Rev. Moses Famusiwa had reiterated. During the service, Rev. Famusiwa stated that Mama had gone home to be with God and her death was His will, though it caught mortals unaware. He expressed profound gratitude to God for the fact that Mama had passed on, not isolated but surrounded by warmth and inexplicable care. “Our times are in God’s hands and he alone knows our future.” Rev. Famusiwa

Vice president’s mother, Bisi Osinbajo in closing admonished all who were in attendance to do good, for a man’s deeds will surely outlive him. Concerning Mama HID, he said, “the testimonies about Mama coming from all over the world, assuredly point to the fact that mama sits at the side of the Lord in heaven. Mama’s great deeds have outlived her and her exploits will not be interred with her bones.”

The service for the day was brought to a close as the final hymn for the service officiated by ministers from the Ikenne Arch deaconry was sung. After the benediction, sympathisers like waters from a recently undammed river, came flooding into the Efunyela Hall. They paid condolences and registered their testimonies about late Mama HID but there were some people too shocked to sign the registers. These are the people who had lived and worked with Mama. The people whom she regarded as, not staff members, but family, the ones who watched her wake up and bade her good night, some for a decade and others for much more and other loyalists whose testimonies were such that could thaw the icy mountains of the Artatica.

This job changed my life — Steward Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Ismail Yakubu, a native of Okene in Kogi state and a steward who had been working at the Awolowo house since 1998, said “ I was introduced to Mama by a friend, Jimoh, who was at the time working at the maintenance department of the house. Mama ac-

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features

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

‘Her memory was impeccable’

Ismail Yakubu, steward cepted me without any discrimination and asked me to fix my salary though I politely declined. The job changed my life. I was designated with taking care of the house and entertaining the guests. I came here single but today I am married with three children.

Mama was an exceptional employer, in my almost two decades of working for her; there is no second that I regret my decision.

She never treated me badly or reported me to anyone.”

On her passing Yakubu said “we are all shocked because she was in very high spirits on Saturday morning. She was lively and joking with us. We took her round the compound for her regular exercise, I pushed her wheel chair round the compound, I cannot believe she is gone.”

We will immortalise her — IKLG Chairman The chairman of Ikenne Local Government Area, Hon. Tolani Obakoya, said “I thank God for Mama’s life, her legacy is what we are trying to preserve now. We are building a stand for her at the local government to immortalise her. She was a great woman, we were supposed to see her on Thursday but we couldn’t and on Saturday, 19 September, we got the sad news that Mama had passed on. The local government cannot forget her.

Mama’s life was worthy, we should be challenged to live good lives,” he said.

She called me Asabi, never my name — Flower girl at Mama’s wedding The flower girl at Mama HID and Papa Awolowo’s wedding, Victoria Omolara Kazeem, whose father was the best man at the wedding, talked of Mama thus: “my father and late Justice Olajide Shomolu and Papa Awolowo were good friends. I grew to know them as great friends, I was the flower girl at the wedding with Funmilayo Shomolu and ever since, I have become a member of the family. Anything they want to do, they tell me and they call me sister. I was the little girl in the wedding group photograph that turned her hat to the back. I was so happy on that day, moving all about the place. It has been wonderful being a part of this great family. We all looked after each other.

Mama didn’t really have a role to play in the choice of my life partner because I chose my husband and we got married in England but when I came back to Nigeria, I took my husband to them and they blessed both of us and became our mentors. Papa helped my husband when he was manger of African Continental Bank (ACB) and it was to be closed but because of them, the company went on. I will miss Mama deeply, she never used to call me by name, she called me Asabi, my lineage praise,” she said.

She taught me to be a virtuous woman —Personal Assistant

Oluwatoyin Esther, Mama’s Personal Assistant and Secretary, amidst sobs shared her testimony of late HID. “Mama was a virtuous woman, a woman of strength whose intellect is unrivaled. She was a disciplinarian and was extremely hardworking. Even at her age, she displayed a rare level of hard work. When I resume at 8am, Mama would already be seated and ready for the day’s activity. She wakes up as early as five. She was also very devoted to the Christian faith. She never joked with anything that had to do with God. She gave her time and money unflinchingly.” Speaking about the things she would miss the most about Mama, she said: “I will miss her company and guidance, we used to talk a lot. I read her the papers every morning and she told me a lot of stories and important political histories. Mama had exceptional retentive memory for her age, even till she passed on, her memory never failed. She told me of the politics in Papa Awolowo’s time and she was able to relate the present political situation to the past very coherently. We talked about my marital life as a single person and she taught me virtues that can make one excel as a wife.

She taught me those things that made her excel and why Papa called her his “jewel of inestimable value.” Talking about the day she passed on, she said “I never knew it would be her last day, I resumed that morning and she was ready for the meeting that would take place that day, she admired my slippers and asked me to buy the same for her. She vetted the Aso-Oke for her birthday and we sang for her. She asked for her lunch and even asked me to join her. She looked at me and said “you have been doing very well, you are not a thief”, she commended the cook too. We had no idea she was telling us goodbye, she went to bed and that was all. It is so painful but I am glad I met her in my lifetime. She lived a great life. She came, she saw and she conquered,” she concluded.

Lessons from Mama will take me through a life time – Secretary Mrs. Phillips Chinwe, Mama’s secretary since 2004 could barely speak but after

She was a great believer. We never skipped devotions and she until her death, officiated them.

Oluwatoyin Esther, Mama’s personal assistant

Victoria Omalara Kazeem, flower girl at mama’s wedding

Hon. Obakoya, Ikenne LG Chairman

Phillips Chinwe, secretary

several persuasions, she said “I saw the advertisement for the position in Nigerian Tribune and I applied, it was my first application ever. I came to Ibadan for the interview and later, I was asked to resume but the job was at Ikenne. I never knew Mama was the chairman of the paper. Mama was preparing for her 89th birthday so I was asked to resume after the celebration. It has been quite an experience. What I have learnt from Mama is sufficient to take me through a life time. From her, I learnt to be strong and to stand by my husband as a woman.

She told me of her experiences when Papa Awolowo was incarcerated and how she held on. She was so hardworking, she is a perfectionist. When I took this job I was told that Mama was very tough but whatever I did was perfect by Mama. When I make mistakes, she simply corrected me. She took me like a granddaughter. I got married here in her house. My husband works in the Dideolu Specialist Hospital. I used Mama’s choice car for my wedding. She was like a grandmother to my children. I will miss mama terribly. In the past 11 years of my life, I wake up every day to see her. Through her, I have met so many dignitaries. She had so much confidence in me, she was never tribal because I am Igbo and never listened to what negative people had to say. She took my opinions highly, if we discussed things and I made suggestions, she listened despite the age difference,” she concluded.

Elizabeth Akinwumi, chief cook

Her memory was impeccable — Chief cook The kitchen department was not left out, Elizabeth Akinwumi, Mama’s cook, spoke highly of Mama.

“Mama was too brilliant. Her memory was impeccable even till the day she passed on.

She lived a beautiful long life. I learnt a lot from Mama. She was really hardworking.

Even at her age, she woke up before 6am every morning and presides over the morning devotion. I have been with her for about a decade. Mama’s favorite food was Ikokore, the Ijebu kind of porridge but she was a light eater and was very hospitable,” she stated.

She was a great believer — Cook Mama’s cook and domestic help, Deborah Agboola, said of Mama: “she was a great mother and took care of us well in all ways.

I learnt so much from her, she was so brave.

Sometimes, she wakes up by 5am. She was a great believer. We never skipped devotions and she until her death, officiated them. Her favourite psalms were 23, 91 and 121. She always led the prayers.

I want to die like Mama too — Mother of the Vice President Mrs Bisi Osinbajo congratulated Mama at her passing, “I was shocked to hear that she died that day, I was here to greet her some days ago and she was hale and hearty.

I know that one day, whether we like it or not we will all die. Mama was to celebrate her 100th birthday in November and she went without any troubles. That is the kind of death I want to die too. I don’t want to be a burden to my children; I want to go just like that. I congratulate Mama even though she is not around.

I will miss so many things about her. She was very religious and that is why I liked her because she prayed all the time. When I walked in today, I was expecting to see her sitting over there like she does but she wasn’t. I miss her deeply, she said.

37

HIDAWOLOWO(1915-2015)

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Mama HID Awolowo left a good legacy —Dep speaker

By Olayinka Olukoya and Tunde Ogunesan

MORE encomiums have continued to trail the exit of the co-founder of the African Newspapers of the Nigeria (ANN) Plc and wife of the sage, Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, as men and women from all walks of life showered accolades and praises of her.

Among the dignitaries was the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yussuf, who stated that the sage and Mama had left a good legacy for the Yoruba nation.

Yussuff noted that both Papa and Mama had done their best for Nigeria.

She described Mama as a very strong pillar behind the success of Papa in his political life, urging wom-

en to emulate and adopt the virtues of womanhood which Mama represented.

The deputy speaker said, “Behind every successful man, there must be a

Epitome of industry, selflessness –OOU VC

By Laolu Harolds

THE Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Professor Saburi Adejimi Adesanya, has, on behalf of council, senate, staff and students of the university commiserated with the Awolowo family on the demise of their matriarch, Chief Dideolu Awolowo.

In a statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs Division of the university, Mr Adeniyi Oduwole, the vice chancellor said “Mama was an epitome of industry, selflessness and commitment to family values.”

He said her sustenance of the great Awo’s legacies on education and selfless service to humanity led to her being found eminently worthy of the conferment of the honorary doctoral degree of the university (OOU).

The statement reads: “There is no doubt that the death of Mama has created a huge vacuum in Yoruba land in particular and Nigeria in general, where till the last moment of her life she was the rallying point of the Awolowo political school of thought.”

woman. So, every woman that wants her husband to succeed must have the kind

of attributes that Mama had because it is the woman that owns the house.”

She was a unique personage, great woman —IBB FORMER President Ibrahim Babangida has said that the death of Mama Awolowo was a “personal loss and strikes a sense of nostalgia in me.”

Babangida noted that “The Awolowos; the Sage and his soul-mate, the matriarch both lived exemplary and selfless life promoting the common good for the human society.

“I have enjoyed a personal and warm relationship from the Awolowos including the late matriarch especially from my days in office at Dodan Barracks, when she accompanied her husband

A pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), New Generation

Mama lived a fulfilled life —Oyo gov’s wife WIFE of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has said that Mama Awolowo lived a fulfilled life.

Ajimobi who visited the

because of her role as a unifying force.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Emma Anya, the governor said it was painful that she died about 61 days to her centenary celebration.

The governor stated: “I, on behalf of the people of Ebonyi State, commis-

residence of the deceased in Ikenne, Sunday night, said, “Mama, you lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

erate with the Awolowo family on the death of their matriarch, Chief HID Awolowo, on Saturday, September 19. No doubt, her passage is demoralising because it took place only 61 days to November 25, when the world would have joined her family to celebrate her 100th birthday.”

Mama’s legacies will be remembered —Ortom BENUE State governor, Samuel Ortom, has expressed the condolences of the government and people of the state on the passage of the matriarch of the Obafemi Awolowo dynasty.

According to him, the legacies left by the deceased and her husband, which included entrepreneurship, committed service in the legal profession

to pay me a visit when I returned from a medical trip abroad. It was the first time any government, especially a Military Government at that, was enjoying such kind of honour of a visit that was

and politics, free education, patriotism and family values would be remembered by the present and future generations.

The governor stated that the government and people of Benue State cherished the relationship between the late Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka and the late Awolowo and their commitment to a progressive and better country.

Parish, Lagos, Assistant Pastor Olusegun Aina, has said that Mama HID Awolowo was not only a jewel of inestimable value to her late husband, but a

Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

A brand management strategist and marketing

ory till the very end.

Danjuma, with his wife, Senator Daisy, said the deceased adopted them as her children about 10 years ago.

In his message signed in one of the condolence reg-

1979, which Baba refused to believe until he sent his external auditors.

“Apa maku,” as the Tri-

THE Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Kola Oluwawole, described the death of Yeye Oodu’a as the end of a glorious era.

He said though it was

She lived with honour —Babcock VC PRESIDENT/VICE Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Professor Kayode Makinde, said that the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty lived with honour and faith and left in dignity.

“It is indeed an honour to belong to this family and to share the love of a mother in a million. Mama lived with honour and faith and left in dignity and joy. The Awolowo legacy for Nigeria and the world is the judicious combination of faith and fame without losing the virtues of love for the nation and for humanity.”

isters opened by the family, Danjuma said, “My wife Daisy and I were adopted by Mama some 10 years ago.

We shall miss her loving maternal guidance sorely.”

bune was called, is a legacy of the couple. Rest in perfect peace, mother of all good Nigerians.”

Closure of glorious chapter –Lagos APC THE Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the death of Mama Awolowo as the closure of a glorious chapter.

The party said Mama lived

jewel of inestimable value in Nigerian political firmament.

Pastor Aina said HID was a sound business woman, and a jewel of inestimable

communications expert, Mr Lere Ojedokun, has described Mama Awolowo

End of glorious era –Ekiti speaker

Mother of all good Nigerians –Banji Ogundele FORMER Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Banji Ogundele, during his condolence visit to the Tribune House, Ibadan, recalled in the register how in “1978 when Chief Tola Adeniyi and myself joined the Tribune with Mama as Chairman. Her motherly support and care earned Tribune its first profit in

having in audience a great Nigerian accompanied by his delectable wife. Till date, that visit remains memorable in my heart; and it’s a historical moment that I will forever cherish in my life time.”

value in Nigeria’s politics; courted by all politicians who must succeed. “The vacuum created by her demise will take a while to be filled.”

She was a woman for all time —Ojedokun

She retained her faculty till the end —Danjuma FORMER Minister of Defence Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma, in his condolence message said all that he appreciated in the life of Mama was that she retained her mem-

more personal than official.

“I could still recall the warmth and candour that pervaded the atmosphere at my official residence in State House, Dodan Barracks on that gracious day

A jewel of inestimable value in Nigerian politics —Cleric

HID was a rallying point for Nigerians —Ebonyi gov GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State has described the demise of Mama Awolowo as a national loss, particularly

woman. Everybody knows that when Papa was alive, Mama was a very fantastic

Nigerian Tribune

a fruitful life that impacted positively on many lives.

In a release signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said that Mama complimented her husband’s progressive ideals.

painful the nationalist died during the peak of preparation for her 100th birthday, it was gladdening that she lived a fulfilled life.

Pastor Oluwawole, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday, noted that Nigeria and the Yoruba nation would never forget her.

“Rather than being a mourning period, it is celebration of life. Mama HID Awolowo’s life was a golden and glorious era. The only painful thing is that we are all expecting to celebrate her 100th birthday soon.”

as a quintessential, virtuous and valuable woman whose contributions to humanity across all facets of life would be cherished for many years.

Ojedokun, who is the Executive Director, Strategic Communications, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Lagos, in a tribute to the departed matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, eulogised Mama HID for touching many lives positively.

He said “Mama HID lived for generations. Her works as a virtuous woman stood her out among other women. She was not only a staunch supporter of her late husband, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, through thin and thick; she was a rally point for the sustenance of the ideals which the late sage lived for.”

She was a great supporter of her husband —Lagos dep gov LAGOS State deputy governor, Alhaja Idiat Adebule, in her tribute in honour of the deceased, said Mama was a great supporter of her husband.

Adebule who led a delegation of women from Lagos State which included wife of the Speaker, Mrs Falilat Obasa; wife of the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Professor Yemi Tunji-Bello; the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Chief

(Mrs) Folashade TinubuOjo, noted that Mama Awolowo had carved a niche for herself in all her endeavour.

Adebule said: “We are here on behalf of all the women of Lagos State to pay our condolences to the family of Awolowo on the loss of our beloved mother, an icon, somebody who had caved a niche for herself in all that she set her mind to do throughout her lifetime.”

HID was a textbook —Obada FORMER Deputy Governor of Osun State and Minister of State for Defence, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada, has said that HID Awolowo symbolised an archetypal good woman, who gave her husband the support that made him one of the greatest Nigerian of all time.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Erelu Obada said

the passage of HID Awolowo was a great loss to the nation and the women folk.

“HID was an unbelievable woman, who showed the kind of zest read in legends.

Even after the passage of her husband, she carried on from where he stopped, promoting the unity of the country and the Yoruba race.”

38 HIDAWOLOWO(1915-2015)

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Nigerian Tribune

HID will continue to be remembered for her worthy legacies —Gov Dickson

G

overnor of Bayelsa State, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has received with shock, the news of the death of Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, wife of the sage and father of progressive politics in Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

In his condolence message to the family, the government and people of Ogun State, the Bayelsa State governor, described Mama’s death as unfortunate, noting that, she passed on at a time, she was just getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Bayelsa State, I sincerely commiserate with the immediate and extended families on the death of Mama, who was the Matriarch of the great Awolowo family. It is unfortunate that Mama died at a time when she was just getting ready to celebrate her 100th birthday.”

He stated that, while HID passes on, the Awolowo family should take sol-

ace in the fact that, she left a worthy legacy behind, as

as a woman of uncommon strength and virtue, who

stood by her late husband and was able to sustain Pa

She lived a good life —Ndoma-Egba Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

Former Senate Leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba (SAN), has described as painful, the demise of Chief HID Awolowo, adding however that the late Matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty lived a good life.

Ndoma-Egba, in a condolence message made available in Abuja, on Sunday, said that the death of Chief Awolowo amounted to the eventful end of an eventful era.

According to the Senate Leader of the Seventh Senate, late HID lived a very remarkable and exemplary

life.

He said: “This is an eventful end of an eventful era. She lived a very re-

markable life and you will agree with me that her life was a remarkable one. She gave a good account of

FOUNDER of the Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation, Hajiya Asabe Yar’Adua, on Sunday, said the passage of the Matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief HID Awolowo, has deprived Nigerians of another special breed, who impacted positively on the

panionship and wonderful motherhood to women all over the world.

“No wonder virtuous women have been described as ‘jewel of inestimable value’ after her,” he added.

Babalola prayed that God give the Awolowo immediate family and all Nigerians the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

THE late Matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Mama HID Awolowo, has been described as the political mother of Nigeria, who bestrode the land like a colossus and angelically.

This was the assertion of

Senator Isiaka Adeleke, in a statement issued by his media adviser, Olumide Lawal, in a tribute to the golden mother of Africa.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke, was of the view, that Mama HID was a fountain of

THE League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State chapter, wants Nigerians not to mourn the death of

destiny of the country.

In a condolence message to the family, Asabe declared that the deceased worked assiduously as a veritable bridge builder among the diverse people making up the country even up to her last moment on earth.

According to the widow of late Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, “Mama Awolowo lived a totally fulfilled and exemplary life.

She never waivered in the face of adversities as epitomised during the impressive political career of our legendary Papa Obafemi Awolowo.

“As an icon and amazon, Mama Awolowo took the image of the Nigerian woman to a greater height such that she is acknowledged by all men and women of conscience as the mother of the

over the demise of their co-founder and Chairman, Chief HID Awolowo, who passed on to the great beyond on Saturday.

The party, in a condolence message signed by the ini-

Virtuous, committed woman gone — Ansar-Ud-Deen Society

THE National Organising Secretary of Ansar-UdDeen Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani, has said the death of the Yeye Oodua, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, has robbed Africa of a virtuous, committed and hard-working woman.

Alhaji Kilani said Mrs Awolowo would be missed

knowledge, whose wealth of invaluable experience, shall be greatly missed across the world. Mama HID, Adeleke situated, was a fulfilled and fantastic nationalist and an iconic leader in her own right, who firmly held the

She should be celebrated – Oyo Veteran Journalists Chief (Mrs) Hannah Dideolu Awolowo. Rather, her death should be celebrated.

A statement signed by the

nation and an indisputable role model.”

Asabe, who said Nigerians should celebrate her, rather than mourn over her transition, said the best way to honour her was to uphold the virtues of piety, courage, enterprise, neighbourliness and patriotism Mama Awolowo devoted her entire life to.

for her lifestyle which was a lesson in commitment and sacrifice.

According to him, she exhibited a strong character in the way she stood by her husband, the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, during tribulations and his premiership which, he said, brought unparalleled development to the old Western Region.

chairman of the League, Alhaji Kola Animasaun, said the celebration was necessary in view of the monumental legacies left behind by the deceased.

According to the veteran journalists, the legacies which are too many to mention include the sustenance of the existence of the Tribune titles set up to inform and unite the people of Nigeria years after the demise of her husband and founder, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Her patriotic and constant intervention to ensure peace and unity among feuding Nigerians.

forte like a rock of Gibraltar for late Papa Obafemi Awolowo many years after his demise.

Mama, according to Senator Adeleke, was a citizen of the world, whose memory, even at the ripe age of 99 never failed, as she recalled events with absoluteness.

She was deeply a religious woman, who was there for all, even without notice. She was a political encyclopaedia of no mean repute.

Senator Adeleke noted that Mama, the Yeye Oodua of Yoruba land, was culture personified; a repository of Yoruba customs and tradition, without being in conflict with her religious persuasion as Iya Ijo of St Saviour’s Church, Ikenne.

He also equated Mama to the likes of Indira Gandhi of India, Mrs Bandaranaike of Ceylon, both whom, like Mama, loomed larger than life and gave all of their best to benefit humanity and add value to womanhood.

She was an uncommon symbol of stability on the home front —Ikuforiji Bola Badmus - Lagos

The immediate past Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has described the late Matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, as “a rare breed among women

Oyo reformed PDP condoles with Awolowo, Tribune family THE Reformed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Oyo State, has condoled with the Awolowo family as well as the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of Tribune titles

herself, leading an exemplary life and being a great example of how a mother should be.”

Awolowo’s incredible political legacies and values, many years after his passage.

Governor Dickson prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear her irreparable loss as well as the peaceful repose of her soul.

The amazon goes home gracefully –Isiaka Adeleke

Mama HID Awolowo, special breed - Yar’Adua Foundation

It is end of an era – Babalola A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Oyo State and governorship aspirant in the last general election, Mr Olufemi Babalola, has described the death of Chief HID Awolowo as the end of an era in the country.

“If I am not mistaking, Mama is the last of the spouses of the foremost political leaders who fought for and won independence for Nigeria. She co-piloted the very strong and purposeful direction of the First Republic,” Babalola said in a press statement on Sunday.

Posterity, he said would remember Mrs Awolowo for her stoic effort in sustaining the legacy of her husband, the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for upward of 28 years and the offer of herself as veritable bridge across the country.

This, Babalola said, she did till her last moment without pretentions, arrogance or play to the gallery, stressing that she was there, more than any other woman for the country, at very crucial hours, he emphasised.

According to him, Mama Awolowo was an exemplary example in fortitude, dependable com-

she will continue to be remembered and celebrated

tiator of the group, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, on Sunday, noted that late HID represented a virtous African woman as she strongly stood by her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, through thick and thin, most especially during his political sojourn.

and an uncommon heroine that would forever remain a huge symbol of stability on the home front.”

“With more women like Mama Awolowo in Africa, there is no doubt that the era of large scale divorce in many homes today will be a thing of the past,” Ikuforiji said.

The former Speaker said this in a message made available by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Rotimi Adebayo, declaring that as Mama, wife of the sage and former first Premier of the old Western Region finally departed this planet, it was very important to note that her life was that of celebration, and not mourning.

“For an uncommon woman of her calibre to have given her all to Papa Awolo-

wo through thick and thin, and stood firmly behind her husband while implementing earth-shaking revolutionary socio-economic and human development programmes for his people in the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, thus liberating them from poverty, lack, and deprivation for life, now is the time to celebrate her for all her good works and her uncommon love for her husband, and humanity while she was with us,” Ikuforiji said.

“It is also very important to teach our young ones, particularly the female folks, that they should embrace the rare virtues of love, trust, and perseverance in order to enjoy a blissful marital life like the late Mama Awolowo,” he added.

Mama lives on—Makinde The death of political Matriarch of Yoruba and Yeye Oodua, Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo has been described as the end of an era by Mr Seyi Makinde in a press statement made available in Ibadan.

Makinde said “death is an unavoidable chapter of human life, but the content

of character and legacy left behind make her live in our hearts forever.”

He explained further that ‘those who read Chief Awolowo’s many books would discover that Mama played active roles in Baba’s many political adventures. And was strong pillar of support which culminated

in being described as “Jewel of Inestimable value.”

It was surprising at the ripe age of 99; Mama was still active in community service and family building exercise as revealed by the news of her death.”

Makinde called on women of this generation to emulate her selfless disposition to humanity.

39

news

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Ambode submits cabinet list for screening Bola Badmus-Lagos

G

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode has on Monday presented the list of cabinet members to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The list, according to the statement made available to newsmen, comprise 23 commissioner-nominees, while 13 people were nominated for the position of Special Advisers.

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, read the names on the floor to members. Amongst the nominees for the position of commissioners are six former cabinet members, who served under the administration of immediate past governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola.

They are Gbolahan Lawal, Dr Jide Idris, Folarin Coker, Seye Oladejo, Ganiyu Johnson and Babatunde Hunpe.

Those who were considered as top technocrats, politicians and strategists, who were part of the list, include Mrs Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Olemoh, Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in KPMG; Steve Ayorinde, Alhaja Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist; Kehinde Joseph and Professor Ademola Abass, a Professor of Law. Their ages are said to range between 39 and 47years.

Others include Dr Akintola Benson, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Dr Mohammed Akinkunmi, Dr Babatunde Adejare, Dr Femi Onanuga, Dr Dayo Mobereola, Mr Ade Akinsanya, Mr Wasiu Anifowoshe, Mrs Lola Akande, Agboola Dabiri, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Anofi Elegushi, Rotimi Ogunleye, Mrs Adebimpe

Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi, Alhaji Musiliu Folami, Adeniji Kazeem, Adeyemi Labinjo, Toyin Suarau, Babatunde

Durosinmi-Etti, Deji Tinubu, Mrs Mudirat Giwanson and Kehinde Bamigbetan.

The screening is expected

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has berated the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Faggae, over his recent call that non-PhD degree holders should not be appointed as Vice Chancellors in the nation’s universities.

Citing the recommendation of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the NMA pointed out that holders of the fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) and its equivalent are very qualified to be appointed as Vice Chancellors.

In a statement signed

dles would likely be sworn in to resume the task of governance by Monday, October 5, 2015.

From left, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; celebrant and founder, Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Frederick Fasehun; his wife , Iyabo; former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Dupe Adelaja and Lagos PDP gubernatorial candidate, Jimi Agbaje, at the holy communion thanksgiving service to mark the 80th Birthday of Chief Fasehun, at St. Peter Church ( Anglican Communion), Ajele, Lagos Island, on Monday. Photo; Sylvester Okoruwa.

Protesting students hold deputy gov hostage in Osun Oluwole Ige- Osogbo There was mild drama in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, on Monday when students of tertiary institutions owned by the state government held the deputy governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori hostage, during a protest to denounce prolonged strike by their lecturers.

The students under the aegis of National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS) converged at Olaiya junction around 10.00 a.m., causing traffic gridlock on Gbongan-Ibadan expressway. The students

were from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke; Colleges of Education in Ila and Ilesa, and they subsequently trekked from Olaiya to the state secretariat, at Abeere, where they laid siege on the main gate, preventing the entry and exit of vehicles.

The students were seen chanting solidarity and antigovernment songs to condemn what they termed indifference of the incumbent administration to the plight of their lecturers.

However, at around 12:55 p.m., the deputy governor was driven in a convoy of

NPMCN holders equally qualified to be VC—NMA …Berates ASUU president over statement Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

to commence immediately after the Sallah holidays while those who would have scaled the screening hud-

by the NMA President, Dr Kayode Obembe and made available to Nigeria Tribune in Abuja, on Monday, the association said the Medical Fellowship holders are more than eligible to be appointed Vice Chancellors.

Dr Faggae had recently called on the local congress of the ASUU to insist that only those with PhD degrees become Vice Chancellors.

In his swift response, Dr Obembe, described the call as an inciting discriminating statement against holders of Medical Fellowships; saying that Dr Faggae’s call was targeted at the holders of postgraduate Medical Fellowships.

He said: “The attention of the NMA has been drawn

to the news media report credited to the President of the ASUU, Dr Faggae, calling for the discrimination of non-PhD degree holders from being appointed as Vice Chancellors in the nation’s universities.

“The NMA considers this unwholesome affront by the President of ASUU as unfortunate, as the context borders on holders of post-graduate Medical Fellowships.

“While not joining issue with anyone as every citizen is entitled to an opinion, NMA wishes to condemn in strong terms, the open inciting nature and unveiled hatred leveled against the eminently qualified Nigerians, whose eligibility to equally aspire to lead the universities, has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt.”

vehicles to the secretariat but the protesting students prevented her from gaining entry into the secretariat.

In an apparent move to halt Laoye-Tomori’s movement, some of the students laid on the floor in front of her car, while others laid at the back, thus inhibiting her movement, just as they rebuffed all appeal made by her to the students to give way.

Attempt made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran to ease the mounting pressure failed as he was booed, before being swiftly whisked away by anti riot policemen and men of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS).

Addressing journalists, the president of NAOSS, Adekunle Animasahun said, “it is no longer a rumour that all the Osun State

Owned Tertiary Institutions Staff under the aegis of CASUOSTI the joint Union of ASUP and COAESU have embarked on industrial disharmony since January 27, 2015.

“Since then the leadership of the students across the tertiary institutions used every peaceful means to compel and appeal to the Osun State Government to find a lasting solution to the annual menace but our plea was treated with a waive of the hand.”

“Sadly enough, since the warning strike commenced till this present moment, the Osun State government has done nothing reasonable to persuade the striking lecturers to go back to class or implement their demands and this has demonstrated that the present government in the state has no concrete plan for the public education in the State,” Animasahun remarked.

jang debunks allegation over possession of govt vehicles isaac shobayo- jos

Former Governor of Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang he over the weekend, debunked the allegation that left government with 15 official vehicles.

The Committee set up by Governor Simon Lalongled administration recently reported that the former Governor Jonah Jang illegally left with 15 vehicles.

Addressing his supporters in his country home in Du village, Jos South Local Government Area

of Plateau State, the former governor, who is now a senator representing Plateau North said the allegation was just a ploy to provoke and intimidate him because there was no basis for the allegation having handed over all the vehicles.

“This is part of the attempt to provoke me and intimidate me, but the truth is, I left with only one Jeep. I handed over everything to them including all government vehicles, yet they said I stole their vehicles.’’

Ekiti Assembly passes 2 bills, 11 resolutions in 100 days Sam Nwaoko- Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State House of Assembly, on Monday, announced that it passed two bills into law and 11 resolutions during its first 100 days in office.

The Assembly, which is the fifth, was inaugurated by the governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, on June 5, 2015 with the proclamation of the governor.

Reviewing the activities of the house at a press conference at the chamber, the Speaker, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, also announced that two other bills were nearing stages of completion to enable their passage into law.

The assembly, which reiterated its determination to give the best in terms of legislation to the state electorate, had earlier held a plenary, where it passed a vote of confidence on the governor for what it described as outstanding performance, since inception of office.

Kwara votes N150m for Entrepreneurship Competition Biola Azeez- Ilorin The Kwara State government has set up a new N150 million entrepreneurial scheme tagged, “Kwara’s Next Entrepreneur”, to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness in the state’s informal sector.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Monday, the Technical Adviser to the governor on Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mr Olusegun Soewu, said the scheme allows existing and new medium scale enterprises to bid for funds to establish or expand existing businesses in the state.

“To this end, a sum of N150 million has been earmarked and deposited at the Bank of Industry for the scheme,” he said, adding that a crop of successful businessmen had been engaged as managers and captains to scrutinize business plans of interested individuals.

According to Soewu, the panel of Captains include, Mr Kunle Oyinloye, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye II, businessman and agro entrepreneur, Mr Shuaib Ottan, accomplished banker, Retired Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan: former Chief of Naval Staff and successful Agro-Entrepreneur, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Engineer Lanre Sagaya, accomplished engineering consultant. Others are Mr Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Bank of Industry, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi, Chairman, Avalon Hotel, Offa, and Mr Gabriel Adewumi, consummate businessman.

40 news

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

APC not privy to reasons DSS searched Akwa Ibom Govt House —Lai Mohammed •APC has confirmed involvement —PDP From Bola Badmus and Jacob Segun Olatunji

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it was not privy to the reasons for the DSS search of the Akwa Ibom State Government House, even as it explained the reason DSS had to invite to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Austin Okojie and some other officials working under him in respect of the last governorship poll.

According to the party, the DSS invitation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials was bordered to help in their investigation into the discovery that the commission had destroyed and attempted to destroy evidence in election petitions before the state election petition tribunals.

The party said they did this “by shredding ballot papers, immersing them in water, mixing them all up and stuffing them in jute bags, which are then left out in the open at the mercy of the elements, contrary to the clear instruction of INEC manual for election officers 2015 (revised version) Section 2.8.5.”

National publicity secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this on Monday, in Lagos, while addressing a press conference.

Mohammed, who recalled that the PDP had accused the APC of working in cahoots with the DSS to upturn the Akwa Ibom State governorship election it purportedly won, said it had no doubt that the security agency acted within its area of competence and authority.

The APC spokesperson said it did not see any connection between the search by the DSS and its candidate’s petition before the governorship election petition tribunal.

He said the party rejected any attempt by the PDP to cite the DSS action as another instance of the APCled Federal Government supposed plan to influence the work of the tribunal.

Reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, alleged that the APC “has now confirmed its culpability in a number of anti-democratic actions of government agencies lately, particularly the mindless invasion of the Akwa-Ibom State Government House and interferences in the activities of that state’s election tribunal.

This was contained in a

statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.

The PDP said in bringing out itself, through a press conference on Monday, to attempt to explain the un-

lawful actions of the DSS, “the APC spokesperson, Alhaji Lai Mohammed only succeeded in confirming that his party and the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, are behind the invasion and

the hounding of election officials to compromise the Akwa Ibom governorship election tribunal and feloniously take over the state.”

PDP said it had noted the weak attempt by the APC “to defend the indefensible,

saying that only “a desperate attempt at political shoplifting would drive the APC to engage in a miscarried effort to cover its culpability, by seeking to defend the condemnable actions of the DSS, a security and

From left, Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; recipient of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Muiz Banire; his wife, Oluwafunmilayo; Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State governor, Mr Akeem Lawal and Mr Musbau Oyefeso, when Dr Banire was conferred title of SAN at the Supreme Court, Abuja, on Monday.

Senior lawyers know corrupt judges —CJN Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday, said senior lawyers in the country know corrupt judges, in view of their unguarded utterances, accusing the judiciary of corruption.

Speaking during a special session of the Supreme Court to mark the commencement of the 2015/2016 legal year and swearing-in of newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Justice Mohammed urged senior lawyers to fish out the identity of the corrupt judges, so that they can be properly dealt with by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“I regard as unfortunate,

unguarded comments of some prominent members of the Bar, that the Judiciary is corrupt. Such comments coming from the members of the Bar means that they know the identity of the corrupt judges and as such, they should fish them out to be dealt with by the NJC,” Justice Mohammed stated.

He reiterated that for the country to truly expect a steadfast, impartial and noble institution, the Judiciary must be truly independent, adding that the Supreme Court was currently working towards the introduction of court automation, so as to address issues of delay, corruption and inefficiency in our judicial system.

Commenting on calls for the abolition of the rank of

Senior Advocate of Nigeria by some Legal Practitioners, the CJN said the conferment of the rank of SAN was a privilege conferred in accordance with section 5 (1) of the Legal Practitioners Act by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, adding that “it is, indeed, a statutorily recognised privilege.

“As much as I will concede that the system of conferment may require reforms, its abolition will be tantamount to proverbially throwing away the baby with the bath water. In any event, none of us here can decisively abolish the rank,” he said.

The CJN, however, said, it was only the National Assembly that can abolish it

via a bill of both chambers and urged legal practitioners to close ranks and seek constructive solutions to the challenges confronting the legal profession.

On his part, the president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN) condemned the face-off between the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Federal High Court in Abuja over the 13 count charge preferred against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, saying it was an unnecessary distraction.

The NBA boss said “the constitutional hierarchy of our courts is well settled and we urge all to respect it. This is not good for our judiciary.

Let wise counsel prevail.”

Tribunal upholds Benue gov’s election Johnson Babajide - Makurdi BENUE State governorship election petition tribunal presided over by Justice Elizabeth Karatu, on Monday, upheld the election of Governor Samuel Ortom of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the over three hours judgment delivered on Monday in Makurdi, the state capital, the tribunal dismissed the petition against the governor on the ground that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)

candidate, Mr Terhemen Tarzoor, failed to prove his case substantially.

Justice Karatu held that Tarzoor did not plead credible evidence that Ortom was still a member of the PDP as of the time APC conducted its primaries.

The tribunal chairman added that the PDP failed to tender PDP register for Nzorov ward in Guma Local Government Area to prove that Ortom was still a member of the party as of the time APC held its primaries.

The tribunal also struck out ground two of the pe-

titioner’s relief seeking declaration of winner of the election having scored lawful, valid votes, even as it also noted that he did not seek an order for fresh election and as such, the court cannot grant any relief not sought by the petitioner.

“It is the duty of the petitioner to stand by his case and provide sufficient evidence.

The court cannot take up such duty for him,” she said.

On the issue of evidence and witnesses provided by the petitioner, Justice Karatu held that the testimony of some of them could not be

relied upon, especially the INEC witness, who testified on behalf of Tarzoor.

The tribunal also dismissed the Digital Video Device (DVD) presented by Tarzoor’s counsel, Dr Cletus Tyokyaa, which was recorded from Channels TV to prove that Ortom was not a candidate of the APC. “It is difficult to ascertain the veracity of those who appeared in the video. The petitioner should have brought them to court to testify. The court was not given an opportunity to cross-examine them,” she said.

statutory political organisation, which has its internal system of public communication.”

The statement read: “By now, Nigerians have become too familiar with the macabre dance by the APC spokesperson, who has distinguished himself as a ‘renowned liar’; a shameless veteran in the ignoble art of deception.

“Our take is that the truth may be hidden for sometime, but it has a way of expressing itself to shame the guilty. We ask, what other reasons other than a desperate cover up, would push a spokesperson of a political party to stand in the gap to explain away the actions of the DSS, when the security organisation has its own spokesperson and existing system of public communication?

Dss found no firearm, foreign currency in Govt House —State govt

The Akwa Ibom State government has again stated that no firearm or foreign currency of any kind was discovered during the recent raid of the Government House, Uyo by some agents of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), as falsely peddled by agents of All Progressives Congress (APC) in a section of the media.

A release issued on Monday in Uyo, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umanah, recalled that Governor Udom Emmanuel had variously cleared the air on the matter that nothing was found or taken away from the Government House, Uyo. “Let it be stated for the umpteenth time, that no such thing was found or taken from our Government House,” the commissioner noted.

Mr Umanah, who described such allegations by some agents of the APC and the misinformed public as unfounded and spurious, noted that it was unfortunate that people were still peddling false rumours to the effect that security agents discovered firearm and foreign currencies in the Akwa Ibom State Government House.

The commissioner advised discerning members of the public to ‘disregard’ such fabricated, concocted and self-serving stories by political jobbers, whose stock in trade was spreading rumours to survive.

41 news Kogi to pay teachers N45bn salary arrears Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

K

ogi State government has said N45 billion out of the N50.9 billion approved as bailout for the state would be used to settle outstanding salary of teachers on its pay roll.

The deputy governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi,

who said this, also assured that the state would overcome the bottleneck delaying the release of its share of the bailout fund to enable it utilise it for the purpose it was meant.

He said timely assessment of the fund would make the government pay the outstanding salaries of teachers and local gov-

ernment workers across the state, adding that the remaining N5.9 billion would be available for government.

Awoniyi said this at a forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), organised in Okehi Local Government Area, by the state chairman of PDP, Sam Uhuotu.

Cross River commissioner-nominees to undergo aptitude test Ubong Anthony - Calabar Nominees for appointment as commissioners in Cross River State are to undergo mandatory integrity and aptitude test.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Chief press Secretary (CPS) to the state gover-

nor, Professor Ben Ayade, Mr Christian Ita, said the nominees would have to undergo the integrity and aptitude tests before their names would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

The statement disclosed that appointment of chairmen and members of

IPC warns ‘coupists’ in Burkina Faso The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has condemned the palace ‘coup’ in Burkina Faso by the presidential guards led by one Gilbert Diendere.

The IPC is particularly concerned about the fate of international and local journalists as well as freedom of expression activists currently gathered in the country for the annual international festival of the Freedom of Expression and the Press (FILEP) this month.

Incidentally, the theme of the 2015 celebration by The Norbert ZONGO National Press Center (CNPNZ), is “Media and political changes in Africa: what contribution?”

IPC warned the coupists against harming the journalists and activists in any way as they would be held responsible should they become targets of attack by the rampaging soldiers.

Among the international media professionals currently confined to their hotels in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou, are IPC’s Programme Associate, Mr Sanmi Falobi, the secretary of the Abuja Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Emma Ogbechie and the president of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA), Mr Peter Quaqua.

IPC, however, called on the Nigerian government, the Economic Community of West African States commission (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), to take urgent measures to protect foreign

and local civilians, including journalists and activists.

IPC also called on international, regional and national media bodies, freedom of expression and human rights groups to demand the safety of journalists and activists.

Any form of military intervention is undemocratic, anti-people and unacceptable. The sooner the ‘coupists’ realise this and let the people of Burkina Faso freely and democratically elect their leaders, the better.

boards, agencies and parastatals and even special advisers would follow the same routine “His Excellency, Professor Ayade, wants all nominees for appointment as commissioners to undergo integrity test. Additionally, the nominees would also write an aptitude test,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the governor believes that every would-be appointee in the state must be subjected to ethical measurement to ascertain whether or not they can function in the new order, where accountability and transparency are the watchwords.

Consequently, the governor has set up a selection committee to oversee the process.

Renowned Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Paul Erokoro, is the chairman of the committee which has woman leader and politician, Mrs Grace Ekanem and Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Martin Orim, as members.

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

The deputy governor, who lauded the people of the local government area for their support for the Idris Wada-led administration, noted that government was determined to make living meaningful for them.

According to him, projects that would contribute to the development of their communities and problems affecting them had been identified and would be given priority attention by government in order to improve their living standard.

Awoniyi, particularly, commended teachers and council workers in the state for their patience, saying that the teachers and council workers were the greatest beneficiaries of the expected bailout.

He, however, expressed optimism over the early release of the funds to help cushion the hardship faced by the people.

Awoniyi assured that the welfare of workers and the entire people of the state would remain cardinal under the Wada-led administration if he is re-elected, urging the people to remain steadfast to the building of a strong Kogi State.

Rescued baby

A baby of about six months old was rescued from her mother of unsound mind, at Ada, on June 20, 2015.

Anybody with useful information about the whereabout of the baby’s father or relations, should, please, contact the director, social welfare services, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Osun State or the nearest police station.

Abandoned babies

Racheal Ogunde Amosun, a girl of about a year plus, was deliberately abandoned by a suspected insane woman, at Agbodu quarters, Itele, Ogun State, on June 26, 2015, at about 12:30 hrs.

Abandoned baby

A male child abandoned by an unknown person in a bush on the premises of Obokun High School, Ilesa, on April 21.

Anybody with useful information that can lead to whereabout of the biological parents or relatives of the child, should, please, contact the director, Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Women and Children Afairs, Osogbo or Social welfare office, Ilesa.

Joy Hope, a girl of about a year old, was deliberately abandoned by her mother in the care of a nanny at the axis of Canaan land church, Ota, Ogun State, on August 20, at about 17:38 hrs.

Anyone with useful information on the whereabouts of their mothers or relatives should, please, contact the nearest police station or the Director of Social Welfare Service, Ministry of Women Affairs and Development, OkeMosan, Abeokuta.

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Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

news 20 Nigerian pilgrims die in Makkah 43

Bola Badmus-Lagos

T

HE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Monday, confirmed the death of 20 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia since the beginning of this year’s Hajj.

The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, disclosed this at a pre-Arafat stakeholders meeting at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He said 14 pilgrims died due to cardiac arrest and other ailments, while six lost their lives at the September 11 crane crash.

Mukhtar said only three Nigerians were injured at the September 11 crane crash as against the six earlier reported by the media.

The chairman said all the pilgrims that submitted valid documents to the commission for visa were airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

He also said that the security situation in the Kingdom was very tight and advised the pilgrims to be orderly and stay in Makkah.

He also advised the pilgrims to drink more water due to the harsh weather, adding that they should only expose themselves to the sun when necessary.

He said female pilgrims should move in groups and avoid construction sites within the Grand Mosque and outside.

On Arafat, the chairman said the pilgrims would start moving to Mina on Monday at midnight and advised them against climbing the roofing of buses conveying them.

“We have resolved at a

meeting with clerics to abide by the time given to us by the Saudi authority to start moving to Mina,”

he said.

He warned clerics not to incite pilgrims against the resolution, adding that

THE Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) has announced that it will conduct Local Government elections in the state on December 19, 2015.

The commission, which made the announcement on Monday, also promised to create “a level playing ground for all participants in the elections.”

It also addressed representatives of various political parties at its office in Ado Ekiti, through its Chairman, Justice Kayode Bamisile.

The retired Justice denied rumours that he or some members of the commission were members of any political party, and challenged those making such allegation to prove it with concrete evidence.

He said the commission was “fully prepared for the

anyone found doing so would be sanctioned.

“Anyone who violated the decision of the Ulama will

be sanctioned. The commission has the power to sanction anyone found wanting,” he stressed.

From left, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adekeye; Vice Chancellor, Professor Debo Adeyewa and the Registrar, Mrs Bolatito Oloketuyi, of the Redeemers’ University, during the 10th anniversary and seventh convocation ceremony at the university campus, Ede, Osun State, on Monday.

SERAP asks World Bank to release details of Abacha’s loot Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the World Bank to disclose how the loot recovered from the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, was spent.

In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the group, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation wants the World Bank to

release to it, documents detailing the projects to which the recovered loot was applied, as well as the implementation status of such projects.

It said such information would not only enable the Nigerian masses to know the status of the recovered loot but it would also equip the civil society organisations to engage the government on greater transparency and accountability.

LG polls hold in Ekiti Dec 19 —SIEC Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

election” and added that there was “no legal encumbrance on its way to conducting free and fair election.”

Warning against thuggery during the electioneering campaign, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Mrs Bolanle Awe, who read the guidelines and penalties, said parties should obtain police permit before embarking on any campaign.

Responding to a protest by the state chairman of Social Democratic Party, Mr Dele Ekunola, that political parties were not carried along in the choice of the election date, Bamisile said the commission was not bound to consult political parties on the choice of election date.

“Ekiti state 2011 Electoral Law No 17 says that the SIEC members are the people who

are to sit, deliberate and take cognisance of the law that 90 days should be given to the parties before the election. We have sat and taken a decision on that,” he said.

The Access to Information Request was sent to the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim by SERAP. “The World Bank has been involved in overseeing the transfer, disbursement and spending of recovered funds from General Abacha, and other similar initiatives to repatriate stolen funds to Nigeria. As such, the World Bank is not a neutral party in this matter.

“SERAP believes that releasing the documents would enable the civil society to meaningfully engage in the management and supervision of repatriated funds, contribute to the greater public good, and enhance transparency and accountability

in the management of the country’s resources.

“There is also clear public interest in Nigerians knowing about the bank’s supervisory role and specifically its involvement in the implementation of projects on which repatriated funds were spent,” the statement read in part.

“Indeed, the bank needs to lead by example in issues such as transparency and public disclosure raised in the request,” SERAP stated.

The group, however, said it would not hesitate to approach the World Bank’s Access to Information Committee’ Secretariat, should the World Bank President fail to oblige its request.

600,000 Katsina pupils out of school — Masari Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

GOVERNOR Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has said 600,000 of the one million pupils enrolled for the 2013/2014 academy during the past administration in the state are out of school.

He stated this in his remark at a dinner organised by the Bakatsiniya Magazine in his honour in Kaduna.

He added that, even the 400,000 that managed to be enrolled are studying under a condition not condu-

cive for learning.

Masari remarked that education has always remained the pride of the people of Katsina State, as many of the past and present leaders of the country had schooled in the state.

“But unfortunately today education in the state has been neglected for too long and the effect is visible. If you do not give children the right education they will seek alternative training for themselves and that is the genesis of the present security challenges bedeviling the nation today,” he

lamented.

He further disclosed that agriculture in the past has been the bedrock of the state economy as 70 per cent of the people depend on it.

However, he decried the past policies that make it difficult for farmers to get fertilizers as same was given to shylock dealers who exploited the farmers.

Masari assured the people of the state that his administration is taking inventory of farmers in the state to ascertain their actual number.

NDE organises enterprise, finance clinic in Oyo THE one week programme organised by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Oyo State, for 50 unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions who desired to be grounded in business skills ended at weekend with a charge on participants to set up their own businesses.

The programme, NDE Enterprise and Finance Counseling Clinic (NDE-EFCC), was held at the Development and Policy Centre, Ibadan.

At the closing ceremony, the Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, represented by the South-West Zonal Director, Mr Adebayo Adegbite, urged the participants to use the knowledge acquired during the programme to develop their own businesses.

The Director, Small Scale Enterprises Department, Mrs H. I. Achigbu, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government, through the NDE, to develop small scale industries in the country.

Mrs Achigbu was represented by the state coordinator of NDE, Mr Adebanjo Awosanya.

Brief Biola Azeez- Ilorin General Superintendent and Founder of the Divine Temple of God Mission Aladura (Ijo Arugbo Ojo), His Lordship, Prophet Uriel Adelanke Adegbonmire (JP), is dead.

The 60-year-old Prophet was patron of the Organisation of African Institution of Churches Zone 5, Apete, Ibadan.

Prophet Adegbonmire, a retired Senior Accountant with Total (Nigeria) Plc, was, until his death,the Vice Chairman of the Worldwide Christian Association of Nigeria and Grand Patron of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ido Local Government branch.

He is survived by wives and children.

Burial arrangements will be announced later.

44

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

foreig naffairs

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

with seyi gesinde

Republican Candidate Carson: Muslims shouldn’t be president

R

epublican presidential candidate Ben Carson said Sunday Muslims were unfit to be president of the United States, arguing that the principles of Islam are inconsistent with American values.

“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation.

I absolutely would not agree with that,” Carson, a devout Christian, told NBC’s Meet the Press.

He said a president’s faith should matter to voters and he described the Islamic faith as inconsistent with the Constitution, although he did not specify in what way Islam ran counter to constitutional principles.

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks during the second official Republican presidential candidates’ debate. PHOTO: Reuters

Carson’s comments came amid lingering fallout over Republican Donald Trump’s refusal last week to take issue with a man during a New Hampshire campaign event who wrongly called President Barack Obama a Muslim and

said Muslims are “a problem in this country.”

Trump and Ohio Governor John Kasich, a rival Republican contender, also appeared in separate appearances on the NBC news show.

Kasich was asked whether

he would have a problem with a Muslim in the White House.

“The answer is, at the end of the day, you’ve got to go through the rigors, and people will look at everything,” he said.

UN watchdog reports ‘Significant Progress’ in Iran probe The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that “significant progress” has been made in the U.N.’s long-running probe into allegations Iran worked to develop nuclear weapons.

Yukiya Amano said he reported to the IAEA’s board about his trip to Iran that included visiting the Parchin military site that has been a key focus of the investigation.

Amano said environ-

mental samples were taken at Parchin before his visit in a process that included Iranian representatives “swiping samples.”

He specified that in some circumstances the IAEA permits countries to participate in verification activities in ways that do not compromise the agency’s work.

“Authentication by the agency of the samples was achieved through use of an established verification process,” Amano told reporters. “The process

was carried out under our responsibility and monitoring. The samples have

been brought to Vienna and will be analyzed by Agency experts.”

Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation Ali Akbar Salehi, right, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano shaking hands for the media during their meeting in Tehran, Iran. PHOTO: AP

Defectors: ISIS is killing Muslims, not protecting them published stories about Much has been writpeople who have left the ten about the young men Islamic State and spoken and women who join the about their defection. I Islamic State. We are fadiscovered a total of 58 miliar with their biogra-- a sizable number, but phies and pathways, backprobably only a fraction of grounds and motivations. those who are disillusioned But virtually nothing is or ready to leave. known about those who They are a new and growquit: the “defectors” who ing phenomenon. Of the didn’t like what they saw, 58 cases, nearly two thirds abandoned their comof the defections took place rades and fled the Islamic in the year 2015. One third State. Yet their stories happened during the sumcould be key to stopping mer months alone. the flow of foreign fighters, countering the group’s propaganda and exposing its lies and hypocrisy.

For a short paper, I collected all Children walking on bricks meant for road repair during a protest. PHOTO: cnn

Left-wing Syriza party wins Greek snap polls Greek voters have returned Alexis Tsipras, the former prime minister and leader of the left-wing Syriza party, to power with a strong election victory.

With 51 per cent of Sunday’s vote counted, Syriza had 35.5 per cent of the votes, with the conservative New Democracy (NDP) coming in second with 28.1 per cent.

The right-wing Indepen-

dent Greeks party were in seventh place with 3.7 percent, just above the three percent threshold needed to enter parliament.

After the initial results were announced, Alexis Tsipras tweeted: “In front of us lies the long road of struggle and hard work.”

The head of Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos, said that his party would join Syriza in forming a coalition government.

otherNEWS Yemen’s Houthi figthers release foreign hostages

The foreign nationals were held by Houthi rebels on charges of entering the country without proper visasPHOTO: AP

Two US citizens, one British national and three Saudis held for months

by Yemen’s Houthi group, have been freed and have arrived in Oman, according to British and Omani officials as well as Houthi sources.

Their release appeared to be a goodwill gesture before talks between Houthis and the UN envoy to Yemen on efforts to end nearly six months of fighting.

Monday marks one year since the

Houthis stormed the capital Sanaa.

Oman’s foreign ministry said in a statement it had worked with Yemeni authorities in Sanaa to ensure the release of the Americans held by the Iran-allied Shia Houthis.

The ministry statement, carried by ONA state news agency, said the three Saudi nationals and the Briton were also freed and flown to Muscat aboard the same flight.

The three Westerners had been held

by the Houthis since the early days of a Saudi-led military campaign in March on charges of entering the country without proper visas.

The White House said the release of the two Americans was arranged with the help of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos.

A spokesman for the US National Security Council also called for the immediate resumption of peace talks aimed at ending the fighting in Yemen.

Iraq tackles deadly cholera outbreak Iraq’s government has ordered daily water tests and other measures to try and contain an outbreak of cholera that has been blamed for the deaths of at least six people in a town west of the capital Baghdad.

At least 70 other infections were reported in and around Abu Ghraib,

as health experts warn the outbreak may spread because of the high number of displaced people living in refugee camps in the area.

The country’s water and sewerage systems are outdated and infrastructure development has been hindered by years of war and neglect.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abbadi said Iraq would work with the Red Crescent and UN children’s agency UNICEF to install additional water purification stations in Abu Ghraib.

He also ordered bottled water to be distributed in the affected areas to thousands of families displaced from

western areas controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group.

In its most severe form, cholera transmitted mainly through contaminated water and food causes acute diarrhoea

that can cause death by dehydration and kidney failure within hours.

Hundreds of people were diagnosed with the illness in 2012 in the northern city of Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region.

communitynews Olofa commends KWHA for checking proliferation of petrol stations

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biola azeez-ilorin

T

he Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamasi, has said that the decision of the Kwara State House of Assembly to check the proliferation of petrol stations in the state would go a long way to control the loss of life and property in the state.

The traditional ruler made the observation in Offa while receiving the House of Assembly ad-hoc Committee on Proliferation of Petrol Stations in the state led by its Chairman, Honourable Kamaldeen Fagbemi in his palace.

Oba Gbadamosi said with the decision of the state assembly to probe indiscriminate construction of petrol stations in the state, the legislature had demonstrated that it was responsive to the yearnings of the people.

He observed that the indiscriminate establishment of petrol stations was dangerous to human existence and praised the assembly for taking the proactive measure to prevent the outbreak of fire.

While charging the committee to embark on sensitisation programmes to educate the people on its adverse implication, the royal father expressed delight that the decision of the assembly to tackle the problem was timely.

The traditional ruler, however, assured the committee of his support in ensuring the success of the state legislature in the tasks ahead.

The Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, Prince Abdul Waheed Olanipekun, in his remarks, described the measure as apt and assured that his council would collabo-

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

rate with the legislature in checking the ugly trend in

his council.

Earlier, the chairman of

the committee explained that the committee was

The Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has advised drivers to be cautious, especially during the Sallah celebration.

Agbede, who is presently performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia, stated this in his goodwill message to members of the Lagos NURTW. He warned commercial drivers, especially those plying inter state routes to avoid acts that could lead to

that owners of petrol stations in the state comply with laid down guidelines.

He said the assembly was disturbed that some people were selling their residential buildings for the establishment of petrol stations thereby endangering the lives of innocent citizens living around such petrol stations.

Fagbemi said the committee was in Olofa’s palace to seek his royal blessing in the task ahead and assured that the Ad-hoc Committee would visit the three senatorial districts in the state to enable the assembly tackle the problem holistically.

Warri NUJ donates cement Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA youths get leadership training blocks to Division B ment (ROWAG), that ers, Dr Tokunbo Oseni, have confidence in your police station focuses on educating and of the University of Lagos dreams,” she advised.

Dr (Mrs) Arin Oluwo (middle), with some of the participants at a free leadership training for youths at Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area.

by doyin adeoye

As part of her efforts to impact positively on the lives of people in her community, Dr Arin Oluwo, recently engaged youths of Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State in a two-week free leadership training.

The training, which targeted secondary school students in the community, had professionals from various fields such as education, psychology, sociology, security, physical fitness, among others, who were on ground to enlighten the youths on qualities of leadership.

Dr Oluwo, who is the founder of two non-government organisations: Women Advancement and Youth Research Foundation (WAYREF) and the initiative for the promotion of Research on Women and Gender Develop-

empowering women, is also an activist passionate about the marginalised, especially women, youths and the elderly.

Speaking on what influenced the training, she said it was borne out of her desire to give back to her community.

“Giving back to my community is what I live for.

I had always had a strong desire to impact positively on the lives of our people in Ikoyi-Obalende Area. I believe that empowering youths emotionally, physically and psychologically will go a long way in influencing them positively,” she said.

The programme which was held at the St. George’s Girls Primary School, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, had over 150 participants, from all the schools within the LCDA. One of the guest lectur-

Health Centre, talked on the importance of personal hygiene and demonstrated among other things the right ways to clean one’s hands.

In her lecture entitled: “Traits and Qualities of Leadership,” Dr Bukky Adeleye educated the participants on leading the life of a leader.

“As a leader, you must be an individual with exemplary character, because it is of utmost importance for a leader to be trustworthy.

You need to be enthusiastic about your passion, and

road accident, such as overloading, overtaking at dangerous bends and speeding “Drivers should always avoid the temptation to overload, overtake at dangerous bends and speeding. We should avoid these acts because they are the major causes of road accidents in the country. Due to the Salla celebration, there will be more passengers to ferry, but we must try to avoid the temptation,” Agbede said.

The NURTW boss also warned those operating within the cities to ensure

that their vehicles are in good condition and be obedient to all traffic rules to avoid collision with law enforcement agencies.

“Please, make sure that all your vehicle papers are in order and ensure your vehicles are in perfect condition to avoid any embarassment, especially from police and other law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Agbede advised members to always make sure that they maintain peace at all times and stay away from acts that could tarnish

Mr Mensa, who spoke on the topic: “Keeping Your Dreams Alive and Achieving Your Goals,” encouraged the youths to always keep their dreams alive no matter the situation.

He also donated his international magazine called “Emperor” to the students.

Other speakers at the event include Dr Furo Weli, who spoke on Leadership and Personal Security and Dr Nelson Asuai, who spoke on Goal Setting and Study Habits.

Soun tasks Nigerians on peace during Eid-el-Kabar A first class traditional ruler in Oyo State and Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, has urged

Celebrate Sallah with caution, Agbede urges drivers by gbenga olumide

constituted by the Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad, to ensure

the image of the union, threatening that the leadership of the union would not hesitate to disown any member who fails to heed the warning.

“This is a new era in NURTW. We have been ensuring peace in all our motor parks since I assumed office and we shall continue to do so. We will not allow anybody to drag the name of our union in the mud.

We are responsible citizes of this country, hence I am calling all members of our union to embrace peace,” Agbede added.

Nigerians to toe the path of peace during and after the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

The royal father gave the advice in his Sallah message to Muslim faithful across the country.

Oba Ajagungbade, who commended Nigerians for their peaceful conduct during and after the last general election, said it was only in an atmosphere of peace that development could be attained.

The traditional ruler also appealed to political leaders to initiate and execute policies that would impact positively on the lives of the people.

He also called on the people to support and cooperate with the government to achieve the desired goals.

He rejoiced with Muslim faithful, praying that the mercy of Allah would sustain them.

ebenezer adurokiya-warri

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, has donated 250 cement blocks towards the ongoing construction of the perimeter fencing of B Divisional Police Station in Warri, Delta State.

This is to help in enhancing security and safety in the station.

Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, made the donation on behalf of the union on Monday during a courtesy call to the station.

Ikeogwu disclosed that the gesture was to support the innovations embarked upon by the Divisional Police Officer of “B”Division, CSP. Anietie Eyoh.

He noted that the police and media practitioners are partners in progress and the union will do its best to maintain the rapprochement between the police and the union.

He pledged continuous and robust relationship between the “B” Division and journalists of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel.

Responding, CSP Eyoh commended the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel for its kind gesture, just as he pledged that his tenure would witness a robust relationship with members of the union.

Eyoh, who was overwhelmed with the donation, noted that it would be judiciously utilised for the purpose of transforming and developing of the station.

46

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Nigerian Sports Award nominations close Sept. 26

Moses targets more honours at West Ham

V

ICTOR Moses wants more success at West Ham United after his goal scoring heroics against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the English English Premier League last Saturday.

The Nigerian winger beat Joe Hart with a stunning snap shot from outside the penalty area in the sixth minute to help the Hammers record a shock 2-1 win over the Citizens.

Moses has now taken the time to assess his performance noting that he is aiming at more success with Slaven Bilic’s side.

“It’s not a bad way to start. Winning two games in a row is fantastic and it’s great credit to the lads. I’m delighted,” he was quoted as saying on the West Ham official website, www. whufc.com.

The Chelsea loanee added that the players of the club must be careful not to take their foot off the gas.

“We’re pleased with the three points, it’s a massive win and we just want to keep

on winning games now.

“I was very happy to score.

I should have scored against Newcastle but it wasn’t to be. I scored (on Saturday) and hopefully it’s the first of many for West Ham. “I saw that Joe Hart thought I was going to cross the ball, so I caught him unawares. It was a great goal.

“When it was 2-0 I thought we could have scored more goals, but then City scored and we had to defend really well in the second half. “(Winston) Reid was on fire, everyone at the back was solid and we deserved

Moses the win.

“They (Man City) have great players and were

pushing to try to score but it wasn’t the day for them,” Moses said.

Paralympic qualifiers: Nigerian para-table tennis athletes beg NSC for fund NIGERIAN para-table tennis athletes are on their knees before the DirectorGeneral of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, to make fund available for them to attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games qualifiers scheduled to hold in Morocco from October 2

to 11 this year.

With factor 20 holding from October 2 to 7 and factor 50 running from October 7 to 11, the embittered players who have been complaining of being match rusty for sometime now, lamented that they have been training every day for the past three years without having

an opportunity to attend any competition.

They argued that the Morocco championship would give them the opportunity to re-launch themselves in Africa and win the slots for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

One of the players, Nasiru Bello, a household name in

Ahmed Musa happy with Doumbia’s combination

Musa

THE nominations of sportsmen and women for different categories of the Nigerian Sports Awards for the 2015 edition would close on Saturday, September 26.

Kayode Idowu, Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited, organisers of the event disclosed this in Lagos on Monday, at a media briefing.

Idowu revealed that the closure of nominations for this year’s edition of the award was deliberately prolonged to close after the just-concluded All Africa Games to accommodate the different major sporting activities for the year.

“In the past, we have had instances where some Nigerian sportsmen and women recorded some outstanding performances during the course of the award year, but couldn’t make it into nominations. This is why we decided to ensure that nominations for this year closes at the end of all the major sporting events,” Idowu said.

He congratulated the Nigerian athletes to the justconcluded 11th All Africa

NIGERIA international, Ahmed Musa says he is delighted with his strike force with Cote d’Ivoire star, Seydou Doumbia at CSKA Moscow.

Musa and Doumbia scored a brace each last Sunday weekend to help CSKA Moscow beat hosts Mordovia Saransk 6-4 in a Russia Premier League game match.

CSKA Moscow lead the league table with 25 points from nine games.

“I am happy that Seydou Doumbia is back here with us, we understand ourselves and his return is a plus for the team, we are

all working together as a team to lift the CSKA,” Musa told AfricanFootball.com The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner who has scored nine goals for his team this season - four in the UEFA Champions League and five in the Russian league stated that he will keep working hard for more goals.

“I am very happy that I scored both goals with one assist to help my team win. I am happy that I am getting the goals, I will keep working hard to get more goals to help my team win trophies this season,” said the former Kano Pillars striker.

African para-table tennis scene, revealed that in the past some Nigerian players like Faith Obiorah and Philomena Konwe were usually ranked among the top 6 in Africa, but that is no longer the case due to the inability of Nigerian players to attend international competitions.

According to Nasiru, this has made it impossible for any Nigerian player to be ranked among the top 10 in Africa at present.

He stated that the trend makes it immposible also for any of the Nigerian players to feature at the Rio 2016 Paralympic events without passing through the qualifiers.

Nasiru added that he and his team-mates now bank on the qualifiers adding that “that is why we are begging the Director-General of the National Sports Commission to make fund available for us to attend the qualifiers in Morocco since we cannot afford not to attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”

Games on the outstanding performance and medal haul at the tournament.

Idowu also commended Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’Tigers for winning the recently concluded 28th FIBA African Basketball Championship and picking the ticket to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

He called on Nigerians to seize the opportunity to nominate their favourite Nigerian athletes who have recorded excellence in their various sports during the course of the year.

Nkire rallies support for Kalu’s FIFA presidency bid MEMBER, Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sam Nkire has joined the growing list of football stakeholders in Nigeria, in calling on the former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Kalu to declare his intention to run for the presidency of the world football governing body, FIFA. Nkire while speaking with journalists in Abuja, noted that Kalu is a household name not only in business and public administration but also in sports management.

“This is the right time for Nigeria to present a formidable candidate with the capacity in terms of financial resources and network of contacts to vie for the FIFA presidency. Supporting Kalu will not be out of place as he has not only the reach, but also the managerial acumen to run the world football body.

“During his tenure as governor of Abia State, he took charge in the running of Enyimba FC, earning the team victories in matches and tournaments in Africa. Kalu is also serving in different positions and capacities in many football clubs beyond the shores of Nigeria. With his antecedents in sports development globally and coupled with his passion for football, I strongly believe Kalu will make Nigeria proud if eventually he becomes the FIFA president,” he said.

47

tribute

Tuesday, 22 September, 2015

Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo (1915 - 2015)

Nigerian Tribune Photos: D’Toyin

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Grand Administrator and President, Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), Kenneth Idiodi, presenting condolence letter to Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran (right) and Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu.

5.

Former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and his wife, Omolola (left), with Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

2.

Chief Olubola Ogunleye representing the Olowo of Owo (middle), with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (second right); Dr Awolowo Dosumu (left) and Professor Bolaji Akinyemi.

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From left, Professor Ashiru; Senator Mamora and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

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Chief Jare Dada signing the condolence register.

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Wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola, flanked by Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (left) and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

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From left, Chief (Mrs) Ojuolape Ojora, Otunba Kunle Ojora and Chief Areoye Oyebola.

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From left, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Professor Akin Osibogun and Professor Toyin Ashiru.

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Lola Awote and Evangelist Stella Adetutu (right).

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Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu (middle), with Mr Odia Ofeimun and Mrs Oluremi Sotire.

SIDELINES

NO 16, 332

N150

TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER, 2015

The National Population Commission has said that the Nigerian economy can no longer cope with the current population. In the 80s a fuji musician literally told us to procreate extensively because baby food had become very cheap. Three decades down the line we've now realised that when things are not put under control, including procreation, 'one day, one day, water go pass garri.'

Joseph (left) before the fight.

Joseph (left) being consoled by her manager after losing the IBF title fight , as Han celebrates her victory.

Nigeria's Helen Joseph loses IBF belt •Says I want a rematch •She needs Nigeria support —NBB of C

By Ganiyu Salman

N

IGERIA'S Helen Joseph last weekend lost the chance to rule the world in boxing as she lost to American Jennifer Han at the Don Haskins Centre, USA, in a 10-round International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight title fight.

The Bayelsa State-born boxer who is based in Ghana, lost by unanimous decision as the scorecards of the judges read 97-92, 98-92, 98-91 in favour of the home girl.

Joseph who had 12 wins and two loses before last Saturday's bout has however, called for a rematch.

"I lost. No problem. But I'd like a rematch," said Joseph who won the gold for Team Ondo at the 15th National Sports Festival, Gateway Games 2006.

The new IBF champion too acknowledged the brilliance of her opponent having survived the mandatory count after she was knocked down in the fifth round by the Nigerian boxer.

"She (Joseph) is a hard puncher, but I'm experienced and I can take a punch," Han said. "I started feeling her wearing down after the fifth round. It was a slip on my part in the fifth.

She didn't knock me down."

"That fight was the best, most awesome fight I've fought," Han said. "No words for how happy I am.

I'm so honoured, proud to be El Paso's first champion.

I want to continue making it proud by defending the

world championship."

Jenny as she is fondly called by her admirers also sent a signal that the fight could have gone either way if it had been staged outside her hometown.

"I didn't win this," Han

Fallout of Brazzaville 2015:

Black Queens reject $2,000 bonus

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi

GHANA'S Black Queens have rejected the $2,000 bonus for each player after winning the gold at the justended 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

The Ghanaians last weekend defeated the Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 courtesy of the 88th minute's Portia Boakye stunning volley to claim the women's soccer gold of the quadrennial Games.

According to reports, the victorious Queens are demanding all their outstanding bonuses totalling about $10,000 each accrued from playing at Brazzaville 2015 and the 2016 Olympic qualifiers.

The team which was expected to arrive back in Ghana on Sunday morning was to hold a meeting with Sports Minister, Dr Mustapha Ahmed over their remuneration at the MPlaza Hotel in Accra before leaving the camp.

“As their name suggest, they are queens and should be treated with respect but what is happening with regard to their bonuses, leaves much to be desired. The girls are so disappointed to say the least and I hope the meeting with the sector minister will resolve the issue and give them what they duly deserve,” Chairperson of the Queens Management, Committee Leanier Addy told Graphic Sports.

The Queens claim they were only informed about the bonus scheme until after they had reached the final.

said to a loud and excited crowd of about 1,500. "We all won this."

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) has expressed sadness over the failed bid of Joseph to win the vacant title, just as it noted that the boxer needs support from the Federal Government to realise her dream.

Secretary-General of the NBB of C, Mr Remi Aboderin while speaking with Tribunesport by phone said Joseph gave a good account of herself dur-

ing the bout.

"We (at NBB of C) feel disappointed that Helen lost the world title belt, she has been working hard since last year but she did her best. This is the time for Nigeria to support this ambitious boxer.

"She gave Jenny a fight and we were pacified by the fact that the winner did not win the belt on a platter of gold, she sweated for it. In fact, she (Jenny) left the ring with a black eye and that was a sign that our boxer gave her a fight.

"Helen even knocked her down in the fifth round only that she was unable to finish up, but all hope is not lost yet. Helen has called for a rematch and NBB of C believes her dream of becoming a world champion is on course. Her promoter is a Ghanaian who is a fish magnate and seemingly, boxing thrives more in Ghana than Nigeria because it has been receiving support from individuals and corporate organisations and this is what we are clamouring for in this country too," Aboderin said.

Red card:

Lille coach defends Enyeama COACH of Lille Metropole of France, Herve Renard believes the red card issued to his goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama during the Ligue 1 clash againstRenneslastweekendwas unwarranted.

“You watch the images on the penalty and expulsion and it didn’t look like a penalty,” former Cote d’Ivoire coach, Renard told L’Equipe.

Enyeama The Super Eagles first choice was issued a straight red card in the 71st minute over what referee Stephane Jochem, felt was a clear foul in the area on Ivorian striker, Giovanni Sio, during the game which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Na-

tions (AFCON) winner will now miss the matches against FC Nantes, Stade de Reims and Montpellier Hérault SC.​ Enyeama is among the 24 players listed for the Super Eagles' friendlies against the Red Devils of the Congo and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon billed for next month.

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. Ag. EDITOR: TINU AYANNIYI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 22/9/2015.