Osun defender september 18, 2016 edition

www.osundefender.org SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 It is an unpalatable testimonial to the moral bankruptcy of sections of the population that anyone in his right mind can possibly defend the mindless looting of the common patrimony under the delinquent ‘watch’ of former

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VOL. 11. NO.086

Front Page Comment

Looters Deserve To Be Jailed President Goodluck Jonathan. It is obvious of course that much of the defence of looting is self serving and paid for. This is not surprising for the looters have a lot of

funds to throw around.

Nevertheless it must be met with a response. This is because as the Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci has pointed out “the essence of political activities revolves around

constant reminders”. In this instance constant reminders are vital for corruption is fighting back.

It is important for the people of our country to be constantly reminded about the economic cost

of looting. The opportunity costs are horrendous.

The costs lead to broken lives and unfulfilled expectations. The opportunity costs include stunted access to health care for millions of people. Nige-

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ria still lags behind the west Africa region in terms of universal health insurance coverage. Infant and maternal mortality rates are unacceptably high for an oil producing nation.

Continued on page 5

Omisore, Faforiji, Others Set To Dump PDP

- Pg 2

Aregbesola Warns Against Indiscriminate Waste Dump

•Sympathises With Victims Of Flood In Osun

- See Story On Page 2

Police Investigate- Pg 3 Agoro On Breach Of Peace

•State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); acting Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba (2nd right); Registrar, Mr Dotun Awoyemi (left); Librarian, Mrs Bukky Asubiojo (right), during a courtesy visit of the acting Vice-Chancellor to the governor in his office, Abere, Osogbo, recently.

Osun Never Received Ecological Fund Under Jonathan’s Administration - Govt

- Pg 3

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OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

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Aregbesola Warns Against Indiscriminate Waste Dump •Sympathises With Flood Victims

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun has expressed sympathy with residents of the state capital, Osogbo, who were affected by flood.

Aregbesola, during incident as unfortunate his assessment tour of The governor said the affected areas which the flood occurrence included Okeonitea, took the state by Rasco, Fiwasaye and surprise judging by the Gbonmi on Wednesday heavy investments of evening described the his administration on

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flood prevention since 2011.

“Considering our efforts in the past at ensuring cleared waterways, we never expected this. Our government deeply regrets the flooding that has affected our people,” he said.

Since 2011, the government had been

embarking on massive dredging of waterways in all parts of the state in order to stave off such disasters.

He said: “I have moved round to commiserate with the victims whose properties were affected by this disaster.

“We have been quite

committed to ensuring absence of this calamity since the advent of our administration as we have been regularly dredging the waterways on annual basis and as a matter of fact, we are still very much indebted to those who normally work with us to ensure cleaning of our

Aregbesola left no part of the state untouched in its proactive massive projects to save the environment.

The government asked PDP to go back to its records to remind itself of the wickedness it perpetrated against states under opposition parties throughout its 16 years of clueless rule.

“We are concerned with the agony of our citizens and shall do all in our power to limit the

pains and prevent a reoccurrence, as we are committed to eliminating all hindrances to free flow of water in the canals, drainage systems and waterways in the state.

“All obstructions to free flow of water in these channels will be removed, while property blocking easy access to the drainage channels thus preventing adequate management of them will be separated,” the statement added Calling on the people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and waste into the canals, the government reminded residents of the need to patronize registered waste collectors and the authorized dump sites.

The statement also advised those seeing the unfortunate incident as an avenue to jubilate to search their conscience, adding that the people of Osun are quite aware of the massive projects executed to prevent flooding in the state since the inception of the administration.

Osun Never Received Ecological Fund Under Jonathan’s Administration - Govt T

efforts,”

By KEHINDEAYANTUNJI He said despite the HE Government of the State of Osun on dirty politics played by Thursday described as fallacious, demand by the PDP government at the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic the centre, Osun Party (PDP) asking the state to justify how it spent remained one of the few ecological funds in the wake of the flood that affected states that had never some parts of the state capital. experienced any flooding on our since 2010/2011 till the The government said it depended smacks of total ignorance legitimate revenues from unfortunate incident of and mischief for the PDP all sources to annually Tuesday, September 13, not to recall how dredge our waterways up 2016. legitimate funds till 2015 when revenue It said, the government including ecological decline hindered our of Ogbeni Rauf funds were used to play dirty politics and victimized states under the control of the opposition party.

A statement by Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, said Osun did not get any ecological funds to execute its massive projects which prevented flood since •Member, Osun House of Assembly, representing Obokun State Constituency, 2011.

“Osun did not receive Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye ( left); Officer in charge Special Anti Robbery any ecological fund from Squad in Osun Police Command, Adediji Olufemi (2nd right); Divisional Police Ofthe disastrous PDP ficer, Obokun Local Government, Mr Durodola Taofik; 2IC, Nigeria Security and Civil Federal Government from Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Obokun, Mr Sunmonu Tajudeen (right) during the presenNovember 27, 2010 to May tation of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to Obokun Police Division, in Ibokun 29, 2015. We have on Friday.

Omisore, Faforiji, Others Set To Dump PDP

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN HE crisis rocking State of Osun chapter of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension as Senator Iyiola Omisore’s faction of the party was reportedly set to dump the party for a new It was gathered that political party.

OSUN DEFENDER Omisore, the factional gathered that the move chairman of the PDP in to defect to other party the state, Dr Bayo is the last resort of Faforiji and other Omisore’s faction, members of their group concluded having lost out in the have last congresses held to arrangements to defect elect wards, local to a new party. governments and state But before they OSUN executives of the party. decamp, learnt All efforts made to DEFENDER settle in the crisis had that the Omisore group proved abortive as the has vowed to cause laid down conditions more political unrest in for settlement were not the PDP to enable them accepted by the have more followers to Omisore group and the new party.

There were Honourable Soji Adagunodo-led faction. insinuations that the Adagunodo emerged Omisore group might the Osun PDP State defect to the newly‘Nigerian Chairman in the last formed congress which was Patriots’ party where boycotted by the Omisore would be given governorship Omisore group.

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ticket to contest the 2018 governorship election in the state.

A chieftain of the PDP in the state, Chief Dosu Oladipo, who belongs to Omisore’s group heads the Steering Committee of the Nigerian Patriots.

The new party is

•OMISORE

expected to be populated with aggrieved members of the PDP, All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and the Grand Alliance.

Omisore’s ally, Prince Diran Odeyemi, who is the Publicity Secretary

•FAFORIJI

of the Omisore group had hinted that there were possibilities of leaving PDP to forge ahead on their political careers and ambitions.

Oladipo had also said: “Anybody who wants the survival of this country should come to the Nigerian Patriots. It is not a socio-cultural group; it is a political group.

“We are reaching out to all leaders across the six geopolitical zones.

We have consolidated in the South-West; South-East, SouthSouth; North-Central; North-East and the North-West.

“At the appropriate time, the Nigerian Patriots will apply for registration by INEC.” Members of the Adagunodo faction are already celebrating the Omisore defection move, describing it as a soothing bam on the party.

waterways.”

The governor attributed the development to what he called the negative impact of people’s activities on the environment adding that a huge accumulation of wastes remains a major invitation to flood.

He said: “This happens mostly when the negative activities of the people impact on the environment as we have seen a huge accumulation of wastes blocking the free flow of waterways.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our people to heed our call to live very hygienic life. Let us cooperate with the government in the maintenance of good environment.

“Our people must henceforth obey the government sanitation control and the collection of waste that we put in place because if we all religiously follow it, we will never experience this devastating flooding.

“Our government is aware that those who cause this are not living in this environment but the consequences of their unhygienic culture caused this - the loss of millions of naira and assets.

“Let us all run away from what we called pains, agony and misery to our fellow human beings as everyone is urged to dispose his or her waste responsibly.

Pastor Dayo Oluwamakin of the Christ Apostolic Church, Gbonmi area, Osogbo, while speaking with Aregbesola during the tour commended the governor for what he called the government’s previous efforts at preventing what used to be the annual disaster before the advent of the A r e g b e s o l a administration.

He said, he was sure that the government had done well in preventing flood before this latest incident.

Change Of Name I, formerly known as ABDULKARIM HASSAN AMINU, now wish to be called and addressed as AMINU H A S S A N ABDULKARIM. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public should take note.

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OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Atapami Of Itapa-Ijesa: Police Investigate Agoro

On Breach Of Peace

with the Chiefs’ Law, Cap 25, Laws of Osun State and any other appropriate Laws applicable in his case.

In its reply to the police request, the Oriade local government in a letter dated July 18, 2016 insisted that there is no chieftaincy title called Ataapa of Itapa Ijesa, and that Agoro was at no time installed as a chieftaincy owner.

The letter signed by Head of Administration and General Services of the local government, Mr S.A. Odeyinka reads: There is no record in this Local Government to indicate that the said Olapade Agoro was at one time installed as an Oba and there is no community with the name Ataapa within the various communities under the jurisdiction of the Oriade Local Government.

“Moreover, it was

found in the record that the said Olapade Agoro instituted a litigation against the past Elerinmo of ErinmoIjesa on the same issue but lost in the suit.

“Furthermore, the only recognized body of Obas in the Local Government is the Oriade Chieftaincy Committee and there is no name or title with Atapa of Itaapa among the list of its members.”

It would be recalled that the state government had written Agoro telling him there is no chieftaincy title like Atapami in Itapa-Ijesa, and he should therefore, cease from calling himself that title.

In a letter dated August 19, 2016 signed

by Mr. Femi Ogundun for the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, Water Resources, Rural and

Community Affairs, the state government said that there is no chieftaincy title called Atapami of Itapa-Ijesa.

“Atapami of ItapaIjesa is nonexistent and you should stop parading yourself as a holder of a nonexistent title as this runs contrary to section 21 sub – sections 3(9) and (b) of the chief’s law, cap. 25, laws of the state of Osun, 2012" But Agoro described the warning of the government as a diversionary tactic to shift the attention of the people from the mis-governance of the state by the current administration.

He said that he has documentary evidence of his installation in June 1982 where the Eleremon of Ereman, Oba Joe Oyeyemi, who was among the dignitaries, prostrated for him.

Ref No. CB/141/66/21/

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN HE Nigeria Police, Osun Command, have 99 dated February 1985 to Mr begun investigations into the alleged addressed conduct likely to cause breach of peace in Olapade Agoro.

“It is pertinent to the State of Osun by Dr Olapade Agoro, who is that Mr allegedly parading himself as the Atapami of remark Olapade Agoro took his Itapa-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area deposition to the Ilesa Council of the state.

OSUN DEFENDER prescribed authority High Court and lost on March 27, 1997 and then over all chieftaincies in gathered that the police had received complaint Ijesaland under the appealed to the Court of and reports that Osun State Chief’s Law, Appeal, Akure, Ondo Agoro’s claim to the cap 25 to nominate and State where he also lost c o n t r o v e r s i a l install any chief in his appeal, while he also lost his suit for chieftaincy title of Ijesaland.

“To elucidate my defamation of the Court Atapami of Itapa-Ijesa could degenerate to a point, I wish to inform of Appeal Nigeria vide attached full-blown crisis if not you that I installed Mr the Olapade Agoro as photocopies of the checkmated on time. of Appeal Investigations have Chief Atapami of Ilesa Court revealed that the police - a minor chief and Ifa Judgment dated June 18, 2015 and the have consulted priest in June 1982 and I later Supreme Court of stakeholders in when his Nigeria judgement in Ijeseland, including discovered Oba Adekunle ‘dubious’ characters, I suit No SC.264/2003 Aromolaran, Oriade deposed him and delivered on Friday, Local Government and abolished the title November 2014.

“It is hoped that the others to ascertain the Atapami in March 1983 information veracity of Agoro’s with approval of the above Military would enable you to claim that he was then indeed conferred with Government of the old prosecute Mr Olapade the chieftaincy of Oyo State vide letter Agoro in accordance Atapami.

The police had written a letter dated July 12, 2016 to Oba Aromolaran, asking him to provide information on the controversial Atapami of Itapa-Ijesa chieftaincy title and whether Agoro’s claim to the title is lawful.

Another letter dated July 13, 2016 was also directed to the Council Manager of Oriade Local Government for the same purpose.

However, Oba Aromolaran in a letter directed to the A s s i s t a n t Commissioner of Police, Osun Command, said that there is no chieftaincy title called Atapami or Owa-Atapa of ItapaIjesa, in Oriade Local Government of the State of Osun, as being claimed by Agoro.

Oba Aromolaran was said to allegedly urged the security agency to prosecute Agoro for conduct likely to cause •State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and some of his aides, during an unscheduled inspection visit to some places of flood disaster breach of peace, caused by heavy downpour at Obate area in Osogbo on Wednesday. maintaining that there is nobody installed or known as Owa-Tapa of Itapa Ijesa. potato which is rich in potato species.

HE State Programme Officer of Osun children.

A copy of the letter She said, it was vitamin A, improves Highlights of the Elementary School Feeding and Health dated July 30, 2016, were Programme (O’meal), Mrs Olubunmi important for all food vision, builds immunity event made available to vendors to learn how and makes children demonstration of best OSUN DEFENDER on Ayoola, has charged O’Meal food vendors in the best to prepare the grow well, adding it is way to cook orangeFriday reads: “There is state to include orange-fleshed sweet potato in orange-fleshed sweet good for both young fleshed sweet potato, no title known as the the meals to be prepared for school children in potato since it is and old people. questions and answers. the state. a s s o c i a t i o n Owa-Tapa of TapaEarlier, the OFSP Present were staff of Mrs Ayoola made representatives at a available in the state.

Ijesa. The Owa Obokun officer, Mr Rasaq O’Meals, planning Also speaking, the this remark in Osogbo workshop organised by Adimula and said the officers, head teachers, while addressing food the O’Meals office and Health Officer, Mrs Adeleke paramount ruler of has health officers and i m p e organisation vendors, planning jump starting on B Ijesaland has the encouraged farmers teachers officers, head teachers, nutritional value of Adedeji, highlighted and O’Yes cadets in the parents absolute right as the a s s o c i a t i o n health officers and orange-fleshed sweet the nutritional value of State to plant the consenting and representatives. parents teachers potato in school orange-fleshed sweet orange-fleshed sweet

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O'Meal Director Charges Food Vendors On Sweet Potato

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OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Osun Flood: Government Promises To Clear Waterways Again

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HE Osun State government has promised drainages within the was too low. that bridge and carry it very good gutter here. to intensify efforts to ensure that area were channeled, “The government up just like that of That is all we need,” he waterways are cleared to avert a recurrence which they insisted, should break down Ajegunle and create a requested. of flooding that led to the death of one person and destruction of property.

“Since the advent of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his the administration, we Deputy, Otunba (Mrs) have been regularly the Titilayo Tomori-Laoye, desilting on an made the promise on waterways annual basis.

W e d n e s d a y He said that, evening when they visited some of the although, the state had areas affected by the received a flood alert, flood to commiserate the government had, considering its with them. efforts, Addressing reporters deflooding at the CAC, Oke- never expected it to Igbala, DCC have the devastating Headquarters in effect.

It had rained heavily Gbonmi area of Osogbo, Aregbesola for hours in Osogbo the said his administration capital of the State of was deeply sorry for Osun, resulting to of some the loss of life and flooding property of the people. communities.

A woman and her The governor urged the residents to desist daughter were trapped in a store just as many from indiscriminate dumping of refuse, of the residents around which he said, was one of the communities largely responsible were stranded after a bridge collapsed. ýfor the flooding.

One of the residents He said, his administration had, in affected said the cause time past, invested so of the flooding was a much in dredging the bridge that they said •Admirers haling Governor Rauf Aregbesola after the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at Oke-Baale Prayer Ground, Osogbo, State of Osun, on Monday. major waterways identified as floodprone zones ýto avert such occurrence.

A r e g b e s o l a , their plights. presented to the however, promised Led by Chief Janet appropriate authorities. that his government Olaleye, who is their Olaleye, who would ýintensify the presented the group’s Christian coordinator, group of farmers in the State of Osun, Farmers, efforts at ensuring that of Small Holder Women Farmers, has Association of Nigeria women asked the Certificate the waterways were acting Incorporation under approached the government to demand a Women Farmers and ministry’s made free to avert Permanent Secretary, the Corporate Affairs separate allocation for women in 2017 Farmers’ Development future occurrence.

Union, have Dr. Isaac Aluko, to Commission to the “We have been very Appropriation Bill. ministry as a duly FADAMA, Special consider a portion for approached the The farmers, much committed People in Agric, Ministry of Agriculture women when the 2017 registered body and to ensuring absence of including Women-inO-Robo and Food Security, over budget will be recognised by the A g r i c u l t u r e , Agbeloba, this calamity. law, said, any help for the women would serve the best interest of the state and the limiting device, newly- that when the weather is nation. introduced by the Federal too hot, such tyres are She added that for Government, asserting prone to bursting due to a any state to record a lot of pressure. huge success in its OMMERCIAL drivers, it has been observed, driver would service his that the dominant cause Speaking on the and have the sacred responsibility of being the vehicle the way he of road accidents is the occasion, an Ex-officio policies human factor which programmes for custodians of human lives while on wheels, services his stomach by member of the State agriculture, it was bothers on over-speeding. hence, they should do all the needful to secure the way of nourishment, most Council of NURTW, Professor Fawolem imperative that at a of the road accidents lives of their passengers. observation who taught the drivers Alhaji Amodu Shittu, Chairman, State of sensitization rally at Oke- caused by mechanical how to recognise an identified Ayekale/Ota- government begins to assist women whom Osun Technical Fia and Dada Estate faults would be averted. expired tyre, warned Efun junction as a described as The university don them against over- dangerous zone for train she Committee on Road Motor Parks in Osogbo.

Professor Fawole advised the drivers to take inflation of tyre by mishaps because it has no vulnerable in the course Safety, Professor Joseph Fawole, made the opined that if an average advantage of the speed vulcanizers, explaining stopper. of carrying out farming He further complained activities.

Dr. Aluko, assured about blockage of women of visibility, which makes it the their difficult for people to presenting sight the demands to the approaching train. appropriate quarters.

Comrade Adebayo He reminded them of Deputy the economic health care delvery the programme, adding Ayodeji,

By GBENGAADENIYI should not be left to the that the event would go a Chairman, NURTW, challenges facing the Olorunda Branch II, who chieftain of the All Progressives Congress government state and the nation alone long way in solving the (APC) in Atakunmosa-West Local because health is medical problems of lamented that there is while acknowledging Government Council Area of the State of important to all. those who had been acute shortage of motor the significant women in Osogbo, Osun, Honourable Anthony Adeboye, on Thursday, One of the beneficiaries, unable to visit the parks organized free medical check-up and distributed a 65-year-old woman, Mrs hospital due to lack of appealed to the state population in farming, government to provide expressing happiness drugs to the people of the council area. money.

Janet Oyetayo, thanked The programme, which organized free medical Adeboye for the kind befitting motor parks that women have now Another beneficiary, and come together as one was held at Ifewara Town check-up gesture, saying that she Semion Oludiji, showed within the city for security group to Hall, Ifewara, included distribution of drugs to only heard about the free his appreciation to the of lives and luggage of interest the people, adding that acquaint the distribution of antimedical check-up on organiser saying; “am passengers, explaining his mission was to malaria drugs, mosquito that victims of government with their support Governor Rauf radio never knew the very happy today because kidnapping are usually needs and to support nets among others. all the drugs that I organiser before then.

Adeboye explained that Aregbesola’s policies and the vision of Governor those who board private Another beneficiary, collected and the checkthe occasion was the programmes in the health Pastor Femi Adefisoye, up are free. I didn’t pay to cars, popularly known as Rauf Aregbesola for sector of the state. second round of his “soole”. food security.

Adeboye reiterated that gave kudos to Adeboye for anybody”.

Osun Women Farmers Seek Separate Budget Allocation

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Fawole Urges Commercial Drivers To Secure Passengers C APC Chieftain Organises Free Medical Check-up, Distributes Drugs To People A

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OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Looters Deserve To Be Jailed Contiuned from page 1

Work out what a percentage of the looted funds would have done to arrest this. For example, just 20% of the looted funds could have started the much needed reconstruction of the primary health centres across the c o u n t r y .

The missed opportunities cuts across all sectors; broken down schools, inadequately motivated teachers and so on. Funds that ought to have gone into building and reinforcing the inadequate physical and social infrastructure have gone into private pockets, often spirited abroad. It is disgusting that funds that should have been used to break the cycle of poverty so rampant in our society was diverted to beef up the economies of already rich countries.

HOW HEARTLESS CAN YOU GET! The war against corruption must be seen for what it really is. That is

that it is a muscular response against a negative determination to implode the republic! For a society that cannot protect minimal living standards is a society heading for anarchy and implosion. Such a society is a throwback to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is brutish, nasty and short. No responsible government can tolerate this. This means that anyone defending looting must be heartl e s s !

The intervention of President Buhari must therefore be seen as Redemptionist. As a much required attempt to redeem the state. Any sane patriot must therefore support the war against corruption. The war is a starting point as we begin to reconstruct the foundation of the Nigerian state. We have no option than to support this great and necessary effort. Trust Buhari, he has been tried and tested. All the funds recovered will be put to judi-

Cartoon

cious use. They will not be relooted! On the contrary they will be used to reconstruct the state. Under Buhari everything is going to be transparent and above b o a r d .

The current effort is also a pointer to the construction of a new and better society.

A new way of doing things where public funds is not diverted to individual pockets but used to build a better society under a social contract between the government and those that they govern. This is an historic opportunity for a national rebirth; we squander it at our own peril.

•This piece, already used in one of our previous editions, is repeated due to popular demand.

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HEALTH

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OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Antioxidants And Fertility A

NTIOXIDANTS are one of the most important components to having healthy fertility that every woman and man needs to focus on.

Before we get started, there are two terms you will need to become familiar with: Antioxidants Antioxidants are a family of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that help to protect the body from the damage caused by free radicals.

Free Radicals Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cell structures. In normal every day life free radicals are produced from the activity in our bodies (for example free radicals are made during energy production), but chemicals in our surrounding environment can also create free radicals. It is said that each cell in our body is attacked about 10,000 times a day by free radicals, accelerating the aging process. Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals, stopping further damage from happening and protecting the cell’s health. If you are not doing something to help protect your cells, this damage can add up.

How Antioxidants Work Antioxidants work like a defense system, disarming free radicals. They are a kind of police force within the body.

They “quench” free radicals wherever they are so they are not able to spread and cause damage to our cells. When an antioxidant finds a free radical it engulfs it and melds into its molecular structure.

This creates a weakened free radical, not strong enough to do any harm. At this point that particular antioxidant is sacrificed unless its “sister” antioxidant comes along and revives it. I will go into further detail about this a little later as it is very important to know when you are using antioxidant therapies.

Why Antioxidants are important and necessary for healthy fertility Now that we know how antioxidants and free radicals generally work, let’s talk about how they affect fertility specifically. Everything in the body is made of cells that need to be protected from free radicals; simple as that. Not only are the ovum (egg) and sperm made up of cells which can be affected by free radical damage, so are the reproductive organs and glands that produce reproductive hormones. If these cells are less than optimal, the organs, ovum, sperm, etc. will not be functioning at their best.

Another thing to remember; when DNA is attacked, it can also be altered by free radicals. The DNA of both partners is the future blueprint for a child. Damaged DNA is known to cause miscarriages or birth defects/ developmental problems for the future child. Studies have also shown a connection between oxidative stress caused from free radicals and male infertility. So, it is very important for both parents to be taking an antioxidant complex in the correct amounts. I will share with you the best antioxidant blend for fertility in a bit, but first lets take a look at which antioxidants are most important…

Antioxidants Most Important for Fertility Lipoic Acid Lipoic acid is a very important antioxidant because it not only helps to protect the female reproductive organs, but it has also been shown to improve sperm quality and motility. Lipoic acid is a must in every supplement regime as it regenerates all of the other antioxidants and is the only antioxidant that can regenerate glutathione. It also helps to build a strong and properly functioning immune system and can help to reverse some of the damage caused from smoking cigarettes.

Lipoic Acid regenerates itself as well

as vitamins E, C, glutathione and CoQ10.

Suggested daily usage: 100mg a day (split in two doses) Food sources: In small amounts found in potatoes, spinach and red meat.

Vitamin E Studies have shown that vitamin E increases sperm health and motility. In one study it was shown that sperm motility, percent of live sperm, and percent of normal spermatozoa all increased with the supplementation of vitamin E and selenium. In another study (this one done on rats) it was shown that rats that were deficient in vitamin E became infertile and the sperm became immobile. Additionally, the female rats had a higher rate of miscarriages. In fact, vitamin E was first discovered in 1922 during feed-trials on rats. Their diets were deficient in vitamin E and they were infertile. Once they started feeding them wheat germ their fertility was restored. This is how the scientific word for vitamin E came about; tocopherol in Greek means “to bear young”. Vitamin E may also help to reduce anemia by preventing oxidative damage to the red blood cells.

It has been shown that men who prepared with vitamin E prior to IVF treatment with their partners had an increase in rate of fertilization from 19% to 29%.

Vitamin E is regenerated by CoQ10, vitamin C and Lipoic Acid.

Suggested daily usage: 500mg a day of mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols in addition to a diet rich in vitamin E foods.

OOD sources: Raw vegetable oils, nuts, nut butters, rice bran oil, barley, and green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin C Vitamin C is another very important antioxidant for both male and female fertility. Vitamin C improves hormone levels and increases fertility in women with luteal phase defect, according to a new study published in Fertility and Sterility (2003;80:459–61).

The study: 150 women with luteal phase defect were enrolled in the current study. The participants were given 750mg of vitamin C per day or no treatment at all.

The group receiving vitamin C had an increase in progesterone levels. While the women receiving no treatment had no change in progesterone.

Also the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the vitamin C group: 25% within six months, while only 11% of the untreated women became pregnant in the same time period.

Another study showed that women using vitamin C while taking the drug clomid had a better chance of ovulating.

It appears that taking vitamin C may enhance the action of clomid. (Speak to your doctor about this one.)

As for men, vitamin C has been shown to improve sperm quality and protect sperm from DNA damage; helping to

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reduce the chance of miscarriage and chromosomal problems. Vitamin C also appears to keep sperm from clumping together, making them more motile.

Vitamin C is regenerated by vitamin E, CoQ10 and Lipoic Acid.

Suggested daily usage: 500mg a day, in addition to a healthy whole foods diet rich in vitamin C. Food sources: Abundant in plants and fruits including red peppers, broccoli, cranberries, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus fruit.

CoQ10 CoQ10 works with enzymes helping to cause chemical changes within the body, particularly energy production.

CoQ10 is involved in the production of ATP, so a lack of this antioxidant could cause a shortage of energy to every cell and system in the body including the reproductive system. Think of CoQ10 as a battery within the cell.

There are two forms of CoQ10, ubiquinone and Ubiquinol. CoQ10 starts off as ubiquinone and then is converted within the cell to the more powerful Ubiquinol.

OQ10 levels naturally decline with age, so this is an important antioxidant to include in your program, especially if you are above 35.

A study in Fertility and Sterility shared that CoQ10 helped to increase the sperm motility in semen. CoQ10 is found in salmon and organ meats, but to make sure you are getting enough, supplementation is recommended.

Several studies show that CoQ10 supplementation can increase egg and sperm health.

CoQ10 is regenerated by vitamin E and Lipoic Acid.

Suggested daily usage for those under 35: 30mg a day when used in combination with other antioxidants.

Suggested daily usage for those over 35: 100mg a day of CoQ10 Ubiquinol, in addition with other antioxidants.

Food sources: Found most abundantly in seafood and organ meats.

Glutathione Glutathione is considered to be nature’s master antioxidant and detoxifier. It is the cell’s primary antioxidant. Across the board, low levels of glutathione are a marker for disease and premature death. Glutathione is instrumental in the detoxification of pollutants from the liver and the body.

It is also one of the most important defenders of a cell’s immune system.

One area of fertility glutathione may have an impact on is with autoimmune issues. Glutathione is involved in regulating the pathway that activates genes that can cause chronic inflammation. So in other words, it can suppress the ‘bad’ genes that trigger autoimmune issues. This may be helpful for those who are experiencing immunological miscarriages or if the body is rejecting your mates sperm.

In other studies glutathione is shown to be an anti-aging antioxidant, extending the life of fruit flies (the

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subjects of the experiment are quite similar to mammals) by 26% longer than normal. From these studies it is exciting to think of the possible impact this can have on our egg health, one of the cells most affected by aging process.

Glutathione is regenerated by Lipoic Acid.

Suggested daily usage: The best way to increase glutathione levels is to take 100mg of lipoic acid a day.

Food sources: Abundant in fresh fruit, vegetables and freshly cooked meat.

Why Antioxidants Work Best as a Network I stated earlier in this article that each antioxidant that has disarmed a free radical becomes sacrificed unless its “sister” antioxidant comes along and rejuvenates it. Every antioxidant has a “sister” antioxidant which can regenerate the spent antioxidant. For example here are some of the antioxidant sister pairs… · Lipoic Acid can be regenerated by itself and can regenerate all of the other antioxidants · Vitamin C is regenerated by vitamin E, glutathione and Lipoic Acid · Vitamin E is regenerated by vitamin C, coQ10 and lipoic acid · Glutathione is regenerated by Lipoic Acid S you can see it is important to get all of these antioxidants into our body on a daily basis. These antioxidants work together helping to protect the body and keep the system filled with antioxidants.

How to Increase Your Antioxidants Diet Diet is the first way to get more antioxidants into your body. Eating a nutrient dense fertility diet includes all whole foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, grass-fed meats, raw dairy, nuts, seeds and seaweed. All of these foods offer a wide variety of nutrients which are needed for optimal antioxidant levels.

Make sure to eat a wide variety of colors and fresh raw foods.

Antioxidants are sensitive to heat and can be damaged during cooking and processing, so include a good amount of raw foods in your diet.

Fresh pressed juices and smoothies are a great and easy way to get an abundance of nutrients into your diet.

Supplementation The second step of getting more antioxidants into your body is to take an antioxidant blend supplement. This is very important as much of the food people eat today is void of antioxidants due to packaging and cooking. I personally take an antioxidant blend daily as it is so important for overall health and fertility.

After two years of research and trying to find the best antioxidant blend, we decided to make one that contains all of the necessary antioxidants for fertility. Fertilica Choice Antioxidants. It contains all of the most important antioxidant nutrients in a capsule form. This blend is great for both men and women and should be a part of everyone’s health program, especially for fertility. We include this product in our OvaWise – Egg Health and Male Factor Formula fertility kits.

Reduce Free Radicals Smoking, drinking, excessive exercise, hydrogenated oils and stress can all cause free radicals to form. Do what you can to avoid adding additional free radicals for your body to fight. Every time you smoke free radicals are formed in your body. Over time these free radicals are what make cigarette smoking so bad for you. The same occurs with other toxins and environmental pollutants. Defense is the best offense, right.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Inhabitants Of Osogbo Hailing State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, After The Eid-el-Kabir Prayer On Monday.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (atop an SUV), acknowledging cheers from his admirers at Oja-Oba area of Osogbo on Monday.

•Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from the Islamic faithful on the occasion.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain In Atakunmosa-West Local Government Council Area Of The State Of Osun, Honourable Anthony Adeboye, Organised Free Medical Check-up And Distribution of Free Drugs To The People Of The Local Government, At Ifewara, Last Thursday.

Photo: GBENGAADENIYI.

•Honourable Anthony Adeboye (left), presenting mosquito net to one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Odejimi Alaba, at the event.

•A cross section of beneficiaries at the programme.

•Another cross section of the beneficiaries on the occasion.

•One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Esther Fayemi (left), being treated by one of the medical personnel.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari Participated At The Ministerial Retreat On ‘Framework For 2017 Budget’ At The State House Last Thursday.

•President Muhammadu Buhari (right) in a handshake with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed while the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (2nd right) and other diginitaries watch.

•Minister of Mineral Resources, Dr Kayode Fayemi (right) with other ministers at the programme.

•Transportation Minister, Chief Rotimi Amaechi (4th right) with others at the event.

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PHOTOTALK

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Courtesy Visit To President Muhammadu Buhari.

•President Muhammadu Buhari (in the middle) in a group photograph with Daura National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members during a courtesy visit to the President in his home town, Daura, Katsina State, during the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

•(L-R) President Muhammadu Buhari; Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and Pastor Tunde Bakare during a courtesy visit to the President at the State House, Abuja, recently.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Provided Free Train Ride For Sallah To Osogbo From Lagos And Back To Lagos.

•A cross section of passengers inside the train from Lagos to Osogbo during the period.

OPINION

5 11

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Using Emu Oguro (Local Palm Wine) Exportation To Attract Foreign Tourists I arrived in the forest. I met the forest lord He offers me bush meat I am not here to hunt for bush meat I journey deep down the ocean I met the queen of the coast She offers me fish to eat I am not here to fish either On my way back home I met the palm wine tapper He gave me some wine to drink Sozzled and blotto I got home And then I forget my sorrow

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IGERIA is a country blessed with so many natural and agricultural resources. We are so much blessed that we seem to have these resources in excess, as compared to almost all the countries in the African continent. Whether we’re using these resources to our advantage or not is a different ball game entirely. I recently stumbled on United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) website to check out some of the programmes it has lined up for the last quarter of the year. In the coming months, the apex tourism body will be organizing a wine tourism conference in collaboration with the Georgian National Tourism Administration. The press release on its website stated: “Georgia’s unique wine making traditions date back 8,000 years and are considered by UNESCO as intangible heritage, making the country an ideal host for the Global Conference on Wine Tourism. The country’s recent success in attracting a growing number of tourists and its development of tourism products, branding and marketing, combine to present an excellent platform for sharing best practices, experience and knowledge.” Wine tourism, did you say?

What wine is better than our locally-tapped palm wine? If you have ever been served palm wine in any part of Nigeria, especially, the West and the East regions, you would be able to testify that nothing beats the taste of our freshly-tapped unadulterated palm wine. On the other hand, what beats my imagination is the fact that we’re not doing anything grand with this quintessential alcoholic beverage beyond just consuming it locally and may be a few exportations. We can still do so much more. And surprisingly, there is a huge market for this natural product abroad.

The revenue generated every year locally is nothing compared to what we can earn as a country if we intensify exportation of this product. The product has the

By DAVIDADEYEMO

potential of generating millions of dollars every year, if done properly and supported with the necessary marketing efforts.

Palm wine has many names it is known by depending on the region.

For instance, in Nigeria it is called emu, oguro, nkwu enu, nkwu ocha, palmy, or tombo liquor. Palm wine is indeed indispensable in many ceremonies in some parts of Nigeria especially among the Ibo people.

Guests at weddings, birthday celebrations and funeral wakes are usually served charitably. For instance, a young man who is going for his first introduction at his inlaws place is required to go with palm wine. Depending on the customs of various towns, there are specific gallons of palm wine required for such an event.

OMETIMES, it can also be used as a healing agent. It is often mixed with medicinal herbs to cure a wide variety of physical illnesses.

Many drinking sessions will often begin with a small amount of palm wine spilled on the ground as a token of respect to deceased ancestors. Women as well as men enjoy drinking palm wine.

Although the former consumes it

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less often in public.

Palm wine tapping is both an art and a science. Ask our Ibo brothers in the East and the Yoruba farmers in the West. It takes certain specialized skills that are learnt over a course of time to be able to master the art and perfect it.

T commands more respect than any other alcoholic beverage among the rural and urban dwellers in Nigeria. There are also other alcoholic beverages that are derivatives from fermented palm wine while some others such as Ogogoro (dry gin), Burukutu are locally brewed drinks made from guinea corn or wheat. There are different types of palm wine but the type that’s sourced from either Raffia palm or palm oil tree are the original palm wine. Although, they are a bit more expensive and considered the king of all local wines.

Here are a number of fun facts about palm wine in Nigeria: (1) Palm wine is usually the official drink for all traditional marriages.

In fact, it’s in most times included in the bride price list (a list of items to be procured by the groom to-be before a woman is given out in marriage by her family). (2) Getting

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unadulterated palm wine is indeed very difficult; most are mixed with other drinks by greedy sellers to maximize profit. (3) In the rural areas, palm wine often accompanies (and usually the best drink) pepper soup, Ugba, Nkwobi and Isi Ewu (goat head).

Having looked at the great potentials palm wine wields and the inherent implication on our culture as a country, it is a course of wisdom to create festivals or conferences that will bring tourists from other countries to come into our country, considering the fact that we’re at a point, where growing our hospitality and tourism industry is especially important. Organizing an annual Palm Wine Festival, or something of that sort, will boost the inflow of tourists into our country, which will directly contribute to the economy. For instance, more jobs will be created, more hotels, including those on Jumia Travel platform will experience increase in patronage, airlines will make more sales and several other attendant benefits. A typical festival will need about three to six months to plan and will gulp between N4 million to N10 million. But the ROI will likely triple the expenditure and once this becomes a yearly event, an additional source of income will definitely emerge.

EYOND hosting a palm wine festival or conference or whatever nomenclature we eventually come up with, I think it’s also important for public private partnership to promote, on a large scale, the exportation of unadulterated palm wine to neighbouring countries and major European countries. We stand to benefit immensely from its export.

We only need to get the packaging right and voila, the orders will start coming in. However, before we start intensifying commercialization of this product, local promoters should make conscious effort to get as many Nigerians as possible to start making demands. Thankfully, ecommerce has changed the way everything is done. It’s not improbable for a seller to open a platform on any of the online marketplaces and support it with appropriate publicity. We will go beyond local consumption to selling to other continents. But first, we need to grow local demands for the product.

The journey to building our country to Africa’s number one tourist destination is filled with many road bumps. But every step we take should always be in the right direction. Else, things might just fall apart.

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FEATURE

12

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Of PDP And Conflicting Court Judgments

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HE apparent conflict in the orders of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Hon. Justice Okon Abang, and that of the Port Harcourt Division of the same Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watila, in the Peoples Democratic Party leadership cases, respectively being adjudicated by the two judges, is, to say the least, embarrassing. The conflict, has, once again, brought the Nigerian Judiciary and the administration of justice in Nigeria into disrepute. Nigerians are bewildered and are asking the inevitable question: What is wrong with this Nigerian Judiciary?

In the quest for power and positions, either in public offices or in their political parties, politicians, who are nothing but powermongers, will do anything. In this quest, they do not regard the judiciary as too important an institution, and the law court is too sacred a temple of justice to be desecrated. With lawyers who are willing and ready to sacrifice their professional integrity and ethics, politicians are always prepared to commit the worst form of abuse of judicial process. They do forumshopping, seeking orders that will bolster their positions and checkmate their opponents. Acting alone, but usually with the assistance of hired senior lawyers, they actively corrupt judicial officers, especially those who are handling election petitions and appeals and conducting high profile anti-corruption cases. Some judicial officers have been given the boot and driven out of the judiciary with ignominy for not being able to resist the corrupt and corrupting practices of politicians.

Thus, in treating this exasperating issue of conflicting orders of the two Federal High Courts, we are not sad because of the antics of politicians.

We are, because of the indiscretion of our courts and their seeming errand-running for politicians, thereby dragging the name of the judiciary into the muddy gutter of Nigerian politics. The courts appear to be surrendering the integrity of the judiciary to the whims, caprices, mischief and wiles of politicians.

The conflict in the orders of the said two Divisions of the Federal High Court easily could have been avoided if any of the three following steps had been taken by the Court or the judicial authorities concerned.

IRST, the suit before Hon. Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was the first of the two cases to be filed. Upon the latter suit being filed in the Port Harcourt Division of the Court, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watila ought not to have buried his head in the case that was filed before him, like an ostrich, pretending to be oblivious of the pendency of the earlier filed suit before Hon. Justice Abang of the Federal High Court. He ought to have taken judicial notice of that suit, and suo motu, declined to entertain and transferred it to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta, for onward reassignment to Hon. Justice Abang and consolidation of same with the suit, already pending before Justice Abang. Our judges rightly cannot feign ignorance of happenings in their judicial neighbourhood, particularly the pendency of

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•CJN Mahmud Mohammed.

By JITI OGUNYE

notorious and highly celebrated cases in the Divisions of the same Court [Federal High Court or State High Court] on the Bench of which they serve.

ECONDLY, when Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watila failed to take that step, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Auta, who wields statutory administrative powers over the Judges and Divisions of the Federal High Court, ought to have called for, or withdrawn the case file of the Port Harcourt suit from Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watila, and re-assigned same to Hon. Justice Okon Abang.

For good reason, the Chief Judge could also have withdrawn the two suits from the two Judges and reassigned same to another “neutral” Judge of the Federal High Court. By refusing or declining to exercise this power when it became absolutely necessary, but choosing to wait for the two suits, essentially on the same cause of action, to be litigated and adjudicated simultaneously, the Chief Judge has failed woefully in the discharge of his duty, and has contributed to bringing the name of the Judiciary into disrepute.

Order 49 of the Federal High Court [Civil Procedure] Rules, 2009, made by the erstwhile Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdullahi Mustapha, pursuant to the provision of Section 254 of the Constitution, 1999, provides in subrules 1, 2 and 3 as follows: 1.

A cause or matter may, before evidence is taken, and at the request of either party to the suit, be transferred by a judge before whom the cause or matter is pending to another court of the same Division; 2.

A cause or matter may at any stage of the proceedings be reassigned to another Judge of the same Division or of any other Division by the Chief Judge whether or not the cause or matter is being heard before him [that is, the Chief Judge, himself]; 3.

If for any reason, a judge hearing a cause or matter and who has taken any step in the proceedings considers it necessary, either at his own opinion, or upon application of any party to the proceedings to have the cause or matter transferred to

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another Judicial Division, the Judge shall refer the cause or matter to the Chief Judge, who may direct that the matter be transferred to the appropriate judicial Division in accordance with these Rules.

By the above provisions of the Federal High Court [Civil Procedure] Rules, 2009, it can, thus, be seen that there are judicial and administrative powers to effect intradivision or inter-division transfer of the Port Harcourt action and reassignment of same. The reason the Chief Judge failed to exercise this power, when this matter was yet to come to a head, so as to save the judiciary from disgrace, is best known to him. The National Judicial Council should be dismayed enough to ask Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta why he failed to act in this regard..

Thirdly, the National Judicial Council [NJC] could have waded into this matter and arrested the drift of the Federal High Court into the cesspit of ignominy, when the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court failed to act. For those who may be wondering how the NJC could have waded into this matter, we are of the humble view that the NJC creatively and pro-actively ought to rethink its complaint procedure and petition laying protocols in matters such as this one, where we have the aberration of two courts of concurrent or co-ordinate jurisdictions; courts of the same Federal High Court making conflicting orders and engaging in inter-divisional muscle-flexing. In matters such as this, we are of the considered view that if the NJC sticks to its prevailing practice of waiting for a petition to be first submitted by affected parties to trigger its disciplinary procedure against judges, the standing, esteem and integrity of the Judiciary might have been irreparably damaged by the time of arrival of such petition.

E believe that the time, therefore, has come for the NJC, exercising its powers under paragraph 21 (b) & ( i) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to apprehend and arrest potentially damaging intrigues in the Judiciary without first waiting for petitions that will trigger its disciplinary jurisdiction. The NJC could issue directives and advisory to the Heads of Courts in circumstances such as this. The NJC needs not wait for the lady of justice to dance naked in the market, and belatedly start figuring out how the lady could have been clothed. That will be medicine after death. That will be treating an academic matter, that the courts say they do not waste their precious judicial time treating, not being a live matter. Under the said paragraph 21 (b) & ( i) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule, the NJC has the power to recommend to the president the removal from office of Federal High Court Judges, amongst others, and to exercise disciplinary control over them; and deal with all other matters relating to broad issues of policy and administration.

Broadly, liberally and purposively interpreted, this power, in our view, should enable and entitle the NJC to wade into a grave misuse or abuse of judicial power, which is likely to impact very negatively on the image of the Judiciary, before that misuse

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or abuse of power becomes consummated and ripens into a clear-cut disciplinary conduct, warranting the wielding of the sanctioning hammer of the NJC. It is clear in our mind that if any of these steps stated above had been taken, Nigerian lawyers and judges would have been saved from facing this latest embarrassment.

For those who are not interested in the larger implication of these conflicting orders for our judicial system, but who are focused mainly on what the law says on a situation of conflicting orders like the instant ones; and who may wondering what the parties to these two court orders and executive authorities in the federation ought to do in the circumstances, we will not leave you without stating what the law says.

In doing so, however, we hold the firm view that the question of what the law says is not as important as the question of where the Judiciary is headed.

HE law is that the Court of Appeal in Nigeria is one court, made up of divisions. If there are two conflicting judgments of the Court of Appeal on a point of law, the later in time is taken to be the current decision of the Court of Appeal. See Ojugbele v. Lamidi [ 1999] 10 NWLR [ Pt. 621], 167 at 171, para. E. The two Federal High Courts are courts of co-ordinate or concurrent jurisdictions. Thus, they both have the same powers, and the decision of one cannot bind the other. The parties, and the executive authorities [the police and INEC] may, therefore, be tempted to choose either of the two orders to obey, or choose to obey neither. Our view is that they are not permitted to do so.

While they may exercise their respective constitutional right of appeal by filing notices of appeal; and in addition file applications for stay of execution of the orders that have been made and the judgment has been granted, by the two courts, the latest decision in this sordid judicial circus and justice administration debacle is the interlocutory decision of Hon. Justice Okon Abang, which, indeed, noted and took into consideration the earlier Judgment of Ibrahim Watila, J. As stated by Eso J.S.C, of blessed memory, in Osafile v. Odi [No 1] [ 1990], 3 NWLR [Pt. 137], 130 at 171, a decision of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal in Nigeria is made up of “only one hand, and that hand knows and is expected to know and must be held to know what it does whether it has five fingers, or more or less”. It must, therefore, be presumed that Hon. Justice Okon Abang knew what he was doing when he “overruled” the Judgment of Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watila.

Therefore, until Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watila “countermands” or “counter-orders” Hon. Justice Okon Abang in this game of judicial tit-fortat, Hon. Justice Abang, for now, has the last say, and his decision is the current and latest order of the Federal High Court, binding on all authorities an persons, by virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution, 1999, until his decision is set aside, by him or by a higher, appellate court. What a Judiciary!

What a Country!!

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•Ogunye is a public interest attorney and legal commentator.

•Culled from Nigerian Tribune.

NEWSFEATURE

51 3

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

EFCC Files Application To See Patience Jonathan Forfeit $15m

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N application has been filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking the total forfeiture of $15,591,700, belonging to Dame Patience Jonathan.

The wife of the immediate-past President, Goodluck Jonathan, reportedly has the money currently lodged in the Skye Bank account of four companies: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

The EFCC had frozen the four accounts, which were linked to a former Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

However, Jonathan’s wife had claimed in a sworn affidavit that the money in the four accounts belonged to her, even though there is no paper evidence to establish a link between her and the companies. She also urged the court to compel the EFCC to lift the restriction on the accounts. In a sudden twist, however, the antigraft agency arraigned the four companies on Thursday and the companies pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. A senior EFCC official told newsmen that the antigraft agency would subsequently apply for the total forfeiture of the funds.

He said: “The four companies, in whose accounts the monies were lodged, have pleaded guilty to money laundering. We are therefore filing an application, seeking the complete and total forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government. “The $15,591,700 should go (be deposited in) into the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria.” On Thursday, the four accused companies pleaded guilty to conspiring with Dudafa; a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs; and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku, to launder the sum of $15, 591,700 on or about November 13, 2013.

The EFCC, while arraigning the seven accused persons before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, admitted to the court that the $15.6 million were proceeds of theft. Though Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the amended 15 counts pressed against them by the EFCC, the four companies, charged along with them, owned up to committing the offence.

The guilty plea was entered on behalf of Pluto, Seagate, Trans Ocean and Avalon by one Friday Davies, Agbo Baro, Bioghowri Frederick and Taiwo Ebenezer, respectively.

The EFCC had since frozen the $15.6 million found in the four companies’ accounts with Skye Bank Plc by placing a ‘No Debit Order’ on the four accounts. But Patience had filed a fundamental

claimed that Dudafa helped Patience to open the bank accounts in 2010.

According to him, Dudafa had, on March 22, 2010, brought two Skye Bank officials to meet Patience at home to open five accounts. The deponent claimed that Patience was the sole signatory to the accounts. He, however, claimed that after the five accounts were opened, Patience later discovered that Dudafa opened only one of the accounts in her name while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

OMIARI added, “The applicant (Patience) complained about this to Honourable Dudafa, who, at his prompting and instance, promised to effect the change of the said accounts to the applicant’s name; and to effect this change, Honourable Dudafa brought the said bank manager, Mr. Dipo Oshodi, who purported to have effected the changes. This was about April 2014. “The applicant is not a director, shareholder or participant in the companies named in the aforementioned four accounts.

“The bank official, Mr. Dipo Oshodi, as it would appear, did not effect or reflect the instruction of the applicant to change the said accounts to her name despite repeated requests of the applicant.”

In her reaction to the court proceedings on Thursday, Patience said the four accused persons, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges on behalf of the four companies linked her, were mercenaries hired by the EFCC. The ex-President’s wife stated this in a statement on Thursday by her media aide, Chima Osuji.

She alleged that the EFCC presented four unknown persons, who were not authorised by the companies’ boards, to plead guilty on behalf of the companies. She said it was a ploy by the EFCC to ensure that her hard-earned money was confiscated. The ex-President’s wife argued that the EFCC failed to comply with Section 477 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, by not presenting to the court on Thursday any letter to show that the four persons were authorised by the companies to represent them.

Patience added, “This is a clear evidence of the desperation of the prosecution to pull down the former First Lady and confiscate her hard-earned money. “It is an irony that it was the former First Lady who went to court for the repatriation of her confiscated money when she realised that the EFCC and its co-travellers were playing politics with this issue after she had come out publicly to say that the said money belonged to her and that she had all evidence to prove the sources of her money.

“Up until this very moment, the EFCC has refused to interrogate or invite her for questioning.”

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•PATIENCE

By SOONEST NATHANIEL

rights enforcement suit against the EFCC and the bank, claiming that the money, which the EFCC said were proceeds of theft, belonged to her.

ATIENCE is also seeking damages against Skye Bank in the sum of N200 million for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal property under Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution. But Patience’s suit against the EFCC and Skye Bank has yet to be heard by any judge.

However, the EFCC arraigned Dudafa, Briggs, Bolodeoku and the four companies before Justice Babs Kuewumi on Thursday for money laundering and conspiring to retain proceeds of theft.

The EFCC also alleged that the seven accused persons conspired to forge Skye Bank mandate cards, purporting that they were signed

by Friday Davies, Kola Fredrick, Taiwo Ebenezer and Agbo Baro, to prejudice Skye Bank in their bid to launder the $15.6 million. They were also accused of forging a Wema Bank Corporate Account mandate card, purporting that it was signed by Taiwo Ebenezer and Chima John to prejudice Wema Bank.

The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told Justice Kuewumi that Dufada, Briggs, Bolodeoku and the four companies acted contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

But while the four companies pleaded guilty, Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku maintained that they did not commit the offence.

Following the guilt plea by the companies, Oyedepo told the court that he would like to review the facts of the case by tendering

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documents to prove the offence, for the court to decide their fate but Justice Kuewumi said he would only entertain the review of facts at a later date. The lawyers, who appeared for Briggs and Bolodeoku, Tochukwu Onuike and Joseph Okobiemen, respectively, subsequently informed the court that they had filed applications for the bail of their clients, urging Justice Kuewumi to admit their clients to bail in liberal terms.

However, Dudafa’s lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole, said he did not file any application for his client’s bail in the hope that Justice Kuewumi would allow the accused person to continue to enjoy a N500m bail granted him in another criminal case before Justice Mohammed Idris of the same court.

Justice Kuewumi, however, turned down Oyewole’s prayer, saying the case before Justice Idris was different from the one before him.

E directed the lawyer to file a formal application for Dudafa’s bail. The judge, however, granted Briggs and Bolodeoku a N250m bail each with one surety each in like sum. The accused were directed to deposit their passports in the court’s custody pending the conclusion of their trial.

The sureties, the court said, must be resident in Lagos and must be owners of landed property in any highbrow area, the Certificate of Occupancy of which they were to deposit with the court. The sureties were also to show evidence of tax payment. The court adjourned till September 27, 2016 for commencement of trial. In the suit filed by Patience, laying claim to the $15 million, which is the subject of prosecution of Dudafa and others, one Sammie Somiari, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of Patience,

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14

OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Job Vacancies In Nigeria HSE Specialist · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Engineering, Technical, Health & Safety · Posted on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209331 Job Details We are one of Nigeria’s leading scientific and engineering consulting firms providing worldclass expertise through product development and enhancement, Architectural and structural, Mechanical, Electrical & roads design modeling and simulation, materials engineering and testing.We have a reputation for providing our clients with professional, personal service and in creating practical, efficient, and attractive solutions through coordinated design and team effort.We are recruiting to fill this position.

Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. · 5 - 7 years of experience. · Good English communication skills.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left ………………………..end………………………..

Project Manager (Substation/Utilities) · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Engineering, Technical · Posted on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209321 Job Details We are one of Nigeria’s leading scientific and engineering consulting firms providing worldclass expertise through product development and enhancement, Architectural and structural, Mechanical, Electrical & roads design modeling and simulation, materials engineering and testing.We have a reputation for providing our clients with professional, personal service and in creating practical, efficient, and attractive solutions through coordinated design and team effort.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Actively gathers information on the customer and customer’s strategies, requirements and targets. · Manages customer expectations; identifies / creates additional opportunities out of the ongoing projects · Actively communicates with customer’s senior representatives and manages solving of issues.

Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. · 5 - 10 years in processing, project management, erection, engineering/ commissioning, commercial activity with varying duties and functions. · Project Management certifications are preferred. · Experience in managing HV Substations and Transmission projects. · Written and spoken English is essential.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left ……………………….end…………………………..

Mechanical and Electrical Technician · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Engineering, Technical · Posted on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209311 Job Details We are one of Nigeria’s leading scientific and engineering consulting firms providing worldclass expertise through product development and enhancement, Architectural and structural, Mechanical, Electrical & roads design modeling and simulation, materials engineering and testing.We have a reputation for providing our clients with professional, personal service and in creating practical, efficient, and attractive solutions through coordinated design and team effort.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Performs work in a variety of crafts skills required to install, construct, and repair and maintain plant equipment, utilities and structures. · Mechanically and electrically maintains machine tools, forklifts, and other shop equipment. · Installs and maintains power distribution and lighting systems. · Performs pipe fitting and plumbing duties. · Does small scale building maintenance.

Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering. · At least 5 years experience.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left ……………………….end…………………………..

ICT Teacher · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: Academic · Posted by Greensprings School on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209301 Job Details Employer: Greensprings School Greensprings School is an independent, non-partisan, day and boarding school for boys and girls from 18months - 18years. We encourage students to be lifelong learners by instilling in them great confidence, respect and a consciousness of the needs of society.

Greensprings School began in 1985 in the heart of Anthony Village, Lagos. Today, we have established another state of the art campus on the Lekki Peninsula in Lagos. The Greensprings Community places great value on character and moral education as well on academics achievements. Our unique education ensures that boys and girls learn in the words of our school song.

Candidate Requirements · Applicant with at least post one(1) years NYSC experience · Not more than 26 years of age Apply before Sunday, October 16, 2016 - 31 Days left ………………………..end………………………………..

Database Assistant · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: IT · Posted on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209300 Job Details We are one of the largest party supply manufacturers/distributors in the world dedicated to providing the most extensive and creative line of party goods available to all of our customers on a complete and timely delivery basis. We are recruiting to fill this position.

Responsibilities · Collect data from a variety of sources, such as reports, checks, bills, people and websites. · Organize the data as directed for the specific database he’s working in, then enters it into the database or scans documentation to save as electronic files. · Responsible for generating reports and documents.

Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Statistics or other related field. · At least one year experience in medical recording, implementation and management of health Strategic Information systems (HIV/AIDS programming preferred) · High- level computer skills using MS Excel, MS Access, SPSS and Epi-info Windows

· Basic data management and analysis skills.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left ………………………….end…………………………..

Operations Officer/Analyst · Lagos, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sector: IT · Posted by Hot Jobs on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209290 Job Details Employer: Hot Jobs Our client, a multinational Bank is recruiting qualified individuals to fill this position.

Responsibilities · To manage and drive forward the quality process in country and to maintain standards or any internal/external standards established by senior management · To ensure continuous improvement of team/s performance and effective risk management to protect the Clients’ and Bank’s interest. · To manage service delivery in accordance with the business plan and in close liaison with sales and product partners. · Maintain relationships with stockbrokers as it relates to trade settlement Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in in a relevant discipline. · 3 - 4 years cognate work experience. · Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. · Good problem solving and analytical skills.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left ………………………..end………………………..

Job Details Employer: AETI Power Systems and Controls Limited AETI Power Systems & Controls Ltd is an Indigenous Engineering Consulting Company, We are currently recruiting these positions for one of our respective client in the manufacturing industry.

Role summary: · Responsible for planning, Material management, safety and quality control at the Independent Power Plant (IPP) Key Responsibilities Areas (KRA): · Manages and supervises electricians at the IPP site · Inspect completed installations and observe operations, to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with operational and safety standards. · Provide on-site direction to workers in order to complete jobs within specific guidelines such as quality, standards, time requirements and budget considerations · Responsible for training employees and overseeing apprenticeship · Respond and provide technical assistance to electrical equipment problems within the company - owned facilities · Improve plant/equipment reliability through historical trending and improved maintenance procedures.

Candidate Requirements · OND Electrical Engineering/Trade Test 1, 2 & 3/NABTEB Desired Professional Qualification: · Bsc/HND Electrical Engineering/Electrical Electronics Experience & Industry Exposure: · Total Experience: 15- 20 years · Relevant Experience: 10-15 years Apply before Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 2 Days left Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion. …………………………end……………………………

Project Manager (Substation/Utilities) · Delta, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Engineering, Technical · Posted on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209319 Job Details We are one of Nigeria’s leading scientific and engineering consulting firms providing world-class expertise through product development and enhancement, Architectural and structural, Mechanical, Electrical & roads design modeling and simulation, materials engineering and testing.We have a reputation for providing our clients with professional, personal service and in creating practical, efficient, and attractive solutions through coordinated design and team effort.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Actively gathers information on the customer and customer’s strategies, requirements and targets. · Manages customer expectations; identifies / creates additional opportunities out of the ongoing projects · Actively communicates with customer’s senior representatives and manages solving of issues.

Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. · 5 - 10 years in processing, project management, erection, engineering/ commissioning, commercial activity with varying duties and functions. · Project Management certifications are preferred. · Experience in managing HV Substations and Transmission projects. · Written and spoken English is essential.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left ……………………….end………………………….

Project Manager (Substation/Utilities) · Cross River, Market Related · Job Type: Permanent · Sectors: Engineering, Technical · Posted on Friday, September 16, 2016 · Reference: 209320 Job Details We are one of Nigeria’s leading scientific and engineering consulting firms providing world-class expertise through product development and enhancement, Architectural and structural, Mechanical, Electrical & roads design modeling and simulation, materials engineering and testing.We have a reputation for providing our clients with professional, personal service and in creating practical, efficient, and attractive solutions through coordinated design and team effort.We are recruiting to fill this position.Responsibilities · Actively gathers information on the customer and customer’s strategies, requirements and targets. · Manages customer expectations; identifies / creates additional opportunities out of the ongoing projects · Actively communicates with customer’s senior representatives and manages solving of issues.

Candidate Requirements · Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. · 5 - 10 years in processing, project management, erection, engineering/ commissioning, commercial activity with varying duties and functions. · Project Management certifications are preferred. · Experience in managing HV Substations and Transmission projects. · Written and spoken English is essential.

Apply before Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 58 Days left …………………………end……………………………….

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OSUN DEFENDER Sunday, September 18, 2016

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta Is A 'World Emblem' - Luis Enrique

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he “La Masia is my home, tremendous speed and UIS Enrique has heaped praise on “world year-old, emblem” Andres Iniesta as the Barcelona acknowledged that it it’s where I spent a lot everything that I have midfielder celebrates 20 years at the Catalan was the right decision. of time and where I been able to do, is largely thanks to my “It was all worth it, grew as a person.

Despite the difficulty club.

“I matured at a time there.

The 32-year-old of leaving home as a 12- obviously,” he said. arrived at Barca’s famous La Masia academy on Sept. 16, 1996, leaving his family behind in Fuentealbilla to embark on his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

He’s since described that day as “the worst of his life” but as the titles have rolled in — 29 with the Blaugrana and three with Spain — it’s proved worth the effort.

Luis Enrique is struck by the manner in which Iniesta has achieved so much success and lauded his character as much as his talent.

“Andres is a marvellous player,” the Barcelona coach said in a news conference on Friday as he reflected on Iniesta’s career.

“It’s a wonderful •Lionel Messi and Barcelona meet a new foe when they travel to newly-promoted Leganes. landmark that he’s been here for 20 years, leaving his family behind to come here as RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger says international was plans, but hinted that a child. new signing Granit Xhaka is still bought for £35 million he may continue with a “Now he’s the club adapting to the pace of English football from Borussia central partnership of captain and an emblem not just in Spain and but insists the Switzerland midfielder will still Monchengladbach this Santi Cazorla and season. summer, and is Francis Coquelin for Europe, but all around have “a huge impact” this League expected to add some Saturday’s trip to Hull.

Xhaka was Champions the world. draw at Paris Saint- steel to the Gunners’ surprisingly dropped “It’s not about his “I’d highlight the Germain — despite way he’s done it, too, to the bench for i m p r e s s i v e midfield with his quality. At the moment Arsenal’s last two physical presence and he adapts to the pace of the values he has. I performances in his tackling ability. the English game,” don’t think he’s been games — the Premier previous two starts.

League win over Wenger said Xhaka Wenger said about sent off, no one The Switzerland and remains a big part of his Xhaka. “And for me it’s remembers him doing Southampton about pairs as well who anything nasty, neither work well together. in victory nor in defeat.

“Coquelin and “It’s a pleasure to Cazorla have worked have him as captain for well together.

But he everything that he [Xhaka] will play represents — there games and every week won’t be many he is stronger and Iniestas.” better, and I think he In a special interview will have a huge impact with Catalan as a player.” newspaper Sport to Arsenal also have mark his two decades Aaron Ramsey at the club, Iniesta ruminated on his early •Paul Mariner talks Alexis Sanchez's importance to Arsenal and whether the Chilean (currently injured) and Mohamed Elneny days in Barcelona. will stay with the Gunners long-term. fighting for playing

“What I learned as a player and as a person is what I consider most important when I look back.”

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka Needs Time To Adjust - Arsene Wenger

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Former Arsenal Winger Serge Gnabry Is ‘Perfect’ - Werder Bremen’s Skripnik W

ERDER Bremen coach Viktor Skripnik has Bremen travel to called former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry B o r u s s i a a “perfect” player.

Monchengladbach at the right knee in the final at “I am delighted he’s the Olympic Games. But I weekend, and defeat at the Champions League with us,” the under- feel well again. pressure Werder boss Everything’s fine,” the club would see Werder hitting rock bottom early said of Gnabry, who winger said. on in the season. signed for the club from Arsenal in the summer.

“I hope what he showed [in the 2-1 loss to Augsburg] already was RSENAL have loaned teenager Kelechi Nwakali the worst he can play. I to MVV Maastricht for the rest of the season. think he’s capable of Nwakali, 18, signed a fulfilling everything that we expect from him. He five-year deal with the has been granted a Dutch Gunners in the summer, work permit, in order to already is perfect.”

Gnabry has been joining from the Diamond gain some regular firststruggling with knee Football Academy in team football.

Nwakali will link up problems, but the 21-year- Nigeria. old has said he’s fit to However, Arsenal have with fellow Gunner play. opted to temporarily ship Stefan O’Connor, who is “I had problems in my out the midfielder, who also out on loan at the

Before the start of the Bundesliga season, the club were eliminated from the DFB Pokal by thirdtier side Sportfreunde Lotte, and they also lost their opening games of the domestic season to

Bayern Munich and Augsburg.

“We were successful in Gladbach last season,” Skripnik told Bild. “And I think my team’s capable of doing it again this year.”

Eerste Divisie side.

“We wish Kelechi well for the season ahead,” Arsenal said in a statement confirming the move.

Nwakali led Nigeria to last year’s Under-17 World Cup title in Chile, where he was named player of the tournament.

•KELECHI

Arsenal’s Kelechi Nwakali Joins MVV Maastricht On Loan For Season A

time in central midfield, but many see Xhaka’s blend of defensive qualities and passing ability as a perfect mix for Wenger’s team.

“He has a stature, he has the power, he has the strength. What we want is for him to use that in a very efficient way,” Wenger said.

“It’s September, we started in August, so it’s one month. For many players it took them some time to get into the team. He will do that without any problem. I personally prefer him as a box-tobox player. Because he has the engine, he has the power, he has the long pass. He likes to come deep and distribute the game.

But I think he has the engine to have an impact with his runs.”

Wenger did not rule out Xhaka playing alongside Cazorla in a more defensiveminded role, but added that Coquelin’s experience has tipped the scale in his favour after Arsenal made a stuttering start to the campaign.

“Cazorla and Coquelin have 50 or 60 games together. And that has a little impact sometimes in my decisions,” the Frenchman said.

“Sometimes [when] we lose our first game, you go a bit for stability.

But he [Xhaka] is highly focused, Elneny as well.

And they are top, top quality.”

www.osundefender.org SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 HE current e c o n o m i c challenges facing the country have tasked our leaders to think out of the box to bring out credible solution.

Nigerians have been used to the annual fiscal policy better christened budget, where projected incomes and expenditures are made annually.

It became a hallow ritual, where budgets are either not fully implemented or done haphazardly. In view of this, the impact of the budget on the economy and the people became so insignificant that people began to ask why have the budget in the first instance?

The first budget by President Muhammad Buhari was enmeshed in a lot of controversy, which is yet subside. Initially, the appropriation bill was deemed to have been lost in the National Assembly. Later, it was found and treated by the two chambers of the National Assembly, but to the chagrin of the President and Nigerians, the final bill submitted to the President for assent, was full of errors. Buhari had to return the bill to the legislature, which reworked on it for final approval.

The President then endorsed it, only for a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Jubrin Abdulmumin, to allege •ADEOSUN that the appropriation bill was between plan targets and budgetary outcomes at the padded.

UBRIN was the immediate- national and sectoral levels, due past Chairman of the House to synergy between the various Committee on Appropriation. Federal Government Ministries, The controversy is still on, until Departments and Agencies the House resumed to clear the (MDAs.) At the Ministerial Retreat on air.

This government has come the Economy and Budget, at the under strong criticism from State House Banquet Hall in within and outside the Abuja last Thursday, Buhari government. Two former Central said: “We are confident that the Bank governors, Emir Sanusi level of private investment will Lamido Sanusi of Kano and grow, as we are determined to Professor Charles Soludo, had make it easier to do business in recently tasked the government Nigeria by the reforms we are to call in experts and technocratic introducing under the auspices that can assist to bring us out of of the Presidential Committee on Ease of Doing Business.” the woods.

The retreat had a theme: In line with the suggestion of the two economists, the “Building Inter-ministerial government organised a retreat Synergy for Effective Planning to discuss on the economic and Budgeting in Nigeria.”

If we take out time to reflect on recession and the possible ways to bring us to the path of sanity. our past, we would definitely The retreat brought together come out with something cogent the President, ministers and and concrete. However, a lot of economic experts, who brain- Nigerians are in a desperate bid to leave behind them the current stormed on the economy.

On the front burner for excruciating experience. Good as discussion among others are the that position is, if we are not Budget 2017, the mismatch careful, we may fall into the same

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By BISI ADEWOLE

Still On The Economy

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Olympics in Rio De Jeneiro, Brazil.

It took the magnanimity of that Japanese doctor to dole out dollars to the Nigerian Under-23 team that was stranded in Atlanta, United States of America, before the commencement of the Olympic Games.

Ironically, it was the only team that won a medal for the country.

During the practice tour of the team to the USA, it was one of our professional footballers in the United Kingdom (UK), Mikel Obi, that paid for the hotel bills.

Also, the gaffer of the team, Samson Siasia, is still being owed a backlog of salaries, while the Late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Ahmadu Shuaib, all of blessed memory, are being owed, even in death.

E should reflect on ourselves and have a holistic view of the totality of lives and try to change from our current decadent system. However, if we choose to continue our normal ways, then even, if the boom comes, we shall revert to the depression afterwards.

Palliatives should be introduced to mitigate the current sufferings but we should realise we need to operate within our means. Our system degenerated because there were no role models to copy. There are either too few to be significant or they were considered pariah.

Our attitude plays a significant role in our lives. Nature has endowed us with abundant resources, as some people have posited, that is why we are either lazy or frivolous. We did not suffer for our independence, hence, we have chosen to live and do things awkwardly. If we examine all developed countries, they had one challenge or the other. They strove to overcome that disability and in the process, invent or produce certain things. Nigeria had the oil money but chose to blow it away.

Even the area that produces the black gold is worse for it.

Collectively, we should look beyond our current travails and do a serious planning towards the future and how to handle the boom that would usher in postrecession.

Everything in life is temporal, including our lives, hence, our current recession would not last forever.

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pit several times.

This is not the first recession the Nigerian economy will experience; we would definitely come out of this too. What is important is that we should put together enduring and lasting legacies that would not make us go through the same route again.

We are all culpable to some extent.

HE degree may vary, but in a way, we have all compromised our ethics.

The leaders, yes, they are the people we look up to. We expect them to do the right thing. They have misled us and we too have taken undue advantage of the system.

We need to come home and embrace current realities. It is time we stopped being a disgrace to ourselves.

Despite the avalanche of our human and material resources, it is not a paradox that it was a Japanese national that saved our Olympic football team (Under23) that won for us a goldenbronze in the just-concluded

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.