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  • SEYI OLOFINJANA: I’ll be honoured to manage Super Eagles

    Former Nigerian international midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana is steadily moving up the coaching and management ladder at English Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers and he believes he’s acquiring so much knowledge that would be useful to manage the Super Eagles in the future, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    It’s indeed a season of introspection for Seyi Olofinjana, former Super Eagles’ midfield Trojan and one of the very few Nigerian footballers with sound academic background. In a career spanning a period of 11 years between 2000 and 2011,  Olofinjana had an impressive  56 international caps  under his belt but he surmised that his debut in an international friendly  against Malawi under the late coach Shaibu Amodu  would forever remain indelible in  his memory.

    “There were so many wonderful memories playing for the ever beautiful Super Eagles but none would be compared to that very first  time wearing the national jersey and singing the national anthem with millions watching,” Olofinjana , a storied product of the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) began in an exclusive interview with The Nation. “Amodu was a great coach and myconfidant and his management skills were second to none.

    “He gave not just myself but all new players the belief that that we were talented enough and have merited selection.”

    Though it  looked like yesterday when Olofinjana  made that  debut against the visiting Malawi at the Abacha Stadium in Kano, he remains nostalgic about  4th June 2000 which   is just  a year away from two decades.

    “4th June 2000, I was in the team led by Shaibu Amodu and Musa Abdullahi (both late); the feeling was and is still is indescribable. Just pure grace,” noted Olofinjana who would be 39 on 30th June.

    “I feel blessed to have donned the colours of my country 56times in a career that spanned a decade.

    “With almost 200million people with almost a quarter of not more capable of occupying that position, being favoured by God to be selected for that long is still a mystery.  I’d be forever grateful to God and people he used for such an important privilege.”

    Olofinjana has indeed had a seamless transition from being a player to administrator and this might not be unconnected with his educational background as recently hinted by erstwhile president of NUGA and former Vice- Chancellor of University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin.

    “You must have certainly heard about a player called Seyi Olofinjana who played for the Super Eagles ; it was during my period as president of NUGA that he became a household name in Nigeria,” Oshodin, the professor of health education once  told The Nation. “Olofinjana was discovered in the team that I took to China to play when he was a student of LAUTECH; that was where the scouts saw him and he started playing for Nigeria.”

    It is not as easy as that though; but Olofinjana’s career is an ideal one for any aspiring footballer to follow as he perfectly combined education with his football career even at retirement.

    Apart from graduating with a degree in chemical engineering from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Olofinjana recently graduated from The Master of Sport Directorship (MSD) programme at the Manchester Metropolitan University as he continues to chart his road to the top.

    “I have been asked this (how easy was it to have combined academics at LAUTECH and playing for the Super Eagles) so many times and sometimes,I wonder how I did it as well,” explained Olofinjana that played for a number of European clubs including SK Brann in Norway; Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hull City, Stoke City, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday in England. “Obviously, God played a major part and contrary to the notion of many people that I had it all planned.

    “It was just a divine intervention possible for anyone willing to commit himself or herself and more importantly focus.  In was tough but the focus was always on the goal and preparations for life after football.”

    Since his retirement in 2015, Olofinjana has since been working at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Academy and was recently named as Loans Pathway Managerat the English Premier League side.

    “Transition from playing to management has come with its challenges – life style change, family balance, working hours and all sorts, but I must emphasise that education has played a major role in preparing me as well as dedication,” stated Olofinjana in his usual candour. “The Master’s degree is another step towards preparing for life after football and stressed my passion not just for coaching but administration hence the application for the loan and pathways manager’s role as it’s all encompassing.

    “Prior to my new role as the loans and pathway manager, I was the U23s coach and while I am still part of the coaching set up, I do less coaching for now.

    “How soon I can deploy this knowledge to the development of Nigerian football?  I’d say NOW!

    “Without a shadow of doubt, managing the Super Eagles or administering the game in Nigeria is part of my future dreams.

    “I would again be honoured to (manage the Super Eagles);after all, I have learnt and still learning and would be ready to help the nation realise its full potentials in whatever capacity.”

    Of course, Olofinjana can looked back at his career with satisfaction as widely reported, he began his career with local sides Crown of Ogbomoso  and Kwara United before moving to Europe with Norwegian side SK Brann.

    After two seasons at Brann he moved to English club Wolverhampton Wanderers and became a regular at Molineux right from the first season. His second season was curtailed by a back injury that also forced him to miss the 2006 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    However,in the 2006–07 seasons, he finished as the club’s top league goal scorer as they made the play-offs under Mick McCarthy. He netted Wolves’ opening goal of the following campaign in a 2–1 defeat to Watford but could not repeat his goalscoring level of the previous season, scoring only twice more. He missed part of the season as he competed in the 2008 AFCON in Ghana where Nigeria lost in the quarter-finals.

    “It is always a beautiful time together when the AFCON comes to town,” recalled Olofinjana who played along with the likes of Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka, Obafemi Martins and a host of others.“Different egos, talents, individuals and weirdos come together and being compelled to work together for a period can be both fun and challenging.

    “How as a group we never won the Nations Cup is baffling with the talents we had in the squad .But as I’ve always said, Super Eagles’ problem isn’t about players but administration.

    “How well you’d go in a tournament isn’t determined just on the field but preparations put in place prior.

    “As a matter of fact, winning any tournament is always a by-product of good all round organisation.  A lot saw the talents and wondered why but what goes on behind the scenes was witnessed by very few.”

    Incredibly, Nigeria has only won the AFCON thrice following victory on home soil in 1980 with a team that included Captain Christian Chukwu, Mathematical Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, goalkeeper Peter Okala and others.

    The country had to wait till 1994 to add a second title  in Tunisia  under  Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof-led  squad  that is  commonly referred to as the Golden Generation complete with late skipper Stephen  Keshi, late sensational striker Rashid Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh among others .Again, there was a long period of interregnum until 2013 when late  skipper ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi made history  as the second person in the history of the AFCON after Egyptian Hassan Shetata to have won the continent’s most sought-after  trophy both as a player and coach.

    This June, the Super Eagles return to the continent again in search of glory for the first time since their last success in South Africa and Olofinjana believes the current team being managed by German coach Gernot Rohr can go all the way in Egypt if some of the pitfalls of the past can be mitigated upon.

    “If some or all I’ve highlighted earlier can be looked into, the challenge for the talented boys would be to win the AFCON in Egypt having giving a good account of themselves  at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018,”affirmed Olofinjana.

     

     

  • Olympic Men’s tennis: Its good bye to energy sapping five setter 

    Olympic men’s singles final will no longer be the usual excruciating five setters beginning from Tokyo 2020, the international tennis federation has confirmed.

    The five -setter has been in operation since 1996 but it appears effort has been made to give players more breathing space with the setters reduced to best of three as opposed to best of five. The reduction puts the men’s finals on the same pedestal with their women counterparts who always have the best of three in all their competitions.

    Andy Murray defeated Juan Martin Del Potro over four grueling sets in the final in Rio three years ago and the eventual finalist in Tokyo will be happy to have the business done within a shorter set.

    The changes were not only effected in the singles match but also in the doubles.

    The men’s and women’s doubles tournaments, meanwhile, will now feature a first-to-10-points tie-break instead of a deciding third set, the same format that has been used for mixed doubles.

    “These amendments reduce concerns of overplay for players who reach the latter stages of all three events singles, doubles and mixed doubles” the international tennis federation (ITF) confirmed.

    In women’s singles at the last Olympics, Serena Williams who hit the event as defending champion after clinching gold at the 2012 edition in London, failed to make it to the finals losing to Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the third round.

    Svitolina did not however maintain the momentum by making it to the final, rather it was unseeded Puerto Rican Monica Puig who  won the gold medal, defeating Germany’s world number two Angelique Kerber in the final, 6–4, 4–6, 6–1. The Tokyo Olympics will take place between 24 July 2020 and 9 August 2020.

    Murray with two Olympic Gold medal won in 2012 and 2016 may be a doubt for the next Olympics in 2020 following recurring complaints over hip pain.

    Murray who hired French woman and former player Amelie Mauresmo as coach in 2014, at some point described himself as a feminist after several leading figures in the game criticised his decision to hire a woman as coach.

    “Have I become a feminist?” Murray wrote in French sport paper L’Equipe. “Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have.” The 31 year old is top among those who believe that both men and women should get the same prize money, an issue that is still far from being implemented.

  • Buhari: Banditry has made me world’s unhappiest leader

    President Muhammadu Buhari says the ordeals of victims of the recent cases of banditry in the country have turned him into one of the unhappiest leaders in the world.

    But he vowed to end the situation as security of lives and property remains a priority of his administration.

    He condoled with the victims of such criminal acts and pledged to do whatever it takes to ensure the country’s security system confronts these public enemies’ with merciless determination.

    “How can I be happy and indifferent to the senseless killings of my fellow citizens by bandits?,” Buhari’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu quoted  him as saying yesterday in a statement.

    He added:”I am human and I understand the pains of the victims and their families who have been traumatized and impoverished by constant ransom demands by bandits.

    “The politicisation of tragedy reveals the darkest sides of our primitive politics. Almost every week, I summon my security chiefs to get an update on the strategies being devised to defeat these mass murderers.

    “There is no issue that dominates my mind every 24 hours like security because, as an elected President, protecting the citizens of my country is one of the primary functions of my administration.

    “I constantly listen to our security personnel in order to understand their problems and needs, and I have never hesitated to attend to those needs in terms of motivating and equipping them to respond effectively to our security challenges.

    “It is therefore ridiculous to suggest that I am indifferent to these killings. I have ordered rapid and robust deployment of troops to all the areas currently under attack from bandits and we are determined to tackle this challenge ferociously until these remorseless killers are crushed and utterly defeated,” the President said.

    President Buhari asked communities where banditry is active to support and cooperate with the security agencies, particularly the recently launched Operation Puff Adder to battle bandits and kidnappers.

    The President said it was regrettable that bandits have informants within some communities and utterly reprehensible that certain communities have signed protection deals with bandits at the expense of other communities, thereby creating complications and frustrating government’s intervention

    He appealed to communities to report suspicious movements of the bandits into their areas within the shortest available opportunity, especially considering the fact that  intelligence is critical to detecting, frustrating, neutralising and defeating the criminals.

  • Senate Presidency: Lawan steps up campaign in states

    Leading candidate for the Senate Presidency, Dr. Ahmad Lawan took his campaign for the post to Borno State yesterday where he met with stakeholders on his agenda for the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

    Simultaneously, all the three Senators-elect from Niger State yesterday pledged their support for his aspiration, 24 hours after a similar endorsement by the three senators elect from Kano State.

    It was gathered that some supporters of the other aspirants for the post – Alhaji Ali Ndume and Alhaji Danjuma Goje – might be willing to push for talks with the Lawan camp with a  view to reaching a compromise in the interest of their  party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sources said Lawan and his group are leaving nothing to chances this time around so that they are not caught napping as they were in 2015

    They are reaching out to as many groups and individuals who may have a say in who leads the 9th Senate.

    The Senator elect from Ekiti South, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has urged the leadership of the APC to open discussions with Ndume and Goje  to assuage their feelings.

    Lawan’s campaign team, The Nation learnt, is concluding talks with a key aspirant from Northeast, a development which may pave the way for a sole candidate for the headship of the legislature.  Discussions were held last week in Abuja and “initial interactions show that in the coming weeks both camps will have cheering news to announce to APC leadership and Senators-elects.”

    A source said an area being ironed out borders on the fact that once the aspirant drops out of the race, he will not be in contention for any principal officer position since both Senators are from the same geo-political zones.

    A source at the meeting said: “In the light of the political reality, he came with a request that he should be given the Chairmanship of Appropriations Committee for the consideration of Senator Lawan and his camp.”

    Lawan’s men, it was learnt, pleaded for time to consult widely on the aspirant’s conditions. To this effect, the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been briefed.

    Lawan is the best choice to lead the 9th Senate – Niger Senators-elect

    In endorsing him  yesterday the three senators elect from Niger State said their decision  followed  due consultations and considerations and in recognition of the supremacy of our Party’s position on the matter.

    Mohammed Sani Musa,  Sabi Abdullahi and  Muhammad Bima Enagi said in a statement in Minna that Lawan has the competence, charisma and integrity to preside over the affairs of the Senate.

    The Senators submitted that the 9th National Assembly needs someone like Lawan’s leadership qualities that will facilitate in making laws for the good governance.

    “His display of honesty, sincerity of purpose, respect for divergent views, loyalty to and believe in party supremacy as well as proven experience in the business of lawmaking makes him the obvious choice for the legislature’s top job”, they said.

    Sani Musa said:”There is no doubt that Senator Lawan has also demonstrated stability, reliability and fidelity towards ensuring sound and people-oriented legislation at the Senate as he demonstrated in the build-up to the 2019 general elections where despite the pressure from the opposition, remained resolute and committed towards promoting the good course of the Senate as the apex law-making organ in the country.

    “It is also worth noting that Distinguished Senator Lawan is one Nigerian who has remained detribalized, bi-partisan and accommodating to varying views as long as they are positive and can add to the growth and wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “He has demonstrated this in his support for legislations sponsored by lawmakers who might not have been in the same political parties with him at the floor of the senate.

    Sabi Abdullahi representing  Niger North Senatorial District said he was optimistic that Lawan would “promote homogeneity of purpose at the 9th Senate and foster unity among distinguished senators as well as other arms of government, in a manner that will add value to good governance in Nigeria.

    “I believe he embodies outstanding qualities that are germane to the success of the 9th Senate and the government as a whole. Therefore, I join my colleagues in endorsing his Senate Presidency ambition.”

    Muhammad Bima Enagi representing Niger South said:” the need for effective, selfless and patriotic leadership at the Senate has become imperative. I believe therefore that our party, the ruling APC decision to endorse Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Presidency of the Senate is a wise and timely decision that has great benefits not only for the party but for the next phase of governance as a whole in the country.”

    Adeyeye wants  APC to discuss with Ndume, Goje, others

    Senator-elect Dayo Adeyeye (Ekiti South), said yesterday that it was important for the APC to dialogue with Ndume  and Goje in the interest of everyone.

    He told reporters in Abuja that the APC should strike a balance between its interest and the feelings of those who might not be favoured in the selection of process.

    “It is a matter of give and take. I think the leadership of the party should do well to assuage the feelings of those who might not have been favoured in the selection process by inviting them and let them see reasons,” he said.

    “The interest of the party is more important than individual interests. When we fight for, and protect the collective interests, individual privileges and interests can still be met”.

    Adeyeye acknowledged the right of Ndume and Goje to aspire to be Senate President since they are members of the APC and more so when the position had been zoned to their geopolitical zone, adding that, “However, I think we can always find compromise”

    He cautioned the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding candidates for the President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate, saying doing so would negate the ethics and norms of parliamentary practice and procedure.

    The first time senator, who was the spokesman for the PDP until December 2018, cited the example of the United States where the Republican Party, with only a slim majority over the Democrats still controls the American parliament.

    “In America as we speak today, the Republicans are in the majority with three or four senators over the Democrats in the Senate and yet nobody in the minority party ever contemplated nominating any of their members to become the leader of majority.

    “Because that will be against the ethics and the norms of parliamentary practice and procedure. After 20 years of democracy, we should start experimentation. By now we should start a proper culture, ethics and norms of the advanced democracy

    “We should be able to do what the public expect should be the outcome of an election. Nigerians have given the APC majority of the seats in the Senate, they therefore expect the APC to control the Senate

    “Nobody should therefore try to subvert the will of the people by trying to play any game or causing any division even among the majority party such that the will of the people, freely expressed at the polls, could be subverted.

    “I do not expect any member of the PDP to come out and contest for leadership positions meant for the party with the majority seats on the day of inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

    “All contestants on that day should be APC members. Since Nigerians deliberately voted for the APC to constitute the majority in the nation’s parliament with about 64 senators, the contest for the leadership positions should be within the APC.

    “The PDP should not interfere in it. The opposition party should not produce any candidate and its members should not contest on that day.

    “That is the practice in the advanced democracies. No minority party plays any game to take over the majority when it did not win the highest number of seats during the general elections.

    “Even if the APC is presenting the three senators to contest for Senate President, I do not expect that the PDP will try to take  advantage of the situation by sponsoring one of its members to contest the position.

    “We don’t want such attitude in the Senate anymore. I think by now, we should have rules and develop proper democratic norms and values that would prevent us from doing what is not expected of us as a party and as members of a party”.

    The senator-elect cautioned APC members contesting for the position of Senate President against picking a member of the opposition PDP as candidate for Deputy Senate President just to leverage on bloc votes expected from PDP senators.

    Read also: Osun Guber: Appeal Court dismisses suit against Adeleke

    “I do not expect a person contesting the seat of Senate President to make a member of the opposition party, his deputy in order to win the election. That would be a total betrayal. I expect that the party with the majority seats should produce the presiding officers and the principal officers meant for the ruling party.

    Meanwhile, a group, the Society for Grassroots Political Participation, has urged adherence to international best practices in deciding the leadership of both the National Assembly.

    The group, in a communiqué after its meeting, said adherence to internationally-recognised best practices would save the country from the sad experience of the outgoing National Assembly.

    The communiqué released in Ibadan and signed by Executive Secretary, Sewaola Johnson, and the External Communication Officer, Musbau Alade, urged senators-elects, Reps-elect and political parties to ensure that “the foundation blocks on which other programme and activities of the legislature are cemented by proven parliamentary experience”.

    It asked political parties to “put forward experience parliamentarians for the leadership of our National Assembly. Being a returning parliamentarian is not enough. Consideration must be accorded past legislative accomplishments of those to lead other distinguished Senators and honourable Representatives.”

     

  • Father, son ‘impregnate’ girl, 13

    A 44-year-old man, Kabiru Oke, and his son, Farouq, 19, have been arrested by the police in Lagos for alleged serial rape and impregnating a teenager.

    The incident occurred at their 1, Oladipupo Street, Egbeda, Lagos home for about four months when the 13-year-old victim lived with her aunt, the man’s wife.

    It was gathered that the girl had reported Oke’s sexual abuse on several occasions to his wife, but she always told her to shut up. Their son joined in the act when he caught his father raping the victim.

    Unable to withstand the defilement, the girl, it was learnt, fled to her mother’s home in Ogun State in January where she was enrolled in a school and her teacher discovered that she was pregnant.

    The Nation gathered that it was when the girl revealed her ordeal in her aunt’s home in Lagos that her mother lodged a complaint at a police station.

    The victim said the sexual assault started last October when her aunt’s husband asked her to fetch water for him.

    “He asked me to fetch water for him to bathe and I did. When I brought the water, he pushed me inside the bathroom and raped me. From then, he was doing it regularly. I told my aunt, but she did not do anything.

    “The man continued doing it since his wife did not take action. Then, in January, Farouq started his own. He caught his father having sex with me and then, he started doing it. The man was sleeping with me and Farouq was doing it too,” the girl told the Child Protection Network’s (CPN’s) Precious Ndukwu.

    Confirming the arrest of the suspects, police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the case was reported at the Gender Unit by the child’s mother on March 27, adding that the defilement by Oke began on October 20 last year.

    He said: “The second suspect, being the son of the first suspect, started having unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor on January 10. The suspects threatened to kill the victim if she ever told anybody about the defilement.

    “The victim exposed them when her mother suspected changes in her and discovered that she is pregnant. She was taken to the Mirabel Centre by the Gender Unit for medical examination.

    “The suspects were arrested and arraigned at Magistrates’ Court 2, Ogba for defilement. The case has been adjourned till May 13. The suspects were remanded at the Kirikiri prison.”

    Elkana also confirmed the arrest of 45-year-old Marainerume Alfred, a resident of Oke Itunu Church Close, Ejigbo, Lagos, for alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl.

    Read Also: Our father raped us for years, say daughters

    “The matter was reported to our Gender Unit by the victim’s mother. The complainant said they lived in the same street with the suspect. That the suspect usually called the victim into his shop while returning from school, along Iyana Ejigbo Road to have unlawful sexual intercourse with her.”

    Elkana alleged that Alfred started committing the crime last May until he was caught on March 27.

    He said the suspect admitted committing the crime, adding that it started after he divorced his wife.

    “The matter was discovered on March 27, at about 2pm, by the victim’s grandmother, who perceived odour from her when she returned home and subjected her to questioning. The girl opened up to her grandmother and narrated the whole story.

    “She said the suspect threatened her that she would die if she disclosed the affair to anybody. She said the suspect usually gave her some drugs to take, adding that he always mixed salt and water for her to drink after sex, to prevent her from getting pregnant. Investigation is on. The suspect will be charged to court for defilement,” Elkana said.

    He said the police are on the trail of a 27-year-old Islamic cleric, who allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl with disability inside a mosque at Ilasamaja, Lagos.

    The Imam of the mosque and other clerics were arrested after the suspect allegedly fled when the incident became known.

  • End killings, kidnapping in Zamfara now, protesters urge Buhari

    Abuja-based natives of  Zamfara State yesterday embarked on a peaceful protest to the Presidential Villa in the FCT, calling for an immediate end to the current wave of killings and kidnappings in the state.

    The protesters said state of insecurity has resulted in apprehension, displacements of communities and loss of lives.

    The convener of the protest, Miss Fatimah Mustapha said that their action was to call attention of government to the gruesome killings and cases of kidnappings going at home.

    According to her, perpetrators of these evil acts are getting bolder day by day with little action taken by the authorities to arrest the situation and stop the act.

    She alleged that the government of Zamfara was not doing anything to arrest the situation hence the protest in the nation’s capital, Abuja, the seat of government.

    Also, Ms Kadaria Ahmed, a journalist, who participated in the protest, urged the President to direct security personnel to rise to the situation.

    “We have the challenge of security situation all over the country, but that of Zamfara is clearly bad. We are tired of mass burial and that is why we are calling on PMB to intervene.

    “Nobody is talking of these killings now among our leaders, and this is apparently disgusting. This issue involves lives and people deserve to be safe wherever they live in this country,’’ she said.

    Mr Zaharuddeen Bello-Imam, a former Director General on Social Media to Gov. Abdullaziz Yari of Zamfara, said the Federal Government should take decisive action against the kidnappers and bandits operating in the state.

    According to him, there is need for total overhaul of the security apparatus of the state to control the situation before the killing and kidnapping get out of hand.

    Another protester, Mr Aliyu Dansado, said the killings and kidnapping had affected farming activities in the state, adding that he was unable to go to his farms for some time because of fear.

    “Government should rise up to action to end the killing and kidnapping, we have been paying ransom to kidnappers for the past five years now, people are killed on daily basis, government needs to do something now,’’ he said.

    The protesters marched from the Unity Fountain, Maitama Abuja to the Presidential Villa where they presented their letter for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking to the protesters, Mr Usman Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the President on Security, promised to convey their message to the President.

  • Oba Hamzat: Sanwo-Olu should fix potholes, refuse disposal

    Elder statesman Oba Olatunji Hamzat on Saturday spoke on the challenges that will confront the incoming Sanwolu-led administration in Lagos State.

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Advisory Council (GAC) leader and Olu of Afowowa Sogade in Ogun State said Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team must fill the potholes on Lagos roads and ensure a clean environment.

    He emphasised that bad roads and refusal disposal should be in the government’s priority list.

    The eminent politician also reflected on politics and governance, urging the political parties to return to the culture of ideology.

    Oba Hamzat decried the evil of monetisation of politics, the collapse of party supremacy and discipline and lack of tolerance and patience among young politicians.

    The father of Deputy Governor-elect Dr. Obafemi Hamzat spoke on the state of the nation shortly after receiving a Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Public Leadership from the European-American University.

    The event, which held at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka, was coordinated by a representative of the European-American University, Prof Simeon and Dr. Josephine Ebuta.

    The university management explained that Oba Hamzat merited the honour as an outstanding politician who had served as party officer at ward level, legislator, commissioner and party leader at the national level.

    Oba Hamzat was accompanied by his son, Obafemi Hamzat; Chief Busura Alebiosu, Chief Rabiu Oluwa, Oyinlomo Danmole, Kunle Jeje, Emmanuel Bamigboye, Dr. Adesola Taiwo and Caleb Akinbolade.

    The traditional ruler said the gridlock in Lagos was mainly caused by potholes on major roads, urging the incoming administration to rise to the challenge of fixing them.

    Oba Hamzat said: “The first thing is the pot holes on our streets and major roads, which I think is the major factor for traffic jam or gridlock.

    “Every nook and cranny where you have roads in Lagos is full with potholes, they must first face that.

    “The second is refuse disposal. The roads are littered with refuse here and there, they must face those two challenges simultaneously so that the residents of Lagos will appreciate them.”

    Read also: Lawmaker to Sanwo-Olu: consult widely before forming cabinet

    Lamenting the eclipse of the politics of ideology as practiced by political parties during the First and Second republics, he said modern political parties had jettisoned their core ideas and principles.

    He stressed: “It is the party themselves that have completely abandoned ideology, which they stand for.

    “Discipline is no more, they do not even award merit for those who worked. For us to return to sound party ideology we have to return to restructuring the political parties themselves to follow the part of discipline and merit in whatever they do.

    “There are people who worked very hard for the party but at the moment, politics to me is being monetised and it may not allow us to get good candidates because in a situation where you want to run for the governorship of a state and you are looking for N20bn, where will you get it from?

    “Even the habit of expecting money from politicians before they vote is a dangerous situation.

    “Unless we try to change it, things may not work well. I think we should begin to think of voting for merit and not necessarily money.”

  • Oyo to enact law regulating grazing

    Baring last minute change, Oyo state government will before the end of the outgoing tenure sign into law, a bill that will forestall the age-long clashes between herders and farmers in different parts of the state.

    Assuring that the law would be passed before April 30, the state government said its effort at ensuring peace between the duo of farmers and herders through a regular stakeholders meeting is yielding positive result.

    The government spoke through the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Community Relations, Mr Abidemi Siyanbade during a stakeholders meeting organised by the state Police Command at its Eleyele, Ibadan, headquarters as parts of the Command’s efforts at facilitating peaceful deliberations between farmers and herders in the state.

    Siyanbade said “The government has made a lot of progress in dousing the incessant conflict between the farmers and herders in this state.

    “And before the end of this month, grazing control bill to address the issues between farmers and herders will be passed by the house of assembly. We will also ensure that the peace committee meeting at the local government levels will be revived.”

    “The grazing control law will address how cattle can be brought into the state and how herders will register. We will no longer allow cows to  move into the state on the feet or roaming but through vehicles and truck.

    “Local herders are not the problem, but the major and the imminent problem is with immigrant herders. We are very sure that once this law is passed, all these issues arising from farm invasions, cattle rustling and attack on either farmers and herders will all be laid to rest.”

    The state Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu in his welcome remark identified certain issues that had contributed to the crisis to include, mutual suspicion between farmers and herders, impatience, the roles of mischief makers among others.

    However, the State Chairman, All farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Adeniji Moses lamented that the bill has been promised since 2016 and nothing has been done about it.

    He assured that the promised legislation had remained the only hope of a lasting solution on the issue of recurring crisis between the farmers and the herders.

    The state chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Yakubu Bello commended the Oyo state police for organising stakeholders’ meeting, noting that the bane of the problem had been the impatience on the part of both parties anytime issues arises.

  • Presidency: No deal with Onnoghen over resignation

    •Prosecutors meet on final address to present to CCT

    There is no deal between the Presidency and embattled Justice Walter Onnoghen on his exit as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),The Nation learnt last night.

    Onnoghen who had been on suspension since January 25 following allegations  of corruption against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), turned in his letter of resignation on Thursday.

    Then followed speculations that he had reached an agreement with the Presidency for the purpose of giving him a soft landing after the National Judicial Commission (NJC) recommended that he should be compulsorily retired.

    However, highly placed Presidency sources said yesterday that at no time was a deal reached between the seat of power and Onnoghen or his representatives on how he should leave office.

    Sources said his ongoing trial for non-declaration of assets would run its course.

    There was anxiety yesterday over his fate at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which is handling the case.

    Some forces in government are said to be pushing that the trial should go on, some members of the bench and the bar are in support of the NJC decision that Onnoghen be retired.

    A top source in CCT said the tribunal will go ahead with its sitting on April 15 unless there is a notice of discontinuance of the trial from the prosecutors.

    The tribunal has given the Onnoghen’s lawyers up till Tuesday (April 9) to file their final address.

    The prosecutors have an April 11 deadline to submit their final address.

    The prosecutors were locked in a marathon session yesterday to prepare their final address.

    According to the tribunal, all addresses will be adopted on April 15 by the two parties.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The fate of Onnoghen is still dicey. It is unclear whether or not the Presidency will see through the conclusion of his trial by the CCT.

    “There are also some alleged infractions which were investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We do not know if he will face trial or not on these.

    “While some in government and rights groups have been calling for his trial, some members of the bench and the bar are trying to lobby the Presidency to adopt the soft-landing window provided by the NJC.

    “President Buhari is awaiting the legal opinion he commissioned on NJC’s report and he might unfold his position when he returns from Jordan.”

    Another highly-placed source said of Onnoghen:

    *Isn’t his retirement notice or resignation an afterthought?

    * Does retirement amount to acquittal of any offence?

    * If he wanted retirement, why did he allow this case to the extent of attracting political propaganda against the government?

    * Why would NJC recommend retirement with full benefits without deterrence for Onnoghen?

    * Shouldn’t the outgoing CJN forfeit suspicious funds in his accounts, especially monies outside his salaries, investment and official allowances?

    *Will it not amount to double standards to slap Onnoghen on the wrist while other Nigerians go to jail for lesser offences?

    * Will a political pardon for Onnoghen put an end to the Cold War between the Executive and the Judiciary?

    *Won’t any pardon for the outgoing CJN mess up the anti-corruption agenda of Buhari?

    The source added: “There are many salient points surrounding this Onnoghegate. The outgoing CJN said he decided to retire or resign to save the Judiciary.

    “By the time the legal advice is out and digested by the President, we will know where we are going.

    “Even in the Presidency, we know that Onnoghen’s retirement or resignation has made the case at hand to be interwoven.”

    Sources at the CCT said: “We have not received any notice of the discontinuance of the trial of the CJN. We do not know whether or not the prosecutors will file any application next week.

    “Going by our schedule, the trial continues. The CCT has directed Onnoghen’s lawyers to submit their final address on Tuesday (April 9) and the prosecutors will take their turn on April 11.

    “All parties are to appear before the tribunal on April 15 for the adoption of their addresses. But if the government chooses to withdraw the charges against Onnoghen on April 15, the tribunal has no case than to strike out the matter.”

    It was gathered that the federal government prosecutors met yesterday to compile their final address.

    A source in the prosecuting team said: “We have not got any directive from the government that we should either stay action or discontinue the trial of Onnoghen.

    “We are holding a session to wrap up our final address and meet the timeline set by the CCT.”

     

  • Osun Guber: Appeal Court dismisses suit against Adeleke

    The Akure division of the Court of Appeal yesterday said the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was eligible to contest the election.

    The Appeal Court in its ruling dismissed an appeal against the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo which had earlier confirmed the eligibility of Adeleke to contest the governorship election.

    The Appeal court sitting in Akure,the Ondo state capital in its ruling dismissed the appeal on three grounds, affirming the judgment of the lower court that confirmed the eligibility of Adeleke. The first ground was that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

    The second was that the petitioner; one Kingsley Awosiyan from Ife Central,  has no locus standi to file the case and third was that the matter was brought to court outside the stipulated 14 days after the conduct of the governorship primary election.

    Read also: We didn’t see Adeleke in exam hall, NECO supervisors tell court

    Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Adeleke, Nathaniel Oke said the latest judgment has knocked out the judgment of an Abuja High Court and rendered its conclusion ineffective, null and void with no effect on the candidacy of the PDP candidate for the September 2018 gubernatorial election.

    He said the Abuja High court judgment had contradicted the Osogbo High court verdict by rejecting testimonies of WAEC, an examination body which in a sworn affidavit confirmed that Ademola Adeleke sat for its examination with attached results.