COMMENTARY




THE FACT FILE BEHIND SERAH ALADE, OFFA BORN AG. CBN GOVERNOR


S
arah Alade was the acting governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria during the suspension of Lamido Sanusi until his tenure ended. She was appointed to the post by President Goodluck Jonathan on 20 February 2014.

 Alade was appointed acting governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 20 February 2014 until the appointment of Godwin Emefiele

Prior to this time, she had served as deputy governor (Economic Policy), Central Bank of Nigeria from 26 March 2007.

LIFE

Alade attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, where she obtained a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Economics in 1976. She also obtained an M.Comm degree at the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1983 and a PhD Management Science (Operations Research), from the University of Ilorin in 1991. 

Alade commenced her working career in 1977 with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ilorin, Kwara State. 

In 1991, she joined the University of Ilorin as a lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance.     

She joined the Central Bank of Nigeria in 1993 as an assistant director in the Research Department, where she served as head of the State Government Finance Office (1993–96), head of the Federal Government Finance Office (1996–2000) and head of the Fiscal Analysis Division (2000–04).

Alade has served on the teams on major economic policy studies, and has been involved in the preparation of Central Bank of Nigeria’s monetary and credit policy proposals over the years. She was actively involved in the drafting of the Medium Term Economic Programme (MTP) for Nigeria and the IMF staff Monitored Programme/Standby Arrangement.
Alade was present as deputy governor when it was announced that five Nigerian bank CEOs were being dismissed on 13 August 2009. Five replacements were named by the Central Bank of Nigeria with immediate effect including Olufunke Iyabo Osibodu to lead the Union Bank of Nigeria and Suzanne Iroche who took over as CEO of FinBank

Alade was appointed director of the Banking Operations Department in May 2004. In that capacity, she served as chairman of the board of directors of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) as well as secretary of the National Payments System Committee (NPSC).

Alade was a member of the technical committee of the Vision 2010 and currently a member of the technical committee of Vision 2020 and member of the National Economic Management Team (EMT).

As deputy governor of Economic Policy, Alade superintends over the Economic Policy Directorate, comprising the Research, Monetary Policy, Trade and Exchange, Statistics Departments and Financial Markets Department. As chair of the Monetary Policy Implementation Committee (MPIC), she interfaces with operational departments and coordinates technical inputs for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). 

Alade, who is a member of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), has several publications to her credit and is currently carrying out research into interest rate policy and monetary policy implementation in Nigeria. Alade is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Operational Research.

Alade served as acting governor from February 2014 until Godwin Emefiele took over.




I WANT TO GO TO LONDON… TO SEE BUHARI BY REUBEN ABATI


When 15 million plus Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 General elections, their expectation was that he would be available to serve them 24/7/365, and that those who fielded him as their candidate had done their home work to avoid what is curiously becoming the Katsina problem in Nigerian politics. Katsina! But we have now found ourselves in a situation whereby our President is now in London, for more than one month sir, ma, and we are here, and we have an acting President, who according to everybody, including the extremists and the mischievous, and the politically partisan, is beginning to try his best, with his admirers, now praying for the worst. For that reason alone, we have an emotionally, politically and spiritually divided country on our hands. Don’t mind what they tell you, and don’t deceive yourself, the Nigerian Presidency is in turmoil. It is not our wish. It is not what the voters asked for. But that is how democracy works. You cannot predict the results that democracy produces. Not even in America. Or Russia.

Now that we have found ourselves in this situation, anyway – an absentee President trying to remain relevant and an acting President struggling to put up appearances, and struggling harder not to be seen to be ambitious (sorry, Prof. I was your student but I have something to say sir, I don’t mean any harm – truth be told), where should the Nigerian people stand? For the past one month, we have all been trapped in a post-truth situation, pretending as if all is normal. We should stop pretending. Those who supported and are supporting the APC that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power and office cannot talk. They cannot talk due to embarrassment and shame. They are busy putting up a face. But for how long can they do this? The Nigerian media is also on its knees, looking so pitiable, with the exception of a few blogs, newspapers that we can’t even trust, professional media consultants who are in disarray, a few bloggers and then some gentlemen: Pa Ikhide, Farooq Kperogi, Sonala Olumhense, Omoyele Sowore, Pius Adesanmi and Okey Ndibe who have since been specially illuminated as they journeyed to Damascus.

I will return to this subject some other day. But I think right now, we should begin to take the subject of the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari more seriously. Bukola Saraki, our Senate President has visited him in London, twice, within two weeks. I don’t think we should leave this business of visiting the President to party chieftains, the executive and the Federal Legislature. If care is not taken, Senator Saraki may be tempted to visit the President again next week. And the week after and he may even be tempted to travel with all the members of the National Assembly. There must be equity in this matter. Figure it out as follows: we all know that President Buhari is now in London and he is the man Nigerians chose as their President in 2015. We cannot forsake him. He is in London on working leave, for more than one month now, and we don’t know when that leave will end. We have been told it will end soon. Later. One day. Whenever. We are not God. Let the leave end when it will. But we, the people, have a duty to stand by our President. 

This is the point of this article. We are Africans. We have traditions. We respect elders. We don’t joke with old age. The time has come, right now, for Nigerians to behave like Africans. We should therefore, not leave this business of visiting to Senator Busola Saraki alone. Party chieftains have visited Mr. President. The leadership of the National Assembly has also gone to London to be part of President Buhari’s working leave. I think Vice-President-Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo should also visit his boss, this week, next week, or ASAP. Henceforth, he should be in London at least once a week. Let us stop pretending that the President is not in charge. He is. If Aso Villa is now in London, let us make it work. The Acting President and the real President need quality face time. If the acting President must go to London everyday, let him do so, but don’t let us run Nigeria by telephone or DHL. Am I making sense? I am not talking about common sense. I mean real sense. So, do I make any sense at all? After the Acting President’s visit, all former Presidents should also start going to London to see the President. Those former Presidents are not as harmless as they pretend to be. They are projected to the public as advisers but they are more than that: they all left something in Aso Villa that makes them eternally powerful. It is like leaving your DNA in a woman’s body. They should be allowed or perhaps encouraged to visit President Buhari while he is on working leave. I think our Baba in Abeokuta, Ota and Ibogun should be the first to visit. That may negate the order of seniority, but trust the Ebora Owu to return from London with front-page news! After him, the others can start visiting and probably advise on the possibility of holding a Council of State meeting in London. As it were, the Nigerian Constitution does not insist that the Council of State Meeting must be held inside Nigeria. The main subject of that first historic, diaspora, Council of State Meeting should be phrased by OBJ in his own unique way: “Momodu: are you well or sick?” There is something called the separation of powers. I don’t want to disrespect mi’lords but I think they too should go to London. The National Judicial Council (NJC) should put together a high-powered delegation of judges from every part of the country, from all divisions, and level, to proceed post-haste to London to visit, no, to confer with President Buhari on matters of judicial interest to the nation. But Sirs, don’t go there and talk about the welfare of judges, or the non-payment of your entitlements – if you try that, well, I won’t be in a position to tell you what awaits you on your return. You know mi’lords, as well as I do, that the law in Nigeria is now being made to look truly like an ass! After the judges, okay may be the Nigerian Bar Association should also send a delegation, but I don’t trust many of our lawyers. They think they know the law, and they could go to London and say things that will disrupt the President’s working leave. To make that impossible, members of the NBA should be booked on an Arik flight to London, please. But if they get there, fine. The next delegation should be that of Permanent Secretaries. These ones should spend more than a week in London with the President. In fact, they can stay with him till he returns. If they also have medical issues, they should use the opportunity to ask for tests, with the condition that they must return immediately the President leaves London, notwithstanding the status of their own medical tests! 

Once the Permanent Secretaries have been fully accommodated in London, the Ministers, those who were once dismissed by their own employer as “noise-makers”, and who have proven to be no better, should also visit London. They can go ahead and make as much noise as they wish in London and even enjoy the benefit of a full Federal Executive Council Meeting. I suspect that this will be a particularly productive FEC meeting. If the people in the Foreign Affairs Ministry know what they are doing, however, they would arrange ahead of that meeting in London, a special meeting with Theresa May, Prime Minister of Great Britain, followed by a dinner with Her Majesty the Queen of England, with a proviso, please, please, please, that nobody should bring up the issue of Biafra or Southern Kaduna after shaking the Queen’s hand, and there should be a strict guarantee that President Buhari will be accompanied by his extremely beautiful wife, Aisha, and he will not, meeting the Queen, no matter how excited, make the mistake of referring to “za oza room”. Stop laughing, my friend; this is how you people cause problems for innocent writers. What I am now trying to add having made all these points above, is that the Governors’ Forum should also visit President Buhari in London. The Governors have already signified their intention to do so and that seems to be fine with the Nigerian public. The Governors should therefore appoint representatives who should proceed to London. When they meet with the President, they should hold a special prayer session with three prayer points: one, that President Buhari will not work for another person to come and eat; two: that the demons of Aso Rock will spare and forgive him and his family; three: that President Buhari will return to Nigeria with his two feet. The Governor to lead the prayer should be Peter Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State. If he starts sounding as he has been sounding in recent times, Nasir el-Rufai should be asked to take the microphone from him. And if Nasir sounds like he is playing politics, as he has been doing, Adams Oshiomhole who will like to be there anyway, as a Governor ex-officio, should be given the microphone and asked to pray for the President as best as he can or as best as Trotsky could. I have left out some people. In the past month, some Imams and ulamas and concerned relatives have been reported in the media, holding prayer sessions for a hale and hearty President who is just in London to enjoy the weather and do some quality check-ups, private and public. These prayer warriors have prayed and prayed in Abuja, Daura, Borno and everywhere else. The matter is so serious that nobody should be surprised if Rochas Okorocha or James Ibori organizes a prayer session for Muhammadu Buhari. This is the biggest business in Nigeria at this moment. I think, therefore, that we should also encourage the ulamas and the imams to visit. Let them go to London and pray for their President. We have been told they have been sending prayers through skype, whatsapp and the air, the same channels that GSM service providers in Nigeria now want to block. Let the imams go to London then and let the verses of the Holy Quoran rain down. It will be unfair not to allow Christian leaders to go to London too. They are also anxious to go to London. Pastor Tunde Bakare, my beloved, secondary school senior should lead that team. His job should be to screen out any Pastor with Biafra, or Southern Kaduna or pro-PDP blood in him or her. I mean Pastors like Reno Omokri, Ebun Adegboruwa…. you get what I am saying? The prayer should be commissioned!




IS YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION REAL AND COGENT?

OLUWATOBI OLADIPUPO


H
appy new year! Thank God for his mercy and grace to witness the beginning of another year.

 I want you to know that the first day in the year marks the beginning of another 365/366 days journey as the case may be. It is good to celebrate new year but what are your plans for the year, or do you want to spend the year the way you spent the last one?

In the beginning of every year, people list out what they want to do or leave in the year. But it's surprising that most of them found themselves doing what they determined not to do. 

I want you to know that things that have become part and parcel of you cannot leave you in a day. It is a matter of process till you eradicate it. 

Have this on your mind that, you can only leave a particular behavior or character if:

* You willingly want to leave it without anyone forcing you.

* You back it up with prayer (spiritual controls the physical)

* You try to avoid friends/environment that can take you back to your old ways.

On the other hand, list out your plans for the new year, God has deposited something great in you which will benefit others. 

Think on how to implement those plans and ideas, because idea without implementation is useless. 

Many people have solutions to the problem of their societies but lack power to implement them. My dear if you are confused about bringing your thought to reality, meet people with more understanding to put you through. Let people benefit from your knowledge this year.

I know this year will be awesome and wonderful when you add valuable things to your life and leave things that will bring shame to you.

Ruminate on this, keep it as treasure in a cool, dry and secure place in your heart.
God bless.
Written and produced by:  Oluwatobi Oladipupo
SUPER-LIGHT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (SICON)             

(Super-light Presenter)
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A
 Nigerian police unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) set up to combat violent crime has instead been systematically torturing detainees in its custody as a means of extracting confessions and lucrative bribes, Amnesty International said in a report published on Wednesday.


In Nigeria, you have signed your death warrant, former detainees told Amnesty International as they had been subjected to horrific torture methods, including hanging, starvation, beatings, shootings and mock executions, at the hands of corrupt officers from the feared SARS.

“A police unit created to protect the people has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity while fomenting a toxic climate of fear and corruption,” said Damian Ugwu, Amnesty International’s Nigeria researcher.

“Our research has uncovered a pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released.”

Amnesty International has received reports from lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists and collected testimonies stating that some police officers in SARS regularly demand bribes, steal and extort money from criminal suspects and their families.

“SARS officers are getting rich through their brutality. In Nigeria, it seems that torture is a lucrative business,” said Damian Ugwu.

SARS detainees are held in a variety of locations, including a grim detention centre in Abuja known as the ‘Abattoir’, where Amnesty International found 130 detainees living in overcrowded cells.

Amnesty International’s research shows that, in addition to its stated remit of tackling violent crime, SARS investigates civil matters and in some cases tortures detainees involved in contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes.

In one case in Onitsha, Anambra state, a 25-year-old fuel attendant was arrested by SARS after his employer had accused him of being responsible for a burglary at their business premises.

He told Amnesty International: “The policemen asked me to sign a plain sheet. When I signed it, they told me I have signed my death warrant. They left me hanging on a suspended iron rod. My body ceased to function. I lost consciousness. When I was about to die they took me down and poured water on me to revive me.”

Like many people detained by SARS, he was not allowed access to a lawyer, a doctor or his family during his two-week detention.

Yet in various cases where victims of police torture or other ill-treatment attempted to seek justice, the authorities took no action.
When asked by Amnesty International to explain why no police officers had been suspended or prosecuted for torture, the police simply denied that any torture had taken place.

However, one senior officer disclosed that around 40 officers alleged to have carried out various acts of torture and ill-treatment of detainees were transferred to other stations in April 2016. He did not say whether the claims against them were being investigated.

“This lack of accountability breeds and perpetuates impunity, creating an environment where SARS officers believe they have carte blanche to carry out acts of torture,” said Damian Ugwu.

“This is hardly surprising when many of these officers have bribed their way to SARS in the first place. The police chiefs in charge are themselves entwined in the corruption.”

Chidi Oluchi, 32, told Amnesty international he was arrested in Enugu before being robbed of his belongings and then tortured in custody by SARS officers.
“They told me to slap myself and, when I refused, they started beating me with the side of their machetes and heavy sticks. My mouth was bleeding and my vision became blurred,” said Chidi, who was released after he paid SARS officers N25,500 ($100) to be freed.

Apart from demanding bribes, SARS officers have been accused of stealing or confiscating property from relatives of detained suspects.

Some family members told Amnesty International that SARS officers stole their cars or withdrew all the money from their bank accounts.

The brother of a man arrested on suspicion of participating in an armed robbery told Amnesty International how a team of SARS officers raided his home in Nsukka.

“The police team from SARS forcefully broke into boxes, locked furniture and drawers. By the time they left, several items including watches, jewellery and shoes were missing. We were too scared to report the incident,” he said.

The majority of the victims of torture in SARS custody are poor and unable to hire legal representatives. In some cases when detainees cannot afford to pay bribes, they are simply tortured more.

“Our research has exposed the callous workings of a police squad operating outside of the law and inflicting daily brutality on Nigerians who are often legally powerless to defend themselves against criminal accusations, let alone from the torture meted out by SARS,” said Damian Ugwu.

“Depressingly, there are scant judicial or any other mechanisms in place to prevent SARS officers from subjecting vulnerable targets to human rights violations for their own financial gain.”

Despite repeated calls from Amnesty International in recent years, the Nigerian justice system has failed to prevent or punish torture.

In December 2014, the Nigerian police launched a human rights manual which prohibits torture and other ill-treatment of detainees, but SARS has failed to implement it.

When a new Inspector General of Police was appointed in early 2015 it was announced that there would be reform and reorganization of SARS, but officers attached to the unit told Amnesty International they were not aware of the reforms.

A revised version of a bill to criminalize torture, which was first introduced in 2012 but was returned unsigned by the President, was passed by the House of Representatives in June 2016 and will be resubmitted to the Senate for further debates in 2016.

“With the Nigerian government’s previous attempts at stamping out torture proving completely ineffective, it is time for the authorities to ensure that officers responsible for such human rights violations are finally held accountable,” said Damian Ugwu.

“Police torture is a stain on Nigerian society that must be addressed with clear orders to law enforcement officers not to inflict torture or other ill-treatment on detainees under any circumstances.

“There is also an urgent need for robust legislation that ensures all acts of torture are offences under Nigeria’s criminal law. All victims have a right to reparations, and steps must be taken to ensure that nobody profits from abusing detainees.”

Nigeria is obligated under international and regional human rights law to ensure the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment.
-Kazeem Ugbodaga.Read more




THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN UNNOTICED PROBITY MTN PRINCE IN IGBOMINA LAND

Thursday, 1st September, 2016



 
I
n the first half of 1970’s, a Prince called MADANDOLA TAJUDEEN NIYI (MTN), was born to the royal family of Late Oba Awoyinka and Late Oba Yusuf Madandola (son of Awoyinka) of Akomojemu lineage of Odo-Ijara Compound, Ijara-Isin, in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, through his darling parents Alhaji S.I. Madandola & Mrs Rodiat Madandola. 

He started his primary school at Ansarul Islam Primary School, Ijomu-Oro, later to Muslim Community Primary School, Oro and obtained his First School Leaving School certificate at S.D.A. Primary School, Omu-Aran in 1987, all in Kwara State, as Time keeper prefect due to his time consciousness.

In his secondary school days at Ogbo Grammar School, Omu-Aran, Kwara State,  he was made the Library prefect because of his academic outstanding among his mates. 

He was admitted to study OND Computer Science in 1995 and later in 1998 for his HND, both in Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He was posted to Xcel International Limited, Warri, Delta State for his NYSC in June 2000.  The Prince as he his foundly called, further his education carrier to University of Ilorin in 2001, to bag Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science (PGDC) and to University of Ado-Ekiti in 2004, to bag Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in 2007. He obtained Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Computer Science from LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Oyo State in 2012.



In his bid to acquire new knowledge after his Master he went to Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State for bridge programme to obtain first degree(Bsc) in Computer and Information System, he bagged it in 2013. He is presently PhD student at Kwara State University, Malete Kwara State. 

During his studentship at KWAPOLY, he held several posts under Igbomina Students Union and received several merit certificates.   

Prince Madandola joined Kwara State College of Education, Oro workforce on 2nd February, 2004 and was posted to Computer Science Department and he had held several post in the department, among them are: Department Students’ Adviser, Department Exam officer, Seminar Coordinator and Head of the Department. He is also the Coordinator of Department of Computer Science, Ekiti State University in Affiliation with KWCOED, Oro. He has served and still serving under several committees in the college. 

Madandola T.N. (M.T.N) is a discipline, time conscious, brilliant, Trustworthy and hardworking Nigerian due to the listed characteristics, he is the: Patron for Departmental Presidents Association(DEPPA) KWCOED ORO, Patron for Kwara South Students Forum KWCOED ORO, Patron for KWCOED ORO CAMPUS Press, to mention a few.
To the glory of God he is among the two that re-established and amalgamated all KWCOED ORO Igbomina Students to form IGBOMINA STUDENTS UNION and he is currently the adviser of the Union. 

Prince has bagged many honours and distinction among them are:
1.      Igbomina Students Union (ISU), KWCOED, Oro MERITORIOUS AWARD

2.      MAN O’WAR NIGERIA, KWCOED, Oro MERIT AWARD

3.      Office of the Chief Imam, Oro PRIDE OF ISIN LAND @ 15th Year Anniversary of Chief Imam.  

4.      Member of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union


He is a member of the following Professional bodies:
·        Nigeria Computer Society
·        Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria
·        Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union
·        Science Teachers Association of Nigeria
·        Mathematical Association of Nigeria












He is married to a God fearing, beautiful and supportive woman (Hajia Monsurat Bukola) and blessed with precious children.


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