Many pupils of Saviour’s Primary School, Igbeleyi-Alakuko, a suburb of Lagos, were on Thursday seen seated on the floor as their teachers taught them during school hours.

A fight had broken out between two of the pupils on Tuesday, which left one of them with an injured lip that had to be sutured at a nearby hospital.

The fight allegedly resulted from the insufficient furniture in the school, which the affected pupils struggled to use.

Many pupils in Primary four, Primary five and Primary six in the school were seen sitting on the floor due to insufficient furniture in their classrooms.

The problem was more pronounced in the classrooms of Primary six pupils, where in the three arms with over 100 pupils, only 17 chairs and desks were seen.

Some teachers at the school, who did not want their names published for fear of victimisation by the authorities, said that the situation had been the same for some time, despite repeated appeals made to the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for help.

Kemi Lawal, the Chairman, School Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the school, said that the situation was very bad as many pupils in the school sat on the floor to receive lessons.

She said that SBMC had also appealed to parents to contribute money, so that the problem could be addressed, but that this had yielded no positive result.

“We levied all parents last term – during a parents’ forum – that they pay N200 each to assist us construct chairs and desks; but they are not responding,” she said. “We are pleading with SUBEB and the state government to provide furniture in the school.”

When contacted, Gbolahan Daodu, the Executive Chairman, SUBEB, said that government was aware of the problem, and that effort was being intensified to address it. “We are taking care of various furniture requests in our schools,” she said.

Various activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, general elections in which presidential aspirant, Moshood Abiola, appeared to be leading at the polls, have commenced. Nigerian Telegraph is in possession of the transcript of the last interview granted by the late statesman.

Excerpts:

BBC: What is happening in your house? Are you being arrested?
MKO: I am being arrested. I am just going out now with the police (MKO and supporters are singing the national anthem)…Hello­. There is a large crowd here. I am being escorted out to detention by singing the national anthem.

BBC: Why are they arresting you?
MKO: They are arresting me on an allegation of felony—namely treason or something like that. They are not doing anything, they are just taking me away. Please let me go, you know I am delaying them (police).

BBC: And so where are you? Are you in your car?
MKO: I am in my car now.

BBC: Is it police who are with you in your car or are they escorting you?
MKO: The commissioner of police is in the car with me and my senior wife (Kudirat) is in the car with me

BBC: Why are they letting you talk on the phone to the BBC while they are in the middle of arresting you?
MKO: They have come to arrest me, not to arrest my mouth! (laughs).

BBC: You sound very cheerful about it Chief Abiola?
MKO: Of course (laughing). It is all part of democracy here.

BBC: And you are happy to go to the police and await whatever charges they are going to file against you?
MKO: I am not in any way disturbed by it. Any sacrifice is in order. If it will bring democracy, peace and posterity to Nigeria.*

BBC: Is it possible to speak to the commissioner of police who is with you in the car?
MKO: I don’t know if the commissioner of police is authorised to talk; he cannot talk to the press.

BBC: What is your advice now to your supporters? Many of them we heard a moment ago?

MKO: I told them before I left home to just stay calm. It is very, very, important that they stay calm.

BBC: So you are appealing for calm? You don’t want them to take any direct action in your support?
MKO: NO, NO, NO, NO.

BBC: You still say you are the President of Nigeria; but it is not much good if you are going to be in jail?
MKO: Well……, Mandela was in jail for 27 years; Kenyatta was in jail. I suppose that is one of the qualifications you need in this part of the world. Don’t worry yourself my friend.

Editor’s note: MKO Abiola was never seen in public again.

In an attempt to salvage the reputation of the Nigeria Premier League, the Federal Government says it has concluded plans to deal with match-fixing by setting up a special squad within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Reports of referees being bribed to favour home teams is a recurring complaint in the Nigerian domestic league, where the percentage of home wins is as high as 90.

Last season, Kano Pillars won the League title on the back of just one away victory, and that only on the final day of the season when the League title had been secured.

In 2012, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) slammed a total sum of N30 million fine on Dolphins FC (10 million) and Sunshine Stars (N20 million) for an alleged involvement in match-fixing.

Dolphins’ manager Stanley Eguma, an assistant referee and one Divine Benjamin were given various degrees of punishment by the football body.

In 2009, Zamfara United - a club which was on the verge of relegation after a poor run the entire season – spanked Kaduna United 9-0 on the final day to claim a stay in the Premier League. The win pushed Akwa United, which finished on 48 points but thanks to the 9-0 spanking of Kaduna United fell short on goal difference, to the lower league.

Interestingly, Akwa United gained promotion to the NPL in 2007 after a well executed 13-0 victory over Calabar Rovers.

Angry with the recurring allegations of match-fixing in the country’s top-flight football competition, Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi said the trend must be stopped.

“We are working with the Attorney-General of the Federation to set up a special squad within EFCC to deal with match fixing,” he said on Monday. “Anybody found to be involved in any form will be treated as a criminal and dealt with accordingly.

“We must restore integrity and credibility to the Nigerian League. Fans must go to the stadium not believing that the game has already been fixed in favour of the home team.”

Abdullahi added that major reforms are being planned in conjunction with the League Management Company.

“Our vision for the NPL is inspired by what other countries at similar level of development have achieved with theirs.

“South Africa is regarded as the 6th biggest league in the world. They do not have our population, nor our talent or football history.

“There is no reason they should have the kind of league that they have and Nigeria will be wallowing where we are without a sponsorship (sic). This is unacceptable and is what all of us involved in football should be embarrassed about. It dwells on us in football to reverse this status quo.”

Lakayana: Have the families of all the victims duly compensated. Marking the day is not enough oh.

mukina2:

obadiah777: LORD KNOWS WHAT SHE DID IN PAST LIFE

obadiah777: LORD KNOWS WHAT SHE DID IN PAST LIFE

Andre Uweh: This our team still needs Osaze.

Verbes: Where did the rumour started from?