How Trump's victory'll affect Nigeria— EXPERTS

Earn trust of Nigerians through performance, Buhari tells ministers 

3 

Again, Avengers attack Forcados export pipeline 

33 

...towards a better life for the people 

VOL. 25: NO. 63155 

AFTER STUNNING UPSET: 

** 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com 

How Trump's victory'll 

N200 

affect Nigeria— EXPERTS 

By Omoh Gabriel, 

•Gambari, Akinyemi, Aare Afe Babalola, Fafowora, Ikokwu, others speak 

•Buhari, Saraki, others congratulate Trump, pledge to work with him 

•OPEC’s job just got tougher – Daniel Yergin 

•Nigerian stock market falls by N65 billion; protests rock America 

•I won't destroy my Green Card yet, says Soyinka — PAGE 37 

NASS and the 

Buhari initiative 

COLUMNISTS: 

•P.17 

Islamisation on 

a slippery slope 

•P.31 

Clifford Ndujihe, 

Henry Umoru, 

Levinus 

Nwabughiogu, 

Nkiruka Nnorom & 

Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A BUJA—THE 

election of Mr. 

Donald Trump of the 

Republican Party as the 

45th President of the 

United States of America, 

yesterday, provoked an 

avalanche of questions 

from local and foreign 

experts. 

There 

Continues on Page 5 

Mr & Mrs 

•P14 

FG invites experts 

to 

Challenges 

before Sultan economic fine-tune plan 

3-yr 

Abubakar III •P.31 

DSS raids bureaux de change operators 

 

DUMP 

TRUMP: 

Protesters 

in New 

York, 

yesterday, 

demonstrating 

against the 

victory of 

Presidentelect 

Donald 

Trump's 

victory. 

REUTERS 

Photo. 

3 

were 

More stories on 

THE TRUMP VICTORY 

on Pages 37,44 &45 

uncertainties over how his 

presidency will affect the 

country’s economy, crude 

oil price, Nigeria’s main 

revenue earner; her 

nationals in the US, aid 

to developing countries, 

including Nigeria and, of 

course, international 

politics. 

Contrary to pre-election 

opinion awarding victory

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016—3 

:Vanguard News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

Nigeria's 

population 

now 182 

million —NPC 

...more than half 

under 30yrs 

THE 

Director- 

General of National 

Population Commission, 

NPC, Ghaji Bello, has 

said Nigeria’s population 

was currently 182 million, 

with more than half its 

people under 30 years of 

age. 

According to him, this 

puts a severe strain on a 

nation, with its slowing 

economy and declining 

revenue to provide 

enough schools and 

health facilities. 

Bello, who disclosed 

this in Abuja, said the 

latest estimate was based 

on the population of 140 

million recorded in the 

last census a decade ago, 

using an annual growth 

rate of 3.5 percent 

weighed against other 

variables such as rising 

life expectancy and a 

declining infant mortality 

rate. 

He said Nigeria, 

Africa’s most populous 

country, was witnessing a 

growing youth bulge, 

with those under 14 years 

accounting for more than 

40 percent of its citizens. 


is happening at a time 

the International 

Monetary Fund, IMF, has 

predicted that the nation’s 

gross domestic product 

will shrink 1.7 percent this 

year, the first full-year 

contraction in more than 

two decades. 

“The implication is that 

they are assets, they are 

the future of our country, 

but they are also 

liabilities. We need to 

know how to plan for their 

transition from youths to 

the next category. 

‘’It has implications for 

education, health and 

security, particularly in 

our environment where 

you have a lot of 

unemployment,’’ Bello 

said. 

He said plans to hold a 

census this year were 

delayed by 2015 elections 

and a plunge in revenue 

due to low prices for 

crude, the country’s main 

export, and slashed 

output caused by militant 

attacks in the Niger 

Delta. 

“We’re hopeful the 

government will soon 

make a statement for the 

next exercise,” he said. 

Earn trust of Nigerians through your performance, 

Buhari tells ministers 

•As FEC approves N326.7m to procure 38 vehicles for Mines, Steel Inspectorate division 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—AS 

ministers 

clocked one year in office 

Friday, President Muhammadu 

Buhari has charged them to 

justify their appointments and 

earn the trust of Nigerians by 

improving on their performance. 

This was even as the Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, 

presided over by the President, 

yesterday approved 

N326,781million to procure 38 

vehicles for consistent 

surveillance of mining sites 

across the 36 states of the 

federation. 

This, the council said, was in 

the efforts of the Federal 

Government to curb illegal 

mining of resources and improve 

security. 

FEC also ratified the Lake 

Chad Basin Water Charter, 

paving the way for the document 

to be sent to the National 

Assembly for proper legislation. 

Minister of Mines and Steel 

Development, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, who briefed newsmen 

on the outcome of the meeting, 

alongside Minister of Water 

Resources, Alhaji Sulaiman 

Adamu and the Special Adviser 

to the President on Media and 

Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said 

the President charged them to 

show skills. 

He said: “We will be one year 

in office in two days, so this was 

an anniversary Federal 

Executive Council meeting. It 

gave us the opportunity to really 

reflect on the progress we have 

FG invites experts to fine-tune 3-year Nat'l Economic Plan 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor 

APPARENTLY alarmed 

at the state of the 

economy, the Federal 

Government has invited 

experts to make vital inputs 

into its Medium Term National 

Economic Plan. 

The experts include Prof. 

Akpan Ekpo; Prof. Olu 

Ajakaiye; Prof Joe Umoh; Dr. 

Obadiah Mailafia; Dr Ayo 

Teriba; Dr Dotun Sulaiman; Dr 

Ayo Salami; Mr Boda Agusto; 

Mr Bismarck Rewane; Mr 

Frank Nweke; Engr Mansur 

Ahmed; and Mrs Adepeju 

Adebajo. 

The move, according to 

findings, is to enable the 

experts have a say in the 

budget process, with a view to 

making it richer and more 

beneficial to the nation. 

Vanguard learned that the 

experts are expected to 

converge on Abuja for two 

days, beginning tomorrow, to 

brainstorm on how to fine-tune 

the 2017-2019 Medium Term 

Expenditure Framework, 

MTEF, being developed by the 

made as a government, the 

challenges that we still have to 

tackle and the commitment we 

have to reiterate. 

“The challenges are still 

enormous. We read what you 

write and we get the feedback 

coming from the populace and 

we can’t afford to rest on our oars. 

We need to communicate to 

Nigerians what we are doing. 

‘’We would find a way to speak 

individually about what we have 

been doing in the last one year. 

Ministry of Budget and 

National Planning and set for 

publication next month. 

Explaining the rationale 

behind the engagement of the 

experts, the Minister of 

Budget and National 

Planning, Senator Udoma Udo 

Udoma, said the outcome of 

the endeavour, which began 

with the 2016 Budget and 

subsequent publication of the 

As CJN bows out: No cause for alarm over 

successor —FG 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor 

AS the Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, Mahmoud 

Mohammed, bows out today, the 

Federal Government has 

assured that there was no cause 

for alarm over the emergence of 

his successor. 

The Attorney General of the 

Federation, Abubakar Malami, 

told Vanguard in an interview 

that the government would be 

guided by the law in the choice 

of Mohammed’s successor and 

asked Nigerians speculating on 

the matter to hold their peace. 

Malami explained that the 

At the ministry level, there will 

be some kind of 

commemoration but noting 

extra-ordinary. 

“The President’s charge is 

simple. You know the President 

is not a man of many words. 

His charge to us is just get on 

with it, ensure that you earn 

the trust of Nigerians by doing 

the best you can to serve the 

country.”. 

On the vehicles, the Minister 

said the unit cost of the 38 

SIP, would form the basis for 

the plan to be made available 

to the public in December this 

year. 

Udoma said: “We came in 

focusing on the economy, 

corruption and security. An 

economic management team 

was immediately put in place 

with the Vice President, Prof. 

Yemi Osinbajo, in charge. 

‘’We worked out a plan and 

appointment of a new Chief 

Justice was not the sole 

responsibility of the Presidency 

but a tripartite arrangement 

involving the President, the 

Senate and the National 

Judicial Council, NJC. 

The Justice Minister pointed 

out that while the NJC had 

recommended Justice Walter 

Onneghen, as the most senior 

judge of the apex court for 

appointment as the next CJN, 

the Presidency and the Senate 

still had roles to play before a 

new CJN could emerge. 

The AGF said there was no 

need for anyone to doubt the 

sincerity of President 

Muhammadu Buhari, as he 

vehicles was N8.190 million, 

adding that they would be 

purchased from local plants as a 

way of giving a boost to local 

manufactured goods.’’ 

According to him, Lagos will be 

given two vehicles because of its 

size. 

Fayemi added: “FEC approves 

the direct procurement of Nissan 

four-wheel patrol vehicles for 

Mines Inspectorate division of 

Mines and Steel in the 36 states 

and the FCT." 

VISIT: From left: Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Olanrewaju Tejuoso; a 

member of the committee, Sen. Theodore Orji; and Acting Director General, National Agency 

for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, during a visit by the 

committee to NAFDAC in Lagos. 

started off with the 2016 

budget to reflate the economy; 

then we moved on to the 

Strategic Implementation 

Plan, SIP, of the budget.” 

The Minister regretted that 

the SIP document, which had 

been widely acclaimed as 

impressive by economic experts 

and international fiscal 

agencies, was not publicly 

launched with fanfare. 

would always be guided by 

appropriate laws in taking his 

decision on the matter. 

He said Buhari would be guided 

by Section 231(4) of the 1999 

Constitution as amended which 

provides a three-month window 

for the emergence of a new CJN. 

The sections states: “If the office 

of Chief Justice of Nigeria is 

vacant or if the person holding the 

office is for any reason unable to 

perform the functions of the office,’ 

then until a person has been 

appointed to and has assumed the 

functions of that office, or until the 

person holding the office has 

resumed those functions, the 

President ‘shall appoint the most 

senior Justice of the Supreme 

Court to perform those functions.’’

C 

M 

Y 

K 

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

ALLEGED 

N2.2BN FRAUD: 

FG arraigns 

S-Court 

Registrar, 2 

others Nov 17 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—AN Abuja 

High Court sitting at 

Jabi has given the Federal 

Government the nod to 

dock the Chief Registrar of 

the Supreme Court, Mr. 

Saleh Gambo, on 

November 17. 

Gambo will be arraigned 

before trial Justice A.B 

Mohammed on a ninecount 

criminal charge 

bordering on alleged 

N2.2billion fraud. 

He was charged 

alongside the Assistant 

Director of Finance at the 

apex court, Rilwanu Lawal, 

and the Deputy Director of 

Finance, Sharif 

Abdulrahman. 

The Attorney General of 

the Federation and 

Minister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami, SAN, 

entered the charge marked 

CR/13/16 and dated 

November 3, against them, 

pursuant to sections l04 and 

379 of the Administration of 

criminal Justice Act, 2015. 

The defendants were 

specifically alleged to have 

diverted N2.2billion 

belonging to the Supreme 

Court of Nigeria, into 

personal bank accounts 

domiciled at United Bank 

For Africa Plc with account 

number 2027642863. 

They were further alleged 

to have between 2009 and 

2016, received gratification 

in the sum of N10million 

from Willysdave Ltd, a 

private contractor to the 

Supreme Court of Nigeria 

and thereby committed an 

offence contrary to section 

10(a) (i) of the Independent 

Corrupt Practices and other 

related offences Act 2000 

and punishable under the 

same Act. 

FG alleged that the trio, on 

different occasions, 

surreptitiously used their 

positions to receive 

gratifications to the tune of 

over N74.4m from private 

contractors that provided 

services to the Supreme Court 

between 2009 and 2016. 

Meantime, FG has 

already briefed a 

prosecutor, Mrs Hajara 

Yusuf to handle the trial. 

Yusuf, yesterday, persuaded 

the court to adjourn the case 

for trial after it was learnt 

that the defendants were 

yet to be served with 

copies of the charge. 

CORRUPTION CHARGES: Justice Ngwuta to be 

docked next week 

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

ABUJA—TRIAL Justice 

John Tsoho of the Federal 

High Court in Abuja, has been 

assigned to try Justice Sylvester 

Ngwuta of the Supreme Court 

who is facing a nine-count money 

laundering charge. 

Justice Tsoho, who presides 

over court 3, was yesterday 

handed the case-file marked 

FHC/ABJ/CR/232/2016, by the 

Chief Judge of the Federal High 

Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta. 

Though no date has been fixed 

for the embattled jurist to take his 

plea, a top official at the high 

court, however, hinted to 

Vanguard that the defendant 

could be arraigned next week. 

Ngwuta was among the seven 

FEC MEETING: From right, President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; 

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr Babachir David Lawal; Chief of Staff to the 

President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, and Head of Civil Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita during the Federal 

Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. 

BOKO HARAM: Give us more time to end 

insurgency, Defence Minister begs Nigerians 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—MINISTER of 

Defence, Brigadier 

General Mansur Dan-Ali (retd), 

has asked for the understanding 

of Nigerians in the anti-terrorism 

war, pleading with them to give 

the military more time to 

completely stamp out insurgency 

in the north eastern part of the 

country. 

Dan-Ali’s plea is coming on the 

heels of the killing of Col. Abu 

Ali, and six other soldiers during 

a shoot-out with the terror group, 

Boko Haram, in Borno State. 

The development had renewed 

tremendous agitation and 

pressure by Nigerians on 

government to intensify efforts to 

rid the country of insurgency. 

Answering questions from 

Statehouse correspondents at the 

end of the Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, meeting yesterday, 

the minister said Boko Haram 

had been degraded. 

He said: “Give us additional 

time, recall that recently we lost 

one of our officers and soldiers. 

Insurgency is something that you 

cannot eradicate within a day. 

‘’Remember Tamil Tigers, 

remember Kashmir and other 

places of the world where 

insurgency is ongoing. 

“However, within the last one 

year, I can assure you that almost 

OPEC raises hope for stable oil price 

By Prince Okafor, with 

agency report 

SECRETARY General, 

Organisation of the 

Petroleum Exporting 

Countries, OPEC, 

Mohammed Barkindo, has 

said enduring stability in the 

global crude oil market would 

amplify investments and 

superior court Justices whose 

homes were raided by operatives 

of the Department of State 

Services, DSS, between October 

7 and 8, 2016. 

Charges against him, which 

border on judicial corruption, 

money laundering, age 

falsification, and alleged illegal 

possession of multiple passports, 

was endorsed by the Attorney 

General of the Federation and 

Minister of Justice, Abubakar 

Malami, SAN. 

The Federal Government 

alleged that he retained in his 

possession the sum of N35, 358, 

000.00, contrary to the Money 

Laundering ( Prohibition) Act 

2011 (as amended). 

It further alleged that Ngwuta 

equally retained in his possession 

the sum of $319,596.00 (USD) 

and (GBP) 25, 915, monies the 

prosecution said formed part of 

the proceeds of unlawful act 

contrary to the Money 

Laundering Act. 

Government told the court that 

several sums of cash were 

allegedly recovered from 

Ngwuta’s official residence in 

Abuja, including the sum of 

N35.3 million, $319,596.00(USD), 

and 25,915 pounds sterling. 

It said the DSS had during the 

raid, recovered four diplomatic 

passports, one official and two 

standard Nigerian passport 

passports, all in the name of the 

defendant. 

According to the federal 

government, Ngwuta, by 

obtaining multiple passports, 

committed an offence contrary 

and punishable under section 10 

of the Immigration Act, 2015. 

Besides, the defendant who is 

65 years old, was alleged to have 

made false statement to the 

passport office concerning his 

actual date of birth, for the 

purpose of procuring an 

additional Diplomatic Passport. 

Remarkably, if not for his ordeal, 

Ngwuta would have stayed on 

the apex court bench till 2021 

when he would have retired upon 

clocking 70 years. 

However, the National Judicial 

Council, NJC, had since asked 

him to step down from the bench 

pending his trial. 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, 

CJN, Justice Mahmud 

Mohammed had on Monday, 

explained why the NJC barred 

Ngwuta and other Judges facing 

corruption allegations from 

further presiding over cases. 

NIGER DELTA: Bakassi Strike Force surrenders arms 

YENAGOA—A 

Niger 

Delta militant group, 

Bakassi Strike Force, BSF, has 

surrendered part of its arms to 

show its desire to lay down their 

arms, if the Federal Government 

addressed their concerns. 

Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, the 

spokesman of Joint Military Force 

encourage petroleum output 

expansion. 

Barkindo, who made this known 

on the sidelines of the ongoing 

OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 

launch at Abu Dhabi International 

Petroleum Exhibition and 

Conference, ADIPEC 2016, in 

United Arab Emirate also said the 

future potential for energy 

providers was huge. 

95 percent of the security 

challenges of this nation had been 

eradicated. 

“If you can remember, before the 

coming of this administration, we 

had a lot of security challenges. I 

am not saying that it has been 

eradicated within one year, but 

as I am talking to you, I am proud 

to say that things happening in 

the past in the north east and other 

regions of this country have 

tremendously gone down.” 

in the Niger Delta confirmed the 

development to the News Agency 

of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in 

Yenagoa. 

Daudu said the terms of the 

surrender were being worked out 

by Cross River Command of 

Department of State Services and 

Cross River government. 

He, however, stated that the 

forecast expansion in demand 

would require significant 

investments. 

“It is then essential for us to 

continue working towards 

securing an orderly and stable 

markets with prices at levels that 

are conducive to a healthy and 

prosperous future for all 

concerned in the industry,'' he said. 

He said that the militant group 

had turned in one General 

Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) 

and an AK 47 rifle as a show of 

good faith towards the peace deal. 

“Available information from 

Sector 4 in Cross River State 

indicates that Bakassi Strike Force 

(BSF) militants led by one Mr 

Benjamin Ene have expressed 

unreserved willingness to lay 

down their arms. 

“They have contacted the 

Department of State Services in 

Cross River State through the 

state government’s appointed 

rappoteur on amnesty to signify 

their readiness to hold talks on 

amnesty with the relevant 

authorities. 

“To buttress this demonstration 

of goodwill, BSF turned in one 

General Purpose Machine Gun 

(GPMG) and an AK 47 rifle.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

Nigeria must strive for 

meritocracy, ensure job 

creation, diversify our 

economy, restructure the 

polity and give the zones 

fiscal autonomy so that 

"we will be able to make 

tremendous progress and 

end squalor." 

MEETING—From left: Former Vice President and chieftain of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; with Govs. Rauf 

Aregbesola of Osun and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

How Trump's victory'll affect 

Nigeria— EXPERTS 

Continues from page 1 

to the Democratic Party 

Candidate, Hillary 

Clinton, the Presidentelect 

secured 276 

Electoral College votes 

against Clinton’s 218, to 

emerge victorious. 

Trump’s victory elicited 

words of salutation from 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari, who said he 

looked forward to working 

with Trump, who would be 

sworn in on January 20, 

2017. 

Other Nigerians, who 

spoke on Trump’s election, 

yesterday, included 

Senate President, Bukola 

Saraki; Aare Afe Babaloa, 

SAN; Governor Ayo 

Fayose of Ekiti State, 

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, 

Ambassador Dapo 

Fafowora, Professor 

Ibrahim Gambari and 

Chief Guy Ikokwu, 

among others. 

I look forward to 

working with Trump 

– Buhari 


B u h a r i , w h i l e 

congratulating Mr. Trump 

on his victory, yesterday, 

said he would work with 

the U.S. President-elect. 

A statement by 

Presidential Spokesman, 

Mr. Femi Adesina, said: 

“On behalf of the 

Government and people 

of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

congratulates Presidentelect 

Donald Trump on his 

victory in the United 

States presidential 

election. 

“President Buhari also 

congratulates American 

citizens on the outcome of 

the election, which was 

keenly observed by all 

true lovers of democracy 

and those who believe in 

the will of the people. 

“The President looks 

forward to working 

together with Presidentelect 

Trump to strengthen 

the already established 

friendly relations between 

both countries, including 

cooperation on many 

shared foreign policy 

priorities, such as the fight 

against terrorism, peace 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

IT is foolishness to hate the people you live with 

or around and expect to live in peace. Love is 

the only supreme guarantee for peace. It's up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

“This very moment, pause and reflect. There is so 

much to be grateful for” 

Be grateful for Divine protection, loved ones, 

fulfilled goals and desires, even lost dreams 

and failures that may lead to re evaluating previous 

plans. The new goals and accomplishments, and 

perhaps, a new addition to the family and even the 

loss of loved ones...all have meanings. 

The awareness to look inwards for the answers and 

guidance that allows one attract what brings 

enlightenment to Soul. All of these collectively are 

our success stories...for our successes cannot be 

measured by any standards...because there are 

simply no words. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

If you must know what is going on beneath 

the earth, ask the rabbit. 

and security, economic 

growth, democracy and 

good governance. 

“As Mr Trump prepares 

to assume the position of 

the President of the United 

States, President Buhari 

extends his good wishes 

to him on the onerous task 

of leading the world’s 

strongest economy”, the 

statement added. 

We'll work 

together— Saraki 

In his own reaction, 

Senate President, Dr 

Bukola Saraki said 

yesterday that he will 

work with the President- 

Elect of the United States 

of America, USA, Mr. 

Donald Trump. 

In a statement he 

personally signed, Saraki 

who congratulated 

Donald Trump over his 

victory, said: “I look 

forward to working with 

President-Elect Trump to 

continue the strong US- 

Nigeria relationship and 

to address our mutual 

interest in defeating 

global terror networks, 

rooting out corruption 

and strengthening the 

institutions of 

governance.” 

“Mr. Trump’s years of 

being a private sector 

leader can be invaluable 

to Nigeria as we work to 

restructure and diversify 

our economy. It is 

important for the private 

sector here to have a 

larger role in expanding 

our economic base, 

creating jobs and fostering 

entrepreneurship. In 

these areas, I am sure he 

will be able to serve as a 

strong partner." 

Surprise, lesson for 

Nigeria – Ikokwu 

Chief Guy Ikokwu said 

Trump’s victory took 

Nigeria and the rest of the 

world by surprise 

because, apart from being 

an outsider in the race, he 

is not a public servant, 

politician or among those 

in the corridors of power. 

“It shows that sovereignty 

belongs to the people and 

not public officials. 

Nigeria has a lesson to 

learn.’’ 

To benefit from Trump’s 

presidency, he said 

A lesson for 

Nigerians 

— Fafowora 

Ambassador Oladapo 

Fafowora, former 

Nigerian Ambassador to 

the UN, however, said 

Trump’s victory was a 

lesson to Nigerians and 

Africans to remain in and 

contribute to the 

development of their 

countries. 

Fafowora said Africans 

needed to reduce their 

reliance on world 

economic powers, adding 

that “there is nothing in 

his background to suggest 

he has any durable 

interest in Africa. I think 

it is a lesson for 

Nigerians; people should 

stay here and make 

contributions in 

developing our country. 

US may cut aid to 

developing nations 

– Industrialist 

An industrialist, Chief 

Tomi Akingbogun, said, 

yesterday, that there 

might be less foreign aid 

from the American 

government to developing 

nations like Nigeria, 

given Trump’s victory. 

Speaking in Abuja, 

Akingbogun said with 

Trump’s triumph, 

developing nations in the 

world might witness less 

support from the new 

government in terms of 

grants, considering the 

conservative orientation 

of the Republicans. 

He said the policies and 

programmes of the new 

government might not be 

favourable to Nigerians 

and other immigrants, 

based on the campaign 

speeches of the Presidentelect. 

“America might play a 

lesser role in assisting 

developing countries by 

coming to the help of 

needy nations. That 

means we in Africa will be 

on our own; that means 

there might be less 

foreign aid from the new 

government. If that 

happens, it is an 

opportunity for Nigerians, 

who have become very 

successful in America to 

return home and support 

the rebuilding of the 

economy." 

He said Nigerians have 

contributed to the building 

of the American economy 

over the years, noting that 

it was time for them to 

return and help salvage 

the nation from recession. 

It will affect Nigeria 

positively — Security 

expert 

A security consultant, 

Ibrahim Garba, said 

Trump’s election will 

affect Nigerian 

professionals positively. 

Decrying the attitude of 

Nigerians, who project 

the image of the country 

in bad light, he said 

Nigerians needed to 

change their business 

orientation to reflect 

positive ideas in the new 

era. 

“This would affect 

Nigeria because things 

would be more 

competitive; Trump is a 

man who knows about 

your money; he does not 

throw money around. For 

you to do any business in 

America you have to be 

serious. From a business 

perspective, if Nigerians 

know what they are 

bringing to the table and 

it’s of value, Donald 

Trump will approve it.” 

Trump: Victory for 

America’s ugly side 

International relations 

experts have described 

the victory of U.S. 

President-elect, Donald 

Trump, as a surprise that 

will bring uncertainty to 

international politics. 

The experts told the 

News Agency of Nigeria 

in Abuja, yesterday, that 

Trump does not have 

experience and expertise 

in international affairs. 

Bolaji Akinyemi, a 

professor of political 

science, described 

Trump’s victory as a 

worrisome development. 

Professor Akinyemi, a 

former Minister of Foreign 

Affairs, said: “It brings 

uncertainty into 

international politics 

because the world now 

has to deal with a man, 

who is inexperienced, 

does not understand the 

complexities of 

international politics and 

has no respect for anyone 

who is not white or 

American. I think that is 

dangerous." 

Be prepared, says 

Gambari 

Former Under- 

Secretary-General of the 

United Nations, Professor 

Ibrahim Gambari, 

expressed optimism that 

U.S. laws and institutions 

would protect Nigerians 

and Africans in the U.S., 

stressing, however, that 

“clearly, we should be 

prepared." 

He also advised the 

leadership of Nigeria and 

Africa to promote policies 

in the interest of their 

citizens. Gambari said 

such interests would 

encourage development 

and reduce the flow of 

African citizens to western 

countries. 

“As Africans, we have 

survived slavery, 

colonialism and 

apartheid. I think the 

strength of the African 

people will enable us to 

survive any negative 

consequences arising 

from this result." 

OPEC’s job has just got 

tougher – Yergin 

Pulitzer Prize-winning 

U.S. oil historian, Daniel 

Yergin, said OPEC’s job of 

trying to prop up oil prices 

just got harder with the 

election of Trump. 

Yergin told the media 

that the 14-country oil 

producing cartel may 

have to battle a sourer 

outlook for the global 

economy and weaker 

demand for crude. 

He said: “Buckle up 

your seat belts for a more 

turbulent and uncertain 

global economy ahead.” 

Yergin, who is also Vice 

Chairman of IHS Markit 

Think Tank, said “the 

outcome of the U.S. 

election has added to the 

challenges of oil exporters 

because it will lead to 

weaker economic growth 

in an already fragile 

global economy. And that 

means additional 

pressure on oil demand.” 

Oil prices fell almost 

four per cent early, 

yesterday, but recovered 

slightly to trade at around 

$46 per barrel later in the 

day. 

Stock market falls by 

N65 billion 

Trump’s election 

appeared to have had 

immediate impact in 

Nigeria as transactions in 

the Nigerian Stock market 

declined further, with 

investors losing another 

N65bn at the close of 

trading, yesterday. 

The development tallied 

with trading results from 

other advanced markets 

that reacted negatively to 

the results of the US 

presidential election. 

Though the equities 

market has been on a 

downward trend in the 

past three weeks, some 

market operators argued 

that the losses were as a 

result of the outcome of the 

election. 

At the end of trading 

session, the market 

capitalisation declined 

from N9.076 trillion to 

N9.011 trillion, 

representing 0.76 per 

cent decline.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 


Hunchback hunters invade Delta 

Kill one, exhume remains of another 

By Perez Brisibe 

K OKORI—PERSONS 

leaving with kyphosis, also 

known as hunchback, in Kokori 

and environs of Delta State are 

currently living in fear as 

suspected ritualists have invaded 

the community, searching for 

such hunches to harvest. 

One of such victims is Mr. 

Odiriverere, popularly known as 

Atinipa, whose lifeless body was 

Man, 30, 

jailed for 

stealing 

bicycle, 

battery 

By Bartholomew 

Madukwe 

AN 

Ogudu 

Magistrate’s Court, 

Lagos, yesterday, 

sentenced a 30-year-old 

man, Sunday Joshua, to 

one year imprisonment, 

after finding him guilty 

of stealing a neighbour’s 

bicycle and a 

power generator battery. 

The convict was 

sentenced by the 

magistrate, Mrs O. S. 

Amzat, after he pleaded 

guilty to the charges of 

conspiracy, attempt to 

steal and stealing. 

In her judgment, 

Magistrate Amzat 

sentenced the convict 

without an option of fine 

and advised him to turn 

a new leaf after serving 

the jail term. 

According to the police 

prosecutor, Sergeant 

Ihiehie Lucky, the 

offence was committed 

in the midnight of 

October 5, at Ikosi-Ketu 

area of Lagos State and 

contravened Sections 

409, 404 and 285 of the 

Criminal Law of Lagos 

State, 2011. 

He informed the court 

that the complainant 

reported the incident at 

Ketu Police Station on 

October 6. 

Lucky said: “The 

complainant reported 

that he woke up to 

discover that his 

generator battery valued 

N15,000 and his bicycle 

valued N50,000 had 

been stolen from his 

compound. 

“He said the CCTV in 

his compound captured 

a man climbing the fence 

of his house to steal the 

said items and was 

properly identified.” 

found on Tuesday morning with 

his hunch ripped off. 

The attack on Atinipa was one 

of many as the remains of 

another victim, simply 

identified as Queen, who died 

and was buried at Erhomeghu 

community, Kokori, was 

exhumed with her hunch cut 

off. 

Giving details on the death of 

Atinipa, one of his neighbours 

at his Uwedi Street residence 

By John Mkom 

JALINGO—THE internallydisplaced 

persons, IDPs, in 

Taraba State have raised alarm 

that they are living and 

sleeping with dangerous 

snakes, rats and other animals 

in the camp located at Mutum- 

Biu, headquarters of Gasol 

Local Government Area of the 

state. 

They disclosed this when an 

NGO, Marry&Prolific 

Entertainment, visited the 

camp to donate food items to 

at Kokori, told Vanguard that 

the incident had thrown the 

community into a state of 

shock. 

According to the source, 

who spoke on condition of 

anonymity, “we found his 

mutilated body on Tuesday 

morning with his back 

ripped open. 

“We immediately alerted 

the community vigilante, 

who assisted in alerting the 

We live with snakes, 

rats Taraba IDPs cry out 


UGHELLI—A gang of 

gunmen, yesterday, 

attacked some staff of 

Government College, Ughelli, 

GCU, by Oduaran Junction 

along Post Office Road, 

dispossessing them of an 

undisclosed sum of money. 

The attack came as a clash 

between two rival cult groups 

claimed the life of a suspected 

cultist simply identified as 

Mudiaga. 

Giving details of the robbery, 

them. 

The NGO visited the camp 

with food items, including 

bags of rice, tubers of yams, 

cartons of noodles, assorted 

soft drinks and cash to aid the 

people. 

Briefing the visitors on their 

challenges in the camp, those 

who spoke claimed they had 

been finding it very difficult 

to cope with the situations, 

lamenting that many of them 

had lost their loved ones to 

lack of food and medical 

facilities in the three years 

Ughelli Govt College staff robbed 

a commercial motorcycle 

operator told Vanguard that 

the workers were returning 

from one of the commercial 

banks in the town at 12 noon, 

when the gunmen attacked. 

He said: “The GCU staff, 

including the school’s 

bursar, were in a white 

Hilux pick-up with the 

school’s inscription on the 

body, when they were held 

up by the gunmen in a 

Lexus SUV. The robbers 

collected money from them 

and fled the scene.” 

police, and his remains were 

taken to the Erhioke Cottage 

Hospital mortuary.” 

Confirming the incident, a 

senior police officer at the 

Isiokolo Police Division, 

while condemning the act, 

stated that investigation into 

the incident was ongoing, 

adding that the division 

would do everything within 

its power to bring the 

perpetrators to book. 

Commander, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, ACP Tunji Disu (left), leading his men to 

restore peace after a clash broke out between Yoruba and Egun residents of Otodogbami 

community, Ikate, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, yesterday. 

RIGHT: A two-day-old baby rescued by police during the clash. (STORY ON PAGE 10) 

they had lived in the camp. 

Malliam Watki, a 78-yearold 

woman, who was displaced 

by the Wukari crisis, told 

Vanguard: “Recently, we have 

been living with dangerous 

snakes in our rooms here. We 

also live in the same rooms 

with rats and other animals. 

“The recent snake we found 

in my room was a big python. 

We struggled to kill the snake 

for nine days. It would run and 

hide in places where we could 

not find it. It was very difficult 

before outsiders came and 

helped us to kill it.” 

The coordinator of the IDPs 

camp, Mallam Inusa Bala, 

while receiving the items, 

lamented that the displaced 

persons in the camp were 

going through hardship due 

to various sicknesses, hunger 

and starvation. 

He said: “At the time we 

came to the camp, we were up 

to 9,000. Some of us 

particularly children, died 

from different deceases, 

hunger and starvation. 

“Some left to seek for means 

of survival, while others were 

fortunate to get back to their 

homes. We are now about 

4,000 persons.” 

Man, 70, ra 

By Daud Olatunji 

BEOKUTA—MEN of Ogun 

AState Police Command have 

arrested a 70-year-old man, 

Gabriel Akindele, for allegedly 

raping an eight-year-old deaf 

and dumb girl in a toilet. 

The Police Public Relations 

Officer in the state, Abimbola 

Oyeyemi, in a statement, said 

yesterday that the randy 

septuagenarian committed the 

offence at 7, Michael Ayegusi 

Street, Owode Ijako in Ado-Odo 

Ota Local Government Area of 

Ogun State. 

4 clearing 

agents 

docked 

over 

N31.6m 

goods 

By Onozure Dania 

L AGOS—POLICE, 

yesterday, brought 

four clearing agents, who 

allegedly stole goods 

worth N31.6 million from 

a 20-foot container, before 

an Igbosere Magistrate’s 

Court in Lagos. 

The defendants are Joe 

Chinweze, 54; 

Alphonsus Udogu, 53; 

Patrick Obiano, 49, and 

Augustine Oyenka, 48. 

The defendants are 

standing trial on a twocount 

charge of 

conspiracy and stealing. 

The defendants, who 

were docked before 

Magistrate Abimbola 

Komolafe, pleaded not 

guilty to the charge. 

The prosecutor, 

Inspector Steven Molo, 

said the offences 

committed were punishable 

under Sections 285 

and 409 of the Criminal 

Law of Lagos State, 2011. 

Molo, earlier alleged 

that the defendants 

committed the alleged 

offences sometimes 

between August 6 and 20, 

at Apapa area of Lagos. 

He said the agents stole 

households goods worth 

N31.6 million from a 20- 

container belonging to 

one Mrs Joy Ositadinma. 

Magistrate Komolafe 

granted the defendants 

bail in the sum of N5 

million each, with two 

sureties each in like sum. 

She said that the 

sureties should be 

gainfully employed and 

their addresses verified. 

The case was adjourned 

till December 6 for 

mention.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 , 2016—7 


pes 8-yr-old deaf, dumb girl in Ogun 

Oyeyemi said the police team 

found out that the suspect lured 

the girl to the toilet, where he 

raped her. 

According to Oyeyemi, the 

suspect was arrested following a 

complaint from the mother of the 

girl, who noticed an unusual 

behaviour from the girl after the 

incident and used sign 

language to inquire from her 

daughter. 

He said: “The girl informed her 

mother of the incident, which 

prompted the mother to report 

the matter to police. The DPO of 

Sango Ota, SP Akinsola 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—A 20-year-old 

primary school teacher is in 

police net in Ibadan for allegedly 

raping a 10-year-old boy. The 

man, whose name was given as 

Collins Obi, was caught after 

allegedly having anal sex with 

the boy. 

While confirming the incident, 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Samuel Adegbuyi, through his 

Public Relations Officer, 

Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the 

bubble burst when the mother of 

Ogunwale, detailed detectives 

to the scene and the randy old 

man was subsequently arrested. 

“On interrogation, he 

confessed to committing the 

crime. It was discovered that he 

lured the girl to the toilet, where 

he unlawfully had carnal 

knowledge of her. The 

commissioner of police, Ahmed 

Iliyasu, has directed that the 

case be transferred to the Antihuman 

Trafficking and Child 

Labour Unit of the State Criminal 

Investigation and Intelligence 

Department, CIID, for proper 

investigation.” 

the abused boy reported the 

matter after her son confided in 

her and related what happened 

between him and his teacher. 

He said: “The Oyo State Police 

command has arrested a teacher 

in Ibadan for having anal sex 

with one student. The 20-yearold 

primary school teacher, 

Collins Obi, was arrested for 

having anal intercourse with a 

boy aged 10 years. 

“The suspect, who was also an 

extra-moral class teacher to the 

victim, committed the unlawful 

act on November 7, when he 

Gabriel Akindele 

Primary school teacher sodomises 10-yr-old pupil 

lured the little boy to a house 

in the neighbourhood at 

Asaka, Itamaya area, Ibadan 

where the offence was 

committed.” 

The police spokesperson 

explained that the arrest of the 

suspect was made following 

report made at Iyaganku 

Police Station by the victim’s 

mother. 

After the victim reported the 

incident to his mother, 

detectives from the police 

arrested the suspect in his 

hideout.” 

During interrogation, the 

police claimed that the 

suspect confessed to the 

crime and disclosed that he 

was introduced to sodomy by 

an older friend now at large. 

The victim was taken to the 

hospital for medical attention. 

According to him, Adegbuyi 

had directed immediate 

arraignment of the suspect in 

court after completion of 

discreet investigation by the 

Criminal Investigation and 

Intelligence Department. 

Members of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers protesting moves to concession of Nigerian Railways without payment 

of severance benefits in Lagos, Tuesday. NAN PHOTO. 

Edo woman donates goat to 

President Buhari for selfless lifestyle 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

BENIN—MADAM Grace 

Egbon, an elderly woman 

in Benin, Edo State capital, has 

donated a goat to President 

Muhammadu Buhari to show 

her admiration for “his selfless 

lifestyle and passion to liberate 

the masses.” 

Governor Adams Oshiomhole 

of Edo State received the 

‘unique gift’ on behalf of the 

President from Egbon, a 

supporter of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, registered in 

Ward 7, Oredo Local 

Government Area. 

Egbon said she had longed 

to meet the President to show 

her admiration for his quality 

leadership. 

A window of opportunity 

opened to Egbon when the 

President was scheduled to 

commission the ultra-modern 

Samuel Ogbemudia College in 

Benin, during his justconcluded 

two-day working 

visit to Edo. 

She braced the odds and 

came all the way with her 

surprise gift to the President, 

which she had kept for the 

special occasion. 

Protocol Officer 

narrates story 

A protocol officer told 

newsmen: “She tore through 

the crowd, making her way 

straight to the President, who 

at the time had finished the 

official engagement and was 

heading for his waiting car. 

“Many in the crowd got 

emotional seeing the elderly 

woman pull through the 

crowd with the goat, 

determined to make a 

presentation to the President. 

“Governor Oshiomhole, who 

noticed the security between 

the woman and the President, 

came to her rescue. “He 

(Oshiomhole) alighted from 

the President’s convoy to 

receive the goat on behalf of 

the President.” 

She thanked the President 

for accepting the gift, which 

was handed over to protocol 

officials. 

In his remarks on behalf of 

the President, Oshiomhole 

commended Madam Grace 

for her kind gesture. 

2 suspected 

militants 

arrested over 

Naval officers' 

death 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—DELTA State 

Police Command has 

paraded two suspected 

militants over alleged 

involvement in the murder 

of some Naval officers. 

Parading the suspects, 

who were identified as 

Okorotie Jakpany, 31, and 

Jerome Fiye, 21, the state 

Commissioner of Police, 

Mr. Ibrahim Zanna, said 

the duo were arrested by 

operatives of Special Anti- 

Kidnapping Squad who 

acted on a tip-off. 

Disclosing that the 

suspects hail from 

Egberigbere and Ekeremo 

communities in Bayelsa 

State, Zanna said police 

was still investigating the 

matter. 

The police boss, who 

also paraded other 

suspects arrested for 

various crimes, said seven 

of the suspects were 

arrested for allegedly 

vandalising pipelines at 

Obi-Ayaga village in 

Ughelli South Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

He gave the names of 

the suspects as Umaru 

Amoru, 19; Jibril Saidu, 

25; Abdul Mohammed, 

20; Usman Onga, 20; Isah 

Alli, 21; Useni Alli, 27; 

and Dahiru Usman, 21. 

He added that two DAF 

trucks with number plates 

Lagos XQ 569 KSF and 

Nasarawa KRV 943 ZN, 

were recovered. 

Zanna said they 

received information that 

bunkering activities were 

going on in the 

community and “we 

swiftly drafted Dragon 

Patrol Teams 16 and 18 to 

the scene, where they 

observed three trucks, 

some speed boats/barges 

and large number of 

community youths.” 

In 

another 

development, the 

command police, in line 

with its determination to 

rid the state of crime, has 

launched a new anticrime 

outfit tagged 

Operation Eagle Net, to 

complement existing 

outfits in the state. 

Zanna, who launched 

the outfit in Asaba 

yesterday, said: “It is part 

of the command’s untiring 

strategies to ensure that 

criminals, especially of 

heinous crimes, are 

wiped out or driven from 

the state for residents to 

live in peace and safety.”


Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2016 — 9



Industrial Court 

strikes out 

Premier Lotto's 

suit against 

unionism 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS — JUSTICE 

Benedict Bakwaph 

Kanyip of the National 

Industrial Court (NIC) sitting 

in Ikoyi yesterday dismissed 

the suit filed by Premier Lotto 

limited challenging the 

registration of the National 

Union of Lottery Agents and 

Employees (NULAE) as a 

Trade Union. 

Justice Kanyip, while 

delivering his ruling held that 

Premier Lotto lacked the locus 

standi to institute the suit. 

The claimant (Premier 

Lotto) had in its suit prayed 

the court for a declaration that 

the registration of NULAE as 

a trade union by the Registrar 

of Trade Unions was 

unlawful, invalid and not in 

accordance with the Trade 

Union Act. 

The claimant, also sought 

for an order of perpetual 

injunction restraining 

NULAE, its servants, agents, 

and privies from holding itself 

out as a trade union and 

enjoying the rights and 

privileges of a registered 

trade union in Nigeria. 

Marketing expert 

set to train 

professionals 

By Simeon Ndaji 

PROFESSIONALS in 

Public Relations and 

Marketing have been urged 

to identify real obstacles to 

their vision which can 

hamper their achievement. 

Dr Peter Ogudoro, a 

marketing expert, who lives 

in Reading, England, 

yesterday spoke on his 

resolve to organise a 

programme that will focus on 

vision in Nigeria shortly. 

Dr Ogudoro said he is 

ready to help prospective 

professional candidates via 

this life-changing programme 

billed for November 19, in 

Ikeja. 

According to him, 

participants will learn how to 

turn the little things they 

posses into great enterprises 

and wealth generation in this 

hard times. 

“They will acquire the 

requisite skills and 

inspiration to give their 

dreams the wings they lack 

to fly to their destination in 

life. 

"They will learn the skill for 

multiple streams of income 

and will be among the first 

beneficiary of an outcome of 

my research efforts.’’ 

Four drown, hundreds displaced as Yoruba, 

Egun clash in Lagos 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo & Onozure 

Dania 

LAGOS—OVER 200 

structures in Otodogbami 

Community, Ikate, Lekki Phase1, 

Lagos were burnt and hundreds 

of residents displaced when 

Yoruba and Egun ethnic groups 

clashed within the community. 

Residents argued that four 

persons, including a child 

drowned while trying to escape 

through the river behind the 

community during the clash. 

But Police Public Relations 

Officer, Lagos Command, Dolapo 

Badmos said that no death was 

recorded, saying: “The effort of 

the police helped ensure that no 

death was recorded.” 

A source that pleaded 

anonymity however identified 

one of the four residents alleged 

to have drowned yesterday, as 

Whefa Agonhu, a female, adding 

that efforts were on to recover 

their bodies. He added that a 55- 

year-old woman, identified as Iya 

Abdulrahman, escaped the 

tragedy by swimming to the 

shore. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

clash actually started last 

Monday between two men from 

the ethnic groups when one 

resident of Egun extraction was 

said to have assaulted a Yoruba 

indigene for beating up his fiancé. 

In retaliation, the sources said 

that the Yoruba, armed with 

machetes and other weapons, 

allegedly attacked the community, 

blocking its entrance and 

vandalizing the community 

shrine. 

Another resident, identified 

simply as Wale, told Vanguard 

that as the fight intensified, the 

Yoruba allegedly set structures 

within the community ablaze. 

And that efforts to get officials of 

the Lagos State fire service to put 

out the fire proved abortive. 

It was learned that while the 

clash escalated, some shops were 

looted and goods worth 

thousands of Naira carted away. 

Sources alleged that the 

policemen attached to Jakande 

Police division, in Lekki who were 

alerted immediately the clash 

started, could not restore peace 

to the community; rather they 

were accused of taking side with 

one ethnic group. 

A resident told Vanguard that 

Baale of the Community, Hunpe 

Dansu and one Remi Adedoyin, 

were arrested for their inability to 

prevent the clash from escalating 

on Monday. 

It was learned that Dansu was 

arrested when he visited the police 

station to complain over the issue. 

And they are to be charged to 

court. 

There had been animosity 

between both ethnic groups 

within the community for 

sometime. The animosity, sources 

said had earlier led to one ethnic 

group setting the structures of 

other group ablaze. 

Police rescue two-dayold 

baby 

Reacting over the clash, Police 

Archbishop Vining holds talk on OPS 

Atalk on boardroom politics 

in the Organised Private 

Sector, OPS, will hold at the 

Archbishop Vining memorial 

Church Cathedral, Ikeja on 

November 13. 

The programme, a quarterly 

presentation of the church’s 

lecture series titled ‘God in my 

life” will have retired Anglican 

Bishop of Ife Diocese, the Rt 

Rev Oluranti Odubogu as the 

speaker. 

Odubogu, an alumnus of the 

prestigious King’s college, Lagos, 

and the University of Lagos 

(where he studied Business 

Administration), began life in 

1969 in a management position 

with Lever Brothers Nigeria Plc, 

an affiliate of Unilever Plc of the 

United Kingdom. 

He later left to join Cadbury Nigeria Plc, 

where his talent were spotted and he was 

appointed an Executive Director. 

After a successful career spanning over 

25 years in Nigeria’s Organised Private 

Sector, he entered the holy orders in 1995 

by enlisting for theological training at the 

Lagos Diocesan Seminary from where he 

graduated with a 

diploma in 1997, 

thus becoming a 

deacon. In 10 

years, he 

traversed the 

various priestly 

ranks and was 

consecrated 

Bishop of Ife 

Diocese in 2007. 

He retired a few 

months ago. 

PRO, Lagos Command, Dolapo 

Badmos, said peace had returned 

to the community, saying: “Our 

intervention led to the rescue of a 

two-day old baby.” 

She told Vanguard that 

supremacy battle triggered the 

clash between the Egun speaking 

community; mostly indigenes of 

Benin Republic and the Yoruba 

speaking community resulting in 

serious fighting and burning of 

houses. 

The PPRO noted that the police 

immediately moved into the area 

to prevent further breakdown of 

law and order. 

Giving a background of what 

transpired, she said, “There is an 

Egun community mainly made 

up of people from Republic of 

Benin. They actually occupy 

illegal shanties. We were alerted 

about the breakdown of law and 

order in the area and immediately 

went to check Otodogbami 

community, Ikate Lekki Phase 1, 

where there is a fight between the 

Benin-Yoruba communities 

fighting over the supremacy in 

the territory. 

“It’s an illegal settlement area, 

most of the structures there are 

shanties and because of a 

protracted dispute between 

them, they set fire on their 

different shanties. The Police 

moved into the area to restore 

peace and in the process of 

checking the area, we 

discovered that there was a 

woman who was trapped in one 

of the shanties with a two-day 

old baby who would have been 

burnt in the process,” Badmos 

added. 

Lagos to demolish 

existing structures 

She said the State Government 

has taken over the area while the 

State Ministry of Physical 

Planning and Urban 

Development would move in to 

demolish the remaining shanties 

and clear the rubbles caused by 

the inferno. 

“The Police is alive to its 

responsibility of ensuring the 

safety of lives and property of its 

citizenry and would not hesitate 

to carry out the necessary action 

where the need arises,” she said. 

Badmos also appealed to 

both factions in the community 

to remain lawful and shun acts 

of violence that could trigger 

civil unrest. 

VISIT: From left; Executive Director, Technology & Services, Skye Bank Plc., Mr. Innocent Ike, 

President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Banker of Nigeria (CIBN), Professor Segun 

Ajibola; GMD/CEO, Skye Bank, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru and Executive Director, Lagos Commercial Banking 

Directorate, Mrs. Markie Idowu, when CIBN Council paid a visit to Skye Bank in Lagos, yesterday.

Y 

K 



CONVOCATION: From left; Prof. Olufemi Onabajo, Vice Chancellor, Lead 

City University, Ibadan; Dr Oyebola Ayeni, Registrar, presenting award to Prof. 

Ladipo Adamolekun, guest speaker and Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, Chancellor, 

Lead City University, Ibadan during the 9th convocation lecture of the varsity 

tagged: 'The Idea of Nigeria: Two Challenges, Unity, Diversity and Prosperity'' , 

held at the University Campus in Ibadan yesterday. Photos by Bunmi Azeez. 

Al-Mustapha denies killing Kudirat 

Abiola 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Former 

Chief Security Officer, 

CSO, to late military Head of 

State, General Sani Abacha, 

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha 

(retd) yesterday said he was not 

the killer of late Kudirat Abiola. 

He made the denial at the sixth 

edition of Dr. Fredrick Fasehun 

annual public lecture in Akure. 

The lecture had the theme: “The 

Nigerian quest for social justice 

and credible leadership: the 

travail of a nation on trial.” 

Al-Mustapha declared that the 

insinuation that he killed Kudirat 

was a ploy by some people in 

government to soil his image in 

other to cover up for their 

atrocities after Abacha died. 

He pointedly denied that he 

assassinated the wife of the 1993 

Presidential election winner, 

Chief MKO Abiola. 

According to him: “I am often 

misrepresented, I discharge my 

duties as required which was to 

protect the Head of State, protect 

the government and the people 

of the country. 

“Anything aside that would 

have made me a traitor and I was 

never a traitor, I am not a traitor 

and will never be a traitor.’’ 

Al-Mustapha however called 

on all citizens of the country to 

come together as one regardless 

of their creed or political 

differences for a better Nigeria. 

Asked to assess the nation’s 

democracy in an interview 

with newsmen after the lecture 

, the former CSO said; “There 

is so 

much 

turbulence, 

greed 

a n d 

selfishness. 

We take 

two steps 

forward, 

four steps 

backward. 

''My 

concern 

i s 

patriotism 

and true 

love for 

t h e 

country 

our desire 

is to 

invest 

and allow 

o u r 

institutions 

to stay 

rather 

t h a n 

forcing 

them into 

decay. 

That is 

what we 

should be cautious about. 

“Those in leadership and those 

being led particularly those who 

have attained statesmanship 

position should understand there 

is heavier responsibility on their 

shoulder and they should realize 

that this country is too important 

to be allowed to fail. We must 

support all those in power.’’ 

Also speaking on the present 

administration's fight against 

corruption, he said: “Anti 

corruption war is not easy as it is 

being said, we saw it in the past 

administrations. 

“But before you start the anti 

corruption war itself, there are 

measures to take. One is to heal 

the wounds; two, corruption has 

eaten deep, so, it is going to be a 

combination of many things, 

moral law, science and force. 

“The law should be seen to 

be enforced, ensuring the 

right of man and those who 

are enforcing it should also 

realize that the right of man 

must be respected. 

“And those who are stealing 

should realize law is hot water, 

if you dare put your hand in 

hot water, you will get burnt 

and when it is burnt you have no 

one to blame. This is where we 

are and this must be done .’’ 

Earlier, Fasehun had 

exonerated the former CSO and 

recounted his experience with 

him during the Oputa panel. 

Fasehun said Al-Mustapha 

was convicted “with unreliable 

evidences by the Oputa Panel” 

The guest lecturer, Dare 

Babarinsa had earlier said that the 

former CSO imprisoned the 

former Secretary to the 

Government of the Federation 

(SGF), Olu Falae and Fasehun 

in the same prison during the 

military junta's rule. 

Babarinsa said: “Nigeria has 

really changed and this has 

also culminated into the CSO 

sitting together with Fasehun 

and Falae, whom the former 

allegedly victimized during 

the military era.’’ 

From left: Chief Adebayo Akande, Chairman/Founder, Splash FM; Dr. Tope 

Jepade and Prof. Oranusi Solomon at the convocation. 

Judge withdraws from suit 

challenging Olubadan's installation 

By Ola Ajayi 

IBADAN—A 

case 

challenging the installation 

of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba 

Saliu Adetunji was stalled 

yesterday in Ibadan as the 

presiding judge, Justice 

Mukhtar Abimbola of the Oyo 

State High Court withdrew from 

the case following petition 

against him. 

Though, the judge said the 

National Judicial Council to 

which the petition was sent had 

absolved him from any wrong 

doing, he decided to transfer 

the case in the interest of justice 

and to clear all doubts. 

Seriki line in Ibadan led by 

Chief Adebayo Oyediji had 

contested the installation of 

Olubadan in March 4, this year, 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA— 

MOTORISTS and 

commuters plying Lagos/ 

Abeokuta Expressway may now 

heave a sigh of relief as the 

Federal Roads Maintenance 

Agency, FERMA, yesterday, 

began palliative measures to fix 

bad portions on the road. 

The agency began the repairs 

from the Joju area filling up the 

craters which had been causing 

serious traffic jams on the road. 

Speaking with newsmen at the 

site, the Progress Officer of the 

claiming that since two high 

chiefs died in succession, it was 

the turn of his line to produce 

the next Olubadan. 

His bid to stop the installation 

of Oba Adetunji failed when the 

court refused his prayer. 

At the court yesterday, litigants 

in the case and lawyers of the 

claimants Mr. Abideen Adeniran 

and Michael Lana representing 

the Olubadan and the Olubadanin-Council, 

had sat in court to 

continue hearing when the judge 

jolted them as he excused himself 

and transferred the case to the 

administrative block of the court 

for re-assignment. 

The judge said he was very 

shocked at the very strong 

language used in the petition 

against him, noting that he had 

since been invited by the NJC. 

FERMA begins repair of 

Lagos - Abeokuta Expressway 

agency, Mr. Monday Olaogun 

disclosed that palliative repairs 

would be carried out on all the 

bad portions of the road. 

He listed Joju, U-Turn, Ijoko, 

Owode, Iyana Ilogbo and Ilepa 

as areas mapped out for repair. 

Olaogun explained that the 

construction work became 

necessary to ease the incessant 

gridlock on the busy expressway. 

He said: “We are trying to repair 

the bad portion of the road.There 

are four gullies here at Joju, we 

are putting boulders to reinstate 

them to road level so that vehicles 

can have their way.'' 

Edo govt deposes Ojuromi of Uromi 

EDO State Government has 

deposed, Mr Anselm 

Edenojie as the Ojuromi of 

Uromi. 

His deposition is contained 

in a letter signed by Secretary 

to Edo State Government, 

Professor Julius Ihonvbere, 

dated November 9, 2016 and 

addressed to “Mr Anselm O. 

Edenojie.” 

Entitled, Deposition from 

Office as Ojuromi of Uromi: 

Addendum, the government 

stated: “Please be informed 

that the initial Exco decision 

of October 26, 2016 has been 

further 

affirmed. 

Consequently, you have been 

deposed as the Ojuromi of 

Uromi pursuant to Section 28 

(i & ii) of the Traditional Rulers 

& Chiefs Law, 1979. 

“Kindly, therefore, disregard 

our letter of November 4, 2016 

on the subject, Re: Letter of 

Apology to Edo State 

Government.'' 

C

C 

M 

Y 

K 


Valedictory SEC: We had a team 

committed to Edo project —Oshiomhole 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—GOVERNOR 

Adams Oshiomhole 

of Edo State, yesterday, 

expressed gratitude to 

members of his cabinet 

over what he described as 

their commitment, 

steadfastness and 

resourcefulness when he 

presided over his last State 

Executive Council, SEC, 

meeting. 

Speaking during the 

valedictory SEC meeting at 

the Government House, the 

out-going governor said: 

“Let me thank every one of 

you for what God has used 

you to do for our people and 

for our great state. Let me 

say publicly that I do 

believe the evidence is 

there, that members of this 

state executive council are 

the least paid and most 

hardworking compared to 

any other state that I know 

of. I also know that we had 

to work long hours. I recall 

a meeting we had, starting 

at 9.00 am, no 

adjournment and staying 

all the way to 7.00 am the 

following day. We all 

agreed that we would do 

that and we would not 

adjourn until we had 

addressed the issue of the 

viability of this state so that 

we could deliver on our 

promises. 

“I thank all of you. May 

God bless you and may 

God reward you. We must 

have a sense of collective 

ownership of everything 

that happened while we 

were here. I want to 

apologise to those I 

harassed, and there was 

hardly anyone I did not 

harass. But it could be both 

ways. I wanted everything 

to be perfect. The harder I 

strived towards perfection, 

the more I realised that it 

was not possible. I am still 

striving. I was always afraid 

to fail. It has been my 

nature. I did not design it. 

Thank you for tolerating a 

lot of that and for 

appreciating that nothing 

was personal. I am proud 

of every one of you, and as 

Odubu said, let us see 

ourselves as members of a 

particular class, like you 

have members of an alumni 

association, you have a 

particular class. May God 

preserve this class, and may 

the membership of this 

class continue to advance.” 

According to him: “With 

Godwin Obaseki, I think 

one of us is taking over. We 

have a sense that the man 

who chaired our economic 

team, with whom we had 

debates, is going to 

continue. My prayer is that 

he will avoid our mistakes 

and build on our strength 

and that the economic 

environment will be 

sufficiently enabling to 

enable him to do all of the 

good things I know he has 

in his heart, because what 

brought us together is the 

Edo project. I know he has 

passion. He has a 

commitment; he has the 

energy and he has the 

honesty of purpose, and 

above all, he has the 

competence. What he will 

need from us is the prayer 

for God to enable him to do 

so well that this club of 

which he was a member, he 

will be an example of how 

members of this club are 

performing and growing 

from strength to strength. 

Thank you so very much.” 

Odubu 

Also speaking, the 

outgoing Deputy 

Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu 

said: “I recall with nostalgia 

the very early days of our 

relationship. The very first 

time we met with regard to 

this project was in Abuja. It 

was as if we had known 

each other for donkey 

years. We bonded as 

brothers. I recall again the 

trying moment, the trying 

period when our mandate 

was stolen. You provided 

exemplary leadership. Mr. 

Governor, sir, to say that 

you have performed beyond 

previously established 

boundaries will be to state 

the obvious. To also say that 

you began well and ended 

well will also be to state the 

obvious. Mr. Governor, sir, 

you have changed the Edo 

narrative. 

“Before now, many of us 

were ashamed to identify 

ourselves as coming from 

Edo State. Today, we hold 

our heads high in various 

places to say, we are 

bonafide Edo indigenes."



Printing of fake result sheets: Wike alleges transfer 

of case to Police Zone 6, Calabar 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT 

HARCOURT— 

GOVERNOR Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State, yesterday 

alleged that the Police High 

Command was plotting to 

sweep the controversial 

printing of fake result sheets 

ahead of the rerun election in 

the state under the carpet with 

alleged takeover of the case 

by the Police Zone 6, Calabar. 

But when contacted, the 

Rivers State Police spokesman, 

DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said he 

had not seen any signal 

transferring the case to Zone 

6. 

“I have not seen any signal 

transferring the matter to zone 

6. I will get to you if I see the 

signal”, he said. 

However,the governor 

accused the Police of plot to 

trigger violence in the state 

with its alleged move to 

frustrate the prosecution of 

persons linked with the 

alleged printing of fake 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, 

result sheets in the state. 

The governor, who spoke 

yesterday at Government 

House, Port Harcourt, claimed 

that the Assistant Inspector- 

General of Police, AIG, Zone 

6, Calabar, had asked that the 

matter be transferred to him, 

describing it as a clear move 

to frustrate thorough 

investigation of the matter. 

He wondered why the Rivers 

State Police Command would 

Involve us in Ogoni cleanup, HOSTCOM tells FG 

By Michael Eboh 

O IL-PRODUCING 

communities, on the 

aegis of Host Communities of 

Nigeria Producing Oil and 

Gas HOSTCOM, yesterday, 

called on the Federal 

Government to involve the 

group in the cleanup of Ogoni 

land and also release the gas 

flare penalty money to them. 

In a statement in Abuja, after 

a meeting between leaders of 

the Niger Delta region and the 

Minister of Environment, Mrs. 

Amina Mohammed, National 

Chairman of HOSTCOM, Dr. 

Mike Emuh, commended 


Buhari for approving the 

release of the gas flare penalty 

money. 

According to him, payment 

of the fund to HOSTCOM 

would enable it commence 

sustainable developmental 

projects ranging from human 

capital development, 

agriculture, infrastructural 

development, education, 

health and industrialization, 

among others. 

•We're not aware of transfer —Police 

not be able to handle the 

issue, alleging that before 

the AIG even asked that the 

matter be transferred to his 

office, there were allegations 

that the state Police command 

was under pressure to tamper 

with evidences on the matter. 

Wike said: “Desperate 

efforts are being made to kill 

this matter. The AIG Zone 6 

has asked for transfer of the 

matter to Zone 6. Who wrote 

petitions for this to be done? 

It is clear that All 

Progressives Congress, 

Other demands the group 

made in its presentation to 

the Minister, Emuh said, 

include, “Payment of 13 per 

cent derivation fund as 

enshrined in the Nigerian 

Constitution directly to 

HOSTCOM which is the 

legitimate representative 

organization of the 

communities hosting oil and 

gas facilities in Nigeria. 

“Involvement of 

FRSC arrests 2,600 motorists over noninstallation 

of speed limiting device 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HARCOURT: 

THE Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, yesterday said it 

had arrested over 2,600 motorists 

for not installing the speed 

limiting device in their vehicles. 

Commander of Rivers State 

Sector Command, Andrew 

Kumakpayi, spoke in Port 

Harcourt during a health 

programme organized for tanker 

drivers in conjunction with 

APC, wrote that the matter be 

handled by Zone 6. The 

whole idea is to see that 

prosecution is frustrated.” 

The governor called on 

INEC to also stand up to 

demand that justice be done 

on the issue since it 

allegedly impinged on its 

integrity, saying, “We 

thought that this had to do 

with the credibility of INEC. 

We expect INEC to say, no 

this thing should be properly 

investigated because it 

touches on our credibility. 

Nigerian Medical Association, 

NMA, and Medical Women’s 

Association of Nigerian, 

MWAN. 

Kumapayi expressed 

happiness that the compliance 

level of vehicle owners in the 

state to the speed limiting device 

was encouraging. 

He urged motorists to install 

the device before the deadline 

elapsed, saying: “We have 

arrested close to 2,600 vehicles. 

About 30 percent of motorists 

The press must ensure that 

this matter is not killed, 

justice must be done. All we 

are saying is that the Police 

here (Rivers State) cannot 

say they do not have capacity 

to investigate this matter. 

What is there to investigate? 

You have the evidence, 

names have been mentioned 

why not arrest them? All you 

hear is there is pressure 

from above. We will resist 

every move to frustrate the 

matter. We will not allow this 

to happen.” 

LAST EXCO SESSION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (2nd right) presides 

over his last exco session as governor of Edo State flanked by the Deputy Governor, Dr 

Pius Odubu (left); Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere (right), and 

the Head of Service, Mrs Gladys Idahor, yesterday. 

HOSTCOM in the Hydro- 

Carbon Pollution Restoration 

Project, HYPREP, clean-up 

of Ogoniland and other 

Communities in oil and gas 

producing states in Nigeria. 

“Issuance of pipeline 

surveillance/maintenance of 

right of way (ROW) contract 

to HOSTCOM, to create the 

much needed jobs in the host 

communities producing and 

hosting oil and gas 

facilities in Nigeria. 

“Collaboration with 

HOSTCOM investors and 

foreign partners for the 

establishment of Modular 

Refineries for effective 

utilization of the gas being 

flared daily in the Niger 

Delta region to produce 

cheap electricity, fertilizer 

and domestic gas production 

among others." 

have their device installed 

already. They have a time line 

to install the device. After the 

deadline, people who fail to 

comply will be sanctioned. 

Anyone we arrest will pay a fine 

of N50,000 or be prosecuted. 

We have cared for drivers 

because we want drivers to 

drive safely on the roads. Most 

drivers do not have time to go 

for medical attention so there is 

need to provide this help for 

them to check their sugar level." 

Maritime 

workers issue 

14-day 

ultimatum to 

Chevron 


U GHELLI—THE 

Maritime Workers 

Union of Nigeria, 

MWUN, has handed 

Chevron Nigeria 

Limited, CNL, and its 

contractors a 14-day 

ultimatum to address the 

union’s demand for the 

unionization of the 

seafarers in the 

company’s operations. 

MWUN, which is the 

umbrella body of all 

maritime workers, in a 

letter to the management 

of Chevron, accused the 

company 

of 

“deliberately and 

illegally denying the 

union from carrying out 

its functions since the 

inception of Chevron’s 

activities in the Central 

Zone” 

In the union's letter 

signed by Jonathan 

Esimi, Secretary, the 5- 

man Special Committee, 

further accused the oil 

major and its contractors 

of feigning ignorance of 

the existence of the 

union and the legal 

instrument that created 

it. 

Replace 

Oyegun with 

Oshiomhole 

as APC Chair 

—Onoriode 

By Charles Kumolu 

A 

CHIETIAN of All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Delta 

State, Chief Ovie 

Onoriode, has said that for 

the party to emerge 

stronger from internal 

crises, it must consider 

replacing its National 

Chairman, Chief John 

Odigie- Oyegun with the 

outgoing Edo State 

governor, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole, noting that the 

latter will provide an 

acceptable leadership in 

the party. 

Onoriade, in a chat with 

Vanguard, also said that it 

was wrong for Oyegun to 

have said that he would do 

anything to ensure that 


Buhari was re-elected in 

2019, describing the remark 

as distractive. 

He said: ‘’It is against the 

ideals of the party for the 

National Chairman to 

openly shut the door this 

early against other 

aspirants."



Senate rejects controversial grazing bill 

By Henry Umoru 

A 

B U J A — T H E 

controversial bill for an 

Act to provide for establishment 

of grazing areas management 

agency and other related matters, 

yesterday on the floor of the 

Senate, suffered a major set back 

as it was stood down for 

discussion and further 

deliberation. 

The bill, sponsored by Senator 

Rabiu Kwankwaso, APC, Kano 

Central, titled A Bill for an Act to 

provide for the Establishment of 

grazing Areas Management 

Agency and for other related 

Matters, 2016, failed to scale 

second reading as it was rejected. 

It further seeks to create a 

mechanism for prevention of 

crises on getting early warning 

signals by setting a standing 

mediation committee in all 

participating states and local 

government areas, to be 

saddled with the responsibility 

of mediating between the 

parties and for other related 

matters. 

Also yesterday, the Senate stood 

down a bill for an Act to provide 

for the Establishment of National 

Ranches Commission for the 

regulation, management, 

preservation and control of 

By Babajide Komolafe 

LAGOS—OFFICIALS of 

the Department of State 

Services (DSS) yesterday raided 

the offices of some bureaux de 

change (BDC) in Lagos, and 

arrested operators selling above 

By Favour Nnabugwu 

ABUJA—NO fewer than 

one hundred employees 

in the Office of the Accountant- 

General of the Federation, OAGF, 

Federal Ministry of Power, Works 

and Housing, Ministry of 

Environment recently disengaged 

by the Federal Civil Service 

Commission, FCSC, yesterday 

stormed the commission, 

barricading the gate of the 

commission in protest. 

The aggrieved workers were 

disengaged from service two years 

after their employment. 

One of the protesters said they 

were given letters of employment 

by state commissioners to work in 

the various ministries two years 

back only for the commission to 

write to the Accountant General 

of the Federation, AGF, to stop 

their salaries over what it 

described as irregularities in the 

ranches and for connected 

purposes, sponsored by Senator 

Barnabas Gemade, APC, Benue 

North East. 

Another bill for an Act to control 

the keeping and movement of 

cattle in Nigeria and for related 

matters, sponsored by Senator 

Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu 

North, was also stood down by 

the Senate. 

It would be recalled that the 

three bills were slated for 

the stipulated exchange rate of 

N385 per dollar. 

BDC sources, who confirmed 

this development to Vanguard 

said DSS operatives visited Hajj 

Camp and Murtala Muhammed 

International Airport and shut 

down BDCs selling dollars above 

100 disengaged FG staff storm 

FCSC 

employment of the protesters 

whose age ranged between 30 and 

50 years. 

The protesters claimed they 

had been on salary in the last 

two years until the directive from 

the FCSC to AGF in August this 

year stopped it. 

The protest forced chairman of 

the FCSC, Deaconess Joan Ayo, 

along with some commissioners of 

the commission to come down to 

the main gate to speak to the 

protesters who paid no attention 

to them eventually. 

While Vanguard was waiting 

and watching by the main gate as 

events unfolded, other visitors to 

the FCSC were not allowed in and 

out of the coommission due to the 

tension. 

The aggrieved workers 

wielded placards with such 

inscriptions as ‘We are all 

graduates, treat us as on; ‘FCSC 

don’t disengage to engage’ and 

‘How can FCSC ask AGF to stop 

our salary’’, among others. 

discussion last Tuesday but were 

also stepped down. 

The Senate rejected the three 

bills yesterday because the 

contents were not uniform, just as 

the National Assembly does not 

have the powers to legislate on 

livestock matters, since it is neither 

in the exclusive nor concurrent 

lists but the residual list which only 

states have control. 

However, when Kwankwaso 

presented the bill for second 

the exchange rate of N385 per 

dollar. 

The CBN allows each BDC to 

buy dollars from Travelex at N381 

per dollar and sell to end users at 

N385 per dollar. 

Vanguard investigations reveal 

that the DSS operatives posed as 

end-users who came to purchase 

dollars from the BDCs. After 

surveying the market for 

exchange rate offerings, it was 

gathered that they arrested some 

BDC operators who sold above 

the CBN exchange rate of N385. 

Confirming this development, 

a BDC trader, who spoke under 

anonymity, said the arrest had 

triggered fear among BDC 

operators. 

He said: “I learnt that the DSS 

are going round BDCs. Yesterday 

they went to Airport and the Hajj 

camp, warning them about buying 

and selling exchange rate. If you 

sell above N385 per dollar, they 

will arrest you. So, the whole 

market is paralysed. Nobody is 

buying; nobody is selling 

because you don’t know who 

you may be transacting with. If 

anybody asks for dollars, you 

tell them you don’t have. They 

want people to be hoarding 

dollars, and this will strengthen 

the roadside currency hawkers 

because when people cannot buy 

from BDCs, they will be forced to 

patronise black market 

operators.” 

Another BDC Chief Executive 

confirmed the development to 

Vanguard. Speaking on condition 

of anonymity, she said: “Yes I 

reading, and having discovered 

that it was different from that of 

Gemade and Utazi, Senate 

President, Bukola Saraki, then 

asked the Senate Leader, Senator 

Ali Ndume, to step it down. 

Saraki said: “Before the point 

of order of deputy Senate 

president, I had already made a 

suggestion that these bills caught 

on the order paper, based on the 

discussion I had with the two 

sponsors, be consolidated.'' 

AWARDS: 

Motivational 

speaker and 

Founder, Dayo 

Olomu 

Foundation, Dr. 

Dayo Olomu; 

Mrs. Bunmi 

Obahor, and 

Chief Executive 

Officer, Purple 

Premium Ltd, Mr. 

Richard Obahor, 

during the 

BEFFTA Awards 

in London, 

United Kingdom. 

DSS raids BDC offices, arrests operators selling above 

official exchange rate 

heard that DSS are raiding the 

offices of BDCs. Few people 

confirmed to me that they (DSS) 

have come to them. They have 

gone to Hajj Camp and other 

places, arresting people who are 

selling above the official rate. 

Although they are doing it secretly 

but those who witnessed the arrest 

have informed us.” 

Also confirming the 

development, President 

Association of Bureaux De 

Change Operators of Nigeria 

(ABCON), Alhaji Aminu 

Gwadabe told Vanguard: 

“They (DSS) have called us, 

they have warned us, to warn 

our members that selling 

above the CBN stipulated 

exchange rate is not allowed.'' 

CAPITAL 

MARKET: ‘We 

recorded N2.1bn 

deficit due to 

turbulence' 

Kachukwu launches 3 law books 

on oil next week 

By Soni Daniel 

ABUJA—THE Minister of 

State for Petroleum, Dr. 

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, has 

written three key books on the 

Nigerian oil industry set for 

launch on Monday. 

The three books, 

Compendium of Oil and Gas 

Cases in Nigeria, Legal Issues 

in the Nigerian Petroleum 

Industry and The Petroleum 

Industry Bill: Getting to the Yes, 

will be formally unveiled at the 

Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre 

on November 14, 2016 at 10 am. 

By Emman Ovuakporie & 

Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE Director 

General of Security 

and Exchange Commission, 

SEC, Mr Munir Gwarzo, 

yesterday attributed the 

plummeting revenue base of 

the commission to the 

turbulence being 

experienced in the nation’s 

capital market. 

Records made available 

by the commission showed 

the commission’s revenue 

declined from N5.2 billion to 

N2.9 billion. 

Gwarzo gave this 

revelation during the 2016 

budget defence held at the 

instance of the House 

Committee on Capital 

Market and other 

Institutions, chaired by 

Tajudeen Yusuf, PDP, Kogi. 

In his response, Yusuf 

expressed concerns over the 

utilisation 

of 

N4,580,788,293.33 out of 

N5,389,535,278.56 spent on 

staff emolument, despite the 

inability of the commission 

to meet its projected 

revenue within the period 

under review. 

In his contribution, Ali 

Madaki, APC, Kano, also 

queried the commission 

over the utilisation of the N7 

billion reserve used to 

augment the revenue 

shortfall. 

According to the documents 

presented to the committee, 

the commission has so far 

spent N150,768,220.88 out 

of N161,897,372 approved 

for children education 

allowance; N142,057,068.30 

out of N145,824,146 for 

dressing allowance and 

N911,911 out of N10 million 

approved for additional 

qualifications, among others. 

Vice President, Prof Yemi 

Osinbajo will serve as the 

special guest of honour, while 

the Chairman of Honeywell 

Group, Oba Otudeko, will chair 

the august event, expected to 

be attended by key players in 

and outside the Nigerian oil 

industry. 

Kachikwu, a top lawyer has 

been playing a key role in the 

oil industry before being tapped 

by President Muhammadu 

Buhari to join his cabinet as the 

oil minister. 

He brings his rich industry 

experience to the oil portfolio, 

which is a critical sector of the 

Nigerian economy.



S-East senators meet Buhari 

over IPOB, infrastructure, others 

By Henry Umoru & 

Levinus Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—WORRIED by the 

bad state of social 

infrastructure in the South-East 

zone of the country, Senators 

from the zone yesterday met 

with President Muhammadu 

Buhari and pleaded with him 

to address the problems headon. 

Other pressing issues the 

senators, on the platform of 

South-East Senate Caucus, took 

to the President were those of 

the Indigenous People of Biafra, 

IPOB, and perceived lop-sided 

appointments. 

Led by the Deputy Senate 

President, Ike Ekweremadu, 

and the caucus’ Chairman, 

Enyinnaya Abaribe, the 

senators expressed regret and 

dissatisfaction with the present 

state of infrastructure in the 

zone. 

The meeting, however, was 

held behind closed doors inside 

the President’s office at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Meanwhile, following the 

problem of erosion in the South- 

East and some other parts of the 

country, a bill for an act to 

establish an erosion control and 

prevention commission, 

yesterday, scaled second 

reading in the Senate. 

Buhari made promises 

—Ekweremadu, Abaribe 

On the Senators meeting with 

the President, Senator 

Ekweremadu said that Buhari 

had promised to address the 

issues raised. 

He said that the caucus made 

the move because the people of 

the South-East believed in 

dialogue as an instrument of 

peace and development. 

He said: “For us from the 

South-East, we believe that 

dialogue is better than any other 

form of engagement. So we 

decided to visit the President 

and present to him some of the 

concerns of the South-East, 

including the issues of roads, 

general infrastructure: the rail, 

airports. 

“We also discussed the issue 

of security with him and of 

course, the issue of IPOB. We 

had a good conversation and he 

promised to look into the 

issues.” 

Also speaking, Senator 

Abaribe said South-East zone 

was the most marginalised in 

the country even as he 

recognised that there were other 

social issues across the country. 

He said: “This is the South- 

East caucus in the Senate and 

we came to see the President 

because of the issues we have. 

“We had a fruitful discussion 

with the President. He has 

promised us that he is going to 

look into the 

•...as erosion commission bill scales 2nd reading 

AFTER MEETING THE PRESIDENT: From left— Senator Hope 

Uzodima, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Sam Egwu and Deputy Senate President, 

Ike Ekweremadu, after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida. 

problems of the South-East. 

“We are reassured with the 

response we got from the 

President and we look forward 

to further interaction with him 

in this manner.” 

Other senators on the 

delegation were Sam Egwu, 

Hope Uzodinma, Andy Uba 

and Chukwuka Utazi. 

Erosion bill—Uzodinma 

On the erosion bill, which 

was sponsored by Senator 

Hope Uzodinma (PDP, Imo 

West), it was first read on 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015. 

In his lead debate yesterday, 

By Anayo Okoli 

UMUAHIA—THE Abia 

State Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, primaries to select 

chairmanship candidates for 

the December 17 local 

government elections ended 

in tragedy with one person 

dead and three persons 

seriously injured in Isiala 

Ngwa North area. 

They were victims of a fire 

outbreak in the Chairman’s 

office, allegedly set by 

aggrieved party members. 

The name of the dead victim, 

simply given as Onyemaechi, 

was said to be a staff of the 

council attached to the Office 

of Chairman. 

Senator Hope Uzodinma said: 

“I wish to thank you for this 

great privilege to lead the 

debate on the general 

principles on a Bill for An Act 

to establish the Erosion 

Control and Prevention 

Commission and for other 

matters connected therewith, 

2015. 

“Nigeria is plagued by 

numerous environmental 

problems of different degrees. 

Almost every part of this 

country is characterised by one 

environmental problem or the 

other, but the menace of 

erosion is unarguably the 

One dead, three injured 

in Abia PDP council primaries 

Meanwhile, Abia State Police 

Command has arrested four 

suspects in connection with 

the fire incident. 

The suspects, who were 

paraded by the State Police 

Commissioner, Leye Oyebade, 

were Okereke Madubuchi, 

Enwerem Chukwuma, Ebuka 

Aroh and Loveday Nwigwe. 

They were said to be students 

of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. 

Oyebade said they would be 

charged to court for arson, 

while promising to fish out 

their sponsors. 

Vanguard learned that the 

primaries also witnessed crisis 

in many councils, where some 

politicians alleged imposition 

of candidates. 

severest in terms of 

devastation and destruction. 

“There is no better time than 

now to leave a legacy for 

Nigerians. The menace of 

erosion leaves in its trails 

serious economic hardship 

and poverty on Nigerians. 

“Families are rendered 

homeless, villages displaced 

and yet the ecological fund 

targeted at addressing this 

problem stands misdirected. 

“There is the dire need for 

adequate management of this 

fund, hence the call for the 

establishment of this 

Commission.” 

The party had used option 

A4 to select councillorship 

candidates, but changed the 

rule to open-secret for the 

chairmanship primaries. 

Allegations of imposition of 

candidates, alteration of 

delegates’ lists, among other 

malpractices, were bandied 

about by aspirants and their 

supporters as they tried to 

outmanoeuvre each other. 

An aggrieved party member 

said people of the area were 

rejecting the imposition of 

candidates from the same area 

as the Speaker of the House 

of Assembly, saying “it means 

people from other areas in the 

council are not stakeholders 

in the system.” 

IPOB celebrates 

Donald Trump's 

victory 

By Enyim Enyim 

O NITSHA—THE 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, 

congratulated the 

Republican Party candidate 

of the United States of 

America, Mr. Donald 

Trump, over his victory in 

the presidential election. 

The group, in a statement 

by its Publicity Secretary, 

Mr. Emma Powerful, also 

reminded Trump of his 

promises to Americans and 

the rest of the world to the 

effect that he would support 

the actualisation of the 

Republic of Biafra. 

It read in part: “IPOB, 

under the command of 

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, 

congratulates Donald 

Trump, and thank the good 

people of America and 

Republican Party,” urging 

him to also remember his 

promises to the people of 

America and other people 

across the globe. 

In Anambra State, there 

was jubilation over Trump’s 

victory. Most Awka residents 

said the victory would help 

the Biafra cause. 

Anambra APGA 

shops for Obi’s 

replacement 

By Nwabueze 

Okonkwo 

O 

N I T S H A — 

FOLLOWING the 

lingering crisis in Anambra 

State chapter of All 

Progressives Grand 

Alliance, APGA, which led 

to the suspension of its 

chairman, Chief Norbert 

Obi, the state working 

committee of the party has 

begun a search for Obi’s 

replacement. 

The committee said 

although Obi’s replacement 

must come from the same 

Anambra South Senatorial 

zone where he comes from, 

there was no room for 

retaining him because he 

has no agenda for moving 

the party forward, 

particularly now that the 

2017 governorship election 

is fast approaching. 

APGA's Deputy 

Chairman, Tony Omeligwe 

Elee, dropped the hint 

yesterday at Oba, Anambra 

State, when he led other 

executive members to vist a 

Board of Trustees member, 

Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, 

at his Rojenny Games 

Village, Oba. 

He said the state committee 

would not fold its arms 

and allow the party to be 

relegated to the background.


THAT the President’s 

Executive proposals 

nowadays go through rough 

legislative times before they are 

either rejected or at best 

rancorously approved, should 

worry Mr. President. Or so I 

thought. From the perennial 

proposal for the passage of 

money bills, to the routine 

requests for clearance or 

confirmation of Presidential 

nominees, and now even to the 

most critical request for 

approval to take a 29billion 

dollar loan to get Nigeria out of a 

biting recession, the APC NASS 

seems always ready to stand in 

the way of executive requests. 

Even when it was merely 

rumoured recently that Mr. 

President might be placing 

before the National Assembly, a 

request for economic 

emergency powers in order to 

fast track the efforts by his 

administration to get the nation’s 

economy out of the woods, the 

NASS, surprisingly was already 

preemptively hysterical, with 

most of its members readily filled 

with the fire of anticipatory 

disapproval, so much that if it 

was true such an Executive 

request was in the pipeline, it 

would definitely have been dead 

on arrival already. 

Why would an APC-majority- 

Assembly be poised always to 

give executive requests from an 

APC government such hard 

time? Because APC’s victory at 

the polls has not been properly 

managed. This often bi-partisan 

hostile treatment of presidential 

requests at the legislature, is an 

indication not only of the 

inability of the APC government 

to manage its legislative 

majority tactfully, it is also a clear 

indication that the President’s 

‘Executive Initiative’ at the 

legislature is not handled with 

the circumspection, tact and 

diplomacy that it requires. 

The ‘legislative process’ in any 

democracy is the heart and soul 

of the democratic enterprise. It 

is tended to for the overall good 

of the entire body polity, and it 

is ignored often at great peril not 

only to the Executive arm but to 

the entire system’s operation. 

The ‘legislative process’ feeds the 

democratic circulatory system 

from the mighty jugular pipe of 

life, right to the minutest 

capillaries of everyday 

administration. It is the most allencompassing 

of any 

governmental processes 

touching on virtually all sectors 

of a polity and of a necessity 

leaving no stone unturned and 

in fact no turn un-stoned. 

In most western-type 

democracies, the importance of 

the legislative process is such 

that presidents necessarily 

establish a special department 

headed by a carefully selected 

political lobbyist to advise them 

on how to deal with this vital arm 

of government in their executive 

dealings with the legislature and 

to interface with lawmakers for 

the executive arm. In the United 

States, it is the office of ‘Senior 

Advisor to the President and 

Director for Legislative Affairs’. 

Its equivalent in Nigeria is the 

office of ‘Special Adviser to the 

President on National Assembly 

Matters -which is rooted 

administratively in the 

bureaucratic nomenclature of 

‘Department for Legislative 

Liaison’. 

Thus, in presidential 

democracies especially, strong 

and weak Presidents are usually 

judged almost exclusively by the 

deftness of their executive 

initiatives in the legislative 

NASS and the Buhari 

initiative 

process; and maybe it is the 

reason Theodore Lowi and 

Randell Ripley wrote, in their 

book ‘Legislative Politics’ that 

“The president is the agendasetter 

for the congress and the 

chief continuing initiator of 

subject matter.” 

As agenda setter, it is 

incumbent not only on a 

President to take the lead role in 

executive-legislature relations, 

but is expedient also that his 

cabinet members operate in 

synch with the goal of ensuring 

an excellent presidential 

initiative at the legislature. They 

must, in relation to their specific 

duties, double as Mr. President’s 

legislative foot soldiers -availing 

as regularly as possible- 

‘valuable time’ and ‘useful 

information’ to Parliament both 

in trying moments of frosty 

executive-legislature relations 

and even more so during times 

of mutual camaraderie. 

A President must take the lead 

role in executive-legislature 

relations. He must always be a 

notch ahead of his constitutional 

check-mates. How he does this 

is less a matter of theory than it 

is of expediency. And whereas a 

President Buhari 

has to up his game 

in dealing with the 

NASS. 

But first he must 

be thorough with 

his legislative 

requests. Because 

with a Saraki 

NASS there will 

always be no free 

meals for the 

President 

jackbooted approach would be 

practically unsustainable, 

passive non-interference –which 

Buhari seems to favour- can be 

terribly self-harming! Rather 

than portray the President as 

respectful of democratic limits, 

it betrays a weak presidential 

initiative to the legislative 

process and by implication a 

weak presidency. 

But it is in tactfully striking a 

delicate balance between the 

extremes of meddlesomeness 

and non-interference that 

‘strong presidents’ in a 

presidential democracy live up 

to their Executive billings in 

getting matters through 

legislative bottlenecks. The APC 

lost the momentum when –no 

thanks to Mr. President’s illadvised 

aloofness- it failed to 

corral its newly elected 

legislators to speak with one 

voice and to install partycentrist 

leaderships in both 

chambers. 

Since then virtually every 

internal crises of the APC owes 

its origin to that presidential 

indiscretion. 

Executive-Legislature 

Liaison 

The office of the Special Adviser 

to the President on National 

Assembly Matters, is not any 

different from other political 

offices. But unlike others, this 

hub of executive-legislature 

liaison may not effectively 

function to meet presidential 

objectives if just ‘any’ run-of-themill 

politician is appointed to 

man it. Although commonplace 

political savvy, relevant 

academic qualifications or 

simply legislative experience 

may suffice to qualify for the job, 

these alone may not always avail 

to see executive requests 

through the legislature. 

It is the reason those who know 

this turf well see 

superintendence over this key 

governmental office not as a 

‘political appointment’ but a 

Excerpts from: 'The Trump- 

Hillary Conundrum', (04/08/ 

16) 

“…let’s face it, whether Trump 

or Hilary wins the next 

presidential election, one thing 

is certain: that America will 

continue to be ruled not by 

elected politicians, as the 

impression is falsely given, but 

by covert non-democratic 

security institutions who – 

behind Washington’s Closed 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 —17 

17 

‘special assignment’ requiring Liaison Officers (PLOs) –Kashim 

more of ‘advocacy’, ‘diplomacy’ Imam and Esther Oduehi- during 

and ‘tact’ than merely ‘politics’ their Principal’s first term in 

or ‘administration’. In truth, office. 

sometimes it may require all of 

the above. It is inconceivable 

that the current undertakers in OBJ’S baptism of fire 

that office have the attributes 

necessary to make a success of Obasanjo’s Executive in its first 

this job –and especially with a four years, little equipped and 

Saraki-NASS that has every little self-motivated to equip for 

reason to be both intra and interpartisan. 

executive-legislature liaison, 

the all-important task of 

Any appointed to mann this was the sole victim of the very 

office, no matter his political chaos that its own approach to 

experience, his academic the legislative process had 

credentials –or notwithstanding occasioned. The Senate of that 

even the lack thereof- must bring dispensation at some point in 

to bear not the usual blithe of reaction to Kashim’s excessive 

harum-scarum that everyday grandstanding –or was it overgladiation?- 

had to issue the 

politicians are known to go by, 

but a certain go-getting, President an ultimatum to 

soldierly mentality of an Ita- replace him or to risk noncooperation. 

The House was 

Giwa when she was there, or the 

deftness of a profoundly even less diplomatic; it simply 

diplomatic Aminu Wali who set banned Ester Oduehi from its 

up the office in the first place. A Chamber. 

square peg to this square hole It took this extreme baptism of 

must bring more than a little fire for Obasanjo to realise his 

measure of sagacity, tenacity, weak initiative in the legislative 

gumption and then guts. Such process and to proceed, in his 

must be one of consummate second term, to create a 

social skills; dignified and up to coordinated, one-channel 

his political snuff. 

Executive approach to the 

He must be ready sometimes Legislative process. And it was 

to stoop or -whenever this Executive rapprochement - 

necessary- even to grandstand and not the rumoured existence 

to conquer. And it is in knowing then of a ‘rubber stamp’ 

when to stoop to conquer from Assembly- that was responsible 

when to grandstand to conquer, for the smooth passages 

that the touch of the tactful thereafter of Executive bills 

undertaker stands out from the under the Obasanjo 

tactless tackle of poor gladiators Administration. President 

whose conduct may only help to Buhari has to up his game in 

line up enemies for the President. dealing with the NASS. 

And worse still –as in our But first he must be thorough 

present situation- if the President with his legislative requests. 

himself, is decidedly his own Because with a Saraki NASS there 

enemy. And this was exactly the will always be no free meals for 

case with Obasanjo’s Presidential the President. 

As America decides 

Postscript 

Doors- will continue to 

determine how America makes 

her living: by might not by right; 

and by the promotion of a 

defective merchandise, 

'democracy' as a decoy to 

entrench an unjust economic 

system. 

Whether Trump or Hilary wins 

the next presidential election, 

democracy especially in the rest 

of the back countries of the 

world, will continue to be not 

Re:'Now that Abati is on the menu’ 

MOHAMMED let’s plead for Abati. We all know what usually 

ends a call to come and work (eat) in the Villa; to ignore it is 

to your detriment, to honour it is also to your detriment. The man 

Abati wasn’t oblivious of these facts; likewise he wasn’t oblivious to 

the fact that when you have your hand soiled with oil from the public 

pot of soup, you are no longer to be counted as undefiled. Against 

that background, Abati seemed to have knowingly followed the 

dictates of his mind, and there was a lot of prudence in that. But I am 

not sure if he knew that in this regime, he wouldn’t be allowed to go 

unquestioned if he was found to return with a soiled hand. All I just 

hope and pray for is that all his years of muckraking and calling 

leadership to order won’t go in vain and would be considered in his 

favour, and thus his soiled hand would be accepted as an excusable 

outcome of what you are bound to suffer when you are in an highly 

contagious association, like working amongst bewitched people in a 

bewitched environment. However, with Abati’s involvement in this 

to the tune of a whopping N50m, I may say that the Villa is indeed 

under the control of some supper extra-powerful potpourri of 

ghoulish spirits. –Sesan Bello. 

Mohammed, whatever goes up must come down. Once very 

powerful, but now a wailer. Hmm mm! Very educative and interesting 

article. Bravo. –Victoria Tabak. 

-You dine with the devil, you lose your soul. You live with the 

consequences of your action. No excuse. Good piece. –Busola 

Odunuga Shokan. 

-For those of us who queued behind our senior colleagues of your 

ilk; we did watch bemused by ‘egbon’ Ruben’s sudden penchant of 

talking from both sides of his mouth in defense of his former principal, 

regardless of the excesses of that administration. He may still be 

ours but he no longer occupies that lofty seat of reverent icons of 

the Fourth Estate to be dotted over. -Thomas Brown Usman 

Wamba. 

really about ‘good governance’, 

but about continued devotion to 

a system no matter how non 

provident. It will not matter 

whether poor nations feed or 

starve as long as they remain so 

called 'democratic'. 

Notwithstanding who wins 

between Trump and Hilary, the 

‘right’ of ‘might’ in international 

politics will continue to take 

precedence over both ‘legal’ and 

‘moral’ imperatives. America, in 

all her dealings with the rest of 

the world, will continue to keep 

no ‘permanent friends’ or 

‘permanent enemies’; but she will 

continue to assert the 

‘permanence’ only of her 

‘interests’. Whoever emerges 

President of the United States of 

America, will continue to ride 

roughshod over both the written 

and the unwritten rules of 

international law. 

The feature of America’s 

foreign policy will continue to be 

‘global war’. She will continue to 

use her might to perpetuate 

injustice around the world. 

Injustice around the world will 

continue to breed terrorism 

around the world. And terrorism 

by making the world insecure 

will continue to legitimise 

curtailing the freedoms of the 

people –in their movements, in 

their transaction and in their 

communications; until the 

ultimate ‘Security State’ is 

created, leading to the 

‘jackbooted, Police-State’ of 

George Orwell’s fictional 

prediction in his book ‘1984’, -in 

which we will be walking ‘chips’ 

watched wherever we are by ‘Big 

Brother’. 

Notwithstanding whether 

Trump or Hilary wins, the 

agenda for the creation of a ‘Pax- 

America’ will not suffer any 

delay! 

C 

M 

YK


THE Professor Mahmood Yakubuled 


Electoral Commission (INEC) 

finally moved, last week, to fix new 

dates for the myriads of pending rerun 

elections earlier declared 

inconclusive by it in two states of 

the Federation – Lagos and Rivers 

States and the Federal Capital 

Territory (FCT). Nothing, however, 

was said about the pending re-run 

for Anambra Central Senatorial 

District. 

INEC scheduled the pending 

Lagos House of Representatives 

and the councillorship seats for the 

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for 

3rd December, 2016, while the 

inconclusive elections for Rivers 

State will now be held on 

Saturday, 10th December 2016. 

INEC probably roused itself into 

action as a result of the threat by 

the Senate on Wednesday, 2nd 

November 2016 (last week) to shut 

down its plenary session if by the 

end of this month the electoral 

Finally, hope for pending re-run polls 

umpire did not take action to 

address the pending elections. 

The Commission had consistently 

blamed its inability to complete the 

re-run elections, especially in 

Rivers State, on “security” 

concerns. Its spokesmen, Oluwole 

Osaze-Uzzi and Nick Dazang, have 

always maintained that the 

Commission would not hold the 

elections until it was reassured of 

the safety of its personnel and 

materials. 

It will be recalled that massive 

violence trailed each attempt to 

hold elections in the state since 

last year. Two weeks to the March 

2016 re-run polls, a chieftain of the 

All Progressives Congress (APC, 

Mr Franklin Obi, was gruesomely 

beheaded and his head taken 

away by his assailants. During the 

Election Day on 21st March, a 

Youth Corps member who served as 

INEC ad-hoc staff, Mr Samuel 

Okonta, was murdered and INEC, 

again, declared the election 

inconclusive. 

However, the Rivers State 

Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, 

has consistently maintained that 

if the same INEC under its former 

chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, 

was able to hold elections 

successfully in the Boko Haram 

hotbed of the North East last year, 

there is nothing about the 

situation in Rivers State to 

prevent it from doing its job. 

We believe it is the job of 

INEC, working with security 

agencies, to ensure security 

during elections. The nation 

can no longer accept any excuse 

for keeping Nigerians, 

especially the people of Rivers 

State (who are not represented 

in the Senate and the House of 

Reps) from enjoying their 

democratic rights to be 

represented at the parliaments 

where decisions are made about 

the way their state and the 

country are governed. 

We call on the Rivers State 

political stakeholders to close 

ranks and be true to the peace 

pact they signed earlier in the 

year. They must put the interests 

of the state above narrow 

partisan interests and work for 

the success of all the pending 

re-run polls. 

OPINION 

Death of Soyinka's Ekpemupolo(2) 

Continued from yesterday’s Viewpoints 

By Ekanpou Enewaridideke 

HIGH CHIEF Ekpemupolo’s 

engagement as a seaman on vessel 

Zarama 21 took him to different countries – 

Bioko Island (Ferando Poo) in Equatorial 

Guinea, Cotonou in Benin Republic and 

Ghana. When his pockets bulged 

progressively with wealth from his seaman 

occupation, he established his own company 

named Tompolo and Sons Enterprise which 

later became Tompolo Nig. Ltd as a servicing 

firm to Gulf Oil Company Limited (now 

Chevron Nig. Ltd), Shell Petroleum 

Development Company and Sedeco Nig Ltd. 

This company was depended upon by most 

multinational oil companies for supply of 

skilled and unskilled manpower. This was the 

company High Chief Government Oweizide 

first efficiently managed as a director and 

became fondly nicknamed TOMPOLO in 

recognition of his phenomenal managerial 

skill. 

Late Mama Sologha Ekpemupolo (nee 

Fefamo) who hailed from Kokodiagbene (in 

Warri South-West LGA) and Ogulagha (in 

Burutu LGA) was Osen’s first wife from whom 

he had his first daughter Chief Mrs. Ghana 

Pondi. With the passage of time Osen planted a 

polygamous aginighan tree which grew 

luxuriantly with constant fertilisation and 

produced a good number of wives, thirty one 

surviving children and forty-five surviving 

grandchildren. High Chief Government 

Ekpemupolo, George Ekpemupolo 

(Chairman, Warri-South-West Council) and 

Engineer Kestin Pondi (businessman), 

Honourable Julius Pondi (member representing 

Burutu Federal Constituency, House of 

Ekpemupolo, fondly 

named father of children, 

was a great traditional 

historian and oral artist 

Representatives) are his children and 

grandchildren among many others too 

numerous to mention. 

Ekpemupolo, fondly named 

PAPATEIKORO and OWOU-DAU (father of 

children), the holder of the chieftaincy title 

AMABEBEFIYEOWEI (the mouth-piece and 

settler of dispute) in Gbaramatu kingdom, 

the TUNTERIWEI (the one who traditionally 

crowns the king) in the kingdom, the revered 

AMAOKOSUOWEI (the oldest man) of 

Kurutie community, was a great traditional 

historian and oral artist whose love for his 

family and the Gbaramatu kingdom was 

phenomenal. Though he had no formal 

education, he was a brilliant, intelligent, 

principled, honest, truthful, sincere, 

responsible and visionary man celebrated as 

a great traditional philosopher and 

SOLOMON of Gbaramatu kingdom and 

beyond until his SOLDIERS-IMPOSED 

untimely death. 

A phenomenal believer and supporter of 

AMASEIKUMOR annual festival, it was he 

who resurrected the BINIZOWEI annual 

festival in the early 1950s – a festival that 

often portrays the rich cultural heritage of 

the Gbaramatu kingdom. His passion for the 

progress of Gbaramatu kingdom was 

unparalleled as he breathed Gbaramatu in 

everything he did. No wonder, his own people 

recognised his contributions in 1966 and 

conferred on him the chieftaincy title of 

AMABEBEFIYEOWEI. As a father, 

grandfather and community leader, his 

daily thoughts were perpetually on the 

emancipation of the Niger Delta from the 

chains of exploitation. It was in recognition 

of his PAN-NIGER DELTA VISION that Niger 

Deltans trooped to his final funeral rites in 

large numbers on 25 September 2016. 

Predicated on a survey of Soyinka’s 

writings and daily activist engagements, we 

do not need Aristotle’s syllogism to know that 

Soyinka is shocked and devastated by 

Ekpemupolo’s death as a result of brutal 

beating by the same soldiers who brutally 

facilitated the death of Segun Sowemimo. 

Tompolo, George, Julius, Kestin, Paul 

Bebenimibo, Benike Joseph, Mrs. Timiebi 

Maika of Akparemogbene and others 

expected Soyinka in the funeral. He did not 

monitor Ekpemupolo’s condition; he did not 

even detail his colleague to look for 

Ekpemupolo in Warri and CABLE him the 

deteriorating condition of Ekpemupolo. Even 

months after Ekpemupolo’s death Soyinka 

had not bothered to alert the world to the 

fact that Ekpemupolo was his TREASURED 

second man that died. 

Tompolo was particularly dismayed that 

they heard nothing from Soyinka their 

father’s friend, but unknown to Tompolo and 

the weeping Gbaramatu kingdom, I had long 

been detailed by Soyinka to look for 

Ekpemupolo in Warri and ‘send him news’ of 

Ekpemupolo. The erudite Professor Soyinka, 

you sent a word to me to ‘trace’ Ekpemupolo 

and ‘send’ you ‘news of him’. This is it: High 

chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo died from 

complications of his amputated lower limb 

after he had been brutally beaten by 

Nigerian Soldiers at Kurutie in Warri South- 

West Council. Therefore, another SEGUN 

SOWEMIMO the journalist had died in THE 

MAN DIED. 

Concluded 

*Mr. Enewaridideke, a commentator 

on national issues, wrote from Akparemogbene, 

Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2016 — 19 

Recession instilling financial discipline 

in Nigerians — SURVEY 

By Omoh Gabriel, 

Business Editor 

Some Nigerians say the 

current economic 

meltdown has inculcated in 

them, a sense of ‘financial 

discipline’ in their spending. 

They said that they had now 

prepared a ‘mini-budget’ to 

determine their spending as a 

measure for coping with the 

economic situation in the country. 

Alhaji Faruoq Ado, a civil servant 

in Dutse, said since the current 

economic recession started, he 

had been making purchases 

strictly on his monthly estimate. 

Hajiya Azumi Shehu, another 

civil servant in Dutse and also a 

widow, said the recession was a 

big challenge for her and her 

family. Shehu disclosed that she 

had reduced their three square 

meals to two due to the recession 

that made prices of foodstuff to 

skyrocket. 

She explained that after 

breakfast, she cooked lunch for 

the family and ensured it also 

served as dinner. According to 

her, the hardship has disciplined 

the family on how to manage 

and get satisfied with the little 

available to them. 

Also, Alhaji Sajo Maitaya said 

that the recession had taught 

him how to live according to his 

means. He said that he was 

extravagant before the recession, 

but now spent on basic needs 

only. Maitaya said that he had 

intended to have a third wife but 

had to “tarry a while” due to 

economic challenges. 

Accordingly, Alhaji Baffa Sani, 

another resident, said that he 

had been forced to transfer four 

of his children from private to 

VISIT: From left: Senate Committee Chairman on Marine Transport, Sen. Yerima Ahmed, 

Chief Executive Officer, Intels Nigeria Limited, Mr. Andrew Dawes and Deputy Managing 

Directo, Intels Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adamu Atiku, during a visit of Senate Committee on 

Marine Transport to Intels in Lagos. 

public schools due to the 

recession. According to him, I 

can no longer cope with high 

school fees in the private schools. 

In Gombe, some residents are 

calling on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

introduce price control 

mechanisms and enforce 

compliance. 

They said that such measures 

would assist in reducing the 

hardship faced by ordinary 

Nigerians as a result of the 

economic downturn. “If 

government imposes price 

control on foodstuff, medicine 

and other essential commodities, 

it will reduce the hardship by 

more than 50 per cent,” Malam 

Idris Abdullahi, a civil servant 

said there were no extra left after 

the purchase of basic items. 

Trump’s leadership vital for world 

trading system – WTO chief 

The Head of the World 

Trade Organisation 

(WTO) yesterday said 

the United States continued 

to hold a pivotal role in 

global commerce. WTO 

Director-General, Roberto 

Azevedo, said he would 

support the administration 

of Donald Trump in ensuring 

trade was a positive force for 

job creation. 

“U.S. leadership in the global 

economy and the multilateral 

trading system remains vital. 

It is clear many feel trade is 

not working for them. We 

must address this and ensure 

trade delivers the widest 

benefit to the most people,’’ 

Azevedo said, while 

congratulating Trump on his 

presidential election victory. 

Trump has described the 

Geneva-based trading club as 

a “disaster” and suggested he 

could pull the U.S. out of the 

WTO if the rules proved an 

obstacle to his plans to protect 

U.S. manufacturing. He has 

promised to punish U.S. firms 

that move jobs to Mexico and 

slap a 45 per cent tariff on 

Chinese imports to try to claw 

back a trade deficit with China 

that the U.S. government put 

Alhaji Muhammad 

Muhammad, another resident, 

said although the recession was 

a bad omen, it had its advantage 

as it had forced a lot of people to 

go back to the farm. 

“Not only have Nigerians 

gone back to the farm, they also 

have imbibed fiscal discipline as 

the culture of extravagant 

spending has gone,” he noted. 

Similarly, respondents in Yola, 

have also advised government 

to establish Price Control Board 

to check the skyrocketing 

prices of essential 

commodities. 

They were of the view that the 

hike was being engineered 

deliberately by shylock 

businessmen to maximise 

profit, hiding under the excuse 

of “meltdown in the national 

at 367 billion dollars in 

2015. 

Azevedo, whose leadership of 

the WTO gives him a role as a 

guardian of trade openness, 

has declined to criticise 

Trump’s remarks. According 

to Azevedo, in July, trade was 

so obviously positive for 

every economy that it is like 

trying to argue with a friend 

that he needs to breathe. In 

his reaction to Trump’s 

election, he said that the WTO 

was ready to support the 

administration to ensure trade 

is a positive element in a new 

strategy for development and 

job creation. 

and global economy”. Mr 

Joshua Dogo, a barber in 

Jimeta, said that lack of 

money in circulation had 

affected his business 

negatively. Dogo said that 

the number of customers, 

who used to visit his shop, 

had dropped drastically. 

He said that the situation 

had made him to adjust all 

his ways of life and, 

therefore, urged the 

government to introduce 

price control measures to 

mitigate the economic 

hardship. 

Mr Adamu Mohammed, a 

tricycle operator in Yola, 

said that the economic 

downturn had made a lot of 

people to develop the habit 

of trekking. 


development has 

reduced patronage of his 

service, leaving him with 

little income compared 

to what obtained in the 

past. He said that the 

situation had affected his 

savings, explaining that 

the N3,000 that he used 

to save on daily basis was 

no longer forthcoming. 

Mohammed said that the 

‘jamboree’ lifestyle that 

he subscribed to in the 

past had to be replaced 

with austere life pattern, 

adding that he no longer 

“attend wedding 

ceremonies and splash 

money” as was the case 

before. He called on the 

Federal Government to 

establish a commodity 

price control organ of 

government that would 

regulate the activities of 

shylock businessmen. 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

KRONA 

Meanwhile, some people in 

Bauchi consider the economic 

meltdown as a global recession 

while others see it as being 

engineered by some selfish 

Nigerians to thwart efforts of the 

present administration in 

addressing the damage done to 

the country’s economy by past 

regimes. Alhaji Mohammed 

Yahaya, a lecturer with Bauchi 

State College for Agriculture, 

views it as a global recession 

being experienced worldwide. 

On his part, Mr Habila 

Danket, an Economist, alleged 

that the problem was created by 

previous administrations in the 

country. Yahaya and Danket said 

that the recession had negatively 

impacted on their lives, forcing 

them to adjust their lifestyles to 

survive. 

Most respondents in Bauchi 

said they had resorted to 

patronising local products, a 

measure that reduced their 

spending by over 50 per cent. 

They suggested that the Federal 

Government should focus more 

on agriculture and solid 

minerals sectors since the 

global fall in the price of crude 

oil had worsened the Nigerian 

situation. Also, residents of the 

six states in the South South 

region of the country say the 

recession has forced them to 

change their life styles. 

They said the economic 

recession had reduced business 

activities nationwide. 

In separate interviews, the 

residents of Edo, Delta and 

Cross River said that the 

situation had made it impossible 

for them to earn more money and 

savings. They said that the 

recession had certainly altered 

their spending patterns, daily 

life styles and had destroyed 

some homes in the region. 

In Benin, Mr Chuks Aguonye, 

a civil servant, said the 

hardship was eating deep into 

his pocket and could hardly 

provide for his family. “ 

$165.90 -1.60 

$2,467.00 -34.00 

$21.71 -0.26 

$46.28 0.24 

$45.04 0.06 

304.25 304.75 305.25 

379.3085 379.9318 380.5552 

336.7743 337.3278 337.8812 

312.3396 312.8529 313.3662 

2.947 2.9519 2.9567 

0.4955 0.5055 0.5155 

420.1371 420.8276 421.518 

44.9732 45.0476 45.122 

81.1182 81.2515 81.3848 

420.8995 421.5912 422.2829 

45.2511 45.3254 45.3998 

CBN Exchange rate as at 9/11/2016


, 

The best way to avoid failure 

is to take educated risks that are 

, 

based on facts not emotions 

BUSINESS 

Entrepreneurs’ biggest 

fears and how to conquer 

them 

In 2015, a group of researchers 

compiled a review of scientific studies 

on fear and entrepreneurship. The review 

concluded that fear is a major psychological 

barrier to entrepreneurship. Fear, the 

review also noted, is a diverse and complex 

emotion and though it can prevent 

entrepreneurs from taking necessary risks, 

when it’s properly managed fear isn’t 

debilitating. 

Samantha Harrington, co-owner and lead 

writer of Driven Media, a roving girl-power 

newsroom, here lists three of her biggest 

fears as an entrepreneur and how she has 

conquered them. 

New ideas, creativity drying up 

In entrepreneurship, you constantly have 

to innovate. That’s an easy thing to do when 

new ideas are flowing. But what about the 

days when you’re banging your head against 

a wall because you can’t think of anything 

new? “On those days I’m convinced that I’ll 

never have another good idea again. I’m 

convinced that I used up all my creativity 

and my company will never move forward 

again. The only way I’ve figured out how to 

conquer this fear is to walk away for an hour 

(or a day, or a week) from the problem I’m 

trying to solve. And then when I come back 

to it, brainstorm ’til I have a good idea and 

the fear is gone. So take a walk and 

brainstorm everywhere you go, but most of 

all, never stop trying to come up with new 

ideas. I’ve found the only way out of a 

creativity rut is to brainstorm through it.” 

Running out of money 

“This fear runs strong through all aspects 

of my life and it influences every decision I 

make.” Since entrepreneurship is all about 

taking (smart) risks, you often have to take 

risks with money. Sometimes you have to 

invest money into a project or a technology 

or new idea that you’re not 100 percent sure 

about yet. And that’s terrifying. “The best 

way I’ve found to mitigate the fear of running 

out of money is by keeping a good budget 

and expense sheet. My team is really good 

about both staying under budget and leaving 

room in that budget to take risks. Budgeting 

also helps prevent us from forgetting about 

expenses that might be far in the future but 

are unavoidable (like taxes). That way I go 

into each company purchase knowing we 

can afford it and knowing that we’re being 

smart about how we spend our money.” So 

make a budget, stay on top of your expenses 

and take on outside jobs if you’re really low 

on money. 

Fear of failure 

This is the one that’s at the root of all other 

entrepreneurial fears. It’s in every decision 

you make and the pressure can build to 

seriously problematic levels if you let it. 

“This is one fear that I really rely on my team 

to help me manage. Generally if I’m in freakout 

mode one of my teammates is in a more 

rational frame of mind and can remind me 

that the decisions we make are always based 

in data and research so even though we may 

be risking failure, we’re taking the smartest 

risks we possibly can.” If you don’t have a 

team, you can still have that conversation 

with yourself as long as you really are 

making smart decisions. The best way to 

avoid failure is to take educated risks that 

are based on facts not emotions. 

How to successfully sell 

your business 

Stories by Yinka Kolawole, 

with agency report 

Someday, you might sell 

your business. You may 

have planned this all 

along, using a business sale as 

your exit 

strategy or 

w e a l t h 

building plan. 

In other cases, 

the prospect of 

selling your 

business can 

be a surprising 

or even 

emotional 

issue. If you’re 

in business, 

you must have 

done plenty of 

selling - sold 

services, idea 

of your 

company to 

potential 

employees 

and you must 

have sold the 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

AS part of measures to tackle 

growing unemployment in 

the South West States of Lagos, 

Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo, 

entrepreneurs in the region have 

called for a sustained synergy 

among firms operating in those 

states. 

Making the call at Ibadan, the Oyo 

State capital, Mr. Owolabi Oladejo, 

Chairman/president, Ibadan 

based Impact Business Radio, said 

under the arrangement, 

established entities should mentor 

and provide necessary assistance 

to up-coming firms especially in 

the area of packaging, research 

and aggressive marketing. 

Accompanied by President of the 

Ibadan Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry, Princess Abosede 

Amusan-Ogunnaike, Project 

Director, Broadcasting 

Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), 

Mr. Yanju Adegbite and 

representative from the 

Development Agenda for Western 

Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Seye Oyeleye, 

Oladejo said a summit has been 

slated for November 18 to 25, 

2016, in Ibadan, Oyo State to 

discuss in details how to improved 

potential of your business to investors. 

But if you are prepared to successfully 

sell your business, Neil Patel, a 

contributor to Forbes Magazine on 

entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, 

lists the following as some of the things 

that you should be aware of. 

South West entrepreneurs seek improvement of 

region’s fortunes 

on finances and employment 

opportunities in the region. 

Explaining further, he said: 

“Impact South-West Economic 

Development, SEDE 2016, which 

will span over eight days will afford 

participants the opportunity for 

networking with prospective 

partners and vast marketing 

opportunities and hopefully reestablish 

South West’s role as 

trendsetters in wealth creation and 

economic development by 

promoting existing businesses in 

the region, encouraging new 

entrants and assisting in linking 

other businesses”. 

Tagged “ISEDE 2016-F.A.C.T For 

Economic Development”, the 

programme is designed to cover 

strategic industries “with high 

potential for economic 

development and empowerment 

stimulation across West Region and 

indeed Nigeria.” Oladejo, who 

spoke on sundry issues explained 

that ISEDE 2016 would focus on 

Fashion, Agriculture, Construction 

and Technology (FACT), using four 

strategies; “Show Them, Tell Them, 

Link Them and Reward Them”. 

He said: “Exhibitors and Sponsors 

of ISEDE 2016 have the opportunity 

to connect with potential clients, 

Know your business value 

If you don’t know your business 

value, you’re going to go into the 

sales process blindsided. The first 

logical step for selling a business 

is figuring out what buyers are 

looking at when they consider 

build brand recognition with their 

target market, showcase their 

company, introduce new products/ 

services and increase their exposure. 

The audience includes; decisionmakers 

like federal, state and local 

governments, corporate bodies, 

competitors, buyers and members of 

the public. 

“We will be extremely excited to have 

such an esteemed gathering of highly 

experienced and accomplished ladies 

and gentlemen in Ibadan to discuss and 

seek ways out of the economic and 

social doldrums that the South West 

region and indeed Nigeria has found 

herself. 

“Most of our invitees are known to 

be nostalgic about the South West of 

old, their experience as entrepreneurs, 

successful managers of men and 

material is invaluable and we hope 

that the exchange with leaders will help 

reinvent the South West economically 

and socially. 

“ISEDE 2016 shall connect people 

from within our region and across 

other regions to promote maximum 

utilization of our natural resources, 

promote mass employment, reduce 

poverty, strengthen business growth, 

generate innovative, sustainable 

solution and enhance regional 

economic development”


& YOU 

, 

The businesses we support 

must demonstrate capacity to 

repay our loans; be owned by 

, 

Lagos residents duly registered 

by Lagos State Residents 

Registration Agency 

purchasing a business. There are 

three main approaches to 

determining a business’s 

valuation. Asset Approach – 

Add up all your business assets 

and liabilities. The number you 

left with is the asset valuation of 

your business. Income 

Approach – The income 

approach to valuing a business 

is a simple assessment of the net 

present value of the business’s 

income stream. There are 

technical methods for 

determining this sum, but they 

are not necessary to calculate at 

early stage. Market Approach – 

The market approach of a 

company involves analyzing 

similar companies to see how 

much they’re worth and/or their 

selling price. 

You’ve got 

to know 

exactly why 

you’re 

selling your 

business 

and be able 

to articulate 

this reason 

Select whichever of the methods 

that gives you the best (highest) 

valuation. When you have a 

figure of your business’s value, 

you’re ready to go to market. 

However, even though you’ve got 

a rough idea of your business 

valuation, this is only a number 

to guide you in your 

consideration. You’ll still need 

to get an accurate valuation in 

order to enter the market. 

Know the best brokers 

Unless you’re an expert 

business broker, it is advised 

that you hire a broker to help you 

sell the business. A broker is 

especially valuable in the later 

stages of a purchase process - 

negotiation, due diligence, and 

the final sale. 

Know why you’re selling 

Potential buyers are going to 

have a lot of questions when they 

entertain the idea of purchasing 

your business. They’ll want to 

know the size of the business, the 

history of the business, the 

valuation of the business, and 

many other details that you are 

prepared to answer. But one 

question that always comes up 

is why are you selling your 

business? How you answer this 

question can make or break the 

deal. You’ve got to know exactly 

why you’re selling your business 

and be able to articulate this 

reason. If the reasons are 

“personal” (e.g. a divorce) or 

obvious (retirement), then you can 

simply say so. Even so, you should 

provide a motivating angle that 

will sustain the buyer’s interest. 

Know the perfect time 

Selling a business is all about 

timing. The difference between 

selling your business at the right 

time and selling it at the perfect 

time is the difference between a 

major loss and a life changing 

windfall. What’s the “perfect” time? 

As unsatisfying as this answer is, it 

all just depends on the ebb and 

flow of your particular industry 

and the economy as a whole. Just 

as real estate and commerce has 

its seasonal trends, so the business 

acquisition industry has its highs 

and lows. 

Here are some times 

you shouldn’t sell your business: 

When you’re burned out. Burnout 

is part of the entrepreneurial game. 

Don’t sell your business during a 

personal low. You’ll lack the 

energy and determination to fight 

for a fair price, and will end 

up regretting the sale later. When 

the company faces a catastrophe 

or disaster. Some buyers are eager 

to scoop up distressed companies, 

but generally speaking, this isn’t 

the best for sale strategy. When 

you just want a huge lump of cash. 

Lump sum buyouts are an 

appealing part of any purchase, but 

this shouldn’t be the driving 

motivation for selling your 

business. 

Here are some times 

you should consider selling your 

business: When you are ready for 

a lifestyle change - retiring, 

spending more time with your 

family, enjoying independence, 

etc. 

You’re enjoying expert 

management. Business buyers 

aren’t just buying a soulless entity. 

They are buying people. The more 

capable your management team, 

the more appealing the purchase. 

During an upswing. If you’re on 

an upward trajectory, your 

business will be far more 

compelling to purchasers. Three 

years of profit is a great rule of 

thumb. When the company is 

performing well within an underperforming 

industry. 

Selling a business is a big deal. It 

involves major life changes, huge 

sums of money, and a whole lot of 

time. The final feature to keep in 

mind is that a business sale will 

radically change your life. 

Whether or not you remain as an 

active participant in the business, 

there will still be significant shifts 

in the way that you view the 

business and function in it. 

N25bn Lagos employment fund: 

MSMEs to access loans at 

single digit interest rates 

Operators of Micro, Small and 

Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in 

Lagos State will soon be able to access 

loans at single-digit interest rates per 

annum under the N25 billion Lagos 

State Employment Trust 

Fund (LSETF). 

Executive Secretary of the Lagos 

State Employment Trust Fund 

(LSETF), Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, who 

disclosed this in Lagos, noted that the 

Fund was established to create 

employment and boost 

entrepreneurship opportunities for 

residents of Lagos. 

Oyebode said the government has 

set a target of providing financial 

support to over 

100,000 MSMEs in 

the State over the 

next three years. He 

hinted that the 

governing Board of 

Trustees for the 

Fund is awaiting the 

approval of 

operational 

guidelines by the 

State’s House of 

Assembly which is 

delaying the 

disbursement of 

funds. “In adherence 

with Section 6 of the 

Lagos State 

Employment Trust 

Fund Law of 2016, 

We are also 

in the process 

of setting up 

liaison offices 

in 20 LGAs, to 

bring the 

Fund’s 

activities 

closer to the 

people 

the Board has presented the Operating 

Guidelines outlining the proposed 

interventions and eligibility criteria for 

the Lagos State House of Assembly’s 

consideration. In demonstration of the 

legislative commitment to the 

objectives of the Fund, we have been 

assured these guidelines will be given 

priority consideration by the House, 

and approved in the earliest possible 

time.” 

The Executive Secretary said the 

Board had spent the last few months to 

perfect strategies and address grey 

areas ahead of the commencement of 

the disbursement of the funds later this 

year, by embarking on several strategy 

sessions to define the mission, vision, 

core values and strategic framework to 

guide the Fund’s activities. “After the 

completion of the research exercise, the 

Board working with its appointed 

consultants developed a strategic 

framework articulating the goals of the 

Board, the key interventions designed 

to enhance job creation, and the 

supporting infrastructure needed to 

deliver the set goals. This exercise has 

now been concluded and approved by 

the Lagos State Executive Council.” 

He stated that beneficiaries of the 

Fund will also be provided adequate 

training, capacity building and 

technical support to drive growth and 

facilitate job creation. “The businesses 

we support must demonstrate capacity 

to repay our loans; be owned by Lagos 

residents duly registered by the Lagos 

State Residents Registration Agency 

(LASRRA); show evidence of tax 

payments to the Lagos Inland Revenue 

Service (LIRS); and have valid Bank 

Verification Numbers (BVNs). In 

addition to our MSME financing 

schemes, we will also train unemployed 

residents to either take up identified 

jobs or run their businesses,” he said. 

Oyebode expressed optimism that the 

fund would have multiplier effect with 

the capacity to create 300,000 direct 

and 600,000 indirect jobs while about 

200,000 new tax payers 

would be added to the 

State’s tax net. He said that 

the LSETF Board, in order 

to ensure sustainability of 

the Fund, has set its target 

to raise a minimum of N25 

billion from domestic and 

international donors, in 

addition to the N25billion 

already committed by the 

State Government. 

“Once the pilot phase is 

completed, we will roll out 

our loan schemes in all 57 

LGAs and LCDAs across 

Lagos State. The full rollout 

will see us visit all LGAs to 

hold stakeholder sessions, 

where our staff will educate 

applicants on the application process, and 

the eligibility criteria for our various 

schemes. We are also in the process of 

setting up liaison offices in 20 LGAs, to 

bring the Fund’s activities closer to the 

people, and increase our points of 

representation to serve Lagos residents,” 

he said. 

Corroborating him, Commissioner for 

Wealth Creation and Employment, Dr. 

Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said 

Governor Ambode’s administration was 

committed to ensuring the fund impacts 

on the lives of Lagosians. 

He lauded the plan by the LSETF Board 

to set up offices in 20 Local 

Governments in the State, saying that it 

would go a long way to ensuring that no 

area is marginalised. “It is important that 

this process has taken considerable 

time, we need to make it work and also 

ensure that it is to the benefit of all 

Lagosians,” Durosinmi-Etti said. 

Adding his voice, Chairman, House 

Committee on Wealth Creation and 

Employment, Hon. Sola Giwa, assured 

that members of the House would give 

the Operational Guidelines of the fund 

expeditious passage. “This is one of the 

pivotal promises of Governor Ambode 

and I can assure you that the House 

would do its best to ensure that we do it 

right,” Giwa said. 

C 

M 

YK



Nigeria lost $450m to cyber 

attack in 2015—FG 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—THE federal 

government has 

lamented the loss of over 

$450 million dollars to 

cyber attacks in 2015 alone, 

saying drastic measures 

must be taken to arrest the 

trend. 

Minister of 

Communications 

Adebayo Shittu, stated this 

in Abuja at a conference on 

“Cyber Security, 

Technology Optimization 

and Development” 

organized by the Abuja 

chapter of the group, 

Information Systems Audit 

and Control Association, 

ISACA. 

According to him, 

Nigeria experienced a 

total of 3,500 cyber attacks 

in 2015, leading “to a loss 

of about $450 million.” 

The Communications 

Minister said that the ICT 

sector contributed 12.62 

PDP stakeholders pass 

confidence vote on Makarfi 

By Ben Agande 

ABUJA—AN expanded 

meeting of all the 

organs of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

has passed a vote of 

confidence on the National 

Caretaker Committee 

under the chairmanship of 

Senator Ahmed Makarfi. 

According to a statement 

by spokesman of the party, 

Dayo Adeyeye, the 

confidence vote came after 

party leaders reviewed the 

state of affairs of the PDP 

and the pragmatic and 

focused leadership the 

committee had 

demonstrated. 

He said meeting had in 

attendance members of 

the National Caretaker 

Committee, led by the 

chairman, Sen. Ahmed 

Makarfi; members of the 

BoT, led by the chairman, 

Sen. Walid Jubrin; serving 

and former National 

Assembly leadership, led 

by the Deputy Senate 

President, Sen. Ike 

Ekweremadu; serving and 

former governors; 

National Vice Chairmen 

and state chairmen; former 

ministers; former members 

of National Working 

Committee; and other 

Party stakeholders. 

Adeyeye said: “The 

meeting at Transcorp held 

immediately after the 

inauguration of the 

“Strategy Review and Inter 

Party Affairs Committee at 

the Shehu Musa 

Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja; 

and the committee’s 

per cent of Nigeria’s GDP 

in the second quarter of 

2016 and announced that 

the Federal Government 

was putting together a 

national broadband policy 

“to ensure an 18 per cent 

broadband penetration by 

2018, up from the current 6 

per cent. 

He charged ISACA to 

ensure proper use of its 

applications to enhance a 

secure cyberspace. 

“I am aware of the many 

strides that ISACA has 

achieved in the USA with 

the contributions of the use 

of its COBIT in the 

governance and 

management of public 

institutions. 

‘’My personal challenge 

to ISACA, Abuja, is to 

ensure that such efforts are 

domesticated in Nigeria. 

We must influence our 

space, define our space and 

prepare adequately to 

chairman and secretary are 

Professor Jerry Gana and 

Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, 

respectively. 

‘’The membership of the 

committee is made up of 

seasoned party men and 

women charged with the 

responsibility to chart way 

forward for the PDP within 

the tenets of democracy, 

ahead of the 2019 general 

election. 

“You will recall that since 

the party returned from the 

August 17, 2016, National 

Convention in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, the 

National Caretaker 

Committee, working in 

compliance with the 

mandate given to it by the 

By Lawani 

Mikairu 

BENIN—A group, Esan 

Professionals 

Association, AEP, and 

traditional rulers from 

Esanland have called for 

the inclusion of Esan 

language in schools’ 

curriculum as part of efforts 

to avert the extinction of the 

language. They also 

advised parents to teach 

and speak Esan language 

to their children. 

They made the call while 

speaking at the AEP 12th 

Esan Economic 

Empowerment Workshop 

with the theme, “Esan 

Language: Is it on the 

verge of extinction? At 

Samuel Adegboyega 

defend it. We want to see not 

just a working technology 

and applications, but we 

want to be assured that such 

technologies are safe and 

used properly,” the minister 

said. 

On his part, the Director 

General of National 

Information Technology 

Development Agency, 

NITDA, Dr Isa Ibrahim, said 

his agency would be 

working in close 

collaboration with ISACA to 

evolve solutions that will 

address the menace, saying 

Nigeria cannot function 

properly if it is vulnerable to 

cyber attacks. 

The president of ISACA, 

Abuja chapter, Mr 

Chimenka Ezeribe, said 

ISACA was committed to 

promoting positive use of 

technology to improve the 

quality of life for individuals 

and organizations. 

convention, is discharging 

party affairs diligently and 

also maintaining 

constructive opposition to 

the ruling party, the APC, 

and its leaders by holding 

them accountable in the 

management of the 

country’s resources and 

governance. 

“To this end, the 

stakeholders called on all 

party members nationwide, 

to continue supporting the 

National Caretaker 

Committee in their 

concerted efforts with other 

stakeholders towards 

rebuilding, reviving and 

repositioning the PDP to 

attain international best 

practices." 

AEP calls for inclusion of Esan 

language in Schools' curriculum 

University Hall, Ogwa, Edo 

State. 

President of AEP and 

former Speaker of Edo State 

House of Assembly, Hon. 

Matthew Egbadon, said the 

essence of the gathering 

was to brainstorm on the 

need to prevent Esan 

language from extinction, adding 

that the language was fast dying, 

as parents no longer spoke Esan 

to their children. 

According to him, even children 

whose parents are all Esan don’t 

speak the language to their wards. 

He added that as it was today, 

Esan language looked 

endangered and that if drastic 

steps were not taken to address 

the issue, the language might 

become extinct in the next 25 

years.


Stakeholders key into govt’s vision for dairy 

industry 

Stories by Franklin Alli & 

Naomi Uzor 

Last week, Arla Foods 

(producers of Dano milk 

powder); CARE 

Denmark, Billital Maroobe 

(RBM); Danish Agriculture & 

Food Council (DAFC) and the 

Nigerian Federal Ministry of 

Agriculture (FMARD) had a twoday 

stakeholders’ roundtable 

conference with West African 

dairy farmers. 

At the meeting in Abuja, stakeholders 

discussed the problems 

facing the dairy sector in the region 

and in particular, Nigeria. 

They also came out with a sustainable 

business model for the 

dairy industry in the sub-region 

with the aim of creating employment 

and profit for operators in 

the sector.“Speaking at the conference 

tagged ‘Milky Way to 

Development,’ Minister of 

Agriculture and Rural 

Development, Chief Audu 

Ogbeh, noted that the roundtable 

is happening at a time the vision 

of the government of Nigeria is 

taking a holistic approach to 

develop the livestock industry 

especially the dairy sector.“ 

Represented by Director, Animal 

Production and Husbandry 

Services, Dr. Egejuru Eze, the 

Minister said, “It is heart warming 

to note the increased interest 

and flow of foreign direct investment 

into the livestock industry 

from different parts of the world, 

particularly in dairy productions. 

Efforts of this nature will increase 

capacity to meet local dairy demand. 

Presently the annual national 

dairy output and demand 

are estimated at 700,000 metric 

tons and 1,300,000 metric tons 

respectively, giving a supply gap 

of about 600,000 metric tons.” 

Jan Toft Noergaard, the Vice 

Chairman Arla Foods, said: “Arla 

is proud to host farmers and other 

stakeholders in both European 

and West African dairy sector. 

We believe there are more feats 

to be achieved, with an alliance 

like this, I am sure things will 

happen faster. This conference 

shall discuss and offer solution 

to challenges facing the dairy 

sector in West Africa and development 

of the dairy sector to improve 

the livelihood of farmers,” 

he said. 

The Program Coordinator, Care 

Denmark, Rolf Hernoe explained 

that the ‘Milky Way to Development’ 

is an alliance of stakeholders 

in the dairy industry, including 

dairy farmers and companies 

in the West African region. 

“So far we have one European 

industrial producer and we are 

hoping to expand. We see this as 

the beginning of something 

bigger, we are currently 

discussing with ECOWAS to take 

a more active role in the alliance,” 

he said.“ 

Speaking on the benefits of the 

alliance to local dairy farmers, 

Rolf Hernoe, said that the alliance 

focuses on avoiding the negative 

impact of imports of powdered 

milk into the region and 

greater focus on involving local 

farmers in the value chain so that 

milk will be more available and 

safer and be processed into high- 

From left: Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, 

Lagos State; Mr Tunji Bello, Secretary to Lagos State Government; Dr (Mrs) Nike Akande, 

President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr Sola Oyetayo, Chairman, Trade 

Promotion Board, LCCI and Otunba Solomon Onofowokan, Past President, during 2016 Lagos 

International Trade Fair at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. 

Presently, the 

annual national dairy 

output and demand 

are estimated at 

700,000 metric tons 

and 1,300,000 metric 

tons respectively, 

giving a supply gap 

of about 600,000 

metric tons. 

er value products so that everyone 

will benefit. He stated that 

the alliance will facilitate technology 

transfer and investment 

which will definitely be of benefit 

to local farmers. 

Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, 

Torben Getterman, said that the 

Danish Government is 

supporting the idea of the ‘Milky 

Way’ alliance because of its firm 

belief in the principle and 

overreaching idea of the alliance. 

“The ‘Milky Way’ alliance is a 

good example of how cooperation 

between governments, sectorial 

organisations, private companies, 

research institutes and NGOs can 

Steel firm in Edo raided for sub-standard products 

Asurveillance team of the 

Standards Organisation 

of Nigeria has stormed a firm 

in Ugua community, Benin- 

Sapele bypass in Edo State, 

for manufacturing 

substandard products. 

The storming of the factory, 

Yongsing Steel Co Limited, 

was led by Engr. Bede Obayi, 

Director, Inspectorate and 

Compliance Directorate of 

SON. 

Obayi said his team 

discovered a lot of 

irregularities in the 

company’s operations, 

confirming the production of 

substandard products. 

According to him, the 

universal testing machine 

essential for standardisation in 

the production process was 

not working, and the chemical 

composition of the steel 

product failed tests. 

He said although the 

minimum standard length of 

steel bars in accordance with 

Nigerian Industrial Standard 

is 12 metres, much of the steel 

bars manufactured by 

Yongsing Steel Co Limited 

were less than the prescribed 

length. 

According to him, there were 

also compromises in the area 

of skilled personnel manning 

the operations of the company 

as the enforcement team 

discovered no skilled staffs to 

man production to ensure the 

standard requirements was 

met. 

Further, tests carried out by 

SON showed that mechanical 

properties of the iron 

products had poor yield 

result in projects that carry with 

them benefits on so many levels,” 

he said. 

Commissioner, Department of 

Agriculture, Environment and 

Water Resources, ECOWAS, 

Tchambokou Ayassor, noted that 

the alliance is very important for 

the economic development of 

agriculture in the sub-region as 

it will give opportunities for 

technology transfer, development 

of cross boarder professional 

association and formulation of 

policy framework that will foster 

a faster development of the dairy 

sector and agriculture business in 

West Africa.” 

strengths, while there was no 

evidence of control of nonconforming 

products to 

protect the consumers from 

buying substandard steel bars 

Obayi, added that the 

company’s testing machines 

were kept under unconducive 

environments 

likely to affect its potency in 

tests, adding this should not 

be so. 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

An indigenous furnishing 

company, Rosemary’s 

Limited, has made a u-turn in 

local content input, increasing 

to 65 percent the amount of materials 

for its production. 

The firm made the turnaround 

from it’s hitherto production formula 

when over 65 percent of 

its raw materials were sourced 

from abroad. 

Mrs. Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem, 

Chief Executive Officer, Rosemary’s 

Limited, disclosed this 

during the opening of the company’s 

showroom in Abuja. 

She said that over the 13 years 

of its existence it has used 

majorly foreign content to produce 

its furnishing products. 

She disclosed that the company 

explored available options 

to look backward in sourcing for 

equally quality raw materials 

that can deliver the kind of high 

standard like the foreign materials. 

“Today, we now look inward. 

The current situation in the 

country has taught us to look 

inward and this has taught us a 

good lesson. It has taught us to 

come out with creativity that now 

stands us out. We now have 

Kente fashion, Adire Fashion 

and a host of other local content 

laced products we produce”, 

she stated. 

On why the company chose 

Abuja as the next target after 

BoI to end 2016 

on a strong 

note- MD 

The Bank of Industry, BoI, 

has expressed optimism to 

end 2016 financial year on a 

strong note despite economic 

head winds in the country. 

BoI Acting Managing Director 

and Chief Executive Officer, 

Waheed Olagunju, disclosed 

this while reacting to the recent 

credit rating of Aa1.ng/NG-1 

national scale local and foreign 

currency issuer ratings assigned 

by Moody's Investors 

Service, to the bank. 

According to him, the bank’s 

remarkable performance in Q1, 

Q2 and Q3 of 2016 were indications 

that BoI was on course 

to sustaining its remarkable operations 

and ending the outgoing 

year on a strong note despite 

the economic head winds. 

In this regard, he cited the 

reduction in the ratio of nonperforming 

loans to 3.84 per 

cent as at 30th September 2016 

from 3.87 percent as at 30th 

June 2016.? 

He said that the bank was 

pleased with Moody’s current 

ratings, stressing that they confirmed 

the bank’s similar ratings 

of AA+ by Fitch Ratings 

and A+ by Agusto & Co. 

He attributed the institution’s 

consistent high ratings to 

strong commitment to professionalism 

and strict adherence 

to global best practices by the 

bank’s competent management 

and staff.“‘’Last year, Moody’s 

assigned BoI Ba3, which was 

in consonance with Nigeria’s 

sovereign rating. These latest 

ratings are underpinned by a 

standalone credit assessment of 

b2 and one notch of government 

support uplift, which results 

in a global scale long-term 

issuer rating of B1. The Aa1.ng 

rating is the second highest of 

three national scale ratings 

(NSR) categories corresponding 

to BOI's global scale ratings 

(GSR)” 

According to Moody’s, BoI's 

national scale ratings capture 

the bank's robust capital buffers, 

with an equity to assets 

ratio of 30 per cent as of Dec 

2015; stable liability structure 

made up of long-term funding 

at concessional rates; and tangible 

improvements to governance 

and risk positioning in recent 

years. 

Furniture firm increases local content by 65% 

Lagos where the company 

started from, Mrs. Kufre- 

Ekanem explained 

that Rosemary’s only responded 

to the tips from the 

market. 

She disclosed that the volume 

of requests coming from the Federal 

Capital Territory is not comparable 

to what comes from other 

cities in the country. 

According to her, the opening 

of the Abuja office will enable the 

company bring the world-class 

soft furnishing and creative approach 

to interior decorations to 

the capital city of Nigeria. 

However, she said the next 

expansion would be to Port- 

Harcourt, Rivers State or Uyo, 

Akwa Ibom State in 2017. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMEBR 10, 2016 — 25 

By Josephine Agbonkhese, Anino 

Aganbi & Chris Onuoha 

The spate of murders of women 

by domestic staff has assumed 

a new and dangerous 

dimension in recent years within the 

Nigerian society. These domestic 

staff who mostly work for a 

syndicate, seem to usually target 

wealthy women who live alone...and 

their motive is usually sinister- to rob 

their employers of their jewelry and 

money after working for some 

months. In extreme cases, they 

resort to killing. 

A case that readily comes to mind 

was the gruesome murder of Lagos 

businesswoman and socialite, Mrs 

Olayiwola Adeola (nee craig), who 

Continues on page 26 

By Anino Aganbi 

Some women in Nigeria and 

around the globe have become 

exposed to the cosmetic world of 

alternative body modifications through 

their personal interactions and 

social media. No longer is making 

up enough for women. Drawing 

tattoos on various parts of the body 

Continues on page 27

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMEBR 10, 2016 


was found in a pool of her own 

blood in December 2014. 

Adeola, 61, 

w a s 

allegedly 

murdered by 

h e r 

houseboy. 

Recall also 

the case of 

50-year-old 

businesswoman, 

M a b e l 

Okafor, 

w h o s e 

decomposing 

body was 

found in her 

apartment 

last August 

at Victoria 

Garden City, 

*Late 

Aliyu 

VGC, in 

Lagos. 

Okafor 

w a s 

allegedly 

stabbed to 

death by her gateman, 

following an argument over 

the latter’s salary. The man 

with an undisclosed identity 

was said to have resumed 

work only about two months 

ago. 

Also in 2014, there was the 

case of late Njideka Lizzy 

Nzewe, a 39-year-old mother 

of four who was strangled to 

death in her apartment at 

Green Estate, Amuwo- 

Odofin, Lagos, by her 33- 

year-old lover, Kelechi 

Williams, who thereafter 

made away with her 

valuables and car. 

The most recent incidence 

uncovered also sent shivers 

down the spines of everyone 

who read or heard the story. 

It was that of Dr. (Mrs.) 

Edith Chinedu Aliyu, the 

Women who live alone... 

Managing 

Director/ 

C h i e f 

Executive 

Officer of 

Grants Micro 

Finance Bank 

and Proprietress 

of Chelson Group of 

Schools, all in Abuja. 

Late Dr. Aliyu was 

allegedly murdered in June 

by her driver, 27-year-old Ali 

Angba, and three others. The 

driver masterminded her 

kidnap for N5 million ransom 

but eventually ordered her 

death when she recognised 

one of the gang members as 

her driver’s friend. She was 

raped, killed and buried! Yet, 

the ransom was paid by her 

relatives who believed she 

*SP Badmus 

*Late 

Adeola 

was still alive. Angba 

confessed that his only reason 

for orchestrating the kidnap 

was because he noticed the 

madam was very “rich”. 

Many more cases abound. 

A common feature 

A close analysis however 

points out a common feature 

in all of these cases, and 

*Late 

Okafor 

“It is not safe for 

anyone to stay 

alone. Apart from 

being attacked 

from outside, you 

might have health 

issues and need 

attention; besides, 

it is very 

unAfrican for 

women to live 

alone...” 

that’s the fact 

that some of 

these women 

lived alone with 

t h e s e 

“strangers” 

employed as 

domestic staff, 

while some had 

an intimate 

relationship 

with their 

killers, like in 

the case of 

Nzewe who 

obviously had 

no inkling of her 

lover’s killerbackground. 

In late 

Adeola’a case 

for instance, 

investigation 

revealed that 

she stayed 

alone in the main house, 

while her two domestic staffdriver 

and houseboy- lived in 

the staff quarters. 

Late Okafor, it was 

revealed, also lived alone in 

her palatial duplex at VGC, 

and had no other domestic 

worker except the gateman. 

Although that of Dr. Aliyu 

could not be ascertained, the 

fact remains that her driver 

snuffed life out of her. 

The connections 

Unless one puts these cases 

together to see the 

connections, it could be very 

easy to ignorantly view each 

killing as an isolated 

incident. Putting them side 

by side, however, Woman’s 

Own identified a big issue- 

•Odumakin 

What do you think about 

the safety and security 

of citizens in this country? 

The safety and security of the 

citizens in Nigeria has been 

a major issue of concern to 

every stakeholder in the 

country, particularly when 

you consider that the security 

Every woman should be 

free to choose her lifestyle 

— Joe Odumakin 

By Chris Onuoha 

There has been in our society a series of domestic cases involving women living alone as 

either single mothers or single ladies having safety issues with their domestic staff. 

Most of the vulnerable are wealthy and influential women in the society. Such cases 

as we know include Mrs. Olayiwola Adeola, Lagos socialite/Businesswoman, Mabel 

Okafor at VGC, Njideka Lizziy at Amuwo Odofin and lately, Dr. Mrs. Edith Aliyu in 

Abuja. Human rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, discusses this with WO 

and welfare of the 

citizens is the primary 

constitutional mandate 

of the Nigerian state. 

Over the years, very little 

attention has 

been paid to the 

safety of the 

citizens until very 

recently, when 

states are beginning to see 

this as a priority and efforts 

are now being put together 

to address it. 

Should women be given 

priority in the issue of 

security? 

Yes, our society just like 

many others, considers the 

...we must 

understand that 

there cannot be 

an effective 

policing of any 

society without 

the cooperation 

of the citizens. We 

must promote the 

culture of 

community 

policing 

women as vulnerable. In so 

many instances of war, 

threats to peace and 

instability, women and 

children have always been on 

the receiving end. 

Should women be living 

alone, noticing that security 

and safety are not 

guaranteed? 

Women living alone 

depends on their status like 

you rightly identified but 

nothing really should prevent 

anyone, be it a woman or not, 

from choosing his or her 

lifestyle. What is important is 

that the society must at all 

•• 

times guarantee the security 

of the citizens particularly 

those that are vulnerable like 

the women. 

If yes, under what 

condition should they be 

alone? 

Like I said, under any 

atmosphere that guarantees 

peace and security, anyone is 

free to choose his or her 

lifestyle without fear. 

What measures can be 

put in place to curtail or 

avert such occurrence? 

Victims must always avoid 

living in isolation and must 

be alert enough to speak out 

at all times that they sense 

any threat wherever they find 

themselves. 

Has police done enough to 

contain the situation? 

The police has been doing 

what it can, within its limited 

capacity. But we must 

understand that there cannot 

be an effective policing of any 

society without the 

cooperation of the citizens. 

We must promote the culture 

of community policing while 

also encouraging the state to 

do more in equipping the 

police force both in terms of 

human and material capacity.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMEBR 10, 2016 —27 

the employment of 

domestic staff plus the livealone 

trend which is 

growingly becoming quite 

common amongst unmarried, 

divorced and single 

mothers—most of whom hire 

domestic staff through 

syndicates without any 

background check or 

profiling with the police. 

It isn’t African to live 

alone- SP Dolapo Badmus 

Public Relations Officer, 

Lagos State Police, SP 

Dolapo Badmus, lending her 

voice against this trend, said, 

as a security expert, that the 

growing culture of living 

alone, without a relative, is a 

major attraction to such 

victimisation. 

“It is not safe for anyone to 

stay alone. Apart from being 

attacked from outside, you 

might have health issues and 

need attention. 

“Besides, it is very 

unAfrican for women to live 

alone. Africans live a 

community life; you will 

always see somebody who is 

willing to live with you. But 

if you are staying alone, who 

comes to your rescue when 

there is an emergency?,” she 

said. 

Tips for hiring personal 

security 

In her suggestions on hiring 

of personal security and 

domestic staff, SP Badmus 

said it’s dangerous to hire 

gatemen and domestic staff 

whose backgrounds you do 

not have. 

“It is for this reason we tell 

people to ensure they profile 

such persons with the police. 

They should be people who 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

ABUJA- IT is no longer news 

that over 70 per cent of 

Nigerians live in rural areas and 

greater part of this percentage is 

made up of women, who mostly 

have been riddled with abject 

poverty. 

Over the years, a major 

challenge faced by rural women 

has been a lack of financial 

inclusion, which has further 

worsened their plight. But this 

jinx to a large extent has been 

broken in the socio-economic lives 

of rural women in Kastina and 

Zamfara States. 

These two states are part of 

the 12 states selected for training 

on savings, financial literacy, 

investments and loan 

repayments under the Federal 

Govern-ment’s Rural Finance 

Institution Building Programme, 

RUFIN, sponsored by the 

International Fund for 

Agricultural Development, IFAD, 

for the six years the programme 

has lasted. 

The Deputy National 

Coordinator, RUFIN, Mrs 

Ufaruna Unekwu, during a 

media tour and assessment of 

the programme in Kastina and 

Zamfara States disclosed that 

can be traced. 

“When people discover that 

you employed them without 

checking out their 

backgrounds and cannot 

trace them, they will tend to 

think they can get away with 

anything. When they know 

that they are traceable and 

you know their family 

members, or hired them 

through organizations that 

serve as consultants in 

employing domestic helps, 

the likelihood that things 

would go wrong are minimal 

because these must have 

done a background check 

before sending them out to 

homes to be employed. And 

if anything goes wrong, these 

organizations can be held 

responsible.” 

Everyone should be wise- 

Agbonika 

Further emphasizing the 

need for wisdom when hiring 

personal security personnel, 

former Divisional Police 

Officer, DPO, Festac Division, 

Lagos, currently Area 

Commander in Ekiti State, 

Monday Agbonika, 

explained: “The Nigerian 

Police is trying its best but 

individuals must also be 

cautious and wise. 

“Although women might be 

weaker by virtue of their 

physical strength, all 

incidents are treated the 

same because there is no law 

that gives special treatment 

to any gender. This is because 

anybody can be vulnerable at 

any time. “The only special 

treatment a woman gets is 

when she is in a relationship 

and domestic violence is 

involved. In this case, we will 

find a way of making sure the 

perpetrator is punished.” 

with the level of success of 

financial inclusion; Rural Women 

Bank will be established to further 

Tattoo facts you never knew 


has now become the norm. 

For different people, 

drawing tattoos on the body 

is fashionable. But just how 

much do people really know 

about painting their bodies 

permanently and the effects 

it might have in the long 

run? 

Skin Allergies 

You could develop skin 

allergies anytime after 

getting a tattoo. Allergic 

reactions may not 

necessarily happen 

empower women financially and 

economically. 

In sharing their success story 

with the media team at Zamfara 

and Kastina States one of the 

women’s groups in Gusau Local 

Government Area of Zamfara 

State, Tallafi Mata Masu 

Dubara, the chairperson, Hajia 

Suwaiba Aliyu, said the group 

was rescued out of poverty’s 

grinding jaws through financial 

inclusion via access to 

microfinance institutions. 

Aliyu said: “Our success story 

is enormous because we were 

really under grinding poverty 

immediately after. 

The Number of Times you 

are Pierced 

This varies depending on 

the size and colors in the 

tattoo; your skin can be 

pierced between 50 and 3,000 

times per minute. 

The Tattoo Machine itself 

The tattoo machine has four 

parts to it. The needle, the 

tube that holds the ink, an 

electric motor and a foot 

pedal to control the 

movement. 

Your Tattoo Ages With you 

Kastina, Zamfara rural women conquer poverty 

…share story of glory 

“Today we are 

financially buoyant 

and have expanded 

our businesses from 

groundnut farming 

to processing and 

production in 

commercial 

quantities...” 

and frustration before RUFIN 

came to our rescue by training us 

on how to be financially literate 

which includes proper savings 

culture, investment in business, 

access to micro loan facilities 

through microfinance institutions, 

loan repayments, accountability 

and self reliance. 

“Today we are financially 

buoyant and have expanded our 

businesses from groundnut 

farmers to groundnut processing 

and production in commercial 

quantities, large scale farming of 

various crops, and also we have 

become loan service providers to 

As you get older, so does 

your tattoo. Your skin 

constantly replenishes itself 

and this cycle slows overtime, 

resulting in an aged 

appearance of your tattoo. 

Make sure that your 

tattoo artist follows these 

guidelines: 

•They are a registered 

practitioner (if your state 

registers tattoo artists). 

•They always wear gloves 

during the procedure. 

•They have sterilizing units 

to sterilize equipments. 

•The floors and surfaces 

are all clean. 

•All the needles used are 

new, disposable, and made 

for single use only. 

•The dressings are sterile, 

packed, and unopened. 

•The dyes or ink used for 

the tattoo are also sterile, 

packed and unopened. 

•The artist is available the 

first 24 hours if you have any 

problems. 

Reasons why you should 

not get a tattoo: 

•You’re Pregnant. 

•You have a serious skin 

condition. 

•You are not fully 

committed to getting a tattoo. 

Think it over! 

•You don’t have the money 

for it. 

•Scarring 

•Infections such as HIV 

and hepatitis due to re-use 

of needles 

other women in our community. 

“Our members can now 

comfortably feed their families, 

sponsor their children to any 

level of formal education. Some 

have also bought and built 

houses. There are other 

businesses other than 

agribusiness we do as well.” 

Also narrating her story, 

Hauwa Modeh, member of 

Kainuwa Dashen Allah (Blessing 

of God) Women Society, in 

Gusau Local Government Area 

of Zamfara State, said financial 

inclusion through RUFIN and 

training have helped her to 

access microfinance loans, which 

she has used to invest in her 

petty trade and now she is into 

big time textile business, and 

has bought a house worth N650, 

000 in Gusau, the Zamfara 

State capital, and also has 

commercial motorcycles for 

business. 

“My living condition was 

really terrible. To feed was a 

problem and I was just 

frustrated, but now I am out of 

poverty. I am doing well with 

my textile business, and I have 

a shop rented and stocked with 

textile materials, and with the 

profit I have bought a house 

worth N650, 000 in Gusau”, 

Abubakar said.


By Nkiruka Nnorom 

Former Minister of Finance 

and co-chair, Women’s 

World Banking, Africa 

Advisory Council, Dr. Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala, has said that 

giving the 70 per cent of women, 

who are financially excluded in 

sub-Saharan Africa, access to 

financial services could spur the 

next phase of economic growth 

within the continent and hasten 

recovery in most parts of Africa. 

Speaking at a Banking for 

Women programme hosted by 

Diamond Bank in partnership 

with Women World Banking, 

Africa Advisory Council in 

Lagos, Okonjo-Iweala said it 

was important for governments, 

central banks and finance 

ministries to formulate policies 

that are geared towards 

empowering women financially. 

She noted that globally, two 

billion people are excluded from 

financial services and including 

1.6 billion of them can raise local 

GDP by six per cent by 2025. 

She stated that part of the 

number to be included, more 

than half (808 million) are 

women. 

She said: “There is one 

common theme globally and 

that is the theme of uncertainty 

and I think that uncertainty is 

coming from an unprecedented 

area of low global growth, the 

fact that the recovery from the 

2008/2009 financial and 

economic crisis has been slower 

than expected and that recovery 

is very fragile. So, you have a 

situation where global growth 

has been reversed downwards 

one more time by the International 

Monetary Fund, IMF, to 3.1 per 

cent. 

“Demand seems to be low, 

inflation in the northern 

countries is low and Africa is not 

doing as well as it should 

because of the commodities 

import and derailment of good 

policies. World trade is also very 

slow and you have the political 

bottlenecks; people don’t know. 

“But, I believe that where 

Give women 

loans,Okonjo - 

Iweala urges 

•Says financial inclusion for women 

critical to economic growth 

•Okonjo 

there is difficulty, there is also 

opportunity and therefore you 

have to look at that side and 

determine where the 

opportunities are. And that is 

where the issue of financial 

inclusion of women and girls and 

is very important because 

everyone is searching for what 

will help spark growth in 

different economies and even for 

us here in sub-Saharan Africa. 

So, it is vitally important for us 

to look at this issue of financial 

Entry opens for “Miss Umu-Anioma Beauty 

Pageant” 

As the date for the 2016/2017 “Miss Umu 

Anioma Beauty Pageant” draws nearer, the 

organisers of the event have called on the public 

to enter for the competition before it would be 

too late. 

The august event is slated for December, 2016 

at Orchids Hotels in Asaba, Delta State with the 

Grand Finale as part of the events of the 2016 

Umu- Anioma World Convention, Asaba 2016. 

These contestants will be drilled in four major 

areas in order to be selected as the beauty 

pageant winner, including: traditional outfit, 

platform competition (catwalk), 

photogenic, evening gown and 

interview session. 

According to the Chief 

Executive Officer of “Miss Umu 

Anioma Beauty Pageant”, 

Emmanuel Ohai, the 

competitive and interactive 

exercise is to bring out the best 

in the participants, emphasizing 

that the competition is not just 

another jamboree but a 

combination of brains and beauty 

exercise. 

Speaking further, Mr. Ohai 

said that the application forms 

are now out and advised 

intending participants to apply 

by visiting Umu Anioma 

website menu then selecting 

2017 Miss Umu Anioma Beauty Pageant after 

the application fee may have been paid. 

On the basic requirements, Ohai said that 

“contestants must be at least 18 years on or before 

Grand Finale date. Three full size photographs 

of the contestants must be taken during the 

contest photo shoot after submitting their 

application. Contestants must never have been 

married or given birth to a child and they must 

be naturally born female from Anioma (Delta, 

North Senatorial District, Igbanke, Edo State, 

Onitsha, Anambra State, Ndoni and Rivers State). 

Ohai also said that first prize winners attract cash 

prizes and other fringe benefits including 

The Miss Umu 

Anioma contest is 

more than a 

beauty pageant as 

women aspiring 

to be Miss Umu 

Anioma must be 

professional, 

intelligent, 

outgoing, poised, 

confident, 

beautiful... 

scholarships plus room and board to attend the 

Asaba Film Academy where they could become 

the face of Nollywood in just 6 months after their 

training. “Ultimately, the gorgeous contestants 

will take home the crown in 2017”. 

The CEO who warned that prospective 

participants that application closing deadline is 

November 30, 2016. 

Assuring the public of the credibility of “Miss 

Umu Anioma Beauty Pageant”, Ohai said The 

Miss Umu Anioma contest is more than a beauty 

pageant as women aspiring to be Miss Umu Anioma 

must be professional, intelligent, 

outgoing, poised, able to meet the 

public, confidently beautiful and 

understand community and civic 

responsibility. In addition to being a 

role model for other youth and a woman 

who is proud of Anioma Nation and 

is eager to promote her Anioma 

heritage as something to live and die 

for”. 

On the side attractions, Ohai noted 

that VIPs from Anioma area of Delta 

State will grace the occasion with the 

theme: “Discussion on The 

Determinants of Prosperity”. 

Meanwhile Prof Pat Utomi, a Professor 

of Political Economy, Lagos Business 

School; will be the Keynote Speaker 

while Chief Ben Elue, former Deputy 

Governor, Delta State will chair the 

convention. 

Coordinator of Talent Show on that day, Stanley 

Nwanze, said that talented Anioma sons and 

daughters will also have an opportunity to 

showcase their talents to the huge audience. 

Already, the President of Umu Anioma Dakar, 

Senegal Chapter, Mr. Felix Nzemeka had pledged 

to send an aspiring professional comedian to 

participate in that segment. 

The organisers hope that this 2016/2017 edition 

would be a springboard to a bigger picture of 

what the organisers have in mind, as future 

pageants will be garnished with seminars, 

workshops and symposia. 

Globally, two billion 

people are excluded 

from financial 

services and 

including 1.6 billion 

of them can raise 

local GDP by six per 

cent by 2025 

exclusion of women on the 

continent. Seventy per cent of 

LAGOS—In a bid to motivate 

and appreciate the Nigerian 

teacher’s effort at grooming and 

instilling knowledge in students, 

LWTZE community initiative- a 

Non-Governmental 

Organization- will next Monday 

honour public 

school teachers at 

the Best Western 

Island Hotel in 

Lagos. 

This project 

which is aimed at 

reiterating the 

relevance of 

teachers in the 

society will 

feature several 

carefully selected 

pamper and 

empowerment 

s e s s i o n s 

spearheaded by 

professionals and 

motivational 

speakers to 

encourage them 

to continue in their good work of 

impacting knowledge with all 

diligence. 

Director of LWTZE came up 

with the program ‘Visionary 

Women of Nigeria’ to bring 

women together and encourage 

empowerment. Mrs. Olayinka 

Adamu who over the years has 

successfully carried out a lot of 

public based programs to 

promote economic 

empowerment of women and 

address germane national issues 

that conflict with development 

said, 

“As a non-governmental 

organization, we are constantly 

African women are excluded, 

according to the numbers of 

access to financial services and if 

we bring them in, it will present 

another growth opportunity. 

“So, they have done a study to 

show that including women and 

people financially can actually 

raise growth. The study also 

shows that countries with low 

women inclusion for example 

Ethopia, Nigeria etc can even add 

more to their GDP growth like10- 

12 per cent higher than the 

global number.” 

She added to drive the needed 

growth, government needs to 

get out the information that 

including women in businesses 

improves the bottom-line and 

that if you bring women into 

business and empower them, it 

increases growth of economy. 

In his welcome address, the 

Group Managing Director/ 

CEO, Diamond Bank Plc, 

Uzoma Dozie, stated that the 

bank is very passionate about 

growing and driving financial 

inclusion. He said, “We are here 

today because Diamond Bank 

is hosting African Advisory 

Council set up by Women World 

Banking to promote the financial 

inclusion of women globally. The 

Women World Banking objective 

is to by partnership with 

organisations, donor agencies, 

banks like Diamond Bank to 

develop products and services 

that will enable women to be 

financially included and add to 

economic development of 

countries like Nigeria.” 

Ngo set to honour public school 

teachers 

•100 select teachers to be treated to 

a free massage session 

we have 

decided to shift 

the focus to 

female teachers 

in Nigeria to 

celebrate and 

recognize them 

in their 

contribution to 

Nation 

Building 

seeking ways to impact in the 

society through various initiatives 

focused on women and children. 

We have had some events over 

the years like the ‘Walk against 

Climate Change and Violence’ 

that educated people on the 

climate and violence. This year 

we have decided 

to shift the focus to 

female teachers in 

Nigeria to 

celebrate and 

recognize them in 

their contribution 

to Nation 

Building through 

impacting 

knowledge. 

”We have also 

lined up a lot of 

activities for them 

like the pamper 

sessions where 

some of them will 

be getting a spa 

session and 

several other gift 

items”. 

Teachers are encouraged to 

attend this event with all 

enthusiasm as it promises to be 

a special celebration of 

Nigeria’s teachers. The 

Visionary Women of Nigeria 

Initiative is committed in its 

stand to subsequently address 

issues, encourage and reward 

persons, especially women who 

are contributing to nation 

building. 

This empowerment is a vision 

of LWTZE to create a niche of 

inspiration and motivation for 

the Nigerian Woman.


How we over-ran 

farms, crippled 

Rivers economy 

—Repentant cultists 

By Jimitota Onoyume, 

Port Harcourt 

FOR years they terrorized 

various communities in 

Ikwerre local government area of 

Rivers State, and each time 

leaving trails of blood and 

destruction in their wake. They 

are members of the dreaded rival 

cult groups known as Degbam 

and Icelanders who were always 

at daggers-drawn and frequently 

engaged in bloody wars of 

supremacy over territorial control. 

But today, the story has 

changed. They are now wearing 

the reformed tag of ex-cultists 

after embracing the amnesty 

programme of the Rivers State 

government. Last Saturday about 

two thousand members of 

Degbam and Icelanders, the two 

main rival cult groups in the 

area for the first time in several 

years came under one roof as 

brothers at Isiokpo, 

headquarters of the local 

government to denounce 

membership of the evil groups. 

Members were mainly within 

the age bracket of 19 and 32 

years. Some told the story of 

how their sinister activities as 

cultists made it impossible for 

women to farm. They brought 

untold pain to residents of 

communities in the local 

government. 

They destroyed the local 

economy as each group took over 

forests and farm lands in several 

communities for initiation rites. 

Owners of these farms were 

barred from stepping into them 

because they had become new 

homes for the hoodlums. 

Some of the women who dared 

the cultists to go to their farms 

told tales of rape. 

The two groups, Degbam and 

Icelanders were always locked 

in supremacy battles that claimed 

hundreds of their members in the 

area. 

Sadly, Ikwerre local 

government which hitherto was 

the food basket of the state has 

had little or no harvest for over 

two years because of heinous 

activities of the cultists. 

Chairman of the local 

government, Mr Sam 

Nwanosike, painted the picture 

accurately at the ceremony 

when he said the local 

government was faced with 

threat of food insecurity from the 

activities of the ex-cultists. 

He commended them for 

coming out to embrace the state 

government’s amnesty 

programme, assuring that they 

would no longer be treated as 

criminals as long as they 

remained law-abiding citizens. 

He said the government 

already had an empowerment 

programme in place for them. 

“There is already something to 

engage you productively. You are 

going to be trained in different 

productive areas to ensure you 

become useful to yourselves and 

the society,” he said. 

Nwanosike who was not happy 

that two notorious cult leaders in 

the area, Italian and Gunboat, 

did not key into the amnesty 

programme, announced a N10 

million assistance to security 

agencies to fish them out to face 

the law. 

He warned those who had 

accepted the amnesty 

programme not to go back to 

crime, stressing that the state 

pardon only covered them as 

responsible and decent citizens. 

The ex-cultists were excited as 

they filed out for the pardon. 

Leaders of Degbam and Iceland 

took turns to pronounce the 

groups dead in the local 

government. “Our cult group 

from today ceases to exist in our 

local government. We have all 

come out to accept the amnesty 

programme of the state 

government. And we thank our 

Governor for this privilege. We 

will no longer get involved in 

any crime,” they chorused. 

They then submitted guns and 

other lethal weapons to the 

amnesty committee. Chairman 

of the Rivers State amnesty 

committee, Ken Chinda, 

pronounced the state pardon on 

Our cult group 

from today 

ceases to exist in 

our local 

government; we 

have all come 

out to accept the 

amnesty 

programme of 

the state 

government 

Rivers Amnesty Committee:Chairman Ikwerre local government area, Mr Sam Nwonosike 

, Chairman of Rivers Amnesty committee, Bar Ken Chinda and some chiefs inspecting items 

handed over by the ex cultists 

behalf of Governor Nyesom Wike 

on the repentant cultists. 

“By the powers conferred on 

me by the Governor of Rivers 

State, I hereby pronounce the 

amnesty of the state government 

on you members of Debam, 

Iceland. From today there is no 

Debam and Iceland in the local 

government area, “ he said. 

He said it was unfortunate that 

two notorious cultists, Italian and 

Gunboat, elected to ignore the 

amnesty and he went ahead to 

declare them enemies of the state 

until they turn away from crime. 

The committee Chairman also 

lauded the council Chairman, Mr 

Nwanosike, for taking steps to 

ensure the return of peace to the 

local government area. 

Women from various 

communities in the local 

government who witnessed the 

renunciation ceremony 

commended the Governor for the 

step, expressing hope that it will 

bring enduring peace in the local 

government area. 

Governor Wike had, in a bid to 

reduce crime in the state, recently 

declared a 60-day amnesty 

programme for repentant cultists 

to key into and be reintegrated 

into society as responsible 

citizens. 

•Guns and other weapons handed over by the cultists. Inset: 

some of the ex-cultists chanting incantations 

R-L: Chairman Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mr Sam 

Nwonosike and Chairman , Rivers Amnesty Committee, Ken 

Chinda 

Safety on water: Lagos donates life jackets to 

fishermen 

By Amarachi Chukwudi 

THE Lagos State Government 

has, through the State Waterways 

Authority, LASWA, donated 25 life 

jackets to representatives of 

fishermen associations in the 

state as part of measures to boost 

safety on waterways during 

operation. 

Presenting the items to 

beneficiaries at Elegushi Palace, 

Lekki area of the state, Secretary 

to LASWA, Mr. Damilola 

Emmanuel, explained that the 

gesture was geared towards 

addressing the risk of loss of life 

during mishaps as well as 

enhance operation of the 

fishermen. 

Five life jackets, donated by one 

of the oil companies in the 

country, were distributed to each 

of the representatives in the five 

divisions of the state. They 

included Mainland, Ikeja, 

Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe. 

Emmanuel said: “The gesture 

is a practical demonstration of the 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambodeled 

administration’s 

responsiveness to the safety of 

residents and also in response 

to the demand of fishermen. At a 

forum in Epe, they complained 

of safety issues and LASWA is all 

about safety. 

“It is also to encourage them 

in carrying out their operations 

without any hindrance. The 

main benefit is for safety to be 

guaranteed on our water ways.” 

In his remarks, Alhaji Tola 

Daudu, Chairman, Lagos State 

Fishermen Association, 

commended the gesture of the 

state government but called for 

more assistance in the area of 

fishing implements. 

“We want the present 

administration in the state to 

continue on this programme, it 

will go a long way in assisting 

us on our job as fishermen,” he 

appealed. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Achalla celebrates 

peaceful reunion at 

Iwa-Ji festival 

By Bashir Adefaka 

For another year, the 

people of Achalla 

kingdom demonstrated their 

love for culture and 

continuous peaceful existence 

during 2016 new yam 

celebration popularly known 

as Iwa-ji. 

Despite the harsh economic 

condition that has affected 

many projects in the country, 

the kingdom under the able 

leadership of the Uthoko Na 

Eze and a paramount ruler, 

Igwe Ezeoba Alex Nwokedi 

rolled out the drums to observe 

one of the age old festivals, the 

new yam festival. 

Iwa-Ji festival as it is called 

in the eastern part of the 

country, is a very big annual 

event that people of the 

kingdom have set aside as a 

forum for rekindling peace, 

unity and charting the way 

forward for the community 

and this year’s celebration was 

not an exception. It was 

however held this year as 

“only the king and his 

kinsmen affair” due to little 

hitches caused which did not 

however reduce the glamour 

that is associated with the 

occasion. 

The king’s own day of the 

week-long event was the 

grand finale, held at the event 

arena of the 200-year Uthoko 

Palace, on Monday October 

31. The entire community in 

spite of everything burst into 

unbridled celebration as sons 

and daughters of the 

community trooped out for the 

celebration of the 19th annual 

yam festival of Uthoko Na Eze 

and the 23rd king of the 

Achalla community, Igwe 

Ezeoba Alex Nwokedi. 

Very early in the morning, 

the entire community was 

agog with festivity as youths 

held massive demonstrations 

to herald the new yam festival. 

It was glitzy with different 

kinds of masquerades like the 

Isaka (the like of Lagos Igunu 

ko); Jele, Oganachi and others 

moving around the 

community. 

Yam, as a staple food, is 

consumed by many in Nigeria 

at any time. But to the culture 

and traditions of Achalla 

people, before the eating of 

new yam begins, there is a 

procedure that must be strictly 

adhered to. The main 

procedure is the celebration of 

arrival of the new yam, which 

comes in the form of a festival 

known in the kingdom as Iwa- 

Ji. 

Explaining how the yam 

festival is celebrated, a palace 

staff told Vanguard Arts that 

the Oganachi masquerade 

was usually the first to come 

out four days to the king’s yam 

festival calling on the people 

of Achalla and the eight subcommunities 

under it that it 

was time for people to begin 

to eat yam. 

“Oganachi took place four 

days before Igwe festival that 

is taking place today. It 

happened in a big way calling 

on Achalla people that they 

can now eat new yam. After 

that, the living title holders 

called Ozo-dindu do their 

own festival and the dead title 

holders (the Ozo-nwulaun) 

do theirs the next day. 

“After the king’s yam 

festival, people kill goats for 

their respective dead fathers 

and mothers who were title 

holders but are dead. It is a 

must for everybody to do so. 

This is general sacrifice that 

every affected person does 

and it is followed by another 

The celebration 

of the king's yam 

festival took off 

with prepared 

roasted yam 

meal served with 

thick vegetable 

soup 

By Japhet Alakam 

As part of the Troupe’s 

ongoing Nigeria 

independence celebration 

performances and in 

commemoration of Professor 

Wole Soyinka’s 1986 Nobel 

Prize feat, the National Troupe 

of Nigeria will on November 

19 and 20, at the National 

Theatre stage one of Professor 

Wole Soyinka’s most 

performed plays ‘Death and 

the King’s Horseman’. 

Apart from the play, the 

Troupe will also mount an 

exhibition reflecting Soyinka’s 

passion for visual arts at the 

lobby leading to Cinema hall 

2 for the two days. There are 

also plans to collaborate with 

CORA for a special stampede 

on the man Soyinka shortly 

before the public performance 

on November 20. 

Artistic Director and Chief 

Executive Officer of the 

National Troupe Mr. Akin 

Adejuwon explained that the 

staging of the production is 

•Royal dance at the festival 

event when all men go and buy 

Ogodi-Igbaoku (gifts) for their 

wives showing appreciation to 

them (wives) for taking good 

care of them (husbands) 

during the planting season,” 

he said. 

After the preliminaries, the 

main occasion which was the 

celebration of the king’s yam 

festival took off with prepared 

roasted yam meal served with 

thick vegetable soup. All 

occupants in and around the 

palace were served no other 

food than the meal. 

Thereafter, cows were 

slaughtered to prepare 

pounded yam which was 

served in the afternoon and 

this reporter was not left out in 

enjoying the delicacies on offer. 

The festive period was at its 

peak as the entire community 

was agog with all kinds of 

performances. 

On ground to receive 

homages was the king, Igwe 

Nwokedi, assisted by his 

brother and Prince, Mr. Willie 

Nwokedi, a veteran journalist 

and big-time public relations 

expert who came in from Lagos 

to ensures successful holding 

of the event and a line-up of 

senior red cap members of his 

cabinet. 

•A masquerade entertaining the people 

National Troupe celebrates Soyinka with 

drama, exhibition 

Minister 

more propitious because it is 

thirty years this year since 

Africa and indeed the world 

joined Nigeria in celebrating 

Professor Wole Soyinka’s 

award of the Nobel Prize for 

Literature. 

‘’Recall that Professor 

It was a day packed with all 

sorts of amusements, cultural 

performances, masquerade 

dance, offerings of yam by 

titled chiefs and other 

members of the community 

indicating that they were 

successful in their harvest 

during the just concluded 

farming season. It then got 

to the last leg of the festivity 

when different types of 

masquerades came to the 

arena each at its own time. 

They all danced and 

traditionally the king came 

down from his high seat to 

share in the dance and give 

them money. 

All said and done, what must 

not be left out of the whole 

• Prof Wole Soyinka (right) with Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Culture 

Soyinka became the first 

African to be awarded a Nobel 

Prize for Literature in 1986. 

This is a feat that is worth 

celebrating and we have 

chosen one of his epic plays 

which incidentally was 

written by this time 40 years 

ago to celebrate the 

experience is the need for 

Governor of Anambra State, 

Chief Willie Obiano, who the 

Igwe described as a leader 

with good mind, to come to 

the aid of Achalla people by 

providing them with good 

access roads. 

The community is devoid of 

infrastructural attention that 

any developed community can 

be described with. 

The people of Achalla are 

successful farmers whose 

produce every year has been 

said to be enough to feed the 

entire Anambra State if not the 

entire Eastern part of the 

country. There is no road, 

there is no electricity, there is 

no water. 

performing and literary icon. 

Indeed we find the play which 

has been acknowledged as one 

of Africa’s best books of the 

twentieth century fitting to 

celebrate this living legend 

and icon” the Artistic Director 

said. 

Also, Mr. Adejuwon hinted 

that the November 19 

performance would be a 

command performance that 

will be hosted by the Minister 

of Information and Culture 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The 

play which will be directed by 

Mike Anyanwu and 

performed by some guest 

artistes and artistes of the 

National Troupe will open to 

a paying audience on 

November 20. ‘’We decided 

on the public performance and 

indeed to stage the production 

in line with the Minister’s 

drive for improved non-oil 

revenue generation through a 

wholly Nigerian cultural 

economy," he said.

Challenges before 

Sultan Abubakar III 

LET me start by 

congratulating His 

Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad 

Abubakar III, the Sultan of 

Sokoto, leader of the Nigerian 

Muslim faithful and the most 

prestigious traditional ruler in 

the land. He has just celebrated 

his 10 th year on the throne 

amidst great pomp and 

pageantry, with the-who-is who 

in Nigeria, including our 

President and his Deputy in 

attendance. 

A retired Brigadier General of 

the Nigerian Army, Sultan 

Abubakar ascended to the throne 

of his forefathers on the 4 th of 

October, 2006 after his father, 

Sultan Maccido, perished in an 

ADC plane crash. He is also rated 

as the 24 th most influential out 

of 500 Muslim leaders 

worldwide, with President 

Muhammadu Buhari curiously 

rated higher at 20 th . 

Shortly after he was turbaned 

in one of the most peaceful 

transitions of the Fulani imperial 

stool, the Sultan began a series of 

shuttle diplomacies across the 

country, meeting fellow 

traditional rulers in their 

respective domains rather than 

Islamisation on a slippery slope 

FROM the 1914 amalgamation, 

Nigeria has sought to remain a 

united country. At first, it was fondly 

called unity in diversity. 

Admittedly, Nigeria has been a nation 

of constitutional instability. Our colonial 

masters gave us six Constitutions within 

a short space of 46 years – Lugard 

Constitution (1914); Clifford Constitution 

(1922); Richards Constitution (1946); 

McPherson Constitution (1951); Lyttleton 

Constitution (1954); and the 

Independence Constitution (1960). Most 

of the earlier Constitutions were not 

political instruments per se as they were 

put together merely to regulate 

commerce, which was the main interest 

of the colonialists. 

A pluralist society like ours needed to 

have knotty questions like Federal 

Character properly entrenched in its 

governing instrument. Yet, this serious 

issue was not given any consideration 

until the 1979 Constitution, and 

subsequent ones, where it found its classic 

expression in Section 14(3): “The 

composition of the Government of the 

Federation or any of its agencies and the 

conduct of its affairs shall be carried out 

in such a manner as to reflect the federal 

character of Nigeria and the need to 

promote national unity, and also 

command national loyalty, thereby 

ensuring that there shall be no 

predominance of persons from a few States 

or from a few ethnic or sectional groups in 

that Government or any of its agencies”. 

However, we now know that religion is 

stronger than politics. Before the 2015 

general elections, Edo State had been 

properly entrenched as an APC State. 

Based on the goodwill we had already 

garnered, we thought we could approach 

any election and win even with the least 

preparation. But religion changed all 

that. 

As soon as Muhammadu Buhari’s name 

appeared on the ballot, religious bigots 

waiting for them to come to him. 

He became chummy with many 

Christian clerics. His image as a 

peace-builder was taken to the 

global stage, as he visited many 

Western countries, delivering 

speeches and generally 

projecting himself as a Muslim 

leader whom the rest of the world 

could depend upon to engender 

genuine peace between the 

Christians and Muslims on the 

one hand, and the East and West 

on the other, not just in Nigeria 

but worldwide. 

It is, however, a sad irony that 

the past decade of this amiable, 

urbane and intellectually-bent 

Muslim leader on the throne has 

been characterised by a series of 

happenings that sharply 

contrast with the image he has 

projected of himself as a 

marketer of Islam as a religion of 

peace. It is difficult for anyone to 

successfully accuse him of being 

a brain behind these ugly events. 

But, since they have continued 

to increase rather than diminish 

in scope and impact in Sultan 

Sa’ad epoch, those who may 

accuse him of not doing enough 

to stop his subjects (the Muslims) 

from perpetrating them, usually 

went to work and came up with the ugly 

rumour that Buhari was coming to 

Islamise Nigeria. The rumour quickly 

spread like wild fire in the harmattan. 

When we were pointing to the Federal 

Character principle and the numerous 

constitutional guarantees against 

marginalisation we were merely wasting 

time. Our Christian women and youths 

had run away with the rumour. And that 

was how, in the predominantly Christian 

South and Central Senatorial Districts of 

Edo State, those fine APC candidates lost 

the Federal elections that were held on the 

The Bill for the extension 

of the criminal aspects of 

Islamic Sharia Law to be 

applied throughout the 36 

States and the FCT 

smoothly scaled its second 

reading in the House of 

Representatives 

same day with Buharis, no thanks to 

religious bigotry. 

That explains why a fortnight later, 

when we went for the House of Assembly 

election, APC virtually swept the entire 

poll! 

We think the religionists were right and 

we were damn wrong! What do we see 

today? We see the collapse of the Federal 

Character principle; we see emerging 

signs of an administration embarking on 

wholesale ethnic or regional cleansing; 

and above all, we see an administration 

descending a dangerous slippery slope of 

Islamisation. 

We reject the idea that Federal 

Character applies only at the entry point. 

It must also apply mutatis mutandis at 

every point, including the exit. 

Who still wants to argue that the 

Federal Character principle has not totally 

collapsed after seeing the recent purge in 

against Christians and non- 

Muslim groups, may have their 

point. 

The first is the Boko Haram 

terror that has claimed about 

30,000 Nigerian lives and 

brought misery to millions all 

over the North. The Sultan is as 

helpless as other innocent 

Nigerians because these 

Do these armed 

herdsmen have 

the licence to 

invade our 

communities and 

kill our people 

because they are 

“foreigners”? Or, 

are Nigerians free 

to mobilise 

militarily against 

them? We wait 

for answers to 

these questions 

extremists do not recognise him 

as their leader. He, in turn, says 

they are not Muslims, as “Islam 

is a religion of peace”. Sultan 

Abubakar is a very public 

campaigner for the release of the 

mostly Christian Chibok school 

girls abducted by Boko Haram, 

and a supporter of the military 

campaign to defeat the terrorists. 

However, some emirs, 

traditional rulers and top Islamic 

clerics in Bida, Sokoto, Kano, 

Zaria, Katsina, Abuja and other 

cities in the North (the Sultan’s 

imperial jurisdiction) have done 

exactly what Boko Haram did: 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, , 2016 —31 

abducting and forcibly 

converting under-aged Christian 

girls to Islam and marrying 

them off, either to themselves or 

other Muslims in their domains 

against the wishes of their 

parents. The Police, the 

Department of State Security, 

DSS, and even the Presidency are 

aware of this trend. They simply 

allow these evil-minded 

Nigerians to prey on the children 

of hapless and powerless fellow 

citizens and get away with it. 

I am also sure that Sultan 

Abubakar knows about these 

things. I have yet to hear of steps 

he has taken to call his Muslim 

subjects to order and restore the 

abducted children to their 

parents. I find it difficult to 

reconcile the fact that the Sultan 

campaigns for the release of the 

Chibok girls by Boko Haram but 

seemingly keeps mute about 

those held by non-Boko Haram 

Muslims. A phone call to any 

emir or Islamic cleric or the 

Presidency from this influential 

traditional ruler can make all the 

difference. We are waiting. 

Again, for the past ten years, 

armed herdsmen have been on 

rampage all over the country. 

The Sultan’s Fulani ethnic group 

is known to be exclusively 

involved in nomadic livestock 

herding in Nigeria and beyond. 

The Minyeti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association of Nigeria, 

MACBAN, and similar groups are 

his direct subjects. Armed 

herdsmen have been attacking 

communities, conducting ethnic 

cleansing and occupying 

villages, killing, burning, 

looting, kidnapping and 

displacing Nigerians from their 

native lands, especially in 

Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, 

Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Enugu, 

Abia, Ebonyi, Delta, Rivers, 

Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Kogi, Osun and 

the military, 

where about 

90% of the 46 

officers affected 

hail from 

Southern 

Nigeria as 

shown below? 

South-South 

– 16 Officers: 

Maj. Gen PAT 

Akem, Maj. 

Gen ED Atewe, Maj. Gen Letam Wiwa, 

Maj. Gen FO Alli, Brig. Gen Ogidi, Brig. 

Gen Koko Essien, Brig. Gen PE Ekpeyong, 

Brig. Gen Bright Fiboinumama, Brig. 

Gen. M. Onoyiveta, Brig. Gen IMD Lawson, 

Brig. Gen Bashir Mormo, Brig. Gen AH 

Sa’ad, Col. Tonye F Minimah, Lt. Col. GC 

Nyekwu, Lt. Col. Adimoha, Lt. Col. OC 

Egemode, 

South-East – 11 Officers: Maj. Gen TC 

Ude, Maj. Gen LC Ilo, Maj. Gen IN Ijoma, 

Maj. Gen O Ejimai, Brig. Gen GO Agachi, 

Brig. Gen Okonkwo, Col. CK Ukoha, Col. 

OU Nwankwo, Col. N. Achinze, Lt. Col C. 

Enechukwu, Lt. Col CO Amadi. 

South-West – 6 Officers: Maj. Gen 

Mobolaji Koleoso, Brig. Gen Oyefesobi, 

Brig. Gen AI Onibasa, Col. FD Kayode, Lt. 

Col. T.E Arigbe, Lt. Col TO Oladuntoye. 

Middle Belt (North Central) – 5 officers: 

Maj. Gen SD Aliyu, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, 

Col. Audu, Lt. Col. Baba Ochankpa, Lt. Col. 

DB Dazang. 

The Core North – only 8 Officers: Maj. 

Gen. MY Ibrahim, Brig. Gen M.G. Ali, 

Brig. Gen. L.N. Bello, Brig. Gen D. 

Abdusalam, Col. D.R. Hassan, Col. M.A 

Suleiman, Lt. Col. A. Mohammed, Lt. Col. 

A.S. Mohammed. 

Whereas the Core North was virtually 

spared in the purge, the same Core North 

has totally dominated the entire National 

Security structure of Nigeria. The Core 

North as applied here is the name for 

Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani 

hegemony. 

Today, the Chief of Army Staff; Inspector 

General of Police; Minister of Defence; 

Minister of Internal Affairs; National 

Security Adviser; D-G, Department of 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

even Lagos States. 

Unfortunately, the state 

agencies that should protect 

Nigerians refuse to do their 

work. When pressed, the 20 th 

and 24 th most influential 

Muslims in the world (Buhari 

and Sultan Abubakar III) pleaded 

that the armed herdsmen were 

not of Fulani stock but 

“foreigners”. Whose job is it to 

deal with these “foreigners”? Do 

these armed herdsmen have the 

licence to invade our 

communities and kill our people 

because they are “foreigners”? 

Or, are Nigerians free to mobilise 

militarily against them? We wait 

for answers to these questions. 

Finally, there has been a rash 

of “blasphemy” killings in parts 

of the North, directed at 

Christians of Southern stock. 

From Pandogari in Niger State 

to Kano and even to Abuja, seven 

people have been slain by 

Muslim mobs on trumped-up 

charges of insulting the prophet 

of Islam this year alone. Those 

who killed Mrs. Bridget 

Agbahime were freed by a Kano 

Court only last week. 

Where would Nigeria be if we 

all begin to retaliate the evils 

these people have inflicted on 

their fellow citizens? Is being 

peaceful now a crime? Are 

Nigerians being tempted to “do 

their worst” by taking the laws 

into their own hands? 

If the answer is no, then, Sultan 

Abubakar must rise and call his 

subjects who have gone astray 

to order. He should lend his 

powerful voice to the call for the 

President of Nigeria and the 

security forces to protect peaceful 

Nigerians from these agents of 

anarchy. This is the only way he 

can distance himself from 

perceptions of condoning threats 

to peace and interreligious 

cohabitation. 

State Security, DSS; Chief of Staff; ADC to 

President; CSO to President; Protocol to 

President; Private Secretary to President, 

D-G, Customs; DG, EFCC; DG, Nigeria 

Prisons; D-G, Immigration; Minister of 

Petroleum Resources; and FCT Minister, 

are all of the Muslim Hausa-Fulani 

extraction of the Core North. 

The two Heads of the National 

Assembly; and the two Heads of the 

Judiciary are also from the North. 

Contrariwise, even at gun-point, so to 

say, one issue that almost blew off the roofs 

of the International Conference Centre in 

our Constituent Assembly, CA, days was 

the Sharia. 

We raised voices and got near 

exchanging blows. Neither the several 

adjournments nor the shrewd tactics of 

the combination of President Ibrahim 

Babangida and the Secretary to the CA, 

Amb. Babagana Kingibe, could deter us. 

We fought like wounded lions. 

Yet, the penultimate week, the Bill for 

the extension of the criminal aspects of 

Islamic Sharia Law to be applied 

throughout the 36 States and the FCT 

smoothly scaled its second reading in the 

House of Representatives – a House where 

there are Christian Representatives, 

whether elected or rigged-in; and a House 

where the Speaker is supposedly at least a 

nominal Christian! Islam has never had 

it so good! 

Meanwhile, some of the Christian 

leaders who should take up the fight are 

pre-occupied with frivolities like visiting 

their political cohorts in EFCC detention! 

Who, then, will halt this steady glide 

towards Islamism? 

C 

M 

Y 

K


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

GEMINI; Better than yesterday. Happenings within 

your working arena will not give you cause to worry but 

situation may change tomorrow. Your finance are favoured. 

CANCER; Here is a day when things are meant to go 

according to your plans and record success. Yong at heart 

may be in for a romantic day. You just have to take the 

initiative. 

LEO; This is your day; although there will be some challenges 

within your base of operation, eventual success 

will be yours. Be more family minded. 

VIRGO; Even if friends have failed to live up to expectation 

in the recent days you will need to leave the past 

behind you and forge ahead. Lovers are fairly favoured. 

LIBRA; Recent challenges notwithstanding pleasant 

surprises are possible. The more financially ambitious 

you are today the better for your cause. 

By Richard Eromosele 

RIGHT from ages 

man has continued 

to look for ways of 

clothing his nakedness. 

Nakedness does 

not just mean not 

wearing clothes 

alone. It includes covering 

our evil deeds, 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

God is watching 

wicked acts, ways 

and sins etc. 

As it was the days of 

the biblical Adam and 

Eve, so it is today. 

When we commit heinous 

crime, we run for 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

cover under the stone, 

under the water and 

under the dark, hoping 

and praying that 

we will not be caught. 

We live a lie. We forget 

that air bear witness 

to our cruel act; 

the sun by our shadow 

takes our photograph, 

and our conscience 

convicts us daily. 

Beware, God is 

watching. Your sins 

will find you out. 

Think about it! 

By Kola Fayemi 

SCORPIO; Better opportunities indicated for those of 

you willing to be as self assertive as possible, and it could 

turn out to be a happy day to be remembered by real 

lovers. 

SAGITTARIUS; Although you will need to keep your 

secrets for the next few days that is not to say you should 

not pursue your financial interest. Take care of your 

health. 

CAPRICORN; Don’t wait till tomorrow before you 

make an important move because good luck and success 

are closer to you today than you image. Be hopeful. 

AQUARIUS; Tomorrow will prove more rewarding financially 

but you will have good opportunity to do things 

rightly within your working arena. Be loving. 

PISCES; Some of you who are travelling purposely for 

love are in for rewarding day. All of you will need to take 

your social life more seriously. 

ARIES; Professional advice may be needed over your 

finances but if you are sure of what you are doing you can 

go ahead. Be more family minded; 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

TAURUS; Unusual co operation may come your way 

today but if you are carried away by this the whole thing 

may change tomorrow. Respect your spouse. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What’s my birthday ruler? 

Dear Joshua, 

According to the date I was born I should be a Libran 

by my star but most of the time when I read horoscopes 

written by both yourself and foreign Astrologers 

Scorpio always applicable to me, why? 

Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was 

born and the day of the week I was born but don’t 

publish my date of birth. 

Laja, Asaba. 

Dear Laja, 

You were born on a Sunday meaning that mighty 

Sun rules your birthday. You were wrong to have taken 

Libra as your Sun sign because the Sun was placed in 

early degree of Scorpio together with many other heavenly 

bodies. Then with the Moon in Libra when you 

were born will equally be influential in your characteristics 

build up but, you are mainly a Scorpio born 

person. 

You are both an intelligent and emotional person. 

And as there was no planet at home when you were 

born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent 

place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult 

but most times, your intelligence comes to the 

rescue. 

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who 

can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner self is 

the personality with a steel like will power. 

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult 

to change once you have made up your mind as indicated 

by distribution of the planets as written out in 

paragraph two of this exercise. 

One major challenge you have been battling for a 

very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily 

and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by 

conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were 

born. 

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and 

Moon (your sub conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra 

respectively are indications of your being mainly Scorpio 

born person and partly in Libran. And that is to say 

basic characteristics of both Scorpio and Libra are 

highly pronounced in you. 

Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you don’t develop 

it is another thing. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa

C 

M 

Y 

K 



Avengers attack Forcados export pipeline 

By Emma Amaize & 

Perez Brisibe 

NIGER Delta Avengers, 

NDA, Tuesday night, 

attacked the Forcados Export 

Pipeline in Delta State, the 

third onslaught on the facility 

by militants since Niger Delta 

leaders met with President 

Muhammadu Buhari on 

November 1, in Abuja. 

The latest attack came less 

than 24 hours after four 

community surveillance 

guards escaped death at Batan 

community near Warri when 

suspected militants opened 

fire on them during a failed 

attempt to blow up the 

pipeline under repairs 

Though details of the attack 

were still sketchy as at the time 

of this report, locals in the area 

said they heard a loud bang 

followed by a huge ball of fire 

at the scene of the incident. 

Claiming responsibility for 

the attack, the Niger Delta 

Avengers, NDA, on their 

Twitter @Agbinibond handle 

We've no part in alleged illegal printing of election 

materials in Rivers —INEC, Peterside 

By Jimitota Onoyume & 

Omeiza Ajayi 

PORT HARCOURT—THE 


Electoral Commission, INEC, 

and Director-General, Nigerian 

Maritime Administration and 

Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr 

Dakuku Peterside, have absolved 

themselves of any complicity in 

the alleged illegal printing of 

some election materials in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, ahead of 

the December 10 re-run 

elections in the state. 

Specifically, Peterside dismissed 

allegations that he contracted 

anybody to print fake result sheets 

of INEC. 

It will be recalled that Policemen 

swooped on the printing press 

operated by Mr. Atonyesia 

Peterside on Isiokpo Street, Port 

Harcourt, last weekend arresting 

him and others with fake printed 

result sheets for eight local 

government areas of the state. 

The suspect reportedly 

confessed that he was contracted 

by some chieftains of All 

Progressives Congress, APC, to 

print the result sheets ahead of 

the re-run elections. 

However, the NIMASA D-G 

who was the former governorship 

candidate of APC at the last 

general elections, was among 

those linked with the incident. 

In a statement, Dakuku said 

attempts to link him with the 

controversial arrest was part of 

alleged plot to tarnish his image, 

insisting that he never funded or 

asked anybody to indulge in such 

an act. 

He said the whole issue about 

printing fake result sheets was not 

real, stressing that his cousin was 

in the early hours of 

Wednesday, admitted that 

they carried out the attack. 

NDA said: “Today 

(Tuesday) at 10:45p.m, our 

bundled to Government House, 

Port Harcourt, by alleged thugs 

who also reportedly beat him 

up. 

According to him: ‘Let us 

assume, without conceding, that 

some people were printing fake 

INEC documents. Is it the 

responsibility of Wike and 

Elite Strike Team (Strike 

Team 6) has blown up the 

Forcados Export Pipeline.” 

The group said this in a tweet 

at about 4.00 a.m. 

Obuah to interrogate them in 

Government House? Why didn’t 

they call the Commissioner of 

Police?" Similarly, INEC in a 

statement by its scribe, Augusta 

Ogakwu, advised politicians in 

Rivers State to desist from using 

intemperate language ahead of 

the rescheduled December 10 

Tisun community petitions Olu of Warri 

alleging installation of illegal Olara-Aja 

TISUN community in 

Warri North Local 

Government Area, Delta State 

has petitioned His Majesty, 

Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of 

Warri, over the purported 

installation of one Pa. Orighoye 

Boyi as the Olare-Aja 

(Community Head) of the 

community, saying there is a 

substantive Olare-Aja resident in 

the community in the person of 

Pa. Godwin Jemide. 

In the petition by elders and 

leaders of the three families that 

make up Tisun community, 

namely Pa. A.O.S. Eruwa 

Omajugho, head of the Eruware 

family; Pa. Andrew Odonghanro 

of Detse family, Pa. Samson 

Lube of the Matami family, Mr. 

John Ayewu, Pa. James Menetie 

Afotanju and Pa. Omawumi 

Giving reasons for the 

attack, the group said: “The 

action is to further stress that 

we don’t appreciate the 

repairs of blown pipelines.” 

PRESENTATION: From left: Stanbic IBTC Bank customer and winner, Mr. Oluyemi Babawale; 

Asst Marketing Manager, West African Region, Western Union, Mr. Ebere Nwaolikpe; Stanbic 

IBTC Bank customer and winner, Mrs. Yemi Aro-Gordon; Head, Personal Banking, Stanbic IBTC 

Bank, Mrs. Nkolika Okoli; and Relationship Manager, International Money Remittance, Stanbic 

IBTC Bank, Mr. Muyiwa Akintolu, at the prize presentation ceremony for Stanbic IBTC Bank 

winners in the Western Union Account-Based Money Transfer (ABMT) Promotion, in Lagos. 

elections. 

“The commission hereby 

states that it has no knowledge 

whatsoever of this reported 

printing and did not 

commission the company 

allegedly involved or anyone in 

Rivers State to print any 

electoral materials for it,” INEC 

stated. 

Betsy Obaseki, beacon of hope for women —INPA 

By Ulebor Favour 

IGBANKE 

National 

Progressives 

Association, INPA, has 

described the wife of Edo 

State governor-elect, Mrs. 

Betsy Obaseki, as a beacon 

of hope for women. 

A statement by the group’s 

convener, Mrs. Gloria 

Adagbon, said: “On 

November 12, 2016, power 

will change hands and a new 

governor of Edo State will be 

sworn into office. 

Simultaneously, Edo women 

will be welcoming a new First 

Lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, 

who many say is the next best 

thing to happen to Edo State. 

“Mrs Obaseki, like her 

husband, is a technocrat and 

financial expert who has had 

a very successful career. She 

is the Managing Director, 

BOI Investment and Trust 

Company Limited, a 

subsidiary of the Bank of 

Industry. Her financial 

expertise is what many say 

would be very handy in 

addressing the challenges 

facing Edo women. 

“During the campaign, Mrs 

Obaseki bonded easily with 

Edo women and identified 

directly with their concerns. 

Furthermore, she knows 

exactly how to approach 

women issues to foster the 

advancement women 

inclusion and empowerment. 

“As First Lady, with such 

professional background and 

strategic mindset, the agenda 

for women in business, 

women in politics, and 

women in governance will be 

accorded the highest priority 

especially as the Godwin 

Obaseki administration is 

keen to enhance active 

women's participation in 

governance and provide an 

enabling environment for 

Edo women to thrive." 

Edema, they stated that the 

purported installation of Pa. 

Boyi at the community town hall 

on 28th of September 2016 

never took place and the socalled 

installation was illegal, 

null and void as Pa. Godwin 

Jemide of the Matami family 

remained the bonafide Olare- 

Aja of Tisun. 

According to the petition, the 

Olare-Aja of Tisun must be the 

eldest male child from any of 

the three families and only the 

eldest male by age from the 

male lineage could become 

Olare-Aja at the demise of any 

ruling Olare-Aja, claiminging 

that the wrongly installed Pa. 

Boyi was from the female 

lineage and lived at Oghara in 

Ethiope West Local 

Government Area of Delta State. 

APC, LP 

members task 

Oviri on 

electoral 

promises 

ALL 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, and 

Labour Party, LP, members in 

Okwagbe community of 

Delta Central senatorial 

district, have urged Olorogun 

Okiemute Oviri Okwagbe to 

fulfill all his electoral 

promises to the community. 

Addressing newsmen, 

Chief Eddy Kpeba, of the 

APC stressed that Chief 

Oviri claimed that Governor 

Okowa was a political 

messiah, but more than a 

year after the governor 

assumed office there was no 

government presence in 

Okwagbe Community. 

Kpeba added that Oviri 

was a political leader in the 

community, but the Okowa 

crusade he brought to 

Okwagbe town had not 

yielded any useful result. 

He urged Oviri to fulfill all 

electoral promises made to 

the people of Okwagbe, 

saying that the present 

administration would deliver 

the dividends of democracy 

to the people of Okwagbe. 

Ofoeyeno 

departed 

when he was 

needed most 

—Agbeyi 

By Gab Ejuwa 

CHAIRMAN 

of 

U g b o r o d o 

community and member of 

Delta State council of 

Nigeria Labour Congress, 

NLC, Monday Agbeyi, has 

lamented that the late state 

chairman of NLC and 

chairman of Nigeria Union 

of Local Government 

Employee, NULGE, David 

Ofoeyeno, died when he 

was needed most. 

Agbeyi said: “It is 

unfortunate that we lost 

Ofoeyeno when we needed 

him the most. Although he 

did not live long enough 

to finish the struggle and 

great ideas he started, for 

us here, the legacies he 

believed in will surely live 

on.” 

Speaking at St. 

Michael’s Catholic 

Church, DSC, Udu Local 

Government Area, Delta 

State, during the requiem 

mass for late Ofoeyeno, 

Agbeyi noted that with the 

demise of Ofoeyeno, 

NULGE and NLC were 

worst hit and prayed God 

to enable the unions’ 

leadership to bear the 

irreparable loss.



Groups seek 

postponement of 

Abia council polls 


THE 

South-East 

Democratic Coalition 

,SEDC, and Abia Progressives 

Forum, APF, have called on 

Abia State government to 

reconsider its decision to 

conduct local government 

elections before the Supreme 

Court delivers judgment on the 

Federal High Court verdict 

which earlier sacked Dr. 

Okezie Ikpeazu as the state 

governor. 

It also said its call was 

informed by the belief that it 

would be wrong to conduct the 

exercise when there was 

litigation over the 

governorship seat. 

In a joint statement by 

Messrs Maduka Okebanama, 

Eunice Oke, Ndu Ahaiwe and 

Okey Adibe, the groups 

expressed confidence that the 

apex court would uphold the 

earlier judgment on the matter. 

The statement read: 

”Impressions being created by 

officials of Abia State 

government to the effect that 

anything short of retaining 

Ikpeazu as governor would 

cause a crisis in the state are 

mischievous. The people of the 

state would rather come out in 

celebration by the time Ogah 

is declared as the authentic 

governor of the state. 

“We know their antics. It’s a 

normal thing we were used to 

in the past 16 years. The same 

people will ignite the fire and 

run out again to tell us there is 

fire coming. Today, people are 

dying of poverty, hunger and 

starvation occasioned by nonpayment 

of their salaries. 

“Today, pensioners are dying 

daily in Abia because the state 

government has refused to pay 

their pensions. Roads in Aba 

have completely collapsed.’’ 

HERDSMEN/FARMERS’ CLASHES: Abia 

police set up conflict resolution committees 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

A BA—FOLLOWING 

frequent clashes 

between Fulani herdsmen and 

farmers, the Abia State Police 

command has directed 

Divisional Police Officers, 

DPOs, in the state to set up 

conflict resolution committees to 

check the trend. 

Commissioner of Police, Leye 

Oyebade who disclosed this at 

a townhall meeting in Aba, said 

the committees would include 

the Transition Committee 

chairmen of the council areas, 

traditional rulers as well as 

eminent persons from the 

communities who will work with 

the DPOs to ensure peaceful 

coexistence between herdsmen 

Abia to disburse N1bn to SMEs 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

ABA — ABIA State 

governor, Dr. Okezie 

Ikpeazu has said that his 

administration had secured a one 

billion naira fund to strengthen 

Small and Medium Enterprises, 

SMEs, in the state. 

Ikpeazu, who stated this at the 

3rd Abia State Small and Medium 

Enterprise Forum, in partnership 

with Wider Perspective Limited, 

in Aba, disclosed that the state 

and the Bank of Industry, BOI, 

provided N500 million each as 

counterpart funds for lending to 

entrepreneurs in the state and 

added that Abia is determined to 

create enabling environment for 

SMEs to thrive. 

The governor, who was 

represented by his deputy, Chief 

Ude Chukwu, noted that Aba 

remains the capital of SMEs in 

Nigeria, stressing that with the 

recession, there is an urgent need 

to strengthen the capacity of 

SMEs to boost entrepreneurial 

excellence in the state. 

Ikpeazu disclosed that the state 

is determined to eliminate all 

challenges militating against the 

growth of SMEs in the state and 

assured investors of conducive 

business environment. 

Reacting to several complaints 

on multiple taxation and 

harassment of entrepreneurs and 

business associations by touts in 

Aba, Ikpeazu charged them to 

itemize the multiple levies they 

are being charged and forward 

them to his office for necessary 

action. 

He said: “We are determined 

to eliminate multiple taxation 

in the state. Our approach is 

that all demand notices will be 

issued at once." 

PEOPLE SPEAK 

and farmers in the areas. 

This is even as the CP warned 

Policemen against extortion and 

checking of vehicle particulars on 

the highways. 

He also warned traditional 

rulers and community vigilante 

against collecting money from 

residents, and enjoined them to 

hand over suspects to the Police. 

He said: “The DPOs have 

been directed to set up conflict 

resolution committees to check 

clashes between herdsmen and 

farmers. In Abia, we will use 

Alternative Dispute Resolution, 

ADR, mechanisms to ensure 

that peace reigns between 

herdsmen and farmers. 

''If they disagree, the 

committee will ensure that they 

will agree. The committee will 

determine compensation to any 

On NASS plan to remove age bracket, experience for employment 

party who loses his crops or 

animal. The DPOs have the 

transition committee chairmen, 

traditional rulers and eminent 

persons in their areas. 

“Again, I don’t want to see any 

Policemen extorting money from 

motorists, don’t check vehicle 

particulars. If we want to check 

vehicle papers, it will be 

specifically for two days. I don’t 

want anybody to collect money 

for us. Policemen should not 

hide under tinted glass to extort 

money from motorists. No 

traditional ruler or vigilante is 

allowed to collect money.” 

The CP further disclosed that 

he had directed the DPOs in the 

state to strategize with bank 

officials to ensure efficient security 

at all Automated Teller Machine, 

ATM, points in the state. 

High port charges discouraging importers at Rivers Port 

– PHCCIMA 

By Ifeyinwa Obi 

PRESIDENT of Port Harcourt 

Chamber of Commerce 

Industry Mines and Agriculture 

(PHCCIMA), Dr. Emi Membere- 

Otaji has identified disparity in 

charges between Lagos and Port 

Harcourt Port as reason why 

importers abandoned the port. 

The PHCCIMA helmsman 

particularly pointed out that 

persistence inaction on the part of 

the port regulators concerning 

disparity in rates charges between 

the Lagos ports and the eastern 

ports affect traffic to the port. 

“What we don’t understand is 

why cargo passing through Port 

Harcourt ports will cost more than 

Lagos? This high rate is taking 

businesses away from Port 

Harcourt. Most business cargo are 

now going through Lagos and 

they are killing the ports in the east. 

"However, one sure thing is that 

the swamp land and oil fields and 

land cannot be taken from where 

it is which is Port Harcourt and 

Niger Delta. Hence, there is need 

to expedite action to ensure that 

seaports in the state are functional 

to facilitate import and export of 

other commodities beyond crude 

oil and create employment 

opportunities for the people. 

SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT: Ikpeazu 

felicitates with Dickson 

By Anayo Okoli 

U 

M U A H I A — 

GOVERNOR Okezie 

Ikpeazu of Abia State has 

felicitated with his Bayelsa State 

counterpart, Hon. Seriake 

Dickson, on his election victory 

at the Supreme Court. 

Governor Ikpeazu in a 

statement by his spokesman, 

Enyinnaya Appolos, said the 

victory was “a reaffirmation of 

the mandate given to 

Governor Dickson by the 

majority of the people of Bayelsa 

State in the Governorship 

election”. 

Ikpeazu also said the victory 

was “a victory for the judiciary 

which has continued to dispense 

justice without fear or bias.” 

Noting that the government 

and the people of Abia state were 

rejoicing with the people of 

Bayelsa over the court verdict, 

Ikpeazu urged Governor Dickson 

“to continue to deliver on his 

laudable programmes that have 

endeared him to the people.” 

By Bartholomew 

Madukwe (08051019450) 

nwamad@yahoo.com 

It is only in Nigeria, that 

a two year old graduate 

must have five years 

cognitive experience before 

being employed. So, 

this idea by the Senate 

would make a huge impact 

on many unemployed 

Nigerians.Mr 

Kelvin Mgbeadichie, 

Entrepreneur 

It is a good motion. 

What about productivity 

that goes with age? The 

Nigerian Senate should 

focus more on creating 

conducive investment opportunities. 

Then employment 

opportunities 

will flow quickly. Mr 

Saidu Danmallam, 

Self Employed 

This will be the best bill 

so far if we allow it to 

scale through. Nice thinking 

from our vibrant Senate 

and I hope it will be 

passed into law. Some companies 

will be asking a 

young graduate to have ten 

years experience to qualify 

for the job. Miss Okereke 

Bukola, Clerk 

This will be the best bill 

so far if we allow it to 

scale through. Nice thinking 

from our vibrant Senate 

and I hope it will be 

pass into law. some companies 

will be asking a 

young graduate to have 

ten years experience to 

qualify for the job. Miss 

Okereke Bukola, Clerk 

It is not every job that can 

be done without the 

needed experiences. A 

good move, but some jobs 

truly require experience. 

Maybe what the National 

Assembly should do is to 

specify the type of jobs that 

should not be done with 

loose criteria. Mr Ebi Alagba, 

Worker 

If this is going to be passed 

to law, many unemployed 

youths will get jobs 

and the rate of crime 

across the country will 

drop drastically. Its a good 

decision that I think Nigerian 

youths long have been 

waiting for. God bless the 

Senate. Miss Cynthia 

Osuchukwu, Graduate



Benue 

lawmaker 

escapes 

death in 

road crash 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—THE 

l a w m a k e r 

representing Tiev 

constituency in Benue 

State House of Assembly, 

Mr. Dominic Ucha, 

narrowly escaped death 

yesterday, following a 

ghastly motor accident 

involving his official car 

and two other vehicles in 

Makurdi town. 

The accident, which 

created heavy tragic traffic 

at the popular Makurdi- 

Otukpo Road, Balcony 

Junction, involved a 

cement-laden Peugeot 

pick-up van with number 

plates XA 682 JMT, the 

lawmaker’s Toyota Hilux 

van and a Toyota Camry, 

AAA407 EJ. 

Vanguard gathered from 

an eyewitness that the 

van was descending the 

hill of the New Abu King 

Shuluwa Road, when the 

driver lost control due to 

brake failure. 

He said: “All I can 

remember is that I saw the 

driver of the van shouting 

and asking people to run, 

that his brakes had failed 

and he was unable to 

control the vehicle 

anymore. 

“People ran for their 

lives, but unfortunately 

the van descended the 

hill so fast ended up 

running into the 

approaching Hilux van 

after damaging an 

approaching Toyota 

Camry.” 

The visibly-shaken 

driver of the van, Adule 

Oded, who corroborated 

the story of the 

eyewitness, said the 

vehicle became 

uncontrollable after the 

brakes failed. 

Mr. Ucha, whose car 

was badly damaged, 

escaped with minor 

bruises, saying “I give 

thanks to God. It could 

have been worse, but 

God saved us and no life 

was lost.” 

FIDELITY Bank Plc has gone 

live on the Nigerian Inter- 

Bank Settlement System, 

NIBSS, mCash product, which 

will allow its registered 

merchants receive payments 

from customers using their 

phones. 

Launched in collaboration with 

the NIBSS, other banks and 

leading telecommunications 

Reps probe financial misappropriation 

in Lake Chad Basin Commission 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

& Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE House of 

Representatives, 

yesterday, resolved to 

investigate the allegations of 

financial misappropriation, 

mismanagement and 

executive lawlessness in the 

Lake Chad Basin 

Commission, LCBC. 

To this end, the House in 

session, directed its 

Committee on Lake Chad to 

organise an investigative 

hearing on the matter, with a 

view to addressing the issue. 

The House, while adopting 

the motion, promoted by 

Omosede Igbinedion (PDP, 

Ovia, Edo) said Nigeria 

became a member of the LCBC 

in 1964 along with Chad, 

Niger and Cameroon, as part 

of measures to manage, in a 

sustainable and equitable 

manner, the Lake Chad and 

other trans-boundary water 

resources. 

The House observed that the 

level of lawlessness at the 

commission resulted in 

disobedience to statutory 

organs of the commission, such 

as the Council of Ministers 

and Forum of Chiefs of 

Defence Staff, capable of 

derailing the commission from 

achieving its mandate. 

The House also noted that 

contracts for the supply of 

furniture and other items had 

been awarded, mainly to 

nationals of the other 

member-countries without 

regard to due process and 

extant rules of the 

commission. 

It added that Nigerians were 

being denied their rights in 

the execution of projects and 

in terms of promotions and 

appointments. 

From left— Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia; RTM & Sales 

Capability Lead, AWA, Tijjani St. James, and Bolaji Sanyaolu, Communications Manager, 

both of GSK, at the company's donation of relief materials to internally-displaced persons, 

IDPs, in Maiduguri, yesterday. 

Zamfara, Interior Minister order 

investigation into miners’ killings 

By Omeiza Ajayi, 

with agency reports 

GUSAU—ZAMFARA State 

government has directed 

security agencies to 

investigate the killings of local 

miners at Gidan Ardo village 

of Bindin district in Maru 

Local Government Area of the 

state. 

This is even as the Minister 

of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman 

Dambazzau (retd.), mandated 

the police and National 

Security and Civil Defence 

Corps, NSCDC, to apprehend 

the perpetrators, with a view 

to bringing them to book. 

No fewer than 40 local 

miners were allegedly killed 

by bandits in last Monday’s 

attack in the area. 

Fidelity Bank goes live microCash 

companies, this electronic 

payment solution called 

microCash (mCash) rides on 

Unstructured Supplementary 

Service Data, USSD, 

technology to enable 

merchants and customers 

conduct transactions 

instantaneously. 

The new initiative was 

unveiled in Lagos by the lead 

The state Acting Governor, 

Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, gave 

the directive after an 

emergency security meeting in 

Gusau, yesterday. 

Wakkala, in statement by his 

Press Secretary, Mr. Yusuf 

Idris, urged security 

operatives to intensify 

measures to ensure quick 

investigation of the killings 

and prosecute any culprits 

involved in the incident. 

He said: “It is very 

unfortunate the way some 

criminals embark on killing of 

innocent people, despite the 

effort by both the state and 

Federal governments to 

address the security 

challenges in the state. 

“We are ever ready to 

cooperate with security 

promoter, NIBSS, with 

successful live transactions 

conducted during the product 

launch, including a Fidelity 

Bank merchant. 

In keeping with its promise 

to make financial services easy 

and accessible to its teeming 

customers, Fidelity Bank 

integrated mCash into its 

instant banking service. 

agencies and all stakeholders 

to ensure effective security 

provision in the state. 

“I am, therefore, appealing 

to people to remain calm and 

cooperate with security 

agencies to restore peace and 

stability in the area and to 

avoid taking law into their 

hand.” 

Meanwhile, the Minister of 

Internal Affairs, Dambazzau, 

has condemned what he 

described as the senseless 

killing of innocent Nigerians 

at a mining site in Zamfara 

State. 

In a statement in Abuja by 

his Press Secretary, Osaigbovo 

Ehisienmen, the minister, 

while condoling with the 

government and people of 

Zamfara over the attack, 

mandated the police and 

NSCDC to apprehend 

perpetrators of the act, with 

a view to bringing them to 

book. 

“Accordingly, the minister 

said this attack has 

strengthened his resolve to 

collaborate with the Ministry 

of Mines and Solid Minerals 

to establish a special squad 

to protect organised mining 

sites across the country,” the 

statement read. 

Senate to 

amend 

Customs law 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE Senate 

said, yesterday, that 

the 1958 law under which 

the Nigeria Customs 

Service had operated was 

no longer acceptable. 

According to the Senate, 

the law does not mete out 

sufficient punishment for 

those who violate it and 

spoke about amending it. 

The Senate said the 

repeal of the Customs Act 

would also help improve 

trade facilitation and service 

to the business community, 

the public at large and 

enhance the protection of 

society against smuggling, 

illegal weapons, narcotics, 

counterfeit goods, other 

trade-related crimes and 

money laundering. 

Entitled A Bill for an Act 

to Repeal the Nigerian 

Customs Service 

Management Act (Repeal 

and Re-enactment), 2016, 

and sponsored by Senator 

Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, 

Imo East), the bill seeks to 

repeal the Customs and 

Excise Laws; to establish 

the Nigeria Customs 

Service, Reform the 

Administration and 

Management of Customs 

and Excise in Nigeria. 

The bill, passed by the 

House of Representatives 

and is before the Senate for 

concurrence, was read for 

the first time in the Senate 

on Thursday, April 14. 

In his lead debate, 

Senator Anyanwu said: 

“Customs administrations is 

globally recognised as a key 

indicator for driving 

economic growth by 

facilitating trade between 

countries. 

“The administration of 

Customs occurs in a 

complex national, 

international and legal 

regulatory environment 

that influences the form and 

content of the national 

Customs Law 3 or 

regulations. 

“Our dear country 

experienced many changes 

in government. Many 

regimes have come with 

different laws and political 

focuses. The Nigerian 

Custom Service is 

unarguably one of the 

oldest institution of 

government in this country, 

with the history stretching 

back as far as 1891. 

“As a frontline 

organisation that 

contributes to security and 

economic growth, the 

service’s functions of 

collection of revenue and 

curtailing smuggling have 

remained crucial.”


UNION BANK/RIA: From left— Head, Alternate Channels, Union 

Bank, Folorunsho Orimoloye; Managing Director, RIA, Africa, Malick Seck; 

Transformation Director, Union Bank, Joe Mbulu, and Head, Operations, 

RIA Money Transfer, Robert Kotei, at a briefing to announce the bank's 

partnership with RIA. 

COCOA SYMPOSIUM: From left— Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye 

Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Director-General, International Institute for Tropical 

Agriculture, IITA, Dr. Nterenya Sangiga; Senior Programme Director, World 

Cocoa Foundation, West Africa Programme, Mr. Paul Macek; and Chairman, 

Organising Committee of the symposium, Dr. Ranjina Bhattacharjee, at the 

opening of a regional cocoa symposium at the IITA. NAN PHOTO. 

GLO STORMS UNIUYO: From left— Glocacom’s National Sales 

Coordinator, South-South, Mr. Horsfall Onamari; Students Union President, 

University of Uyo, UNIUYO, Kufre Okon; member of the union, Ubong 

George; and another member, Ekanem Victor, during Glo Campus Storm 

music concert at the university in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. 

AUGUSTINE VARSITY'S CONFAB: From left— Vice- 

Chancellor, Augustine University, Professor Steve Afolami; his wife, Caroline, 

and Pro-Chancellor, Chief Gilbert Temisan Grant, Augustine University, at the 

instituiton's 3rd biennial conference of the Nigerian Society of Nematologists, at 

the university in Ilara-Epe, Lagos State. PHOTO: Diran Oshe. 

E-LIBRARY: From left— Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos 

State on Education, Mr. Fela Bank-Olemoh; Permanent Secretary, Office of 

the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Ajibola Ariyibi; Permanent Secretary, 

Mr. Gbemi Olaniyi; Public Relations Manager, Huawei Nigeria, Ms Fancy 

Feng, and Deputy Manager/Director Huawei, Mr. Leo Li, at the launch of an 

e-library at Wahab Folawiyo Junior Secondary School under the Ministry of 

Education Project350, supported by Huawei as a CSR intiative. 

ICSAN: From left— Company Secretary /Legal Adviser, Nestle Nigeria 

Plc, Mr. Bode Ayeku; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny 

Ugboma, and Chairman, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and 

Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, Lagos Chapter, Biola Laseinde, at the 

2016 annual conference of ICSAN in Lagos. 

NB SHOW: From left— Judge, Life Progress Booster Show, Leonard 

Ona; winners, Chukwuma Anuwanuke and Okpara Ogechi; and Assistant 

Brand Manager, Regional Mainstream, NB Plc, Akinola Olufemi, at the 

presentation of prizes to the winners. 

ANNIVERSARY: From left— Pastor Shola Famoye, Pastor Yemisi 

Duggan, Senior Pastor of Glory Christian Ministries, Pastor Iruofagha James 

and Elder Joseph Osim, during the unveiling ceremony of the ministries' 

25th year anniversary logo. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


•Trump 

It's triumph of 

nationalism, patriotism 

— Aare Afe Babalola 

EMINENT lawyer 

and elder 

statesman, Aare Afe 

Babalola, SAN, said he 

was happy that Trump 

won while many others 

felt disappointed. ‘’I was 

happy because not a 

single person in my 

household or any of my 

friends gave him a 

chance. The Nigerian 

media and many 

Nigerians, including 

Nobel Laureate, Prof. 

Wole Soyinka, who 

threatened to tear his 

green card if Trump won, 

did not give him a 

chance.” 

In a statement, Aare 

Babalola said: “The 18- 

month campaign this time 

around was very much 

unlike any other in the 

history of elections in 

America. What had just 

happened in the United 

States of America could be 

likened to the 

Referendum in the United 

Kingdom, last year, where 

the British had to decide 

whether they wanted to 

remain in the European 

Union (EU) or not. 

“In spite of the fact that 

David Cameron, the 

British Prime Minister 

and his Government 

wanted Britain to remain 

in EU, the fire of 

nationalism and 

patriotism burning in the 

generality of Britons made 

them to vote against 

continued stay in the EU. 

“The thrust of Donald 

Trump’s campaign was: 

To make America great 

again.That he disagrees 

with the Nuclear Treaty 

signed by United Nations 

(UN) on Syria.That he 

will change America’s 

immigration policy to 

ensure that only those 

who have genuine 

business in America are 

allowed into America, 

which angered most nonwhites. 

That he would 

address the situation 


whereby America funds 

the UN so heavily and yet 

has become a toothless 

bull dog, a voiceless entity 

because some people 

enjoy the power of Veto. 

That he would raise the 

living standard of 

workers. 

“Today, the descendants 

of the white Americans 

who migrated to America 

in the 18th Century are 

still in the majority in all 

the regions except Hawaii 

while African Americans 

amount to 13.2 per cent. 

With this demographic 

spread, Trump was 

certainly appealing to the 

descendants of the 

Founders of the present 

day America who fought 

the American war of 

Independence in 1775- 

1783. 

“In all, the unexpected 

victory is as a result of 

Trump’s appeal to 

nationalism and patriotism 

and I congratulate him for 

his courage, doggedness 

and audacity to take on the 

drug barons, illegal 

immigrants and minorities 

even when some of his 

party leaders developed 

cold feet and vowed not to 

campaign for him.” 

THE TRUMP VICTORY 

It’s beginning of real change — FAYOSE 

GOVERNOR Ayo 

Fayose of Ekiti 

State described Trump’s 

victory as “the beginning 

of a real change in 

Nigeria because those 

who imposed the present 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

government on Nigerians 

just lost out.” 

His words: “Now that 

Trump has won, it 

portends hope for 

Nigerians that the 

excesses of the President 

Muhammadu Buhari-led 

Federal Government will 

stop as the road has 

Look inward for devt, 

banker urges FG 

A 

former president, 

Chartered Institute 

of Bankers of Nigeria, 

CIBN, Mazi Okechukwu 

Unegbu, has said 

government should 

adopt policies that would 

grow “our economy 

rather than depend on 

foreign aids and 

grants.” 

Trump's victory comes with 

uncertainties — DONS 

SOME university 

dons yesterday also 

commented on the Trump 

victory. Professor 

Sheriffdeen Tella of 

Department of Economics, 

Olabisi Onabanjo 

University, Ago-Iwoye, 

said that there was 

uncertainty in the world 

markets right now due to 

the outcome of the 

election, noting that the 

uncertainties had already 

forced the value of dollars 

to fall. 

•Soyinka 

He said stock markets 

around the world were 

also reacting negatively to 

the election. 

“Uncertainty in the U.S. 

could make Nigerians 

there to send money home 

for safety which can boost 

volume and value of 

Naira, but this will be 

short-lived,” Tella said. 

Head of Banking and 

Finance Department, 

Nasarawa State 

University, Keffi, Dr Uche 

Uwaleke, said that in the 

near-term, policies of 

Unegbu said that the 

influence of America on 

Nigeria had affected the 

economy negatively and 

Nigeria needed to be on 

its own, adding “ we 

should have faith in 

ourselves and our 

economy and must not 

depend on other 

countries to succeed”. 

US celebrities kick, vow to flee 

Some celebrities have 

declared that they would 

leave the United States, 

following their candidate 

Hillary Clinton’s loss. 

They say, they shall be 

fleeing to northern 

neighbour, Europe or 

outer space. 

The celebrities include 

Cher, Bryan Cranston, 

Amy Schumer, Chelsea 

Handler, Lena Dunham, 

Barbra Streisand and Ne 

Yo. Cher, a superstar 

singer, who has been 

sharing all her feelings 

via Twitter in this election 

season, said she will 

move to another planet. 

“I am moving to 

Jupiter,” she tweeted. 

For Cranston, he said 

during The Bestseller 

Experiment podcast that 

he was heading to 

Vancouver following the 

outcome of the election. 

“I will definitely 

move,” he said. “It’s not 

real to me that it will 

happen. I wished it 

never happened.” 

Katy Perry has 

predicted a “revolution” 

is coming follow the 

election of Donald 

Trump. The ‘Roar’ 

singer in a series of 

tweets, wrote: ‘We will 

never be silenced…. 

Power to the people..." 

Trump might affect the 

market with likely massive 

domestic borrowings. 

Uwaleke said that foreign 

investors might withdraw 

further from the market if 

the new government 

reviewed interest rates to 

encourage investment. 

He said that foreign 

investment flow into 

Nigeria might reduce as 

foreign investors might 

prefer to invest in their 

own economy. 

“It a good thing that 

Nigerian government did 

not come out openly to 

support any of the 

candidates,” Uwaleke 

said. 

ended for those, who 

conspired to impose 

Buhari on Nigerians.” 

A statement by his 

assistant on Public 

Communications and 

New Media, Lere 

Olayinka, quoted the 

governor as saying he 

believed that Trump would 

be able to tell President 

Buhari to respect rule of 

law and sit at home to 

solve the country’s 

economic problems 

instead of junketing 

I won’t destroy 

my Green Card 

yet — SOYINKA 

• Warns Trump could pull U.S. from 

Nigeria’s Boko Haram fight 

By Michael Eboh 

with agency reports 

ABUJA — Nobel 

Laureate, Professor 

Wole Soyinka, yesterday 

said he will not destroy 

his United States’ 

residency permit just yet 

and warned that the 

victory of Donald Trump 

in the U.S. presidential 

race could jeopardize 

the country’s support in 

Nigeria’s fight against 

Boko Haram. 

In an interview with 

Newsweek, Soyinka 

stated that Trump’s 

‘bunker mentality’ could 

see the U.S. withdraw 

support for counterterrorism 

operations in 

West Africa. 

Following the 

announcement of 

Trump’s victory, 

Nigerians took to social 

media to question 

Soyinka about whether 

he would honour his 

pledge. 

In response, the report 

quoted Soyinka as 

saying he was bidding 

his time until Trump was 

inaugurated in January 

before deciding on his 

next steps. 

“Why don’t we wait 

until Trump actually 

takes office? I am just 

going about my normal 

commitments, but 

definitely not getting 

into any more 

commitments. Let’s put 

it that way for now,” he 

said. 

According to the report, 

under the administration 

of Barack Obama, the 

U.S. has provided 

financial support and 

military training to West 

African countries 

fighting Boko Haram. 

The U.S., the report 

said, provided $71 

around the world. 

“Trump’s presidency 

symbolises different 

things to different people 

and nations. It symbolises 

God at work and a clear 

departure from the old 

order. It is also a turning 

point for Nigeria and 

Nigerians, particularly 

those controlling the 

Federal Government that 

must have to change their 

ways as their allies who 

imposed them on us just 

lost out... 

million worth of 

equipment, logistics and 

training to five countries, 

including Nigeria, 

Cameroon, Chad, Niger, 

and Benin, that together 

formed a joint task force 

in 2015 to fight the 

militants, according to a 

February fact sheet from 

the U.S. State 

Department. 

Obama also approved 

the deployment of up to 

300 U.S. military 

personnel to Cameroon 

in October 2015 to carry 

out intelligence, 

surveillance and 

reconnaissance 

operations in the region. 

“One should expect 

that level of collaboration 

to diminish. Trump’s 

mentality is one of, 

‘What are we doing 

there? What business do 

we have over there? 

“I foresee Trump 

dismissing that kind of 

expectation offhand and 

closing in, shrinking, 

becoming smaller in 

terms of the U.S.’s 

presence in other parts of 

the world,” Soyinka said. 

The report said Soyinka 

is based between Nigeria 

and the U.S., where he 

is affiliated to several 

universities. 

According to the report, 

Trump had little to say 

about U.S. foreign policy 

towards Africa in 

general and Nigeria 

specifically during his 

presidential campaign. 

While he has vowed to 

pursue ISIS in Syria and 

Iraq, the Republican has 

made no mention of 

whether he intends to 

persist with or 

discontinue the 

country’s support for 

counter-terrorism efforts 

in West Africa.


Decent Work: Our employers are turning 

us into slaves, workers cry out 

...protest upsurge in precarious jobs at workplaces 

By Victor Ahiuma-Young 

RECENTLY, Nigerian 

workers joined their 

counterparts in the rest 

of the world to mark the Decent 

Work Day, a day of mass action 

against precarious work. 

Notable industrial unions in 

Nigeria that have made it a ritual 

to mark the Decent Work Day 

either through seminars of mass 

rallies, include National Union of 

Textile & Garment Workers of 

Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Nigeria 

Union of Petroleum and Natural 

Gas Workers of Nigeria, 

NUPENG, Petroleum and 

Natural Gas Senior Staff 

Association, PENGASSAN, 

National Union of Electricity 

Employees, NUEE, Association of 

Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance 

and Financial Institutions, 

ASSBIFI, 

On the global level, 

IndustriALL Global Union which 

represents 50 million workers in 

140 countries in the mining, 

energy and manufacturing 

sectors for some time now, has 

been leading the fight for better 

working conditions and trade 

union rights around the world. 

Anti-labour 

activities 

As part of the rallies in Lagos, 

affiliates of Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, Trade Union 

Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and 

IndustriALL Global Union, in 

picketed Royal Sacks Head office 

in Oregun, Jagal in Ikeja, 

and a Media House in Lagos 

were perceived as slave drivers. 

In Abuja, a Lebanese Firm in 

Abuja, Artco Industries Limited 

was shut for alleged anti-labour 

activities and violations of labour 

law in the country. 

During the rallies, workers and 

their leaders were unanimous in 

raising the alarm that workers 

were fast becoming slaves 

through casualisation, 

outsourcing and contracting of 

jobs, de-unionisation, refusal of 

unionisation, unpaid salaries and 

allowances, reduction of salaries 

among others. 

Briefing ahead of the event, 

Comrade Issa Aremu, General 

Secretary, NUTGTWN) and 

Chairman, IndustriALL Global 

Union, Sub Saharan Africa, while 

explaining that precarious or 

casual work is the work done by 

workers under terrible conditions 

of low pay, delayed payment and 

general insecurity, lamenting that 

precarious work was becoming 

norm in most workplaces in 

Nigeria with most employers 

taking advantage of mass 

unemployment to violate workers’ 

rights. 

According to him: “More and 

•Workers during the Decent Work Day protest 

more precarious workers are 

unable to realize their 

fundamental rights at work and 

enjoy essential social rights. As 

we have seen in recent times with 

serial tragedies involving 

applicants and extortion of 

applicants in immigration, police 

and customs services, recruitment 

of workforce is also getting 

precarious in Nigeria. Most 

affected are women and young 

workers in general. In many 

commercial banks for instance 

precarious work takes the form of 

agency work in which a labour 

contractor supplies workers to the 

banks but the workers still remain 

the employees of the contractor. 

These workers are known as 

contract workers or temporary 

workers. 

Most banks today are mere 

modern day slave trade terminals 

reminiscent of the despicable 

trans-Atlantic slave trade of 15th 

century in which young girls are 

employed under corporate 

prostitution scheme and paid 

slave wages. Only lucky workers 

ever get elevated to the 

permanent status in most banks. 

“The defining characteristics of 

casual labour is insecurity, lack of 

union and all forms of 

maltreatment. Many media 

houses in Nigeria are notorious 

homes of casual labourers with 

working journalists grossly 

underpaid and in many instances 

unpaid at all drawing on cheap 

labour of youth corpers and 

interns. 

In many local governments and 

even Federal departments, child 

labour is feasible with outsourced 

staff receiving as small as N3000 

a month. There are “auxiliary 

workers” at the health centres just 

as there are “auxiliary teachers” 

in hundreds of thousands of 

“schools”. “Auxiliary” workers 

are nothing but casual workers. 

Even churches and mosques 

which should know what 

Almighty God ordained with 

respect to dignity of labour offer 

their workers devilish dirty jobs 

and pay them peanuts. Many 

pensioners earn less than 

N10,000 and statutory minimum 

wage of N18,000 in the face of 

massive currency devaluation 

and inflation. High sounding 

Youth Employment Schemes, 

YES, and “entrepreneurship 

schemes” being paraded at the 

state and federal levels supported 

by donor agencies are nothing but 

euphemisms for casualisation. 

Major industries with well known 

brands run by respectable men 

and women with advertised 

Corporate Social Responsibility, 

CSRs, practice outsource major 

operations.” 

Continuing, Aremu expressed 

sadness that “in many 

manufacturing industries 

including some textile mills, 

temporary shortage of raw 

materials such as cotton has been 

used to casualize normal regular 

work through “dubious 

compulsory leaves” totaling 52 

days in a company last year!. It 

is an open knowledge that in the 

energy sector, owners of electricity 

THE Governing Body of the 

International Labour 

Organization (ILO) has reelected 

Guy Ryder as Director- 

General for a second five yearterm 

to start in October 2017. 

Guy Ryder received 54 of the 

56 votes cast by the titular 

members of the ILO’s 

Governing Body . The vote 

was conducted at the ILO’s 

headquarters in Geneva. He 

was the only candidate. 

“I thank the Governing Body 

members for their renewed 

confidence. My second term 

will start as the world of work is 

undergoing unprecedented 

and transformative change. One 

asset that we have to master this 

change is our unique tripartite 

structure: government, 

employer and worker 

representatives will play a key 

role in shaping the future of 

work and reasserting social 

Generation Companies, 

GENCOs, and Distribution 

Companies, DISCOs, are more 

effective in laying off their workers 

than guaranteeing uninterrupted 

electricity supply. Of course the 

story of casualisation is familiar 

in construction industry. Every 

burden of production is heaped 

on the backs of working men and 

women. The word “recession” or 

“economic crisis” has become 

cheap excuse for mass “industrial 

murder” called retrenchment and 

downsizing. 

No economic recovery 

without decent work 

“Nigeria is no doubt currently 

undergoing economic 

recession. The country 

definitely faces the problem of 

limited revenue due to decline 

in crude oil price and crude oil 

production. However Nigeria is 

rich in human (labour) 

resources. Nigeria’s economic 

recovery depends on how it 

treats its 80 million real and 

potential workforce. Nigeria has 

Guy Ryder gets 2nd term as ILO's DG 

justice as the pole star of 

international policy making,” 

Ryder told ILO News after his 

re-election. 

Warning that “the denial of 

social justice on a deeply 

disturbing scale constituted a 

real threat to stability and 

eventually peace in our 

societies,” the head of the ILO 

called on its members to make 

the Organization a leader in 

delivering the United Nations’ 

2030 Agenda for Sustainable 

Development through 

decent work. 

Guy Ryder, who is the 10th 

ILO Director-General, has some 

thirty-five years of experience 

in the world of work, most of it 

at the international level. 

He was first elected as ILO 

Director-General in May 2012 

and took over from Juan Somavia 

in September 2012. 

Since his election, Ryder has 

progressive labour laws which 

sanction permanent 

employment as opposed to 

casual labour. Our labour laws 

ensure health and safety at 

work, pensions after work and 

regular payment of salaries as 

well as protect the rights of 

workers to freely join trade 

unions of their choice. Sadly 

these labour laws are being 

violated by many employers 

and even some state 

governments which 

unacceptably owe salaries for 

months.” 

He called on President 

Buhari’s administration to 

“urgently reform the labour 

market to enforce the existing 

progressive labour laws with 

respect to security of jobs and 

incomes of the workers in order 

to motivate for greater 

productivity for development and 

economic recovery. Only 

permanent, secured, well paid 

workforce NOT Casual workers 

will work Nigeria out of 

recession. Precarious work fuels 

precarious economy while 

secured work ensures economic 

stability and prosperity. President 

Buhari must therefore constitute 

the tripartite wage review 

committee including labour, 

employers and government to 

negotiate new minimum wage 

long due for another five-year. 

Unions must defend 

members’ rights 

“The burden ultimately is on 

unions and we the trade unionist 

workers pay through union dues 

to protect them. Trade unionists 

must stop treating their members 

“casually” and look the other way 

and in some instances criminally 

collude with unscrupulous 

employers to violate workers’ 

rights. 

We must kill casualisation and 

precarious work otherwise 

precarious work will kill our 

members. Contract and casual 

employments are no jobs, “but 

crimes against humanity.” 

strengthened the role of the ILO 

in the G20, with the BRICS and 

the g7+ group of fragile and 

conflict-affected countries. The 

ILO has also developed new 

initiatives with the World Bank 

and moved its Decent Work 

Agenda to the centre-stage 

of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. 

Guy Ryder started his career 

at the International Department 

of the Trade Union Congress in 

London. In 1998, he joined the 

ILO in Geneva, as Director of 

the Bureau for Workers’ 

Activities. In 2010, he was 

named Executive Director 

responsible for International 

Labour Standards and 

Fundamental Principles and 

Rights at Work before becoming 

ILO Director-General in 2012. 

Born in Liverpool (UK) in 

1956, he was educated at the 

universities of Cambridge and 

Liverpool.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 — 39 

Reward for academic excellence 

negleted in academia' 

Stakeholders in the sector 

have posited that one of 

the reasons students seem to 

be losing interest in academics 

is because the society no longer 

appreciates and rewards academic 

excellence. They said, 

since our reward system is 

faulty, people now ask; “why are 

you killing yourself with education 

when getting a job is not 

by first class or second class but 

by who you know?” 

To encourage academic excellence, 

they suggested that students 

who do exceptionally well 

in academics should be highly 

rewarded than individuals who 

do well in other sectors of the 

economy. This, according to 

them, is because education is 

the foundation on which other 

professions rest. 

Poor motivation: Lamenting 

that today, what is expected to 

be is not what it is, they said; 

“there are tertiary institutions in 

Nigeria where individuals and 

companies do not really motivate 

students to graduate with 

flying colours.” 

They frowned at individuals' 

and organizations' decisions in 

rewarding entertainers or musicians 

who spend few weeks 

to sing a song than students 

who spend four, five and six 

years to study courses that 

would enable them save lives 

and impact positively on the society. 

Speaking in this regard, a final 

year student of the University 

of Nigeria, Nsukka, who 

did not want his name in print 

Academic awardees 

By Dayo Adesulu, Tare Youdeowei, Elizabeth Uwandu & 

Kelechukwu Iruoma 

told Vanguard Learning that 

when he was in first year, he 

was privileged to attend the 

Award Ceremony of the university. 

According to him, during 

the presentation of awards, the 

cash award given to students 

that made first class was ridiculous 

enough to discourage 

other students from being studious. 

Paltry sums: He said: “During 

presentation of awards, 

some first class students got 

N1,000, N5,000, N10,000. 

Some got N250,000 and 

N100,000. This discouraged 

some undergraduates in the 

hall as some students inside 

and outside the hall started leaving.” 

On his part, Dr. Eke Emmanuel 

Chikaodiri, a graduate of 

University of Port Harcourt, 

2015 session and best graduating 

student in Physiology and 

Biochemistry, said the fact that 

academic excellence is not being 

appreciated, is appalling. 

According to him, during his 

graduation, not only were they 

not given any award, they were 

not recognized at all. "The 

names were only called and we 

stood up where we were and 

that was all. It was really a 

shame," he said. 

Standing ovation award: Narrating 

how heartbroken he was 

as the best graduating student, 

he said: “It was really discouraging 

not to have been appreciated, 

and permit me to say that 

immediately after the induction, 

some of my younger colleagues 

came to me and openly told me 

that if that was how we were being 

rewarded, then there was 

no need to worry oneself in 

reading hard or burning the 

midnight candle. I was really 

heart broken” 

Our society’s 

value for 

education is very 

poor. They pay 

entertainers 

more than 

academics, not 

to talk of the best 

graduating 

students 

Reward for hardwork: Dr. 

Chikaodiri called on stakeholders 

to address the issue of reward 

for academic excellence or 

risk having a bleak future. “Our 

future looks so bleak and dark, 

that's if nothing is done about 

this. It is time we all uphold 

what we pledge in our national 

anthem, 'the labour of our heroes 

past shall never be in vain.' 

And if we must make progress; 

if we must get to where other 

developed countries are; if must 

achieve our God's given talents 

as individuals and as a nation, 

hardwork must be rewarded and 

given its due place or we will 

keep having graduates who 

went to universities to fulfill all 

righteousness.” 

Speaking in the same vein, a 

graduate of Mass Communication, 

also from University of 

Nigeria, who identified himself 

as Ifeanyi Onyekere said: 

“The reward for academic excellence 

is obviously not encouraging 

for others to work 

hard to attain academic excellence, 

but any student who 

wishes to work hard, or to excel 

should do so for the sake of 

standing out in his field.” 

Entertainment vs education: 

He noted that the greater 

reward should be when 

students who worked hard to 

excel, distinguish themselves 

by proving their capabilities. 

While comparing the education 

sector and the entertainment 

industry, Onyekere said, 

“The reward for entertainment 

is different, in that, it doesn’t 

last in most cases as that got 

from academic excellence. 

Nonetheless, for one to reward 

in the entertainment industry, 

the person also has to work 

hard. 

“Looking deeply into it, those 

who excel and last in the entertainment 

industry are those 

who go the extra mile by doing 

things differently. Furthermore, 

it has been observed that 

most of the rewards got by entertainers 

are from consumers 

of that particular genre of entertainment. 

Hip hop music for 

instance gets its artistes money 

from numerous individuals 

who patronise club houses,”he 

said. 

A call for sponsors: While 

stating the fact that there are 

no organisations that contribute 

to reward academic excellence 

in our society, he said 

that since our government at 

various levels has shown lack 

of interest and political will towards 

academic improvements 

in Nigeria, churches, civil and 

social organisations, and individuals 

should rally round to 

balance the deficits in rewarding 

academic excellence. 

Onyekere further urged the 

media to take the campaign for 

good reward in academic excellence 

serious, since it could, 

overtime, change people’s 

opinion and alter their beliefs. 

“Entertainment is important, 

however, it cannot be compared 

to education which also creates 

better entertainers,” he said. 

Hardwork in entertainment: 

Another graduate, Chidiebere 

Kalu, stated that academics 

and entertainment are two different 

phenomena, adding that 

none could be said to be overtly 

better than the other. “They 

both have their respective rewards. 

People in academics 

shouldn’t envy entertainers. It 

is not easy to make it to the top 

and some academicians make 

more money than some entertainers. 

Life is all about destiny 

and fulfilment. It’s better to 

do something that will make 

you feel fulfilled instead of focusing 

on just money. 

He urged students to overlook 

monetary reward and put 

in more effort in order to succeed. 

“The knowledge they will 

gain will get them more money 

than even the entertainers, 

if they use their heads well. 

Our education system has been 

sabotaged by corruption, hence 

it has lost it’s credibility and 

trust to an extent. 

"Entertainment spices life, 

the whole world needs it. 

That’s why it gets more attention. 

It is good for advertising 

too, that’s why corporate bodies 

invest in it.” 

Education is boring: Meanwhile, 

Dr. David Ebi, a lecturer 

in one of the federal universities, 

in his reaction said: “I 

believe the problem is that the 

sponsors of these talent hunts 

and reality shows are looking 

for eye catching programs to 

sponsor, and education programmes 

are not generally entertaining. 

"You do a theme song for a 

company and you get five million 

and a four wheel drive, but 

you spend four to five years 

reading to come out the best 

and they give you at best 200, 

000. This simply means our society’s 

value for education is 

very poor. They pay entertainers 

more than academics, not 

to talk of the best graduating 

students. 

“This is the reason students 

seem to be losing interest in 

academics, because the society 

no longer rewards academic 

excellence. Since our reward 

system is faulty, students now 

feel; "why are you killing yourself 

with education when getting 

a job is not by first class or 

second class but by who you 

know. Now tell me, why would 

students be bothered about performance? 

Lecturer and student awards: 

“The poor reward of education 

or academic excellence also 

trickles down to teachers and 

lecturers. You don’t see teachers 

or lecturers getting awards 

of excellence that is televised. 

The big companies are only interested 

in music stars, meanwhile 

lecturers can made stars 

for their ability to impart knowledge 

proficiently. 

"This poor reward system is 

why you find lecturers and 

teachers struggling to make 

ends meet, as such their commitment 

level is low, so is their 

performance level. That is why 

you see lecturers selling textbooks 

because they are looking 

to send his children to good 

schools, private schools where 

they give first class to 100 students, 

so that his children can 

benefit from the largess of society."


From left: Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Joop Berkhout, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu and Anthony Kila 

during the 50 years celebration of Doyen Publishing in Nigeria,held at CIAPS, Lagos. 

'Nigeria is supposed to be Africa’s 

education base' 

By Dayo Adesulu 

An Education Counsellor, 

Mrs. Rose Omonubi has 

asserted that if education 

receives the right attention, 

Nigeria would be saving huge 

sums from capital flight in the 

sector. The educationist further 

contended that given the right 

atmosphere, Nigeria is 

supposed to be the study base 

for nationals from other African 

countries. 

Omonubi made these 

assertions recently at the 8th 

UK North American Education 

Fair in Lagos. The Fair is an 

annual convergence of UK, 

Canada and United States of 

Americ, where primary and post 

primary education providers 

converged. 

The exhibition, according to the 

organisers, is a forum for 

parents and students to interface 

with boarding school providers 

and give them information about 

their schools. “It’s a one-on-one 

thing for parents and their 

children to meet with these 

people”, Omonubi explained. 

Omonubi is the Director, NUBI 

First City Monument Bank 

(FCMB) Limited has 

intensified its financial literacy 

campaign among youths by 

organising an outreach 

programme for students in 

twelve secondary schools across 

the country in commemoration 

of this year’s World Savings 

Day. 

The schools are located in 

Anambra, Zamfara, Oyo, 

Jigawa, Osun, Adamawa, 

Bayelsa, Niger, Gombe, Imo, 

Benue and Delta states. The 

Bank organised the programme 

in partnership with the Bankers’ 

Committee of the Central Bank 

of Nigeria (CBN). 

The World Savings Day, which 

is celebrated every October 31, 

is aimed at enhancing the 

knowledge and understanding 

of students as well as the general 

public on the importance of 

savings, financial control, 

planning and other financial 

transactions to the development 

Educational Counseling 

Limited. She also commented 

on some other issues bothering 

on Education. 

“I’m happy sending people 

abroad because Nigeria is 

supposed to be the study base 

for people from other African 

countries. If things are done 

right, no Nigerian should be 

seeking to study overseas. 

Here, if well motivated our 

teachers are very good. What we 

are grappling with today is 

illiteracy. Poor leadership, its 

illiteracy –no matter how you 

look at it, -whether they are in 

the House of Assembly, 

wherever they are, it's illiteracy. 

“The breed of criminality in 

the country today - insurgency, 

kidnapping, militancy, 

Avengers or whatever, are all 

products of illiteracy. And the 

people who impoverished them 

are the same paying and 

sending them to go and commit 

crimes. Those people who send 

them, do they not have 

children who they can send? 

“This is why I say it is all about 

illiteracy. Or why should 

someone send you to go and 

commit all such atrocities like 

bombing and killing yourself and 

you accept? It’s illiteracy. If they 

are educated and are gainfully 

engaged, someone cannot come 

to you and say, go and blow up 

this place, go and blow up that 

thing, go and blow up yourself 

and you’re doing it. But, they 

can’t think for themselves 

because they don’t have 

education. It’s a shame on the 

nation. 

She spoke on how the 

prevailing high exchange rate 

has affected the quest for 

overseas scholarship. 

According to her, it is 

somewhat a blessing in 

disguise. 

“Well, many oversea schools 

know what we’re going through 

presently. And they’re trying to 

help in different ways. Some of 

the schools are giving some 

discounts to the students. Some 

are even giving full scholarships. 

Some are giving 50 percent 

rebate, depending on what the 

school is looking out for. The 

local schools are not that cheap 

either; some go for four million, 

five million etc." 

FCMB promotes financial literacy in schools 

of individuals and society. 

Speaking during the mentoring 

session for students of 

Government Day Secondary 

School, Samara in Gusau, 

Zamfara state, FCMB’s Zonal 

Head, Kano West, Mr. 

Abdullahi Mainasara, said that 

imbibing financial principles at 

an early age will go a long way 

to help students and the young 

ones to manage their resources 

effectively, appreciate how 

money works and how it can be 

channeled to productive 

ventures. Among other things, 

he urged the students, ‘’put 

aside a portion of what you earn 

regularly in a safe place that 

pays interest. This is known as 

Savings”. He further explained 

to them that, ‘’money saved 

should be placed in a financial 

institution for safekeeping and to 

earn interest on your money. This 

reduces the risk of spending, 

theft, and gives your money the 

chance to grow”. 

Also mentoring the students of 

Mater Amabilis Secondary 

School, Umuoji in Anambra 

State, the Manager Nnewi Old 

Onitsha Branch of FCMB, Mr. 

Vincent Agbasi, pointed out 

that, ‘’By being financially 

literate, students and indeed 

youths will be able to build their 

capacity for future business 

endeavours, thereby securing 

their future and guaranteeing 

freedom from poverty”. 

He advised the students to pass 

the message to their friends, 

parents and other family 

members. 

Commenting on the 

significance of the Bank’s 

involvement in the annual World 

Savings Day, the Group Head, 

Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr. 

Diran Olojo, said that it is an 

extension of the Bank 

commitment to drive and deepen 

prudent and effective 

management of resources among 

the populace. 

Bibliophiles fete Joop Berkhout 

for 50 yrs publishing 

It was all about books, 

literary memories, history and 

writing styles at the Lagosbased 

international Graduate 

School, CIAPS (The Centre for 

International Advanced and 

Professional Studies) on 

Saturday when eminent 

Nigerians and international 

guests gathered to pay tribute 

to a doyen of publishing in 

Nigeria, Chief Joop Berkhout 

(OON). 

The event, also attended by 

close friends and associates of 

Chief Berkhout chairman of 

Safari Books and Okun 

Borode of Ife, was to mark 50 

years of his Nigerian 

experience considered by 

experts as the golden years of 

publishing and literary 

creations. 

In his welcome address, 

CIAPS Centre Director, Prof. 

Anthony Kila noted that the 

“Encounter with Joop 

Berkhout” was part of a series 

of event themed “The 

Creatives” initiated by the 

Centre, in contributing to the 

building society that 

appreciates and celebrates it 

most creative minds. 

The celebrant, Joop Berkhout 

in his own intervention noted 

that the Nigeria he came into 

in the 60s, “was a country 

known for reading and 

writing.” He lamented the 

decline in general knowledge 

and standards, blaming a lot 

of the ills in education in lack 

of study of history. 

In the same vein, Chief 

The Chairman Governing 

Council of the College of 

Education Ijanikin, Prof. 

Tunde Samuel was recently 

(29 th October, 2016) at the 

Ladi Kwali Conference 

Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja 

honoured by the African 

Institute for Leadership 

Excellence, Organizers of the 

Annual African Prize for 

Leadership Excellence, with 

the 2016 African Education 

Personality Leadership Award. 

An embodiment of 

knowledge, Prof. Tunde 

Samuel was the pioneer 

Provost of Michael Otedola 

College of Primary Education 

(MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, 

Lagos State between 1994 

and 2002; a onetime Special 

Adviser on Education (2003- 

2007) during the reign of His 

Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu as Governor of Lagos 

State; a member of the 2014 

National Conference, a 

member of the Lagos State 

Governor’s Advisory Council 

(the Apex Advisory body in 

the State) and a retired 

Professor of Political 

Emeka Anyaoku, Former 

Secretary-General of the 

Commonwealth, while noting 

that Nigeria owes it to Joop 

Berkhout to recognize his 

contribution to the intellectual 

life of the nation said that we 

as a people can know where 

to go to if we don’t know where 

we are coming from. 

The 

emeritus 

Commonwealth scribe also 

invited leaders to do all they 

can to encourage reading and 

writing. 

In her remark, Mrs Bianca 

Ojukwu observed that Joop 

Berkhout was more Nigerian 

than most Nigerians and that 

her late husband, Chief Emeka 

Ojukwu described him as one 

of the few detribalized 

Nigerians. 

Speaking at the event, Pastor 

Tunde Bakare noted that 

unlike most Nigerians that 

were merely born in this 

country, Nigeria was actually 

born inside Joop Berkhout and 

this has made his passion glow 

more that many born 

Nigerians. 

Others who attended the 

event include Muson CEO 

Mr. Gboyega Banjo, Senator 

Olatunji Durojaiye, Chief Mrs 

Winfred Awosika, Prof. 

Charles Aworh, Prof Hauwa 

Iman, Elder Nathaniel Okoro, 

Dr Umar Farouk and Chief 

Dayo Ogunniyi who 

remembered how Joop 

Berkhout guided him into 

publishing the first book on 

social sciences in Nigeria. 

Prof Tunde wins AEPL Award 

Economics of Education, 

Lagos State University 

(LASU), Ojo, Lagos State. 

While receiving the award, 

Prof Samuel thanked the 

organizers for honouring him 

among several millions of 

Africans and pledged to 

dedicate his life to better 

service to humanity. 

Prof. Samuel was specially 

identified and honoured by the 

organizers of the award for his 

“Leadership Skills and 

experience, contribution to 

quality education, his 

intellectual disposition/ 

strength, present and past 

educational experience, 

academic pedigree and 

service to humanity”. 

The African Prize for 

Leadership Excellence is a 

prize for excellent leadership 

experience for some selected 

African Personalities who have 

made impact in the 

development of the African 

economy through their 

innovation, creativity and 

leadership experience in their 

fields of endeavours.

Undergraduates bemoan deplorable accommodation on 

campus 

ByTare Youdeowei, 

Elizabeth Uwandu, 

Kelechukwu Iruoma & Queen 

Ndukwe 

Environment, they say, 

influences the quality of 

people’s thinking. A conducive 

learning environment has been 

identified as a major factor that 

can bring about academic 

excellence among students in 

tertiary institutions and contribute 

to the development of Nigeria. 

Sadly, Nigeria's tertiary 

institutions are lacking in 

ensuring that academic 

environments are conducive for 

learning, both in class area and 

accommodation. 

For now, Quadlife’s focus is 

accommodation. Higher 

institutions in Nigeria generally 

have poor and over populated 

hostels. Where students manage 

to get accommodation despite 

poor management and 

bureaucracy in allocating bed 

spaces, they are plagued with 

facilities, where available, that are 

overstretched. 

Some students who live in 

school hostels, especially in 

federal and state universities, 

confirmed to Quadlife that the 

hostels are not kept clean and as 

such are a home to all sorts of 

diseases. Regina Jacobs (not real 

names), a 400 level Psychology 

student at the University of Port 

Harcourt, said the hostels on 

campus are appalling adding 

that it is the reason most 

students, including herself stay 

off campus. “The hostels here are 

so appalling, especially the male 

hostels. But there are some 

exemptions like the Nursing and 

Medical Hostels that are first of 

its kind. Also, the only conducive 

thing about the hostels here is that 

they have light all day since a new 

generator was mounted in the 

school. 

“Although there are cleaners 

who are always on duty making 

sure the hostels are clean, the 

hostels still look dirty and 

unfriendly. Some of the rooms are 

so tight and lack enough space 

to contain all the room mates. In 

all of this, the nursing and 

medical hostels are like five star 

hotels, with a lot of bunks, space 

and the environment is always 

clean. One would begin to 

wonder if those hostels are really 

in UNIPORT.” 

Speaking further on the reasons 

students, especially females, go 

off-campus, Jacob disclosed; 

“Restrictions, theft, alleged 

witchcraft operation, including 

lesbianism, are the some of the 

reasons that make females opt for 

off campus. Some female students 

don’t like staying in the school 

hostels because of the strict rules 

and regulations attached to living 

in the hostel. Some female 

students love to have their 

freedom, especially the carefree 

ones who keep late at nights. 

Some do not like the school 

hostels because they are careless 

with their personal belongings 

and cannot afford room mates and 

wings marshals telling them to 

tidy their space. A few do not like 

the idea of staying in the school 

hostels because it will hinder them 

from accommodating their male 

friends when they come to visit.” 

However, Bisi Coker, a 200 level 

student of Economics and 

Statistics, University of Benin, 

UNIBEN, said that their hostels 

are relatively fine but squatters 

make them largely overstretched. 

“Hostels are now kept clean. Now, 

Two rooms use a toilet. It is just 

the space in the rooms that is 

stretched due to squatters and 

their luggage. But there are other 

comfortable hostels in the school 

that charge more.” 

Commenting on the benefits of 

hostels, a final year student of 

Mass Communication from 

University of Nigeria, Chukwudi 

Amara, said that she prefers to 

stay in the hostel because it is 

safe and more affordable. “You are 

open to meet new friends and 

room mates and you are entitled 

to free internet connection. Hostel 

is good because there is security 

unlike off campus where you are 

not under anybody’s supervision 

and security is not assured 

because hoodlums and touts 

invade those areas often.” 

She noted that what she 

disliked about UNN hostels is 

that students do not keep the 

toilets and bathroom clean. 

“They always want the cleaners 

to do all the cleaning. They 

make everywhere dirty and wait 

for the cleaners. Also, we are not 

allowed to own fridges, 

hotplates, gas, which are the 

Staying off 

campus is more 

convenient and 

comfortable for me 

because it enables 

me have my 

privacy and stay 

away from certain 

people 

Deplorable state of the toilet 

at Yaba College of 

Technology, YABATECH. 

Photos by Queen Ndukwe. 

easiest and fastest means of 

cooking and managing food.” 

Maris Ani, a recent graduate 

of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, 

Anambra State, stated that 

staying off campus is more 

convenient and comfortable for 

her, adding that it enabled her 

have her privacy and stay away 

from certain people. “You 

get to stay off campus at any 

time without anyone 

questioning you. But those in 

hostels do get mandates from 

school authorities to leave their 

hostels when it’s not their will 

to and they have to resort to 

squatting with those staying off 

campus. While you are 

supposed to be comfortable 

cooking in the hostel, you 

wouldn’t, because most of the 

hostels do not have kitchens to 

cook, at times the student 

deprive themselves of cooking 

what they really want because 

of so many reasons, either that 

fellow students would want to 

pertake of the food or that they 

cannot really cook that which 

they really want. 

“I am always comfortable off 

campus and I do not worry 

about my things like food stuffs, 

clothes, among other things, 

getting stolen. Whenever I 

leave my lodge, I will be sure 

my things are the way they are 

kept but in the hostel, they steal 

a lot and get jealous amongst 

themselves. I hate the 

untidiness of the hostel. They 

manage food there because 

they do no feed well. 

They eat more of junks at 

times and they indulge in 

lesbianism.” 

Also, a second year student of 

Mass Communication from UNN, 

who identified herself as 

Chukwujekwu Pamela frowned at 

squatting, adding that that was 

the reason she hated staying in 

the hostels. She said, “I don’t like 

squatting at all. I experienced it 

in my first year. The girl that 

helped me felt on top of the world. 

The problem with people is that 

they feel whoever they squat 

should own nothing and it is 

totally abysmal.” 


By Elizabeth Uwandu 

Stakeholders have called 

on the Federal 

Government to tread with 

caution in the area of the 

commencement of the 

reintroduction of History in the 

curriculum. They argued that 

the absence of availability of 

trained History teachers and a 

formal curriculum may impede 

the decision by the Minister of 

Education, Mallam Adamu 

Adamu. 

For Mrs Toyin Sode Idowu, 

an educationist, she said that the 

initiative would be a waste if 

the right teachers and standard 

text books for History is not put 

in place before the 

implementation of the new 

policy. Her words, “ I love this 

development , but hope the 

reintroduction does not begin 

this session. There is need to 

train History teachers and get 

standard textbooks before 

getting History back into the 

classrooms, else the essence of 

reintroduction of History will 

be lost. 

The Principal Consultant/ 

CEO Leading Learning 

Limited, Dr Folasade Fisayo 

added that the next step 

education policymakers have to 

take in the reintroduction of 

History was to formulate a 

curriculum that would better 

appreciate the diversity and 

richness of Nigerians. “ The 

curriculum is vital and I believe 

we will evoke a History 

Quadlife 

Stakeholders caution 

FG on History 

By Kelechukwu Iruoma 

In a bid to ensure that 

Nigerian students 

master the English 

Language, a Non- 

Governmental Organization, 

NGO, Inspiring the Future 

Initiative, has given out over 

70 copies of Oxford dictionary 

to students of Agidingbi 

Senior Secondary School, 

Ikeja, Lagos. 

The project tagged “English 

Dictionary Project” was 

aimed at helping students in 

public secondary schools 

have access to their personal 

dictionaries in order to help 

improve their proficiency in 

English Language. 

According to the Founder 

and Coordinator of the NGO, 

Kofoworola Bada, “Many 

students who attend public 

schools have parents and 

guardians that either cannot 

afford the money to buy 

dictionaries or do not know 

their importance.” 

She stated that the 

dictionaries would help the 

students improve their 

communication skills and to 

have better understanding of 

English Language in general, 

urging the students to make 

curriculum that will build 

appreciation and love for our 

country via its diversity and 

richness.” added Fisayo 

A parent, Chioma Eke( not 

real names) on her part noted 

that History reinstallation into 

the curriculum should not be 

only a medium of extolation of 

past leaders but it should 

encompass also those the 

negative abuses of their 

authority, to enable future 

leaders learn from part mistakes. 

“The history of the political 

leaders of Nigeria should 

include their deeds, their feats 

and of course their corrupt 

practices. Children in Nigeria 

should be able to read about 

corruption of leaders just as the 

world is reading about the evil 

deeds of Hitler. This will evoke 

a heart of change for good 

deeds. So, the move to bring 

back History is good. 

Adeogun Kayode, a journalist 

while noting that proper 

teaching and learning of 

History would raise a 

generation of young people 

that will better appreciate the 

intricacies and intrique of 

leadership . He rejoiced that 

the three arguments for the 

earlier remover of History from 

the curricum are now history 

themselves. His words, “ The 

three arguments for removing 

History that included, the 

dearth of History teachers; lack 

of job for history graduates and 

students apathy to the subject 

lacked merit. 

NGO donates dictionaries to school 

maximum use of the 

dictionaries. Bada said that 

since the inception of the 

NGO, they had given out 

over 500 copies of the 

dictionary. 

While presenting the 

dictionaries to the students, 

A Nollywood actress who 

graced the event, Mrs Yemi 

Oluyeju encouraged the 

students to be hardworking 

and studious, so as to have a 

bright future. She also urged 

the students to choose their 

careers carefully, adding that 

their choice of career should 

be driven by passion. 

In her response, the Vice 

Principal of the school who 

identified herself as Mrs. 

Abass commended the NGO 

for giving out the dictionaries 

to the students of Agidingbi 

Senior School. She said, “I 

express my sincere gratitude 

to you (NGO). There is 

nobody that is above 

knowledge. All of us need 

dictionaries. We don’t know 

it all. There are words, 

pronunciation, spelling and 

syllables you don’t know 

about. The dictionary will 

help you in improving your 

English Language efficiency.

42— 

42—Vanguard, 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 

Udom to unveil Akwa Ibom's plans against 

climate change at COP22 

By Chioma Obinna 

AKWA Ibom State indigenes would 

know their fate on the effects of climate 

change as it affects their health when their 

Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, makes 

presentation on the state's sustainable 

development progress and prospects at the 

ongoing 22nd Session of the Conference 

of Parties, COP22, holding in Marrakech, 

Morocco, November 7 through 18, 2016. 

Udom is expected to list some of the 

precautionary measures the state has taken 

and intends to take to mitigate the hazards 

associated with climate change. The 

presentation is also designed to motivate 

collaborations for Climate Change Action 

funding and technology support to the 

State in line with the Paris Agreement. 

To this end, the state has organised a 

pre- conference tagged: 'Akwa Ibom High 

Level Consultative Forum' for Permanent 

Secretaries, Directors and stakeholders in 

the Judiciary as part of strategies to 

participate in the International conference. 

At the Pre-COP 22 Seminar, the 

Secretary to the State Government who 

representated the Governor, Sir Etekamba 

Umoren explained that the one-day 

sensitization programme was designed to 

attract opportunities for Foreign Direct 

Investment to the State. 

"With the global call for sustainable 

development-based policies and 

programmes, governments of countries of 

the world have come to realise the need to 

pursue an agenda that will not put the 

earth in a position that cannot guarantee a 

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) 

Iwas using my new vibrator recently and as I was 

about climaxing, I just urinated all over the place – 

Joyce 

Dear Joyce, what you experienced is a deep and intense 

kind of orgasm. It is called a squirting orgasm or female 

ejaculation and what came out as you were climaxing is 

not urine. It is a type of ejaculatory fluid and this is a rare 

and highly pleasurable type of orgasm. So this is a good 

thing. Next time you squirt like that, just have a towel in 

place so that you can clean up afterwards and avoid facing 

a television or any kind of electronic device so that you 

don’t short circuit its components with ejaculatory fluid – 

Uche 

I was looking for a sex position book the other day 

and was referred to your site. I ended up buying Nick 

Hawk’s Gigolo Sex Position Book. The images and 

positions are very exciting but I don’t know if they are 

doable. The sort of things I saw there are out of this 

world – George 

Dear George, yes these sex positions are modelled by 

professionals who are really flexible and athletic but you 

should give it a try. Some of the positions may look 

intimidating but there are others that you and your partner 

can learn easily. The whole idea of the book is for couples 

to have fun and a bit of adventure when they get together, 

otherwise sex will be incredibly dull if we have to do the 

same missionary position every day. The 365 Sex 

Positions Book is another good option with hundreds of 

styles that you can easily attempt – Uche 

Hey! I just stumbled on your website and I cannot 

believe the kind of things you have. My wife and I are 

so excited. Please can you recommend two good films 

that can teach us new things? Thank you. Well done sir 

– Timi 

You are welcome. Get the movies Exploring Guilty 

Pleasures and Adam and Eve’s Legendary Sex Positions. 

You will love them and they all have instructors and 

demonstrators too so everything is quick and easy to learn 

– Uche 

Participants at a community Walk organised by Rotary Club of Palmgroove Estate 

to mark this year’s World Polio Day in Lagos. 

healthy world for the children. We 

appreciate the legacy, and as such must 

embark on a journey that assures our 

Available statistics 

show that 

cardiovascular 

diseases are the 

world's largest killers, 

claiming 17.3 million 

lives annually 

children a future that is sustainable for 

them and their children." 

On his part, the Lead Facilitator, Dr. Paul 

Abolo, President, Ecologistics Integrated 

Services, a leading sustainable 

development and climate change 

consultancy firm enlisted the benefits of 

the high level engagement, which is a 

prerequisite to tap into the available 

resources to the State. 

He said the programme focused on 

accelerating funding and technology 

support for sustainable energy 

deployment; building capacity for Climate 

Change Action development and 

accelerating funding and technology 

support for Climate Smart Agriculture 

development in Akwa Ibom State. 

I got back on Sunday and found that your people had 

delivered the Libimax Plus to my wife. I didn’t know 

what to expect because I had not used it before. Well, it 

gave me very firm erections and I did not have 

headaches. And we had sex several times well into the 

night. Never happened before – Olu 

You are welcome Olu. Hope you had a good trip – Uche 

My wife bought a lubricant from your site because she 

was having painful intercourse. Your wife recommended 

the Smooth and Slick Lubricant for her. What she forgot 

to tell you is that she also needs something for arousal 

because getting in the mood is quite difficult for her – 

Memphis 

Okay. There are many different adult novelties that can 

arouse her but if she is looking for an arousal lubricant or 

gel, then get her the Encounter Orgasm Gel or Sex 

Accelerator Gel. But if it is a supplement you are after, 

then she should take the Tropical Sex Aphrodisiac Mints. 

It is very good and fast acting too – Uche 

I watched a documentary about penis enlargement 

and enlargement exercises were recommended. Any 

idea how I can learn those? 

You can achieve that easily with a penis pump. 

TheClassix Penis Enlargement Pump is very good. Use 

it several times a week as advised and you will grow your 

penis considerably – Uche 

Thank you for helping me out with this premature 

ejaculation matter. I am so relieved and I will tell my 

friends about this Prolonging Ointment. Lots of men 

are suffering because of this - Kelechi 

You are welcome – Uche 

That is all for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ 

novelties can call us on 08171912551, 08027901621 or 

07086754515 for help. We can also be reached via 

whatsapp on 08188153279, BBM on D1DE7311 and 

instagram on zeevirtualmedialtd. Visit 

www.zeevirtualmedia.com to view our entire range of 

products or to order online. Zee Virtual Media delivers 

all over Nigeria. Email us at 

custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com 

Rotary club walks 

to kick polio out 

of Nigeria 

By Daniel Oduvwu 

TO mark 2016 World Polio Day, Rotary 

Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate in 

collaboration with Rotary Clubs of Ilupeju 

Central, Lagos Island and Igbobi Central 

weekend staged a polio walk across Lagos 

communities to enlighten Nigerians on the 

need to vaccinate children against the 

deadly virus. 

Flagging off the walk, the Assistant 

Governor, Eboigbe Olaiye, who 

represented the District Governor, Rotary 

International, District 9110, comprising 

Lagos and Ogun states, Patrick Ikheloa, 

said the purpose of the walk was to create 

awareness on polio. 

The Governor urged parents to take their 

children to the nearest primary health 

centre for free polio immunisation even as 

he appealed to government at all levels to 

create more awareness and extend same 

to rural areas since the vaccines are free. 

Addressing journalists during the walk, 

the Chairman, Polio Service and Blood 

Donation, Santoch Kakade, who regretted 

the sudden outbreak of polio in the country 

called for more sensitisation in Nigeria. 

Kakade who disclosed that part of 

activities was to educate school children 

on polio and its effects on health explained 

that the club earlier carried out free 

vaccination of eligible children at Ilupeju 

Grammar school. 

Kakade urged mothers to take their 

children to the nearest primary health 

facility to receive two drops of polio vaccine 

free of charge.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016—43 

Mimiko accused of plans to thwart Oke’s ambition 

•Allegation, not only false but unfounded — PDP 

Stories by Dayo Johnson 

Apolitical group within the 

AD in Ondo State, Ondo 

Third Force Forum, OTFF, 

yesterday, alleged that 

Governor Olusegun Mimiko 

was working towards thwarting 

the ambition of its candidate, 

Olusola Oke, in the 

forthcoming election. 

A statement by its 

Coordinator, Foluso Olugbemi, 

also fingered the Ondo PDP for 

being behind the plot to 

remove Oke through a court 

process by using the legal 

adviser of the party, Idowu 

Awolere. 

Awolere had dragged Oke 

before a Federal High Court in 

Abuja, seeking to stop him 

from parading himself as the 

party’s governorship 

candidate. 

Olugbemi said a faction of the 

AD was being propped up by 

the governor to force Oke out 

of the race, using gullible 

judges. 

He said: “We are aware of the 

clandestine moves being 

orchestrated by Governor 

Olusegun Mimiko to stop our 

candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, 

AHEAD of the Court of 

Appeal ruling on the PDP 

governorship candidate today, 

state chairman of the party, 

Clement Faboyede, yesterday, 

expressed optimism that the 

verdict would shame 

detractors. 

Faboyede, who spoke, in 

Akure, during the party’s 

senatorial meeting was 

optimistic that the conspiracy 

against Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, 

would not stand. 

He said that the party has 

absolute confidence in the 

judiciary and that Jegede 

would be victorious. 

Faboyede assured the people 

of the state that by tomorrow 

the state would be celebrating 

the victory of Eyitayo over the 

detractors. 

He told the over 5000 party 

faithful that attended the 

meeting that some cabals, with 

some bad eggs, in INEC 

conspired to shut out Jegede 

•Gov Mimiko 

whose popularity is soaring by 

the day. 

‘’Precisely on October 14, a 

faction of the national 

leadership of our party was 

allegedly bankrolled to Akure 

by Governor Mimiko for 

purposes of creating artificial 

disaffection among the 

leadership of the party. 

“There and then, these paid 

agents of the governor issued 

a so called communique 

wherein they disowned our 

candidate, Olusola Oke. 

‘’We wish to place it on record 

that Mimiko’s motive was to 

discredit Oke ahead of the 

election because he was afraid 

that Oke is the candidate to beat 

at the polls, even his preferred 

choice, Eyitayo Jegede was 

trailing behind our candidate 

prior to rejection by INEC. 

‘’This move is condemnable 

and we call on security 

agencies to prevail on the so 

called national officers, who 

have offered themselves for 

sale to stop this act that is 

capable of igniting a crisis in 

the riverine areas of Ondo state. 

On the allegation that the 

governor was already 

importing ex-militants from the 

South-South as well as a 

detachment of the OPC, 

A-Court verdict ‘ll shame detractors — PDP 

because they knew he would 

dust others during the election. 

The party chairman, however, 

noted that they cannot stop a 

moving train as Jegede would 

bounce back and would win the 

November 26 election. 

Faboyede appealed to the 

people not to be disillusioned 

as all the antics of the enemies 

P 

R E S I D E N T 

Muhammadu Buhari 

will, today, flag off campaign 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, governorship 

candidate, Mr Rotimi 

Akeredolu, SAN. 

He is expected to arrive the 

state by 10am today according 

to the party’s Publicity 

Secretary Abayomi Adesanya. 

Also expected is the party’s 

National Chairman, John 

Oyegun, who will lead the 

party’s National Working 

Committee, NWC, to the rally. 

Vanguard was unable to 

confirm if the National Leader 

of the party, Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu would accompany the 

president to the state. 

A reliable source said that 

the President would be 

meeting some aggrieved 

governorship aspirants in a 

bid to placate them and woo 

them to support Akeredolu’s 

ambition. 

have been exposed. 

He advised the party 

members to go and collect their 

permanent voters cards to 

enable them vote for the 

governorship candidate of the 

party on November 26. 

Also speaking, former Deputy 

governor, Otunba Omolade 

Oluwateru, and former 

Olugbemi said the political 

thugs were scattered across 

various hotels in Akure, the 

Ondo State capital. 

‘’We are calling on the 

security agencies to be alive to 

their duties and responsibilities 

because as we issue this 

statement, Governor Mimiko 

has flooded Akure with exmilitants 

from Bayelsa, Rivers 

and Delta, in connivance with 

the state governors.” 

Ondo PDP reacts 

In a swift reaction, the 

Director of Publicity of PDP in 

the state, Ayo Fadaka, said the 

allegation was not only false but 

also unfounded adding that the 

AD is only looking for 

relevance. 

Fadaka said: “We have no 

business with Oke and we have 

since cast him away from our 

consciousness after he took his 

excursion into APC. 

“We are not even taking 

cognizance of the fact that he 

is contesting in this election. 

So, how do we start calculating 

against him? Such action on 

our part will be an empty 

exercise. 

“We have wondered times 

without number what the living 

will be doing with the dead as 

we believe AD is a dead party.” 

Ambassador to Greece, Prof Olu 

Agbi were optimistic that 

Jegede would fly the flag of the 

party during the election. 

They appealed to the party 

supporters across the state not 

to panic as the party would 

retain the reins of power in the 

state in February 2017. 

Buhari to flag off Akeredolu’s campaign today 

•President Buhari 

The flag off campaign is 

slated to hold at the 

Democracy Park in Akure 

metropolis. 

Sources said that the 

President would be visiting 

the traditional ruler of 

Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo 

Aladelusi on arrival. 

Some former political office 

holders in the present and 

•Akeredolu: APC candidate 

past administration’s are 

expected to decamp and 

would be received today by 

President Buhari. 

It would be recalled that 

some former commissioners, 

Senior Special Assistants, 

SSAs and Special Assistants, 

SAs defected to the APC 

recently. 

Ondo market 

women, Muslims 

back Oke 

MARKET women in 

Akure, the Ondo State 

capital, have rallied support for 

the ambition of the Alliance for 

Democracy (AD) governorship 

candidate, Chief Olusola Oke 

ahead of the November 26 

election. 

This came as the Deji of Akure, 

Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, 

commended the AD candidate for 

his “high integrity”, which he 

described as an outstanding 

leadership quality. 

The Erelu-Iyaloja of Akure and 

head of Marketwomen, Chief 

Mrs M. A. Adekanye, who 

expressed the traders’ support for 

Oke, said their action was hinged 

on the prosperity of the land and 

its people. 

Adekanye led other Iyalojas 

and marketwomen to pray for the 

success of the AD in the 

governorship election. 

She said principal among 

wishes of the traders was a 

responsible government that 

would make life worth living for 

the citizenry and as well re-ignite 

activities that would empower the 

people and awaken commerce in 

the capital city and other parts of 

the state. 

Also Oba Aladetoyinbo, who 

spoke in his palace while playing 

host to Oke’s campaign train, 

said the AD candidate’s qualities 

accounted for how the party has 

spread like wild bush fire in the 

short time that he joined the party. 

The monarch, who canvassed 

violence-free polls, expressed the 

belief that Akure indigenes were 

supportive of Oke’s ambition 

because of his behavior, attitude 

and integrity. 

Oke said: “The agenda of 

Akure people is development 

and transformation. The 

implication is that they are setting 

agenda for the incoming AD 

government. I can see dust 

everywhere. I can see broken 

promises. I have promised them 

better deal and I will surpass 

their expectations. Akure people 

have confidence in me thus the 

ovation wherever I go.” 

Meanwhile, Muslims in the 

state capital, yesterday, pledged 

their support for Oke. 

The Chief Imam of Akure, 

Alhaji Abdulazeez Yayi-Akorede, 

said the decision of the AD to pick 

a Muslim, Alhaji Ganny Dauda, 

as its deputy governorship 

candidate has made the Muslim 

community to take that position 

and support the party to succeed 

at the polls. 

The Chief Imam, who spoke 

at the Akure Central Mosque 

when some Muslim leaders 

hosted Chief Oke lauded the AD 

and its governorship candidate 

for recognising Muslims with

44 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 

Trump moves to unify America after shocking victory 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political Editor 

Washington D.C. 

DONALD Trump was 

yesterday moving to 

unify the United States after 

shocking the polls and 

pundits to emerge the 45th 

president of the country in 

the election held on Tuesday. 

Mr. Trump’s handsome 

victory was consolidated by 

the victory of his Republican 

Party in the Congress, with 

the party retaining a razorthin 

majority of 51 in the 100 

member Senate and a 237 to 

191 advantage over the 

Democrats in the House. It 

is the first time in ten years 

that one party would hold the 

advantage in the two 

chambers and the executive 

branch of government. 

Mr. Trump in a practical 

demonstration of his 

message of political healing, 

paid glowing tribute to his 

Democratic Party rival, Mrs. 

Hilary Clinton lauding her 

for her 30 years of public 

service in his victory speech. 

For the first time, he dropped 

the affix Crooked Hilary that 

he had over the election used 

to taunt his rival, describing 

her yesterday as Secretary 

Clinton. 

Mr. Trump is expected to 

meet the outgoing president, 

Mr. Barack Obama today, a 

meeting that is also expected 

to heal the bad blood 

between both men that got 

to nauseating levels in the 

days leading to the election 

when both men used very 

negative terms on one 

another. 

Mr. Trump’s ascension 

from candidate to presidentelect 

came after he attained 

274 Electoral College votes, 

above the 270 threshold with 

five states still yet to be called. 

His victory was cemented 

after he won in the 

battleground states of 

Pennsylvania (20 Electoral 

College Votes), Ohio (18) 

and North Carolina (15) and 

Florida (29). Trump’s 

sweeping victories in most of 

Middle America where the 

rural people indifferent to 

the social values espoused by 

Mrs. Clinton live 

augmented the Republican 

businessman’s claim to the 

presidency. Trump won in 

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, 

Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, 

Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, 

Missouri, Montana, North 

Dakota, Oklahoma, South 

Carolina, South Dakota, 

Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West 

Virginia, Wisconsin, and 

Wyoming. The Republican 

also got slices of the divided 

Electoral College votes of 

Nebraska and Maine. 

Clinton was heavily lifted 

by the 55 Electoral College 

votes she easily won in 

California and the 29 votes 

from her New York base 

which incidentally is Trump’s 

native state. 

Shortly before 2 a.m. 

Eastern Standard Time, 

(8.a.m) Nigerian Time, with 

Trump having garnered 274 

Electoral College votes after 

the result of the contest in 

Pennsylvania was 

announced, Mrs. Clinton’s 

aide Human Abedin, put a 

call through to Trump 

following which Mrs. 

Clinton conceded to the 

Republican. Minutes before 

that, with results still 

undecided in Pennsylvania, 

Michigan and a number of 

other states, the Clinton 

Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally 

in Manhattan. Photo: Rueters 

campaign had decided to put 

off a concession as campaign 

chairman, John Podesta told 

thousands of supporters 

massed at the Javits Center 

in New York City to go home. 

The venue with its glass 

ceiling had earlier been 

chosen as a symbolic venue 

to showcase the breaking of 

the ceiling against women in 

presidential contests. 

Trump was helped by the 

vote of Evangelical 

Christians who by more than 

85% voted for him with an 

expectation that his 

administration would stave 

off policies especially 

promoting homosexual 

rights and privileges over the 

rest of the population as were 

promoted by the outgoing 

Barack Obama 

administration. 

Speaker Paul Ryan, who 

until yesterday was the leader 

of the Republican Party and 

had a public falling out with 

Trump during the campaign 

yesterday congratulated the 

president-elect, surrend-ered 

Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally in Manhattan.He is flanked 

by US Vice President - elect, Mike Pence. Photo: Rueters 

the leadership of the party to Chris Christie of New Jersey, transition team. 

Trump. He described his is expected to lead Trump’s 

success as the “most 

remarkable political feat he Protest 

had seen in his life,” saying Trump’s presidential victory set off protests on both coasts 

that Trump provided the coattails 

to help the Republican From Pennsylvania to California, Oregon and 

of the USA early on Wednesday. 

Party achieve a majority that Washington, hundreds of people hit the streets to voice 

few expected. Governor their opposition to Mr Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton. 

Hard lessons from Trump’s victory 


HAVING not been 

foretold even by the 

most credible pollsters, 

Donald Trump’s victory has 

upended every paradigm 

in global politics and as 

well left in its trail, hard 

lessons for political actors. 

It is a triumph that would 

for a long time, pose as a 

reference point and model 

in political contests given 

its upsetting and recording 

making nature. 

Whichever way it is 

viewed, the exercise has 

provided a new and 

different way to look at 

politics by reasserting that 

change remains the only 

constant certainty in politics, 

especially in developed 

democracies. 

That this victory came 

even with the Presidentelect’s 

recognized 

shortcomings resonates 

salient questions whose 

answers could be found in 

Trump’s exploitation of the 

peculiar undercurrents 

that defined the historic 

election. 

Examining this victory 

through the prism of 

Trump’s believed 

unelectable post-election 

status, showed that every 

political contest is purely a 

battle of ideas which could 

be won with tricks as 

exemplified by him. 

Little wonder, DicK 

Stoken in his book: The 

Great Game of Politic: Why 

We Elect Whom We Elect 

observed that it was 

germane to understand 

the force that can force the 

pendulum back toward the 

centre thereby resulting in 

the change of parties in 

power at the executive 

level. 

Indeed, by turning out 

upsetting, Trump’s triumph 

exposed how risky it has 

become for a political 

system to be consumed by 

the realities of the moment 

when projecting the likely 

outcome of elections. 

Though it had never 

been out of context to 

predict the future with 

today’s event, in Trump’s 

victory, it becomes risky to 

treat post-election 

prognosis as a reality in 

respective of the scope of 

its focus. 

Interestingly, 

the 

development brings to 

mind, Robert Green’s 

nineteenth law of power 

where he cautioned thus: 

‘’Never underestimate 

your opponent or think less 

of him. You never know 

the force of his blow when 

he comes in for an attack.” 

Of course, the triumph 

which momentously 

defeated conventional and 

professional wisdom 

provides a lesson that 

every segment of the 

electorate most be 

prioritized in very political 

engagement. 

That was self-evident 

from the demographic of 

those, who voted for the 

President-elect. 

In all these, the hardest 

lesson remains that no 

matter what, the people 

take preeminence over the 

establishment when 

targeting the audience of 

political messages. 

The people in this context 

are simply the ordinary 

men and women, who feel 

neglected by the system 

and the white working 

class, who craved for a 

paradigm-setting 

President. 

Therefore, possessing 

the inalienable rights from 

which government derives 

its sovereignty as 

highlighted by Thomas 

Jefferson in the 

Declaration of 

Independence makes it 

fatal to ignore the people’s 

significance in any 

democracy where their 

power had not been stolen. 

On that strength, it 

would be agreed that by 

choosing Trump as the 45th 

President of the United 

States amid post-election 

resentment, Americans 

have reaffirmed that 

political legitimacy is still 

defined by the American 

people 

Indeed, it seems difficult 

for the world to grapple 

with the reality of a Trump 

presidency, but it is a 

surprising fact Americans 

would live with within the 

next four years. 

Perhaps, this immortal 

quote in Shakespeare’s 

play, Hamlet would 

provide solace. 

‘’ When our deep plots 

do pall and that should 

teach us there’s a divinity 

that shapes our ends’’’ 

Nigerian-Americans put brave face to Trump’s triumph 

By Emmanuel Aziken, Washington D.C. and 

Gbenga Oke, Las Vegas 

THE Nigerian-American 

community in the 

United States was yesterday 

putting a brave face on the 

outcome of the Tuesday 

presidential election in their 

adopted country, vowing to 

make the best out of the 

situation. 

The majority of the 

Nigerian immigrant 

community had flocked 

towards the Democratic 

Party presidential candidate, 

Hilary Clinton on the fear 

that the anti-immigrant 

inclination of Mr. Donald 

Trump, the Republican 

winner would negative 

affect the community. 

The Nigerian-American 

community was 16 years 

ago reported to be about five 

million. 

Among those who spoke 

yesterday were officials and 

coordinators of the Nigerian 

Diaspora Union, NDU in 

the US who on Election Day 

actively mobilized the 

community to vote. 

The elections were 

observed by a team of 

Nigerians including officials 

of the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC led by its national 

chairman, Prof. Mahmood 

Yakubu, officials of the 

INEC Committee of the 

Senate and the House of 

Representatives and 

elements of the civil society 

from Nigeria. Mr. Awal 

Ibrahim, executive director 

of the Civil Society 

Legislative and Advocacy 

Centre, CISLAC told 

Vanguard yesterday 

commended the quick 

reconciliation of the two 

major political parties to the 

Nigerian political class 

saying that issues that divide 

during election must be put 

behind immediately after 

elections for the good of the 

country. Dr. SKC Ogbonnia, 

Secretary General of the 

NDU, himself a lifelong 

Republican who, however, 

confessed voting for Clinton 

in line with the resolution of 

the NDU said yesterday: 

“For the Nigerian 

community, we cannot say 

it is a total loss. We are a very 

dynamic community in the 

United States of America and 

no matter what happens we 

will find a way to embrace 

the change. It is expected 

that in the Trump 

presidency, the Supreme 

Court would be composed 

of conservative judges who 

could in a way repeal the 

Homosexual Marriage Act 

which conforms to our 

culture than what you have 

under Obama and what 

could have continued under 

a Clinton presidency had it 

come to be. 

“Secondly, the issue of 

trade can go either way. A 

number of Nigerians in 

America could benefit in 

Donald Trump’s regime, but 

at the same time I am 

continues on page 45

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEBER 10, 2016 — 45 

Clinton says Trump must have chance to lead 

HILLARY Clinton, the 

defeated presidential 

candidate, says US 

President-elect Donald 

Trump must be given a 

chance to lead. 

Appearing in public for 

the first time since 

conceding defeat, the 

Democrat said she hoped 

Mr Trump would be a 

successful president for all 

Americans. 

“We have seen that our 

nation is more deeply 

divided than we thought,” 

Mrs Clinton said. 

Donald Trump will 

Nigerian-Americans put brave face to 

Trump’s triumph 

continued from page 44 

worried that his protectionist 

policy may affect Nigeria.” 

Mr. Tayo Kubi who 

coordinated the move to 

bring Nigerian-Americans 

to vote in the Washington, 

Delaware and Baltimore 

areas on the East Coast told 

Vanguard yesterday that 

democracy was the winner. 

“The majority has spoken 

and this is America, the land 

of freedom and even the 

opposition candidate has 

conceded for peace to reign. 

For Mr. Dom Njoku, he 

simply said “I told you 

earlier that Trump will win 

and I will pop champagne. 

Like I said before the 

election, virtually 

everybody is guilty of 

whatever they said Trump 

become the 45th US 

president after an 

astounding victory. 

He will hold his first 

did. And very, unfortunately, 

the Black community 

has not gained anything 

significant under the 

Obama Presidency. So 

what do you expect? 

However, the people have 

spoken, and we have to 

move on”. 

For Mr. Yomi Balogun, 

the loss of Hillary Clinton 

might hunt the blacks and 

other millions of Americans 

that have dual citizenship. 

He said, “Though the 

election has been won and 

lost but I am afraid majority 

of African Americans might 

suffer the this loss putting 

in mind some of the things 

Mr. Trump stood for in this 

election. Though I believe 

some of the blacks staying 

in this country without valid 

documents will be most 

transition meeting with 

outgoing President Barack 

Obama at the White House 

on Thursday. 

Bill Clinton, top aides in tears 

HILLARY Clinton’s 

campaign ended on a 

somber, painful note for the 

candidate, her aides and 

her family. 

Aides throughout the 

ballroom were sobbing 

during her remarks today. 

Quiet moments in the 

speech were filled with 

We’re now rooting for Trump’s 

success—Obama 

PRESIDENT Barack 

Obama told the nation 

that it’s time to come 

together. 

“Everybody is sad when 

their side loses their election. 

But the day after, we have to 

remember we’re actually all 

on the same team. This is an 

intramural scrimmage,” 

Obama said. 

He mentioned that eight 

Plans underway 

for transition 

IN the wake of Donald 

Trump’s stunning victory, 

the president-elect faces a 

new challenge: Melding his 

campaign team with a Trump 

transition effort that’s been 

operating indepen-dently 

from the campaign. 

Neither Trump nor his 

family members played a 

hands-on role in the nittygritty 

details of transition 

planning in the run up to 

Election Day, multiple sources 

said. Trump wanted to focus 

on the task at hand — 

winning the election — and 

didn’t want to jinx himself. 

But sources on the transition 

team say they are fully 

prepared to hit the ground 

running. Last week, 22 

department heads submitted 

their transition plans to New 

Jersey Gov. Chris Christie 

and Alabama Sen. Jeff 

Sessions for approval. 

years ago when he took over 

the White House from 

President George W. Bush 

they had differences, but 

Bush worked hard to ensure 

the transition was smooth. 

Obama said he will follow 

that example and invited 

Donald Trump to the White 

House to meet tomorrow. 

“We are now all rooting for 

his success in uniting and 

leading the country,” Obama 

said. “The peaceful transition 

of power is one of the 

hallmarks of our democracy, 

and over the next few months 

we are going to show that to 

the world.” 

The Man, Trump 

DONALD John Trump 

was born on June 14, 

1946. He is the Presidentelect 

of the United States 

and a businessman. He is 

currently the chairman and 

president of The Trump 

Organization, the principal 

holding company for his real 

estate ventures and other 

business interests – a position 

he has said he will vacate 

prior to his attainment of the 

presidency. During his 

career, Trump has built office 

towers, hotels, casinos, golf 

courses, and other branded 

facilities worldwide. 

Trump was born and raised 

in New York City and 

received a bachelor’s degree 

tears, sniffles and some sobs. 

Clinton’s top aides, seated 

in the front row, were almost 

all crying. 

Robby Mook, Clinton’s 

campaign manager, was 

wiping away tears. Nick 

Merrill, Clinton’s traveling 

press secretary, was 

weeping. 

Bill Clinton, while 

working the ropeline, wiped 

away tears. 

Huma Abedin cried 

during the speech but kept 

a stoic face during much of 

the ropeline. 

Clinton worked the 

ropeline after the event, 

moving from tearful 

conversation to tearful 

conversation. 

She hugged Joel 

Benenson and John 

Anzalone, two of her 

pollsters, who 

acknowledged to other 

aides last night that they 

didn’t see the Trump wave 

coming. 

She hugged Jim Margolis 

and Mandy Grunwald, who 

created many of the 

campaign’s television ads. 

in economics from the 

Wharton School of the 

University of Pennsylvania in 

1968. In 1971 he was given 

control of his father Fred 

Trump’s real estate and 

construction firm and later 

renamed it The Trump 

Organization, rising to public 

prominence shortly 

thereafter. Trump has 

appeared at the Miss 

USApageants, which he 

owned from 1996 to 2015, 

and has made cameo 

appearances in films and 

television series. He sought 

the Reform Party presidential 

nomination in 2000 but 

withdrew before voting 

began. 

affected.” 

Mr. Ibrahim, (Rafsanjani) 

on his part described the 

outcome as a big lesson to 

Nigerian and African 

politicians that it is a game 

that one must win. 

“If you have the interest of 

your country and the people 

at heart it will not matter to 

you who wins, you will have 

to work together to sustain 

the country, not like the way 

we see some people doing 

in Nigeria and in Africa. 

“It is about the nation, and 

the people have done the 

election, it has come, and it 

has gone and what is 

important is that they are 

putting heads together to 

protect the interest of their 

country. This is a lesson that 

every Nigerian politician 

should learn; they should 

learn to work together 

whether they win or lose an 

election.” 

World leaders 

react 

UK: In her message of 

congratulations, Prime 

Minister Theresa May 

focused on the “special 

relationship” between the two 

countries. She said that she 

hoped that Mr Trump’s win 

would mean a continuation 

of shared values, including 

“freedom, democracy and 

enterprise”. 

RUSSIA: President 

Vladimir Putin has said he 

is willing fully to restore ties 

with the US following Mr 

Trump’s victory. 

“We heard the campaign 

statements of the future US 

presidential candidate about 

the restoration of relations 

between Russia and the 

United States,” Mr Putin said 

on Wednesday. 

CHINA: Chinese President 

Xi Jinping 

congratulated Donald Trump 

in a telegram, state TV 

reported. 

Earlier the foreign ministry 

said that China was hoping 

to work with the new US 

government to boost bilateral 

relations. 

Iran: President Hassan 

Rouhani said the result 

would not have any impact 

on Iran’s policies. He was 

quoted by state media as 

saying the election result 

reflected internal discontent 

and instability within the US 

which would take a long time 

to be solved. 

THE VATICAN: Secretary of 

State Cardinal Pietro 

Parolin says the Vatican 

“respects the American 

people’s choice” and hopes 

that Donald Trump will 

“serve the wellbeing and 

peace of the world”. 

CANADA: Prime Minister 

Justin Trudeau says that 

“Canada has no closer friend, 

partner and ally than the 

United States”. 

FRANCE: President 

Francois Hollande said Mr 

Trump’s victory “opens a 

period of uncertainty”. 

Speaking in a televised 

address, he said that there 

was now a greater need for a 

united Europe, able to wield 

influence on the international 

stage and promote its values 

and interests whenever they 

are challenged. 

GERMANY: “The US is an 

old and venerable democracy,” 

Chancellor Angela 

Merkel said. 

“I watched the election result 

with particular suspense. 

Someone elected to be 

president by the American 

people in free and fair 

elections has importance far 

beyond the USA. 

ISRAEL: Israeli Prime 

Minister Benjamin 

Netanyahu said he hoped 

to reach “new heights” in 

relations with Mr Trump, 

who he described as “a true 

friend of the state of Israel”. 

“I look forward to working 

with him to advance security, 

stability and peace in our 

region,” he said. 

Also on stage with Clinton was her daughter, 

Chelsea, Chelsea’s husband, Marc Mezvinsky, 

and Kaine’s wife, Ann Holton. Photo: Reuters 

Republican vice presidentelect Mike Pence and 

his wife Karen Pence arrive at Donald Trump’s 

election night rally in Manhattan. Photo: Reuters 

Demonstrators gather near Trump Tower in New 

York. Photo: Reuters 

Clinton supporters looking disappointed over the 

election's outcome. Photo: Reuters 

Supporters of Republican presidential 

candidate Donald Trump rally in front of the 

White House in Washington. Photo: Reuters 

Head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 

(LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky celebrates Trump’s 

election during a break in the session of the State 

Duma. Photo: Reuters



2016 NSA: Amapakabo, 

Siasia, Iheanacho among 

nominees for award 

BY SOLOMON 

NWOKE 

COACH of the 

reigning 

Nigerian Professional 

Football League (NPFL) 

Champions, Imama 

Amapakabo of Enugu 

Rangers, U-23 coach, 

Samson Siasia, 

Manchester City wonderboy, 

Kelechi Iheanacho 

and many others are 

among the shortlisted 

nominees for this year’s 

award by the organisers of 

the annual Nigerian 

Sports Award (NSA) 

scheduled to hold on 2 nd 

December, at the 

prestigious Banquet Hall 

of Eko Hotels and suites, 

Lagos. 

This year, 11 categories 

will be contested for as 

disclosed by the chairman 

of the award panel, Mr 

Ikeddy Isiguzo. 

Speaking at a media 

briefing Tuesday in Lagos, 

Isiguzo said the 

performances of our 

athletes and sports in 

Nigeria in 2016 has been 

very poor as there’s really 

nothing major to celebrate 

aside the exploits of our 

Paralympians adding, “We 

therefore needs we have 

decided to add colour to 

the 5th edition of the award 

by celebrating Some first in 

Nigerian sports at the 

highest level.” 

Among the nominees for 

the Footballer of the Year 

include Super Eagles and 

Manchester City striker, 

Kelechi Iheanacho, 

Godwin Obaje of Wikki 

Tourists and Chisom 

Egbuchulam of Rangers of 

Enugu. 

For the Coach of the year 

2016, Coach Imama 

Amapakabo of Rangers, 

Samson Siasia of the U-23 

Dream team and Are 

Feyisetan of Nigeria 

Powerlifting are the 

contestants, just as special 

sports person of the year. 

LOOKING AHEAD••• Super Falcons striker, Francesca Ordega expecting a robust outing at the AWCON in 

Cameroon. 

AWCON: Osinbajo charges 

Falcons to retain African title 

NIGERIA’s Vice 

President, 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo 

(GCON) has urged the 

Super Falcons of Nigeria 

to sustain their 

dedication and 

commitment to the 

Nigerian cause as they 

prepare to extend their 

record of dominating 

Africa in women football. 

Professor Osinbajo, 

who was at the Falcons 

training on Tuesday 

evening, reminded the 

Falcons of their 

exemplary role as role 

models of women in the 

country and encouraged 

Enyimba lay off 8 players 

TWO-TIME African 

champions 

Enyimba have told eight 

players to seek their future 

elsewhere after a 

disappointing season. 

Supersport.com has been 

informed that among the 

eight players are two 

goalkeepers as well as a 

player whose loan spell at 

the club came to an end in 

the concluded campaign. 

The others put on the 

transfer list are two 

defenders, a midfielder 

and three forwards. 

However, the players are 

now looking to secure their 

clearance papers from 

Enyimba in a bid to move 

to other clubs, it was 

learned. 

A handful of players also 

told supersport.com that 

the club owe them three 

months’ wages and 

several match bonuses. 

First Bank Lagos Amateur Golf 

Open Championship tees-off 

FIRST Bank of 

Nigeria Limited has 

announced that it is set to 

host this year’s edition of 

the Lagos Amateur Golf 

Championship which is 

scheduled to tee-off on the 

lush greens of Ikoyi Club 

1938, Lagos on Saturday to 

mark the 55th anniversary 

of the championship. 

One of the key highlights 

of this year’s tournament 

would be the participation 

of European Professional 

Golf Association (PGA) 

professional player - Alex 

Rowland who will provide 

hands-on coaching on 

bunker play, chipping, 

putting, and full swing 

among other skills at the 

open golf coaching clinic. 

According to FirstBank’s 

Group Head, Marketing & 

Corporate Communications, 

Mrs. Folake Ani- 

Mumuney, FirstBank is 

proud to have hosted the 

championship for 55years. 

them to keep at what 

they know best. 

His words: “Let me 

first and foremost say I 

am honoured to be 

standing in front of 

champions. We’ve 

always won. And I think 

that’s just awesome, 

that’s just incredible. 

There’s no reason at all 

why we can’t be the best 

time and time again. And 

I think you all have 

demonstrated clearly 

that a Nigerian team 

that is well trained, 

committed and 

dedicated can repeat 

THE remains of 

former member of 

the NFF Executive Committee 

and ex-Flying 

Eagles striker, Otuekong 

Patrick Ekong will be interred 

this Friday in 

Uyo, the Akwa Ibom 

State capital. 

A statement by 

Franklin Ekong, son of 

the deceased, indicates 

that the obsequies for 

the former vice chairman 

of Uyo Local Government 

will hold at St. 

Patrick’s Primary 

School, opposite St 

Patrick’s Catholic 

Church along Abak 

Road in Uyo beginning 

from 10.am. 

Ekong, who was a 

member of the NFF Executive 

Committee during 

the tenure of 

AlhajiSani Lulu 

Abdullahi (2006-2010) at 

the Glass House, died in 

Uyo on Thursday, 14th 

May, 2015 after a brief 

great performance every 

time. 

“So, we are all 

looking forward to 

another excellent 

performance from you 

all. Also looking forward 

to a greater 

commitment, greater 

performance and we just 

know that you are going 

to do well. I want to 

thank you for the 

inspiration you are 

giving to young women 

out there. People also 

recognize that football 

can be a very modern 

way of commitment to 

your country.'' 

Ekong, Ex-Flying Eagles 

star, to be buried tomorrow 

illness. 

Emmanuel Udoh, 

presently the team Manager 

of Akwa United FC 

of Uyo, was team-mate 

of Ekong at both Calabar 

Rovers and the Flying 

Eagles. He paid glowing 

tributes to Ekong 

describing him as an 

exceptional striker. 

•Ekong 

FCIU 


won the trophy 5-4 on 

penalties after 

regulation time ended in 

a 0-0 draw. 

It was the first time 

they would be appearing 


weather. 

Nigerian-born 

youngsters Dominc 

Solanke, Ademola 

Lookman, Ovie Ejaria, 

Fikayo Tomori and Josh 

Onomah played for 

England. Solanke 

opened the flood gates 

of goals in the 25 th 

minute and Adam 

Armstrong had a hattrick 

for the English. 


redeem themselves in 

the qualifiers. 

Ghoulam’s withdrawal 

has made it increasingly 

difficult for coach 

Georges Leekens to line 

up a formidable after 

three top players were 

also lost to injuries 

earlier this week. 

Midfielders Rachid 

Ghezzal and Ryad 

Boudebouz as well as 

striker Hilal Soudani 

opted out of the World 


their training for the 

game. Coach Gernot 

Rohr requested for the 

privacy, as he looks to 

perfect his plans on how 

to cage the Foxes. 

Yesterday morning, 

Rohr tried out the 

starting eleven he has in 

mind against the North 

England 

Injury 

Eagles 

in the final of the 

Federation Cup. 

They will make their 

debut appearance in the 

CAF Confederation Cup 

next year. 

Next up for the Eaglets 

is Iran today and they 

later clash with host 

Korea Republic on 

Saturday. 

England are using the 

tournament to prepare 

for the FIFA U20 World 

Cup in Korea in the 

summer. 

Hosts South Korea 

defeated Iran 3-1 in the 

opening match of the 

invitational tournament. 

Cup qualifier in Nigeria 

on account of injury. 

Ghezzal and 

Boudebouz were 

examined by Algeria 

team doctors before they 

were excused from the 

training camp, while 

Dynamo Zagreb striker 

Soudani did not even fly 

down to Algiers. 

They have since been 

replaced by Baghdad 

Bounedjah, Yassine 

Benzia and Ismael 

Bennacer. 

Africans when they faced 

the second team in a 

practice game which 

ended goalless. 

The NFF has however, 

compensated the media 

with a press conference 

scheduled to hold at the 

Le Meridien Hotel, 

starting from 12 noon 

today.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 

VICTORY ASSURANCE ••• Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel responds 

to VP Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s charge to the Eagles to beat Algeria on Saturday. 

2018 FIFA WC qualifier: It’s 3 

points or nothing, Rohr declares 

SUPER 

Eagles 

manager, Gernot 

Rohr said his team was 

targeting a win against 

visiting Algerian 

Fennec Foxes in 

Saturday’s World Cup 

qualifiers billed for Uyo. 

The Eagles need a 

win to consolidate their 

hold on the group B 

qualifiers where Algeria 

and Cameroon are the 

book makers favourite to 

win the ticket. 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Tanzania 

name 

squad 

for 

Eagles 

“It is very important 

that we make the three 

points against Africa’s 

top team Algeria,”said 

the coach who is yet to 

taste defeat since taking 

over in August. 

NIGERIA Football 

Federation, NFF 

has barred the sporting 

press and members of the 

Sudoku 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can 

have two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also 

nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a 

bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 

through 9. This means that no number can appear twice 

in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division 

or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

He dispelled fears of 

injury to his squad, 

adding that the team will 

be fully fit when they 

play the Algerians. “We 

have three little injuries, 

we are careful (about 

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

managing them),” he 

said. “Balogun has a 

knock on the knee, Ideye 

and Shehu have problems 

around the ankle. “I hope 

they will be fit to train 

with the rest of the team.” 

Eagles to train behind closed doors 

public from the Super 

Eagles training at the 

Godswill Akpabio 

Stadium in Uyo. 

Korea Invitational: England humiliate 

Eaglets with Nigerian-born players 

NIGERIA’s Golden 

Eaglets have been 

clobbered by their English 

counterparts 8-1 at the 

Suwon Four-nation U-19 

tournament taking place 

in South Korea. 

The heavy defeat 

reflected 

the 

preparedness of the team 

which earlier in the year 

failed to qualify for the 

African Championship in 

Madagascar. The Nigeria 

Injury claims another 

Algerian player 

ALGERIAN Fennec 

Foxes have been 

weakened further 

following groin injury 

The team arrived in Uyo 

yesterday and the they 

are scheduled to wrap up 


ACROSS 

1 Embrace (6) 

5 Equipment (5) 

8 Fruit (5) 

9 Curve (3) 

10 Ray (4) 

11 Fever (4) 

12 Backbone (5) 

13 Average (6) 

16 Speed (4) 

18 Revise (4) 

20 Finish (3) 

22 Fixed (3) 

23 Lair (3) 

24 Tardy (4) 

25 Pour (4) 

28 Restraint (6) 

30 Respond (5) 

32 Exclude (4) 

33 Parched (4) 

34 Fasten (3) 

35 Trivial (5) 

36 Obey (4) 

37 Nursed (4) 

DOWN 

1 Humid (6) 

2 Degenerate (8) 

3 Work (6) 

4 Finished (9) 

5 Allowed (7) 

6 Margin (4) 

7 Regretted (4) 

8 Fuel (3) 

14 Chew (9) 

15 Noise (3) 

17 Golf-peg (3) 

19 Beaten (8) 

20 Consume (3) 

21 Erased (7) 

26 Mess (6) 

27 Rise (6) 

29 Bludgeon (4) 

30 Mature (4) 

31 Attempt (3) 

Football Federation, 

NFF had entered the 

team with the hope of 

seeing the players 

mature into the the U- 

20 squad. 

However, the defeat 

has been blamed on the 

team’s travelling plans. 

The Eaglets arrived 

Korea 24 hours before 

the match and they had 

no clothing to match the 


AWCON: Osinbajo charges Falcons 

to retain African title — Page 47 

suffered by defender 

Faouzi Ghoulam ahead 

of Saturday’s World 

Cup qualifier against 

the Super Eagles. 

The Napoli of Italy left 

back will not be in the 

squad expected in Uyo 

today, this brings to four 

the number of key 

players injured as the 

Algerians prepare to 


•Faouzi 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 1, Lose 4, Sip 6, Sick 8, Demean 9, 

Awning 10, Don 12, Meant 14, Merry 15, Aisle 

18, Tablet 20, Keenly 24, Yield 26, Storm 28, First 

30, Get 32, Vulgar 33, Origin 34, Edge 35, Pen 

36, Need. 

•Garba 

FCIU players 

get N10m 

Federation 

Cup reward 

FC 

IfeanyiUbah 

players have been 

rewarded with N10m by 

the owner of the club, 

Patrick IfeanyiUbah 

following their triumph 

in the Federation Cup 

last Sunday at the Teslim 

Balogun Stadium. 

The business mogul 

also gave out N3m to the 

coaching staff, while 

members of the 

supporters club got N2m 

for their immense 

support to the team. 

The Anambra Warriors 


Enyimba 

lay off 8 

players 

— Page 47 

DOWN: 2, Obese 3, Eternal 4, Send 5, Plan 

6, Since 7, Control 11, Oil 12, Mat 13, Tie 

16, Sty Eke 19, Astound 21, Elf 22, Edition 

23, Yet 25, Ire 27, Rogue 29, Spite 30, Grip 

31, Torn. 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 

01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com 

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01—4548355, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

How Trump's victory'll affect Nigeria— EXPERTS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?