15082018 - SARS: Osinbajo orders probe of abuses; IG rejigs squad

2019 general elections 

and the question of 

national unity: The 

Constitution and credible 

candidates (4) 

40 

Buhari’ll contest, win, 

irrespective of vocal 

minority — PRESIDENCY 

No date fixed yet to reconvene 

NASS — Saraki, Dogara 

8 9 

•Ensure NASS reconvenes 

Oshiomhole charges APC lawmakers 

9 

Hackers break into 

bank’s database, 

siphon millions of 

naira from 

34 

customers’ accounts 

VOL. 26: NO. 63615 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

SARS: Osinbajo orders probe 

of abuses; IG rejigs squad 

•Appoints CP to head new unit, orders states to obey with immediate effect 

•New SARS operatives to wear name tags, no more ‘Stop and Search' 

•SARS detains Premium Times reporter over stories 11 

•It's positive step but reforms must be robust — AI 

•Methodist Church, NOPRIN react; SARS victims recall ordeal 

BRIDGE COLLAPSES IN ITALY 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & Eric 

Ugbor 

ABUJA—THE Acting 

President, Prof. Yemi 

Osinbajo, yesterday 

directed the Inspector 

General of Police, Ibrahim 

Idris, to commence 

investigations into 

allegations of abuses by the 

Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad of the Nigeria police, 

otherwise known as SARS. 

He also ordered the 

Police boss to overhaul the 

squad with immediate 

effect, to make it strictly 

intelligence-driven and 

restricted to the prevention 

and detection of armed 

robbery, kidnapping, and 

apprehension of offenders 

linked to the stated offences, 

Continues on Page 5 

Naira 

depreciates 

to N362.30 / 

$ in I&E 

41 

window 

Mr & Mrs 

Rescuers and security forces inspect site where the Morandi Motorway Bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, yesterday. At 

least 30 people were killed when the giant motorway bridge collapsed. The collapse of the viaduct, which saw a vast stretch 

of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the Northern Port City, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years. 

Photo: AFP 

Senior lecturer, son 

6 

rape 13-yr-old maid, 

victim down with VVF 

COLUMNISTS 

DEAR BUNMI 

DMO raises 

N410bn to 

finance 2018 

Budget 

19 

BUHARI’S RE-ELECTION: 

You can’t speak for 

Nigerians, Tinubu blasts 

Obasanjo 

30 PRINCEWILL 17 OHUABUNWA 31 FASAN 31 

10 

SEE 

INSIDE

2—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018—3

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

VISIT—Former Vice President, and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Right) during 

a visit to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike. 

SARS: Osinbajo orders probe of 

abuses; IG rejigs squad 

Continues from Page 1 

and nothing more. 

Osinbajo’s directive to the 

police boss came following 

the outcry against the 

special police squad by 

members of the public 

nationwide. 

This order came as the 

Methodist Church of 

Nigeria called on the 

federal government to 

overhaul the nation’s 

security apparatus to curb 

the wanton destruction of 

lives and properties in 

different regions of the 

country. 

New directives for 

SARS 

The Vice President in a 

statement signed by his 

spokesman, Laolu Akande, 

in Abuja, further directed 

that operatives of the squad 

should, henceforth, bear 

proper identification 

anytime they are on duty. 

The statement read: 

“Following persistent 

complaints and reports on 

the activities of the Special 

Anti-Robbery Squad, 

SARS, that border on 

allegations of human rights 

violations, Acting President 

Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has 

directed the Inspector 

General of Police (IGP) to, 

with immediate effect, 

overhaul the management 

and activities of SARS and 

ensure that any unit that will 

emerge from the process, will 

be intelligence-driven and 

restricted to the prevention 

and detection of armed 

robbery and kidnapping, 

and apprehension of 

offenders linked to the stated 

offences, and nothing more. 

“The Acting President has 

also directed the IGP to 

ensure that all operatives in 

the emerging unit conduct 

their operations in strict 

adherence to the rule of law 

and with due regard to 

International human rights 

law and the constitutionally 

guaranteed rights of 

suspects. The operatives 

should also bear proper 

identification anytime they 

are on duty.” 

He also directed the 

National Human Rights 

Commission, NHRC, to 

set up a special panel to 

conduct an investigation 

of the alleged unlawful 

activities of SARS in order 

to afford the public the 

opportunity to present 

their grievances with a 

view to ensuring redress. 

In recent times, there 

had been a groundswell 

of opposition against the 

activities of SARS, which 

compelled the public to 

call on government to 

either scrap the squad or 

overhaul it. 

IGP overhauls 

SARS, appoints CP 

as new head 

The Inspector General of 

Police, Ibrahim idris in 

apparent response to the 

Acting President’s 

directive, yesterday 

ordered the immediate 

overhaul of the Special 

Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS 

to address complaints and 

allegations of human rights 

violations against some of 

its personnel. 

A release signed by the 

Force Public Relations 

Officer, 

Force 

Headquarters, Abuja, Ag. 

DCP Jimoh Moshood, said 

in the new arrangement, a 

new Commissioner of 

Police had been appointed 

as the overall head of the 

Federal Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad 

nationwide. 

He said the Federal 

Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad previously under 

the Force Criminal 

Intelligence and 

Investigations Department 

(FCIID) is henceforth to 

operate under the 

Department of Operations, 

Force Headquarters Abuja 

and that the Commissioner 

of Police (FSARS) is 

answerable to the Inspector 

General of Police through 

the Deputy Inspector 

General of Police, 

Department of Operations. 

He said: “In observance 

of full compliance with the 

Presidential directives, the 

Federal Anti-Robbery 

Squad will be intelligencedriven 

and will be restricted 

to the prevention and 

detection of armed robbery, 

kidnapping and the 

apprehension of offenders 

linked to the stated offences 

only. 

“New FSARS 

Commanders are being 

appointed for the Federal 

Anti-Robbery Squad 

(FSARS) across the country 

that will now exist and 

operate in the State and 

Zonal Commands under 

the Commissioner of Police 

(F-SARS) at the Force 

Headquarters, Abuja. A 

Federal 


Commander of a Rank of 

Chief Superintendent of 

Police (CSP) but not below 

Superintendent of Police 

(SP) will be in charge of 

FSARS in State and Zonal 


Rising cases of couples killing themselves (3) 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun 

Sessou, Abasifiok Johnson & 

Opara Victoria 

It shows that the 

level of poverty in 

Nigeria is on the 

i n c r e a s e . 

Unfortunately, our 

government is pursuing 

unprofitable and selfish 

goals to the detriment 

of Nigerians. Not all 

the cases are spiritual 

as many of them are 

caused by hunger and 

trivial issues which may 

result in arguments. 

These arguments 

sometimes lead to 

violence and death. 

Mr. Wahab Ogunji 

Youth Leader 

Cases of couples 

killing themselves 

are rampant and they 

occur almost on a daily 

basis now. It is also 

beyond comprehension 

because as a Muslim, I 

know that Islam 

permits a man to marry 

more than one wife. 

But there is clause 

which says that a man 

must be capable before 

marrying more than one 

wife. But women see this 

as an obstacle. Looking 

at it naturally, men are 

polygamous in nature. 

Mr. Moyosore Lateef 

Security Officer 

It is as if they don’t 

have the fear of God. 

If someone has the fear 

of God, he must know 

that whosoever that kills 

another human being is 

a sinner and no sinner 

will go unpunished. 

Any marriage that 

leads to violent death 

lacks love. Such 

marraiges were built on 

deceit. 

May God put his fear 

in our hearts. 

Mrs. Olubunmi 

Olubusayo 

Teacher 

It is so sad that there 

has been a rise in 

the number of couples 

killing themselves. I 

think the major factors 

responsible are 

infidelity and 

depression.When the 

husband or wife is 

cheating, it can lead to 

one of them becoming 

violent. A depressed 

wife can kill her 

husband. We need to 

find a solution to the 

causes of this epidemic. 

Mr.Olabode Elijah 

On Air Personality 

The fact is that some 

of the couples are 

not matured to handle issues 

that come up in 

marriages. It is either 

they were not ready to 

perform their responsibilities 

or something is 

wrong with them. The 

truth is that some of the 

problems that contributed 

to couples killing 

themselves have been 

there for so long but they 

ignored it and moved on 

with life until the problem 

escalated and them 

murder set in. 

Mrs. Esther Amonusi, 

Self-employed 

Iam not married but I 

can say that some of 

the couples, who find 

themselves in that situation, 

did not know themselves 

well enough before 

coming together as husband 

and wife. Some of 

them got to know each 

other through match-making 

and the result is what 

we are talking about today. 

There are spiritual 

influences in marriages. 

That is why it is very important 

to allow God to 

choose. 

Moses Babalola, teacher

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUTS 15, 2018 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

PVC: Crowd at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Kigo Road Centre, 

Kaduna, to register for their permanent voter's cards, PVC, for 2019 general election, yesterday. 

PHOTO: Olu Ajayi. 

Stock broker in 

court over theft 

of N21.2m 

shares 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A 59-year-old stock 

broker, Kayode Awotile, who 

allegedly obtained N21.2 million 

worth of shares from a 

businessman under false 

pretences, was yesterday 

arraigned before an Igbosere 

Magistratess Court, in Lagos. 

Awotile is facing a four-count 

charge of fraud, theft and 

issuance of dud cheque. 

The prosecutor, Inspector 

Steven Molo, told the court that 

the defendant committed the 

alleged offences between 

October and November 2012, at 

Marina, Lagos. 

He said Awotile obtained 

different types of shares which 

included Nigeria Breweries, 

Access Bank Plc, Icon Insurance 

Plc and Continental Re- 

Insurance Plc shares, from the 

complainant, Mr. Pascal Okezie, 

under guise of trading with them 

at the Nigeria Stock Exchange, 

NSE, market. 

He said the defendant did not 

trade with the shares as promised 

but converted it to his own use. 

The prosecutor said all the 

shares were valued at N21.2 

million, property of Mr. Okezie. 

Molo said the defendant issued 

three different cheques worth 

N5.5 million to the complainant 

to offset the said money, but the 

cheques were dishonoured on 

presentation due to insufficient 

funds in his account. 

Molo said Awotile knew that 

the representation he made was 

false. 

According to the prosecutor, the 

offences are punishable under 

Sections 287, 312 (3) and 411 of 

the Criminal Law of Lagos State 

2015. 

The defendant pleaded not 

guilty to the charge and the 

Magistrate, Mrs H. O. Omisore, 

granted him bail in the sum of 

N5 million with two sureties in 

like sum, and adjourned the case 

till September 10 for mention. 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI—A 51-year-old 

Senior Lecturer in the 

Department of Catering and 

Hotel Management, Benue State 

Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Andrew 

Ogbuja, has been nabbed and 

dragged to court for allegedly 

raping his 13 years old 

housemaid. 

Mr. Ogbuja’s teenage son, 

Victor, was also alleged to have 

been part of the sexual 

molestation of the victim, but is 

now at large. 

Andrew Ogbuja, who was 

arraigned before a Makurdi 

Upper Area Court on Monday, 

was arrested last Friday after the 

victim’s family raised the alarm. 

When the case came up, the 

accused pleaded with the judge 

to temper justice with mercy, 

asking to be granted bail so he 

can go back home to have the 

matter resolved amicably, 

considering his status, especially 

as he was caught in the act. 

The accused, who spoke 

through his counsel, David Ojile, 

equally promised to take full 

responsibility for the treatment of 

the victim, saying it was a family 

matter. 

His plea was, however, rejected 

by the trial judge, Mr. Sam 

Kwen, who ordered the lecturer 

remanded at Makurdi Federal 

Prisons. 

The case 

Earlier the Police prosecutor, 

Inspector Patrick Sunday, told the 

court that on August 8, at about 

12 noon, the International 

Federation of Women Lawyers, 

Benue State chapter, in company 

of one Rose Abah of Ogene 

Amadu Edumoga, Okpokwu 

Local Government Area of the 

state, reported the matter at the 

Criminal Investigation and 

Intelligence Department, CIID, 

of the state police command. 

According to the prosecutor, 

“from the First Information 

Report, FIR, before the court, 

Mrs. Abah claimed that 

sometime in February, when her 

13-year-old daughter was sick 

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Senior Lecturer, son rape 13-year-old maid 

and admitted at Federal Medical 

Centre, Makurdi, she told her 

that when she was staying with 

her cousin-sister, Felicia Ogbuja 

in Ugbokolo town between 2013 

and 2015, her son, Victor Ogbuja, 

raped her. 

“She further said that her 

cousin’s husband, Andrew 

Ogbuja, also had canal 

knowledge of her.” 

He said during police 

investigation, the said Andrew 

Ogbuja was arrested, while the 

said Victor Ogbuja was at large, 

noting that “the offence is 

punishable under Sections 97 

and 284 of the Penal Code of 

Benue State 2004.” 

However, no plea was taken 

because the court lacked the 

jurisdiction to hear the case, 

while the judge, Mr. Kwen, 

adjourned the case to September 

24. 

Sodomised, too 

Speaking to newsmen after the 

court sitting, a caregiver and 

Founder of Restorer of PathCare 

Foundation, Evangelist Enewa 

Soo, stated that sometime in 

June, the case was reported to 

her through the International 

Federation of Women Lawyers 

and she has since been making 

sure that the victim’s health was 

restored. 

Soo said: “At the time they 

brought the girl, she was very 

sick and when we began to make 

our findings, we discovered that 

she was actually raped and the 

doctors confirmed that she was 

allegedly sexually abused 

through the virgina and the anus 

by one Victor Ogbuja, her 

guardian’s son. 

“Since then we have been 

trying to see how we can restore 

her health. We took her to a 

teaching hospital where series of 

tests were carried out and she 

has also been booked for 

Vesicovaginal Fistula, VVF, 

operation in Jos, Plateau State, 

from September 16 to 17.” 

Soo lamented that the girl had 

been emotionally and mentally 

depressed as a result of her 

situation and called on parents 

After 10 days in tramadol-induced 

coma, kidnapper dies 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—AFTER 10 days 

of unconsciousness, 

following complications 

from tramadol, an 

unidentified kidnap suspect 

in Ondo State, Monday, 

gave up the ghost. 

He died after 30 drips 

were infused into him at 

Owo General Hospital, 

where doctors battled to 

revive him. 

Unfortunately, police 

detectives that have been 

waiting for him to come back 

to life could not get any 

information from him, 

including his identity. 

The suspect was arrested 

on August 5, after he fell 

following the intake of tramadol 

during a botched kidnap attempt 

of a pharmacist in Owo area of 

the state. 

His two accomplices fled the 

scene on a motorcycle, which was 

snatched from one Daodu Wale, 

who came to the chemist to buy 

drugs. 

Recall that the pharmacist 

escaped through the back door 

of the chemist when the three 

kidnappers arrived Chinery 

Pharmacy with the intention of 

kidnapping him. 

Sensing trouble, the three 

kidnappers retreated after 

customers in the shop noticed the 

guns that was in their hands and 

raised alarm. 

•Victim down with VVF 

•… as FUT Minna dismisses 

lecturer over sex-for-mark scandal 

to beware of who they leave 

their children with. 

The son started in 

2013, says victim 

Narrating her ordeal, the 

victim, a JSS 1 student of 

F e d e r a l 

Government 

College, Gboko, 

said her 

guardian’s son 

first raped her 

in 2013 and 

warned her 

never to 

disclose it to 

anyone. 

Her story: 

“It 

Andrew Ogbuja 

all started in 2013 when I came 

to live with my mother’s sister 

in Ugbokolo because there 

was no school in my village. 

“When I was eight years old, the 

son started sleeping with me and 

when his sister caught him, she 

reported him to their father and 

the father scolded him. 

“From there, the father also 

started sleeping with me and I 

told my mother. My mother 

told my elder sister, who 

later took me to Makurdi 

for check up. Last year 

September, when I went 

to school and started 

feeling sick, I was taken 

to Federal Medical 

Centre, Makurdi, where 

I spent two months and 

five days before I was 

discharged. 

“In the hospital, 

they discovered 

that what my 

aunty’ son 

and his 

father did 

to me 

w a s 

responsible 

for my 

condition. 

M y 

mother 

went to 

confront 

my aunty 

and the 

husband, 

but they 

did not 

take the 

matter 

serious, 

that is 

why we 

brought 

the case 

here. I 

want my 

health 

back.” 

FUT Minna 

Meanwhile, the management of 

Continues on Page 7


By Bashir Bello 

KATSINA—NO fewer than 

10 supporters in the 

entourage of a newly sworn in 

Chairman, Caretaker Transition 

Committee of Batsari Local 

Government Area, Alhaji 

Mannir Ruma, are feared dead 

in a motor accident along 

Batsari-Katsina Road. 

The well wishers were said to 

be jubilating on their way to 

escort the newly-appointed 

chairman back to his office in 

Batsari and after the swearing 

in ceremony at the Government 

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10 die in Katsina LG 

boss convoy's accident 

Federal University of Technology, 

Minna, Niger State, has sacked 

one of its lecturers, Omananyi 

Yunusa, over his involvement in 

sexual harassment of a female 

student of the institution. 

The university’s Deputy Director, 

Information and Publications, 

Lydia Legbo, said the dismissal of 

Mr. Yunusa, a lecturer in the 

Department of Geology, followed 

the outcome of investigation into 

alleged sexual assault of a 

female student in the 

department over marks. 

The dismissal was approved 

during the University Council’s 

131st meeting after an 

investigative panel constituted 

by Vice Chancellor, Abdullahi 

Bala, found Yunusa guilty of 

inappropriate relationship with 

House, when the incident 

happened. 

The Information Officer 

of Batsari council, Isah Rimi, 

who confirmed the development 

to Vanguard yesterday, said the 

vehicle conveying the persons 

collided with another vehicle 

conveying women to a naming 

ceremony in Kano State. 

Rimi said the incident, which 

claimed the 10 lives also left 

about 20 other persons 

hospitalised. 

According to him, “the Caretaker 

Transition Committee Chairman, 

Alhaji Mannir Ruma's entourage 

Several injured as factions 

of transport union clash in Ekiti 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI—THERE was 

palpable tension in Ado- 

Ekiti yesterday, as members of 

the Road Transport Employers 

Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, 

clashed over leadership tussle 

within the union. 

Several persons were 

reportedly wounded in the 

clash, which locked down a 

section of the state capital for 

several hours. 

RTEAN had been in crisis 

since a faction loyal to the former 

chairman of the union, Mr. 

Rotimi Olabiwonnu, and six 

others were released from 

the prison through court 

judgment in January. 

Olabiwonnu and others were 

arrested over alleged 

connection with the murder of 

the former Chairman of the 

National Union of Road 

Transport Workers in Ekiti, 

Chief Omolafe Aderiye. 

They were kept in the prison 

for over three years, before they 

were set free by a judgment of 

the court. 

Aderiye was murdered by 


suspected assassins in his office 

in Ado Ekiti on September 24, 

2014 at the twilight of Dr Kayode 

Fayemi’s first term tenure. 

Cause 

What fueled the crisis was the 

alleged arrest of Olabiwonnu by 

the Police, which some of his 

loyalists misinterpreted to be 

another ploy to incarcerate him. 

There were sporadic gunshots 

along Ijigbo and Old Garage up 

to Okeyinmi axis in Ado Ekiti, 

yesterday, by rival groups over 

a violent clash between 

Olabiwonnu and Samuel 

Agbede groups. 

Shop owners around the area 

and other locations within the 

state capital hurriedly closed 

their shops at about 12 

noon and returned home. 

Those loyal to Olabiwonnu 

had been making efforts to take 

over leadership in all RTEAN 

units. 

While Olabiwonnu is a loyalist 

of the governor-elect, Dr. 

Fayemi, Agbede, the Chairman 

of RTEAN is a loyalist 

of Governor Ayodele Fayose. 

The popular and ever busy 

the student. 

Students react 

According to a student of the 

institution, “the news was kept 

away from media to avoid 

distraction. In fact, most other 

departments were not aware.” 

A colleague of the victim, who 

does not want his name 

mentioned for fear of 

victimisation, claimed that 

Yunusa’s dismissal would “bring 

peace to the department. My 

Class Governor is a lady, but feels 

very reluctant when we want to 

have anything to do with Mr. 

Yunusa. 

“It got to a time, we felt like 

impeaching her, only to realise 

that she was avoiding the lecturer 

because of harassment. We all 

got the notice about his dismissal; 

he disappointed himself.” 

The institution’s Vice 

got involved in a fatal accident, 

where 10 people lost their lives, 

while 20 were hospitalised in 

Batsari General Hospital, 

Federal Medical Centre and 

Orthopedic Hospital, 

Batagarawa. 

“Others were referred to 

Kano for quick treatment. 

“The caretaker transition 

committee chairman of Batsari 

local government area, Alhaji 

Mannir Ruma, prayed for the 

deceased and assured of 

government support to assist 

those hospitalised for quick 

recovery.” 

Oja Oba could not operate 

for several hours as 

gunshots by members of the 

drivers' union rend the air. 

Eyewitness revealed that 

several people were wounded 

as they fled in different 

directions to prevent being 

killed and the victims were 

said to be receiving 

treatments in the hospital. 

Following tension 

generated by the crisis, the 

Police immediately drafted 

their men and cordoned off 

the flash points by erecting 

barricades, which prevented 

motorists from plying that 

road for several hours. 

Police react 

When called for 

confirmation, the Police 

Public Relations Officer, 

Ekiti Command, Mr. Caleb 

Ikechukwu, said the situation 

has been put under control. 

Ikechukwu said no arrest 

has been made in connection 

with the crisis, assuring that 

policemen have been 

deployed in all the areas 

affected to quell the crisis. 

… as FUT Minna dismisses lecturer over sex-for-mark scandal 

Chancellor said the dismissal 

of the lecturer would serve as 

lesson to others to ensure total 

elimination of sexual 

harassment in the university 

community. 

The lecturer’s dismissal 

follows a similar one in 

another university. 

...other institutions 

On June 20, Obafemi 

Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 

dismissed a lecturer, Richard 

Akindele, after he was found 

guilty of misconduct with a 

female student of the school. 

Also, on July 12, Lagos State 

University, LASU, issued a 

query to Sunkanmi Odubunmi, 

another lecturer involved in a 

scandal with a student. The 

case is before a Joint Action 

Disciplinary Committee. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

NEPA officials will add to it 

by disconnecting your wires 

Destiny changers 

caught up with this one 

Na dem 

dey rush 

us: 

How 

does a 

female 

look 

like 

after 

rushing?

8—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 


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CAMPAIGN AGAINST FAKE NEWS: Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed 

(third left); Special Assistant to the President on Information and Culture attached to the minister's 

office, Mr. Segun Adeyemi (left); Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, Blueprint Newspapers, Alhaji 

Mohammed Idris (middle); Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Hajia Zainab Okino (third right) and 

other members of the Editorial Board, when the minister took the campaign against fake news to the 

newspaper house, in Abuja, yesterday. 

Ensure NASS reconvenes, 

Oshiomhole charges APC lawmakers 

•Dogara absent as Oshiomhole meets NASS APC caucus 

•Says you can go to court after your impeachment 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA— 

National 

Working Committee, 

NWC, of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Tuesday 

night met with the party 

caucus in the National 

Assembly to evolve strategies 

towards reconvening the two 

chambers of the legislature, 

with the party chairman, Mr 

Adams Oshiomhole, 

charging the lawmakers to 

ensure National Assembly 

reconvenes. 

However, Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, 

Yakubu Dogara, was absent 

at the meeting. 

Declaring the meeting 

open, Oshiomhole declared 

that the Senate President, Dr 

Bukola Saraki, would be 

impeached and asked him to 

remain where he was, that is, 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, saying he should not 

contemplate coming back to 

the ruling party. 

He said: “As governing 

party, I want to reassure 

Nigerian people that we are 

committed to leading by 

example and that means 

absolute submission and 

obedience to the letters and 

spirit of the Nigerian 

Constitution and everything 

we will do, we will ensure 

that it is done according to 

law, including the 

impeachment of Senator 

Bukola Saraki. 

Saraki not welcome 

back to party 

‘’There is no hiding place 

for him. I insist, his time is 

up. The only way he could 

probably have retained that 

seat is to decide to return but 

we will not be ready to 

welcome him. He must 

remain where he is and we 

will continue to ensure that 

he surrenders the Presidency 

of the Senate to the majority 

party in the Senate, in line 

with the provisions of our 

constitution.” 

Oshiomhole also added 

that the APC had a clear 

majority in the Senate with 

56 senators, stating that the 

party would not, therefore, 

allow itself to be subjected to 

the rule of the minority as 

exemplified by Saraki’s 

leadership of the upper 

chamber. 

He said: “I believe we now 

have 56 APC senators. That 

is more than half. That is a 

simple majority. I am made 

to understand that we have 

109 senators. We have 56 out 

of 109. But we also know for 

a fact that as we speak, one 

of the APC senators is in 

prisons for reasons not 

hidden from any Nigerian. 

"So, if the Senate resumes 

today, we have 56 of 108 

senators and so there is no 

question of who is in charge. 

In the House of 

Representatives, there is no 

question that we have the 

overwhelming majority. Of a 

total number of 360, we have 

196 members of the House of 

Representatives, including 

the very best, the brightest, 

the most rugged, the most 

committed members of the 

House. 

“The governors are not 

here, but we still have 22 solid 


ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government has stated 

its resolve to provide free 

internet access to about 10 

million Nigerians in key 

locations across the country. 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on Sustainable 

Development Goals, SDGs, 

Princess Adejoke Orelope- 

Adefulire, disclosed this 

during the launch of a pilot 

digital classroom at Pilot 

Science Primary School in 

governors out of 36 and even 

the Mayor of Abuja is on our 

platform, the Honourable 

Minister of the FCT. 

"I want to speak to two 

issues. It is now clear that 

those who attempted political 

suicides are now haunted by 

their own ghosts. Even if it is 

their shadow that is chasing 

them, they will say it is the 

APC. 

“Democracy teaches us that 

minority has the right to have 

their say but majority must 

have their way. So, if we have 

56 senators and they have 49 

senators, I insist that 49 

senators cannot preside over 

the affairs of a house in which 

APC has 56 senators. And I 

ask them to tell us anywhere 

in the world where minority 

rules over majority. 

“So, I want to repeat, 

Senator Saraki as President 

of the Senate will be lawfully 

and democratically 

impeached. It will not be 

illegally done. It will be done 

according to law and 

tradition. Those lawyers who 

have chosen to sit as judges, 

we need to remind them that 

lawyers are at best, officers of 

the court; they do not 

constitute the court. 

You can go to court 

after your 

impeachment 

‘’So, when Senator Saraki 

is lawfully and democratically 

impeached, they will be free 

to go anywhere they want to 

go and canvass the legality 

or the illegality of the action. 

It is not in their place to 

pronounce with finality as if 

they constitute the judicial 

arm of government. 

Lasun regrets 

inability of NASS 

to reconvene 

On his part, Deputy 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Yusuf 

Lasun, expressed dismay at 

the inability of the federal 

legislature to reconvene on 

Tuesday, saying that was not 

the initial plan. 

“I am not particularly 

happy that we are not able to 

reconvene the Assembly 

today (Tuesday) because we 

decided a few days back that 

we were going to sit and 

consider those items that are 

very important and may likely 

hamper the function of INEC 

and other programmes 

without which the 

implementation of the capital 

component of the 2018 

budget would have been 

slightly difficult." 

•Launches smart classrooms 

Abuja, yesterday. 

She said: “The Federal 

Government is working hard 

to actualise the dream of a 

knowledge-based and 

innovation-driven digital 

economy. 

"As you may be aware, I 

recently visited Silicon Valley 

in the United States and 

engaged with CEOs of 

several global IT companies. 

Only recently, we hosted 

Google executives who are 

working to provide free 

Internet to 10 million 

Nigerians in key locations 

across the country. 

‘’Google, like several other 

IT companies, is establishing 

a strong presence in Nigeria, 

not out of altruism but based 

on hard and rational logic of 

profit to be made and 

potentials to impact a large 

youthful market of 200 million 

population. 

‘’The Nigerian digital 

INEC extends voters 

registration exercise by 

2 weeks • Registers 23 new 

political parties 


A 

B U J A — 

INDEPENDENT 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, has 

extended the ongoing 

voter registration 

exercise by two weeks. 

This came as the 

commission said it has 

registered 23 new 

political parties, 

bringing the number of 

registered political 

parties in the country to 

91. 

The commission had 

sent letters of invitation 

to the affected chairmen 

of the new parties to pick 

their certificates of 

registration from the 

commission tomorrow. 

The development 

presents huge logistical 

challenge for the 

electoral umpire, with 

the ballot paper set to be 

expanded to 

accommodate more 

parties. 

Among the newly 

political parties 

registered by INEC, 

yesterday, were African 

Action Congress, AAC; 

Alliance for a United 

Nigeria, AUN; Alliance 

National Party, ANP; 

Allied Peoples’ 

Movement, APM, 

among others. 

2018 Electoral Act Bill 

still alive —Presidency 

By Henry Umoru 

A BUJA—THE 

Presidency, 

yesterday, assured 

Nigerians that the 2018 

Electoral Act Bill passed 

by the National Assembly 

and forwarded to 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari for assent on 

August 3 was still alive. 

According to the 

Presidency, the bill, which 

was passed on the July 

24, is awaiting 

presidential assent. 

Speaking, yesterday, in 

Abuja, Senior Special 

Assistant to the President 

on National Assembly 

Matters (Senate) , 

Senator Ita Enang, said 

the vetoed bill was the one 

sent to the President on 

June 27, 2018, and not the 

one passed by both 

chambers of the National 

Assembly on July 24, 

2018, the very day, it 

embarked on long recess. 

Enang said clarification 

on the status of the bill 

from the Presidency came 

against the backdrop of 

report published by one of 

FG to provide free internet access to 10m Nigerians 

economy will generate an 

estimated US$ 88 billion and 

create three million jobs over 

the next ten years.” 

Minister 

of 

Communications, Adebayo 

Shittu, who spoke on behalf 

of the acting President, Yemi 

Osinbajo, said schools across 

the country had to be 

scientifically equipped. 

According to him, the 

project has to be introduced 

to private sector-driven 

educational institutions in the 

country in order to ensure 

that children who are not in 

the national dailies, 

yesterday, that President 

Muhammadu Buhari had 

again vetoed 2018 

electoral bill forwarded to 

it for assent by the 

National Assembly. 

Enang explained that 

the vetoed one was the 

one with contentious 

provisions and infractions 

on provisions of the 1999 

constitution 

He said: “The reported 

vetoed bill was the one 

passed by the National 

Assembly and transmitted 

to the President for assent 

on June 27, 2018, 

duration of which in line 

with constitutional 

provisions expires on July 

26, 2018, warranting the 

said veto. 

“Yes, an electoral bill was 

vetoed or refused assent 

by the President but not 

the last version of the 2018 

electoral bill transmitted 

to the President for assent 

on the 3rd of this month 

that has just spent 11 days 

on his table and still 

having 19 days more for 

possible consideration 

and assent.” 

public schools also benefit 

from it. 

While urging the 

organisers to replicate the 

smart classrooms in all 

schools across the country, 

Shittu said “government will 

not fail on its part as it will 

carry out all tasks necessary 

for the success of the project." 

The smart classroom was 

donated by Netdragon 

Websoft, a Chinese company, 

working in partnership with 

the Federal Government to 

develop the nation’s ICT 

sector.


MEETING: From left, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; National Leader, 

All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; APC Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, 

Alhaji Tunde Balogun and party chieftain, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, during APC 

stakeholders meeting at the party secretariat, Ogba, yesterday. 

INEC budget: No date fixed yet to 

reconvene NASS —Saraki, Dogara 

•As APC accuses Saraki of ‘high treason’ 

•Says PDP planning to attack its senators 

•Allegations laughable, childish — PDP 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu, 

Omeiza Ajayi & 

Dirisu Yakubu 

A BUJA—SENATE 

President, Dr Bukola 

Saraki, and Speaker of the 


Yakubu Dogara, said, 

yesterday, that no date had 

been fixed for the 

reconvening of the National 

Assembly to consider the 

budget of Independent 


Commission, INEC. 

This came on a day All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, accused the Senate 

president of high treason, 

noting that it had also 

uncovered plans by Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, to 

attack its senators as a way of 

frustrating their efforts to effect 

a change in the leadership 

of the Senate. 

But PDP, in a swift reaction, 

described APC’s allegation as 

laughable and childish, 

saying the insinuation 

showed that the Buhari 

Presidency and the ruling 

party had come to a wits end 

in their plot to “illegally” 

impeach Senate President, 

Dr Bukola Saraki, and his 

deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. 

Media advisers of the two 

leaders of Parliament stated, 

yesterday, that the leadership 

of the National Assembly was 

waiting for a report of a joint 

committee of both chambers 

to reconvene the Parliament. 

The statement was signed 

by Yusuph Olaniyonu, 

Special Adviser (Media and 

Publicity) to Senate President 

and Turaki Hassan, Special 

Adviser (Media and Public 

Affairs) to Speaker, House of 

Representatives. 

It read: “The Senate 

President, Dr. Abubakar 

Bukola Saraki and Speaker, 


Yakubu Dogara, have 

directed that we inform all 

senators, members of the 

House of Representatives and 

the public that a date has not 

been set for the reconvening 

of the Senate and the House 

of Representatives to consider 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, 2019 elections budget 

request forwarded by 


Buhari on July 17, 2018. 

“The leadership of the two 

chambers had met and 

agreed to reconvene to 

consider the proposal this 

week before which a meeting 

between the Joint Senate and 

House of Representatives 

Committees on Electoral 

Matters and officials of the 

INEC must have held on or 

before Monday, August 13, 

2018. 

“The joint committees were 

also expected to meet with the 

joint Senate and House 

Committees on 

Appropriations, Loans and 

Debts on the Eurobond loan 

request after which two 

reports would have been 

ready for presentation in the 

two chambers. 

“However, no such 

meeting had taken place yet 

as a result of which both 

Senate and House of 

Representatives cannot 

By Michael Eboh 

NIGERIAN National 

P e t r o l e u m 

Corporation, NNPC, 

yesterday, disclosed that a 

group of investors has 

acquired a 100,000-barrel 

per day, BPD, refinery in 

Turkey, from British 

Petroleum, BP, and are 

currently in the process of 

reconvene as there is no 

report to consider. 

“Until the committees have 

a ready report for the 

consideration of the two 

chambers, it will be most 

irresponsible to recall 

members from recess, 

especially those that may 

have travelled to Saudi 

Arabia for hajj.” 

APC accuses Saraki 

of ‘high treason’ 

Meanwhile, APC has 

accused the Senate President 

of high treason, saying his 

actions, which bothered on 

placing personal interest 

above national interest, must 

be curtailed. 

“While Saraki and his 

cohorts continue to postpone 

their doomsday regarding the 

imminent Senate leadership 

change, the yet-to-be 

considered 2019 budget of 



INEC, is dangerously 

delayed. Clearly, Saraki’s 

actions as Senate President 

now bother on high treason,” 

APC declared in a statement 

signed by Acting National 

Publicity Secretary, Yekini 

Nabena. 

It stated further: “By this 

statement, we call on security 

agents to protect APC 

senators. If any senator is 

harmed, the PDP and Saraki 

relocating the plant to 

Nigeria for installation near 

the Port-Harcourt Refinery. 

The NNPC, in a 

statement in Abuja, also 

noted that another 

brownfield refinery with 

similar capacity would be 

built by another group of 

investors near the Warri 

refinery. 

It said both projects were 

under its collocation 

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018—9 

should be held directly 

responsible. We call on 

security agencies to also 

closely monitor the activities 

of some PDP leaders, 

including Saraki, because the 

plan to attack APC senators 

is real and imminent." 

APC hallucinating 

—PDP 

Reacting to APC’s 

allegations, yesterday, PDP 

said the ruling party was 

hallucinating by linking it 

with any attempt to attack 

anybody, including senators, 

stressing that Nigerians were 

aware that, if anything, it was 

the APC that had been 

involved in sponsoring 

violence and attacks in the 

residences of the presiding 

officers of the Senate and the 

National Assembly. 

National Publicity Secretary 

of the party, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, who reacted 

to the allegations, urged the 

leadership of the ruling party 

to perish any thought of 

having the capacity to 

impeach Saraki and 

Ekweremadu. 

“Equally derisive is the 

APC’s claims that it is in talks 

with some PDP senators to 

get a two-thirds vote to 

impeach the Senate 

presiding officers when it is 

public knowledge that all 

PDP senators are loyal to their 

party and had already 

pledged their loyalty to the 

presiding officer which they 

elected by themselves." 

initiative designed to boost 

local refining capacity and 

to end the era of petroleum 

products importation. 

Speaking on the projects 

in an interview published 

in theNNPC News, a 

monthly publication of the 

corporation, Group 

Managing Director of the 

NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, 

said it was part of efforts 

being made to achieve self- 

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Buhari'll contest and win, 

irrespective of vocal minority 

—Presidency 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

L AGOS—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari 

will contest the 2019 

presidential election and win, 

irrespective of the campaign 

of calumny by a vocal 

minority pushing forth its 

agenda against the President, 

the Presidency declared, 

yesterday. 

Affirming the unassailability 

of the President in the 

country, the Presidency 

further cited landmark 

infrastructural developments 

across the country and recent 

election victories by the 

President’s All Progressives 

Congress, APC, as evidence 

of his potentials. 

Special Adviser to the 

President on Media and 

Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, 

declared these in Lagos at a 

session with media men 

during which he affirmed 

that Buhari would win the 

2019 election with a margin 

wider than 2015. 


the President on Media and 

Publicity, Mallam Shehu 

Garba, who also spoke at the 

event on his part, rebuffed 

recent report of pressures on 

Buhari not to seek a second 

term. 

Adesina said: “No matter 

the level of hatred and fake 

news, what will happen in 

2019 will happen. And what 

is that thing that will 

happen? President Buhari 

will win the election by a very 

wide margin compared to 

2015.” 

“Those speaking against 

the President are a vocal 

minority, but they have voice 

and when they speak, there 

is a cacophony and you will 

think that it is Nigerians that 

are speaking. If it is just for 

the rail projects alone, some 

people say they will vote for 

Buhari. 

“Others say that if it is just 

for the honour done to Chief 

MKO Abiola, they will vote 

for Buhari, while there are 

those who say that if it is that 

people can now sleep with 

their eyes closed in the 

North-East, they will vote for 

the President. Different 

people have different 

reasons why they will vote 

for President Buhari. 

Contempt charge: Judge 

insists on arrest of INEC 

chairman 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

High Court in Abuja, 

yesterday, insisted that 

Chairman of Independent 


Commission, INEC, Mr. 

Mahmood Yakubu, must 

be arrested and produced 

before it on August 16 to 

face contempt charge 

against him. 

The high court, in a ruling 

delivered by trial Justice 

Stephen Pam, said the 

order it gave the Inspector 

General of Police, Mr. 

Ibrahim Idris, to execute 

the bench warrant it issued 

against the INEC boss, 

was still subsisting. 

Justice Stephen 

reactivated the arrest order, 

barely 24 hours after the 

Abuja Division of the Court 

of Appeal, directed that the 

arrest warrant should not be 

executed until September 

Firms acquire BP’s 100,000bpd refinery in Turkey for relocation to 

Nigeria 

sufficiency in local refining, 

besides the rehabilitation of 

the refineries. 

He said: “A group of 

investors has commenced 

the process of relocating a 

refinery that used to be 

owned by BP from Turkey 

to Nigeria to be installed 

near the Port Harcourt 

Refinery under the NNPC 

refinery collocation 

17. 

A three-man panel of 

justices of the appellate 

court led by Justice Abdul 

Aboki, suspended the 

enforcement of the bench 

warrant to enable it to hear 

an appeal that was lodged 

by the embattled INEC 

Chairman. 

At the resumed 

proceeding, neither the 

alleged contemnor nor his 

lawyers, appeared before 

the trial court and no 

reason was adduced for 

their absence. 

Though some junior 

lawyers that previously 

announced appearance for 

the INEC Chairman were 

in court to witness the 

proceeding, they were 

however not robed. 

The plaintiffs’ counsel, 

Mr. Kanayo Okafor who 

held brief for Mr. Goddy 

Uche, SAN, narrated to 

the court what transpired 

at the Court of Appeal on 

Monday. 

initiative. 

“Our collocation initiative 

aimed at getting private 

sector investors to bring in 

brownfield refineries so that 

they can share facilities is 

also yielding results. 

Baru further explained 

that a similar plan to 

establish a brownfield 

refinery near the Warri 

Refinery was also in the 

offing.

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

Lagos, third worst city to live 

in, says EIU report 

•It shows FG's years of neglect— LASG 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo, with 

agency report 

THE Economist 

Intelligence Unit, 

EIU, has ranked Lagos 

State as the third worst city 

to live in among 140 cities 

worldwide. 

Lagos was ranked 138th 

of the 140 countries ranked 

by the EIU in its 2018 

report. 

With a relatively low score 

of 38.5 percent, the city was 

just a little above Syria’s 

war-torn capital, 

Damascus, and 

Bangladesh’s Dhaka. 

Both cities are hotbeds of 

v i o l e n c e , 

destruction and war. 

But in a swift reaction, the 

Lagos State government 

said the report has shown 

years of neglect and denial 

by the Federal 

Government. 

The Commissioner for 

Information and Strategy, 

MURDER: Court releases Lagos 

PDP chairman from Kirikiri prison 

By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah & Jane 

Echewodo 

LAGOS — A Lagos 

High Court sitting in 

Ikeja, yesterday, released 

the embattled Chairman of 

the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Lagos State, 

Mr. Moshood 

Salvador, accused of 

murder, from prison 

custody. 

The PDP Chairman was 

set free after being 

incarcerated alongside 10 

others over the alleged 

murder of the party's local 

government Chairman in 

Apapa Local Government 

Area of the state, Adeniyi 

Aborishade. 

Other suspects include 

Kehinde Fasasi, Rotimi 

Kujore, Fatai Adele, Ismaila 

Abiola, Amos Fawole, 

Victoria Falowo, Mukaila 

Odukoya, Oropo Isaac, 

Mohammed Babangida 

and Ugochukwu Nwoke. 

Aborishade was 

murdered on July 21 

during a PDP’s visitation 

CVL honours Prof Irukwu at 84 

LAGOS—THE 44 th 

Tribute Colloquium 

in honour of Prof. Joe 

Irukwu on the celebration 

of his 84 th birthday comes 

up today at the Nigerian 

Institute of International 

Affairs, NIIA, on Victoria 

Island, Lagos. 

Organised by Centre for 

Values in Leadership, 

CVL, with the theme: 'The 

Insurance Industry: 


Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, 

in a short message, SMS, 

sent to our correspondent, 

said: “If you read the report, 

it stated that the years of 

neglect and denial by the 

Federal Government has 

led to the poor state of 

infrastructure in Lagos 

State. 

"The report commended 

Ambode administration for 

working tirelessly within 

three years to improve the 

level of infrastructure across 

the state. 

The new ranking saw the 

Australian capital, 

Melbourne, lose the title of 

world’s most liveable city 

after a seven-year reign 

after dropping to second by 

just 0.7 percent. The city 

was piped to the post by 

Vienna, which received an 

overall score of 99.1 

percent. 

In 2017, Lagos was 

ranked the second worst 

city to live in after 

Damascus. 

meeting held at Igbosuku 

village, Eti-Osa Local 

Government Area. 

It was gathered that 

a Yaba Magistrate Court, 

Lagos had given a remand 

order against the suspects 

shortly after they were all 

arraigned by the police on 

a two-count charge of 

conspiracy and unlawful 

killing. 

The Chief Magistrate, 

Mr. 

Oyetade 

Komolafe issued the 

remand order and 

thereafter adjourned the 

matter till August 27 for DPP 

advice. 

Meanwhile, a vacation 

judge, Justice Obafemi 

Adamson, granted freedom 

to Salvador following the 

legal advice from the office 

of the Directorate of Public 

Prosecution, DPP. 

In a short ruling, the 

judge said: “In view of the 

advice from the office of the 

DPP, which exonerated the 

applicant from a murder 

charge, Mr. Moshood 

should be released from 

prison custody forthwith.” 

National Savings and 

Financial Market - 

Reaching for Higher Levels 

of Performance.' the event, 

which would attract political 

and business leaders in the 

country, kicks off by 

11:00am. 

It will be moderated by 

Professor Pat Utomi with 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu 

of Abia State as special 

guest of honour. 

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BUHARI'S RE-ELECTION: You can't speak 

for Nigerians, Tinubu tells Obasanjo 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS — THE 

National leader of All 


APC, and former Lagos 

State Governor, Asiwaju 

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 

yesterday, took a swipe at 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo saying he lacked 

the credibility to speak for 

Nigerians on who to vote 

for in the 2019 general 

elections, adding that he 

cannot 

stop 

President Muhamamdu Buhari’s 

victory. 

He also disclosed that all 

aspirants for various 

elective positions for next 

year’s elections on the APC 

platform will be made to face 

direct primaries. 

The APC leader said this 

at a stakeholders’ and 

consultative meeting of 

APC chieftains, leaders, 

and members, held at the 

party’s Secretariat, Acme, 

Ogba, Lagos State. 

Party leaders and 

chieftains in attendance 

were: Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State, Speaker of the 

state House of Assembly, 

Mudashiru Obasa, and his 

predecessor, Adeyemi 

Ikuforiji; Lagos APC 

chairman, Chief Lanre 

Balogun and other 

members of the Governor’s 

Advisory Council, among 

others. 

Tinubu said: “We, APC 

members, have to register 

as members of the party 

and obtain our Permanent 

Voter’s Card. To register as 

a member of the party, you 

can go online and 

download the form, you do 

not need to write letters like 

Obasanjo does by using the 

post office sending letters 

to Buhari. 

“He has finished his own 

term, he should go and sit 

down in his farm attending 

to chickens and animals. 

He should leave Buhari 

alone. You can not tell us 

(Nigerians) who to vote for. 

Let us tell Obasanjo this 

through our votes. Buhari 

is ours and we will return 

him into power in 2019. 

By Emmanuel Aziken 

& Omeiza Ajayi 

L AGOS—THE 

presidential 

candidate of the All 


APC, is to emerge at the 

presidential primary of the 

party scheduled to hold on 

October 6, 2018. 




INEC, has registered 23 

new political parties, 

bringing the number of 

•Says Lagos APC aspirants to face direct primary 

•We'll deliver for Buhari in 2019, says Ambode 

VISIT: Prof. Charles Dokubo, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta 

Affairs and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme (left) and Deputy Governor, 

Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, during Ajayi's courtesy visit in Abuja yesterday. 

Direct primaries 

Tinubu also disclosed of 

the party’s resolve to elect 

candidates, who will fly the 

flag of the party at next 

year’s general elections, 

through direct primaries 

which will involve all 

members of the party and 

not through delegation as 

done in the past. 

He said: “It is gratifying 

to report that the party has 

resolved to register 

additional members, and 

membership register will be 

opened to facilitate the 

process, which eventually 

would be used for direct 

primaries. 

“We appeal to all our 

members to update the 

membership registration 

and embrace the direct 

primary that has just been 

introduced and adopted by 

our party. We are committed 

to our party; we are 

committed to the values of 

the party; we see direct 

primary as President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

anti-corruption and internal 

APC presidential candidate to emerge on October 6 

•As INEC extends voter registration by 2 weeks 

political parties in the 

country to 91. 

The commission has also 

extended the ongoing voter 

registration exercise by two 

weeks. 

According to a statement 

issued by the party, 

yesterday, primary election 

for the party’s tickets for state 

House of Assembly will hold 

on September 15 while that 

of the House of 

Representatives would hold 

on September 19. 

The primary election for 

the Senate would hold on 

September 23 while 

democracy revolution. 

“We are going to embrace 

that in which the party is 

going back to the owners 

of the party and that is you 

the people. It is not we the 

few; it is we the people. We 

have embraced democracy 

and you have your 

decisions to be made but 

you have to be members of 

our party in the first place.” 

Division in Lagos APC 

Dismissing the 

insinuation that the party is 

divided in the state, Tinubu 

said: “We reiterate the fact 

that APC in Lagos State is 

intact. There is no division. 

I’ve heard some people 

conspiring to present a 

situation of division in the 

party in Lagos but let me 

assure you that it is just the 

coming together of 

adversaries and 

conspirators which will 

have no effect on the party.” 

We’ll deliver for Buhari 

in 2019 

In his remarks, Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State commended 

governorship primaries 

would hold on September 

28. 

The party's statement, 

however, did not state the 

modus for the elections 

whether it would be direct 

or indirect primaries. 


Buhari is the frontrunner 

in the race for the APC 

presidential ticket. 

However, at least four 

party members, including 

Adamu Garba II, CEO of 

IPI Solutions, one of the 

country’s leading software 

solution providers; Dr. SKC 

Tinubu for kick-starting the 

revolution for direct 

primaries, saying the 

process would go a long 

way to deepen democracy 

in the country. 

Ambode said: “People 

may not understand what 

is going on but we are 

giving power to the people 

and it is starting from APC. 

“So, we want to 

collectively say a big thank 

you to Asiwaju for 

championing this silent 

revolution and it is simple; 

what we are saying is that 

if we know that Lagos State 

is truly controlled by APC, 

we would champion a 

revolution that has never 

been witnessed before in 

this country. That means 

each member of our great 

party will now determine 

who emerges the President 

of this country and by so 

doing we will make a 

statement that Lagos State 

has the votes and Lagos 

State has the numbers to 

make things happen in 

this country.” 

Ogbonnia, Chairman of 

Texas Energy Corporation; 

Chief Udo Udeogaranya, a 

seasoned politician, and 

Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, 

a lawyer and Second 

Republic political youth 

leader are bidding for the 

party’s presidential ticket 

with Buhari. 

Among the new political 

parties registered by INEC 

yesterday were African 

Action Congress, AAC; 

Alliance for a United 

Nigeria, AUN; Alliance 

National Party, ANP, Allied 

Peoples’ Movement, APM, 

among others.


2019 POLLS: Dankwanbo meets with 

Obasanjo 

By Daud Olatunji & 

Gabriel Olawale 

A hours BEOKUTA—24 

after the 

Senate President, Dr. 

Bukola Saraki held a 

closed-door meeting with 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, the 

Gombe State governor and 


Party, PDP, Presidential 

aspirant, Ibrahim 

Dankwanbo held another 

closed-door meeting with 

the former president. 

Dankwambo, who arrived 

Chief Obasanjo’s penthouse 

within the Olusegun 

Obasanjo Presidential 

library complex, at 1: 10 pm 

headed into one of the 

rooms and held a closeddoor 

meeting with 

Obasanjo. 

The meeting lasted for 

about one hour and 

Dankwanbo later held a 

meeting with a faction of 

the PDP in Ogun State 

loyal to a member of the 

House of Representatives 

representing Remo 

Federal Constituency, 

Oladipupo Adebutu, at a 

hotel located about 150 

metres from Obasanjo’s 

residence. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Dankwambo had come to 

discuss his ambition with 

the former president, but, 

did not disclose what he 

discussed with his host. 

Dankwanbo, while 

addressing state party 

ABUJA—THE Special 

Anti-Robbery Squad, 

SARS, of the Police, 

yesterday, arrested and 

detained a reporter with 

Premium Times, Mr. 

Samuel Ogundipe, who 

was forced to disclose his 

source. 

Recall that the 

newspaper’s Editor-in- 

Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, 

and its education 

correspondent, Azeezat 

Adedigba, were also briefly 

detained and manhandled 

by SARS operatives at the 

Police headquarters in 

Abuja. 

Ogundipe, the Security 

Sector Reporter for 

Premium Times, also 

arrested alongside Mojeed 

and Adedigba, was 

however, detained. 


International Press Centre, 

IPC, has expressed outrage 

over the detention of the 

journalist. 

Reacting to the detention 

of the reporter, Publisher of 

Premium Times, Mr. Dapo 

Olorunyomi said: 

“Premium Times hereby 

calls for the immediate 

release of its reporter, 

Samuel Ogundipe, who 

was detained yesterday by 

•Says Nigerians failed to question change in 2015 

executives and leaders, 

said: “In 2015, they came 

with the rhetoric of change. 

Nigerians never bothered 

to ask for the type of change 

they were bringing. We 

were in hurry and never 

asked how he wanted to 

change Nigeria from 

negative to positive. 

“Nigerians never asked if 

he was qualified to make 

the change. I do not have 

to bother you that today, 

poverty is increasing, 

maternal mortality is 

increasing, insurgency is 

being witnessed not only in 

the North East but all over 

the country. 

“I have been a governor 

for 7 years now and I am 

the only governor that came 

back the second time in the 

region. We have 

provided leadership 

before and we are still 

going to do more of it. 

“We have developed an 

economic blueprint, we will 

share it. We are still looking 

at the event. I will provide 

the leadership Nigerians 

want.” 

Also speaking during a 

visit to PDP leaders in 

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 — 11 

Lagos State to make known 

his intention to contest the 

2019 presidential election, 

he said: “In 2015, some 

people said they were 

bringing change, we are 

too much in hurry and 

didn’t ask how they will 

go about it. 

“We never looked at the 

person whether he has 

the capacity required to 

bring change, we took that 

decision. This time 

around, in 2019, we need 

to ask questions, open 

our eyes and make the 

correct decision.” 

OYO GOV RACE: Secretary to Oyo State Government, and a All 

Progressives Congress, APC governorship aspirant, Barr. Lekan Alli on 

his arrival at the party's secretariat at Oke Ado, Ibadan to submit his letter 

of intention to APC Chairman yesterday. Photo by Dare Fasube. 

SARS detains Premium Times reporter over story 

•IPC outraged over detention 

the Nigeria Police over a 

report. 

“On the day the Nigerian 

presidency was 

complaining about the 

excesses of a unit in the 

police, the same unit was 

forcing a Premium Times 

journalist to disclose his 

source. 

“The Nigerian police, 

through the Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad, SARS, on 

Tuesday (yesterday) 

arrested and detained the 

reporter. 

“Apart from Mr. 

Ogundipe, this 

newspaper’s Editor-in- 

Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, 

and its education 

correspondent, Azeezat 

Adedigba, were also briefly 

detained and manhandled 

by the police at the SARS 

headquarters in Abuja. 

“Ms. Adedigba was later 

released after about three 

hours of detention. 

“Mr. Mojeed and Mr 

Ogundipe were driven 

from the SARS 

headquarters in Abuja to 

the IGP Monitoring Unit at 

Force Headquarters where 

Mr. Ogundipe was made 

to write a statement. 

“At the Force 

headquarters, a Deputy 

Commissioner of Police at 

the IGP Monitoring Unit, 

Sani Ahmadu, was heard 

directing lawyers to “rush 

to court” to obtain a warrant 

to detain Mr. Ogundipe. 

“They repeatedly asked 

the journalist to disclose his 

source for a story 

published by this 

newspaper. 

“The story, also published 

by other media, revealed a 

letter written by the 

Inspector General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris, to Acting 

President Yemi Osinbajo on 

last week’s siege to the 

National Assembly by 

security officials. 

“When Mr. Mojeed 

alerted the DCP that it was 

wrong compelling a 

journalist to disclose a 

source of information, the 

police officer became 

furious, threatening the 

journalist. 

“He said the police was 

acting within the law and 

that Samuel would remain 

detained unless he 

discloses those who gave 

him the document. 

“The police are yet to offer 

a coherent reason for their 

denial of the reporter his 

freedom. 

“His detention is in gross 

violation of Mr. 

Ogundipe’s rights, the 

Nigerian laws and all 

democratic tenets; and is an 

unacceptable abridgement 

of his citizenship and 

professional privileges.'' 

IPC outraged over 

detention 

Meanwhile, the 

International Press Centre, 

IPC, has expressed outrage 

by the detention of the 

Premium Times Security 

Sector Reporter, Mr. 

Ogundipe. 

While Mr. Mojeed and 

Ms. Adedigba were 

released after being 

arrested, detained and 

harassed, Mr. Ogundipe 

was still being held as at 

the time of going to press. 

In a statement by Director 

of IPC, Mr. Lanre 

Arogundade said: “IPC is 

particularly dismayed that 

the Police authorities want 

Mr. Ogundipe to disclose 

the source of information 

over a story published by 

the newspaper on a 

correspondence between 

the Inspector General of 

Police and the Vice 

President. 

“This, to us, is a clear 

assault on press freedom 

and a clear threat to the 

safety of the detained 

journalist and his 

colleagues.'' 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA—THE 

National Youth 

Service Corps, NYSC, has 

allayed fears over an auto 

crash which involved 37 

members of the NYSC 

along Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway on Monday. 

Public Relations Officer in 

Ogun State, Mrs. Florence 

Takum said the affected 

corps members were under 

stable and perfect condition. 

Takum said: “Nothing 

happened to anyone of 

them. NYSC is aware of the 

accident. They were going 

to their places of primary 

assignment when the 

accident occurred. 

“None of them died and 

they not seriously injured. 

We have brought them 

back to the camp. We took 

them to the hospital and 

they were treated before we 

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OGUN CRASH: No cause for 

alarm — NYSC 

took them back to the 

camp. 

“There is no cause for 

alarm. All of them are okay. 

We have closed the camp 

today but the principal 

officers stayed behind in the 

camp to take care of them.” 

Ogun govt visits NYSC 

camp 

Meanwhile, Ogun State 

Commissioner for Youth 

and Sports, Mr. Afolabi 

Afuape has paid a visit to 

the affected corps members 

at the NYSC Permanent 

Orientation Camp in 

Sagamu. 

The State NYSC 

Coordinator, Mrs. 

Josephine Bakare, who took 

the state Commissioner 

round the camp clinic to see 

the present condition of the 

Corp members, said 37 were 

involved in the accident but 

33 of them who were with 

minor injuries were certified 

medically okay. 

Oyo SSG joins guber race, says 

Ajimobi has no anointed aspirant 

By Ola Ajayi & 

Adeola Badru 

IBADAN—AS the race 

for the governorship 

tickets of Oyo State hots up, 

about seven aides of 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi 

are struggling to get the 

ticket of All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Out of the aspirants, 

Vanguard gathered that 

the governor has been 

mum on who gets the ticket. 

As at yesterday, with the 

Secretary to the State 

Government, Alhaji 

Olalekan Alli joining the 

race, the number of the 

governor's aides eyeing 

his office is now seven. 

As for now, those who 

have signified their 

interests are; former Head 

of Service, Mr. Soji 

Eniade; Commissioner 

for Lands and Survey, Mr 

Isaac Omodewu, 

Commissioner for Health, 

Dr Azeez Adeduntan, 

Continued neglect of LAUTECH 

by owner-states, a time bomb 

— ASUU 

By Dayo Johnson 

A Academic 

KURE—THE 

Staff 

Union of Universities, 

ASUU, yesterday, raised the 

alarm that the alleged 

neglect of Ladoke Akintola 

University of Technology, 

LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, by 

Oyo and Osun State 

governments is a time bomb 

waiting to explode. 

The Akure Zone of the 

union declared said it was 

wrong for the institution to 

be neglected. 

Coordinator of Akure 

Zone of the union, Dr. Alex 

Odiyi, who said this at a 

press briefing called for the 

revival of the institution. 

Odiyi said: “The neglect 

Special Adviser on Political 

Matters, Mr Morounkola 

Thomas, Commissioner 

for Finance, Mr 

Bimbo Adekanmbi and 

the Deputy Governor, 

Chief Moses Alake 

Adeyemo. 

Speaking at the state 

secretariat of APC, Oke- 

Ado yesterday, Alhaji 

Alli said: “Having been 

privileged to be part of 

the first-rate team of his 

Excellency, I am offering 

myself to serve the 

state as its governor in 

2019. My interest in the 

governorship project is 

to further the repositioning 

of agriculture as the 

basis 


our industrialisation, 

enhancing the fortune of 

our education, health, human 

capital, including staff 

development and welfare, 

industry, commerce, 

youth development and 

other strategic potentials 

across the state.'' 

of LAUTECH by the two 

states is a time bomb and 

when it explodes will not 

augur well for the states, 

students, host community 

and other stakeholders. 

“They have failed to keep 

their own side of the 

agreement they freely 

entered into. 

The lack of inadequate 

funding by the states is 

deliberate and premised on 

the mindset that the 

institution can sustain itself 

on IGR which is mainly 

from the tuition fees paid 

by students. 

“It is clear from the 

experience of LAUTECH 

and other universities that 

it is practically impossible 

to run public universities 

without subvention from 

government.”

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

Only president can enlist 

more persons in amnesty 

programme, says Dokubo 

SPECIAL Adviser to the 

President on Niger 

Delta and Coordinator, 

Amnesty Programme, Prof. 

Charles Dokubo, yesterday, 

said additional Niger Delta 

youths could only be 

enlisted into the 

programme by a 

presidential proclamation. 

He made the clarification 

in Abuja at a meeting with 

Agboola Ajayi, Deputy 

Governor of Ondo State. 

Ajayi, who was at the 

Amnesty Office to seek the 

inclusion of about 2,000 

youths of Ondo State into 

the programme, explained 

that the youths who had 

been involved in various 

criminal acts including 

kidnapping, were 

peacefully disarmed over a 

year ago, following the 

intervention of Ag. 

President Yemi Osinbajo. 

“It was the acting 

President who said publicly 

that the Federal 

Government would offer 

amnesty to Ondo youths 

after we had an incident 

where they kidnapped a 

group of persons. When we 

met the kidnappers during 

negotiation, they said they 

wanted amnesty. So, we 


said okay, we will give you 

amnesty and we spent 

huge funds to disarm them. 

Since we disarmed them, 

Lagos, Ogun and Ondo 

states have been safe and 

peaceful,” he said, adding 

that the inclusion of the 

youths in the Amnesty 

Programme was vital to the 

sustenance of peace in the 

Niger Delta. 

Responding, Dokubo 

noted that though Ondo 

youths were part of the 

Niger Delta, it was not 

within the purview of his 

office to add more persons 

to those already captured 

in the database of the 

Amnesty Programme. 

Dokubo however, 

indicated the readiness of 

the Amnesty Office to 

collaborate with the Ondo 

State Government in the 

area of training the youths. 

“Whatever palliative we 

can offer, we will gladly do; 

the money is not there, but 

in terms of training, our 

training facility in Ondo is 

there, we can give training 

to some of them, but their 

stipends should be 

provided by the Ondo State 

Government,” Dokubo 

said. 

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PDP primaries: Atiku solicits Oba of Benin's 

blessings 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B ENIN—FORMER 

Vice President, Atiku 

Abubakar, has solicited the 

royal blessings of the Oba 

of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11 

as he faces the September 

2018 presidential primaries 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP. 

Atiku, a PDP presidential 

aspirant for the 2019 

election however, assured 

the Benin monarch that he 

would pursue his ambition 

with the fear of God, saying 

that he was not desperate 

to be the nation’s president. 

He was at the palace of 

the Benin monarch on a 

courtesy call during his visit 

to PDP faithful in the state. 

Atiku said that if he was 

desperate to be the nation’s 

president, he would have 

long achieved it and would 

not have stepped down for 

Chief MKO Abiola. 

He said: “What do you 

expect my critics to say as 

there is nothing wrong in 

entering the race? I can run 

as many times as possible. 

I am fit and qualified. I still 

have ideas that I believe are 

going to put this country on 

the right path. 

“So, what is wrong in 

running? I am not 

desperate and if I were 

desperate, I would have 

taken the presidency in 

2003. If I were desperate, I 

would not have stepped 

down for Abiola in 1992. I 

am not desperate.” 

The former Vice President 

said his decision to contest 

for the position of the 

country’s number one 

citizen was borne out of his 

desire to improve the lots 

of Nigerians. 

He added that he would 

I stand by Saraki—Clark 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, 

South-South 

A SABA—SOUTH- 

SOUTH leader, 

Senator Edwin Clark, 

yesterday, said he stood by 

the Senate President, Dr. 

Olukola Saraki, in his 

current travails. 

Senator Clark, who was 

reacting to a twisted version 

of a personal letter he wrote 

Senator Saraki in 2013, in 

the social media, said 

“Today, I have a duty to 

stand by my son, Dr. 

Bukola Saraki and also 

defend him from any act of 

persecution aimed at 

destroying his illustrious 

political career and his 

father’s rich legacy. 

“My attention has been 

drawn to a letter (albeit 

altered) on the above 

subject matter currently 

being circulated in the 

social media, with the intent 

to misinform and mislead 

the reading public. 

“The said letter which I 

wrote over five years ago 

was written out of despair 

and anger at the time to 

reach Saraki, who was then 

the Governor of Kwara 

State, in order to mediate 

in a misunderstanding 

between my very close 

friend, his father, late Dr. 

Olusola Saraki, his 

daughter, Senator Gbemi 

Saraki on one side, and his 

son, Dr. Bukola Saraki 

himself. 

“The circumstances that 

led to my writing the letter 

had been settled long ago. 

remain in the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

even if he did not get the 

ticket to run as the nation’s 

president in 2019, noting 

that the nation was greater 

than an individual. 

The Omo’ N’ Oba 

however, wished him well 

in his political journey. 

Today, Bukola Saraki is my 

son with whom I enjoy a 

good relationship. It is, 

therefore, surprising that 

the letter written over five 

years ago was altered in the 

said social media 

publication to suit the 

whims and caprices of the 

authors. 

“Let me reinstate that the 

late Dr Olusola Saraki, 

father of the Senate 

President, Dr Bukola 

Saraki, was my very good 

friend and colleague, in the 

Senate of the Second 

Republic, where he was 

Senate leader. Thereafter, 

both of us were leaders of 

our respective geopolitical 

zones. While he was leader 

of the Northern Union, 

NU, I was leader of the 

South-South Peoples 

Assembly, SSPA."


I’ll restructure Nigeria, address insecurity 

if I'm elected president —Makarfi 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—FORMER 

Governor of Kaduna 

State and 2019 Presidential 

aspirant on the platform of 


PDP, Senator Ahmed 

Makarfi, yesterday, said he 

would restructure Nigeria 

and address the problem of 

insecurity plaguing the 

country if elected President 

in 2019. 

Speaking when he paid a 

consultative visit to PDP 

leadership and possible 

Delta State delegates to the 

National Convention in 

Asaba, Delta State, Makarfi 

said he would create an 

enabling environment for the 

country’s economy to thrive, 

adding that his 

administration would pay 

priority attention to 

education, tackle 

unemployment and poverty. 

He said his commitment to 

restructuring was not 

political, insisting that “there 

must be a way to restructure 

the country and its agencies, 

including Independent 


Commission, INEC, such 

that political parties are 

represented in the 

commission. 

“As governor of Kaduna 

State, I was the architect of 

the first National Conference 

under former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo,” 

regretting that so many vital 

areas, which were classified 

as no go areas, were shut out. 

Saying he was not aspiring 

to the position of president 

because he was once the 

national chairman of the 

caretaker committee, he said: 

“I am not an opportunist, I 

am not coming out to be 

president because you once 

appointed me as national 

chairman of the caretaker 

committee. People may have 

forgotten that I was to 

succeed Obasanjo in 2007." 

Responding, Governor 

We cannot leave APC for outsiders, 

says Edo APC leader 

Nigeria has not experienced true leadership 

since independence —Senatorial aspirant 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR— 

NIGERIANS have 

been marginalised, shortchanged 

and traumatised for 

a long time, that anything the 

leaders proffer as a solution 

to the problems of the 

country, is hardly accepted 

by majority of the population. 

A senatorial aspirant on 

the platform of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, for 

Northern District of Cross 

River State, Mr Godwin 

Nyiam, stated this in Calabar, 

sayingthe county has hardly 

hadtrue leadership since its 

independence. 

He said: “So many people 

have made the Senate a 

Ifeanyi Okowa said Makarfi 

was grounded on issues 

affecting the country, having 

served as governor, senator 

and national chairman of the 

party at a time the PDP was 

in turmoil. 

By Alemma- 

Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY — AS the 

gale of defections and 

threats for more continue to 

trail All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Edo 

State, a chieftain of the party, 

Mr Charles Idahosa, has 

appealed for restraint from 

members threatening to 

leave, saying they should 

stay in the party and resolve 

their differences. 

Briefing newsmen, 

yesterday, in Benin City, 

Idahosa said the party must 

work towards exceeding 

the 46 per cent President 

retiring ground and use the 

platform to advance personal 

interests rather than work for 

the masses and that is why 

2019 election should see the 

emergence of young people 

with fresh brains who know 

they still have a long time to 

serve this county and 

accordingly give their best.” 

He said until Nigerians 

identify leaders who do not 

mean well for the country 

and stop them from 

occupying positions of 

authority, the country will 

not make the needed 

progress. 

“The Senate is a place for 

leaders and those who are 

prepared to salvage this 

Noting that Makarfi was 

able to manage the turbulent 

era of PDP and made it a 

beautiful bride that is now 

being sought after, Okowa 

described Makarfi as a good 

and honest party man, 

Muhamadu Buhari got in 

Edo State in 2015, especially 

now that Oshiomhole is the 

national chairman of the 

party. 

He said: “Nobody should 

start threatening that we 

want to leave because we 

have a lot of work to do 

considering the fact that the 

President of this country, 

Buhari, is doing very well. 

Whether kings are dying or 

queens are mourning, 

Buhari is coming back as 

president of this country 

come 2019. 

"We took this state from the 

clutches of dare-devil 

politicians when we were 

country from the paralysis 

it is suffering today and that 

calls for collective 

responsibility from everyone, 

whether young or old, to vote 

in the right people not those 

whose days are almost over.” 

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018—13 

adding: “We have so many 

good materials in the PDP, 

and the least we can do is to 

ensure a free and fair 

primaries at the national 

convention." 

VISIT: Executive Director, Federation of West Africa Chambers of 

Commerce and Industry, FEWACCI, Aminou Akadiri; Present/Chairman, 

Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jean-Baptiste Satchivi; 

President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. 

Babatunde Ruwase; Programme Specialist, Organisation International 

de la Francophonie, Chekou Oussouman, and Director-General, LCCI, 

Mr. Muda Yusuf, during a courtesy visit of Benin Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry to LCCI, in Lagos. 

in opposition and to God be 

the glory I was the political 

adviser to Oshiomhole for 

eight years, it was not all 

smooth, we fought battles, 

we won two elections in this 

state from the opposition. 

How come now that we are 

in government, people are 

decamping from the ruling 

government to opposition? 

It is a big shame. 

“Our son, Oshiomhole is 

the national chairman, 

what a shame will it be if 

he succeeds in doing all the 

job in 36 states of the 

federation and Edo State is 

in disarray? So, leaving the 

party is not the issue. You 

cannot leave this party for 

anybody because it is not 

their property when we 

voted. 

"Did you see anybody’s 

name on the ballot paper? 

There was no independent 

candidature here. Some 

people come to Edo State 

for politics for different 

reasons, we are home boys. 

All the things we are seeing 

are temporary and not 

enough to destroy the 

party." 

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N-Delta youths urge FG to develop existing seaports 

By Gab Ejuwa 

YOUTHS in Niger 

Delta under the 

aegis of Niger Delta 

Youth Movement, 

NDYM, have called on 

the Federal Government 

to develop and open up 

existing seaports in 

Niger Delta to decongest 

the Lagos ports and 

create economic boom in 

the region. 

In a communique at the 

end of their meeting, 

yesterday in Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State, 

by Mr Joe Jackson, 

National President, 

NDYM urged President 

Wike deserves second 

term —Kwankwaso 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

A PRESIDENTIAL 

aspirant on the 

platform of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Senator Rabiu 

Kwankwaso, has said 

Governor Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State deserves a 

second term on the 

strength of his projects. 

The former Kano State 

governor spoke at 

Government House, Port 

Harcourt, Monday night, 

during a condolence visit 

on Governor Wike over 

the death of the Attorney- 

General of Rivers State, 

Mr Emmanuel Aguma, 

SAN. 

He said: “We pray God 

to give us long life and 

health to see you 

complete a second term so 

that you can revolutionise 

the entire state.” 

K w a n k w a s o 

commended Wike for 

leading the state towards 

a positive direction, 

saying: “After these four 

years, if you have another 

four years, only God 

knows the height the state 

will attain.” 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

expedite action on the 

construction of Aba-Ikot 

Ekpene-Itu-Odukpani 

highway since it had 

already been in the 

budgets of 2017 and 

2018. 

The group called on the 

Niger Delta Development 

On the death of the 

Attorney-General of 

Rivers State, Kwankwaso 

prayed for the repose of 

his soul. 

Kwankwaso, who was 

accompanied by former 

Edo State Governor, Chief 

Lucky Igbinedion; former 

Presidential Economic 

Adviser, Dr Magnus 

Kpakol, and other leaders 

later met with Wike 

behind closed doors. 

In his remarks, Wike 

said the death of the 

Attorney-General of the 

state was a great loss to 

the state and the PDP. 

He said since the late 

attorney-general 

assumed the office, the 

state government had 

never had crisis on legal 

issues. 

The governor expressed 

happiness that Senator 

Kwankwaso was back to 

the PDP, noting that 

Kwankwaso will be 

valuable in the victory of 

PDP in 2019. 

“We are working 

together under one 

umbrella, believing God 

will help us as 2019 

approaches,” he said. 

2019: Let Itsekiri produce 

Delta South senator 

— Akassa 

By Ochuko 

Akuopha 

OLEH —A chieftain 

of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Burutu Local Government 

Area, Delta State, Mr. 

Richard Akassa, has 

urged the political class in 

Delta South senatorial 

district to give room for the 

Itsekiri ethnic nationality 

to produce the next 

senator to represent the 

district in the 2019 general 

election. 

Akassa, in a statement, 

yesterday, said: “Of the 

three ethnic nationalities 

in Delta South, it is only 

Itsekiri that has not 

produced a senator since 

we returned to democratic 

rule in 1999. 

“We need a change in 

the senatorial position. 

The seat belongs to the 

Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko 

ethnic groups and each of 

them wants to benefit from 

the office. Itsekiri should 

be allowed to have it in 

the spirit of fair-play and 

equity.” 

Soliciting support for the 

senatorial ambition of the 

member representing Warri 

North in Delta State House 

of Assembly, Mr. Michael 

Diden, he said: “Diden is a 

detrabalised Deltan who is 

not known to have 

demonstrated a sit-tight 

tendency in any political 

office he has held. 

“He has promised to be 

in the Senate for only one 

tenure and then work to 

ensure that the Isoko takes 

over before it goes back to 

the Ijaw. These are the kind 

of leaders that we need to 

bring peace and stability to 

Delta South.” 

Commission, NDDC, to 

fast-track the 

implementation of the 

water hyacinth project for 

the empowerment of the 

youths and also called on 

the Ministry of Niger 

Delta Affairs to complete 

the East West Road to ease 

transportation problems.

14 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

FG blames fake news for 

National Assembly crisis 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

A Minister 

BUJA—THE 


Information and Culture, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

yesterday said the recent 

crisis in the National 

Assembly was aggravated 

by the circulation of fake 

news, especially in the 

social media. 

The Minister stated this 

in Abuja when he paid a 

courtesy visit to the 

headquarters of Blueprint 

Newspapers, in 

furtherance of Federal 

Government’s campaign 

against fake news, which 

was launched 11 July 2018. 

He said: “When we 

launched the campaign, 

we did not envisage the 

kind of event that 

occurred at the National 

Assembly last week, 

specifically Aug. 7, less 

than one month after the 

launch. That event, 

during which the National 

Assembly was barricaded, 

is a classic example of how 

fake news can aggravate 

conflicts. In fact, it was 

driven all the way by fake 

news. 

‘’A serving senator led the 

fake news onslaught, 

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

claiming that only APC 

members were being 

allowed into the chambers 

as a ploy to impeach the 

Senate President while 

PDP members were barred 

. No APC member was in 

the chambers at the time!.’’ 

Alhaji Mohammed said 

but for the timely 

intervention of the Acting 

President, Prof. Yemi 

Osinbajo, the situation 

could have deteriorated 

and brought great 

opprobrium on the country. 

He noted that in the 

aftermath of the crisis, news 

that N21 billion and 

assorted weapons had been 

found in the residence of 

the sacked Director- 

General of the Department 

of State Service, DSS, 

Lawan Daura, also turned 

out to be fake. 

The Minister said fake 

news remained a clear 

danger to the nation’s unity, 

democracy, and the survival 

of the country, noting that 

“it cannot and must not be 

treated with levity.” 

He urged Nigerians to 

always check the source 

of any news item before 

sharing it, urging the 

media not to share 

whatever they could not 

verify. 

We’ll dismantle your rigging 

machine, PDP tells ruling party 

....Mobilizes its govs for Osun guber poll 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

ADemocratic BUJA—PEOPLES 

Party, 

PDP, yesterday told the All 


APC, that it would, 

henceforth, resist every 

effort aimed at 

compromising fairness 

and credibility in future 

elections, beginning with 

the Osun governorship 

election in September. 

The party said it had 

become manifest to 

Nigerians and all parties 

that the APC was only 

interested in rigging 

elections brazenly, noting 

that it would contend with 

the ruling party in the 

forthcoming elections 

The PDP also noted that 

it had thoroughly reviewed 

all infractions, barefaced 

suppression, and the use of 

security forces and 

compromised electoral 

officers to rig elections 

against it since the 

assumption of office of 


Buhari. 

It vowed never again to 

allow the APC, acting in 

sync with the federal 

government, to continue 

to use foul means to 

usurp power as it had 

done in the past. 

A statement issued by 

the party’s spokesman, 

Kola Ologbondiyan, 

yesterday read: “The PDP 

has particularly reviewed 

the rigging of Edo state 

governorship election in 

2016, the blatant rigging 

of the July 14, 2018, Ekiti 

state governorship 

election and the last 

Saturday’s federal 

constituency byeelections 

in Bauchi, 

Katsina and Kogi states. 

“The review shows that 

the PDP won in all the 

elections but was viciously 

manipulated out by the 

APC- controlled federal 

government through the 

instrumentality of violence 

against PDP agents and 

supporters, vote buying, 

use of thugs, ballot 

snatching, harassment, 

arrests and maiming of 

PDP supporters in 

addition to use of 

compromised electoral 

officers to cancel votes 

belonging to the PDP, alter 

results from polling centres 

and then return APC 

candidates as winners.'' 

Meanwhile, the party has 

directed governors elected 

on its platform, officials at 

state and zonal chapters, 

national and state assembly 

members and all other 

elected leaders at all levels 

to prepare to go to Osun 

State to monitor the conduct 

of the governorship 

election slated for 

September 22, 2018. 

FIRS seals off TCN over tax default 

•Union demands MD’s sack over alleged anti-labour practices, others 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young, Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & 

Deborah Omojuwa 

AInland 

BUJA—FEDERAL 

Revenue 

Services, FIRS, has sealed 

off of the corporate 

headquarters of 

Transmission Company of 

Nigeria, TCN, over 

unremitted taxes. 

Though details of the 

tax liability were still 

sketchy during press 

time, it was gathered 

that the workers were 

locked out of the 

premises of TCN situated 

at Maitama area of the 

WORKSHOP: From left; Internal Communications Manager, Nigerian Bottling 

Company Limited (NBC), Mrs. Onajite Olusakin; Country CSR Manager, NBC, Mr. 

Ekuma Eze; Deputy Governor, Kaduna State, Arch. Barnabas Bala Bantex; Public 

Affairs and Communications Manager (North/Abuja), NBC, Mr. Aminu Mohammed 

and Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Culture, Kaduna State, Hon. Daniel Dan'aute 

during the Coca-Cola Hellenic Youth Empowerment workshop in Kaduna. 

CAN goes spiritual, declares 3 days of 

prayers for Nigeria 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA—A week 

after masked 

personnel of the 

Department of State 

Security, DSS, laid siege 

to the National Assembly 

complex, the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, has declared three 

days of prayers for the 

protection of Nigeria’s 

democracy. 

CAN said its call for the 

spiritual exercise to be 

Why we established Admiralty University — NIGERIAN NAVY 

By Joseph Erunke 

A Nigerian BUJA—THE 

Navy, 

yesterday, said it set up 

Admiralty University of 

Nigeria, ADUN, to reduce 

the high rate of foreign 

trainings for its personnel 

and also those of its sister 

services. 

The Navy also explained 

that the establishment of the 

institution was aimed at 

reducing the pressure the 

development was exerting 

Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT, Abuja. 

However an official of 

FIRS told Vanguard that 

the organization was doing 

its normal tax 

administration work. 

According to him, “the 

TCN has agreed on a 

payment plan for agreed 

outstanding, while the 

balance is to be reconciled.” 

Reacting to the 

development, National 

Union of Electricity 

Employees, NUEE, 

through its General 

Secretary, Joe Ajaero, called 

for the immediate 

resolution of the issue 

because of the sensitive 

nature of TUC to power 

observed in all churches in 

Nigeria is imperative to 

seek divine help in efforts 

towards salvaging the 

country from its present 

predicament. 

A statement by its Acting 

General Secretary, Pastor 

Daramola Bade, yesterday 

directed all bloc 

Chairmen, Zonal 

Chairmen, States’ 

Chairmen, local and all 

church leaders to mobilize 

members of the umbrella 

christian body for the three 

days of prayer from 

August 27 to 29, 2018. 

available forex. 

The Chief of Naval Staff, 

Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, 

who made the explanation 

at a briefing held at the 

Naval Headquarters, 

Abuja, to herald the take-off 

of the university, said the 

Nigerian Navy-owned 

institution “will seek to 

spearhead the application of 

knowledge to solve real 

challenges of our time.” 

Speaking through the 

Chief of Policy and Plans, 

Naval Headquarters, Rear 

supply in the country. 

In a statement, NUEE 

said it expected TCN not to 

have defaulted in its lawful 

responsibility in the 

remittance of tax in any 

form, declaring among 

others that due to ''the 

sensitivity of power sector 

to the socio-economic 

development of this nation 

and the critical role TCN 

plays in this regard. 

''It beats our imagination 

that a flawless process was 

not followed to advert this 

development regrettably, 

TCN and FIRS are 

agencies of the same federal 

government. The negative 

impact of the seal off is 

highly unimaginable and 

The statement reads: 

“Following the recent 

political drama unfolding 

in our nation that is 

becoming really 

embarrassing and 

constituting big threats to 

our nascent democracy, 

the leadership of the 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria (CAN) has called 

for three-day prayers to be 

observed in all churches in 

Nigeria for Divine 

Protection for our nation and 

democracy and to seek the 

face of God concerning the 

social and political state of 

our nation and for peaceful 

conduct of 2019 election.'' 

Adm. Henry Babalola, Ete- 

Ibas said the varsity, which 

takes off in October 2018, 

would start academic 

activities with degree 

programmes in three 

faculties. 

He said the university 

was “conceived to expand 

the frontiers of knowledge 

for the growth and 

development of humanity, 

meet the training needs of 

the Nigerian Navy along 

with those of their sister 

services with reduced travel 

speaks volumes to be ignored 

by the supervising 

ministries. It is therefore our 

hope that government will 

wade in and arrest this 

unholy development. 

''Consequently, 

Government and the public 

should please take note of 

the seeming blackout that 

looms since our members 

are prevented from carrying 

out their lawful duties in the 

service of providing power 

to the country. 

''While this impasse lasts, 

our members are directed to 

stay in their respective 

homes since they have been 

locked out by an agency of 

government. We may be 

compelled to use all legal 

means available to us to 

drive home our point, if the 

situation is not urgently 

arrested.'' 

Meanwhile, members of 

Senior Staff Association of 

Electricity and Allied 

Companies, SSAEAC, 

have threatened to shut 

down TCN over alleged 

unfair practices. 

The group is demanding 

the sack of the Managing 

Director of TCN, Usman 

Mohammed oveunfair 

labour practices, among 

others, threatening to 

paralyse the power supply 

in the country if the MD 

was not relieved of his 

position. 

The protesting workers 

and members of SSAEAC 

who protested yesterday 

displayed several 

placards of different 

inscriptions accusing the 

MD of flouting most 

administrative 

procedures. 

Speaking, General 

Secretary of SSAEAC, 

Umar Abubakar, accused 

the TCN MD of singlehandedly 

conducting 

promotion examinations for 

staff without recourse to 

input from other 

management staff. 

SSAEAC said: “To prove 

his incompetence, FIRS has 

sealed off our office over tax 

default, how can a 

responsible MD claim to be 

in charge and this is 

happening.” 

Some of the placards had 

inscriptions like, “we say no 

to tax fraud, “sack UG 

Mohammed now to 

guarantee hope for power 

sector, “no to nepotism”, 

abroad for training and the 

pressure it imposed on 

foreign exchange. 

“Admission of students 

into the inaugural class is 

already ongoing and the 

university opens in October 

2018,with degree programs 

in three faculties-Arts and 

Social Sciences, 

Management Sciences and 

Science, offering degree 

programs in emerging 

fields such as Forensic 

Science, Cyber Security and 

Software Engineering.''


Igbo leaders demand new constitution 

before 2019 elections 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—IGBO 

Leaders of Thought, 

ILT, has demanded for a 

fresh Nigeria constitution 

that would be adopted for 

operation before the 

February 2019 general 

elections. 

The leaders said the new 

constitution before election 

became paramount since 

every election conducted in 

Nigeria was faulty and 

disputed due to the many 

irregularities associated 

with the military-drafted 

constitution. 

In a communique made 

available in Enugu, 

yesterday, ILT leader, Prof. 

Ben Nwabueze said there 

was a general rejection of 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

OWERRI—AN Imo 

State High Court 

presided over by Justice 

Benjamin C. Iheka, 

yesterday ordered 

substituted service on 

members of the panel that 

allegedly probed the “gross 

misconduct” levelled 

against the Deputy 

Governor, Prince Eze 

Madumere. 

Arguing the ex-parte 

matter, Madumere’s 

counsel, Prince Ken C. O. 

Njemanze, SAN, told the 

Court that five of the sevenman 

panel, set up by the 

state Chief Judge, Justice 

Paschal Nnadi, to probe the 

alleged gross misconduct 

levelled against his client 

have remained elusive. 

“My Lord, the third and 

fourth defendants (Nze 

Saba Nze and Charles 

Okoro) respectively, are 

lawyers. We know their 

Chambers and they have 

been properly served”, 

Njemanze said. 

While informing the 

the 1999 constitution 

because it was drawn by 

people who were not 

acceptable to the people. 

Nwabueze said at the 

July 27, 2018 meeting of 

ILT, the group expressed 

disappointment that the 

issue of national question 

to which it has called 

attention for years since the 

Goodluck Jonathan 

administration has not been 

attended to. 

“The Igbo Leaders of 

Thought, ILT, calls for 

immediate setting up of a 

Constituent Assembly to 

prepare a new constitution 

before 2019 elections,” 

Nwabueze said in the 

communique he signed. 

The group also spoke on 

the fight against corruption 

which it noted was a major 

programme of the 


Buhari’s government, 

regretting however, that 

evidence available indicates 

selective prosecution of 

political opponents. 

Nwabueze said, “The 

Igbo Leaders of Thought 

feels that the solution to 

corruption is to resolve 

political corruption which 

includes nepotism, 

appointment on basis of 

religious faith, protection of 

loyalists who are known to 

be mainfestly corrupt and 

expenditure of public funds 

without budgeting. ILT 

strongly condemns the 

government's selective 

approach to the fight 

against corruption.” 

On impunity and abuse 

of power, the group said it 

views with dismay, the use 

of instruments of the state 

to pursue ethno-religous 

and political goals. 

“The police, the EFCC, 

etc, appear to be serving as 

political thugs. This is 

unacceptable and 

government should call 

these agencies to order. 

This disobedience to the 

ruling of courts which the 

Attorney General and 

Minister for Justice seems 

to expose is not acceptable 

in a democracy,” it 

lampooned. 

The group also called for 

de-proscription of the 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, noting that 

organisations such as 

herdsmen that carry arms 

unlike IPOB have not 

been proscribed. 

VISIT: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, 

Engr. Simbi Wabote (middle) sounding the closing gong at the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE. 

With him are: Director of Finance and Personnel Management, NCDMB, Isaac Yalah (left); 

Executive Director, Regulations, NSE, Tinuade Awe (second left); Coordinator, Legal Services, 

NCDMB, Rose Chukwuonwe (second right) and General Manager Strategy, NCDMB, Engr. 

Abayomi Bamidele (right), during NCDMB’s official visit to the NSE in Lagos, yesterday 

Impeachment: Court orders substituted 

service dated and filed on 

service on panelists August 13, 2018, the 

Court that the plaintiff does 

not know the other 

members of the panel, 

Madumere’s counsel also 

disclosed that it became 

very expedient for his client 

to serve them through the 

Chief Judge, who 

appointed them. 

“My Lord, we reasoned 

that since the Chief Judge 

appointed them, he would 

also know their addresses. 

However, all the court 

processes we dropped in 

Chief Judge’s Chamber, 

were returned. 

"In view of the urgency of 

the matter before the court 

and the need to actually 

effect proper service of the 

processes on the other 

members of the panel 

before August 20, 2018, 

the next adjourned date, we 

urge the Court to order for 

substituted service on the 

five panelists that are yet to 

be served,” Njemanze 

said. 

Handing down the order 

yesterday, Justice Iheka 

said he has carefully read 

through the Motion 

Exparte for substituted 

supporting affidavit 

deposed thereto and the 

written address of counsel. 

“And after hearing Ken 

Njemanze, SAN, with N 

Chijioke Esq of counsel to 

the Plaintiff/Applicant, 

leave is granted to the 

Applicant as Plaintiff in this 

suit number HOW/565/ 

2018, to effect service of the 

Motion on Notice dated 

July 31, 2018, and filed on 

August 1, 2018, on the 4th, 

5th, 6th, 7th and 8th 

defendants in this suit, by 

substituted means,” Justice 

Iheka said. 

He also ordered the 

publication of same in three 

newspapers with wide 

circulation in Imo State and 

Nigeria. 

“This service as herein 

ordered, when duly 

complied with, shall be 

deemed good, proper and 

effective service in this 

proceedings,” Justice Iheka 

said. 


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IPOB calls for panel to 

investigate killing of 38 

pro-Biafra agitators 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

ABA—THE Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, 

has called for an 

international panel of 

enquiry to investigate the 

killings of 38 pro-Biafra 

agitators by the Federal 

Government. 

IPOB said the call came 

on the heels of its discovery 

of 38 dead bodies of slain 

Biafrans at Obiawom 

village, Ogwe Autonomous 

Community, in Asa, Ukwa 

West Local Government 

Area of Abia State. 

In a statement signed by 

the media and publicity 

secretary of the group, 

Comrade Emma Powerful, 

IPOB explained that the 

killings were the outcome 

of the Operation Python 

Dance carried out by the 

Nigerian Army in the South 

East zone. 

The group further called 

for the prosecution of those 

who participated in its 

instigation and execution of 

the Operation Python 

Dance such as Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, South East 

governors as well as select 

Igbo elders and politicians. 

“If anything, this cold 

blooded execution and 

unceremonious dumping of 

dead bodies in the forest by 

soldiers at Obiawom village 

in Ukwa West under the 

control of Abia State 

governor, Okezie Ikpeazu 

is ample justification for the 

recent decision of IPOB to 

disengage from any further 

talks with Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo and South East 

governors until all issues 

surrounding the genocidal 

Operation Python Dance is 

cleared up. 

“Had these number of 

murder victims been 

discovered in any Muslim 

country, region or part of the 

world, the International 

Criminal Court, ICC, 

United Nations, Britain, 

USA and the world media 

will be up in arms 

demanding explanation 

and holding the 

perpetrators accountable. 

But because these events 

are happening to Biafrans 

in Nigeria; where a 

government, along with 

her security operatives are 

aiding and protecting 

herdsmen and their 

kinsmen in the army from 

the consequences of the 

worst form of ethnically 

motivated genocide 

currently in Africa, the 

world remains deaf to the 

cries of IPOB." 

I'll tackle insecurity if elected 

president—Makarfi 

By Eric Ugbor 

U MUAHIA— 

FORMER 

national caretaker chairman 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP), Senator 

Ahmed Makarfi has said 

he will bring an end to the 

growing insecurity 

currently ravaging many 

parts of the country if 

elected president in 2019. 

Senator Makarfi stated 

this in Umuahia while 

addressing the executive of 


Party and statutory 

delegates on his 

presidential ambition. He 

assured that there will be 

peace in the land if he 

becomes the president of 

Woman cheats death, as fire guts 

her home in Anambra 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA—A middle-aged 

woman on Monday 

night sustained severe 

burns following kerosene 

explosion that engulfed her 

apartment at Awada-Obosi 

in Idemili North local 

government area of 

Anambra State. 

The explosion completely 

razed down an eight room 

service quarters of the 

apartment, located at No. 7 

Dike Ezeagu street in 

Ugwuagba area of Awada. 

It was gathered that the 

victim, Mrs. Gift Oroke, 

was preparing dinner at 

about 10pm, when her 

stove exploded because of 

alleged adulterated 

kerosene. 

The State Police Public 

Relations Officer, PPRO, 

Mr. Haruna Mohammed, 

who confirmed the incident, 

said the victim was taken 

to St. Martins Hospital, 

Ugwuagba Obosi for 

medical attention. 

“The scene was visited by 

Police detectives attached to 

Awada Division and the 

victim was taken to St. 

Martins Hospital. Sample 

of the kerosene was 

obtained for analysis and 

the case is under 

investigation to ascertain 

circumstances surrounding 

the incident,” the PPRO 

said. 

He advised members of 

the public to always take 

necessary precautions 

when using kerosene and 

other combustible 

substances in order to 

prevent such ugly 

incidents. 

the country come 2019, 

adding that Nigerians 

would be better off if he 

emerges as president 

because of his wealth of 

experience in governance. 

“But like I had earlier 

said, if nominated by the 

party and elected by 

Nigerians, my priorities 

would be the issue of 

insecurity and stopping the 

killings in the country. 

“ I will address the issue 

of national unity and 

promotion of what binds us 

together, the issue of 

unemployment and job 

creation as well as 

redistribution of wealth,” he 

said. 

Speaking further, 

Makarfi said: “When you 

say you have raised our 

Gross Domestic Product , 

GDP, by seven per cent, yes, 

it is possible but who 

benefited from the increase? 

That is the question! 

“So, when you create 

wealth, it is only 

meaningful when it is 

legitimately and evenly 

distributed. You distribute 

wealth by creating 

employment, good paying 

jobs, not temporary jobs that 

people are paid peanuts 

and you begin to wonder 

whether the money being 

paid is transport money or 

a living wage.”



FG, others shared N1.490 trn FAAC funds in 

2 months 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

ABUJA—THE National 

Bureau of Statistics, 

NBS, has said the three tiers 

of government shared a 

total of N1,490,760,000 for 

June and July, 2018. 

The Bureau indicated this 

in its report released on 

Tuesday on the Federation 

Account Allocation 

Committee, FAAC, for June 

and July 2018 

disbursement. 

The report shows that 

the FAAC disbursed the 

sum of N668.90bn to the 

three tiers of government in 

June 2018 from the revenue 

generated in May 2018. 

The amount disbursed 

comprised of N575.48bn 

from the Statutory Account 

and N93.42bn from Valued 

Added Tax, VAT. 

Of the total sum, the 

Federal Government 

received a total of 

N282.22bn from the 

N668.90bn; states received 

a total of N181.17bn while 

Local Governments 

received N136.49bn. 

The sum of N53.07bn was 

shared among the oil 

producing states as 13% 

derivation fund. 

Revenue generating 

agencies such as Nigeria 

Customs Service (NCS), 

Federal Inland Revenue 

Service (FIRS) and 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources (DPR) received 

N4.63bn, N7.40bn and 

N3.92bn, respectively as 

cost of revenue collections. 

Further breakdown of 

revenue allocation 

distribution to the Federal 

Government of Nigeria 

(FGN) revealed that the 

sum of N240.85bn was 

disbursed to the FGN 

consolidated revenue 

account; N5.10bn shared as 

derivation and ecology; 

N2.55bn as stabilization 

fund; N8.57bn for the 

development of natural 

ITF trains 150,000 Nigerians in skills 

acquisition 

By Victoris Ojeme 

A BUJA—INDUSTRIAL 

Training Fund (ITF) on 

Tuesday said that it has 

almost exceeded 

expectation by training over 

150,000 Nigerians in skills 

acquisition. 

Director General/Chief 

Executive of the ITF, Sir. 

Joseph Ari made this 

known at a world press 

conference held in Abuja. 

It would be recalled that 

ITF in conjunction with the 

resources; and N5.96bn to 

the Federal Capital Territory 

(FCT) Abuja. 

For the month of July, the 

NBS indicates that FAAC 

disbursed the sum of 

N821.86bn to the three tiers 

of government in July 2018 

from the revenue generated 

in June 2018. 

The amount disbursed 

comprised of N687.35bn 

from the Statutory Account, 

N85.34bn from Valued 

Added Tax (VAT) and 

N7.32bn excess bank 

charges. 

Federal Government 

received a total of 

N315.01bn from the 

N821.86bn, states on their 

part received a total of 

United Nations Industrial 

Development Organization 

(UNIDO), conducted a 

National Skills Gap 

Assessment in six priority 

sectors of the Nigerian 

Economy namely: Agrio 

business and agro-allied, 

metal & solid minerals, oil 

and gas related industry, 

construction, light 

manufacturing and 

services industry. 

Ari noted that several 

disturbing facts emerged in 

the survey, the report of 

which was presented to 

N194.51bn and Local 

governments received 

N147.05bn. 

The sum of N42.85bn was 

shared among the oil 

producing states as 13% 

derivation fund, while 

N100.00bn was transferred 

to Excess crude 

Account(ECA). 

Also in the month, 

revenue generating 

agencies such as Nigeria 

Customs Service (NCS), 


Service (FIRS) and 


Resources (DPR) received 

N4.82bn, N12.21bn and 

N5.42bn respectively, as 

cost of revenue collections. 

stakeholders in Abuja in 

April this year. 

He said the report 

indicated that despite 

spiraling unemployment, 

925 trades were either 

difficult or hard to fill in the 

country’s labour market. 

He said: “The breakdown 

showed that 19.7% 

vacancies were in the 

housing sector, 13.9% in 

petro-chemical sector, 14.7% in 

other goods, 11.4% in the auto 

industry, 10.3% in textiles, 10.1% 

in steel, 8.9% in the services sector 

and 3.3% in the leather industry." 

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Odili turns Ornament of 

Rivers at 70 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT— 

FORMER governor 

Peter Odili, yesterday, 

earned a new accolade as 

‘Ornament of Rivers State’ 

as he clocks 70 today. 

Former Attorney General 

of the Federation, Chief 

Kanu Agabi, SAN, 

decorated Odili with the 

new title at a public lecture 

organised by Governor 

Nyesom Wike’s 

administration, in Port 

Harcourt, to kickstart 

celebration of Odili’s 

birthday. 

Wike, his wife, Justice 

Eberechi e Nyesom-Wike, 

Rivers State Executive 

Council, state judiciary and 

legislature were among 

dignitaries who celebrated 

Odili on the occasion. 

Also at the occasion were 

former Kano State 

governor, Senator Rabiu 

Kwankwaso, former Edo 

State governor, Lucky 

Igbinedion, former Kogi 

State governor, Idris Wada, 

former Rivers State 

governor, Sir Celestine 

Omehia, former President 

Court of Appeal, Justice 

Umaru (retd) and former 

Akwa Ibom Military 

Governor, Col Bako (retd). 

joined by mormer Others 

are Ministers, serving 

senators, National 

Assembly members, 

traditional rulers, 

professionals and 

renowned jurists who 

showered glowing tributes 

to the former governor. 

In the lecture titled, “Sir 

Dr Peter Odili: Defender of 

the Faith, Defender of the 

Fatherland,” Agabi 

described Odili as an 

outstanding humanist, 

courageous and committed 

to growth of Nigeria. 

“Formerly, he belonged to 

Rivers State. He has ceased 

to be the property of Rivers 

State. He is now the 

property of Nigeria and the 

world. Whatever he has 

done is for the benefit of 

mankind. Whatever he has 

refrained from doing, it is 

in the interest of society,” 

he noted. 

In a eulogy, Publicity 

Secretary of Afenifere, Mr 

Yinka Odumakin said at 

70, Dr Odili and other men 

of goodwill should stand 

and work for revival of the 

country. 

Chairman of the occasion, 

Justice Abdulahi said Odili 

has created a place for 

himself in the history of 

Nigeria.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 —17 

VIRTUALLY every govern 

ment in Nigeria was 

overrun or infiltrated at one 

point or the other by saboteurs: 

Goodluck Jonathan himself famously 

claimed his administration 

had been infiltrated by 

Boko Haram sponsors and 

sympathisers. Government appointees 

in Nigeria live large 

and act out a script, sometimes 

even without the knowledge 

or endorsement of their principal. 

They do the bidding of 

other unseen actors and one 

often wonders about the process 

which enables or allows 

so many strange characters to 

occupy positions of responsibility. 

How are leaders or appointees 

really recruited by political 

parties and doesn’t the security 

clearance or vetting process 

give insight into who 

people really are? Very often, 

nominees simply “take a bow” 

and aren’t quizzed by lawmakers 

prior to their confirmation: 

this process ensures the political 

class protects itself from 

interrogation and those who 

should be asking government 

nominees tough questions on 

behalf of the people they represent 

refuse to do so realising 

there are fingers pointing 

back at them. 

Therefore, many nefarious 

characters get into government 

and Nigerians defend 

their activities, no matter how 

dangerous. Nigeria’s corruption 

machinery is so well oiled 

that most citizens mistake what 

happens in our country for the 

norm. Everyone’s for sale and 

dissenting voices can be silenced 

through the strength of 

a credit alert. 

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo 

recently sacked the DG 

DSS Lawal Daura following 

the DSS’ illegal siege of the 

National Assembly. Those 

whose memories haven’t been 

Olisah Metuh 

Social media users furi 

ously responded to pictures 

of the PDP’s former Publicity 

Secretary looking “hale 

and hearty” at the Deputy Senate 

President, Ike Ekweremadu’s 

residence. His trial 

was infamously stalled by his 

alleged ill-health (scientists 

must study this very interesting 

propensity to fall ill once 

one is tried for corruption in 

Nigeria). Justice Abang, the 

judge on this particular case 

also reportedly wondered 

about Mr. Metuh’s rather 

‘convenient’ illness. The Deputy 

Senate President whom the 

EFCC alleges owns several 

properties has also been asked 

to explain how he came about 

the money necessary for their 

purchase. He fell ill soon after; 

hopefully he hasn’t caught 

Mr. Metuh’s spinal cord injury; 

who knows how these 

things are passed on. 

Theatrics in the National Assembly: 

Who is guilty of sabotage? 

*DSS invasion of National Assembly 

truncated by a desire to erase 

or forgive all misdemeanors 

based on partisanship and 

strange loyalties to everyone 

other than their country, will 

remember the assault on the 

National Assembly which reportedly 

began during former 

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 

tenure, during which governors 

were allegedly impeached 

and state houses of 

assembly “induced” using various 

means all with support 

from very high up. So, the 

Acting President’s statement 

not just distancing government 

from the DSS’ actions but condemning 

them in earnest is a 

relief. It is also a disappointment 

for those who wanted to 

convince Nigerians that President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

and his vice are cut from the 

same cloth as they are. Swift 

punishment for lawlessness 

and sabotage is the only way 

to restore public confidence in 

government and to deal a 

blow to those whose stock in 

trade is to destroy everything 

from the inside. 

The truth is, Nigerians themselves 

are oftentimes unknowingly 

guilty of sabotage. We 

have allowed so much to happen 

to our country in the name 

of accepting or defending our 

“favourite” politicians’ right to 

defraud us. Every illegality we 

have supported will consume 

us in the end unless we find 

the moral courage not to view 

life through the reductive 

prism of ethno-religious bigotry 

or sentiment and begin to 

analyse the issues based on 

fact and attempt to decipher for 

ourselves what is real and 

what is fake. 

I have often said in this column 

that a lack of education 

and critical thinking in Nigeria 

has played in favour of 

politicians who know how to 

manipulate Nigerians and 

gain their support using flim- 

sy arguments and flawed reasoning. 

Most of us in this 

country have Stockholm syndrome: 

we love our abductors 

and don’t even realise it. Although 

the attack on NASS is 

condemnable, it is interesting 

how quickly #SaveOurDemocracy 

trended. In a normal society, 

NASS should be the symbol 

of our democracy. But we 

must ask ourselves how often 

NASS, as presently constituted, 

has acted in defense of 

Nigerians. 

Politicians in Nigeria are 

quick to engineer situations 

where they appear to be victims 

and it is even easier to 

do so using social media. For 

Russia’s interference in the US 

elections and, much closer 

home, the Cambridge Analytica 

scandal which showed 

huge amounts, flouting our 

campaign finance laws, were 

allegedly spent by the Goodluck 

Jonathan campaign to 

influence perception of key 

all its gifts and benefits, we 

must also recognise the dangers 

of social media which 

even the Western world is 

slowly waking up to, given 

Senator Godswill Akpabio 

THE former governor of 

Akwa Ibom State surprised 

many Nigerians by defecting 

from the PDP and joining 

the APC. Honourably, he 

also resigned from his position 

as Senate Minority Leader. 

While the reasons for his defection 

are still sketchy, he at 

least had the moral courage to 

resign, acknowledging the 

fact that the position he occupied 

belonged to his former 

party. The apologists of bad 

behaviour will come up with 

some spin as to why this 

shouldn’t apply to the Senate 

President. Defections are unusual 

in modern, mature democracies 

where party politics 

is based on ideology rather 

than personal relationships; 

but baby steps in the right direction, 

for the sake of honesty, 

shouldn’t be ignored. A 

younger or newer generation 

of politicians must at some 

NASS should be 

the symbol of our 

democracy; but we 

must ask ourselves 

how often NASS, as 

presently constituted, 

has acted in 

defense of 

Nigerians 

point have the courage to reform 

party politics and to review 

party membership based 

on ideas rather than regional 

or electoral calculations. 

members of the APC and paint 

them in a bad light. 

In Nigeria, yesterday’s villains 

become today’s heroes 

and we love nothing more, it 

seems, than to watch them escape 

prosecution or use our 

gullibility to manipulate situations 

to their benefit; ironically, 

only assaults on the “freedoms” 

of politicians are taken 

seriously, no one is moved by 

violence when it affects ordinary 

Nigerians. Those who 

pretend to be offended because 

our “political favourites” 

are being “mistreated” (meaning 

investigated) but saw 

nothing wrong with the decade 

long weaponisation of 

poverty and religion which led 

to the violent crises brewing 

today across the nation, are 

the real enemies of democracy 

because democracy to them 

isn’t about equality in front of 

the law, nor is it about social 

justice, it is merely another 

system of operation whose 

rules can be broken and rewritten 

endlessly. From Generals 

to “royal fathers”, to legislators, 

the list of those angry 

at Buhari is often comprised 

of those who simply aren’t 

getting their way. 

If one reads between the 

lines, one sees a system which 

captures state resources, funds 

violence, chaos and instability 

and feeds Nigerians the 

deluded view that poverty is 

the natural order of things 

despite this country’s abundant 

resources. The amusing 

#NeverBelieveOBJ call on 

social media is proof Nigerians 

are slowly awakening from 

their slumber: Nigeria is no 

one’s property, so no one’s 

voice or beliefs are to be accepted 

unquestioningly. People 

are beginning to see 

through the empty realignments 

and defections which 

are not done in the interests 

of Nigerians. 

Interestingly, President Buhari’s 

attempts at being a democrat 

by refusing to throw his 

weight behind a particular 

candidate for Senate President, 

has cost him dearly, as 

NASS might as well have been 

led by a member of the opposition. 

Every time the President 

tried to follow the rules, 

he was punished for doing so 

because those who are resisting 

the fight against corruption 

and government reform 

(for obvious reasons) have no 

such qualms. No one can reform 

Nigeria without Nigerians. 

There is as of yet no real 

movement emanating from 

Nigerians themselves (I don’t 

mean dubious political support 

groups which exist to extort 

money from politicians) to 

push for real progress. Without 

true grassroot mobilisation 

in favour of change through 

specific action points, politicians 

will fight each other to 

protect their personal 

interests(to our detriment), 

confident in the knowledge 

that Nigerians never react. 

Tabia Princewill is a 

strategic communications 

consultant and public policy 

analyst. She is also the co-host 

and executive producer of a 

talk show, WALK THE TALK 

which airs on Channels TV.


ONE of the areas in which Nigeria’s 

rich potentials has been welldocumented 

is the mining sector. In 

the 1960s, mining contributed up to 

50 per cent to the nation’s economy. 

But due to the advent of oil, Nigeria 

lost interest in mining. Solid minerals 

contributed about 0.3 per cent to our 

GDP in 2015 as opposed to the 

Democratic Republic of Congo and 

Botswana (40 per cent). 

Because of the low technical capacity 

in the sector, the Federal Ministry of 

Mines and Steel Development, 

MMSD, estimates that Nigeria lost up 

to $9 billion to illegal mining between 

2015 and 2016. It is not just the loss 

of revenue that makes unregulated 

artisan mining a danger to the nation. 

The miners who are usually poor rural 

dwellers use crude implements and 

antiquated methods to extract 

precious stones such as gold, silver, 

lead, sapphire, gypsum, emerald, 

Handling Nigeria’s two million artisan miners 

granites and others to feed their 

families. 

But in so doing, they devastate the 

environment, create gullies, 

exacerbate flooding, cause massive 

deforestation and often become victims 

of lead, mercury or other sources of 

poisoning linked to these metals. 

Over the years, the Federal 

Government has tended to react to the 

activities of the artisan miners with its 

usual knee-jerk approach by trying to 

use force. Raids were conducted on 

minefields and those arrested were 

promptly clamped into detention with 

very little done thereafter. In recent 

years, however, it has dawned on the 

authorities that criminalising artisan 

mining is not the smart thing to do. 

According to the Minister of State for 

Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji 

Abubakar Bwari, government has 

shifted more emphasis to regulating 

the activities of artisan miners. They are 

now encouraged to form cooperatives 

and members of such registered 

bodies are trained to approach artisan 

mining through approved methods to 

reduce risks to the miners, the 

communities where they operate and 

the environment. It will also help in 

policing the mines and increase 

revenue to government coffers. 

We commend this new approach 

because it does not make sense to 

declare two million artisan miners as 

“criminals”. They are part of the 

community and can play their 

legitimate roles in the economy if 

properly guided and assisted. Even 

when big players finally return to the 

Nigerian mining sector, small players 

will still have roles to play to ensure 

that the industry works for all. 

We hope that the Ministry of Mines 

and Steel Development will activate 

the Mining Roadmap adopted in 

September 2016 which envisages that 

the mining sector will be able to 

directly and indirectly contribute not 

less than $27 billion to the economy 

which will represent three per cent 

GDP by that date. 

Mining and agriculture are the 

future of the nation’s extractive 

industry after oil. We must get serious 

with them. 

By Adewale Kupoluyi 

ANYTIME I get to read about how our 

politicians engage in carpet-crossing 

from one party to another, I feel greatly troubled 

and unhappy for two reasons. First, it shows 

the level of indiscipline in the polity. Secondly, 

it gives one the impression that our journey to 

the enthronement of good governance and 

sustainable development is becoming a 

mirage. Perhaps, more than ever before in the 

annals of the country, the last few weeks have 

witnessed a litany of defections from one party 

to another that makes it difficult for one to sit 

down and adduce any sound justification for 

such actions. 

Ordinarily, it is allowed for people to 

associate freely with others with whom they 

share similar views. This does not only foster 

collaboration and better interaction, it could 

also facilitate synergy of ideas and initiatives 

that would bring about economic and sociopolitical 

transformation. In this sense, people 

of like minds come together to leverage on 

their strengths, capacities and capabilities to 

do extraordinary and outstanding things that 

would normally not have been possible. That 

is on the positive side. However, what we have 

seen so far in the Nigerian political landscape 

are betrayals, dishonesty, inconsistency, 

disregard for ethics, morals and good 

conscience. 

In the course of this discourse, I would try, as 

much as possible not to mention names of 

persons. No political party is spared from this 

practice. The logical conclusion derivable 

from the trend is that, most politicians in 

Nigeria are simply the same! In this part of the 

world, ideology, philosophy and integrity 

appear to be completely absent in the political 

lexicon of our politicians. What seems to be 

paramount and the driving force behind their 

scheming and permutations are their personal 

interest and what they stand to gain from 

politics and not the desire to serve the nation, 

or to strengthen democratic rule. 

Under the present democratic experience, 

prominent politicians have carpet- crossed on 

the excuse of imposition of candidates, absence 

OPINION 

On the gale of defections 

of free and fair primaries, lack of internal 

democracy and money-politicking. To justify 

their exit, the defectors had always created an 

impression of cracks in the party since the 

constitution, to a large extent, permits 

legislators to defect from any crisis-ridden party. 

As of now, there seems to be no end in sight to 

defections because the existing laws that 

prohibit defections are too weak and 

encourage impunity. 

Section 68 (1) of the 1999 Nigerian 

Constitution (as amended) stipulates that, a 

There is a lacuna in the 

existing law because it does 

not specify clearly that elected 

officials should vacate their 

positions when they defect to 

other parties 

member of the Senate or the House of 

Representatives shall vacate his seat in the 

House of which he is a member, if being a 

person, whose election into the House was 

sponsored by a political party, he becomes a 

member of another political party before the 

expiration of the period for which that House 

was elected; provided that his membership of 

the latter political party is not as a result of a 

division in the political party of which he was 

previously a member, or of a merger of two or 

more political parties or factions by one of 

which he was previously sponsored. 

The ambiguous definition given to ‘division’, 

as the legal basis for defection, has created 

more harm than good. The law only says that 

a legislator must be sponsored by a political 

party, but it is silent on what becomes of him/ 

her, if he/she defects. As it is, there is a lacuna in 

the existing law because it does not specify 

clearly that elected officials should vacate their 

positions when they defect to other parties, 

which did not produce them ab initio. 

Furthermore, the constitution is silent on the 

fate of members of the executive who decamp, 

as we have been seeing. The constitutional 

provisions, as they are presently, are one-sided. 

Following the drastic decline in the 

numerical strength of legislators in the Senate, 

the implication is that the ruling party, All 

Progressives Congress, APC, no longer enjoys 

a comfortable majority in the Upper Chamber. 

This decline may worsen the executiveparliamentary 

relations required for smooth 

governance. The second gale of defections may 

continue at the next plenary of the Senate and 

the House of Representatives, if nothing is 

done urgently, as it is becoming too close to 

party nominations for the general elections. 

For a ruling political party that is already three 

years in power, many defections from its rank 

and file is nothing, but counter-productive. 

Going back memory lane, the first celebrated 

case of carpet-crossing was in 1951, when 

members of the defunct National Council for 

Nigeria and the Cameroons, NCNC, were 

induced to defect to the defunct Action Group, 

AG, to prevent the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, 

from becoming the premier of the old Western 

Region. In that episode, 20 out of the 42 NCNC 

legislators had crossed over to the AG, making 

Azikiwe lose the premiership of the Western 

Region. The Premier of the defunct Western 

Region in the First Republic, the late Chief 

Ladoke Akintola also defected from the AG 

following disagreements with Chief Obafemi 

Awolowo, to form the United People’s Party. 

In the Second Republic, the late Chief Akin 

Omoboriowo, the then Deputy Governor to 

Chief Michael Ajasin of the Unity Party of 

Nigeria, UPN, in the old Ondo State, defected 

to the National Party of Nigeria, NPN. 

Omoboriowo became NPN’s gubernatorial 

candidate in the 1983 general election, whose 

outcome turned the state into deep crisis that 

led to serious political violence because of the 

perceived desperate move by the NPN to win 

the governorship election. To some extent, the 

defections could be said to be on principles. 

No doubt, the central role of political parties 

to democratic governance cannot be overemphasised. 

Parties are veritable platforms for 

mobilisation, political socialisation and 

acculturation. These ideals can be enthroned 

when credible and serious-minded men and 

women come together towards attaining 

national development by ensuring that state 

institutions work, if the nation is seriously 

pursuing a stable political culture that can truly 

mobilise the people to support national causes, 

aspirations and ideals. Hence, it is time we do 

away with moneybags and corrupt politicians 

in place of young, patriotic, purposeful and 

selfless leaders at all levels of governance in 

the country. 

Defection impedes development as defectors 

merely negotiate access to power and state 

resources mainly for parochial purposes. It 

brings forth retrogression and multiplies 

setbacks in a nascent democracy and spurs 

distrust in the minds of voters. Vibrant 

democracy requires active, objective and 

fearless opposition to keep the government in 

power on its toes and constantly under check 

for better performance. The politics of ‘bread 

and butter’, ‘stomach infrastructure’ and 

‘survival of the fittest’, which is seemingly being 

practised in the country, must be jettisoned. 

Politics in the nation, for now, portends 

backwardness and not too good an omen for 

national development. 

A lasting solution is a combination of many 

efforts. First is through constitutional 

amendment that could make all defectors to 

lose their seats, executive officers inclusive. In 

addition to this, the electorate should stop 

celebrating defectors by attending such 

occasion in droves. The Independent National 

Electoral Commission,INEC, should increase 

advocacy in this regard, relevant institutions 

within the National Assembly should regularly 

organise more awareness programmes that 

would elicit attitudinal change by lawmakers 

to see reasons why defections should be 

discouraged. Political parties should also 

imbibe internal democracy and discipline. 

Nigerians deserve better governance and 

leadership in 2019 and beyond. 

•Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from the Federal 

University of Agric., Abeokuta Ogun State.

DMO raises N410bn to finance 2018 

budget 

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau 

Chief 

THE Debt Management 

Office (DMO) has raised 

N410 billion from the domestic 

capital market as public 

borrowings to fund the 2018 

budget. The federal government 

had indicated that N1.6 trillion 

would be borrowed to finance 

about N1.95 trillion deficit 

contained in the budget. 

Disclosing this at a press briefing 

in Abuja yesterday, the Director- 

General of DMO, Ms, Patience 

Oniha, also said the nation’s 

public debt stood at N22.4 trillion 

as at end of June ($73. 31b) of 

which $22 billion was external. 

She explained that when 

compared to the debt figure for 

March 2018, the Public debt stock 

decreased by 1.4 percent from 

N22.7 trillion in March 2018 to 

N22.4 trillion in June 2018. 

“The decrease was due to a 3.4 

percent decline in the FGN’s 

Domestic Debt Stock between 

March and June 2018,” she said. 

Why borrowings 

Explaining the governments 

resort to borrowings to fund the 

budget, Oniha stated further: “We 

witnessed as much as 50 per cent 

drop in revenue. Government 

had to borrow to function. 

“Even if we don’t take new 

loans, the devaluation of the Naira 

from about N165/$1 to N305/$1 

created increment arising from 

exchange rate differential. But 

what I can assure you is that we 

are better off than where we are 

coming from.” 

“A major highlight in the Public 

Debt Data was the consistent 

decrease in the FGN’s Domestic 

Debt which declined from 

N12.589 trillion in December 2017 

to N12.577 trillion in March 2017 

and N12.151 trillion in June 2018, 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$106.70 0.45 

$2,101.00-20.00 

$10.35 0.05 

$73.72 1.11 

$68.21 1.01 

305.05 305.55 306.05 

389.7624 390.4012 391.0401 

348.3671 348.9381 349.5091 

306.7988 307.3016 307.8045 

2.7539 2.7584 2.7629 

0.5135 0.5235 0.5335 

423.6351 424.3294 425.0238 

44.2895 44.3625 44.4356 

81.3247 81.458 81.5913 

424.3856 425.0812 425.7768 

46.7259 46.8025 46.8791 

21.3799 21.4149 21.4499 

CBN Exchange rate as at 14/08/2018 

occasioned by the 

implementation of the Debt 

Management Strategy of the 

DMO.” 

According to Oniha, the 

reduction in the FGN’s 

Domestic Debt Stock arose from 

the redemption of N198 billion 

Nigerian Treasury Bills in 

December 2017 and another 

N639 billion between January 

and June 2018. 

A total of $3 billion was raised 

through Eurobonds to refinance 

maturing domestic debt as part 

of the implementation of the 

debt management strategy for 

the purpose of substituting high 

cost domestic debt with lower 

cost external debt to reduce debt 

service costs for the 

Government. 

Oniha said that the debt was 

still sustainable at about 18 per 

cent of the GDP and that her 

team’s Debt Management 

Strategy has crashed interest 

rate to a region of 11-14 percent 

from about 18 percent last year. 

Oniha explained that the 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 — 19 

FG receives 

N813bn from Total, 

Chevron, CNOOC in 

one year 

implementation of the Public 

Debt Management Strategy 

with an overall objective of 

ensuring that Nigeria’s debt 

remained sustainable, was 

yielding desired results. 

“One of the beneficial 

outcomes is the rebalancing of 

the debt stock; the ratio of 

domestic debt to external debt 

inching towards the target of 

60:40 and the target of 75:25 

between long term domestic 

debt and short term domestic 

debt.” 

From left: Alhaji Bala Zakariya’u, past president, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria 

and Chairman of occasion; Mr Moruf Apampa, Managing Director/CEO, SUNU Assurance 

Plc; Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, Managing Director, Lancelot Ventures Ltd; Mr. Supo Sogolola, 

Executive Director, Law Union & Rock Insurance, and Dr. Farouk Aminu, Head, Research 

and Strategy Management Department, Pencom, during the 3rd Annual National Conference 

of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) in Lagos. 

Miniso rolls out retail franchise across Nigeria 

MINISO, a Japanese 

lifestyle designer retail 

brand, has rolled out a franchise 

strategy which promises to be the 

most profitable venture in the 

business segment in Nigeria. 

Speaking on the Miniso 

Investment 

opportunities to some 

newsmen, Mr Jason 

Zhou, the Franchise 

and Investment 

Manager, said the 

brand’s flagship store 

in Nigeria which was 

opened in September, 

2017, has already 

grown into 11 stores. 

He said with this 

development, the brand 

is now offering 

Nigerian entrepreneurs 

and investors 

opportunity to own 

Miniso Store. 

He explained: “The 

process of investing in 

Miniso is simple, 

transparent and hasslefree. 

We have two 

investment models, 

known as: the 

Franchising Model 

and, the Agent Model. 

“The franchise model requires 

you to simply secure a store size 

of around 200M2 at any choice 

location, shopping mall or high 

street. The rough budget for a 

200M2 franchised store is about 

70 - 80 Million Naira and it 

covers a one-year Franchise Fee, 

Product Deposit (refundable 

af’ter the contract, Store Fitting- 

Out fee and shop space leasing 

charges. 

“The agent model also 

requires you to secure a store 

size of around 200M2 at any 

location of your choice, but an 

By Michael Eboh 

THE Federal Government 

received $2.68 billion, about 

N817.4 billion, from Total, 

Chevron and China National 

Offshore Oil Company, 

CNOOC, in 2017, according to 

documents obtained from the 

Canadian government. 

The companies presented the 

information under Canada’s 

extractive industry law which 

required extractive entities active 

in Canada to publicly disclose, 

on an annual basis, specific 

payments made to all 

governments in Canada and 

abroad. 

Giving a breakdown of the 

payments which was made to the 

various agencies of government, 

the report which was compiled 

in 2018, noted that Total made 

total payments of $1.2 billion to 

the Nigerian government; 

Chevron made total payments of 

$1.4 billion, while CNOOC paid 

the country $586.7 million. 

Reporting under the law, Total 

said it paid $614.8 million in 

taxes; $2.7 million in licensing 

fees; $46.2 million in 

infrastructure improvements, 

mainly to the Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC; and $488.5 million for 

production entitlements. 

Chevron on the other hand, 

paid $5.4 million, under the 

Nigerian Export Supervision 

Scheme, NESS; it paid $18.3 

million $101.24 million as fees 

to the Nigerian Content 

Development Management 

Board, NCDMB and Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC 

respectively. 

Chevron also paid $275.9 

million and $2.4 million to the 


Resources, DPR, for royalties 

and fees respectively, while it 

paid $1 billion in taxes to the 


Services, FIRS. 

Further breakdown showed 

that Chevron paid $214.8 

million and $78.9 to the Federal 

Government for Niger Delta 

Concessions; while it paid 

$817.3 million and $48.4 million 

for its Oil Mining Leases, OML, 

127 and 128. 

In addition, CNOOC paid the 

FIRS $75.7 million; while $1.43 

million was paid to the Kaduna 

State Government under the 

heading Infrastructure 

Improvement Payments. 

NIRSAL projects $4.4bn revenue from agricultural 

exports in 2018 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan, with 

Agency report 

NIGERIA Incentive-Based 

Risk Sharing System for 

Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) 

has projected the country’s 

agricultural exports revenue to 

reach $4.4 billion (N1.6 trillion) 

by the end of this year. 

Managing Director, NIRSAL, 

Aliyu Abdulhameed, who 

disclosed this to Bloomberg, said 

agent is required to pay a 

compliance deposit (refundable) 

which ensures the agents 

maintain Miniso operation 

standards, then the agent 

reserves the right to operate as a 

Miniso representative under the 

expert supervision from Miniso 

to ensure all standards are met.” 

Speaking further Miniso’s 

Franchise Specialist, Eze Igwe, 

stated: “We launched the 

franchise two months ago and we 

already have two investments 

running while many more are 

underway. 

that NIRSAL has disbursed 

$373 million to farmers in the 

past year to help increase 

production of export crops. 

According to Bloomberg, he 

stated, “The credit 

beneficiaries are mainly smallholder 

farmers growing cotton, 

rice, oil palm, cassava and corn. 

At average yield of four tons 

per hectare, these optimized 

small-holder farmers’ 

production would generate a 

gross output of about 16 million 

tons. Revenue from the exports 

is expected to reach 1.6 trillion 

naira ($4.4 billion) by the end of 

this year”. 

NIRSAL works with banks to 

guarantee as much as 75 percent 

of loans to agriculture. The 

federal government is increasing 

efforts to diversify the country’s 

sources of export income after a 

plunge in crude prices from 2014 

triggered the country’s worst 

economic contraction in 25 years 

in 2016.


vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 

How to access your voluntary 

contributions —PenCom 

Stories by Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

NATIONAL Pension 

Commission, Pen- 

Com, has said the Pension 

Reform Act, 2014 allows 

employees under the Contributory 

Pension Scheme, 

CPS, to contribute voluntarily 

in addition to the mandatory 

contributions into 

their respective Retirement 

Savings Account, RSA, to 

augment their pension at retirement.The 

Act also allows 

exempted employees 

from CPS to participate 

involuntarily in the CPS 

subject to a guideline issued 

by the Commission. 

Meanwhile, the Commission 

said it has observed a 

tendency for requests for 

withdrawals by Pension 

Funds Administrators and 

especially the significant 

amount withdrawn, usually 

within a short interval of 

lodgment in the RSA both of 

the mandatory and exempted 

contributors thereby defeating 

the purpose of voluntary 

contributions which 

is meant to enhance pension 

at retirement adding: “Also 

the short intervals between 

the date of contributions 

and withdrawals results in 

significant tax payable to 

the relevant tax authorities.” 

To check this tendency, 

PENCOM said all PFAs/ 

PFCs (Pension Funds Custodians) 

must ensure that "withdrawal 

from voluntary contributions 

is allowed once 

THE National Pension 

Com-mission, PenCom, 

is at present at various centres 

across the country enrolling 

and verifying prospective 

federal government 

employees that will be retiring 

between January and 

December 2019. 

In the Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT, and Niger State, 

no fewer than 2,700 employees 

from FCT and Niger 

State are taking part in 

Abuja centre. 

Mr Peter Aghahowa, the 

PenCom Head of Corporate 

Communications, said in 

Abuja that the Abuja centre 

was part of Phase II of the 

nationwide verification and 

enrollment programme. 

He said the Phase II of the 

enrollment was ongoing in 

two other centres of Lagos 

and Ibadan, noting that 

Phase one had been concluded 

in 12 other centres 

across the nation. The exercise 

in Abuja has been on 

since July 30 and will end 

on August 17. 

It is meant for Federal 

Government employees due 

to retire between January 

and December 2019. Their 

retirement is hinged on attainment 

of 60 years of age 

or 35 years in service whichever 

is earlier or 65 years by 

age for employees of tertiary 

institutions or 70 years of 

age for professors. 

According to Aghahowa, 

the verification and enrollment 

were designed to facilitate 

payment of retirement 

benefits of the potential 

retirees. 

He said the physical enrollment 

also covered those 

•Officials of the National Pension Commission, 

checking documents of the 2019 prospective Federal 

Government retirees for Niger State and FCT, during 

their enrollment by the Commission in Abuja. 

every two years from the last 

approved withdrawal date. 

Subsequent withdrawals 

shall only be on the incremental 

contributions from 

the date of last withdrawal. 

For mandatory contributors, 

the amount remitted 

as voluntary contributions 

shall be as follows: 50 per 

cent shall be treated as contingent, 

available for withdrawal 

within the stipulated 

timeframe of two years. 

Taxes would be deducted 

on income earned in line 

with Section 10 (4) of the 

PRA 2014. The balance of 

50 per cent shall be fixed 

for pension and utilised at 

date of retirement to augment 

the contributor’s retirement 

benefit.” 

Foreign contributors 

The commission says: 

"The time frame for withdrawal 

of once every two 

years in clause 5 (a) above 

shall be adopted. The contributor 

is allowed to withdraw 

all the funds in his/ 

her account after two years 

of contribution, subject to 

deduction of taxes on both 

income earned and principal 

when withdrawal is 

made in less than five years 

of the contribution. PFAs 

shall forward requests for 

approval to the commission 

using the revised 

schedule for voluntary contribution 

withdrawals. 

Both PFAs and PFCs are required 

to inform the Economic 

and Financial 

Crimes Commission of any 

single lodgment of N5 million 

and above. Henceforth, 

all tax deductions 

shall be remitted to the relevant 

tax authorities within 

21 days after the end of 

the month of deduction 

and render returns to the 

Commission twice yearly 

of such remittance." 

•Tips on verification of medically unfit employees 

who had already retired, but 

were yet to be enrolled. 

Aghahowa said affected 

employees were requested to 

attend with originals and 

copies of letter of appointment, 

evidence of transfer of 

service and acceptance letter 

where applicable. 

Other documents are birth 

certificate or declaration of 

age, promotion letters, payslip 

indicating grade level 

and step as at June 2004. He 

said others included: “Promotion 

letter and payslip indicating 

grade level and step 

as at January, 2007, promotion 


grade level and step 

as at July,2010. Promotion 


grade level and step as at 

December 2013, Letter of introduction 

from the MDAs, 

staff identity card, letter or 

evidence of retirement 

where applicable, letter of 

indemnity from the MDA.” 

The PenCom spokesman 

equally disclosed that prospective 

retirees were also 

requested to come with evidence 

of registration with a 

Pension Fund Administrator, 

PFA, indicating Retirement 

Savings Account, RSA, 

and Personal Identification 

Number, PIN. 

Maritime union urges FG to 

pay defunct NNSL retirees 

MARITIME 

Workers 

Union of Nigeria, 

MWUN, has called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to direct 

the immediate payment of 

monthly pension to seafarers 

retired as a result of the liquidation 

of the defunct Nigerian National 

Shipping Line, NNSL, in 

line with the ruling of the Nigerian 

Industrial Court, NIC. President-General 

of MWUN, Adewale 

Adeyanju, who spoke in Lagos 

at the union’s National Executive 

Council, NEC, meeting, 

lamented that affected former 

workers of NNSL suffered untold 

hardship as a result of nonpayment 

of their benefits since 

1995. 

According to him, “you are all 

aware that the Nigerian Shipping 

Line was liquidated some 

decades back which led to the 

loss of jobs of some seafarers, 

who were then abandoned to 

their fate. We call on the Federal 

Government to do all it can 

to resuscitate the Nigerian National 

Shipping Line. We also 

urge government to commence 

payment of monthly pension to 

the seafarers who were retired 

as a result of the liquidation of 

the defunct Nigerian National 

Shipping Line in line with the 

ruling of the Nigerian Industrial 

Court. 

Corroborating the President- 

General, the NEC in a communiqué 

issued at the end of its 

meeting called on the Federal 

Government to direct NI- 

MASA to commence payment 

of monthly pension to the seafarers 

(ratings), that were exited 

from source in 1995 as a result 

of the liquidation of the defunct 

Nigeria National Shipping 

Line.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 —21

22 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

C 

M 

Y 

K 

*From left: Marketing and Communications 

Lead, Simplex Business Solutions, 

Olokunde Olanrewaju; Marketing Manager, 

SA Qlik, Eloise Bowen; CEO/CSA, Simplex 

Business Solutions, Femi Adeniyi and Regional 

Manager at SA Qlik, Rhyno Jurbert 

at the 2018 QLIK SENSE Tour in Lagos, 

recently. 


Why business intelligence‘ll shape future of workplaces 

By Stella Nze 

in Africa 

CEO of Simplex Business 

Solutions, Mr. Femi Adeniyi, has 

said that Business intelligence 

amongst other technological forces, 

will continue to shape the future of 

work and workplace in Africa especially 

as analytics continues its steady 

growth and data visibility becomes 

clearer. 

Adeniyi made the remark as his 

company, Simplex Business Solutions, 

hosted QLIK SENSE Tour 2018 at the 

Oriental Hotel, Lagos recently. 

He said the increasing influence of 

data visibility is the reason Simplex 

Business Solutions is pushing that organisations 

in Nigeria embrace, acquire, 

cultivate and utilise skills within 

data literacy. 

He added that Qlik Sense is one of 

the most powerful, intuitive and userfriendly 

business intelligence tools in 

the market and hosting it in Nigeria 

was an avenue to bring together business 

leaders and BI professionals from 

different organisations like Stanbic 

IBTC, Flourmills of Nigeria, KPMG, 

Meristem Wealth, Zenith Pension, 

among others. 

Regional Manager, Africa, Qlik, 

Ryno Joubert corroborated Adeniyi, 

saying that data literacy and culture 

is critical for any forward- looking 

organisation. He added that 

Qlik Sense offers all of the benefits 

of a self-service tool, such as flexibility 

and ease of use without compromising 

on security. He stressed 

that with Qlik Sense, users can create 

their own dashboards which 

draw on secure libraries and governed 

data with no limits on the 

number of data sources or data volumes 

and it is perfect for both small 

and large enterprises. 

By Prince Osuagwu 

(Hi-Tech Editor) 

Recently, issues around 

the 30 per cent 

broadband penetration 

target Nigeria set for itself with the 

National broadband plan in 2013, 

have been more controversial than 

any other development in the 

telecom sector. 

The five-year target was meant 

to accelerate high speed internet 

and mass broadband access, and 

as a result, prompt 

socio-economic 

growth for the 

nation and 

prosperity for its 

citizens. 

At the moment, 

the plan is said to 

have achieved 

over 22 per cent 

out of the 30 which 

represents 70 per 

cent success. 

But a few 

stakeholders are 

questioning the 

propriety of the 

claim, considering 

that the country 

still suffers paucity 

The need to 

hit the 

broadband 

penetration 

target, gave 

rise to the first 

phase of 

licensing of 

Infrastructure 

Companies, to 

drive 

broadband 

infrastructure 

deployment 

of broadband 

availability 

outside the mobile 

broadband 

g r o w t h 

occasioned by 

s t r o n g 

Smartphone penetration in the 

country. 

In a meeting with the Executive 

Vice-Chairman, EVC of the 

Nigerian Communications 

Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar 

Danbatta recently in Abuja, he 

provided a holistic response to the 

question of 22 per cent achievement, 

plans to hit the 30 per cent target 

by year end and possible 

challenges that may be 

encountered. 

He dismissed insinuations that 

the calculation of 22 per cent was 

done by the NCC but rather 

clarified that the commission 

neither had the wherewithal to do 

such calculations nor claim having 

achieved the penetration 

singlehandedly since other 

stakeholders like the National 

Information Technology 

Development Agency, NITDA, 

Galaxy Backbone and other 

stakeholders were involved. 

Clarify the 22 per cent 

penetration? 

A lot of conjectures have been 

made by many uninformed people 

about the country’s broadband 

penetration so far. In fact, some have 

directly attacked the commission for 

allegedly having concocted 

numbers. But whatever percentage 

is attributed to broadband 

penetration, is not done by the 

commission but by the International 

Telecommunications Union, ITU 

which has the wherewithal to do 

such calculations 

However, let me clarify that before 

we came on board in 2015, there 

was a Presidential Broadband 

Committee set up by the Federal 

Government and the 

committee was jointly 

chaired by the former 

Executive Vice- 

Chairman of NCC, 

Dr. Ernest Ndukwe 

and the chairman of 

Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim 

Ovia. The committee 

did a good job in 

coming up with a 

detailed five years 

National Broadband 

Plan, NBP, from 2013- 

2018 for the country. 

On Page 9 of the 

NBP, it stated that 

broadband 

penetration as at 2012 

was between four and 

six per cent and there 

were measures 

through which 

broadband 

penetration could be 

achieved. 

The NBP stated that the country 

must achieve five-fold in 

broadband penetration, but this of 

course depends on the minimum 

and maximum thresholds. 

The minimum threshold is by 

multiplying four per cent level of 

broadband by five years broadband 

plan, which will give 20 per cent 

minimum broadband target and by 

multiplying six per cent maximum 

broadband penetration as at 2012 

by the five years broadband plan, it 

will give 30 per cent broadband 

penetration. 

By 2017, Nigeria surpassed the 

minimum target of 20 per cent and 

working towards achieving the 

maximum target of 30 per cent by 

the end of 2018. 

Where are we? 

It is worthy of note that 

achievement of broadband 

penetration is not the responsibility 

of NCC alone, but a combined 

responsibility of NITDA, 

NigComSat, Galaxy Backbone, 

including other critical stakeholders 

like telecommunications operators. 

NCC and other agencies of 

government were given their roles 

to play in order to achieve faster 

broadband penetration. 

The need to hit the broadband 

penetration target, gave rise to the 

first phase of licensing of 

Infrastructure Companies, 

InfraCos, to drive broadband 

infrastructure deployment. Without 

these deployments, broadband 

penetration will be a mirage. 

The licence was planned to cover 

the six geopolitical zones of the 

country, as well as Lagos that was 

also strategically mapped out as a 

zone. MainOne was licensed to 

cover Lagos Zone, iConnect, a 

subsidiary of IHS was granted 

licence to cover North-Central 

zone. These two zones were 

licensed before I came on board as 

NCC’s EVC, and it was during my 

tenure that we licensed additional 

five zones. They include North- 

West, North-East, South-West, 

South-East and South-South. 

The beauty of the licence is that it 

is cheap because the NCC is not 

*Prof. Umar Danbatta 

30% broadband target: 

Where we are, where 

we’re headed — NCC 

keen on making so much money 

from licences. We are building a 

system that will make Nigeria 

interlinked and interconnected. 

As of today, Nigeria has achieved 

22 per cent broadband penetration 

and is close to hitting the 30 per 

cent mark. 

Our performance shows that as a 

nation, we have recorded over 70 

per cent success towards the main 

target. 

However, to meet the maximum 

target of 30 per cent broadband 

penetration, all other agencies that 

have roles to play, must conclude 

on the role assigned to them from 

the NBP document. 

Where are we headed? 

We have about 190 access gaps 

as of today. Nigerians living within 

these gap areas are not enjoying 

telecommunications services and 

this is a challenge we need to 

address as a country. 

To address the challenges, there 

is need for capacity building in 

order to leverage ICT to do greater 

things and in better ways. So we 

need to sensitise the people and 

empower them with ICT tools that 

will make them achieve their 

dreams. 

NCC for instance, is pioneering 

the Advanced Digital Acquisition 

Programme for tertiary institutions, 

where we have the highest 

concentration of talented youths. By 

the time they acquire the skills, they 

will be able to develop ICT 

Applications. NITDA is also 

involved in ICT training and skills 

acquisition through its sponsored 

scholarship programme for 

students studying ICT related 

courses up to doctorate level. 

The advisory committee set up by 

government to increase broadband 

access in the country is on course. 

The committee, made up of four 

licensees of the NCC, namely IHS, 

Continues on page 24

By Godfrey Bivbere & Agigail 

Ezenwafor 

The United Berger Auto 

Dealers Association has 

said that the number of vehicles 

sold daily has dropped by 92 

percent from the level three 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

Apapa gridlock: Daily car sales drop by 92% – Berger motor dealers 

years. 

Disclosing this to Vanguard 

Maritime Report in his office 

in Lagos, the President of the 

Association, Metche 

Nnadiekwe , said three years 

ago they use to sale between 

20 to 30 vehicles daily but the 

number has since reduced to 

less than three a day. 

He attributed this to the 

economic situation in the 

country and the state of the 

roads leading to and from the 

port that are so bad. He said 

even if the trucks are not 

blocking their wares, the bad 

roads would still have 

prevented would be vehicle 

buyers from coming to buy from 

them. 

According to him, “This Park 

is in sections. In this section of 

the park we sale about 20 to 30 

vehicles. It varies, it could go 

up or come down but since all 

these blockade started, before 

we sale one now we will pray 

and speak in tongues. 

“And if anybody sale one, 

there would be jubilation. We 

will celebrate it as if manner has 

fallen from heaven. We are 

therefore pleading with the 

government to be fast in doing 

what they want to do because I 

know that this is not the only 

port we have in this country, 

there are other ports. We have 

been suffering here for more 

than three years. 

“We are not foreigners we are 

Nigerians. We have 

responsibilities, we have bills to 

pay. The inversion of these 

trailers and tankers, the bad 

roads and the parking of these 

trailers here, make it seem as 

if we are not part of this 

country. 

“For more than three years 

now we have never seen 

anything like this. People will 

come from nowhere with all 

impunity to come and block our 

environment. 

“Nobody comes here to 

patronise us anymore and 

ordinarily this is supposed to 

Continue on Page 2 

maritimerepor6005@gmail.com 

VOl. 1 No. 6 

Why Eastern, Delta ports are not utilised 

by importers –Industry chieftains 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

The plight of ports at the 

Nigeria’s eastern and delta 

coastlines may have been 

compounded by sea robbery 

and militancy even as some 

technical challenges linger. 

Vanguard Maritime Report 

investigations reveal that the 

spate of attacks has not been 

contained even after seize fire 

with militants about three years 

ago. 

Consequently, international 

shipping firms have placed 

high-risk rating in the freight 

charges, a situation which has 

made cost of shipments to the 

ports uncompetitive. 

For example while it costs 

shipment from China to Lagos 

would cost about $1,500 same 

consignments going to Calabar 

costs between $4,000 to $4,500. 

In addition to the cost 

challenges investigations by 

Vanguard Maritime Report also 

indicated some technical shortcomings 

in the ports such as 

shallow berths and draft 

deficiency of the channels. 

The ports currently have berth 

depth of between 6 - 11 meters 

compared to the Lagos port with 

berth depth ranging from 9 - 

13.5 meters. 

Standard port berths in other 

West African countries like 

Accra, Ghana is 19 metres, 

Lome, Togo is 16 metres, 

Cameroon at 16 metres and 

Cotonou, Benin Republic at 15 

metres. 

With this technical deficiency 

the ports at the eastern and 

delta coastlines would not be 

able to take size of containerbearing 

vessels that normally 

call at standard ports, except for 

specialised vessels constructed 

as flat bottom which many 

international shipping firms 

have not been willing to use. 

The other technical 

deficiency with the ports, 


investigations show, is that the 

draught of the channels are 

below standard. 

For the channel leading to the 

ports, Lagos port has a draught 

of 13.5 meters, that of Port 

Harcourt is between 7.1 – 9.1 

meters, that of Warri stands at 

between 6.4 – 7.6 meters, Onne 

has between 8 – 11 meters and 

Calabar has 6.4 meters during 

high tide and 5.4 meters during 

low tide. 

Meanwhile, stakeholders in 

the maritime industry have 

attributed the situation of the 

ports to government neglect 

despite the huge potential for 

development of the areas and 

the Nigerian economy. 

They also believe the full 

functioning of the ports in the 

Eastern and Delta areas would 

decongest the Lagos ports 

while increasing the nation’s 

maritime industry capacity in 

FREIGHT RATES FOR 20 & 40 ft CONTAINERs 

terms of volume of cargo 

through-put and clearing turnaround 

time. 

The stakeholders disclosed 

that besides the technical 

deficiencies and the criminal 

attacks which had dented the 

risk ratings of the ports, the 

space sizes of the berths of the 

ports in the eastern and delta 

area, cargo handling 

equipment as well as the quays 

of the ports are adequate to 

operate effectively and 

efficiently. 

Apart from the above seeming 

disadvantage, the quays, 

operational space, the cargo 

handling equipment are 

available to give port speedy 

and cheaper port services 

compared to those in Lagos, 

operators say. 

The industry operators 

believe the government could 

have intervened in those 

identified deficiencies and 

bring the ports to good use. 

Michael Ogodo, Chairman 

Shippers Association of Cross 

Rivers State, SACRS, told 


that the Calabar port as it is has 

the capacity to receive ocean 

going vessels and should be 

exploited by federal 

government through provision 

of incentives to stakeholders. 

According to Ogodo, “Yes, 

the port has what it takes to 

receive bigger vessels if the 

channel is dredged. 

The SACRS chairman said 

though there seem to be a 

surge in shipping activities in 

Calabar port, it is driven by 

petroleum import which is not 

beneficial to the economy of 

the people. 

According to Ogodo, only 

commercial imports can 

benefit the people and that has 

stopped some years back. He 

said export goods from the 

state have to be taken to Lagos 

before they are shipped out of 

the country. 

The SACRS boss said 1999 

and 2007 when Donald Duke 

was governor of the state, and 

the TINAPA and LAFARGE 

Africa PLC projects were ongoing, 

a MaerskLine ship was 

calling at the port every fourth 

night and that they (shippers) 

took advantage of that to do 

direct export from there. 

Six months before the 

completion of the projects 

during the regime governor 

Liyel Imoke, Ogodo said they 

had gone to the governor to 

Continue on Page 2


2 

NEWS 

Egina: NPA 

attributes 

success to 

operational 

efficiency, 

synergy 


MANAGING Director of 

t h e 

Nigerian Ports Authority, 

NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, has 

attributed the successful anchor of 

the Egina FPSO, to operational 

efficiency and very robust synergy 

between the NPA and LADOL 

including other stakeholders. 

The NPA boss who made this 

known in Lagos at the occasion also 

noted reiterating that the successful 

berthing of Egina is a testimony of 

enhanced capacity of the Authority 

to handle greater responsibilities in 

the sector. 

A statement signed by Assistant 

General Manager, Corporate and 

Strategic Communications, 

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Isah 

Suwaid, noted that the 

Usman encouraged other operators 

to emulate the investments made 

by Total, LADOL, Samsung Heavy 

Industries (SHI) adding that 

government venture into the 

provision of a level playing field 

through anti-monopoly policies 

which have yielded great 

dividends. 

“We as a result, hereby encourage 

prospective investors to explore this 

and other opportunities that the 

reforms of our operations has 

engendered benefits as we assure 

of NPA’s willingness to facilitate 

these ventures. We must however 

advise business organizations to 

ensure strict compliance with the 

country’s statutory rules and 

regulations” 

According to her, the multiplier 

effects of local content policy is 

evident in visible technological 

transfer, accrued revenue to the 

nation, as well as in employment 

creation, reduction in capital flight, 

attraction of hub status for the oil 

Apapa gridlock: 

Daily car sales 

drop by 92% 

Continued from Page 1 

be the biggest vehicle market 

in Africa if not the world. We 

have gone round the world and 

it is suppose to be a pride of 

the nation. 

“Government is supposed to 

come and encourage us in what 

we are doing. You see, the 

money that is in this market 

runs into several billions of 

naira. There is no market in this 

country that is worth what we 

have here. Am I to talk about 

what the state government is 

getting from this market? 

“Every vehicle sold here must 

be registered and the money 

goes to the state, are we not 

making contribution by adding 

to the economy of the state? 

Truly we are not happy,” he 

noted. 

From Right: Mr Chris Allagoa, Captain Port Harcourt Golf Club, Dr Kingsley Akinroye, Executive 

Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Mr Isichei Osamgbi, Head, Corporate Communication, NIMASA, 

, and Mrs Adiza Abu, Chief PR Officer, NIMASA, during a media conference on the NHF Charity Golf 

Tournament to be held in Rivers State next month. 

Why Eastern, Delta ports are not utilised by importers 

Continued from Page 1 

intervene as Mearsk Line had 

said it could no longer come to 

Calabar at the completion of the 

project. 

He stressed that the efforts of 

the governor did not yield any 

positive result as the federal 

government did not respond 

positively to pleas by the state 

governor. 

He noted that apart from the 

shallow nature of the ports’ 

channels, the berths’ depths are 

okay to receive most vessels. 

The other issue, he explained, 

is the constant pirates’ attacks 

on ships calling at the port. 

He listed the obstacles to 

development and utilization of 

the Eastern and Delta ports 

including the absence of import 

and export cargoes, the difficult 

navigational area and the 

frequent attacks on vessels 

forced up the cost of freight by 

over 150 percent. 

Consequently, according to 

him, while a consignment from 

China to Lagos would cost about 

$1,500 same consignments 

going to Calabar costs between 

$4,000 to $4,500. 

He explained that the same 

reason is responsible for the 

hike in the insurance on both 

the ship and the cargo 

He recommended that 

government should acquire 

FORMER senior special 

Assistant to ex-President 

Goodluck Jonathan on maritime 

matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, has 

expressed concern over the 

volume of Nigeria’s crude oil 

illegally taken to neighbouring 

countries, which leads to high 

piracy in Nigerian waters. 

Oyewole who just returned 

from a trip to some of these 

countries disclosed that the 

smuggling of the nation’s crude 

oil to these countries has also 

fuelled the rate of pirate attacks 

on vessels across the Subregion. 

He warned that one illegality 

begets another illegality adding 

that if people are in the act of 

stealing crude oil, be sure that 

small vessels that do rounds 

from Lagos to Calabar, Port 

Harcourt and Warri, taking 

consignments from Lagos to 

these ports as well as bringing 

export cargoes back to Lagos as 

an immediate quick win 

measure, while provision of 

security, dredging of the 

channel and giving concession 

to shipping lines should be the 

long term sustainable measure. 

Industry chiefs speak 

Similarly, National President 

of the Association of Nigeria 

Licensed Customs Agents, 

ANLCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike, 

agreed with Ogodo on the 

issues of dredging of the 

channels and concession to 

shipping lines. 

He listed the non-functional 

ports including Warri, Calabar, 

Port Harcourt, Koko and even 

the new port in Delta State. 

Nwabunike noted that the 

federal government has not yet 

taken a decision with the 

concessionaires and shipping 

companies whom they have 

actually given the nod to bring 

in consignments to those areas. 

He further explained: 

“Another problem about these 

ports is the freights; the freight 

has been the problem of these 

ports because those freights are 

higher than the freight at the 

Lagos ports. 

“People are actually looking 

Why piracy is high on Nigerian waters 

- Ex-Presidential aid 

By Godwin Oritse 

there are people, pirates, that 

are waiting to outsmart them. 

He also said that monies that 

cannot be paid through the 

Banks will also attract some 

banditry into the scene. 

He said: “The second thing I 

think the government need to 

also address is this issue of 

imported product meant for 

Nigeria, financed by Nigeria 

but landing in neighbouring 

countries. 

“That must also be addressed 

because it does not only take 

away the job opportunities in 

terms of Ship-to-ship, STS, and 

mooring services to these 

countries, it has also been a 

major source of smuggling 

because when the Central Bank 

of Nigeria finances an import 

and the import goes to another 

countries, and a bit of it come to 

forward to getting things 

cheaper when they import. 

Most importantly, the 

consumers are more in Lagos 

but if there is competitive rate 

on the freight differentials, or 

putting them in very low level 

freight differentials, I think they 

can use these ports. 

“So, I’m actually asking the 

federal government to make 

those ports user-friendly, if they 

make those ports very userfriendly, 

we can actually import 

through those ports. 

“It is important to decentralize 

like I always say, it is very 

important to decentralize so that 

people will use it. 

“If you are importing from 

China, some are saying $2,500, 

& 3,500 for 20 feet container and 

$4000 to $5000 for the 40 feet 

container. If they can actually 

sail in the same rate or bring it a 

little bit down, people will now 

say, okay because of one 

thousand dollars they can go to 

eastern ports and do the 

business,” he concluded. 

Speaking on the issue, 

Managing Director of PTOL, 

Lizzy Ovbude, blamed the 

neglect on government policies 

as well as the concessioning 

exercise. 

She said: “I know that when 

NPA was still the master sea 

dock, to improve traffic in the 

Eastern flank, NPA had to give 

about 30 percent discount. That 

Nigeria, that to me is a major 

source of smuggling that 

government must not over look. 

“These are some of the things 

that often lead to piracy, if you 

check the records, most of the 

attacks by pirates are tanker 

vessels”. 

He explained that in the last 

administration, there were 

clearly marked STS designated 

zones in all the pilot districts 

which include Lagos, Warri, 

Port- Harcourt and Calabar. 

“There are marked areas 

where these activities should 

take place in Nigeria but people 

now go to Benin Republic, Togo 

and other countries to do STS. 

It is worrisome, more worrisome 

is that in the record of the 

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, 

ships are coming from Cotonou 

off-shore. 

was some years back, before the 

concessioning. 

“They gave about 30 percent 

discount to vessels that are 

willing to come to the Eastern 

ports. That was a kind of 

encouragement to enable 

vessels to come to this part of the 

country. But after the 

concessioning, there has been 

no such encouragement. 

“For Port Harcourt port, I don’t 

know whether it is a kind of 

conspiracy from ship owners; 

you know that the shipping 

industry is dominated by 

foreigners. “They own the 

vessels. I do know that we have 

done a lot of marketing 

campaigns from Port Harcourt 

ports here. We have been to 

clients at Enugu, Aba, Onitsha, 

Nnewi, which is the Eastern 

flank, who import through 

Lagos and made them know 

that we are actually back. They 

have shown a lot of interest but 

one issue we have always had 

is the vessels to bring such 

cargo, that is, containerized 

vessels. 

“Before now, we had reached 

an agreement with two 

shipping lines who agreed to 

come and as we were doing the 

marketing campaign, they 

suddenly withdrew their 

vessels. 

“And you know, when you 

have been to a client once, twice 

and they are showing interest 

and suddenly everything goes 

down, they will not take you 

seriously anymore. 

“That is what the shipping 

companies have made us look 

like. And up until now, we still 

have clients that have been 

calling, making enquires on 

vessels that could come. 

“They are all foreign ship 

owners and if they say they are 

not coming, we cannot force 

them to come. And that is why 

you see the importers go to 

Lagos and begin to truck their 

cargo down.” 

Efforts to get the reaction of 

the NPA proved abortive as 

neither of the Assistant General 

Managers in the Corporate and 

Strategic Communications of 

the Authority, Isah Sewuad and 

Ibrahim Nasiru, picked their 

calls. 

Former Managing Director of 

the NPA, Habib Abdullahi, had 

said that the low level of the river 

which makes the siltation (rate 

of return of sand to the channel 

after dredging) level very high 

is the cause of the delay in the 

dredging of the channel. 

Abdullahi, who spoke through 

the then General Manager in 

charge of Public Affairs, 

Emmanuel Ebubuegu, said 

“The study of geography tells us 

that at the lower course of the 

river, the level of sedimentation 

is very high. Incidentally, the 

ports of Warri, Calaber and Port 

Harcourt are all situated at the 

lower course of river. If you do 

not do something to address the 

hindrance properly, you will 

always be fighting with nature.” 

For Warri port, he said in 

2015 the Authority had 

commenced the process 

leading to the dredging of the 

channel by engaging the 

services of two firms to do the 

preliminary work. 

He said the two firms are 

Royal Ascony, which is looking 

at the break waters, and Ace 

Consulting that is working on 

the pre-dredging. 

Three years after nothing has 

been done, only confirming the 

fears in some quarters that the 

neglect of the Eastern and 

Delta ports is deliberate.

transformation of the 

Agency has been 

phenomenal in terms of 

repositioning and revenue 

generation, stating that 

NIMASA is among the top five 

agencies contributing to the 

coffers of the Federal 

Government. 

A statement signed by the 


Regulations & Policies 3 


We Are Committed To Repositioning NIMASA –Dakuku 


The Director-General, of the 

Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency (NIMASA), Dr 

Dakuku Peterside, has said 

that the Board and the 

management of the Agency 

are committed to ensuring that 

the quick responds to its core 

mandate of advancing 

Nigeria’s global maritime 

goals. 

Peterside, who stated this at a 

media briefing in Port 

Harcourt last weekend, 

stressed that the efforts of the 

Board and management have 

attracted commendations from 

various segments of the 

country including the Federal 

Executive Council which is 

fully committed to the new 

drive of the country’s foremost 

maritime administration, 

noting however that they 

would not relent in the efforts 

to make Nigeria a leading 

maritime nation. 

According to him, “we are 

putting a lot of structures in 

place to ensure the Agency 

remains on a sound footing 

and our efforts have attracted 

commendation from the 

Federal Executive Council 

(FEC) and stakeholders 

within and outside the 

maritime sector. We can only 

get better in our determination 

to make the Agency perform 

the functions for which it was 

set up and make it the leading 

maritime administration in 

Africa. This is why we are 

continuously working hard 

and poised to making 

Nigerians reap the benefits of 

the sector” he said. 

Speaking further the NIMASA 

DG said that the 

Shippers’ Council pushes 

for door-to-door cargo 

delivery mechanism 


THE Nigerian Shippers’ 

Council, NSC, has said 

that it was working on a 

door-to-door cargo delivery 

mechanism with a view to 

ensuring the safety and 

security of cargo delivery. 

Speaking to a group of 

maritime journalists, the 

Executive Secretary of the 

Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, 

said that the European 

shippers and shippers from 

other parts of the world do 

not have enough confidence 

in the integrity of the roads 

in Nigeria adding that this 

has made door-to-door 

cargo delivery almost 

impossible. 

Bello also said that the 

Council may invoke the 

Hamburg rules in this 

regard to compel shippers 

to deliver cargo to the door 

of the consignee. 

He explained that until 

Nigerian roads were better 

maintained, the issue of 

damage to cargoes in 

transit due to bad roads will 

continue to occur. 

He also stated that 

extortion by men and 

officers of the Nigerian 

Police from truckers on the 

roads has given importers 

concerns adding that the 

security agents would 

unnecessarily delay these 

goods on the roads for a 

long time. 

The Shippers’ Council 

boss also said that 

insurance on such cargo is 

also being worked out so 

that the importers can get 

some level of respite in the 

event of accident or 

damage to goods in transit. 

Head, 

Corporate 

Communications, NIMASA, 

Isichei Osamgbi, noted that 

Dr. Peterside further said that 

NIMASA was working 

continuously in collaboration 

with relevant security agencies 

to ensure the protection of 

Nigerian waterways and by 

extension the Gulf of Guinea. 

He particularly commended 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

for his commitment to the 

maritime sector by giving the 

needed support to carry out 

reforms, policies and 

programmes that have had 

tremendous impacts on the 

fortunes of the industry. 

On the recent boat mishaps 

The Head, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety 

Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Isichei Osamgbi presenting relief materials to the Coordinator, at 

the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Resettlement Camp in Cross River State. 

NIMASA, NHF partner to raise N100m 

for disease prevention 


In line with its Corporate 

Social Responsibility, the 

Nigerian Maritime 


Agency (NIMASA) has 

partnered with the Nigerian 

Heart Foundation (NHF) 

to assist Non-Governmental 

Organizations, NGOs, in 

creating awareness on the 

dangers of heart diseases 

and the effect on the wellbeing 

of people. 

This was made known by 

the Director General of the 

Agency, Dr. Dakuku 

Peterside, yesterday at a 

press conference held in 

Lagos ahead of the NHF 

Charity Golf tournament 

scheduled to hold on 1st 

September 2018, in Port- 

Harcourt, Rivers state. 

The DG who was 

represented at the event by 

the Head, Corporate 

Communications of the 

Agency, Mr. Isichei 

Osamgbi, charged Nigerians 

UN appoints Amaechi into board 

of Road Safety Trust Fund 

The United Nations has 

appointed and 

inaugurated Minister of 

Transportation, Mr. Rotimi 

Amaechi, as an Advisory 

Board Member of the United 

Nations Road Safety Trust 

Fund (UNRSTF), at the UN 

Secretariat in Geneva, 

Switzerland. 

Media aide to Amaechi, 

Israel Ibeleme, made this 

known in a statement on 

Thursday in Abuja. 

According to Ibeleme, as a 

member of the Advisory 

Board, Amaechi represented 

to ensure that they take on 

physical exercises as a means 

to prevent the risk of heart 

related diseases, stating that 

heart health is important to 

the overall well-being of the 

human body. 

“Heart related diseases 

affects all gender and all 

ages and cuts across all socio 

economic and geographic 

lines”, Dr. Peterside said. 

The NIMASA boss stated 

further that the Agency is 

partnering with NHF as part 

of its Corporate Social 

Responsibility, CSR, focus 

and is delighted to be 

working with the 

foundation in its drive 

towards raising awareness 

on heart related diseases. 

Nigeria and Africa at the 

inaugural meeting of the 

Board held recently in 

Geneva, Switzerland. 

He said that as a member 

of the UNRSTF Advisory 

Board, Amaechi will play an 

important role of 

collaborating to reduce the 

number of accidents and 

casualties; and making real 

impacts on global road safety. 

Ibeleme said that the 

discussions and decisions at 

the meeting will greatly 

shape the operationalization 

of the UN Road Safety Trust 

Fund. 

around the country and Rivers 

state in particular, he expressed 

sadness over the incidents but 

was quick to add that NIMASA 

would work with the National 

Inland Waterways Authority 

(NIWA) to promote safety and 

safer ways of water transportation. 

He then promised to personally 

donate 1,000 life jackets to jetty 

operators in Rivers State as a way 

of promoting safety 

consciousness. 

It should be noted that the Agency 

recently reinforced its commitment 

to safety of lives and properties in 

the maritime sector and this was 

evident by the shutting down of 

some facilities by the Agency for 

not conforming to the 

International Ships and Ports 

Facility Security (ISPS) Code. 

Customs 

commissions 

$4.5bn 

ECOWAS 

border post 

at Seme 

The Seme Border 

Command of the 

Nigerian Customs Service, 

NCS, has said that the 

newly-commissioned Joint 

Border Post by the Economic 

Community of West African 

States (ECOWAS) at the 

Seme border will enhance 

border security and facilitate 

seamless legitimate trade, in 

tandem with the executive 

order on the ease of doing 

business. 

The border facility is to be 

jointly operated by Nigeria 

and Benin Republic, with 

increased hopes of smoother 

trade across West Africa and 

with third party countries. 

In a press statement signed 

by 

Assistant 

Superintendent of Customs 

Saidu Nuruddeen 

Abdullahi, for the Public 

Relations Officer, the 

Customs Area Controller 

assures that the Joint Border 

Post will serve as a platform 

that will simplify Customs 

procedures while increasing 

cooperation, collaboration, 

coordination and harmonious 

working relationships at the 

border post. 

Reports show that Nigeria 

will be the better for the joint 

border initiative. The total 

trade of the West African 

region is about $300 billion. 

Exports are projected at 

approximately $137.3 billion, 

while imports total about 

$80.4 billion. The main active 

countries in trade is Nigeria, 

which alone accounts for 

approximately 76 per cent of 

total trade, followed by 

Ghana (9.2 per cent ) and 

Côte d’Ivoire (8.64 per cent).


4 

Terminals & Ships 

Oil coys under declare 

crude export --- Stevedores 

... offers monitoring services 


THE National Association 

ofStevedoring 

Companies has said that 

International Oil Companies 

operating in Nigeria do not 

declare the accurate volume of 

exports of crude oil from 

Nigeria. 

To this end, the group has 

proposed to assist the 

government monitor the 

accurate measurement of crude 

oil export from the various 

terminals across the country. 

In an interview 

with Vanguard Maritime 

Report, the group’s President, 

Mr. Bolaji Sumonu, said that 

oil producing and exporting 

companies are short changing 

Nigerian government daily by 

under declaring volumes of 

crude oil produced and 

shipped through fraudulent 

measuring. 

He stated: “It is the figures the 

various International Oil 

Companies, IOCs, takes back to 

government that the government 


Patronage of ports in 

neighbouring countries, 

especially the Port of Cotonou 

in Benin Republic, has been 

rising as more importers have 

found succour there due to the 

difficulties in evacuating 

goods from Lagos ports. 

This is coming as the cost of 

evacuating containers from 

Apapa and Tin Can Island 

ports shot up by over 483 

percent. From an average of 

N120,000 for transporting 

containers, the cost has risen 

to more than N700,000 per 

twenty feet equivalent unit, 

TEU, following the collapse of 

the access roads to Lagos 

ports. 

According to some importers 

more importers will dump 

Lagos ports in preference to 

neighbouring countries’ ports. 

“With the uncertainty in 

bringing cargo through the 

Apapa Ports, the importers 

might be compelled to use 

neighboring country’s ports to 

ship in their cargoes”, Mr. 

Jude Okeke, an importer and 

accepts. 

“What we are saying is that let 

there be an independent body to 

ensure that accurate 

measurement of crude oil export 

is stated and documented. 

“This is the job of a stevedore. In 

the discharge and loading of 

cargo, stevedore will take proper 

records and give accurate figures 

because you are not at the export 

Importers resort to Cotonou port 

also the leader of the 

Association of Progressive 

Traders (ATP), Trade Fair 

Complex, said. 

According to him, the 

situation will keep on affecting 

the prices of goods in the 

market, which will keep 

increasing. He further stated 

that the situation was 

terminal. 

“We have made a proposal to 

government and we are still 

discussing. 

“We are not coming directly, we 

are saying that there are areas of 

operations where stevedores are 

not covering and which they must 

cover now because this is very 

important. 

“We are looking at some jetties that 

are not covered by government 

and we are also looking at the 

proliferations of arms in some of 

these jetties. 

“The owners of the jetties are the 

ones discharging and we do not 

know what they discharge, only 

the jetty owner knows what is 

being discharged”. 

Sumonu explained that 

stevedoring is part of the core area 

of the maritime industry, 

lamenting that what is obtaining 

in Nigeria is a far cry from what 

obtains in other maritime 

countries. 

“Stevedoring operations is safe 

and secure handling, discharging 

and cargo off-loading. We handle 

all sorts of products, wet, dry and 

general cargoes. 

“We work on the vessel to ensure 

that cargoes are discharged 

professionally and laden 

professionally”, he stated. 

The Acting President , Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo (Middle), the Managing Director of Nigerian 

Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman (left) and the Chairman of LADOL, Ladi Jadesimi 

(right) at the berthing of Egina FPSO in LADOL, Lagos. 

... as cost of cargo clearance in Lagos hits 483% increase 

worsening despite all the 

promises and statements of the 

government on addressing the 

problems. 

Another importer, Mr. 

Emeka Amadi, said that, 

“Apapa road had defied all 

manner of solutions. Despite 

the directives few weeks ago 

by the Vice President, Yemi 

Osiabnjo, the container drivers 

have defiled all odds and 

blocked every available space.” 

However, the importers 

urged the Federal Government 

to intervene and quickly 

develop other sea ports in the 

country to ease the Apapa and 

Tin-Can ports. 

NIMASA donates relief materials to 

IDP camps 


The Nigerian Maritime 


Agency, NIMASA, has 

donated relief materials to 

some Internal Displaced 

Persons, IDP camps across 

Nigeria as part of its Corporate 

Social Responsibility, CSR. 

This is even as the NIMASA 

boss Dr. Dakuku Peterside 

used the opportunity to call for 

more support from wellmeaning 

Nigerians and 

corporate organizations. 

The NIMASA boss who was 

speaking at one of the IDP 

camp in Abuja noted that 

people at the IDP camps across 

the country are integral part 

of Nigeria; hence they should 

not be neglected nor 

discriminated. 

“We must share in the grief of 

our fellow citizens, as no one 

wishes to find his or her self 

in any camp, knowing fullywell 

that the comfort there is 

minimal. Let me also assure 

you that in no distant time 

from now, you will all return 

to your abodes as the Federal 

Government is committed to 

ensuring that your safety is 

paramount. For us in 

NIMASA we are not just 

concerned about the wellbeing 

of the maritime sector, 

but as a corporate socially 

responsible Agency, we are 

concerned about your welfare; 

this is why we are here to 

support you the best way we 

can,” Peterside said. 

The DG who was represented 

in the camp by the Agency’s 

Director, Special Duties in 

charge of External Relations 

and Technical Cooperation, 

Hajia Lami Tumaka noted that 

the Agency will continue to 

support all initiatives by the 


Sifax Group, 

Unilag to 

hold Taiwo 

Afolabi 

Maritime 

Conference 


In continuation of its annual 

maritime conference held in 

conjunction with the 

Maritime Forum, University 

of Lagos, SIFAX Group 

will, next week hold the 

event at the University of 

Lagos. 

Former Managing Director, 

Nigeria Ports Authority 

(NPA), Chief Adebayo 

Sarumi, and Chairman, 

Nigerian Ports Consultative 

Forum, Otunba Kunle 

Folarin, as well as other 

stakeholders are expected 

to attend the Forum to x-ray 

the sector with a view of 

educating under-graduates 

of the tertiary institution on 

the development and 

challenges in the sector. 

The conference, held in 

honour of Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, 

Group Executive Vice- 

Chairman, SIFAX Group, is 

an initiative of the Maritime 

Forum, University of Lagos 

and SIFAX Group. 

Eminent maritime industry 

leaders, legal experts, 

academics, and university 

students drawn from about 

eight institutions will 

converge to discuss on the 

theme, “Port Cost & Ports 

Charges- A Recurring 

Decimal Under Port Reform 

Regime”. 

Other discussants expected 

at the event include 

Obiageli Obi, Director- 

General, Nigeria Chamber 

of Shipping; Hassan Bello, 

Executive Secretary/CEO, 

Nigeria Shippers’ Council; 

Major Henry Ajetunmobi, 

Executive Director, SIFAX 

Off Dock; Prince Olayiwola 

Shittu, Immediate Past 

Chairman, Association of 

Nigeria Licensed Customs 

Agent, Captain Ebubeogu 

Iheanacho, General 

Manager, MD’s Office, 

Nigeria Ports Authority; 

Mrs. Mfon Usoro and 

Adedoyin Afun, Senior 

Partner, Bloomfield Law 

Practice, among others. 

According to a statement 

signed by the Corporate 

Affairs Manager of Sifax 

Group, Muyiwa Akande, 

said that the SIFAX boss has 

noted the need to deepen 

discourse around topical 

issues in the country’s 

maritime industry, as well 

as proffering practical 

solutions to them, gave birth 

to the conference.



Customs & Imports 5 

Seme Customs collect N575m, as FOU Zone C 

seize contraband worth N500m 

By Godfrey Bivbere & Alemma- 

Ozioruva Aliu 

NIGERIA Customs 

Service, NCS, Seme 

Command has 

generated the sum of N575.6 

million as revenue in the month 

of July 2018, even as the 

Command seized 2,000 cartoons 

of spice gin within the period. 

This is even as the Zone C 

Federal Operation Unit, FOU of 

the Nigerian Customs Service 

said it has seized contraband 

worth N500 million between 

February and August this year 

even as it vowed it would 

continue to put measures in 

place to check the activities of 

smugglers and their 

collaborators in the country. 

The Customs Area Controller, 

CAC, Compt. Aliyu 

Mohammed, said that the antismuggling 

operation of the 

Command also made 91 

seizures with a Duty Paid Value, 

DPV of N130.9 million during 

the same period under review. 

Mohammed expressed 

satisfaction over the figure 

collected disclosing that the 

revenue represented about 85 

per cent of the target budgeted 

for the Command. 

He noted that seizure of Fire 

Spice Gin was as a result of the 

42 percent concentrate of alcohol 

content. Over 2,000 cartons of the 

said item was found concealed 

in a truck with the intention of 

evading Customs control. 

A statement signed by the 

Public Relations officer of the 

Command, Saidu Nuruddeen 

Abdullahi, gave DPV of the 

seized item as over N13million. 

While restating the 

commitment of Customs officers 

of the Command to securing the 

border against illicit trade that 

is harmful to the health and 

wellbeing of the citizenry, he 

further assured that “the Joint 

Border Post will serve as a 

platform that will simplify 

Customs procedures while 

increasing cooperation, 

collaboration, coordination and 

harmonious working 

relationships at the border post. 

“Based on the WCO (World 

Customs Organisation) 

emphasis on transnational 

border control management and 

the technical simulation/ 

handover of the Joint Border Post 

by the ECOWAS Commission at 

Seme which held on Friday, 27th 

July 2018; the CAC also 

disclosed that the Command is 

poised to conduct its assigned 

responsibilities with discipline at 

all levels and also ensure border 

security and seamless facilitation 

of legitimate trade, in tandem 

with the executive order on the 

RAID: The Roving Unit of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A recently raided Iddo and Totowu creeks 

both in Lagos where they impounded over 1,500 bags of imported rice. Pix shows some of 

the smuggled rice being conveyed on wooden canoes. 

ease of doing business.” 

Deputy Comptroller, DC and 

National Coordinator, CGs 

Strike Force, DC Abdulahi 

Kirawa stated this in Benin City, 

Edo state when he presented 

seized contrabands to newsmen. 

He said the seized items 

included over five 

thousand 50Kg parboiled bags 

of rice, concealed in Elephant 

bags, twenty one vehicles, One 

thousand, eight hundred used 

tyres , one hundred and twenty 

five bales of used Clothes and 

foot Wears, bags of Cannabis 

Sativa sealed in a salon car. 

He said the contrabands were 

seized between February 28 and 

August this year “largely 

through the creeks and land 

borders through intelligence 

gathering, credible information 

provided to officers and men 

through good Samaritans and of 

course, the Customs 

‘We’re victims of blackmail’, FOU Zone ‘B’ boss 

cries out 

BY Eguono Odjegba 

The Controller, Nigeria 

Customs Service, Federal 

Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ 

Kaduna, Comptroller Usman 

Shehu Dakingari, has hit back 

at the National Assembly for 

wrong and unfair assessment 

of the Service and its 

operatives, noting that it is 

“unkind and capable of 

demoralizing officers” when 

the elites, worst of all very 

important organs of 

government such as 

lawmakers appear to be in 

competition to criticize and 

knock the management of the 

Customs Service and its 

operatives, for doing what it 

is established to do: generate 

revenue, facilitate trade and 

suppress smuggling. 

Usman who was reacting to 

Intelligence Unit (CIU). 

Kirawa said all the items seized 

are banned item. “The seized 

rice for instance do not date of 

production, batch number, 

expiry date, and NAFDAC 

number non existent” 

He said a set 1,800 used tyres 

were discovered in a container 

which the owner declared 

contained fairly used vehicles 

”but inside the container were 

1800 pieces of used tyres made 

up of a bundle having four 

pieces each. They were craftily 

arranged in such a way that if 

you are not observant, you will 

think it is just one tyre” 

Kirawa said the vehicles seized 

were without end users 

certificate a document he said 

was needed even before duty is 

allowed to be paid on the vehicle. 

He said a Toyota Camry car 

thought to be a private car was 

also seized and checks showed 

questions regarding recent 

motion by Hon. Gudaki 

Kasaure, on the floor of the 

House of Representatives in 

respect of alleged shooting of 

smugglers in his constituency 

said, “I have no need to join 

issues with our legislators, but 

I must insist that the Customs 

Service is a creation of the 

law, established to carry out 

specific and general duties. 

I feel scandalized that 

despite the reported cases of 

ambush of our officers and 

killings of some by smugglers, 

our legislators’ dispositions 

tend to encourage public 

attacks on the Service. I find 

it very painful that those who 

should be giving us moral 

support are even in the 

business of subtle blackmail. 

For me, the motion you refer 

to is their rightful business, 

but I think the unfair criticism 

that it was laden with cannabis 

sativa popularly called Indian 

Hemp concealed in a bag 

“where you will think it is either 

vegetable or cloths” 

He said125 bales of second 

hand clothing which he said 

were in the absolute prohibition 

list were also siezed. 

On his part, the Zonal 

Commander Kolade Kayoed 

thanked the management of the 

service as he vowed to fish out 

smugglers in the zone. “We are 

not advising them to stop but we 

will make sure that we track 

them down. If they continue to 

do it, they should be sure that 

we will waste their resources 

and turn them to paupers 

because smuggling is being 

done by rich men in this country 

and we will make sure we waste 

their resources.” 

of Customs has become 

irritating. 

Usman continues: “The 

customs duty includes antismuggling 

operations. 

Smugglers continue to devise 

both crude and deviant means 

of plying their trade, and as the 

Customs strategize to counter 

and combat them, they keep 

devising newer and newer 

approaches. Customs antismuggling 

activities is not a tea 

party affair, it is almost a war 

situation. Often our officers and 

men are ambushed in the most 

callous manner, some are 

killed, and some are maimed 

for life in the line of duty. I think 

that it is unfair to play up oneoff 

case where shooting becomes 

unavoidable. 

“Making arrests and seizures 

like I said is almost always a war 

situation. Before you know it 

crowd have been attracted 

Customs step 

up fight against 

extinction of 

endangered 

species 

By Ebuka Oko 

In accordance with the global 

treaty signed by the World 

Customs Organization, WCO, 

to protect the endangered 

species and wildlife 

conservation, the antismuggling 

unit of the Federal 

Operating Unit (FOU), Zone 

“A” Ikeja of Nigerian Customs 

Service, NCS, have made 

remarkable seizures of some 

endangered species, which 

include: 21 sacks of Pangolin 

Scales weighing 1, 031kg and 

4 pieces of elephant tusk 

weighing 29.35kg. 

The seized items, which 

have a duty paid value DPV, 

of N253.6 million was tracked 

down from a shop located in 

Tejosho market, Yaba, Lagos, 

based on the information by 

the Warehouse Operations 

Team led by Assistant 

Controller Mutalib Sule. 

The Area Controller, 

Mohammed Uba, revealed 

this while addressing the 

newsmen last week during a 

press briefing and exhibition 

of impounded goods worth 

over N2.1 billion within. 

“The trade on such 

endangered species is globally 

prohibited, hence the need for 

us all to fight against such 

illegality so that such 

endangered species do not go 

into extinction” he stated. 

On the issue of arrest, Mr. 

Mohammed said that, “the 

occupant of the shop fled and 

still at large, but investigation 

is already ongoing towards 

getting the culprit arrested 

and prosecuted”. 

He equally said that the 

items will be properly handed 

over to the appropriate agency 

for further investigations. 

especially operations in 

communities and townships, 

and soon the crowd join the 

offenders to attack our 

operatives. No customs 

operative is out there for 

himself, he is carrying out 

government duty, trying to 

checkmate leakages and make 

seizures, not for himself or me 

but for our nation. 

“When the atmosphere 

becomes rowdy and an 

operative is determined to 

secure a seizure, he attempts to 

diffuse the crowd and 

immediate threats to his safety 

and that of the seizures. He tries 

to reduce threats, the 

smugglers and his supporters, 

and sometimes shoots into the 

air. He also has to protect his 

firearm from being snatched; a 

lot of issues assail him as an 

arresting officer.


6 

Interview 

National President of 

Association of Nigeria 

Licensed Customs Agents, 

ANLCA, Tony Iju 

Nwabunike recently in this 

interview with Vanguard 

Maritime Report’s Godfrey 

Bivbere, spoke on the 

gridlock in Apapa, the 

condition of the port access 

roads, regulation problems, 

crisis in ANLCA and 

CRFFN, haulage cost and 

many more. 

Excerpt: 

You are embarking on a 

container terminal project in 

Onitsha? 

Yes, a container terminal and 

freight station in Onitsha in 

conjunction with the Anambra 

State Government. So, it is going 

to cushion the effect of Onitsha 

and Nnewi traders. 

So, what is the position of the 

project now? 

We are working hard on it to be 

commissioned before December. 

Yes. We are working hard on it. 

What is the capacity of the train 

station? 

It is about 14,000 TEUs. We have 

two phases. We are doing 

phase one now. 

What is the phaseone1 about? 

Phase 1 is 14,000 

What about phase two? 

Because the project is large, we 

are expecting an institution there 

too. So it is going to be a total 

composition of freight station, 

border terminal, dry port and 

export. Anambra state is really 

working on that. 

Where is it located? 

It is at Ozubulu, just 15 

kilometres from Onitsha, Onitsha- 

Owerri road and 10 kilometres to 

Nnewi. 

It is a very good location. But 

how do you move the containers 

from wherever to the train 

station? 

Just like we are moving 

containers to Kano and Kaduna 

presently because both of them 

are in the same region, the freight 

station is not working yet. Even in 

the Kano and Kaduna, we have 

been going there without train. 

Most of them are by road. 

I heard you are connected in 

the one at Kaduna too? 

Yes, I’m a director there. 

What is the situation there 

presently? 

It is working well. The dry port 

is finding its foot but the Kaduna 

Inland Container Depot, ICD, as 

well as the one in Kano, is 

working well. 

So that is where they do the 

clearance? 

Yes. But the other one you have 

to have a bill of laden telling 

Custom that you want to transfer 

to border terminal. But this one 

you don’t need Customs 

permission for that one, you just 

send it straight. 

The issue of the recent directive 

by the vice president that the port 

access road should be cleared 

within 72 hours, and it is over 72 

hours now, although there is a 

little improvement but the 

gridlock is still there? 

Between you and I, you know 

that the problem of port road have 

been lingering for almost twenty 

something years now. I think 

seriously that we have to go multimodal. 

Multi-modal must be in 

place to do things correctly, 

meaning that our train station 

must work. 

Again, for those obstructing car 

park there, they must learn how 

to do parking because we need 

to minimize the levels of trucks 

and vehicles coming to Apapa. 

Lack of regulation causing 

recklessness in the maritime 

industry — Tony Nwabunike 

Look at Apapa technically, there 

is no much room for development, 

the roads are bad, the bridge are 

tiny, they are having one way-in, 

one way-out. 

So, going out from Apapa is the 

same thing, coming in from Tin- 

Can is the same and they did not 

plan it properly. So the train 

station need to work, they need to 

begin to think about 3rd bridge 

to enter Apapa, yes, very 

important. 

Where will the third bridge be? 

The third bride, wherever they 

think is right, even if it is from 

Marina straight to inside port. 

They need to make that provision. 

On the immediate measure, the 

container bay, everybody terminal 

operators must have a container 

bay where you should go and 

stack your empty container and 

bring them to the port when they 

are ready for export. 

I think it is what terminals must 

have all the reports and that these 

containers have to come 

immediately when the vessel is 

around to load and they take it to 

that place. That should be a 

temporal measure; but the 

permanent measure is that there 

must be call up system on this 

issue. 

Then, the third option is to 

decentralize the Lagos port. 

Whatever is making Lagos port 

very attractive should be done to 

allow the eastern ports attractive 

also. 

We just have to do that. Just as I 

am telling you that we are having 

another terminal, they should 

encourage such terminals to 

come up so that we can take 

consignments from Port Harcourt 

and by the time you take more 

than 15,000 

containers to 

Anambra 

container 

terminal, by the 

time you make 

sure the Warri 

port is okay, by 

the time you 

make sure that 

the Onne Port is 

working, by the 

time you make 

Warri port very 

effective, these 

are the areas we 

should have to 

work on to 

decentralize the 

Lagos Port. 

One thing a lot 

of people talk 

about is the 

issue of the state governments not 

knowing the advantages of this 

port like in Delta, Rivers and 

Cross River, and that they are not 

making the federal government 

see the reason why they should 

be developed. Do you think they 

have anything to do in this 

regard? 

Yes, what I think they should do 

if they have worked very well, you 

see by the time you now have a 

partnership with shipping liners 

they now take shipping trade from 

Singapore for example, or China 

to Apapa wharf, it can then pass 

from China to Warri, the same free 

charges from China to Calabar, 

not saying that Calabar will pay 

extra $3,000 or $2,000 and that is 

one. 

The second thing they should 

•Tony Nwabunike 

The federal 

government is 

not even 

concentrating 

on the issues of 

Apapa port if 

not, that roads 

would have 

been planned 

before now 

do is that they need to encourage 

those areas with sophisticated 

facilities and other things like less 

charge, terminal charges and all 

the rest of them. 

I think they will come up, but 

the point is that even the federal 

government is not even 

concentrating on the issues of 

Apapa port if not, that roads would 

have been planned before now, 

so the pressure is that they want 

to be giving targets to Customs. 

Customs generated one trillion, 

three trillion, five trillion, but they 

are not interested about other 

issues like the one on ground, the 

traffic gridlock. 

They have not gotten a real 

solution to the problem. Every 

government 

come tell us the 

same old story, 

so sometimes, 

people like me, 

it does not 

interest me 

anymore 

because I know 

that it is the 

same story they 

talk about. 

B u t 

nevertheless, I 

think this 

government is 

becoming a little 

bit serious, so if 

they are serious 

then we will 

give them a 

template on how 

to solve this 

finally. 

And then the issue of haulage 

charges, in the centre of last 

month they said moving of 

container from Tin-Can to Ikeja 

used to cost about N250,000 

naira, but now what I’m hearing 

is that to move it just from inside 

the port to outside the port gate 

cost about N200,000, is it that 

expensive? 

You see, another problem we are 

having is the level of nonchalance 

from the truck owners and their 

drivers. You see, most times they 

do things and take laws into their 

hands. There was a strike, they 

have issue piled up, they think 

that the principles of supply and 

demand is there so because there 

are no much trucks to pick all the 

goods out, they now go for jugular 

and go for the killer. Otherwise, 

why can’t the Nigeria Shippers 

council, NSC move in and control 

them. Anyone who refused to 

adhere to the Council control will 

be sanctioned. If they like let 

them go and strike. They will 

come back and adhere to the 

regulations of the government 

Everybody is doing what he 

wants to do and what he likes to 

do in the port, so he port has 

become a very abnormal area of 

indiscipline. Everybody does 

whatever he wants to do, so I think 

we should adhere strictly to the 

regulatory bodies to do what they 

need to do and they should be up 

and working. 

But government is only 

interested in giving these people 

target. If you are going to Alaba, 

you are made to pay N70,000. 

Okay, what about the issue of 

charges, do you have idea on how 

much they charge now? 

They charge whatever they like 

to charge. I remember that going 

to Alaba before was about 

N170,000 but now is almost 

N550,000, almost ten times higher 

so, how can you comprehend that. 

You see, the problem we have is 

that nobody is regulating them 

and there are very limited number 

of trucks that will carry the higher 

large numbers of containers that 

is in the port right now. There is 

no good road, you know, another 

thing is that there is no way to store 

the empty container within 2 

weeks because there is no holding 

bay, if there is holding bay, they 

will go. 

Okay, let’s come to the issue of 

ANLCA, the BOT chairmanship 

what is your take? Who is in 

charge? 

Let me tell you, it is not too good 

for somebody to inherit a 

disorganized family right? 

Immediately I was sworn –in that 

they begin to do this tussle, and I 

have asked them severally that to 

let the status quo remain let me 

do my research and place things 

the way it should be. 

Actually, they do not want to 

understand why the status quo 

should remain, so what they have 

done is to sit down now. I think I 

have to do that again, I will call 

them for a meeting, tell the 

ASECO chairman to conduct 


another election, let them do 

election, whoever wins then we 

will induct him there and then 

and bring him in, that’s all, 

immediately. They are not much 

that they cannot organize another 

election, they are only eight but 

that does not matter because they 

can form a quorum, they can call 

me in as president to sit down and 

let us elect ourselves to give it 

serious legitimacy so that nobody 

will say no, I was not defeated 

properly. 

ASUCO chairman will have to 

be there and we do the elections 

for them, whoever wins in my 

presence, will be sworn in 

immediately. But now, I can’t talk 

much about it because some set 

of people went to court I don’t 

even know why. I inherited it and 

which I used my wisdom to 

remove it and by the special grace 

of God I will see some wisdom and 

understanding to make them 

understand that you do not need 

to be rushing to court all the time, 

this is just an issue that we can 

solve. 

What about the issue of Council 

for the Regulation of Freight 

Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, 

the election has come and gone, 

what is your stake in that, are you 

okay with it? 

For me, the election was a good 

one. I do not have any reason to 

say that this election was not a 

good one because it was 

transparent one, and whatever 

happened here we need to move 

forward in CRFFN. 

You know CRFFN has been so 

stagnant, we need to allow it 

move. Even if it require pushing, 

we push them, if it requires 

drawing, then we draw them, 

whichever way we need to get it 

right, we should get it right. I think 

the election have come and gone. 

If they are inaugurated they need 

to go and sit down in the 

governing council and structure 

out the way to do things properly 

in the maritime industry and 

freight forwarding business. 

And then finally sir, there is this 

insinuation that because you 

were involved in CRFFN before, 

you mellowed down a little in the 

demands of Association of 

Nigeria Licensed Customs 

Agents, ANLCA for the elections 

to take place, making it 

impossible for ANLCA to be as 

dominant as it use to be in the 

past? 

No, the truth of the matter is that 

while ANLCA was in court for 

CRFFN to conduct the election 

but they were not ready because 

if you are asking court for CRFFN 

to conduct an election, you have 

to be prepared for that election is 

that not right? 

But they are not prepared for the 

election. But now court said okay, 

CRFFN is ready for an election so 

what else are you asking for, now 

the case is that other associations 

were ready who have been 

registering their membership, so 

but ANLCA was not prepared for 

that election. 

So the ones we could get, you 

know before now we are 

dominant but now we are equal 

to, all of us are Customs Brokers. 

We are one big family every one 

of them came from ANLCA, even 

if you are National Association of 

Government Approved Freight 

Forwarders, NAGAFF, it doesn’t 

really matter, and they are all 

freight forwarders. The important 

thing is for them to go and 

represent us properly and make 

sure that our voice is heard, that’s 

all. What matters is that we are 

Customs Brokers and freight 

forwarders to represent us 

properly and champion our 

course.


Global ship losses reduce further by 4% 

There were 94 total losses 

reported around the 

shipping world in 2017, 

down 4 percent year-on-year, 

according to Allianz Global 

Corporate & Specialty SE’s , 

AGCS. 

The report indicates that large 

shipping losses have declined 

by more than a third (38%) 

over the past decade and that 

the downward trend continued 

into 2017, marking the second 

lowest losses in 10 years after 

2014. 

However, Allianz stressed that 

the sinking of the oil tanker, 

Sanchi, and the impact of the 

NotPetya malware on harbor 

logistics underline that the 

shipping sector is being tested 

by a number of traditional and 

emerging risk challenges. 

“Insurance claims have been 

relatively benign, reflecting 

improved ship design and the 

positive effects of risk 

management policy and safety 

regulation over time,” says 

Baptiste Ossena, Global 

Product Leader, Hull & 

Marine Liabilities, at AGCS. 

“However, as the use of new 

technologies on board vessels 

grows, we expect to see 

changes in the maritime loss 

environment in future. The 

number of more technical 

claims will grow, such as cyber 

incidents or technological 

defects, in addition to 

traditional losses, such as 

collisions or groundings.” 

The report further finds that 

almost a third of shipping 

losses in 2017, 30 ships, 

occurred in South China, 

Indochina, Indonesia, and 

Philippines maritime region, 

up 25% annually, driven by 

activity in Vietnamese waters. 

This area has been the major 

global loss hotspot for the past 

decade, leading some media 

commentators to label it the 

“new Bermuda Triangle”. 

The weather, busy seas and 

lower safety standards on 

some domestic routes, have 

been identified as major loss 

factors. 

Outside of Asia, the East 

Mediterranean and the Black 

Sea region is the second major 

loss hotspot (17) followed by 

the British Isles (8). There was 

also a 29% annual increase in 

reported shipping incidents in 

Arctic Circle waters (71), based 

on AGCS analysis. 

Cargo vessels (53) accounted 

for over half of all vessels lost 

globally in 2017. Fishing and 

passenger vessel losses are 

down year-on-year. 

Bulk carriers accounted for 

five of the 10 largest reported 

total losses by GT. The most 

common cause of global losses 

remains foundering (sinking), 

with 61 sinkings in 2017. 

Wrecked/stranded ranks 

second (13), followed by 

machinery damage/failure (8). 

What is more, the analysis 

showed that Friday is the most 

dangerous day at sea – 175 

losses of 1,129 total losses 

reported have occurred on this 

day over the past decade. 

Human error still a big issue. 

Data can help. 

It is estimated that 75% to 96% 

of shipping accidents involve 

human error. It is also behind 

75% of 15,000 marine liability 

insurance industry claims 

analyzed by AGCS, costing 

USD 1.6billion. 

“Human error continues to be 

a major driver of incidents,” 

says Captain Rahul Khanna, 

Global Head of Marine Risk 

Consulting, AGCS. 

“Inadequate shore-side 

support and commercial 

pressures have an important 

role to play in maritime safety 

and risk exposure. Tight 

schedules can have a 

detrimental impact on safety 

culture and decision-making.” 

Better use of data and 

analytics could help. The 

shipping industry produces a 

lot of data but could utilize it 

better, producing real-time 

findings and alerts, Khanna 

believes. 

“By analyzing data 24/7 we can 

Port of Antwerp hit by fire 

A 

smoldering fire 

erupted in a 

consignment of 5,000 tonnes 

of nickel oxide in a 

warehouse at the Port of 

Antwerp at the weekend, 

causing the port authority to 

evacuate seagoing vessels 

in the vicinity. 

The fire broke out on 

Saturday evening in a 6,000 

m² warehouse on the 

Emdenweg, Leopold Dok, 

Antwerp’s bulk terminal, the 

port authority said. 

Firefighters were rushed to 

the scene immediately and 

the local authorities invoked 

the municipal disaster plan 

which resulted in the 

evacuation of seagoing 

vessels and staff from the 

business offices at the site 

in a radius of 1.8 kilometers. 

The port authority said on 

Sunday that the fire has 

been put under control, but 

was not extinguished yet. 

“The previously set up 

evacuation zone is now 

being lifted for companies 

and traffic. There may still 

be odor nuisance locally, 

but there is no health risk. 

The municipal disaster plan 

is terminated,” the port 

update reads. 

Namely, the Belgian Health 

Inspectorate indicated that 

this was not a carcinogenic 

or toxic product, and due to 

the emergency evacuation, 

all health risks have been 


International News 7 

gain new insights from crew 

behavior and near-misses that 

can identify trends. The 

shipping industry has learned 

from losses in the past but the 

predictive analysis could be 

the difference between a safe 

voyage and a disaster.” 

Based on the report, megaship 

fires, emissions rules, 

climate change and 

autonomous shipping pose 

new risk challenges. Insurers 

expect to see more losses from 

cyber incidents and 

technological defects. 

MEETING: Mrs. Vesna Vercon Ivic, Consul, (Middle) Serbia Embassy to the United Kingdom, 

during International Maritime Organization, IMO, Secretary-General, Kitack Lim (L) and 

an Embassy staff during a meeting at IMO Headquarters in London. 

Antwerp, Dakar ports strengthen ties 

Antwerp and Dakar port 

authorities plan to 

collaborate more closely in 

the next few years as they 

signed a memorandum of 

understanding (MOU) in 

Senegal on March 2, 2018. 

As informed, Dakar has 

set sights on building a 

new port 50 km away from 

the present facility which, 

with a keel depth of 18 

meters, will be able to 

handle the latest 

generation of giant 

container carriers. 

Together with the new 

port, Dakar also plans an 

economic and logistics 

zone of 600 hectares. 

“We will make use of our 

experience and expertise 

to help Dakar realize its 

ambitions,” Kristof 

Waterschoot, CEO of two 

avoided. 

Overall, the port authority 

assessed that there was a 

minor impact on the vessel 

traffic at the port due to the 

incident. 

subsidiaries of Antwerp 

Port Authority (PAI and 

APEC), said after the 

signature. 

A recent report by the 

World Bank underlines the 

economic potential of the 

continent but also points up 

a number of challenges 

such as the lack of 

sufficiently trained 

personnel, according to the 

Port of Antwerp Authority. 

“We will immediately step 

in to fill this gap, by sharing 

our know-how and 

expertise. Our training 

center APEC remains the 

partner of choice for 

training maritime 

professionals, while our 

consultancy subsidiary PAI 

will assist the port authority 

with the necessary expertise 

for developing a 

Gulf of Guinea 

plans to 

enhance 

maritime 

security 

International Maritime 

Organization, IMO, is 

supporting countries from the 

Gulf of Guinea region in their 

plans to enhance maritime 

security. 

Participants from 10 countries 

- Benin, Cabo 

Verde, Cameroon, Cote 

d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, 

Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and 

Togo, as well as international 

partners such as INTERPOL 

and the UK Foreign and 

Commonwealth Office - are 

taking part in a workshop in 

Monterey, USA on 

developing and refining their 

work plans. 

This includes introducing new 

topics directly related to the 

successful implementation of 

maritime security strategies – 

such as negotiation skills for 

secure political and inter- 

Ministerial cooperation. 

The workshop, which includes 

a field trip to the US Coast 

Guard Monterey Station, is 

organized by the US 

Department of State funded 

Centre for Civil Military 

Relations (CCMR). It is the 

second of three events. A 

workshop in Abidjan was held 

in March 2018 and the final 

event is due to take place in 

Yaoundé in March 2019. IMO 

is represented by Gisela 

Vieira. 

IMO facilitates this by helping 

Member States enhance their 

maritime security, focussing on 

what the civil maritime 

stakeholders, which includes 

both the shipping and port 

sectors, can do to protect 

themselves and to assist 

governments to protect global 

maritime trade. 

multipurpose terminal and 

deepening the approach 

channels so as to maximize 

the capacity of the port of 

Dakar,” Waterschoot added. 

The MoU also contains a 

number of commitments in 

the area of marketing, 

developing trade relations, 

organizing joint 

commercial events and 

exchanging information on 

subjects such as customs & 

excise, security, and 

sustainability. 

With an annual freight 

volume of 17 million tons, 

Dakar is one of the largest 

ports on the coast of West 

Africa. This port city is 

located at the crossroads of 

sailing routes between 

Europe and North and 

South America and 

southern Africa


Data & Figures 


VESSELS EXPECTED AT THE LAGOS PILOTAGE DISTRICT 

Delta Port Shipping Position


Feedbackhall.com to advance 

customer relations in Nigeria 

By Juliet Umeh 

Apparently trying to 

build an enduring 

communications 

relationship between 

service providers and their 

consumers, an independent 

voice for consumers, 

Feedbackhall, has just 

launched a community 

review website called 

Feedbackhall.com. 

The website is open for 

Nigerians to review and rate 

products, ask questions, 

share opinions and real life 

experiences on products 

and services offered in 

Nigerian markets to equip 

potential users and also 

provide feedback to the 

service providers. 

Speaking at the launch, 

the initiator of the website, 

Dr. Chiugo Kanu, said the 

aim is to give consumers 

power. He said: “It doesn’t 

make sense if the consumers 

are sharing this information 

and the producers are not 

using them. So we want it 

both ways, we believe that 

this aims at encouraging 

good relationships because 

if the consumers are happy 

when they share their 

experiences, companies 

learn better and will provide 

better quality goods. 

“In a nutshell, we want to 

make consumers happier, 

more satisfied and then we 

want businesses to grow 

better because we believe 

that businesses that have 

consumers at heart develop 

faster,” she said. 

Also speaking at the event, 

a Nigerian management 

expert, Professor Pat Utomi, 

said: “Apart from giving the 

consumers the voice, 

another important thing is 

that it will help the 

producers themselves to be 

getting more realistic 

feedback which is a critical 

thing for their own 

competiveness." He noted 

that consumer behaviour is 

useful and key to 

understanding deeper 

programmes to help both 

producers and consumers. 

In his keynote address on 

the topic: Information as a 

tool of accountability, 

Director-General, 

Consumer Protection 

Council, Mr. Babatunde 

Irukera, said information is 

an important tool of 

accountability because it 

helps decision-making 

process in both ways. He 

lamented that the consumer 

space is so abused in 

Nigeria and needs to 

change. 

Said Irukera: “For me, full 

disclosure of information to 

consumers is not only the 

best standard but the only 

standard, there is absolutely 

no discretion. Any piece of 

information that will modify 

choice must be provided to 

consumers and that is the 

gap that is missing in our 

country. He, however, 

appreciated the initiators of 

the website and promised 

to work with them. 

Also, Deputy Director, 

Standards Organisation of 

Nigeria, SON, Mr. Mathias 

Bassey, appreciated the 

initiative, saying it was in 

line with the vision of SON. 

FG backs AUN Prof. for top ATU position 

By Ebele Orakpo 

The 

Federal 

Government has 

endorsed an Assistant 

Professor and chair of the 

Telecommunication & 

Wireless Technologies 

program in the American 

University of Nigeria, AUN, 

Dr. Abubakar Hussaini, as 

Nigeria’s sole candidate to 

contest the position of 

Secretary-General of the 

African Telecommunications 

Union, ATU this month. 

Hussaini said his agenda 

is to accelerate broadband 

availability, including the 5G 

technology, and expand the 

Global Information Society 

to include more African 

users. 

He is also promising to 

nudge the ATU into 

developing a program of 

work for Public Protection 

and Disaster Relief, PPDR. 

“This should look at the 

various PDR options that 

might be best suited to the 

requirements of Africa and 

suggest policies (such as 

spectrum or joint 

purchasing schemes) that 

can best achieve Africa’s 

security needs.” 

A diplomatic note verbale 

No A.90/2018, dated 13th 

July, from Nigeria’s Foreign 

Ministry supporting Dr. 

Abubakar Hussaini’s 

candidacy and transmitted 

to the ATU Secretariat in 

Nairobi, Kenya, was 

received and acknowledged 

by the Secretary-General, 

Soumaila Abdoulkarim on 

July 17. 

The Foreign Ministry 

affirmed in the cover letter 

that Hussaini, who holds a 

*Dr. Abubakar Hussaini 

PhD in Telecommunication 

from the University of 

Bradford, UK, possesses a 

great wealth of experience 

Where we are, where we’re 

headed — NCC 

Continued from page 23 

MainOne, Phase3 Telecom 

and Broadbased Telecom, 

and supervised by Acting 

President Yemi Osinbajo, has 

deployed fibre cable in the 

country and plans to lay 

additional 18,000km fibre 

infrastructure to complement 

the already 40,000km on 

ground. This will push the 

120,000km of fibre optic cable 

that the country needs to 

ensure maximum broadband 

connectivity to address 

challenges of intra and inter 

broadband connectivity. 

Our plan is to make Nigeria 

a fibre connected nation 

across all 774 local 

government areas. Every 

local government in the 

country deserves to have 

broadband connectivity and 

this can be achieved through 

additional deployment of 

broadband infrastructure. So 

we need targeted 

in telecommunications 

which are necessary 

attributes to hold the 

prestigious office on the 

continental level. 

AUN President, Dr. Dawn 

Dekle, described Hussaini’s 

chances as very bright 

considering his wealth of 

experience, passion for 

telecommunications 

scholarship and 

commitment to human 

development. “Dr. ASH is 

the best man for the job and 

will proudly fly the Nigerian 

and AUN flags with the 

utmost integrity. We wish 

him good luck,” she said. 

deployment across the 

country. 

What are the challenges? 

There are national and 

regional challenges to 

broadband penetration. In 

these two broad areas of 

challenges, there are 

backbone infrastructure 

challenges as well as 

challenges of broadband 

access in underserved and 

unserved areas of the 

country. 

At the centre of it all is the 

problem of Right of Way, 

RoW. The operators are 

finding it difficult to deploy 

infrastructure because of 

high cost of RoW. 

But the NCC is consciously 

engaging the critical 

industry stakeholders on the 

issue. I mean critical industry 

stakeholders like the 

National Economic Council, 

under the chairmanship of 

the vice president of the 

country, as well as the 

Nigerian government.

Police seal off CAPDAN secretariat 

in Computer Village 

Stories by Prince Osuagwu 

The Nigeria Police has 

taken over the secretariat 

of the Computer and Allied 

Products Dealers Association of 

Nigeria, CAPDAN, at Ikeja 

Computer Village, in a bid to 

quench the devastating power 

tussle among the market leaders. 

Hi-Tech noticed movement of 

heavily armed policemen from 

Special Anti-Robbery Squad, 

SARS, suspected to be from 

Area F, since weekend. 

The armed policemen prevented 

movements of people 

into and out of the CAPDAN 

secretariat, located inside Ikeja 

Computer Village. 

Close sources told Hi-Tech 

that the policemen were invited 

following alleged refusal by 

the current executive of CAP- 

DAN to hold a fresh election 

or hand over power to duly 

constituted caretaker committee 

after the expiration of their 

tenure. 

Current CAPDAN executives 

led by Mr. Adeniyi Ojikutu, 

were said to have completed 

the stipulated two terms in office 

according to the constitution, 

but refused to conduct 

election and handover to another 

executive, prompting 

CAPDAN Board of Trustees to 

quickly constitute a caretaker 

committee that will take over 

and conduct election within 

two months as the CAPDAN 

constitution stipulates. 

A letter written by the Board 

of Trustees to the current CAP- 

DAN executive, dated July 30, 

2018, which was made available 

to the media, read: "Please 

refer to our letter dated 10th 

July, 2018, particularly to paragraph 

three thereof concerning 

the plan by the Caretaker Committee 

to take over from the 

present executive members 

and conduct a fresh election in 

line with the provisions of the 

constitution." 

The letter listed the members 

of the caretaker committee to 

include: Mr. Tunde Aremu as 

Chairman; Chief Viginus Odinaka 

as Vice-Chairman; Mr. 

James Odia as Secretary, Alhaji 

Tope Alebiosu as member and 

Mrs. Joke Sofowora as member. 

Having written the letter, 

the caretaker committee gathered 

last Friday for the inauguration 

and handover, but 

they were surprised to see the 

presence of armed policemen 

who prevented them from holding 

the inauguration and handover 

in the secretariat. 

Reacting to the situation, 

Ojikutu said the caretaker committee 

was illegally constituted 

without the presence of 

CAPDAN President and Secretary. 

He added that the committee 

wanted to force him out 

of office whereas he has not 

completed his three years of 

one-tenure as stipulated by the 

constitution. “The constitution 

allows for three years tenure 

and we have spent just two 

years, and they want us out,” 

Ojikutu said. 

How Large Michaels’ sales promo made 

petty trader car owner 

Luck smiled on Chigozie 

Igboanude, a computer 

and phone accessories trader 

at Saka Tinubu Lagos, Tuesday, 

when he was announced 

the winner of a brand new Kia 

Rio car 2014 model, at the 

grand finale of the Large 

Michaels sales promo in Ikeja. 

Large Michaels Limited, is an 

indigenous distributor of laptops 

and other computing accessories. 

The company, in collaboration 

with its partners, HP 

and Intel, flagged off a sales 

promo which saw many of its 

customers smile home with different 

consolation prizes including 

laptops, printers, microwave 

ovens, set of pots, air 

fryers, in addition to the star 

prize of brand new Kia Rio. 

The promo which ran for six 

months, ended Tuesday after 

Igboanude emerged star prize 

winner through a raffle draw 

conducted publicly in the presence 

of representatives of Lottery 

Commission and Consumer 

protection Council, CPC. 

Speaking at the presentation 

ceremony, the Business Development 

Director, Large 

Michaels Limited, Mr. Stanley 

Uzoechina, said the promo was 

not only to increase sales but 

also to appreciate customers 

who have consistently trusted 

in the business fidelity of the 

company. 

Uzoechina said that besides 

the promo, there are other times 

the company would reward 

customers instantly as they 

make purchases. He added that 

customer appreciation and reward 

were in the company’s 

DNA and have formed the basis 

for which it desires to open 

branches across Nigeria to 

touch more lives. 

*From left: Mr. Stanley Uzoechina (Business Dev. Director), Madam 

Gina, consolation prize winner, Mr Chigozie Igboanude (star prize winner), 

Mr. Michael Ezeamama, MD, Large Micheals and Mrs. Nwanneka 

Nnoli, another consolation prize winner at the just-concluded Large 

Michaels-Intel sales promo. 

Speaking after winning the 

grand prize, an extremely excited 

Igboanude said the miracle 

of suddenly becoming a 

car owner is one that would 

take him a long time to stop narrating; 

adding that companies 

like Large Michaels will always 

prosper where others who do 

not care about their customers 

are complaining of hard times. 

*Winner, Mr. Chigozie Igboanude 

displaying his car keys 


More competition in ride hailing 

app system as Carxie debuts 

Ride hailing apps like Uber, Taxify, among others, must 

now have to continually look behind their shoulders as a 

Nigeria ride hailing app, Carxie makes its way into the system. 

The app which unveiled recently boasts of having hundreds 

of cab owners and commuters in Nigeria downloading 

it Claiming stoutly that the indigenous app will upset the status-quo, 

Operations Director, Dukan Group, parent company 

of CarXie, Mr. Chinedu Amadi, said expectations are high 

from the general public who already see a successful Nigerian 

enterprise driven by the urge to surpass international standards. 

He described the response of Nigerians to CarXie as magnificent. 

He revealed that within a week of the launch that 

over 500 persons have downloaded the CarXie App, in addition 

to the too many messages and prayers that he is receiving 

in support of the project. He noted that CarXie has hit 

the ground running and commuters are already expressing 

deep satisfaction with the service being rendered. 

Amadi also expressed fulfillment that CarXie is already 

delivering on its projection to provide employment for 36,000 

Nigerians in the next five years. He said CarXie was designed 

to bring comfort, safety, and timeliness to the transport sector 

in Nigeria through well-defined processes to both the cab and 

the driver while properly establishing the identity of the rider. 

He remarked: “Employment is generated through three 

levels of supervisory partnerships embedded in the CarXie 

design – the Executive, State, and Regional. Each level of 

partnership, according to him, has responsibilities and remunerations 

that add value to the riding experience. Riders can 

board confidently – expecting an accident-free trip; there is a 

zero possibility of theft or kidnapping; schedules are met without 

hiccups. 

*From left: A.O. Omotohinse, FRSC Route Commander; 

Chief Echika Ezuka, Consultant; Chinedu Amadi, CarXie Operations 

Director; Mrs. Chinenye Amadi; Major-General Tony 

Okeke; Wilfred Minimahs, Stanbic IBTC Bank; Mr. Anyanwu 

and Vivian Chilaka of Union Bank, at the flag off of Carxie in 

Lagos, recently. 

APPA seeks legal protection for 

e-Consumers 

*MD, Large Michaels Ltd, Mr. Michael Ezeamama presenting the 

keys of the star prize, Kia Rio , to the winner, Mr. Chigozie Igboanude 

of Reidata Nigeria Ltd. 

By Emmanuel Elebeke 

THE Association for Public 

Policy Analysis, APPA, has 

called for a protective framework 

that would guarantee the 

safety of e-Commerce Consumers 

in Nigeria. 

The association said the protective 

legislation has become 

necessary in view of the noninclusion 

of such laws in the 

new Cyber Security Act and 

other internet-related laws in 

the country. 

Rising from an e-Commerce 

Consumer Protection forum 

held in Abuja, in collaboration 

with Abuja Municipal Area 

Council, AMAC, the association 

appraised the situation of 

e-Commerce in the country 

within the context of privatisation 

policy; inputs of e-consumers 

into policies and programmes 

being designed for 

improved service delivery in 

the banking, telecom and electricity 

sectors. 

The national President, APPA, 

Comr. Princewill Okorie, who 

made the call said the prospects 

of e-Commerce to economic development 

and poverty reduction 

is huge, warning that the 

negative effect of the nature of 

practice carried out by service 

providers in the telecom, banking 

and electricity sectors may 

hinder the nation from taking 

advantage of e-Commerce and 

digital marketing like other 

countries. 

He said e-Commerce-related 

offences in the three sectors 

create negative impression on 

privatisation policy, as well as 

erode confidence among Nigerians 

on the Federal Government’s 

Economic Recovery and 

Growth Plan, ERGP, adding 

that citizens who feel that their 

government created avenue for 

them to be exploited can never 

be patriotic. According to him, 

e-Commerce or digital marketing 

in Nigeria shows that there 

is nexus between telecom, electricity 

and banking sectors in 

digital marketing operations in 

Nigeria. 

The APPA President said efforts 

must be geared towards 

supporting e-Commerce because 

it has the capacity to carry 

out businesses without the barriers 

of time or distance and has 

the ability to make products and 

services available to every place 

in the world within 24 hours 

and seven days a week.


MOUNTING INSECURITY, HELPLESS GOVERNORS: 

State Police to the rescue? 

*It's a welcome development — Pandef, Afenifere, Benue State govt, Falana, 

others 

*We should be cautious,weigh the costs — Ahmed Joda, Odubela 

*Nigeria not ripe for state police — Dr. Junaid Mohammed, Alhaji Abubakar 

Tsav 

By Innocent Anaba, Charles Kumolu, 

Abdulwahab Abdulah, Peter Duru, 

Gbenga Oke, Onozure Dania, Chioma 

Onuegbu 

NOT a few Nigerians were taken aback 

when Zamfara State Governor, 

Abdul’aziz Yari, announced, last June, that 

he was dropping his title or position as the 

Chief Security Officer of the state. And by 

way of an explanation, he had given as reason 

for taking this radical, unprecedented 

decision: lack of control of the state security 

machinery. 

As most Nigerians tried to come to terms 

with this bombshell of an announcement, it 

had emerged that the governor’s action was 

a form of protest against his helplessness in 

arresting or stemming the tide of recurring 

killings in his state. Describing his 

constitutional position of “Chief Security 

Officer” as a mere nomenclature, he said: 

“We have been facing serious security 

challenges over the years, but in spite of 

being governor and Chief Security Officer of 

the state, I cannot direct security officers on 

what to do nor sanction them when they err”. 

He added that it only took a presidential order 

from Abuja for the killings to stop. 

Governor’s Yari’s experience is not an 

isolated one. It will also be recalled that 

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State had 

repeatedly expressed his helplessness to 

tackle killings in the state, noting that even 

though in name he is the state chief security 

officer, he was not in control of the police. 

The same complaints had been given by 

many other governors, who expressed 

helplessness in confronting insecurity in their 

respective states due to the fact that they are 

not in control of the police, which is controlled 

from Abuja and most often do not respond 

at the speed a sitting governor would want 

in the event of crisis in a state. 

It is for this reason that many have before 

now argued and continue to argue that the 

introduction of state police into the Nigerian 

policing system is possibly the best option 

for curbing the spate of security challenges 

in the country. The National Assembly recently 

rekindled hope for the actualisation of 

this as a bill to that effect has scaled first reading 

in the Senate, while the same bill has 

scaled second reading in the House of Representatives. 

The bill is specifically in reaction to cries 

across the country over attacks, particularly 

in the Middle Belt and North West, by 

gunmen, while state governors as chief security 

officers have been helpless in dealing 

with insecurity in their states. 

The Bill 

The Bill before the Senate for the alteration 

of the 1999 Constitution for the creation of 

state police entitled ‘Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 

2018’ is sponsored by the Deputy Senate 

President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and cosponsored 

by 49 other Senators. 

The Bill seeks to alter the provisions of the 

Constitution to establish State and 

Community Police; change the names of 

Nigeria Police Force to Federal Police Service; 

the Nigerian Police Service Commission to 

National Police Service Commission; the 

Nigerian Police Council to the National Police 

Council; and other related matters. 

The Bill also seeks for the creation of a National 

Police Service Commission to be 

responsible for the appointment of persons 

to offices (other than office of the Inspector- 

General of Police) in the Federal Police; 

exercising disciplinary 

control 

over members 

of the 

Federal Police; 

recommending 

to the Governor 

of a State 

the appointment 

of the 

Commissioner 

of Police, 

Deputy Commissioners 


Police and Assistant 

Commissioners 


Police of the 

State Police 

based on a list 

In spite of being 

governor and 

Chief Security 

Officer of the 

state, I cannot 

direct security 

officers on what to 

do nor sanction 

them when they 

err 

submitted to it 

by the State Police Service Commission of the 

relevant state and subject to confirmation by 

the House of Assembly of the State.” 

It also seeks to provide a State Police Service 

Commission to recommend to the Governor, 

the discipline and removal of the Commissioner 

of Police, Deputy Commissioners 

of Police and Assistant Commissioners of Police 

of the State Police; supervising the activities 

of the Federal Police and State Police 

to the extent provided for in this Constitution 

or by an Act of the National Assembly; 

prescribe standards for all police forces in the 

country in training, criminal intelligence data 

bases, forensic laboratories and render assistance 

to State Police in areas as may be requested 

by such State Police.” 

Against the backdrop of the mixed feelings 

the introduction of the bill has generated, 

Vanguard sought the reaction of crosssection 

of Nigerians, lawyers, socio-cultural 

organisations on what the fresh move by the 

National Assembly to actualise state police 

portends for the country. 

State police will benefit Nigeria — PANDEF 

In his response, Chairman, Pan Niger Delta 

Forum and former military administrator of 

Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit 

Nkanga said: “The call for the establishment 

of state police has been a recurring thing. So 

many people have been talking about it; it is 

going to benefit Nigeria. For instance, looking 

at what is happening in Benue State, if there 

was state police the governor would have 

reacted much better. 

“But the federal police that is in Benue does 

not understand the terrain, does not 

understand the language. And 

they(policemen) wait for the Inspector General 

of Police to give instruction. There is no 

way you can react to crimes like that. These 

are the issues. 

"But if it were to be state police, the crime 

rate would have gone down because most of 

them know the way, the culture of criminals 

in their areas. So it is good that the National 

Assembly is talking about it. 

“Maybe it is due to the biting insecurity situation 

in the country, that they are talking about 

it; but we are saying that restructuring is a 

holistic thing, there is no need doing it in 

piecemeal. There are 64 items in the exclusive 

list of the Federal Government which include 

state police. It is under true federalism 

that you have devolution of powers and under 

devolution of powers, you have the state 

police.” 

There is nothing wrong with state Police 

—Afenifere 

PANDEF's stand on the issue is shared 

by the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, 

Afenifere. According to its National Publicity 

Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin: “The call 

for State Police is not new to us. Even in the 

First Republic, there were calls for a state police. 

If we have such institution in place, it 

will not take President Buhari three months 

to know that the Inspector General of Police 

did not carry out his orders. There must be 

local content to policing in Nigeria. 

“You can imagine the Federal Government 

sending 30,000 policemen to Ekiti just for 

election purposes; you can imagine how lean 

the security would be during the general elections. 

So it will be wrong for those arguing 

that state won’t be able to pay the salaries. I 

feel strongly that if states are allowed to run 

their own mineral resources, there is no segment 

of the state that won’t be able to pay.” 


State Police to the rescue? 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018— 27 

•Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari •PANDEF chairman, Idongesit Nkanga •Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN 

Continues from page 26 

Pros will outweigh the cons ——Lagos Attorney 

General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem 

“Lagos State Government, as we all know, 

has always supported state police and other 

security services in the state. In terms of state 

government providing support for police 

system, the state is far ahead of others. I must 

tell you however that supporting state police 

system require lots of funds and lots of 

responsibilities. I can speak for Lagos State, 

which has the wherewithal and discipline. 

“You must be aware that one of the criticisms 

of those opposing state police is how 

responsible the state government will be in 

controlling the police force. That is why it 

requires the will of the people that run the 

state: the chief executives. We have been 

blessed with responsible and far thinking 

chief executives in this state. 

“We also expect that in other states such 

calibre of people will be needed. However, 

there are counter-arguments that fear should 

not be a barrier to state police. If you weigh 

the pros and cons of the state police, the pros 

will outweigh the cons. 

“If the state police have to be considered, 

the checks and balances for the use of the 

state police by the state executives have to 

be considered. I am sure that the National 

Assembly, which is looking at this, must consider 

the checks and balances. It is something 

that my office has to go for.” 

State police good, but can the States afford 

it?—Mr John Odubela, SAN 

“Well for me, having State Police is very 

good for our country, particularly with the 

Federal System of Government and the recent 

various experiences that we have 

encountered. States at least will have some 

sort of control of internal security. 

“One of the major challenges will be finance. 

If majority of the states can’t pay salaries 

for their workers can they pay the salaries 

and allowances of the Police? Remember 

the Maiduguri incident of the Mobile 

Police protesting against non-payment of 

their allowances by the Federal Government. 

“You can see that if the Federal Government 

is still having these problems you can 

imagine what will happen at the state level. 

So State Police is good and ideal for our system 

of government but can the states afford 

it?” 

It will bring security closer to the people— 

Mr. Michael Gusa, Benue State Attorney 

General and Commissioner of Justice 

“When you have state police, you are bringing 

security closer to the people; and that is 

to say a Governor of the state would have 

direct control. That is to say that the police in 

the state will be taking direct orders from the 

Governor. 

“It will effectively put to an end the practice 

of having to report to the Inspector General 

of Police and complain to the President 

who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed 

Forces when there are security challenges in 

your state. In this instance, the governor will 

give directives as to how the security of a 

state should be handled. 

“And that will change the security architecture 

of the country because each and every 

state has her particular security problem. It is 

the Governor and the people of the state that 

know how to handle their peculiar security 

challenges and problems. So, it will improve 

on our internal security. It is good development. 

“The media have been reporting the security 

challenges we have in the state, and you 

know the kind of proactive action the Governor 

took to address the problem, but that action 

of his was not backed up with an equally 

proactive security support. 

“If he had been given direct control of the 

security I am sure the situation wouldn’t have 

got to that level. Just like he was proactive, 

speaking to 

the Presidency 

and reporting 

to the security 

agencies, he 

would have 

gone ahead to 

give necessary 

directives to 

the state police 

command if he 

had the authority 

to do 

that. If that 

were done, we 

wouldn’t have 

had the kind 

of problems 

that we had. 

When you have 

state police, you 

are bringing security 

closer to 

the people and 

that is to say a 

Governor of the 

state would have 

direct control 

“You know that whether we like it or not, 

the law establishing the state police will have 

to limit the extent of the use of the state police 

force. So the Governors would not have wide 

range of powers within the laws establishing 

the state police in order to check abuses. 

“It is in exceptional cases that you can talk 

of the abuse of such powers. Generally, 

Governors are supposed to secure the lives 

and property of their people in the state. So, 

I can’t see them abusing such powers because 

setting up the state police will be aimed at 

protecting lives and property of the people in 

the states.” 

We need to start from somewhere – Chief 

Bode George 

“Ideally, one will get worried about the insecurity 

in the country. I was a member at 

the National Conference, and this was one of 

the issues that came up at the conference. 

Now, how does it work with our attitude, flagrant 

disregard for the rule of law? 

“The Americans who practise this did not 

start doing so in a day. Of course, my fear 

about state police is a major concern. The Governor 

may decide to run away with his powers 

and hide under immunity with the state 

police and lock up his opponent(s) over one 

issue or the other. 

“I believe with modern technology and instant 

information things will take shape. We 

need to start from somewhere. It will relieve 

the FG of total national control of the police. 

Policing is supposed to be local. If you look 

at it theoretically, it makes a lot of sense. It is 

the workability of it that is a major concern 

for you and I. 

"Are we developed and civilized to that level 

to do what is right and just as against flagrant 

abuse of powers? There's a lot of fear 

about the corrupt misuse of powers by the 

state police. However, we must be ready to 

develop our system; nobody will come around 

to do that for us. If we are able to do that 

successfully, the pressure on the Federal 

Government on policing will be reduced. 

With this, the police man will be for the state 

and will be living among the people; he or 

she will know everywhere and every person.” 

Nation's security can’t wait for establishment 

of State Police—Femi Falana, SAN 

“Like majority of concerned citizens I have 

watched with dismay and frustration the 

unabated killing of thousands of innocent 

people, including children, and the wanton 

destruction of properties by terrorists, herders, 

kidnappers, armed robbers and other bandits. 

“Having taken over the monopoly of violence, 

the armed gangs have continued to 

unleash mayhem in various communities 

despite official assurance that the Federal 

Government is committed to the protection 

of the life and property of every person living 

in Nigeria. 

“In view of the worsening security situation 

in the country I am compelled to call on the 

36 state governors to request President 

Muhammadu Buhari to convene an urgent 

meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to 

deliberate on the organisation, administration 

and general supervision of the Nigeria 

Police Force with a view to designing strategies 

for effective policing of each state of the 

federation and the federal capital territory. 

“It is pertinent to point out that this request 

is based on the following legal grounds: 

1. The Nigeria Police Council is one of the 

Federal Executive Bodies established pursuant 

to Section 153 (1) of the Constitution 

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as 

amended. 2. By virtue of Paragraph L, Part 1 

of the Third Schedule to the Constitution the 

Council is constituted by the President, the 

Governor of each of the States of the Federations, 

the Chairman of the Police Service 

Commission and Inspector-General of Police. 

3.The functions of the Council include 

the general supervision, organisation and 

administration of the Nigeria Police Force 

and other matters relating thereto. 

4. The Council is also required to advise 

the President on the appointment of the Inspector-General 

of Police in accordance with section 

215 (1) of the Constitution. 5. But due to the 

failure of the Council to hold regular meetings 

in line with the provisions of Section 159 of the 

Constitution its functions have been performed 

exclusively by the Presidency since civil rule 

was restored in the country May, 1999. 

6.Instead of insisting on joint control and 

management of the Nigeria Police Force with 

the President as envisaged by the Constitution 

the 36 state governors are currently campaigning 

for the establishment of State Police, thereby 

giving the impression that what we have in 

place is a Federal Government Police Force. 

Continues Tomorrow


VOL. 2 NO. 34 

Annual August Meeting draws 

women to villages 

BY VINCENT UJUMADU 

WKA — ANOTHER 

AAugust has come and 

married women in Igbo land 

are again busy with the annual 

event in their various 

communities. The annual 

August meeting has been 

entrenched in the calendar of 

Igbo women and they always 

look forward to it. It has become 

customary for most women who 

are civil servants to fix their 

annual leave in August to 

enable them interact with their 

fellow women in the rural areas 

without having to worry about 

their offices during the period. 

For those who are teachers, 

August is usually the holiday 

period and so, they do not have 

to worry as they have time to 

attend, while the women in 

business have to sacrifice 

whatever gains they make 

during the period in the 

interest of their various 

communities. 

The main idea behind the 

August meeting is for the 

women to assemble and 

fashion out ways of bettering 

their immediate families, 

churches and communities by 

planning and executing 

development projects. 

South-East Voice could recall 

that serious challenges faced 

August meeting in its early 

years, which predated the 

Nigerian Civil War. In those 

days, many well-to-do women 

used the August meeting to 

intimidate their fellow women 

with expensive dresses and 

jewellery, so much so that some 

of the poor women began to 

feel inferior during such 

gatherings. The resultant effect 

was that some women began to 

lose interest in August 

meetings, until there was a 

fundamental reform in its 

organisation. 

An octogenarian, Mrs. Alice 

Nwadiugwu went down 

memory lane on August 

meeting when she told South- 

East Voice that the issue of 

attire almost marred the 

essence of August meeting as 

attendance began to drop in 

many communities. 

She said: “In those days, some 

women would package three 

different attires for the three 

days the meeting usually lasted 

and the topic shifted from 

discussing community affairs, 

to the reigning dresses in town. 

The issue also began to cause 

dispute in some families as 

wives began to mount undue 

pressure on their husbands to 

buy expensive dresses for them 

for August meeting. 

“It was, therefore, a big relief 

when a decision was taken that 

women should appear in a 

uniform during August 

meetings to end the 

competition on quality of 

*Women of Amatta-Amaka in Ikeduru LGA during August Meeting. 

dresses to wear during 

meeting. Since the era of 

wearing uniform at the August 

meetings, attendance has 

increased tremendously and 

the friction in many families 

over dresses to the meeting has 

ended.“ 

Usually, August meeting is 

broken into three segments. 

The first is organised at the 

village level, then at the 

community level and finally, at 

the church level during which 

the women offer thanksgiving 

in their various churches to 

formally end the meeting. 

The founder of Umuada Igbo 

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA 

ne of the songs of the late 

OIsrael Nwoba Njemanze, 

which was released in the 

1950s, had this lyric: Many 

days are for the thief, but one 

day is for the owner of the 

house! 

This particular scene played 

out on Saturday, August 4, 2018, 

at Maria Assumpta Catholic 

Cathedral, Owerri, during the 

ordination of 11 priests, by the 

Archbishop of Owerri 

Ecclesiastical Province, His 

Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony 

J. V. Obinna. 

The jubilant friends, 

colleagues and relations of the 

fresh ordinands were seated in 

the Cathedral and the equally 

ecstatic choristers rendered 

endless religious songs of 

praise to the admiration of the 

congregation. The renditions by 

the choir, set the tone for the 

commencement of the Pontifical 

Nigeria and in Diaspora, Mrs. 

Kate U. Ezeofor, in an 

interview said: “August meeting 

is a product of the Catholic 

Women Organisation, CWO, 

formed by a lady, Mrs V. V. I. 

Okoye of Onitsha Ecclesiastical 

Province before the Nigerian 

Civil War. Lady Okoye opened 

many CWO branches in 

provinces in Nigeria and 

beyond. In fact, because of her 

activities, the Pope gave her 

papal honour.” 

Though the dates and time of 

the meeting vary from 

community to community, the 

important thing is that it falls 

within the month of August. It 

is customarily binding on 

women to attend the August 

meeting as non-attendance 

attracts surcharge by the 

leadership of the women 

organisation. Fundraising and 

execution of projects usually 

form the crux of the meeting 

and that is why projects funded 

by women dot many 

communities, 

According to Ezeofor, while 

the Catholics have theirs in the 

Catholic Church, the Anglicans 

hold theirs in their Anglican 

Church, same with the 

Pentecostal churches and even 

the traditionalists. Then on a 

Saturday, they all come 

Car theft: How a fake seminarian was caught in the act 

Ordination Mass. 

Ahead of the ordination day, 

Men of Order and Discipline, 

MOD, the security outfit of the 

Catholic Church, had carefully 

worked out their modalities for 

taking care of people’s property 

and the expected large crowd, 

including miscreants. 

Conversely, people with 

criminal intent were also busy, 

planning how to execute their 

varying despicable acts during 

the ordination. That was how 36- 

year-old Gabriel Chidera 

Okani, a native of Umuebule, 

Okporo, Orlu Local Council 

Area of Imo State, came into the 

picture. 

He had painstakingly 

arranged with his colleagues to 

steal any Toyota Camry within 

the Cathedral premises. 

As a way to deceive 

everybody, including the MOD 

members, Okani disguised 

himself as a seminarian and 

wore soutane. 

What seemingly attracted the 

attention of the MOD was why 

only this “seminarian” was 

moving about in the parking lot, 

while the others were inside the 

Cathedral. The suspicion paid 

off as he was caught redhanded. 

On interrogation, Okani told 

several uncoordinated tales. 

The first was that he was at the 

Cathedral to see an unnamed 

sister, he claimed lives 

somewhere along Old Nekede 

Road, but was told that she had 

come to the Cathedral for the 

priestly ordination. 

He also said that he wanted 

to tell his sister to help him raise 

the fund that would enable him 

pursue life in the monastery. 

In another breath, he claimed 

that he is a seminarian from Ikot 

Ekpene and later, said he 

worked as a cleaner at St. John 

the Baptist Monastery, Ikot 

Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, 

where he stole the soutane he 


together as a body. 

“When the women finally 

come together, they have 

professionals among them such 

as doctors who talk to them on 

health matters and lawyers who 

talk to them on legal issues 

such as inheritance matters. 

There are also people who talk 

to them in the area of 

managing their homes. They 

discuss their communal 

problems where people give 

their opinions on how to make 

their community a better place. 

The person in charge of the 

general meeting is usually the 

President-General. 

“One of the most important 

advantages of the August 

meeting is the coming together 

and seeing people you have 

not seen for a long time and 

interacting with them. Another 

impressive thing about August 

meeting is that it helps to foster 

unity. When two persons or 

groups are quarrelling, they 

settle it at the August meeting. 

And women love to attend 

August meeting because they 

learn a lot from it.” 

In the past few years, August 

meetings had been celebrated 

at the state level. For instance, 

in Anambra State, the wife of 

the state governor usually kickstarts 

the August meeting and 

delegates from all the 

communities in the state attend 

it. After this, the various 

communities were then free to 

choose dates to organise theirs. 

This year’s August meeting in 

the state was started at the Alex 

Ekwueme Square in Awka by 

the wife of the governor, Chief 

(Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano 

and in attendance was the wife 

of the Vice-President, Mrs. 

Osinbajo. After the one at the 

state level, the Awka Catholic 

Diocesan August Meeting was 

flagged off by Most Rev. Peter 

Ebele Okpaleke, at Cana 

House. It was graced by the 

senator representing Anambra 

Central, Chief Victor Umeh and 

other prominent people in 

Anambra Central. 

Apart from words of 

encouragement to the women, 

Senator Umeh emphasized the 

role of women in repositioning 

the political system of Anambra 

State, describing them as key 

actors in the journey. 

“The women have been 

instrumental in the progress we 

have recorded in Anambra 

State. I have special 

empowerment programme for 

women in my budget,” Senator 

Umeh said. 

At the community level, the 

priests began the meeting with 

church services after which 

communiqués were issued to 

guide the women for the next 

one year. 

*The nabbed fake seminarian, 

Gabriel Chidera Okani


War in the House 

of God 

*Members accuse bishop of 

polygamy, want him removed 

*Bar him from the cathedral, want 

him to vacate bishop’s house 

BY ANAYO OKOLI 

MUAHIA—ALL is not 

Uwell with the Christ 

Church Cathedral [Anglican 

Communion] Akwete, Ukwa 

Diocese, Ukwa East Council 

of Abia State. The church is 

presently engrossed in 

serious crisis which pitched 

members against the Bishop 

of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. 

Samuel Kelechi Eze. The 

crisis is rocking the very 

foundation of the church as 

the parishioners are up in 

arms against the Bishop. In 

fact, they have banned him 

from conducting church 

services or even 

administering the church. 

They are also pushing for 

him to vacate the Bishop’s 

House, his official residence. 

Bone of contention 

The problem is that 

members of the church are 

accusing Bishop Eze of some 

wrongdoings; particularly, 

they accused him of being a 

polygamist; that he has two 

wives who live with him in 

the Bishop’s Court. Other 

wrongdoings border on 

maladministration of the 

church as well as not taking 

proper care of the priests 

working under him in the 

church. The matter has 

degenerated to the extent 

that the attention of the head 

of Anglican Church in 

Nigeria, the Primate, The 

Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh 

has been drawn to it. Indeed, 

the situation has got to the 

level that the Laity of Ukwa 

Diocese organised a protest 

against the Bishop. 

Petition 

Worried by the happenings 

in the church, some 

members wrote a petition to 

the Primate, urging him to 

intervene in the matter. In 

the petition dated October 

17, 2017 entitled: Urgent 

need to intervene and save 

the Cathedral Church of 

THE TEAM 

SUPERVISING EDITOR: 

Chioma Gabriel, Lagos 

(08052201257) 

EDITOR: 

Emeka Mamah, Enugu 

email: 

emekemamah@yahoo.com 

Anayo Okoli, Umuahia 

Vincent Ujumadu, Awka 

Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri 

Peter Okutu, Abakaliki 

Chimaobi Nwaiwu, 

Nnewi 

Nwabueze Okonkwo, 

Onitsha 

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba 

Denis Agbo, Enugu 

Christ, Akwete from certain 

doom, the members in 

addition to accusing Bishop 

Eze of practising polygamy, 

alleged that he dissolved 

the Church Committee duly 

elected and set up a sevenmember 

caretaker 

committee; that he runs the 

Cathedral purse with a 

priest who has been 

transferred out of the 

Cathedral for eight years 

and that the Bishop demoted 

and transferred the church’s 

resident canon. 

Besides the petition, a 

three-man delegation of the 

Church, led by an elder and 

the 18th President-General 

of Joint Council of Knights, 

Anglican Communion, Chief 

Okere Eruba, to the Primate 

to show the seriousness of 

the crisis. 

Bishop Eze reacts 

Bishop Eze, however, 

denied all the allegations. 

He said all the allegations 

against him were trash, 

borne out of tribalism and 

selfish desires. He 

wondered how a Bishop 

would marry two wives. He 

said that the matter is being 

handled by the Primate and 

warned that it is an issue 

that could lead to serious 

litigation. He accused the 

Archbishop of the Province 

of Aba, Dr. Ikechi Nwosu of 

being the mastermind of his 

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU, 

NNEWI 

he people of Egwedu 

TCommunity in Njaba 

Local Government Area of Imo 

State have appealed to 

Governor of Imo State, Owelle 

Rochas Okorocha to avert 

imminent bloodshed and 

breakdown of law and order in 

the community, by intervening 

in the over 16 years crisis over 

who occupies the traditional 

ruler's stool and the seat of the 

President-General of the town 

union. 

The chairman of Uburu Ahiara 

village in Egwedu Autonomous 

Community, and an Onitshabased 

businessman, Chief Eric 

Uwaoma made the call while 

speaking with newsmen in his 

office in Onitsha Anambra 

State. 

Chief Uwaoma who is also 

the chairman of Onitsha South 

Shop Owners Traders 

Association of Nigeria, 

OSSOTAN, Onitsha Anambra 

State, alleged that some people 

are benefiting from the crisis 

while the entire community is 

*Members of the Church protesting 

travails. 

Bishop Eze who replied to 

a text message sent to him, 

said he was out of the 

country and would talk more 

when he returned. “How 

can a Bishop marry two 

wives”, Eze queried. 

His text reads: “This is a 

matter that the head of our 

church, the Primate, is 

handling and one that could 

lead to serious litigation. 

Everything they’re talking is 

trash, borne out of tribalism 

and selfish desires and 

masterminded by the 

Archbishop. How can a 

Bishop marry two wives? I'm 

out of the country now but 

will soon be back. I will like 

to have a word with you 

when I am back. God bless 

you. Bishop Eze.” 

Investigative panel 

Responding to the petition, 

the Primate mandated the 

Aba Provincial Bishops 

under the leadership of the 

Archbishop, Most Rev. Ikechi 

Nwosu, to investigate the 

How can a Bishop 

marry two wives? This 

is a matter that the 

head of our church, 

the Primate, is 

handling and one that 

could lead to serious 

litigation 

16 years Ezeship tussle in Imo State: 

Okorocha asked to avert 

bloodshed in Egwedu 

community 

suffering backwardness due to 

the crisis. 

He appealed to Governor 

Okorocha not to allow any 

election or selection of the 

traditional ruler of the 

community contrary to the 

stipulations of the court 

judgment of Monday June 11, 

2018 which ruled that rule of law 

should be maintained in the 

election or selection of the 

traditional ruler of the 

community. 

According to Chief Uwaoma, 

“in spite of the court judgment 

of Monday June 11, 2018, some 

people are still going about 

violating the court judgment, 

some have been going around 

the community boasting and 

dropping the name of Governor 

Rochas Okorocha and the 

Commissioner for Community 

Government Council, CGC. 

“What the people that are 

behind the name dropping have 

succeeded in doing is inciting 

our people against Governor 

Okorocha and the 

Commissioner for CGC, they 

should therefore, quickly 

investigate the attempt by those 

people to illegally impose a 

traditional ruler on the people 

of Egwedu because we will 

resist it and it may lead to 

allegations against Bishop 

Eze. A total of seven Bishops 

from the province joined the 

Archbishop in the panel. 

They were said to have sat 

four times during which they 

interviewed Bishop Eze, the 

Ukwa Diocesan Board, the 

aggrieved church members 

as well undertook 

i n d e p e n d e n t 

investigations. 

Report and white paper 

Based on their findings, in 

their report to the Primate, 

the Provincial Bishops 

observed among other things 

that Bishop Eze was “not 

quite willing to give us 

adequate information 

needed; the Bishop and his 

wife have no cordial 

relationship and team work; 

there are administrative 

lapses between the Bishop 

and the wife; there is 

weakness in financial 

accountability and probity; 

there is lack of grip in 

women’s ministries; Bishop 

Eze did not define his 

relationship with Gladys 

Chinazaekpere Nwosu; the 

Bishop is not completely in 

control of the Diocese.” 

In a white paper issued 

from the report and signed 

by the Primate, Nicholas 

Okoh, he upheld the 

recommendations and 

Bishop Eze was among other 

things asked: “to be humble 

enough to own up to the 

depth of the relationship 

between him and Miss 

Gladys Chinazaekpere 

Nwosu, admit his fault and 

genuinely repent and 

reconcile with God; that the 

Bishop should apologise and 

seek to be with the people of 

the Cathedral and other 

aggrieved parties if any; the 

Bishop should severe such 

relationship with Miss 

Gladys or any other woman 

that arouses any form of 

suspicion whatsoever; that 

the accounts of the Cathedral 

are to henceforth be operated 

in line with the Diocesan 

Constriction”, among others. 

But the Laity of Ukwa 

Diocese and members of the 

Church are not happy that 

the primate has not been able 

to carry out the 

recommendations he upheld 

since January, insisting that 

nothing has changed. To 

further show their grievance, 

they held a protest march in 

Akwete urging the Primate to 

remove the Bishop and 

sanitise the church. 

During the protest, they 

displayed various placards, 

some with inscriptions such 

as: Primate, Holy Bible must 

always be upheld, otherwise 

we are hypocrites of the 

gospel. Ukwa Diocese, we 

say Primate dismiss Rt. Rev. 

Kelechi Eze from Christ 

Church, he has pollutaed the 

Diocese with sin of sexual 

immorality. Rt. Rev. Samuel 

Kelechi Eze is keeping two 

[2] women under his roof as 

wives. The Diocese is saying 

no to that act. Therefore, he 

should leave Ukwa Diocese. 

Primate, Anglican 

Communion, the soul that 

sinneth shall die. Bishop Eze 

of Ukwa Diocese has broken 

his canonical oath and he 

should be removed, among 

others. 

The coming days will 

determine the future of Ukwa 

Diocese. 

Car theft: How a fake seminarian was 

caught in the act 

Continues from page 28 

wore to Assumpta Cathedral. 

He also claimed that he stole 

the soutane from the sacristy of 

his home church, St. Joseph’s 

Parish, Okporo, Orlu. 

Okani claimed that he left Ikot 

Ekpene for home, about two 

months earlier, to source for 

funds that would enable him 

enter the monastery. The ploy 

worked when he visited a 

prayer outfit at Amanachi, Orlu, 

managed by one Sister Ocheze. 

He recalled that while 

spotting the soutane during the 

August 3, 2018, visit, Okani told 

the people present at the prayer 

centre that he was a seminarian 

in dire need of assistance and 

he smiled home with some 

money. Realising that all the 

stories he rolled out were not 

impressing any of his captors, 

Okani then disclosed that he 

was part of a six-man criminal 

syndicate led by an Okporo lady 

that runs a provision store in the 

community. 

Giving details of their exploits, 

the fake seminarian said they 

had successfully stolen three 

cars last month in Orlu. It 

included two Toyota Camry cars 

and a Golf 3 car that has already 

been repainted and given a new 

plate number. 

Continuing, Okani said that 

when their initial plan of 

stealing any available car at the 

prayer centre of Sister Ocheze 

failed, they looked forward to 

the ordination ceremony at 

Assumpta Cathedral. 

“While the Mass was going 

on, we drove down to Owerri 

from Orlu, with the Golf 3 we 

stole last month. They dropped 

me at the Control Post and later 

parked at a point along the 

World Bank Road and waited for 

any signal from me,” Okani 

said. He affirmed that his plan 

was to, after surveillance, tip off 

the female gang leader in the 

Golf 3 car, when he spots a car 

that was outside the watchful 

eyes of the securitymen in the 

Cathedral. 

Meanwhile, the fake 

seminarian has been handed 

over to the police and is now 

believed to be telling his 

interrogators all he knows about 

the criminal plot and where his 

criminal associates are staying.

30—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

Men too are victims of domestic violence 

Dear Bunmi, 

The subject of husbands 

being abused by their wives 

is a very sensitive one. Men 

fear the ridicule they may 

receive if they admit that their 

wives are violent towards 

them. I was brought up in a 

very violent household where 

my mother frequently lashed 

out at my father. She injured 

him so badly on many 

occasions that he was 

admitted to the hospital. Our 

house was trashed several 

times because of her actions, 

sometimes due to alcohol, but 

often just because she was in 

a foul temper. We lived on a 

knife edge in case we did 

something that would set her 

off on another rant. 

I remember as a child, 

hearing the blows when she 

hit him, or the crash when she 

threw something at him; not 

daring to come into the room 

afraid of what we might find 

had a dreadful impact on me. 

I remember running out of the 

house to our next door 

neighbour who was a 

policeman as the noise was 

blood-curdling. The man 

promptly came with me, but 

of course could do nothing as 

my mum asked him to mind 

his own business as it was a 

domestic situation. He did 

warn my parents that it was 

unacceptable to have a child 

Dear Bunmi, 

I remarried over five years 

ago after my first wife died, 

leaving me with three 

children under 10. My second 

wife is a business woman and 

is the mother my children 

need. 

You can therefore appreciate 

how bewildered I felt when 

the phone in my office rang 

and there was this shrill 

hysterical voice at the other 

end asking me to warn my 

wife and keep her in check as 

she’s just discovered my wife 

bolting out of her matrimonial 

home - that her husband has 

confessed to sleeping with 

her. 

She got my phone number 

from the wallet my wife left 

behind in her flight! I raced 

to her shop and met her 

crying. She confessed the 

man was an ex-boyfriend 

who’d been pestering her for 

a date. She didn’t want to go 

with him to a seedy motel that 

was why she went to his house 

after being assured the wife 

was away. 

I was glad she didn’t insult 

my intelligence by lying but I 

don’t know how to handle this 

running out for help. For that, 

I was severely punished. 

Domestic violence towards 

men is often trivialised in the 

press by cartoons of a young 

man with sticky plasters on his 

face. We regularly see images 

of male victims of violence 

with all the resultant wounds. 

Violence towards men is often 

a ‘hidden’ crime and its 

effects shouldn’t be 

underestimated. Just as you 

advised women on what to do 

at the whiff of violence, so you 

should advise the men too. 

Jibade, by e-mail. 

Dear Jibade, 

This column doesn’t 

condone violence in any 

shape or form - be it towards 

women or men. Sadly, men, 

who are supposed to be the 

stronger sex are expected to 

tackle domestic violence head 

on. This is often not the case. 

DearBunmi, 

I separated from my partner 

eight years ago and I haven’t 

had another relationship. 

My two kids are now in their 

teens and I feel it’s time for 

me to get a life of my own. 

Recently, I met a man I like, 

but I’m not sure he’s 

interested in me. He’s quite 

flirty, but I can’t tell if that’s 

just his manner or if he 

genuinely finds me attractive. 

It’s been so long since I’ve 

dated anyone, I’m not sure 

what to do now. Do I ask him 

out, or sit back and wait for 

him to make the first move? 

There are female bullies who 

see their partners’ caution as 

weakness. And, let’s face it, 

some women are physically 

stronger than their puny 

partners and rather than 

admit to the humiliation of 

being trashed by their 

spouses, they prefer to suffer 

in silence. 

Any man worth his salt 

should leave a violent 

relationship as soon as he can 

before it gets out of hand. No 

child should carry the type of 

emotional scars you now have 

from your mother’s abuse of 

her family. Seek counselling 

at the slightest sign of 

domestic abuse and leave as 

soon as you see no hope of it 

abating. Sadly, it’s always 

difficult to tame violent 

partners - they seldom 

change. 

The dating scene keeps on 

getting more and more 

interesting by the day and a lot 

of women in your shoes would 

ask the man outright for a date. 

If he says no, there’s plenty more 

fish in the sea! 

My wife was caught by her lover’s 

spouse! 

nightmare. She swore it was 

the first time. I know she loves 

me. Why does she want to 

throw away all we have 

because of a one-night-stand? 

Stephen by e-mail. 

Dear Stephen 

People do stupid things all 

of the time and only your wife 

can explain what she did. A 

good wife and mother would 

not ordinarily do what she 

did, but some ex-lovers can be 

so persuasive that their 

‘victims’ just cave in to their 

demands. 

Believe your wife when she 

said it was a one-off and learn 

to put the experience behind 

you. There are five children 

to consider here and your 

wife’s parental skills are still 

needed by all. 

It is a painful hurt that 

would take ages to get over, 

but your family and home 

come first. The shame of 

discovery is bound to prevent 

her from straying again. 

Should I wait for him to make 

the first move? Joyce, by e-mail. 

Dear Joyce, 

Make it clear you’re 

interested in him and let him 

take the lead. It would be 

awkward and embarrassing if 

you made a move and he 

didn’t feel the same way. The 

dating scene keeps on getting 

more and more interesting by 

the day and a lot of women in 

your shoes would ask the man 

outright for a date. If he says 

no, there’s plenty more fish in 

the sea! 

So if you like him, tell him. 

Even if he turns you down, at 

least, you’ll know where you 

stand. 

The nightmare of living with a 

con man 

DearBunmi, 

My so-called ‘fiance’ of two 

years is always lying. He lies 

about where he is, what he’s 

doing and who he’s with. He 

ignores texts and calls from 

me and turns off his phone. 

Some weeks, I don’t even 

see him. Whenever we spend 

weekends together, he seldom 

comes home until the next 

day. He’d tell me he had too 

much to drink and fell asleep 

at a friend’s place, or that he 

was watching sporting 

programmes with friends. We 

seldom go out anywhere. All 

we do is argue. 

A few weeks ago, he lied 

that his sister needed an 

urgent operation and 

borrowed money from me. I’ve 

since found out there was 

nothing wrong with his sister. 

I want to get my money back 

before I reveal his latest scam. 

He says he loves me but 

since he’s lied about 

everything else, how could I 

believe him? 

I used to be in love with him 

but now, I don’t know if I 

should take this relationship 

any further. 

I’ve tried to talk to him, to 

ask him if we should call off 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’ve just been abandoned by 

my husband of 22 years. He got 

a better job early last year but in 

another city. As a result, he rented 

a one-room apartment and I 

stayed in the family house with 

our two daughters. 

At first, he came home every 

last weekend of the month until 

he didn’t bother to visit at all. It 

was then I discovered he’d taken 

most of his good clothes. I was 

so shocked that I managed to talk 

to his boss at work. He’d lied that 

he lost his mobile phone and 

wasn’t keen on getting another 

one. 

It was his boss who gave me 

the number of his new mobile. 

Suspecting he was up to no 

good, I called him from a 

business centre and he was 

annoyed I was given his number. 

He said he didn’t get in touch 

because he was fed up with our 

constant quarrels. When I asked 

him when he was to be expected, 

he said I should forget the 

marriage. 

One of our girls is doing her 

youth service and the other one 

is training as a nurse. 

I later found out he was staying 

with a woman who was 

expecting his baby. I’m really 

bewildered by all this. 

He’s nearing 50 and I am 46. I 

honestly don’t know what’s come 

over him. He used to be a caring 

father and I thought we’d settled 

into a comfortable marriage. 

He’s certainly changed and I 

haven’t set eyes on him since the 

day he callously ended our 

the relationship but he said 

nothing. How do I sort my life 

out? 

Dora, bye-mail. 

Dear Dora, 

I’m sure it is your dread of 

loneliness and belief that you 

must be somehow 

insufficiently attractive that’s 

persuading you to tolerate 

your man’s selfish and 

deceitful behaviour. 

The longer you accept his 

abuse of your relationship, the 

more humiliated you’ll feel 

and the lower your self-esteem 

will fall. 

You need to hurry this fraud 

of a man out of your life 

instead of finding reasons to 

stay. 

It’s obvious you’re both 

using the other as a means of 

getting by. This is an 

unhealthy and damaging 

relationship that doesn’t 

allow either of you to have 

any pride. You need to end 

this relationship now. 

Discover your ability to find 

friendship and love with 

people you like and respect. 

You’d be lonely at first before 

things get better, but no 

matter how very needy; sad 

and alone you may sometimes 

feel, never again accept a 

sham. 

He ended our marriage on 

the phone! 

marriage on the phone. He 

doesn’t want me phoning or 

texting him and he said we’re 

welcome to the family house. 

His father treated his mother the 

same way, so maybe it runs in 

the family. 

Dayo, by e-mail. 

Dear Dayo, 

Your husband might be 

recreating the shocking feeling 

of abandonment he sensed when 

his father left his mum, but this 

time, with you on the receiving 

end. It’s often believed that we 

feel an impulse to give to others 

and even to those we love, the 

anguish that we once knew 

ourselves. 

Because he felt punished then, 

your husband feels an urge to 

punish you now. Instead of 

searching for clues to your man’s 

behaviour, you need to confront 

the reason for the breakdown in 

your marriage, no matter how 

scary those may be. 

You need to put an end to this 

nonsense of your husband 

refusing to discuss your 

marriage. Show him how 

distressed and angry you are and 

how he’d made your children feel 

abandoned. 

Thank goodness your children 

are adults. So you get the house, 

that’s payment for his conscience. 

Now he’s found another 

woman, it’s unlikely you are able 

to renew your commitment to this 

marriage - it has already died. 

But its death needs to leave you 

a bit of dignity. 

Life after marriage is never 

bleak, it’s all up to your 

determination to move on with 

your life. 

Share your problems and release your 

burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, 

Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk


Nigeria and the rites of 

insanity 

Those who are familiar with 

how madness begins to manifest 

in a person, will tell you that 

no man becomes mad in just one 

day. Madness follows a sequence. 

Of course psychiatrists and those 

who work in the mental health 

area can easily notice when a patient 

goes through the stages or sequence. 

But for the ordinary folks 

like us, we also some times notice 

this sequence more so when the 

subject is closely related to us. Signs 

of mental illness may start with the 

subject being unusually moody 

which could represent depression 

or in some cases the subject may 

become unusually aggressive and 

hyperactive called hyperactive disorder. 

If the subject is subjected to treatment 

at these early stages, psychiatrists 

tell us, the mental health can 

be corrected but if not, the situation 

could deteriorate. Soon the 

subject begins to neglect his personal 

hygiene and then may begin 

to speak incoherently similar to 

what is called psychotic disorder. I 

am told that even at this stage the 

situation can still be remedied if 

urgent medical attention is sought 

and the patient can be persuaded 

or compelled to take the prescribed 

medicines. When this is not done, 

the Patient may leave home and begin 

to walk about aimlessly. Soon 

he may begin to tear his dresses and 

could even begin to inflict injuries 

on himself. At this point, he may be 

said to have become schizophrenic. 

Again those who heal mental 

people tell me that even at this 

stage something can still be done 

to save the situation. 

But when the subject goes down 

to removing his clothes completely 

and arrives at the Market place( 

particularly on Eke or Nkwo market 

days) the situation is regarded 

as very grave and at even at this 

near end stage, there remains a 

slim chance of reversal. However 

if the subject finally dances to 

the music played in the market 

place by both visible and invisible 

drummers and singers, the matter 

is declared hopeless and the 

madness fully grown . In Igbo it is 

called “araocha”Only a miracle 

can now reverse the madness. 

Our country Nigeria has been 

going through the rites of insanity 

in the last couple of years and some 

how we have failed to take remedial 

actions to restore the Nation 

to sanity. One of the earliest visible 

signs came when some guys 

decided that Book was evil( Boko 

Haram) and then began to attack 

churches and latter Mosques 

bombing, killing and maiming 

innocent civilians. What is the problem? 

What do they want? Up till 

now, nobody can tell for sure. Psychologists 

and psychiatrists tell me 

that when people begin to act in 

bizarre manners and you can not 

relate their actions to remote or 

immediate causes, then insanity is 

a probable diagnosis. Subsequently 

herdsmen who over the years 

plied their trade all over Nigeria 

and moved around with bows, arrows 

and sticks, then began to 

move around with automatic AK 

47 guns and started murdering 

people, some in their sleep and others 

in their farms, the madness 

took a new turn. Soon some guys 

called marauders began to invade 

villages in the Zamfara and later 

Sokoto areas of the North West, 

killing and maiming. When they 

were asked what the problem was, 

no answer. And yet, everyday, a new 

village is invaded and human beings 

slaughtered. If this is not madness, 

then what can it be? 

Hitherto in the Niger Delta region( 

South South & Parts of the 

SE) we have seen signs of Bipolar 

disorder- mood swings. Now there 

is peace and all of a sudden war. 

Pipelines are broken and oil workers 

kidnapped,some killed and the 

flow of crude oil and refined petroleum 

disrupted. Promises are 

made and broken and the cycle 

repeated. Clear manifestations of 

insanity! 

As they say, madness comes in 

different forms. While we were still 

wondering how to handle the 

madness happening in the North 

East, North Central, parts of the 

North West, manifested in the daily 

wasting of human lives without 

any justifiable reasons, and the 

cyclical eruptions in the Niger 

Delta, we ran into political madness. 

Actually the earliest signs 

were unrecognized until the signs 

of obsessive compulsive disorder( 

OCD) manifested. The APC government 

moved from anxiety disorder 

to full blown schizophrenia 

when Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu 

became Senate 

President(SP) and Deputy Senate 

President(DSP)respectively. They 

first accused them of forgery and 

took them to court, then took Saraki 

to the Code of Conduct Tribunal 

and when all these did not 

work, they sent EFCC after them 

and their families and followed 

with accusing every body that opposed 

the government of murder- 

Dino Melaye, Shehu Sani, Bukola 

Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed. 

Which normal government run by 

normal people will do everything 

to demonize its third ranking citizen 

accusing him of corruption, 

Perjury , armed robbery and murder 

in succession. Very abnormal! 

A few weeks ago we woke up to 

watch drama, the type displayed 

by the madman on his way to the 

market. The homes of the SP and 

DSP were barricaded by Security 

operatives-mainly the DSS and Nigeria 

Police. For what reason? No 

one could actually tell. After a 

while the siege was lifted. The 

scene then moved to the National 

Our country Nigeria 

has been going 

through the rites of 

insanity in the last 

couple of years and 

some how we have 

failed to take remedial 

actions to restore 

the Nation to sanity 

Assembly where the ensuing madness 

was in full display. Senators 

and Honourable members were 

dancing like excited school children. 

Why? Well for the ostensible 

reason that some of them have 

crossed carpets, a phenomenon 

that is becoming normal in Nigeria. 

This act then stirred the adrenaline 

in the psychotic Nation and 

the dance in the market place 

went full blown. 

As the World watched our nakedness, 

Eight members of the Benue 

State House of Assembly out of 

thirty were given security cover to 

go and take over the House. As they 

sat to impose the will of the minority 

over the majority( 8 vs 22), 

Nigeria’s police force still under 

IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris and the 

Department of State Security services( 

DSS) then under DG Lawal 

Daura , prevented any body else 

including the assembly staff from 

having access to the premises. 

When they finished the dance, they 

were escorted by the security to 

safety and the house of Assembly 

shut down. Very Abnormal! 

As the madness raged, one Senator 

Akpabio, immediate past PDP 

Governor of Akwa Ibom State and 

until very recently the Senate Minority 

leader jumped into the fray, 

crossing the carpet against the run 

of play and apparently against the 

tide. It takes a good dose of mental 

abnormality to swim against 

the tide or commit what a friend 

called ‘political suicide’. While he 

was concluding this abnormal 

mental feat, we took off our clothes 

and the macabre dance ensued. 

On Tuesday August 7 2018, the DSS 

then under DG Lawal Daura took 

over the premises of the National 

Assembly and cordoned it off. 

About 100 DSS operatives wearing 

masks and fully armed,linked 

themselves, forming a chain. They 

refused the Legislators and staff of 

the National Assembly from having 

access to the chambers and offices. 

Why? No one could tell correctly. 

Many voices, similar to that 

of a madman who hears many voices 

and does not know which one to 

follow. One female Legislator, 

Boma Goodhead who arrived early 

confronted the DSS guys, looked 

them on the face and asked them 

to shoot her. This was a full confirmation 

of the madness that has befallen 

our Nation.Is it normal for 

a completely sane person to look 

at a hooded armed man and dare 

him to shoot. Madness comes in 

different forms! 

But how come we have allowed 

this madness to continue to deteriorate 

by the day? How come we 

seem to have ignored all the signs? 

How come we have ignored all the 

good counsel, recommendations 

and prescriptions of all the National 

Conferences & Regional declarations-Pronaco, 

2005 National 

Political Conference, 2014 National 

Conference, the South West 

Ibadan Declaration, the South- 

South Asaba declaration, the 

South East Awka declaration and 

the Middle belt Makurdi 

declaration?Perhaps Dementia has 

also set in.Or is it Alzheimer’s.Let’s 

then pray fervently for a miracle. 

Can Adams Oshiomole tame Bukola Saraki? 

THE ongoing struggle for the control 

of the National Assembly and by 

extension Nigeria’s political space by the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, and the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not about 

ending even when the 2019 elections are still 

many months away. At present, the battle 

between the two leading parties is playing 

out mostly among the country’s legislators 

in the national and state assemblies. Things 

took a dramatic turn last week when 

operatives of the Department of State 

Security, DSS, took over entrance to the 

National Assembly in a move the PDP and 

especially, President of the Senate, Bukola 

Saraki, has interpreted as an attempt to 

unseat him as the leader of the Nigerian 

senate. Even while the blockade by the DSS 

affected both chambers of the National 

Assembly and PDP legislators were the only 

people around at the National Assembly 

while their APC counterparts were nowhere 

to be found, Saraki and his supporters were 

still able to sell their side of the yet- unfolding 

story to Nigerians that the President of the 

Senate was the target of the botched attempt 

at legislative coup. 

The actual origin of the order to prevent 

legislators, who had in fact been on recess, 

from accessing the National Assembly, is 

still a matter of speculation. The only thing 

clear is that Lawal Daura, until last week 

Director General of the DSS, who had 

become notorious for taking series of highly 

controversial actions that bordered on 

misuse of power ordered the blockade. For 

this he was made to bite the dust and 

summarily given the booth by the Acting 

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who issued a 

strong statement condemning the action of 

the DSS. But many Nigerians still believe 

that the order to take over control of the 

National Assembly must have come from 

someone or a group higher up than the office 

of the erstwhile DG of the DSS. This is where 

fingers are being pointed at Saraki who is 

supposedly very close to Daura and seems a 

past master of intrigues. 

Saraki in recent times indeed seems to 

have become very adept at dictating the 

direction of information flow, a skill that 

allows him to preempt and keep a few steps 

ahead of his adversaries. One could look 

farther back to see how Saraki has employed 

this skill to the utter embarrassment of his 

adversaries. Witness the manner he 

outsmarted his own father in the family 

struggle to control Kwara politics that 

played out as a face-off between the older 

man and his son with regards to whose camp 

the governor of the state emerged from. 

Bukola cashiered his father from politics 

and ensured his younger sister lost the battle 

for the governorship as he did for the leaders 

of the APC who in 2015 wanted different 

people as leaders of the National Assembly. 

What this all tells us is 

that our politicians are 

not trustworthy and 

Nigerians must be 

vigilant 

While the APC leaders were elsewhere 

holding a meeting, Bukola was being 

installed as President of the Senate by his 

cohorts. 

More recently he succeeded in sneaking 

into the Senate chamber while the whole 

world was made to believe that his house 

was under blockade by the police. How a 

man who was supposedly under house arrest 

was able to beat the security ring around 

him and eventually made it to the Senate 

where he read out a long list of defectors 

from the APC to the PDP is a mystery only he 

and his close supporters can explain. The 

escapades of 

Dino Melaye, a 

s t a u n c h 

supporter of the 

President of the 

Senate, would 

appear to be an 

amateurish copy 

taken from 

Saraki’s play 

book. All said 

there appears to 

be a pattern to the way and manner Saraki 

has outsmarted his adversaries and 

manipulated information around his 

activities of late. He must be having many 

belly laughs at the expense of Nigerians. 

Adams Oshiomole may have seen through 

Saraki, understood his strategy and is 

determined to break it. This is why the fight 

between the APC and the PDP is fast turning 

out like a straight fight between Oshiomole 

and the Senate leader. 

Oshiomole’s own strategy is to take Saraki 

headlong by calling out his every move after 

all attempts to make him remain in the APC 

failed. He is making it clear that as the new 

sheriff in town he would brook no challenge 

from any quarter among party members 

who fall out of line including those who 

decided to leave the party while holding on 

to positions they held as members of the APC. 

Insisting on APC’s numerical superiority in 

the National Assembly, he wants all party 

positions returned to members of the party. 

As a former labour union man, Oshiomole 

is bringing the ruggedness that came from 

many years of fighting in the pit into party 

politics and is proving a formidable 

opponent. More than Lai Muhammed or 

anybody else, he is for now the mouthpiece 

of the APC and he seeks to portray Saraki as 

a politician whose every action is motivated 

by self interest. 

He attempted a roll-back of Saraki’s 

claims during the press conference the latter 

gave following the DSS action at the 

National Assembly. He countered Saraki, 

almost claim by claim, in his own press 

Ohuabunwa -14-8-2018 

conference that was a clear response to the 

one addressed by the Senate leader. He is 

equally promising to take the battle to 

Saraki’s political base in Kwara where the 

hold of the Saraki family over Kwara politics 

would be broken. His claims are strong 

enough to elicit responses from Saraki’s 

camp where his remark that Buhari is more 

popular than Bukola Saraki going by 

statistics from the 2015 election has been 

countered. In this era of fake news and 

alternative facts it is difficult to know who 

to believe. It’s not clear for example which 

party has the greater number of legislators 

in the National Assembly with both APC and 

PDP making self-serving claims. But APC 

has been increasing its tally following its 

victory in last weekend’s bye-election in 

Kogi, Katsina and Bauchi states. This means 

additional concern for the PDP as it 

compounds Saraki’s leadership claims. 

Adams Oshiomole may be proving an 

effective opponent against Bukola Saraki 

but his position is somewhat flawed and 

made difficult given the position taken by 

the APC in past cases of defection from other 

parties to their fold. Then the defectors held 

on to their positions (Aminu Tambuwal is a 

case in point), were not forced to seek fresh 

mandates from their constituents nor is it 

totally unheard of that a member of a party 

in the minority held a position of leadership 

as the Saraki camp has shown with their 

example of Ume Ezeoke from the Second 

Republic. What this all tells us is that our 

politicians are not trustworthy and 

Nigerians must be vigilant. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


By Chancel Sunday 

BOMADI—THE people 

of Kpakiama 

community in Bomadi 

Local Government Area of 

Delta State have cried out 

over incessant harassment 

and brutalisation of 

residents by men of the 

military Joint Task Force, 

JTF, Bomadi Division, in 

the wake of the killing of a 

Police Corporal in the area. 

A Police checkpoint on the 

outskirts of the community 

had been attacked by 

gunmen, killing Corporal 

Victor Ogbaje, carting 

away his rifle, with another 

officer sustaining injuries. 

However, in a swift 

reaction, JTF Commander, 

Bomadi Division, told 

Vanguard on phone that 

his men cannot be accused 

of harassing people 

anywhere, as they know 

their duties, adding that 

Senator James Manager 

called him on same issue. 


Soldiers on rampage in Delta 

community over policeman’s killing 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

W 

A R R I — 

PROMINENT 

Itsekiri leader, Chief Mrs 

Rita Lori-Ogbebor has 

hailed Delta State Oil 

Producing Areas 

Development Commission, 

DESOPADEC, for 

constructing a landing jetty 

in her Ajigba community, 

Warri South Local 

Government Area of the 

state, urging the 

commission to do more for 

oil-producing communities. 

Speaking during the 

commissioning of the 

concrete landing jetty, Chief 

Lori-Ogbebor said the 

commission should 

“remain a people-based 

interventionist agency. The 

commitment to develop the 

•...we’re professionals doing our job—JTF Commander 

‘The killers are 

not from here’ 

Narrating their ordeal, a 

resident of the community 

who spoke on condition of 

anonymity, said soldiers 

started the harassment on 

the day of incident at 8p.m., 

invading commando style, 

harassing and beating up 

youths. 

He said: “Since that 

incident, we have been 

living in fear. They come 

commando style, causing 

panic with traders closing 

their businesses in a hurry. 

“The hoodlums, who 

attacked the checkpoint, are 

not from here. They came, 

did what they did and left, 

leaving us to suffer in the 

hands of JTF men.” 

Another indigene of the 

community, who gave his 

name as Timi, said: “On 

Sunday night, the soldiers 

invaded a cinema hall at 

Kpakiama Junction, beating 

oil and gas bearing communities 

should be total.” 

She congratulated 

DESOPADEC's Managing 

Director, Dr. William 

Makinde, for the timely 

completion of the jetty, 

saying her agitation for a 

better society is beyond 

up people, causing a 

stampede. 

“Some of us sustained 

serious injuries in the 

course of running for our 

lives. A young man in 

particular, hit his face 

against an iron in a neardeath 

escape, while others 

sustained various degrees 

of injuries. 

“This is harvest period 

because the coastal flood 

has submerged our 

farmlands. So we overlabour 

ourselves till late in 

the night. 

“Again, our old parents 

are now scared of going out 

to buy drugs for themselves 

after the day’s job. 

“We appeal to the JTF 

Command to caution their 

men because we are lawabiding 

citizens.” 

We know our duties 

—JTF Commander 

Contacted on phone, JTF 

ethnic sentiments. 

In her words: “The same 

environmental degradation 

facing Isoko ethnic 

nationality is the same 

confronting Urhobo, Ijaw or 

Itsekiri ethnic groups; no 

discrimination.” 

Speaking, Makinde said 

Commander, Bomadi 

Division, said: “You cannot 

just call me to say my men 

are harassing people. We 

know our duty. 

“Senator James Manager 

has also called me on this 

issue. He asked me same 

question and I said we do 

not harass anybody. 

“No matter who informed 

you of this, we know our 

duty here. My duties are 

to curb illegal oil 

bunkering, safeguard oil 

facilities and instillation, 

guard law-abiding citizens 

and any other thing that is 

related to security. 

“I carry out any patrol 

along any route, I don’t 

think my soldiers are 

harassing anybody. 

“We don’t grant press 

briefing and you don’t 

need to mention my name. 

If you want any interview, 

go to my Commanding 

Officer at Agbarhor.” 

AFRIMA: From left— Representative of South Africa, Mr. Delani Makahina; representative of Diaspora, 

Hadja Kodele; Kenyan's Joett; President/Chief Executive Officer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada, and Head of 

Culture, Africa Union, AU, Mrs Angela Martins, all jurors, 5th Edition, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, 

2018, at the briefing to announce nominees for the awards in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

Lori-Ogbebor hails DESOPADEC on projects 

Esan youths vow to resist imposition of candidates 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN—ESAN Youth 

Movement, EYM, in 

Edo State, has insisted that 

it would resist any move by 

leaders of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, outside 

the zone to dictate to the 

people of Edo Central 

senatorial district who gets 

its ticket in 2019. 

The group called on the 

National Chairman of APC, 

Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to 

ensure the process of 

getting a candidate is 

democratic. 

They also called on 

Governor Godwin Obaseki 

to address the issues in his 

native Edo South senatorial 

district and allow Esan 

people to decide their fate. 

In a statement in Benin 

yesterday, EYM President, 

Mr. Kingsley Ohens, said 

DESOPADEC is poised to 

do more for oil-bearing 

communities in a resolve to 

complete ongoing projects. 

He commended Chief 

Lori-Ogbebor for always 

speaking truth to power as 

mother to the state and the 

Niger Delta region. 

the people of Edo Central 

senatorial district reserve 

their God-given right to 

choose and install their 

leaders at all levels. 

He said: “We, Esan 

people of Edo Central 

senatorial district, shall 

resist and reject attempts 

directly or by proxy to 

impose candidates on our 

people in the forthcoming 

elections into the state and 

National Assemblies.” 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA—THE 

Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NPC, Bayelsa 

State chapter, has cried 

out to the state 

government to pay the 

three months salary 

arrears owed workers in 

the state. 

State chairman of 

NLC, Mr. John Ndiomu, 

in a statement in 

Yenagoa yesterday, said 

workers in the state were 

still being owed 

outstanding salary 

arrears since 2016, 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

NLC begs Bayelsa govt to 

pay 3 months salary arrears 

Give me one more chance, Delta 

lawmaker begs constituents 

By Chancel 

Sunday 

B OMADI—DEPUTY 

Majority Leader, 

Delta State House of 

Assembly, Mr. Kenneth 

Preyor, has appealed to 

the people of Bomadi 

constituency to return 

him to the legislature in 

2019. 

Preyor made the 

appeal at Bomadi, 

headquarters of Bomadi 

Local Government Area 

of the state, during a 

consultative visit to 

Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, secretariat. 

COORDINATOR of 

Ijaw Monitoring 

Group, IMG, Mr. 

Joseph Evah, has 

described former 

Governor of Delta State, 

Chief James Ibori, as an 

uncommon political 

leader and architect of 

modern Delta State. 

In a goodwill message 

marking the 60th 

birthday of Chief Ibori, 

the former Publicity 

Secretary of Ijaw 

National Congress, INC, 

said: “We are proud that 

Ibori gift to Western Ijaw 

under Delta State has 

linked the entire Ijaw of 

Preyor said he embarked 

on the visit because the 

party is supreme and it 

behoves him to do the 

right thing. 

His words: “I am grateful 

for the trust you have 

reposed in me. I have 

come to ask for just one 

chance to represent you to 

enable me complete my 

assignment in the House.” 

Responding, the party 

chairman, Mr. Prince 

Opuofoni, thanked Preyor 

and his entourage for the 

visit, noting that he had 

made the constituency 

proud in lawmaking in the 

House. 

Ibori is architect of 

modern Delta State—Evah 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO—AKWA Ibom 

State First Lady, 

Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, 

has dissolved the 

Executive Committee of 

Ikot Ekpene Senatorial 

District Women Forum. 

According to a 

statement by Mrs. 

Amayo Umoh, Press 

Secretary to Mrs 

noting that the payment 

will go a long way in 

reducing the plight of 

workers and improve their 

well being. 

Ndiomu said: “We are 

being owed three months 

salary arrears by the state 

government and we are 

calling their attention to the 

need to pay now that we 

are out of the recession. 

“We agreed that in the 

past two years, salaries 

have been paid regularly 

but the arrears are still our 

major concern, especially 

now that the economy is 

improving.” 

the state to the outside 

world that attracted speedy 

development in our 

communities. 

“Like the great Samuel 

Ogbomudia, Chief Ibori 

regarded the entire state 

as one family, making him 

a symbol of unity in a state 

regarded as a mini- 

Nigeria. 

“The 60th birthday of 

Ibori deserves celebration 

because God’s special 

grace is evident in his life, 

having experienced the 

worst threat to his life,” 

wishing him many more 

years in good health and 

more service to humanity. 

A-Ibom First Lady dissolves 

women forum's exco 

Emmanuel, yesterday, the 

dissolution is to re-jig the 

committee for optimal 

result. 

The statement read in 

part: “Her Excellency 

appreciates the 

contributions of members 

of the dissolved committee 

and wishes them well in 

their future endeavours. 

“A new executive 

committee will be 

inaugurated in due time.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 —33



Hackers break into bank's database, siphon 

millions of naira from customers' accounts 

By Eric Ugbor 

U MUAHIA— 

THERE was 

pandemonium yesterday at 

the First City Monument 

Bank, FCMB, branches in 

Umuahia, the Abia State 

capital when many 

customers besieged the 

bank over withdrawals 

running into millions of 

naira made from their 

accounts at midnight. 

As early as 8.00am, many 

customers of the bank have 

crowded the two branches 

of the bank located along 

Bank Road in Umuahia, 

with lamentations over 

debit alerts, amounting to 

millions of naira which they 

received between 1am and 

3am yesterday. 

The customers, who 

stated that the unusual 

withdrawal occurred very 

early in the morning 

yesterday while they were 

asleep, expressed shock 

that they woke up to see 

that the money in their 

accounts have been 

withdrawn. 

A senior staff of one of the 

affected branches, who 

spoke on anonymity 

blamed the incident on 

"international hackers." 

Mrs Nnenna Ukachi 

could not control her tears 

as she stated that she came 

all the way from Bende 

Local Government Area of 

the state to withdraw the 

sum of N250,000 to 

complete payment to 

transfer a sick daughter to 

the Universty of Nigeria 

Teaching Hospital, UNTH, 

Enugu, only to find that her 

account has been emptied. 

The woman who couldn’t 

control her tears lamented 

that the money was sent by 

a good Nigerian who read 

about the plight of her only 

child and decided to help. 

She said: “My life is 

finished, what will I do? 

That money is my only 

hope from God and now, 

the bank is telling me a 

story I can’t understand. 

What should I do?”. 

Onwuchekwa Chinatu, 

an Umuahia-based legal 

practitioner told Vanguard 

that he raced all the way 

from Ikwuano this morning 

when he noticed the 

strange withdrawal alerts 

that occurred in his account 

last night. 

He said that thousands 

of naira meant for workers 

salary deposited in the 

FCMB have been 

withdrawn and the entire 

account emptied. 

Another customer of the 

bank and a civil servant told 

Vanguard that the money 

in his account was a loan 

he collected from the 

bank where his salary is 

domiciled. 

Enugu govt seals off banks, firms over 

non-payment of N200m taxes 

E NUGU—ENUGU 

State Board of Internal 

Revenue after obtaining 

court orders, yesterday, 

carried out a distrainment 

exercise on four banks and 

two other private firms, 

located in Enugu 

metropolis and Nsukka, for 

non-payment of taxes due 

to the state government, 

totalling over N200 million. 

The affected companies, 

according to the board’s 

Director of Back Duty Audit, 

Mr. Edwin Iyidiobi, who 

spoke to newsmen after the 

exercise, included three 

new generation banks, a 

hotel and another business 

establishment. 

Iyidiobi stated that the 

detrainment exercise 

became imperative “after 

several failed appeals to 

these companies that are 

indebted to us,” adding that 

“they did not comply with 

our request and of course, 

being law abiding citizens 

we had to ask for court’s 

assistance.” 

He maintained that the 

exercise followed due 

process and was 

successful, saying: “We got 

Court Orders to seal off the 

affected companies, and 

distrain them until they pay 

what they owe the state 

government.” 

The tax board boss further 

explained that the taxes 

being owed the state 

government by the affected 

companies were in form of 

“unpaid PAYE; underremitted 

PAYE; underremitted 

Withholding Tax; 

under-remitted 

Development Levy and 

interests and penalties 

charged on the underremitted 

taxes as provided 

by the law.” 

While emphasising the 

board’s need to raise 

sufficient funds for the 

execution of state 

government’s 

The manager of FCMB, 

Umuahia was not available 

to explain the situation to 

customers but a senior staff 

of the bank confirmed the 

criminal incident as a 

handiwork of international 

hackers. 

He confirmed that the 

incident has been reported 

in two of their branches in 

Umuahia and blamed it on 

the activities of criminal 

international hackers who 

infiltrated into the bank 

systems. 

He assured the customers 

that the monies were not 

lost as it remained in what 

he called “Lean Account”, 

meaning that the funds are 

still in the bank and the 

affected accounts have 

been blocked. 

He said: “We have 

contacted our headquarters 

and we assure customers 

not to panic as their money 

is not lost.” 

AWARENESS: Principal, Igbobi College, Yaba, Venerable Femi Fashina; Board Member, Joe 

Nwiloh Foundation, Mr. Akin Omorodion; Chief Operating Officer, Joe Nwiloh Foundation, 

Adedoyin Yusuf; Consultant Family Physician and Occupational Medical Practitional, Dr Joe 

Nwiloh, and Dr. Bukunola Fagade, during the Joe Nwiloh Foundation sponsored medical 

outreach programme aimed at impacting the knowledge of how to perform cardiovascular 

resuscitation, CRP, on victims of cardiac arrest. 

Why we're conferring chieftaincy title on 

Gov Ganduje—Abia monarchs 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

AAbia BA—CHAIRMAN, 

State Council of 

Traditional Rulers, Eze 

Eberechi Dick, has said 

that the council will be 

conferring a chieftaincy 

title on the governor of 

Kano State, Alhaji Umar 

Ganduje, for protecting 

lives and properties of 

Ndigbo residing in his 

state. 

In an interview with 

Vanguard in Aba, the 

development projects, Mr. 

Iyidiobi therefore, urged the 

defaulters to comply with 

their civic responsibilities by 

paying the outstanding 

taxes for the overall benefit 

of the people of the state. 

monarch who spoke 

against reports that the 

planned chieftaincy title 

has political undertone, 

explained that the 

request was made by 

Ndigbo residing in Kano 

State and insisted that 

traditional rulers are not 

involved in partisan 

politics. 

Eze Dick said Ndigbo 

in Kano would use the 

chieftaincy title to thank 

Ganduje for the manner 

he has protected lives 

and property of Ndigbo 

in Kano, particularly 

during the IPOB crisis 

during which he averted 

reprisal attacks. 

He disclosed that 

Ganduje will be given 

the chieftaincy title of 

Agu Na Eche Mba 1 of 

Ndigbo, (Lion that 

protects Igbo people). 

“The chieftaincy title 

has no political 

undertone; it’s purely in 

appreciation for what 

Ganduje has been doing 

for the Igbo in his state." 

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Awka Prison inmate 

registers for MSc at NOUN 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

AWKA—AN inmate of 

the Awka Prisons in 

Anambra State, Mr. Jude 

Onwuzulike has registered 

for a Masters degree 

programme in Information 

Technology at the National 

Open University of Nigeria, 

NOUN. 

The 39-year old 

Onwuzulike, a father of 

four, was inducted at the 7th 

matriculation ceremony of 

the institution held recently 

at the prison premises. 

Authorities of NOUN and 

the Nigeria Prison Service, 

however decided to 

organise a special 

ceremony for the inmates. 

The excited Onwuzulike 

told reporters during the 

ceremony that he had 

earlier obtained the 

Bachelor’s Degree and 

Post Graduate Diploma 

from the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

University, Awka and University 

of Nigeria, respectively 

before he was sentenced 

to prison. 

He said: “My first degree 

was in Accounting, which 

I obtained in 2005, while the 

second degree was in 

Mathematics. When I 

came here, I did a Post 

Graduate Diploma in 

Information Technology 

and I am now pursuing 

Masters degree in the 

same discipline.” 

He explained that he 

had to go into another 

discipline from his first 

degree course of study due 

to what he described as 

unsatisfactory manner the 

case that led to his 

imprisonment was 

investigated by security 

operatives, particularly the 

Department of State 

Services, DSS. He, 

however did not give 

details of what brought him 

to the prison. 

Abia workers hungry, says 

former Speaker 

By Anayo Okoli 

UMUAHIA—A former 

Speaker of Abia State 

House of Assembly, Mr. 

Agwu Agwu has said that 

Abia people, especially the 

civil servants are not happy 

with the state government 

due to the level of hardship 

they are passing through as 

a result of several months 

of arrears of unpaid salaries 

and pensions. 

According to him, Abia 

workers keep running from 

place to place in search of 

assistance to solve their 

basic problems because 

their salaries are not paid. 

Agwu, who is a chieftain 

of the ruling All Progressive 

Congress, APC, also said 

the party is not President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

party as erroneously be 

spread, but a national party, 

which he said would 

provide Igbos the best 

opportunity to produce the 

president of the country. 

“Abia people are not 

happy with the 

government of the day. I 

am not in the habit of 

criticizing any government. 

But I have brothers and 

sisters working in the state 

and for several months they 

have not been paid and 

they have been going 

through a lot of hardship. 

They are praying for 

change. 

“If you are a Government 

and you cannot and you 

can’t salary, and owe 

pensioners for several 

months, then there is a 

problem,” Agwu said, 

adding that selecting some 

ministries to pay was not 

the way to go. 

Noting that the Ikpeazu 

administration may have 

done well in some areas, 

Agwu however said owing 

workers must be a priority 

of any government. 

Agwu said despite the 

heat in the polity, he was 

not entertaining fear for the 

2019 election, as things 

would be in order. 

Lolo Ugoeru 

Nnadozie is dead 

•Late Lolo Nnadozie 

LOLO 

Ugboeru 

Nnadozie, nee 

Arumona of Amaozaka, 

Umuobira village, 

Nkpologu, Uzo-Uwani 

LGA, Enugu State is dead, 

aged 83. 

Burial rites begin August 

17, 2018 with a wake-keep 

at her compound. 

Internment follows next day 

at Amaozaka, Umuobira, 

Nkpologu. She is survived 

by children and other 

relations.


NEPC VISITS NASS: From left— Chairman, African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, 

committee, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, NACC, Mr. Olatunde Titilayo; Director, 

International Export Office, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mrs Uduak Etekowoh; National 

President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Otunba Oluwatoyin Akomolafe; CEO, NEPC, 

Mr. Segun Awolowo; Regional Coordinator, South-West, NEPC, Mr. Babatunde Faleke, and DG, NACC, 

Mrs Joyce Akpata, during a visit by the Council to NACC office in Lagos, yesterday. 

Borno presents N5m cheque to 

Israel Galadima, highest JAMB scorer 

By Ndahi Marama 

M AIDUGURI— 

BORNO State 

government has presented 

a cheque of N5 million to 

Israel Zakari Galadima, 

who scored 364 points, the 

highest, in the 2018 Joint 

Admissions and 

Matriculation Board- 

Unified Tertiary 

Matriculation Examination, 

JAMB-UTME. 

Galadima is from Biu 

Local government area in 

southern part of Borno 

State. 

Borno’s Commissioner 

for Higher Education, 

Usman Jaha, made the 

presentation at the office of 

the Registrar, Covenant 

University, Ota, Ogun 

State, where Israel 

Galadima gained 

admission to study 

Electronics Engineering. 

The presentation was 

witnessed 

by 

representatives of the 

student’s family, principal 

of his secondary school, 

some officials of the 

university and Borno’s 

liaison office in Lagos. 

Full scholarship 

Governor Kashim 

Shettima had, last Tuesday, 

announced full scholarship 

for Israel when he played 

host to the boy, who already 

secured admission at 

Covenant University, and 

his mother, Jummai 

Galadima, a Lagos-based 

banker, at the Government 

House in Maiduguri. 

Jaha urged Israel’s family 

to release a substantial part 

of the N5 million to the 

university to cover the five 

years the boy will spend in 

school, saying Governor 

Shettima’s only request was 

for him to remain focused 

and graduate First Class. 

Responding, Israel, who 

•I'll give back to people of Borno in furure—Israel 

the governor nicknamed 

JAMB King, said: “I am 

touched by the governor’s 

gesture and I know that 

By Femi Bolaji 

J 

A L I N G O — 

CHRISTIAN 

Association of Nigeria in 

Taraba State has raised the 

alarm, alleging plots by 

some politicians to plunge 

the state into further crisis 

by destabilising the 2019 

general election. 

The state Chairman of 

CAN, John Aina, raised the 

alarm, noting that the 

killings in some parts of Lau 

and Ardo Kola Local 

Government areas of the 

state were parts of the 

plans, which, according to 

him, have led to the 

displacement of about 

15,000 people in 49 towns 

and villages. 

He said: “Information 

reaching us indicate that 

there is a renewed plot by 

some sponsored elements 

within and outside the state 

to destabilise peace and 

cause people to flee as 2019 

elections draw closer. 

“This time around the 

plan covers the whole state, 

unlike in 2015 when 

southern and central zones 

were the targets.” 

Responding, Taraba State 

Commissioner of Police, 

David Akinremi, explained 

that the command, in 

synergy with other security 

agencies, have mobilised 

enough personnel to the 

affected areas. 

He noted that flash points 

have been spotted and 

safeguarded ahead of the 

polls for quick response to 

distress calls. 

sacrifices were made to 

support me. 

“I assure the governor 

and everyone here that by 

According to the Police 

boss, “we are firmly in 

control and working with 

other security agencies in 

the state to ensure that 

security in the state is not 

put in jeopardy. 

“We want to appeal to 

CAN, as a religious body, 

to cross-check their facts 

before making hasty 

the grace of God, in years 

to come, I will give back to 

the people of my state, 

Borno by the grace of God.” 

Taraba CAN alleges plans to destabilise election 

•They should be sure of claims, work with us—Police 

statements. 

“If there are things CAN 

or any other religious body 

in feel are not right, our 

doors are always opened to 

them for consultation and 

input on how to improve 

whatever situation they feel 

could lead to breach or 

threat to security in any part 

of the state.” 

Court stops Kwara Assembly from 

investigating only APC lawmaker 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

ILORIN—A Kwara State 

High Court in llorin, 

yesterday, restrained the 

state House of Assembly 

from investigating the 

allegations of certificate 

forgery, fraud and issuance 

of dud cheque against a 

member, Saheed Popoola. 

Popoola (APC Ojomu- 

Balogun constituency in 

Offa Local Government 

Area), is the only member 

of the assembly that did not 

defect to Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, with 

the other 23 lawmakers. 

Justice T. S. Umar, in a 

motion ex parte filed by 

Salman Jawondo, counsel 

to Popoola, ordered the 

Assembly not to engage in 

any act that could deny the 

lawmaker his privileges. 

Umar held that the 

legislator was elected by 

the people of Balogun- 

Ojomu as their 

representative for four years 

on the ticket of All 


APC. 

He ordered the Principal 

Officers and Standing 

Committees of the 

Assembly not to take any 

action on the allegations 

until the determination of 

the case before the court and 

adjourned the case till 

August 15 for mention. 


By Victor 

Ahiuma-Young 

AHEAD of 2019 

elections, first 

democratically-elected 

governor of Kaduna State 

in the Second Republic, 

Alhaji Balarabe Musa, 

has endorsed the 

aspiration of the General 

Secretary of National 

Union of Textile, 

Garment and Tailoring 

Workers of Nigeria, 

NUTGTWN, Mr. Issa 

Aremu, for Kwara State 

governorship election, 

citing his commitment to 

the struggle for social 

justice and development 

in the country. 

He spoke when 

Aremu, a governorship 

aspirant on the platform 

of Labour Party, LP, paid 

him a courtesy call at his 

residence in Kaduna. 

In Alhaji Musa’s 

words: “I support Aremu 

99 percent. I would have 

supported him 100 

percent if he runs on PRP. 

But the Labour Party he 

THE 

Alumni 

Association of the 

Federal University of 

Technology, Akure, 

FUTA, has set a target of 

N1 billion annually for its 

Trust Fund. 

Speaking during the 

inauguration of the 

FUTA Alumni Trust 

Fund Board at the 

institution’s Council 

Chamber, President of 

the Alumni Association, 

Mr. Adesomoju Olaitan, 

said the association’s 

plan is to raise N1 billion 

annually for the 

university to ensure the 

sustenance and 

improvement of FUTA's 

leading position in 

academic excellence. 

According to Olaitan, 

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Balarabe Musa endorses Issa 

Aremu for Kwara governorship 

chooses is part of 

progressive families 

committed to socialist 

transformation of Nigeria.” 

Earlier, Aremu disclosed 

that he was inspired by the 

record of Alhaji Musa, 

adding that “I am an 

ideological and political 

son of Alhaji Musa right 

from my university days.” 

Decrying the sociopolitical 

situations in the 

country, Aremu noted that 

it was time Nigeria 

implemented the 

resolutions of 2014 

conference with reference 

to code of conduct for 

political parties and 

political party office 

holders on carpet 

crossing, which says “any 

elected official, executive 

or legislative, who carpetcrosses, 

regardless of the 

reasons for such, shall 

automatically forfeit their 

seat. 

“Such officials are, 

however, free to contest for 

the position or any other 

position on the basis of 

their new political party.” 

Alumni to raise N1bn for FUTA 

“Senator Rabiu 

Kwankwaso is surely 

coming to Kano, when the 

time is ripe and no one can 

stop that.” 

She expressed 

satisfaction with the 

supporters of Senator 

Kwankwaso, adding “we 

should sustain the tempo 

and ensure that PDP takes 

back the mantle of power 

in Kano in particular and 

Nigeria at large.” 

Another women leader, 

Hajiya Atine Abdullahi, 

supporting her 

counterpart, also declared 

that Senator Kwankwaso 

belongs to Kano and Kano 

belongs to him. 

FUTA’s quest for cutting 

edge research, teaching 

and community service 

need to be properly 

funded. 

In his address at the 

occasion, FUTA’s Vice- 

Chancellor, Professor 

Joseph Fuwape, 

identified inadequate 

funding as one of the 

major challenges facing 

the institution, noting that 

allocation to the 

university had reduced 

in recent times. 

Professor Fuwape also 

disclosed that the 

institution had been 

surviving through the 

intervention of the Tertiary 

Education Trust Fund and 

his administration’s probity 

and transparency. 

‘Kwankwaso'll be in Kano at the 

right time’ 

By Abdulmumin 

Murtala 

KANO—A 

leading 

member of the 

Kwankwasiyya Movement 

in Kano, Hajiya Binta 

Spikin, has broken the 

suspense and anxiety that 

followed the defection of 

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso 

from All Progressives 

Congress, APC, to the 


PDP, stating that he is 

coming to Kano when the 

time is ripe. 

She told Vanguard: 

Her words: “Senator 

Kwankwaso is from Kano 

and belongs to Kano and 

Kano belongs to him. 

“He is a bonafide citizen 

of the state. No one can stop 

him from entering Kano.” 

Senator Kwankwaso is 

seen as a major critic of the 

Kano State governor, Dr. 

Abdullahi Ganduje, who 

was Kwankwaso's deputy 

when he was governor of 

the state. 

In January, the Police 

advised Kwankwaso to 

suspend entering Kano 

until there is no more 

tension among supporters, 

even as they belonged to 

the same APC then.


WITH CHARLES KUMOLU 

midweekpersonality@gmail.com 

08052140865 (sms only) 

Origin 

Our society has given me so 

much. Anyone who hears 

my story will understand why 

I have embraced philanthropy. 

I'm from a humble background 

and I practically had to pry 

myself from the shackles of 

poverty. I knew I had to survive 

and also make a difference in 

life. The mindset made me 

relocate to Lagos from Delta 

State and without knowing 

what the move held for me. I 

was lucky to meet some good 

people, who assisted me in 

settling down. I worked briefly 

at the Nigerian Television 

Authority, NTA. From there, I 

went to the banking sector with 

my school certificate result. 

While in the bank, I studied 

for my Associate Chartered 

Institute of Bankers, 

ACIB,certification. 

From the main banking, I went 

into unit banking which is now 

known as microfinance banking. 

I worked in virtually every 

department and this honed my 

skills. When I finally left 

banking, I went back to school, 

because many people don't 

understand banking 

qualifications like ACIB. I had 

to enhance my qualifications by 

studying Banking and Finance. 

I also worked at Mandara in Jos 

under the late President Umar 

Yar'Adua and got involved in a 

few businesses in the private 

sector that are yielding good 

returns. 

Raising a family early 

I started raising a family early 

so that I could concentrate on my 

steps to relevance. Another 

reason was my background 

which was not interesting. I was 

not born into opulence at all. I 

promised that education which 

was very difficult for me to 

acquire, I must give it to my 

children. Today, I am proud that 

all of them are graduates and 

they are doing well in their fields 

of endeavour. I later went into 

politics. In all these, I received 

the acceptance of society. I have 

received assistance from people 

all along. My major break in life 

came from a man, who was a 

National Youth Service Corps 

member in my village school, 

Uzere Grammar School in the 

then Bendel State.He taught me 

Government. When I came 

looking for a job in Lagos, 

someone gave me a note to Mr. 

Shofoluwe at NTA. He was a 

Senior Administrative Officer in 

charge of appointments and 

promotions. 

Acceptance of society 

When I entered his office, the 

man I saw was Mr. Olarewaju, 

who I knew in my village school. 

Since I was born and brought up 

in Yorubaland, I was close to him 

when he was serving in my 

village. I was the best student in 

Government, so, we bonded 

naturally. I was just like his 

ASKIA OGIE: 

To whom much is given 

THIS report is not just the tale of Chief Askia Ogie 's journey to 

relevance, but an instructive read for anyone who is concerned about 

giving back to society. Ogie, an accomplished entrepreneur and 

currently the Executive Director of Finance, Delta State Oil Mineral 

Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, is living the 

biblical injunction of Luke 12:48 which says "To whom much is given, 

much will be required." 

housekeeper because I washed 

his clothes and dishes. 

Sometimes, I slept in his house. 

The moment he saw me, we 

simultaneously shouted our 

names as we embraced. I told him 

I was supposed to see one Mr. 

Shofoluwe but I was surprised 

to see him sitting on Shofoluwe's 

seat. He said he's Mr. Shofoluwe. 

When I asked why his name 

became Shofoluwe, he said it was 

a long story. 

He was to interview me for the 

job, but said that there was no 

need for the interview, adding 

that he knew all he would have 

asked me about . That was how I 

started working at NTA. That 

element of luck has followed me 

till date. At that time, I already 

applied to work in a bank. I left 

that job for the banking sector and 

the transition was easy. Of course, 

I suffered as a young man, but I 

found myself always lucky when 

I started working. A lot of my 

colleagues, who stayed back in 

the village at the time, didn't 

grow beyond village life. It was 

mainly, because they didn't have 

my kind of courage to leave the 

PERSONALITY ETHICS 

* Nobody should be 

written off 

*Society embraces only 

those with good 

character 

*Everyone has 

potentials that can be 

developed 

*Much can be achieved 

in diversity 

village. I came to the city, I was 

accepted by society and I made 

a fortune. 

I feel the kind of things society 

gave me, others across the country 

should also benefit from and that's 

why I'm committed to 

philanthropy. I am not looking 

back. Someone, not related to me, 

a Yoruba man, gave me my first 

break in life and . fate reunited 

us in Lagos. That shows that even 

in diversity we can be brothers 

and we can achieve. My title, 

Bashorun was given to me in 

Yorubaland and I have nine 

other titles. 

Working all my life 

Society is not as bad as people 

see it. People also need to do 

something so that our society 

will embrace them.They should 

develop themselves and be of 

good character so that society 

will embrace them. Lately, the 

quest for money has made many 

people lose interest in working 

ironically. I have been working 

all my life. I didn't just become 

who I am just like that. It was a 

long process. I still have much 

to achieve, but I'm concerned 

about helping others, because I 

was helped beyond measures. 

Nobody should be written off. 

Everybody has potentials that 

should be developed to make 

society better. 

Bashorun Askia Foundation 

Bashorun, my traditional title 

was given to me in Oye Ekiti and 

it's synonymous with everything 

about me. I'm known more with 

that title than my real name, 

Askia. I have many titles in my 

kingdom. I have always been 

interested in impacting society, 

beacuse it has given me much. 

I'm determined to improve the 

living standard of people around 

me and that motivated the 

establishment of BashorunAskia 

Foundation. It is mainly 

philanthropic but focused on 

skills acquisition. I have been 

doing this in various ways for 

years. Now,my focus is the 

education sector because 

standard of education has fallen 

in Nigeria but education is vital 

to the development of this nation. 

There is a need to bridge that 

gap. I will be devoting most of 

my time to the development of 

teaching of Mathematics in 

secondary schools. 

Children are gradually drifting 

from the study of Mathematics 

which they think is difficult. I 

suspect that the mode of 

teaching the subject, 

instructional materials or myths 

about the subject could be 

responsible for this. I am coming 

up with a show that will appeal 

to youths and rouse their interest 

in Mathematics. The aim is to 

make them see the subject as 

something they can easily 

embrace like other subjects. To 

achieve this, we are focusing on 

their Intelligent Quotient, IQ, 

and we have produced a 

programme dubbed BIQ Show 

which will test the IQ of students 

in a competitive and interesting 

manner. If we allow the growing 

apathy towards mathematics, it 

will get to a point where no 

students are interested in 

mathematics and society will 

suffer , because innovations will 

be lacking. 

Why mathematics? 

Mathematics is the bedrock of 

every innovation. Everything 

revolves around mathematics. 

I've discovered youths are 

spending more time on leisure. 

They prefer arts and it's 

affecting us as a nation to the 

extent that we are not serious 

about development.That's why 

we can't manufacture simple 

things we can produce. Basic 

Mathematics is needed for 

development. A lot of parents 

and guardians would not invest 

in what I am doing because it 

would consume money than 

produce money. But I'm not 

thinking of that, because I want 

to give to society that has given 

me so much. I'm doing this for 

the younger generation and I'll 

start from Delta State. The 

project will focus on basic 

Mathematics by determining 

how fast participants can think, 

memorise, add and subtract 

figures. In the pilot edition, the 

winner was a female student we 

pleaded with to participate who 

didn't like mathematics. Her 

success kindled her interest in 

the subject. 

Read concluding part on 

www.vanguardngr.com



10 aspirants emerge as Amosun keeps 

mum 

By Daud Olatunji 

CONTROVERSY over the 

choice of who flies the 

governorship flag of the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC in the forthcoming 

governorship election in Ogun 

State is increasing by the day. 

This is especially as Governor 

Ibikunle Amosun who will be 

one of the most decisive players 

in choosing his successor has 

continued to keep mum on the 

issue. 

The governor and some key 

stakeholders had in the past 

focussed on fetching the next 

governor of the state from Ogun 

West, the only section of the 

state that is yet to produce a 

civilian governor of the state. 

The governor’s silence is not 

being helped by increasing 

agitation from other senatorial 

zones who in the face of the 

anxiety are also bracing to 

produce their aspirants to grab 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

AHEAD of the 2019 

governorship and federal 

parliamentary elections, 

leaders, and stakeholders of 

the Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) in Oyo South Senatorial 

District have resolved to adopt 

the consensus approach in the 

selection of the party’s 

governorship candidate. They 

also resolved to use consensus 

method in choosing 

candidates for various 

elective offices in each of the 

constituencies in the 

Senatorial District. 

The meeting which held in 

Ibadan had in attendance 

party leaders, nine local 

•Amosun 

the ticket. 

There are at least ten 

aspirants who have shown 

indication for the APC ticket 

among whom are the speaker 

of the State House of Assembly 

, Suraj Adekumbi, former 

Deputy governor of the state, 

Senator Gbenga Kaka, former 

member of House of 

Representatives, representing 

Yewa South/ Ipokoa federal 

constituency, Hon Ishaq 

Akinlade, the Chief of Staff to 

the governor Mr Tolu Odebiyi 

and member of House of 

Representatives , representing 

Yewa south/ Ipokia federal 

constituency Hon Abdulkabir 

Akinlade. 

OYO GUBER: PDP stakeholders back consensus option 

By Wole Mosadomi 

FORMER deputy governor 

of Niger State and 

Nigeria’s immediate past High 

Commissioner to South Africa, 

Alhaji Musa Ibeto has 

promised to spend only one 

term in office as governor of the 

state if he wins the forthcoming 

governorship election. 

Ibeto, the country’s 

immediate past high 

commissioner to South Africa 

who abandoned his diplomatic 

posting and resigned from the 


APC and defected to his former 

party, the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP also regretted his 

earlier defection to the APC. 

“I will do only one term to 

give credence to the zoning 

formula put in place by the 

founders of the PDP in the state 

in 1998 and by the grace of 

government chairmen in the 

Senatorial District, party 

faithful, and aspirants to the 

various elective positions was 

convened to forestall possible 

crises that often trail the 

emergence of candidates in 

the build-up to general 

elections. In a communiqué 

issued at the end of the 

meeting and made available 

to our correspondent, the 

leaders resolved that “Given 

the usual acrimony and 

bitterness that often 

accompany party primaries, 

the consensus method should 

be adopted in choosing the 

party’s gubernatorial 

candidate for the 2019 

governorship election in Oyo 

State. 

“Where the consensus 

method is not feasible, leaders 

in the Senatorial District 

should meet to resolve the 

dispute and where there are 

contentions, the matter 

should be referred to the state 

chapter for an amicable 

resolution.” 

Among those present at the 

meeting were the former 

Minister of Sports and Special 

Duties, Professor Taoheed 

Adedoja, ex-Oyo State 

Deputy governor, Alhaji 

Hazeem Gbolarumi, Senator 

Kamorudeen Adedibu, 

Honourable Yemi Taiwo, and 

Alhaja Bose Adedibu among 

others. 

Others include; Oil 

magnate Temitope Kuyebi, a 

former senatorial candidate of 

the All Progressives Congress, 

Dapo Abiodun, commissioner 

for forestry, Hon Kola Lawal, 

Commissioner for Culture and 

Tourism, Hon Muyiwa 

Oladipupo Mr. Owodunni 

Opayemi and former aide to the 

governor of Kaduna State, 

Nasir El-rufai, Mr. Jimi Lawal. 

The aspiration of Senator 

Solomon Adeola representing 

Lagos West Senatorial District 

to migrate to take over 

Amosun’s job seems to have 

evaporated as the senator has 

lately shown interest to again 

vie for the Senate seat in Lagos. 

Contrary to the belief that the 

governor who had disclosed 

that would announce the lucky 

candidate after the Ramadan 

fasting, the governor has kept 

his intentions close to his chest. 

Meanwhile, there was 

tension in the party as 

candidates from other 

senatorial districts, Ogun East 

showed interest despite the fact 

that the governor has openly 

said he will only support an 

Ogun West candidate from the 

party. 

As a result of this, some party 

members have begun to 

envisage crisis in the party 

saying they will not give power 

to Ogun West except such a 

candidate wins in a well 

contested primary even as 

some candidates are calling for 

an open primary. 

Amosun, however, seems 

determined to get a faithful 

loyalist as successor and it is 

no surprise that the emergence 

of the chief of staff initially 

raised insinuations that he was 

the dark horse. 

NIGER: Ibeto regrets defection to APC, vows to serve one term 

God, in 2023, the governorship 

will go to zone A,” Ibeto said 

while addressing members of 

the PDP at the party secretariat 

in Minna. While regretting his 

earlier defection to the APC, he 

By Chinonso Alozie 

THE 

governorship 

aspiration of Governor 

Rochas Okorocha’s son-inlaw, 

Mr. Uche Nwosu has 

again received fresh breath 

following the return of the 


APC structure to the 

governor. 

Nwosu, who is also the 

outgoing governor’s chief of 

staff has in the wake of the 

resuscitation of the governor’s 

political relevance in the state 

chapter of the APC is also 

said he decided to return before 

it became too late. The former 

envoy spoke after presenting 

his letter of intent to run for the 

governorship contest on the 

banner of the PDP at the State 

Imo 2019: Nwosu resurrects 

marketing his father-in-law, 

Okorocha to be the senator 

from 2019. In the light of the 

recent challenges, Nwosu has 

lately been using the 

opportunity of the campaigns 

for the local government 

elections to sensitize APC 

faithful on his governorship 

aspiration. Yesterday, the 

chief of staff was in Orlu Local 

Government Area where he 

urged party members to stand 

behind the party. 

“APC is a party for progress, 

APC, is a party for 

Secretariat in Minna. He said 

his reason for defecting to the 

APC was totally defeated, 

hence his decision to come back 

to his former Party. 

development and a 

grassroots party. We will 

support Buhari for 2019 and 

support Rochas Okorocha for 

Imo West senatorial district,” 

Nwosu said yesterday in the 

course of the sensitisation 

tour in Orlu. 

“Buhari will win in 2019, 

and after Buhari 2023 an Igbo 

man will take over as 

President. If APC, takes over 

in 2019, we will continue free 

education in Imo state, and 

we will put more attention in 

the area of youth 

empowerment in Imo state.” 

I will soon come 

to you, 

Kwankwaso 

tells supporters 

By Abdulmumin Murtala 

•Kwankwanso 

SENATOR 

Rabiu 

Kwankwanso has assured 

anxious party supporters that 

he would soon return to the 

state. Speaking against the 

background of the anxiety that 

has followed his failure to visit 

the state since he announced 

his defection from the All 

Progressives Congress, APC to 

the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, the immediate past 

governor of the state said that 

he would come to the state 

when the time is ripe. 

Senator Kwankwanso has 

been busy consulting around 

the country ahead of his 

planned declaration to contest 

for the presidential ticket of the 

PDP. His spokesperson and 

leading member of the 

Kwankwasiyya Movement in 

Kano, Hajiya Binta Spikin told 

Vanguard yesterday:”Senator 

Rabiu Kwankwaso is surely 

coming to Kano when the time 

is ripe, and no one can stop 

that” she stated. 

Speaking with Vanguard, the 

spokeswoman expressed 

satisfaction with the supporters 

as she asked them not to relent 

in their mobilisation activities. 

“We should sustain the tempo 

and ensure that we work hard 

and ensure that the PDP takes 

back the mantle of power in 

Kano in particular and Nigeria 

at large” she declared. 

Another woman leader, 

Hajiya Atine Abdullahi 

speaking in the same direction 

said that Senator Kwankwaso 

belongs to Kano and Kano 

belongs to him. 

“Senator Kwankwaso is from 

Kano and belongs to Kano and 

Kano belongs to him. He is a 

bonafide citizen of the state. No 

one can stop him from entering 

Kano” she explained. 

Senator Kwankwaso is seen 

as a major critic of the Kano 

state Governor Dr. Abdullahi 

Ganduje, who served as the 

deputy when he was governor 

of the state. It would be 

recalled that in January this 

year the police advised the 

Senator to suspend a planned 

visit to Kano on account of the 

heightened tension between 

supporters of the incumbent 

governor and those of his 

immediate predecessor.



LAST week, whilst 

discussing the effect 

of poverty and 

unemployment on the 

issue of national unity in the 

run up to the general 

elections of 2019, I called 

on politicians to factor into 

their political calculations, 

matters which are of 

uppermost interest and 

concern to those they seek 

to serve. 

However, it is important 

to note that such issues can 

only naturally be of concern 

to politicians and 

candidates of political 

parties who are credible in 

themselves. This is why it 

is important to highlight 

the correlation between our 

current constitutional 

make-up and the 

substance or credibility of a 

vast majority of candidates 

who eventually emerge to 

seek political office in 

Nigeria. 

Nigeria as a Nation has 

for several decades been 

engaged in a constant 

struggle for the evolution of 

the perfect electoral system. 

It is the dream of many 

Nigerians that the country 

should have an electoral 

system in which 

transparency is made the 

watch word from voter 

registration to actual 

voting, collation of votes, 

announcement of votes 

and declaration of results. 

To achieve this, the 

lawmakers have on several 

occasions tinkered with the 

country’s electoral laws. 

Since the advent of civilian 

administration in 1999, 

three Electoral Laws have 

been passed by the 

National Assembly i.e 

Electoral Act, 2002, 

Electoral Act, 2006 and 

Electoral Act, 2010 (As 

Amended). As noble and 

commendable as the efforts 

of the legislature has been, 

recent events in the run-up 

to the 2019 general 

elections reveal that 

something fundamental is 

still amiss. It appears that 

much more needs to be 

done rather than minor 

amendments to the 

Electoral Law to correct 

minor blips noticed in the 

implementation of the 

2019 general elections and the question 

of national unity: The Constitution and 

credible candidates (4) 

previous law. The current 

rash of defections across 

parties lends credence to 

this view. It is in the light 

of this that some have 

constantly advocated that 

much attention should be 

paid to the Constitution of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, 1999. These 

demands as we shall 

subsequently discuss are 

not entirely without basis. 

Independence 

Constitution making 

In the march towards 

independence, the leaders 

of Nigeria at that time were 

unified in their common 

purpose of convincing the 

British to give up their 

political and administrative 

hold on Nigeria and grant 

her independence. This 

unity of purpose 

underlined negotiations 

leading up to the eventual 

decision on independence 

and more importantly on the 

make-up and future of post 

independence Nigeria. 

Therefore, the talks which 

held at Lancaster house in 

London at which the 

founding fathers of Nigeria 

such as the late Sardauna 

of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu 

Bello, the first President of 

Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi 

Azikwe, the first Prime 

Minister, Alhaji Abubakar 

Tafawa Balewa and Chief 

Obafemi Awolowo were 

present was characterised 

by insightful debates and 

concessions in order to 

arrive at a balanced 

federation. 

Therefore, in arriving at 

the independence 

Constitution, the founding 

fathers of the nation had 

due regard to the diverse 

nature of the sections which 

make up modern day 

Nigeria. Nigeria is a vast 

country with diverse 

ethnicities, each with their 

different languages, 

culture, tradition, religion 

and attitude to work etc. 

This far-sightedness 

ensured that even after 

Nigeria became a republic 

in 1963, the constituent 

regions of Nigeria were 

able to move and develop 

in an atmosphere of 

healthy competition. Whilst 

the Western Region was 

able to record significant 

progress with its cocoa 

plantations, the North and 

the East recorded an 

equally successful rate of 

development with the 

groundnut pyramids in 

Kano and palm oil in the 

East. 

Nigeria at that time could 

also boast of good roads, 

excellent health care 

services, sound educational 

institutions and 

infrastructure and an 

evolving electoral system 

which ensured active 

participation and 

representation across all 

political and geographical 

spheres. Revenue of the 

government was shared 

amongst the centre and the 

constituent regions in such 

a way that the states were 

strong enough to embark on 

agricultural and the 

industrial development. 

Each party knew its legislative 

limit. Such was the 

level of development and 

promise that Nigeria at that 

time was adjudged one of 

the fastest developing 

economies of the world. 

The process of 

promulgation of the 

Constitution as stated 

above and which in return 

brought about 

development to the country 

had a profound effect on the 

Nigeria as a 

Nation has for 

several decades 

been engaged in 

a constant struggle 

for the evolution 

of the perfect 

electoral system, 

it is the dream of 

many Nigerians 

that the country 

should have an 

electoral system 

in which transparency 

is made 

the watch word ... 

political class. The leaders 

making up the political class 

owing to the environment 

and culture of public 

responsibility, which to a 

large extent had been 

nurtured by them, were 

very careful not to erode the 

progress which had been 

recorded. 

The electoral system itself 

ensured that only 

politicians with a real desire 

to serve were elected to 

public office. Politicians at 

that time did not seek 

public office simply for the 

type of huge remuneration 

which public office holders 

today enjoy. As a matter of 

fact, legislators and local 

government councillors 

were only paid sitting 

allowances as opposed to 

the fat salaries and housing 

and other numerous 

allowances which they 

enjoy today. Electoral 

brigandage as we know it 

today was virtually nonexistent. 

The intellectual 

quality of the political class 

itself was second to none. 

This much can be 

ascertained by the quality 

of debate in the various 

legislative houses as 

recorded in their various 

hansards. 

Military incursion 

and its effect on 

democratic 

institutions 

However, military 

incursion into governance 

in 1966 brought about an 

extinction of not only the 

political structures which 

are themselves 

synonymous with the 

concept of democracy, it 

also ensured that the tenets 

and principles of 

democracy which at that 

time had become ingrained 

in individual and national 

consciousness were 

absolutely relegated to the 

background. In place of the 

Executive and Legislative 

arms of government, the 

military between 1966 and 

1979 fused the functions of 

both bodies in a supreme 

military body which with the 

coming and going of 

subsequent military 

regimes attained different 

names and acronyms such 

as Supreme Military 

Council (SMC) and Armed 

Forces Ruling Council 

(AFRC) to mention but a 

few. 

This dark spot in our 

national history without a 

doubt played a significant 

role in bringing about some 

of the problems 

experienced today in our 

electoral system. For one, 

the 13 years of military rule 

between 1966 and 1979 

ensured that the political 

class which emerged after 

the handover of 1979 had 

spent 13 years of their lives 

under military rule which 

in any part of the world is 

not known to be democratic. 

As stated earlier, structures 

such as political parties 

which would overtime have 

sustained political 

consciousness had been 

proscribed under military 

rule. So what we had in the 

run-up to the hand-over of 

the military in 1979 was a 

hurried assemblage of 

people of divergent political 

views and inclinations into 

marriages of convenience 

called political parties. The 

result was the anomalies 

experienced in the 

administration of the 

country between 1979 and 

1983 which incidentally the 

military itself gave as an 

excuse to return to 

governance in late 1983. 

Between 1983 and 1999, 

with the exception of the 

brief reign of the Interim 

National Government of 

Chief Ernest Shonekan 

which lasted barely six 

months, the country spent 

a further 16 years under 

military rule. If military rule 

between 1966 and 1979 

can be said to have had a 

profound effect on the 

political class of 1979 to 

1983, then a much stronger 

adjective must be found to 

describe the effect of 

military incursion between 

1983 and 1999 on the 

political class which has 

emerged since 1999. 

Promulgation of 

1999 Constitution 

The 1999 Constitution 

was itself promulgated by 

the military for Nigerians. 

However in thrusting the 

1999 Constitution on 

Nigerians, the military 

unfortunately did not 

ensure that it went through 

the same process that 

produced the 

Independence 

Constitution which 

Constitution as stated 

earlier recognised the 

diversity of the ethnicities 

that make up Nigeria. 

This act of the military has 

brought about a situation in 

which the centre contrary 

to the true principle of 

Federalism is too strong. 

Too much power is 

concentrated in the hands 

of few that make up the 

Federal Government of Nigeria. 

On the revenue front a 

large percentage of the 

revenue of federation goes 

to the Federal Government 

with the state scrambling for 

the little that remains. This 

over-concentration of power 

and resources as we shall 

subsequently discuss has 

its own effect on the quality 

of leadership that emerges 

from our electoral system. 

Furthermore most of the 

current politicians spent a 

larger percentage of their 

lives living in a country 

without any form of 

democratic structure. Thus, 

many politicians grew up 

without the slightest notion 

of what democracy meant 

in practice. All that they 

knew about democracy was 

in most cases its definition 

as given to them by their 

teachers in secondary 

schools. Is it therefore 

surprising that these same 

politicians to this moment 

still grapple with the 

concept of democracy in its 

true form? 

To be continued.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 —41 

NYSC—National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, Batch B Corps members 

performing during their closing ceremony at Wailo NYSC Permanent 

Orientation Camp in Bauchi. Photo: NAN. 

SARS: Osinbajo orders probe of 

abuses; IG rejigs squad 


Commands across the 

Country,” he said. 

Jimoh said all 

Commissioners of Police 

had been directed by the 

Inspector General of Police, 

IGP, to comply with this 

directive with immediate 

effect and warned their 

personnel not to pose as 

SARS operatives. 

“The IGP X-Squad and 

Monitoring Unit have been 

mandated to go round the 

Commands and Police 

Formations nationwide to 

ensure strict compliance 

with the Presidential 

directives and apprehend 

any erring police officer. 

“A new Standard 

Operational Guidelines 

and Procedures, and code 

of conduct for all FSARS 

personnel to ensure that 

the operations of the 

Federal Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad is in strict 

adherence to the rule of law 

and with due regards to 

international human rights 

law and constitutionally 

guaranteed rights of 

suspects will be enforced in 

totality by the 


FSARS,” he said. 

Other measures to be 

implemented by the Force 

in observance of full 

compliance with the 

presidential directives, he 

said, were that human 

NAIRAWATCH 

Rights Desk Officers for 

FSARS in every State 

should take complaints 

from the public and forward 

same to Force 

Headquarters, as the officer 

will be answerable to the 


FSARS at the Force 

Headquarters and not 

Commander FSARS in the 

states. 

Psychological test for 

SARS operatives 

“Medical/Psychological 

evaluation of all FSARS 

personnel will be carried 

out immediately. 

Redesigning of new 

uniform with identity name 

tag for all FSARS 

personnel throughout the 

Country will be done 

immediately. Henceforth, 

FSARS personnel will not 

perform Stop and Search 

duties except on distress 

call to respond to armed 

robbery and kidnapping 

offences only. 

“The Force will be 

transparent, cooperate, and 

work cordially with the 

National Human Rights 

Commission on the special 

panel that will conduct an 

investigation of the alleged 

unlawful activities of 

FSARS to address 

grievances from the public 

against the personnel of 

FSARS in compliance with 

the presidential directives. 

Naira depreciates to 

N362.30 /$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N362.30 

in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window rose to N362.30 per 

dollar yesterday from N362.20 per dollar on Monday, 

indicating 10 kobo depreciation of the naira. 

On the other hand, the naira yesterday was stable 

at N359 per dollar in the parallel market. 

“Furthermore, a new 

training programme to be 

organized by the Force in 

collaboration with some 

Civil Society Organizations 

(CSOs), Local and 

International NGOs, and 

other Human Rights 

Organizations on core 

Police Duties, Observant of 

Human Rights and 

Handling, Care and 

Custody of Suspects have 

been directed by the 

Inspector General of Police 

for all Federal SARS 

personnel nationwide with 

immediate effect. 

“A committee of Senior 

Police officers, Technical 

Consultants, Human 

Rights/Civil Society 

organizations (CSOs) has 

been setup to review the 

activities of FSARS under 

the new arrangement. 

They are to pay 

unscheduled visits to 

FSARS formations across 

the country with particular 

attention to states with high 

complaints index, to assess 

facilities and situations in 

these states and submit 

report to the Inspector 

General of Police on 

regular basis,” he added. 

Jimoh, however, said 

aggrieved members of the 

public, who had any 

complaint in the past or 

present of violation of their 

rights by any SARS 

personnel anywhere in the 

country should report for 

investigation and redress. 

Complaints against 


In one of the incidents 

involving SARS operatives, 

a man identified as Lucky 

Joseph, who was allegedly 

assaulted by operatives of 

squad narrated how the 

operatives allegedly 

stripped and pulled him 

by his manhood during a 

public assault on Thursday, 

March 8, 2018, at the Obio 

Akpor Local Government 

Area of Rivers State. 

According to Joseph,I 

was passing when two 

SARS men stopped me and 

ordered me to raise my 

hands for a search. But I 

insisted on doing the 

search myself, so that they 

won’t plant anything on 

me. 

‘’They disagreed and 

forcibly conducted the 

search and found only a 

white handkerchief in my 

pocket. To my shock, a 

wrap of hemp fell down, 

one of them picked it and 

ordered me to enter their 

vehicle. In a bid to force me 

inside, they attacked me 

with machetes and 

threatened to shoot me, 

pulling my manhood. 

In yet another incident in 

Asaba, Delta State, an 

alleged assault by 

operatives of FSARS on a 

pregnant woman led to the 

loss of her pregnancy. 

An Instagram user, Jane 

Mena, who claims to be the 

victim’s friend, revealed 

how the incident occurred 

in a long post, explaining 

that the expectant mother 

went into a coma following 

violent treatment by the 

operatives. 

In Lagos, a woman, Mrs 

Asiata, reportedly slumped 

when information on the 

arrest of her son by SARS 

during a raid at 9, Ajenifuja 

Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, on 

January 24, 2018 , reached 

her. 

Report said the 

hypertensive woman 

collapsed while trying to 

stop the policemen from 

taking away her 17-yearold 

son, identified as Muiz. 

In Ondo State, operatives 

of the Special Anti-Robbery 

Squad also allegedly 

tortured a man identified as 

Seun Ayoade, who was in 

detention in Akure, the 

state capital. 

According to reports, the 

policemen, led by one 

Inspector Oladele Ojelabi, 

arrested the victim as well 

as others on Tuesday 

October 17, 2017. 

The arrest was perceived 

as an act of intimidation by 

Ojelabi, who was said to 

have shown interest in the 

wife of the deceased, 

identified as Mrs. 

Gbemisola Okoro. 

In another incident in 

Lagos two months ago, 

some persons were 

reportedly shot by 

operatives of FSARS, 

around Fela Shrine, as 

revealed in a short video 

footage which went viral. 

A voice heard in the clip 

expressed a feeling of 

shock while processing the 

attack by the officers. 

Rivers State government 

also alleged threat by men 

of the Police Special Anti- 

Robbery Squad to kill the 


the State Governor on Social 

Media, Marshal Obuzor. 

The development recently 

provoked street protest in 

Port Harcourt by teeming 

youths who called for an 

end to the recurring SARS 

brutality and extrajudicial 

murders across the state. 

The operatives were 

alleged to have inflicted 

injuries on Obuzor, around 

Mandela Car Wash in Old 

GRA, Port Harcourt. 

Victims’ ordeal 

Narrating his ordeal, 

Obuzor said: “In Public 

view, they used machetes 

and rods to beat me and 

seized my phones. They 

repeatedly threatened to 

kill me. Even the 

government official who 

intervened was threatened 

with death. I was surprised 

that SARS has got to the 

stage where they don’t care 

that people are watching 

their activities.” 

The protesters also 

matched to the Rivers State 

Police Command where 

they submitted two petitions 

and got the assurance of the 

authorities to investigate 

the issues, promising that 

any SARS operative found 

wanting would face the 

wrath of the law. 

The genesis of the 

clamour for the scrap of 

SARS could be traced to 

alleged activities of 

operatives at SARS Awkuzu 

in Anambra State, between 

2015 and 2016. 

In that incident, suspects 

were not only brutalised but 

also killed. 

Several petitions came 

from human rights 

organisations, among 

which was the Network on 

Police Reform in Nigeria, 

NOPRIN. 

The petitioners called on 

the police authorities to 

address the high 

handedness of SARS 

operatives at Awkuzu but 

the petitions were 

reportedly treated with 

levity. 

Amnesty Int’l reacts 

Reacting to the 

development, yesterday, 

Amnesty International in a 

statement signed by the 

Director in Nigeria, Osai 

Ojigho, said: This is an 

overdue yet hugely 

important move by Acting 

President Osinbajo. The 

growing outcry over the 

brutality of Nigeria’s 

notorious SARS police unit 

has finally got the attention 

of the country’s authorities. 

While this is positive 

news, it is crucial that any 

overhaul of SARS is farreaching 

and immediately 

effective. Restructuring 

SARS is not enough unless 

the government takes 

concrete steps to protect 

Nigerians. 

The reform ordered by the 

Acting President must 

translate into ending the 

torture, unlawful detention, 

extortion, extrajudicial 

killings and other serious 

human rights violations 

that SARS officers have 

been committing for years 

across Nigeria. That 

includes bringing to justice 

SARS officers found to have 

committed atrocities. 

There is much compelling 

public evidence of human 

rights violations committed 

by SARS, some of it directly 

documented by Amnesty 

International, and this 

should now be used to aid 

an effective investigation 

into the unit’s crimes. 

The special panel 

convened to investigate 

SARS must be 

independent and impartial. 

Its aims can only be 

achieved if victims are 

given time and protection 

to present their cases. 

In September 2016, an 

Amnesty International 

report highlighted gross 

violations by SARS, 

including torture and other 

forms of ill-treatment. 

The report prompted 

assurances from the federal 

government that SARS 

would be reformed, yet 

shocking violations 

committed by the unit have 

continued. 

Methodist Church 

reacts 

Meanwhile, Methodist 

Church of Nigeria has 

again called on the federal 

government to overhaul the 

various security apparatus 

to curb the wanton 

destruction of lives and 

properties in different 

regions of the country. 

The church stated this in 

a communiqué issued at 

the end of its 46TH/ 11th 

Biennial conference in Aba, 

Abia State, with the theme: 

“Strive for peace and 

holiness without which no 

person can see God.” 

The church condemned 

“in strong terms the 

mindless killings of citizens 

and wanton destruction of 

properties in different 

regions of the nation, 

especially in the North 

Central, North West and 

North East. 

The church said: “Life 

is sacred and must be 

protected and as a way 

to address state of 

insecurity in various 

regions/zones in the 

nation, the church calls 

for urgent overhauling of 

the security apparatus 

and workforce. 

“We advocate for 

creation of state police 

under the command of 

state governors who 

constitutionally are the 

chief security officers of 

their states and mindful 

of the insensitivity in the 

clamors of herdsmen for 

building of ranches in 

the 36 states of the 

nation, Methodist 

church Nigeria is of the 

opinion that all cattle 

farmers should have 

their ranches domiciled 

at their home states.’’ 

NOPRIN reacts 

Coordinator of 

NOPRIN, 

Mr 

Okechukwu Nwaguma, 

who described the 

Federal Government’s 

directive for a total 

overhaul of SARS as a 

welcome development, 

however said that it was 

long overdue. 

He said: "This action 

should have been taken 

long before now. 

However, I am 

particularly happy that 

the National Human 

Rights Commission has 

been asked to carry out 

an instigation into the 

build up of these 

atrocities by SARS 

operatives. 

The build up 

investigation should 

include identifying 

policemen that have 

been involved in such 

cases in the past and 

make them explain their 

roles, while victims that 

have gone without justice 

should be given justice."


2019: After marching against 

the military, what can I fear in 

Delta — Utomi 

ACADEMIC, educationist, management consultant, good 

governance expert, social entrepreneur, lately, politician, 

Prof. Pat Utomi, is a chieftain of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Utomi is presently in the process of consultations to 

challenge for the governorship ticket of his party. Ahead of 

his formal declaration, he fielded questions on his latest 

project, the challenges ahead and explains why he should 

be believed that he could change Delta State in four years. 

Prof. Utomi was a presidential adviser at the age of 27, has 

held several positions in the private sector. Excerpts: 

*Utomi 

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor 

WHAT is the inspiration behind 

your reported governorship 

aspiration? 

I do not think aspiration is the right 

word. Reaction to call of duty is more 

like it. The story of my life’s journey 

clearly shows a person pleased with 

the simple life with little care for titles 

but with a strong sense of duty, a 

passion for impactful existence and 

social justice. My conscience pushes 

and providence determines the vehicle 

of impact. 

Even with the watershed career 

positions I have been privileged with, 

in none did I target and seek a 

position. At 18 years, I got into 

students politics in the University of 

Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN. As a 19-yearold 

student leader, I argued for a place 

for the voice of students in national 

policy formulation and in a dramatic 

move, got then Foreign Minister, 

Joseph Garba to commit to coming to 

Nsukka to engage us. It’s interesting 

that 35 years after, I return to UNN and 

someone shows me a page in a book 

on SUG at UNN that shows my record 

was yet to be rivalled, largely on 

account of that commitment to students 

affecting policy. I chased no title and 

got that kind place in history. 

Two years after, as an NYSC person 

serving at Newbreed (the leading 

Newsmagazine in the country at the 

time), Chief Chris Okolie, the 

publisher, named me editor as I was 

leaving for Graduate school and even 

with people who graduated before I 

was born, on the staff. Another five 

years after, just done with Blitzkrieg 

graduate studies with a few degrees, I 

am again named to a Presidential 

advisory position many more qualified 

were lobbying for, without my even 

suggesting I was interested. 

The bottom line is that I think 

leadership is service and duty. Those 

who ask for positions with force are 

often unworthy. People know who is 

who and I believe that when people 

come to you to urge you, then duty 

should propel. This belief is evident 

in my own roles in public life. 

Let us take the example of what 

happened when it was the turn of 

Anioma people to present a President- 

General of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Those 

elections had a history of rancour, such 

that I thought it was my duty to make 

Anioma set example. 

I flew to Asaba and requested the 

Asagba trust me with managing the 

process. I outlined the criteria from 

both the strategic needs of the Anioma 

people and then the personal attributes 

of the PG. I listed and ranked possible 

contestants. My number one choice 

from a strategic point of view was an 

Ika person. I called and visited him 

and spent several hours discussing the 

assignment but concluded for certain 

personal and business reasons it was 

not an ideal time for him to take on 

such an assignment. 

Next on my list was Ambassador 

Ralph Uwechue. I called him and 

requested time to visit, flew to Abuja 

and broached the subject. I persuaded 

him and he agreed. Once he said yes, 

I flew to Asaba and briefed the Asagba. 

He then came to Lagos for a meeting 

with leading Anioma elite at his home 

in Ikoyi. My moves, all at my cost, 

were applauded. Uwechue would 

become PG in one of the most trouble 

–free Ohaneze transitions. Chief Ralph 

Uwechue told the story of how I “made 

him PG” at the World Igbo Congress 

in Orlando, Florida six years ago with 

people like Peter Obi present. 

So when groups, including one of 

the current aspirants began to pressure 

me that I owed Delta my last tango, I 

was quite troubled in my spirit of duty. 

What finally broke my resistance, even 

though I fully understood the pain of 

Deltans at the current direction (or 

lack of it) of their state and an 

understandable desperation to 

transcend from professional politicians 

The government 

has not been able 

to mobilise that 

lost spirit of 

greatness and 

reform the civil 

service; the 

service is 

demoralised and 

angry, this needs 

to be made right 

to a so-called “Technocrat with a clear 

vision,” but remained worried that the 

people were still easily driven by the 

tricks of politricks than a good 

understanding of their duty to the 

future of their children, an unusual 

group came. They were old boys of 

Government College, Ughelli and all 

from an ethnic stock different from 

mine (which appealed to my Nigerian 

ideal). That factor more than anything 

else, aroused my sense of duty. 

Given your well known national 

profile, one would be surprised at the 

level at which you are offering to 

serve. Why the governorship and not 

the presidential? 

A person driven by service and a 

desire to advance the common good of 

all does not look at levels. I have 

repeatedly said that if local 

government administration were not so 

badly messed up in Nigeria, my ideal 

level of government would be the local 

government. When people raise 

questions of this nature, I remind them 

that I had the great fortune of being 

acquainted with a former Prime 

minister of France, Raymond Barr. He 

finished as Mayor of Lyons. The 

current Governor of California, Jerry 

Brown was Governor there when I was 

a student in the late 1970s. In the 

nearly 40 years since then, he has been 

an Alderman (equivalent of a local 

government councillor). For me, it is 

about whether your life had impact on 

other lives rather than the sound of the 

title. 

But is this not because of the 

perceived disappointments you got in 

your past presidential runs? 

Each run I have had a go at was with 

specific purpose. In 2007, I ran largely 

to purge myself of the guilt of not 

taking the suggestion of Donald Duke 

and the late Waziri Mohammed that 

after we, as the Concerned 

Professionals, forced the military out 

of politics, stayed back. 

Some of us preferred the traditional 

politicians to return. The followers of 

Awo, Zik, Okpara, Balewa, Ahmadu 

Bello and Aminu Kano did not trust 

the military had gone for good. They 

stayed back and people with far less 

noble intentions stepped in and 

Nigeria is still paying the price of that 

error of judgement. 

But as we all know and the 

international community attested to, 

the 2007 elections were anything but 

elections. The powers of the day raped 

democracy. 

In 2011, I was expressly asked by the 

leaders of the progressive opposition 

to contest for the express purpose of 

moderating the concert of opposition 

presidential candidates to find a 

consensus candidate all would back. 

Yes that too was disappointing and I 

was more minded to find alternative 

platforms for impact like Mahatma 

Ghandi and Martin Luther King jnr. 

did. 

At the end of the first four years of 

a possible Pat Utomi administration 

in Delta State, in what specific way do 

you think Delta State would have 

changed? 

What should be visible after four 

years, the maximum period I am 

interested in, like Nelson Mandela, 

is irreversible course of progress put 

in place by a three-point agenda to End 

Absolute Poverty by creating wealth 

and jobs; Accelerate pace of 

infrastructure surge and Empower 

local communities for peace, security 

and prosperity. 

To end poverty, relevant education 

rooted on Teacher quality must be 

elevated to new levels. Healthcare 

anchored on an insurance scheme 

would ensure the educated can 

produce optimally. A transition of 

conditional public service jobs 

beautifying the environment, 

managing traffic and doing social 

housing, will mitigate current 

depressing conditions. This will be in 

addition to conditional cash transfers 

to poor young mothers. 

Our infrastructure thoughts include 

a Turnpike circuit (huge motorways) 

around the perimeters of the state, 

connecting three organically growing 

cities based on industry clusters and 

massive development of Burutu into a 

transportation hub. 

The intermodal nature of the 

investments will involve ocean-going 

transport, river transport down the 

Forcados River and rail transport from 

Burutu to the industrial parks in the 

three production cluster communities 

that become the new organic cities. 

I think that after three years of this 

plan, Delta State will be a full 

employment economy attracting labour 

from other states. 

Given the perception of the Delta 

State political terrain being rough, do 

you, professor, have the capacity and 


VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 — 43 

2019: After marching against the 

military, what can I fear in Delta? 

— Utomi 

Continued from page 42 

confidence to jump into the fray? 

The roughness of Delta is overexaggerated. 

Do not forget that I have 

marched on the streets against the 

military and survived assassination 

attempts when I was in the prime of 

life in my thirties. If I did not fear to 

dare them, can you imagine me having 

fear now that my life’s work is more or 

less done? 

What is your assessment of the 

present administration in the state? 

The present administration in the 

state is challenged. I do not know the 

root of the challenge but something 

about the ways of professional 

politicians makes it more difficult to 

focus on the people. I see challenged 

policy choices and limitation on 

creativity. People can only give what 

they have. 

But in what specific areas do you 

think the administration has 

positively impacted on the state? 

You can commend them, better late 

than never, for remembering the 

drainage system in Asaba but the pace 

of work in Asaba, Ozoro and many 

other places remains painfully slow 

and the work of extremely quality. 

And in what ways do you think the 

administration has failed? Can you 

identify how you as governor will 

address the perceived failures of the 

administration? 

The government has not been able 

to mobilise that lost spirit of greatness 

and reform the civil service. The 

service is demoralised and angry. This 

needs to be made right. The wealth at 

the bottom of the pyramid has also not 

been explored and local government 

remains a joke. 

Given assumptions of zoning, do 

you not think that your run and 

possible two terms in office will 

dislocate the framework of zoning in 

the state? 

I am not interested in two terms. 

Zoning favours an Anioma candidate 

but my promise for engagement has 

to be that my background and capacity 

make it more likely that I can help 

lead the rescue effort than any of the 

currently active aspirants no matter 

what zone they come from. 

You are entering the fray on the 

platform of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, at a time that the 

party is deeply factionalised. Is this 

not a setback ? 

Since 2016, I have been active trying 

to heal wounds and prevent factions 

in the party in the state. We need unity 

and my role recommends me as the 

one most suited to getting all to 

sheathe their swords. 

Which of the factions do you belong 

to? Prophet Erue or Mr. Cyril Ogodo? 

Who do you identify with? 

I belong to all. The watchword is 

unity. 

Your party, the APC, has been 

relatively mute on the incidents of 

herdsmen attacks on farmers and 

other communities in Delta State. Are 

*Utomi 

you comfortable with that? 

I have not been mute. The party 

machinery has not been organised 

enough to stake out position on issues. 

My own farm was burnt by herdsmen 

four years ago. Still I think the 

phenomenon is a complex one that 

involves stout engagement by real 

professionals. My views are well 

expressed here, including on Patito’s 

Gang few months ago. 

In what way do you think the issue 

of herdsmen attacks in Delta State can 

be resolved? 

I think modernisation will give us 

abattoirs and ranches that will help 

resolve the issue. 

What do you think is your strength 

entering this contest? 

I have been around long enough for 

a fate judge to discern that. Having 

been active in industry as an executive, 

civil society as a social entrepreneur, 

academia as a noted educator and 

administrator and more importantly, as 

a student of development economics 

with global exposure and network, you 

can judge for yourself. 

What specific competencies are you 

bringing into the campaign and how 

can they rub off on the state? 

I was active in 2015 and I have been 

in several others. I also have around 

me many veterans from several 

campaigns. The old like Engr. Moses 

Kragha and the young like Debola 

Williams and Chude Jideonwo, not to 

talk of the Zik Zulu Okafors. 

Who among your competitors for 

the APC ticket, Dr. Odikpo, Dr. Cairo 

Ojougboh, Chief Great Ogboru, Engr. 

Victor Ochei among others, would 

you support in the event you change 

your mind? 

Anyone who proves more worthy 

than the others. 

You were an advocate of change four 

years ago. In what ways do you think 

Nigeria has changed for good or for 

worse? 

We are in an evolutionary process. 

People who leave Egypt often, in the 

desert, ask to return to Egypt. Also, 

those who lead change can make 

mistake. 

Odili finds new love at 70 

By James Ume 

For Peter Otunuya 

Odili, it is remarkable 

that the day he was born, 

August 15, was the same day 

the Blessed Virgin Mary, 

Mother of our Lord Jesus 

Christ was assumed into 

Heaven, body and soul. As 

an ardent Catholic, for 

whom that day is a holy day 

of obligation, just like a Sunday, 

the significance of the 

coincidental event is not lost 

on him as it actually reinforces 

his faith which was 

given a shine at two Catholic 

schoaols- Sacred Heart 

School, Odoakpu, Onitsha 

and later at the famous 

Christ the King College, 

(CKC) Onitsha both in the 

present day Anambra State. 

It was at CKC that his leadership 

qualities manifested 

that early in life. He was the 

Senior Prefect and College 

Captain of the school. In his 

own words, Odili said, 

“From cradle, through primary 

school, and admission 

into one of the best secondary 

schools of our time, I can 

say without any shred of 

doubt that the foundational 

impact of secondary school 

education is the fulcrum of 

anyone’s life later. That’s 

what CKC did for me. I 

won’t be who I am if I did 

not pass through the walls 

of CKC.” It is in recognition 

of his religious piety that the 

Pope recognised and honoured 

him with the prestigious 

title of Knight Commander 

of the Order of St 

Sylvester which made him 

a member of the Front Row 

in the Order of Catholic 

Knights. For those who 

know, that was a rare and 

hugely sought after recognition 

by the Vatican. 

Search of the proverbial 

fleece 

Like most adventurous 

and ambitious young men 

of his age, he was about to 

move on to a tertiary institution 

in search of the proverbial 

fleece when the civil 

war broke out and temporarily 

truncated that ambition. 

He was, first, a refugee 

as the war progressed with 

its tendency to dislocate and 

disjoint life and living. That 

brought its difficulties and 

challenges which compelled 

him to submit to being recruited 

as a soldier. Here, 

again, his brilliance shone 

through. As in CKC where 

leadership position was on 

merit, his performance in 

the army course during 

which he took top position, 

guaranteed for the young 

man assignment that put 

Dr. Peter Odili. 

him in a place where characters 

are moulded and 

minds trained. The young 

Peter was deployed as an instructor 

in the school of infantry 

instead of being sent 

to the warfront. The life 

of discipline that military 

training imbues smoothened 

the diamond in the 

rough that he was seen to be 

by his mentors and set him 

on an upward leadership 

trajectory that he sustained 

till date. 

The war over, his academic 

zeal was reignited and he 

began schoolwork as an indigent 

medical student at 

the country’s foremost tertiary 

institution, University 

of Nigeria, Nsukka. He later 

embarked on the holiday 

trade of travelling abroad to 

earn some money which immediately 

turned him into a 

campus big boy. On graduation 

from the Medical 

School of the University of 

Nigeria, Nsukka, he pursued 

a post-graduate work 

in Tropical Medicine at the 

University of Liverpool in 

the United Kingdom. 

Like one with the fabled 

Midas’ touch, Peter Odili 

has proved to be a quintessential 

family man who has 

tenaciously clung to his first 

love and charming campus 

‘bus’, Mary Ukaego, a Justice 

of the Supreme Court of 

Nigeria with whom he has 

sired children and grandchildren. 

As a titled chief, it 

is an abomination to count 

the products of his fertile 

and productive loins. In appreciation 

for the role Mary 

had played and is still playing 

in his life, he is, till date, 

still paying her bride price 

to her people of Mbaise 

clan in Imo State. He said 

so himself. 

Mary is his first love. I 

stand to be corrected. And 

Medicine follows in that order. 

He put into practice his 

training as a medical doctor 

and won his spurs in that 

field. Regardless, he is determined 

to leave a more enduring 

legacy for posterity. 

He may have scaled down 

his practice, still he has 

found new love and is striving 

to give something back 

to that profession that made 

him what he is as well as to 

society for its benevolence. 

The establishment of PAMO 

University of Medical Sciences 

in Port Harcourt, the 

first privately owned university 

of Medical Sciences, not 

only in Nigeria but in West 

Africa as a whole, is part of 

a heartfelt desire in that direction. 

It is an institution 

designed strictly for the 

training of professionals in 

the field of medicine. It is a 

place he set up to mentor the 

younger generation who 

will raise the banner further 

aloft when he must have 

played his part and moved 

on. The University is starting 

with five faculties - Allied 

and Health Sciences, 

Basic Medical Sciences, 

Clinical Sciences, Dentistry 

and Pharmaceutical sciences. 

The university will strive 

to achieve global excellence 

in terms of teaching, research 

and community services. 

It is set to produce 

graduates in different fields 

I can say without 

any shred of 

doubt that the 

foundational 

impact of secondary 

school 

education is the 

fulcrum of anyone’s 

life later 

of medicine who are not 

only competent in their profession 

but also entrepreneurial, 

ICT driven and that 

are worthy in character and 

learning. He has vowed to 

leave it as an enduring testimony 

to the humanity in 

appreciation for the benefits 

he derived from serving 

mankind and a worthy one 

at that. 

It is not possible to discuss 

the nation’s democratic resurgence 

after years of military 

interregnum without 

reserving a place of honour 

for the man Peter Odili. For 

him, participation in politics 

was more of a call to service 

as he can be rightly said 

to be an accomplished man 

while functioning as a medical 

doctor in the state of his 

birth. He was elected and 

sworn in as the third Governor 

of Rivers State on the 

platform of the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) on 

May 29, 1999. He served 

two terms which terminated 

on May 29, 2007. Years 

after, his developmental 

strides have remained a 

measuring rod for those 

who took over the mantle of 

leadership from him in that 

state that is, to all intents, 

Nigeria’s treasure trove. 

Odili has packed much 

action into his life in 70 

years to actually influence 

the course of history. My 

family, therefore, join his 

family in wishing him a resounding 

happy birthday 

and many more years of 

fruitful and enduring service 

to Nigeria in particular and 

mankind in general. 

Ume wrote in from Abuja.

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018


Erdogan pledges boycott on US 

electronics, gets closer with Russia 

TURKISH President 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan 

announced a boycott 

of American electronics 

Tuesday after US President 

Donald Trump’s 

decision to hike tariffs on 

Turkish steel imports. 

“Whatever we buy from 

abroad we are going to 

produce here in better 

quality and export it. We 

are going to boycott US 

electronics,” Erdogan 

said at celebrations of the 

17th anniversary of his 

Justice and Development 

Party. “If they have the iPhone 

on the other hand 

there is Samsung. In our 

country we have Venus 

and Vestel,” he said, referring 

to a Turkish-made 

phone made by electronics 

manufacturer Vestel. 

“What we can do is 

proved by what we have 

done so far. Whatever we 

pay for from abroad, we 

will do here,” he said. 

It is not clear if this will 

be an official government 

boycott or just a call to the 

Turkish public to stop 

buying American electronics. 

Separately, Russian Foreign 

Minister Sergey 

Lavrov, on an official visit 

to Ankara, said the increased 

US tariffs and 

sanctions imposed by 

Washington are “based 

Dozens die in Italy as 

bridge collapses 

A 

motorway 

bridge 

has collapsed in 

the northwest Italian city 

of Genoa and fire brigade 

sources say 35 people 

were believed killed as 

vehicles plummeted to 

the ground. 

Dramatic video footage 

captured the moment of 

the disaster when one of 

the huge supporting towers 

crashed down during 

torrential rain. 

Vehicles and debris fell 

45m (148ft) on to rail 

tracks, buildings and a 

river. Rescuers are trying 

to free people caught in 

crushed vehicles or rubble. 

Fears that other parts 

of the bridge might fall 

have prompted the evacuation 

of buildings in the 

area, a rescuer told Italy’s 

Ansa news agency. 

Interior Minister Matteo 

Salvini promised that 

anyone found to be responsible 

for the bridge 

collapse would be held to 

account. 

“I have crossed that 

bridge hundreds of 

times,” he said. “Now, as 

an Italian citizen, I will 

do everything to get the 

names and surnames of 

the managers responsible, 

past and present, 

because it is unacceptable 

to die like that in Italy.” 

A representative of the 

motorway’s operator, Autostrade, 

told Reuters 

news agency there had 

been “no reason to consider 

the bridge was dan- 

on the desire to dominate 

everywhere in everything, 

to control international 

affairs and to 

achieve unilateral advantages 

on global markets. 

In the process of doing so 

they make their own allies 

suffer.” 

Speaking at a press conference 

with his Turkish 

AN ongoing Ebola 

outbreak is spreading 

across the Democratic 

Republic of Congo’s 

North Kivu province, and 

it has health officials 

gravely concerned due to 

conflict in the area along 

with other factors. 

The country’s Ministry 

of Health announced 

Monday that 57 cases of 

hemorrhagic fever have 

been reported in the region: 

30 confirmed and 27 

probable. The outbreak 

has left 41 people dead, 

according to the World 

Health Organization. 

WHO Director-General 

Dr. Tedros Adhanom 

Ghebreyesus visited the 

city of Beni and the Mangina 

area in North Kivu. 

Mangina, which is about 

30 kilometers or 19 miles 

from Beni, sits at the 

counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, 

Lavrov said: 

“I’m certain that with 

such abuse, the role of the 

American dollar as the 

world reserve currency 

will weaken and more 

countries, even not affected 

by the American sanctions, 

will get away from 

dollars.” 

Health officials worried as 

Ebola kills 41 in Congo 

gerous”. 

Shares in Atlantia, Autostrade’s 

parent company 

which runs much of 

the country’s motorways, 

fell 6.3% after news of the 

collapse. Prime Minister 

Giuseppe Conte is due to 

visit the scene to support 

the search-and-rescue 

effort and show solidarity 

with the victims and 

their families, his office 

said. 

Google records us 

ers’ locations even 

when they have asked it 

not to, a report from the 

Associated Press has suggested. 

The issue could affect 

up to two billion Android 

and Apple devices which 

use Google for maps or 

search. The study, verified 

by researchers at 

Princeton University, has 

angered US law-makers. 

Google said in response 

that it provides clear descriptions 

of its tools and 

how to turn them off. 

The study found that 

users’ whereabouts are 

recorded even when location 

history has been 

disabled. Following its 

research, AP created a 

guide to show users how 

to delete location data. 

Presented with the evidence 

of the AP study, 

epicenter of the outbreak. 

New Ebola cluster confirmed 

in Congo a week 

after old outbreak ends 

“After the visit, I am actually 

more worried,” 

Tedros said at a news 

conference Tuesday. 

“What makes actually 

the outbreak in eastern 

DRC or northern Kivu 

more dangerous is, there 

is a security challenge. 

There is active conflict in 

that area. Since January, 

there were 120 violent 

incidences,” he said. 

Thousands in the region 

have been displaced 

by fighting between rebel 

groups and government 

forces. “That environment 

is really conducive for 

Ebola actually to transmit 

freely, because in that 

area, there are places 

called red zones, inaccessible 

areas, because 

there are many armed 

groups that operate in 

that region or in that 

province,” he said. 

In other words, those 

areas remain difficult to 

access, and people may 

have difficulty getting 

health care and support. 

Also, he added, many 

cases are among women 

and children. “There are 

other factors that complicate 

the issue. One is 

high population density,” 

Tedros said.North Kivu is 

among Congo’s most populated 

provinces, with 8 

million inhabitants. 

Google tracks users who turn 

off location history 

Democratic senator Mark 

Warner accused technology 

companies of having 

“corporate practices that 

diverge wildly from the 

totally reasonable expectation 

of their users”. 

Democratic congressman 

Frank Pallone called 

for “comprehensive consumer 

privacy and data 

security legislation”. 

In the UK, a spokesman 

for the Information 

Commissioner’s Office 

told the BBC: “Under the 

GDPR and the Data Protection 

Act 2018, organisations 

have a legal duty 

to be open, transparent 

and fair with the public 

about how their personal 

data is used. 

“Anybody who has concerns 

about how an organisation 

is handling 

their personal information 

can contact the ICO.” 

Super Cup: Simeone tests fifth Real 

Madrid coach 

ATLETICO Madrid 

will open their 

2018/19 campaign with a 

Madrid derby in the UEFA 

Super Cup, and Diego 

Simeone is preparing to do 

battle with another coaching 

rival in Julen Lopetegui. 

The former Porto coach is 

the fifth tactician Real 

Madrid have employed in 

the time Simeone has been 

in charge of Atletico 

Madrid, with the Argentine 

propelling the club to the 

upper echelons of European 

football. 

Jose Mourinho, Carlo 

Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez 

and Zinedine Zidane have 

all been and gone during 

Simeone’s time in the 

Spanish capital, and there 

have been some quite 

memorable duels over the 

•Ronaldo 

Ronaldo’s 

bicycle kick 

beats Bale’s 

in UEFA poll 

GARETH 

Bale’s 

stunning 

overhead kick in the 

Champions League final 

has been overlooked in a 

goal of the season poll 

conducted by UEFA. 

The Wales international 

scored with a brilliant 

acrobatic effort – one of two 

he scored in the game – 

as Real Madrid beat 

Liverpool in Kiev to claim 

their 13th European 

crown. 

Despite the sensational 

nature of the strike, it is 

another brilliant overhead 

kick, by Cristiano Ronaldo, 

which has been nominated 

as the Champions League 

entrant for the 2017-18 

vote on UEFA.com, the 

European governing 

body’s website. 

Ronaldo, then also of 

Real Madrid, performed 

his bicycle kick as the 

Spanish giants beat 

Juventus – the club he has 

since joined – 3-0 in the 

first leg of their quarterfinal 

tie in Turin. 

UEFA’s technical 

observers said the goal 

was “an extraordinary 

display of technique and 

athleticism”. 

The shortlist features 11 

goals in total, one from 

years. 

This first meeting between 

the two coaches holds 

incredible importance for 

both teams with Los Blancos 

attempting to move forward 

without Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Losing his first match in 

charge would be a poor start 

for the former Spain coach, 

and one which could 

negatively mark his time in 

charge. 

For Atleti it is the ultimate 

test of how far their transfer 

business has brought the 

team, with it expected that 

Real Madrid will challenge 

for both LaLiga and the 

Champions League this 

season. 

Mourinho dominated the 

Madrid derbies in 

Simeone’s first season in 

charge, winning all three 

REAL 

Madrid 

defender 

Sergio Ramos has 

criticised Jurgen 

Klopp’s record in finals 

in response to 

comments made by the 

Liverpool boss after the 

Champions League 

final. 

Mohamed Salah was 

forced off with a 

shoulder injury 

following a challenge 

from Ramos, and Real 

went on to prevail by a 

3-1 scoreline in Kiev. 

Klopp was unhappy 

with the tackle, 

claiming that Ramos 

had been “brutal” and 

“ruthless”, and the 32- 

between 2011/12 and 2012/ 

13, however in the 

Portuguese coach’s final 

match in charge the former 

Inter midfielder finally got 

the better of him in the 

Copa del Rey final. 

Ramos mocks Klopp’s final 

records 

year-old has taken his 

opportunity to respond 

to the German. 

Ahead of the UEFA 

Super Cup final with 

Atletico Madrid, the 

Spaniard told 

reporters: “It’s not the 

first final he’s lost, 

[maybe] he wants to 

use that as an excuse 

for losing. 

“Some of us have 

been operating at a 

very high level for 

many years, not sure 

he can say the same.” 

The injury to Salah 

led to the Egypt winger 

struggling for fitness 

ahead of and during 

the World Cup. 

Mandzukic retires from Croatia team 

CROATIA forward Mario 

Mandzukic has 

announced his retirement 

from international football 

after his country reached the 

World Cup final for the first 

time. 

Zlatko Dalic’s side saw off 

Denmark, England and 

hosts Russia in the knockout 

stages of the tournament, 

though they were beaten 4- 

2 by France in the final in 

Moscow. 

Mandzukic was on the 

scoresheet at both ends in 

the game, capitalising on an 

•Simeone and Grizmann 

error from France 

goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to 

find the right net having 

inadvertently opened the 

scoring with an own goal. 

But the Juventus attacker, 

32, confirmed he is stepping 

down from international 

duty in a lengthy social 

media post released on 

Tuesday. 

“World Cup silver has 

given me new energy, but 

it has also made this 

incredibly difficult decision 

a bit easier,” he wrote. 

Eto’o signs for Qatar Sports Club 

FORMER Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o joined 

the 13th club of his long career when he 

signed for Qatar Sports Club on a free transfer, days 

after leaving Turkish club Konyaspor by mutual 

consent. 

The Doha-based club announced the signing on 

Twitter, saying the 37-year-old and later unveiled the 

player yesterday. 

Eto’o, a four-time African footballer of the year, 

becomes the latest big-name arrival to join the Qatar 

Stars League after ex-Spain international Xavi and 

former Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder. 

He played with Xavi at Barcelona and Sneijder at 

Inter Milan, winning the Champions League with 

both teams.


FIFA Suspension: 

Act now before it’s too late, 

Toro, Duamlong tell FG 

BY BEN EFE 

JOLTED by the 

Monday, August 20 

2018 deadline given by FIFA 

for Nigeria to put its football 

federation in order, Nigeria 

football stakeholders have 

urged the Federal 

government to act and saved 

the country embarrassment. 

Following the renewed 

conflict of interest at the Nigeria 

Football Federation, the world 

soccer ruling body gave 

Nigeria and also Ghana a 

final warning yesterday, 

urging the government to 

hand over the headquarters 

of the NFF to the faction of 

federation recognized by CAF 

and FIFA. 

“The Bureau of the FIFA 

Council decided that if by 

Monday, 20 August 2018, at 

12:00 (CET), the Nigeria 

Football Federation offices are 

not handed back to the 

legitimate NFF executive 

committee under President 

Amaju Melvin Pinnick... the 

NFF will be suspended with 

immediate effect,” FIFA said 

in a statement. 

“The suspension would be 

lifted only once the NFF, 

under President Amaju 

Melvin Pinnick and General 

Secretary Mohammed 

Sanusi, confirms that it has 

been given back effective 

control of the NFF and its 

offices.” 

Speaking on the issue 

former Nigeria Football 

Federation secretary-general 

and former chairman House 

Representatives sports 

committee, Sanni Toro said the 

FIFA suspension was long in 

coming and now its up to the 

government to do something 

fast. “The Federal 

government should have the 

political will to settle this matter 

once and for all. 

“It is like we caught in a 

crossfire. We have ruling of the 

courts and FIFA statues to 

contented with. 

“If we decide to abide by 

FIFA statues, we make our 

Yusuf scandal: 

Amiesimaka wants 

press to press NFF 

BY JACOB AJOM 

FORMER 

Nigeria 

international and 

one time Rivers State 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Adokiye Amiesimaka is 

sad over the numerous 

scandals that have rocked 

the image of the country. 

The former Green 

Eagles winger spoke on 

the bribery allegation 

against Super Eagles 

Team B coach, Salisu 

Yusuf. 

The coach was alleged 

to have received a $1000 

‘gift’ from an undercover 

Ghanaian reporter who 

posed as a players’ 

manager. 

The ‘players’ manager 

paid the money with the 

intent of influencing the 

selection of his players for 

the CHAN campaign 

which held in Morocco. 

Yusuf has denied the 

money was meant to 

influence his team 

selection, as the players 

were already in the 

squad. He said the money 

was a ‘gift’. He also denied 

that the money was $1000. 

Instead, Yusuf admitted 

that the money was $700. 

“If it is a bribery 

allegation then there must 

be an investigation. We 

need facts, not people’s 

opinions,” Amiesimaka 

said. 

When told that the 

Disciplinary Committee of 

the Nigeria Football 

Federation was 

investigating the 

allegation, Adokiye said, 

“then the press must 

mount pressure on the 

NFF to release the result 

of the investigation. 

Whatever the NFF is 

doing about it should be 

done expeditiously.” 

Adokiye was not 

encouraged by the 

general attitude of 

Nigerians, including the 

federal government, 

towards scandals. Hear 

him, “One does not expect 

much from the NFF 

because even the federal 

government has not done 

anything on the 

allegations against the 

Finance Minister, Kemi 

Adeosun who was 

accused of using fake 

NYSC papers. So how do 

you expect the NFF to 

investigate allegations 

against one of its 

coaches.” 

He said, “There is too 

much of nonchalance. We 

should learn to hold our 

leaders responsible 

because the power 

resides with us, the 

people.” 

court rulings look inferior. 

“We have made some 

recommendations to the 

reconciliation committee. And 

of course we expect that the 

only way out is for the party 

that went to court withdraw 

the case and have the 

judgment` vacated,” 

Also former Plateau United 

coach Ben Duamlong stated 

that the issue is resolved 

amicalbly. 

“Court case, FIFA case, my 

guess the Hon. Minister for 

sports will be in a better 

position to answer this one. 

Don’t forget he is a lawyer! 

“But honestly speaking, the 

whole scenario is disgusting. 

Worst of all, nobody is saying 

anything for or against the 

suicidal joke, I mean the so 

called stake holders. 

“Are we saying the waring 

parties don’t have people they 

defer to, who can convince 

them to get off this suicidal 

ride” 

“We can only hope this is 

resolved amicably.” 

C ONFEDERATION 

of African 

Football has put the seal 

of approval on 

Cameroon’s 2019 Afcon 

hosting rights, saying the 

tournament will not be 

taken away from the 

central African country. 

Concerns that Cameroon 

would be overwhelmed by 

organising an expanded 

24-team tournament saw 

possible replacements 

being hyped as either 

Morocco or South Africa. 

This was after the 2019 

Afcon had initially been 

scheduled for 16 

competing nations, and 

the massive infrastructural 

upgrades needed to 

FIFA U-20 WWC: Ajibade loses goal 

against China 

RASHEEDAT Ajibade 

who was credited to 

have scored a last gasp 

equaliser against China in 

their group D game of the U20 

Women’s World Cup France 

2018, has lost the right to own 

the back breaking goal. 

•Esther Monday beats China's Dou during their 

contest on Monday. 

AFCON 2019: CAF gives 

Cameroon go-ahead nod 

FIFA RULES MATTERS... FIFA boss Gianni Infantino with President 

Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to Nigeria. 

accommodate the 

increased teams had cast 

doubts on Cameroon’s 

hosting capacity. 

But following Caf’s third 

inspection of Cameroon’s 

preparedness which 

ended on Monday, the 

continental football 

governing body was left 

satisfied with progress 

made so far. 

CAF vice president 

Amaju Pinnick gave 

assurances that Cameroon 

would not be stripped of 

the hosting rights. 

“What we have seen so 

far is quite impressive,” 

Pinnick told Cameroon 

National Radio and 

Television. 

FIFA ruled that it was an 

own goal knocked in by 

Chinese right-back Jiaxing 

Dou. Ajibade now has only 

one goal to her name in the 

tournament. 

However, the goal will 

remain in the memory of the 

Falconets players as they 

faced an early exit, until 

substitute Aishat Bello drilled 

in a telling cross which was 

deflected into the net. 

“It was not easy. I was on 

the bench and I was thinking 

that maybe we had lost the 

game,” Bello told FIFA.com. 

“But I gave myself 

confidence that we were not 

going to lose this game and 

that I have to do my best when 

I get on to get the result.” 

Bello’s efforts proved 

decisive, as the 17-year-old 

got in behind the Chinese 

backline on the right before 

playing in a well-driven cross 

towards Ajibade. The Nigeria 

captain’s challenge for the ball 

prompted the deflection off of 

Dou for an own goal. 

U-17 AFCON: 15 Eaglets fail 

MRI test 

FIFTEEN players of 

the national U-17 

team have failed MRI tests 

ahead of the Africa Cup of 

Nations in Niger Republic. 

This according to team 

officials is a set back for their 

preparations for the 

qualifiers for the tournament, 

which is barely two weeks 

away. Some of the players 

who failed the tests are said 

to be the best among the 40 

that were given the 

mandatory test. They 

include four highly rated 

strikers and a defender. The 

players have been sent 

packing from the camp, 

while another MRI test is 

being arranged for 15 

players that will be brought 

in as replacements. 

Coach Manu Garba’s 

team are to begin their 

qualifying campaign on 

September 3 against 

Burkina Faso. 

They are drawn in Group 

B along with Cote d’Ivoire 

and Benin Republic with 

only the overall winners of 

the seven-team qualifying 

competition advancing to the 

tournament proper in 

Tanzania next year. 

Governor’s Cup Tennis changes to 

Lagos Open 

By John Egbokhan 

AFTER 17 years of being known as Lagos 

Governor’s Cup Tennis, the longest running 

international tennis tournament in Nigeria has metamorphosed 

to the Lagos Open from this year. 

Reputed as the foremost tennis tournament in west Africa, 

the new Lagos Open is the prelude to the transformation of 

the event from its present ITF Futures circuit to an ATP 

Challengers Series within an 18-month period, with the 

implications of turning Lagos State to an international tennis 

destination point in Africa. 

Disclosing the new dimension to a horde of reporters 

yesterday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan, the Local 

Organizing Committee Chairman, Pius Akinyelure said it was 

high time that the tournament was taken to the next level of 

greatness. He added that the Lagos Open serves off on 

September 29th, with the finale of the second week holding 

on October 13.


Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

FRIDAY’S SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 Underskirt (9) 

6 Dance (3) 

8 Appear 

unexpectedly (3,2) 

9 Consoled (7) 

10 Give back (7) 

11 Toy bear (5) 

12 Vendor (6) 

14 Not so fast (6) 

18 Religious factions (5) 

20 Unorthodox believer (7) 

22 Irritated (7) 

23 Phrase on a coat of arms (5) 

24 Swindle (3) 

25 The recent past (9) 

DOWN 

1 Ancient writing material (7) 

2 Sorts, varieties (5) 

3 Beseech (7) 

4 Marine mollusc (6) 

5 Available for renting (2,3) 

6 Bird of the crow family (7) 

7 Dizzy (6) 

13 Reading desk (7) 

15 Wyoming city (7) 

16 Clergyman’s house (7) 

17 Sunglasses, colloquially (6) 

18 Coins (anag) (5) 

19 Foolish (5) 

21 Carried (5) 

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. 

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

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