ABUJA LAND GRAB: Army battles ex-heads of state Senate President, Speaker

PAGE 2—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

Member, Lagos Business School, Management Board, Dr, Chris Ogbechie (left); Delta 

State Governor, Dr, Ifeanyi Okowa; Vice Chairman, The Nigerian Economic Summit 

Group, Sola David-Borha and Managing Director/Chief Executive, Northwest Petroleum, 

Winnie Akpani, during the maiden edition of the Dialogue with Public Policy Makers 

organized by LSB Breakfast Club/NESG at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos…yesterday 

Presidency to scale down N500bn pover 

verty 

alleviation fund 

By Funmi Olasupo 

THE Federal 

Government 

yesterday disclosed 

that the earlier appropriated 

N500 billion poverty 

alleviation fund would be 

scaled down as the nation 

continues to groan and grind 

under recession. 

The Special Adviser to 

President on Social 

Investments, Maryam 

Uwais, explained that the 

present economic challenge 

prompted the decision to scale 

down the Fund. 

Uwais, who stated this at the 

Civil Society Information 

Dissemination On 

Monitoring Federal 

Government Social 

Protection Programme, SPP, 

Kingsley Omonobi- 

Abuja 

The Nigerian Navy 

said it has arrested seven 

suspected oil thieves in an 

operation it carried out on 

September 7, 2016, when it raided 

the sites of several illegal crude oil 

bunkerers in the Niger Delta. 

Director of Naval Information, 

Commodore Christian Ezekobe, 

in a statement giving details of the 

operation said, “In line with the 

Chief of the Naval Staff’s drive to 

eliminate all forms of economic 

sabotage in the maritime domain, 

a naval patrol team deployed by 

the Forward Operations Base 

(FOB) Escravos in Delta State 

raided Sara Creek near Escravos. 

“During the operations, which 

were conducted on 7 September 

The University of Ilorin 

Christian Union (UCU) will 

celebrate its 40 years of 

existence from November 25 

to November 27, 2016. 

Activities lined up for threeday 

event will hold at UCU 

Worship Centre, located inside 

the Chapel of the Light facility 

on the main campus of 

University of Ilorin, Kwara 

State. 

The Anniversary Planning 

Committee Chairman, George 

Gbenga Osoba, announced 

that the theme for the 40th 

anniversary celebration is 

“Behold, the Days are Coming!” 

He said a special highlight of 

the celebration is the launch of 

the book, “The Chronicles”, a 

historical perspective of UCU 

40 years’ journey. 

Speakers expected at the 

anniversary celebration include 

on SDGs, said it became 

necessary as revenue 

generation has dwindled, 

compared to when the 

programme started. 

However, she did not 

mention the amount that 

would be used to fund the 

programme; rather, she said 

it will be determined by the 

Ministry of Finance. 

She said: “We have 

budgetary constrain so we 

have to scale down the Fund 

and this depends on what the 

Ministry of Finance gives us, 

but clearly the government is 

not getting the revenue it 

expects to get. 

“Although money is yet to be 

released for the program, we 

have been developing 

framework for the 

implementation of the project. 

The cash transfer program is 

about to start in nine states of 

2016, the team arrested 6 persons 

in connection with operating an 

illegal refinery. 

“Three Cotonou boats laden 

with unquantified suspected stolen 

crude oil were destroyed in the 

process. 

“The patrol team also recovered 

one speed boat and a Cotonou 

boat carrying 15 by 10,000 liters 

and 2 by 5000 liters GP tanks 

laden with suspected illegally 

refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). 

“Other items recovered are 3 

outboard engines and 4 pumping 

machines. 

“Similarly the patrol team 

deployed by NNS Delta has 

arrested a Cotonou boat laden 

with 100 metric tons (MT) of 

product suspected to be illegally 

refined AGO. 

“The boat was arrested on 7 

the federation, as the 

compilation of the register of 

poor people in the states is 

ongoing. 

“Therefore, we will have to 

scale down because it depends 

on Ministry of Finance; 

whatever they give us is what 

we will use but clearly 

government is not getting the 

revenue it expects to get,” she 

said. 

According to her, the special 

intervention project was 

designed for delivery under 

five defined programmes, 

which include N-Power, 

Home Grown School 

Feeding, Cash transfers, 

Enterprise 

and 

Empowerment, and Stem 

Bursary Programmes. 

She disclosed that the 

school feeding programme 

has kicked-off, but will engage 

Civil Society Organisations, 

September 2016 at Ogboro Creek 

in Warri South LGA of Delta 

State. 

“In a related development, a 

patrol team deployed by NNS 

Delta on 3 September 2016 

combed Benneth Island situated 

in Warri South LGA of Delta State. 

“On arrival, the suspects fled as 

the team recovered 40 MT of 

Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), one 

pumping machine and some hoses 

with which the criminals operated. 

“Yet again, on 2 September 

2016, a patrol team deployed by 

FOB Escravos located and 

destroyed an illegal refinery as well 

as a very large Cotonou boat laden 

with product suspected to be stolen 

crude oil. 

“In the course of the operation 

one Mr Endurance Okogba 

Edirin was arrested for 

CSOs, for effective 

monitoring of the 

programme. 

“We are developing a 

comprehensive register of 

vulnerable people in the 

society so we want to engage 

the CSOs to ensure that the 

register is authentic and 

realisable. 

“We were worried about our 

programme being 

politicised, so we want to 

make sure that our 

programme reaches every 

Nigerian irrespective of 

political aspiration or 

irrespective of ethnicity or 

culture”, she maintained. 

Also speaking, the 

ActionAid Country Director, 

Ojobo Atulukwu, said 

informed citizen action was 

the missing ingredient for a 

workable solution to many of 

the country’s development 

challenges. 

According to her, the 

obstacles caused by 

conflicting economy policies 

are crystal politics which 

causes unmanageable 

tension and creates new 

vulnerabilities in Nigeria. 

According to her, “the 

equilibrium as we use to know 

it is no more and the new point 

of equilibrium is untested and 

unknown. This Social 

Protection Programme is 

expected to create a cushion 

for protection of the most 

excluded people of the 

society”, stressing that “ while 

Nigeria grew as an economy, 

the people became poorer. 

“This meeting, however, is 

a sign of the due process 

adopted by the National 

Social Investment Office of the 

SDGs whereby the process 

adopted shows clearly the 

people’s act leading this 

process. Accountability is not 

only about the result, it is also 

about the process.” Atulukwu 

said. 

Navy raids crude oil bunkerer 

erers, arrests seven suspected ed oil thieves 

UNILORIN Christian Union Celebrates 40th Anniversary 

Rev. Yinka Laoye, Senior Pastor 

of Dominion Christian Centre; 

Rev (Prof.) Wale Okunuga, 

President of Word Increase 

Ministries Inc.; Mrs Biola 

Opatayo, Founding President of 

the University of Ilorin Christian 

Union Alumni Fellowship 

(UCUAF); and Mr. Gbenga 

Okusolubo, former UCU 

NIPOST set to improve services 

Nigeria Postal Service 

has identified 

strategic and improved 

delivery logistics as one of 

the parameters for 

delivering on value and a 

major boost of national 

income. 

Postmaster General of the 

Federation & CEO, Nigeria 

Postal Service, Barrister Bisi 

Adegbuyi, in his presentation 

at the Universal Postal Union 

World CEO Forum, Paris 

2016, holding currently, said 

NIPOST has identified the 

need to re-strategise on 

delivery logistics in Nigeria in 

order to compete favourably 

as it’s obtained in 

international postal standard. 

He reiterated that NIPOST 

has identified a customerdetermined 

delivery speed, ondemand 

time slots and flexible 

delivery locations as a 

differentiation strategy which 

is being looked into to serve 

not only its clients but also 

target the small and mediumsized 

potential businesses in 

Nigeria. 

The Forum of CEOs which 

held between September 6th 

involvement in the operations of 

the illegal refinery and suspected 

crude oil theft in Ekpemu cooking 

camp at Ekpemu Creek in Warri 

South West LGA in Delta State. 

“Some items recovered were 2 

mobile phones, one pumping 

machine and hoses. 

“In all the cases, investigations 

have commenced and the suspects 

would be promptly handed over 

to the prosecuting agencies for 

further action. 

“The Nigerian Navy is therefore 

appealing to the general public 

especially those with legitimate 

businesses in the maritime sector 

to avoid criminal acts as the service 

is willing, able and ready to carry 

out its constitutional mandate of 

protecting the economic assets of 

the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” 

Executive Committee member. 

The celebration is 

spearheaded by UCUAF, which 

was founded to support 

members in meeting their 

spiritual and physical needs. 

and 8th, 2016, had in 

attendance, the decision 

makers in the postal industry 

in the world. 

Issues discussed at the event 

included but were not limited 

to Postal Financial services in 

the Digital Era, Role of Big 

Data in Postal transformation 

and business strategic 

positioning of postal services 

in the fast evolving e- 

commerce, comparative 

landscape and providing 

adequate platforms and 

solutions to seize cross border 

business opportunities. 

Women Bar Herdsmen from 

Ebonyi Community 

By Dennis Agbo, 

Abakaliki 

The women of Ishiagu 

community in Ivo Local 

Government Area of Ebonyi 

State, has barred herdsmen 

from the community for 

destroying their crops. 

The women, in their 

hundreds, in a protest round 

the community, on 

Saturday, said that the 

menace of cattle-rearing has 

taken a toll on their farm 

produce and that they can no 

longer tolerate further 

destruction of their economic 

crops. 

The women protesters were 

drawn from four villages of 

Ameta, Amaonye, Amaeze 

and Ihetutu, all in Ishiagu 

community. 

They chanted songs 

implying that herdsmen have 

become a torn in their flesh 

and may face sever hunger 

and continued economic 

hrdship if the herdsmen 

continue to plunder their 

crops. 

One of the women leaders, 

Mrs. Vero Umeh, said “after 

cultivating our rice, yam and 

cassava, the herdsmen will use 

their cows to destroy them. 

What do we do? And farming 

is our only source of 

livelihood. So we don’t want 

them in Ishiagu again. They 

should look for another place, 

the cows are destroying our 

crops.” 

By Akpokona Omafuaire 

THE 

National 

Association of 

Gbaramatu Students, NAGS, 

has commended Gbaramatu 

leaders and well meaning 

Niger Delta leaders whose 

conscious efforts led to the 

release of the 10 students of 

Gbaramatu extraction after 

many months in detention. 

The commendation was 

contained in a statement 

signed by Comrade Seiyefa 

Ekpemupolo, its national 

president, yesterday in Warri. 

According to 

Ekpemupolo, the release of 

the students has brought joy 

of reunion with their parents 

and family members. 

“We want to thank all 

Gbaramatu leaders, IPDI, 

The Youth leader of Ishiagu 

community, Hon. Emmanuel 

Aja, who spoke with 

Sunday Vanguard, said the 

women were agitated because 

of the menace of the 

herdsmen. 

Aja said: “This is rainy 

season and President Buhari 

said we should all get back to 

the farms but after cultivation 

the herdsmen will destroy our 

farms with their cows, that is 

what the women are 

protesting against.” 

The community Youth 

leader noted that the 

Department for State Security 

(DSS) has been alerted on the 

security threat by the 

herdsmen, adding that 

Governor Dave Umahi of the 

state has also been put on 

notice while the Governor’s 

visit to the community over the 

matter is being expected. 

The Traditional Ruler of the 

Community, HRH, Eze 

Moses Okafor-Ngele, told 

Sunday Vanguard that his 

palace chiefs confirmed 

destruction of crops by the 

herdsmen and gave women 

the blessing to protest the 

menace. 

While denying the 

allegation that some 

monarchs collect money 

from herdsmen to allow 

grazing in their communities, 

Eze Okafor-Ngele suggested 

that the herdsmen graze their 

cows on other seasons other 

than planting seasons. 

Released Gbaramatu students 

thank leaders 

GOtv has dedicated 

the month of 

September to television 

series buffs. 

Starting Friday, 

September 2, at 

7:10pm, World’s 

Funniest will air on 

Discovery Family. This 

new hilarious, one-hour 

series is inspired by the 

hit YouTube channel - a 

compilation of videos 

showing funny pranks 

and comical fails from 

around the globe, 

including everything 

from dogs cocking legs 

on brides, to kid’s cows 

riding in the back of cars. 

Each week, a panel of 

celebrities and 

comedians will analyse 

the videos that have 

exploded across the 

internet, with the goal of 

awarding the funniest 

one with the “Golden 

Niger Delta leaders and 

others too numerous who 

prevailed on the military to 

release the students. 

“Though they have lost their 

examinations, (sic) we are 

confident that they will start 

all over. The world can see 

that they were oppressed for 

no cause. We have been 

vindicated, our people are not 

avengers. 

“What happened is part of 

the oppressive tendencies by 

forces to give a bad name to 

Gbaramatu. We are happy our 

students are back. 

“We warn traitors and 

blackmailers to steer clear of 

Gbaramatu. We are good 

citizens, we are contributing 

our quota to national 

growth,” the statement 

concluded. 

Telemundo, Discover 

very y Family Kick 

Off f New Series on GOtv 

Terry Award”. Telemundo 

premieres Woman of 

Steel on Monday, 

September 5, and from 

September 18, E! takes 

viewers inside the lives 

of Robert Kardashian 

and Blac Chyna with the 

brand new series, Rob & 

Chyna. 

It’s also ‘Back to School’ 

season and to make 

breakfast and getting ready 

for school more exciting, 

Disney Junior is introducing 

a Bitesize Breakfast Block, 

morning shorts of some 

kiddies’ favourite shows. 

The Adventures of the 

Disney Fairies, Miles from 

Tomorrow, Sofia the First, 

Jake and the Never Land 

Pirates, The Lion Guard 

and Goldie & Bear, starting 

from September 5 at 

1:20pm, will be on the 

Disney Jnr afternoon 

platform.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016, PAGE 3 

Two soldiers killed as 

MUJTF destroys 12 

B-Haram camps 

By Kingsley Omonobi, 

Abuja 

TWO 

Nigerian 

soldiers attached to 

the Multinational Joint 

Task Force (MNJTF) were 

killed while six others 

injured in a confrontation 

with Boko Haram 

terrorists, yesterday. 

Also, the air component 

of the MNJTF, led by the 

Nigerian Airforce, carried 

out aerial bombardment 

of 12 different camps of 

the terrorists located at 

border areas with Niger, 

Chad and Cameroon, 

destroying the camps and 

killing some of the 

terrorists. 

This development was 

disclosed by Col. 

Muhammed Dole, 

spokesman for the 

MNJTF, who said that 

scores of the terrorists also 

surrendered to troops 

when they saw that there 

was no way out for them. 

The statement read: 

“The effects of difficult 

terrains 

and 

unpredictable weather 

conditions continue to 

pose serious challenges 

to the conduct of 

Operation Gama Wiki. 

“However, despite 

these limitations for the 

By Funmi Ajumobi 

ON 

Wednesday, 

September 9, what 

seemed to be the usual 

gathering of Nigerians to 

advocate for Persons With 

Disabilities, PWDs, through 

long speeches, repeated 

documentaries and, at most 

three hours of identifying 

with PWDs, through pity, 

took a new turn at the 

Multi-Purpose Room of the 

U.S. Consulate General in 

Victoria Island, Lagos, 

when, at the end of a 15- 

minute documentary 

highlighting the 

discrimination and social 

exclusion experienced by 

persons living with 

disabilities, Ms. Ejiro 

Sharon Okotie, founder of 

the Hope Inspired 

Unite with Clark, Ibori’s former aide urges MEND, NDA 

HON. Mark Wariota 

Ikpuri says, 

notwithstanding the 

disagreement between the 

Movement for the 

Emancipation of the Niger 

Delta (MEND) and Niger 

Delta Avengers (NDA) over 

KNIGHTS of the Order 

of Saint Mulumba, in 

collaboration with the 

Family and Human Life 

Unit, Catholic Archdiocese 

of Lagos, have concluded 

arrangements to hold a 

reparation vigil on 

abortion. 

Metropolitan Grand 

Knight, Lagos Metropolitan 

Council of the Order, Dr. 

Charles Mbelede, said in 

ground forces, the air 

component of the 

operation, through 

successful combined air 

operations, continue to 

deny the terrorists 

freedom of action and 

movement within the 

battle fields. 

“Recent air strikes and 

simultaneous clearing 

operations on 12 

identified Boko Haram 

Terrorists (BHT) camps 

and hideouts have 

greatly shattered their 

cohesion. 

“Moreover, continuous 

blockade of the terrorists 

main supply routes and 

arrest of their logistics 

suppliers caused serious 

economic hardship and 

led to the surrender of 

many terrorists in different 

locations in the Area of 

Operation (AOO) of 

Multinational Joint Task 

Force (MNJTF). 

“Additionally, the troops 

of Sector 4 in Diffa Niger 

Republic tracked and 

neutralized 4 Boko Haram 

Terrorists suspected to 

have attacked the 

Internally Displaced 

Persons (IDPs) camp and 

Two (2) others were 

arrested at Tumoua 

village”. 

Chief Edwin Clark 

involvement in the 

resolution of the Niger Delta 

crisis, the elder statesman 

still has a role to play in the 

region. Ikpuri, Special 

Assistant to Delta State 

former Governor Chief 

James Ibori on Youths 

Catholic Knights’ vigil on abortion, 

sex education 

Lagos that the programme, 

holding September 16, at 

the Church of 

Transfiguration, Lekki, is to 

reiterate the stand of the 

Catholic Church on zero 

tolerance for abortion. 

According to him, the vigil 

which is part of the Order’s 

pro-life activities is coming 

at the same time as the feast 

of Our Lady of Sorrows. 

From left: Mrs. Sara Adebayo, Kwara APC Women Leader; DG Saraki Mandate 

Office, Hon. Wahab Isa; Alhaji Aremu Subairu, the Mogaji Aare of Ilorin; one of 

the beneficiaries; Alhaji S.A. Mahmood, Chairman, APC Ilorin East LGA during 

the presentation of grinding machines to some women. Insert is a line-up of some 

of the grinding machines before presentation yesterday. 

•L-R: Otunba (Mrs.) Josephine Diya; the Baba Ijo, United African Methodist 

Evangelical Church, Abule-Ijesha, Lt. Gen Oladipo Diya (retd); and Otunba (Mrs.) 

Folashade Diya and Mama Ijo, Chief Mrs.Mabel Kehinde Komolafe at the 

presentation of a portrait to Lt. Gen Diya by the Light Bearers, Wesley Cathedral 

Olowogbowo, as its Grand Patron. 

US backs social inclusion for the physically challenged 

Foundation for Women and 

Youth, did not only 

challenge policy makers 

and employers of labour on 

the need to integrate 

physically challenged 

persons into the Nigerian 

labour market, but also has 

created job portal to 

generate data for PWDs who 

are qualified like youths in 

Nigeria . 

Titled Changing the 

Dialogue, the documentary, 

sponsored by the United 

States Mission in Nigeria, 

was produced by Okotie, a 

young woman living with 

disability who said 

inclusiveness has been 

talked for a very long time 

but the ‘HOW’ is the focus 

of gathering people together 

for the screening of her new 

documentary detailing lifestories 

of discrimination 

and social exclusion 

experienced by persons 

living with disabilities in the 

Nigerian labour market. 

Explaining her long 

history of involvement with 

PWDs, earlier in her 

welcome remarks, the US 

Embassy Public Affairs 

Officer, Darcy Zotter, stated 

that removing barriers and 

creating a world in which 

physically challenged 

persons enjoy dignity will 

bring about their full 

inclusion in the society. 

Speaking at the event on 

“Harnessing the Potentials 

of Youth with Disabilities in 

Nigeria”, Dr Adebayo 

Adebukola, a political 

scientist and the executive 

director, Human and 

Organisational Resource 

Affairs and current 

President, Joint Association 

of Niger Delta Ethnic 

Nationalities Youth Forum, 

also advised the groups to 

support the effort by 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to address the 

challenges facing Niger 

Delta and Nigeria. 

Explaining that his 

organization’s proposal, 

sent through Clark to the late 

President Umaru Musa 

Yar’Adua, led to the 

creation of the Office of SA 

to the President on Niger 

Delta, which, he said, 

contributed to the Federal 

Government Amnesty 

Programme, Ikpuri said 

there is need for lasting 

peace in the region. “We 

desire peace and 

development in the region, 

not endless war. “Let’s give 

peace a chance”, he said. 

Development Centre said 

youths with disabilities are 

like other youths who are 

knowledgeable and skilful 

and therefore should be 

given equal opportunities 

adding that they are only 

asking for their rights and 

Shun social vices, Senator Adeola tells 

Muslims 

By Yinka Ajayi 

SENATOR Solomon 

Adeola, representing 

Lagos West Senatorial 

District, has enjoined 

Muslims to pray for peace 

and progress as the nation 

battles economic recession 

hitting hard on Nigerians. 

In his Eid-el- Kabir 

message, Adeola said that 

strict adherence to the 

teachings of Islam in the 

areas of love, brotherliness 

and peaceful coexistence as 

well as tolerance will greatly 

assist the President 

Muhammadu Buhar- led 

administration to achieve its 

not sympathy. 

Distinguished guests who 

attended the event included 

the Lagos State Deputy 

Governor Idiat Adebule who 

was represented by 

Permanent Secretary 

Yetunde Odejayi. 

Onuesoke extols Tompolo’s father 

DELTA State Peoples 

Democratic Party 

(PDP) chieftain, Chief 

Sunny Onuesoke, says Chief 

Thomas Ekpemukpolo, the 

father of ex- militant, Chief 

Government Ekpemukpolo 

(alias) Tompolo, died when 

his wealth of experience was 

most needed. 

Extolling the virtues of the 

deceased while speaking to 

journalists in Warri, Delta 

State, yesterday, Onuesuke 

described Ekpemukpolo as 

a successful businessman, 

philanthropist, educator, a 

lover of children, grassroots 

mobilizer and community 

leader who gained the respect, 

trust and love of the 

people. 

“This is to render my 

deepest heartfelt 

condolences to the 

Ekpemukpolo’s family for 

the loss of their father when 

his wealth of experience was 

most needed”, he said. 

Onuesoke prayed God to 

grant the deceased’s 

immediate family the 

courage and fortitude to 

bear the irreparable loss. 

positive agenda for the 

people, adding that the 

current down turn of the 

economy was a passing 

phase that would soon be 

over with people-oriented 

policies. 

“I will continue to ensure 

that my constituents enjoy 

dividends of democracy 

together with programmes 

that will lift the people in the 

area of health, education 

and social amenities like 

boreholes and transformers 

among others”, Adeola said. 

He further urged Muslims 

to shun social vices as 

contained in the Quran, as 

acting otherwise could be 

detrimental to the society. 

SALLAH: Police in 

Lagos assure of 

adequate security 

By Evelyn Usman & Peter Ofili 

LAGOS 

State 

Commissioner of Police, 

Mr Fatai Owoseni, says 

adequate security has been put 

in place to ensure peaceful 

celebration of Eid-el- Kabir. 

Consequently, the state Police 

Command, yesterday, carried 

out an exercise to warn 

criminals to stay away from the 

state during and after the 

Sallah celebration.. 

The exercise, done in 

collaboration with the OP 

MESA of the Nigerian Army 

,witnessed intensified patrol 

round the 14 area commands 

of Lagos, particularly crime 

prone areas. 

Senior police officers were not 

left out in the exercise. 

A 24-hour patrol, according 

to the command’s boss, would 

be carried out by policemen 

during and after the Sallah. 

Owoseni explained that the 

exercise was, among other 

things, aimed at assuring 

Lagosians that the command 

was on top of its constitutional 

responsibility of ensuring that 

they slept with their two eyes 

closed. 

Southern Sun 

By Jimoh Babatunde 

SOUTHERN Sun, Ikoyi 

is offering a minimum 

booking of two nights at 

reduced rates for Sallah. 

The hotel, in a statement, 

said the gesture is to allow 

family bond during the 

celebrations by making it 

memorable. 

“The special room rate 

package comes with full 

buffet breakfast for one, a 

complimentary breakfast for 

accompanying children 

under 5years and 50% 

discount for children of 6years 

- 9years, a worthy welcome 

for the whole family. 

Southern Sun Additional to 

a possible upgrade to an 

executive room subject to 

availability”, a statement 

said. 

Osun APC urges 

solemn event 

THE All Progressives 

Congress in Osun State 

has urged Muslims to 

celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with 

solemn gratitude to Allah 

that He has preserved “our 

lives to witness the event in 

good health”. 

The APC also extended 

felicitations to Muslims on 

the occasion of the feast of 

gratitude to Allah for this 

provision “in our lives”, 

according to a statement in 

Osogbo by the party’s 

Director of Publicity, 

Research and Strategy, Barr. 

Kunle Oyatomi. 

The party urged Muslims, 

especially at this period of 

austerity, to intensely practise 

the faith’s tradition of 

emphathising and sharing 

with the less privileged as they 

celebrate this all important 

event. 

The party then used the 

occasion to praise Osun 

citizens for their 

understanding and support 

for the Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji 

Aregbesola-led APC 

government, which, in spite 

of the difficulties of the 

current economic situation, 

was doing everything it could 

to develop the state and 

improve economic activities 

for the benefit of all.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


L-R: Wife of the immediate Past President, Rotary Club of HOPE, the Rotary Club of Maryland, 

Ikeja, Lagos, Rotarian Anne Dupe Akodu; her spouse, Rotarian Dr. Femi Akodu; newly installed 

President, Rotarian Babatunde Ojo; his wife, Rotarian Anne Temitope Ojo; a Past President, 

Rotarian Kareem Olayemi Arigbabu, and the Club’s Charter President, Rotarian Bola Oyebade 

with the Club’s Laurels and Installation Cake of the new President at the event held at Ikeja CBD, 

Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. 

EDO: PDP rejects Oshiomhole allegation 

US remembers 9/11, urges combined efforts to 

tackle terrorism willingness to sacrifice for 

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu 

Today marks the 15th 

anniversary of one of the 

most tragic days in the history 

of the United States, when 

terrorists staged attacks on the 

World Trade Center and the 

Pentagon and were only 

prevented from completing 

another attack by the heroism 

of the passengers on United 

Flight 93. 

The events of that day also 

revealed the character of 

ordinary American citizens who 

demonstrated courage and 

By Demola Akinyemi 

ONE of the governorship 

aspirants of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

in Ondo State, Chief Jamiu 

Afolabi Ekungba, has refuted 

a reports in the social media 

that he referred to the people 

of the state as “bastards and 

ingrates.” 

The reports claimed that 

Ekungba was bitter about his 

loss at the primary election and 

therefore regretted that he 

wasted over N300 million on 

delegates who, despite the huge 

inducements, refused to vote 

for him. 

Ekungba, a traditional chief 

of Owo, where the winner of 

the contest, Rotimi Akeredolu, 

also hails from, said: “ I never 

gave any money what-so-ever 

to any of the 2,834 delegates. 

If I did not part with money, 

why will I complain? 

“I do not have N300 million 

to share; even if I had, both in 

all my interviews and at 

campaigns to the delegates, I 

made it very clear that I will 

not induce anybody with 

money to vote for me. Why will 

I bribe people to give me a job 

that will require so much energy 

to bring back to life, an 

fellow citizens. 

The images of that day, 

according to a statement from 

US Mission in Nigeria, “are 

forever imprinted on our 

memories”. The statement 

wend on: “As we recall the 

events fifteen years ago, let us 

renew our commitment to do 

all that we can, wherever we 

may be, to honor the victims 

of those attacks, as well as the 

others who have been harmed 

by terrorism in the years since 

September 11, 2001. We must 

defeat terrorists and all that 

they represent, and at the same 

time work tirelessly to 

promote dialogue, peace, and 

reconciliation in order to 

resolve the complex problems 

that we face in an 

interdependent world”. 

“Sadly, tragic events 

throughout the world have 

shown the ongoing horrific 

impact of terrorism in Nigeria, 

Mali, Burkina Faso, France, 

Bangladesh, Turkey, and 

Belgium, among many other 

countries. Far too many 

families around the globe have 

experienced pain and loss as a 

result of terrorism. It is clear 

that we all must stand together 

and work to defeat this 

scourge.” 

Ondo APC gov. . aspirant, ant, Ekungba, denies bribing delegates 

es 

Deputy Speaker, Delta 

State House of 

Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday 

Ossai Osanebi, has 

congratulated Goldring 

Ugbome ll, Igwe of Okpai 

Kingdom and Kanegede, the 

7th Ogene of Ibedeni, over 

their appointment into the Delta 

State Traditional Rulers 

Council. 

Osanebi, who congratulated 

economy that is almost dead 

totally? 

“I hope you are aware that 

Ondo, an oil-producing state, 

despite collecting about N628 

billion federal allocation in 

seven years of the Mimiko 

administration, is owing the 

civil servants eight months 

salaries. I am an accomplished 

accountant, an experienced 

Governor 

Olusegun 

Mimiko will, on 

Thursday, distribute to farmers 

in Ondo State farm inputs worth 

millions of Naira. 

The state Commissioner for 

Information, Hon. Kayode 

Akinmade, told newsmen in 

Akure, at the weekend, that 

farmers, across the 18 local 

government areas of the state, 

will benefit from the programe 

Osanebi congratulates Okpai, Ibedeni Monarchs 

the traditional rulers in a short 

reception in his Asaba official 

residence, said the diligence to 

their duties and unwavering 

integrity should distinguish 

them in their new assignment. 

He further urged the monarchs 

to be good ambassadors of 

Ndokwa East in the 58-man 

traditional council that is cut 

across the three senatorial 

districts of the Delta. 

banker and administrator and 

a financial expert. 

“I know the state of Ondo 

economy and what it will take 

to fix it. I will therefore, because 

of the challenges that will 

accompany the fixing, not 

bribe my way to offer my 

people this type of very 

difficult service. 

Mimiko’s inputs for Ondo farmers 

which Mimiko will flag off 

at Oladejo Matins, Akinnifemi 

Memorial Hall, Bolorundoro in 

Ondo -East. 

According to the 

Commissioner, farmers in the 

state are expected to visit the 

farm service centres in their 

respective local governments 

with their smart card, otherwise 

known as Kaadi Igbeayo, to 

benefit from the programme. 

Delta Community denies crisis report, 

says election peaceful 

By Festus Ahon 

ELDERS and leaders of 

Ekiugbo community, Ughelli 

North Local Government Area, 

Delta State have described as false; 

Ben Agande, Abuja 

The Peoples Democratic 

Party has rejected the allegation 

by Governor Adams 

Oshiomhole of Edo State that 

it registered 8,000 militants for 

the governorship election in 

the state. 

In a statement in Abuja, last 

night, the party said the allegation 

is “not only wild, but stupid 

and totally unreasonable”. 

The statement, signed by 

Dayo Adeyeye, spokesman for 

the party said, in part: “The 

allegation is another falsehood 

being peddled by a man known 

to be a pathological liar. A man 

who has no respect for the 

truth. In the first instance, we 

wish to put before Governor 

Oshiomhole the following pertinent 

questions. Where and 

when did the PDP register the 

so-called militants? Were they 

registered by INEC? If not, 

which organization registered 

them? Were they registered as 

voters or as observers? For 

what purpose? And when did 

Mr Oshiomhole suddenly discover 

the registration of the 

alleged militants?” 

media reports that the community 

was in crisis over election of 

executive to pilot the affairs of the 

community for the next three years. 

Speaking with newsmen on behalf 

of the people, a member of the 

community’s Council of Elders, 

Chief John Ayoro said “there is no 

iota of truth in the publication 

because there is absolute peace in 

Ekuigbo and the said election is not 

generating any form of crisis in the 

community as wrongly stated in 

the report. 

“The election where Mr, 

Ovwigho Onotanuyohwo emerged 

as President of Ekuigbo community 

and Mr. Ognenekaro Odjimogho as 

Youth Chairman is the most 

peaceful and credible in the history 

of the community.


Passengers going to catch the first train as commuters depart Abuja for Sallah on the Abuja-Kaduna train services at the Idu Train Station, Abuja, 

yesterday. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida 

55-yr-old -old female pilgrim excre 

cretes es 82 wraps aps of cocaine 

•Says sponsor offered her N1m 

By Evelyn Usman and 

Michael Eboh 

The 55-year-old female 

pilgrim, arrested by 

operatives of the National 

Drug Law Enforcement 

Agency, NDLEA, last week , at 

the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International Airport, Abuja, 

has excreted the last wrap of 

cocaine she ingested. 

The suspect, Mrs Binuyo 

Basari Iyabo, who has been 

under observation, 

reportedly excreted 82 wraps 

of cocaine weighing 

931grammes which street 

value is estimated at N10 

million. 

In essence, she excreted six 

more wraps of the drug as she 

earlier excreted 76 wraps. 

The suspect, the agency’s 

commander at the Abuja 

airport, Hamisu Lawan, said. 

By Kingsley Omonobi, 

Abuja 

The Inspector-General of 

Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, 

says police have not banned 

public protest even though they 

restricted the Bring Back Our Girls 

group from protesting to the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

A statement from Force 

Headquarters, signed by DCP 

Don Awunah, quoted the IGP as 

saying: “Categorically, at no time 

did Nigeria Police Force place a 

ban on peaceful public protest/ 

procession anywhere in Nigeria, 

particularly the Federal Capital 

Territory”. 

The statement continued: 

“Peaceful public protest/ 

procession is an integral part of 

democratic norms in as much as 

it conforms with the rule of law 

and public order. 

“The Nigeria Police Force 

recognises the constitutional 

rights of every law abiding citizen 

was arrested during the 

outward screening of 

passengers on an Emirate 

flight to Dubai en-route 

Medina, after testing positive 

for drug ingestion. She was 

on her way to Saudi Arabia 

on pilgrimage. 

Hamisu informed that 

drug trafficking was 

punishable by death in Saudi 

By Festus Ahon, Egufe 

Yafugbori, Perez Brisibe, 

Ochuko Akuopha, ASABA 

AS the Ibru family, the 

Urhobo nation and 

Delta State grapple with the 

demise of the patriarch of the 

Ibru family and Chairman of 

the Ibru Organization, 

Olorogun Michael 

Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru, 

No ban on public protest —IGP 

to express his or her view through 

public protest/procession and 

other legitimate means. 

“In order to ensure that public 

protest/procession is not hijacked 

by hoodlums and miscreants to 

unleash mayhem and 

disturbance of public peace, 

persons or group of persons 

undertaking public protest/ 

procession should endeavour to 

notify the police to enable the 

police protect and process the 

public procession through 

designated routes and 

destinations. 

“However, the police will not 

condone any protest/procession 

on the public highways and roads 

inhibiting or disallowing public 

freedom and right of way. 

“The Inspector General of Police 

is committed to the principles of 

democratic policing and 

adherence to international best 

practices in public order 

management. 

“To this end, State 

Arabia, adding that 

arrangement had been 

concluded for her 

prosecution. 

Describing her action as 

shameful and discreditable, 

the Chairman/Chief 

Executive of NDLEA, 

Muhammad Mustapha 

Abdallahi, said: “It is a 

shameful and discreditable 

act for a 55-year-old mother, 

going on holy pilgrimage, to 

Commissioners of Police and 

Police Commanders are directed 

to emplace strategies to protect 

and facilitate lawful public 

protest/processions as well as 

protect other members of the 

public who are not engaged in 

any form of public protest/ 

procession.” 

ingest narcotics. This is 

shocking and a clear 

indication of her inability to 

effectively discharge parental 

responsibility. The agency 

shall invoke the powers of the 

law against her and others 

caught indulging in 

production/trafficking in 

narcotic drugs”. 

During interrogation, the 

suspect, a mother of three from 

Irepodun local government 

area of Kwara State, was said 

to have revealed that she was 

offered N1m to traffic the 

drug. 

She said : “I am a trader in 

Lagos, married with three 

children. I wanted to expand 

my cosmetic business but I 

have no money. My sponsor 

offered to foot my expenses to 

Saudi on pilgrimage. This 

was how I got involved in the 

act. I was excited until the issue 

of drugs was introduced. I 

wanted to decline but it was 

late. Besides, I was offered a 

million naira which I 

accepted. I swallowed the 

drug in Lagos and took a flight 

to Abuja on my way to 

Medina but I was caught in 

the process” . 

The agency’s boss 

therefore called on members 

of the public not to get involved 

in drug trafficking and other 

criminal activities capable of 

exposing them to ridicule and 

undermining their good 

reputation. 

MICHAEL IBRU: We have lost a rare gem-IDU, Ogor, Brisibe, Oshevire, Izeze, others 

a cross section of eminent 

Deltans, yesterday, described 

his death as a colossal loss to 

the Nigerian nation. 

Ibru, last Tuesday, passed on 

at the age of 85 in Maryland, 

USA after a protracted illness. 

Minority Leader of the 

House of Representatives, Mr. 

Leo Ogor, described the late 

Olorogun as a colossus whose 

business acumen gave birth to 

By Simon Ebegbulem, 

Benin-City 

SPECIAL Adviser to 

Governor Adams 

Oshiomhole of Edo State on 

Political Matters, Chief 

Charles Idahosa, yesterday, 

raised the alarm that the 

Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) has recruited some 

persons he described as “fake 

palace chiefs”, who are now 

going about in the villages to 

misinform the people that the 

palace of the Oba of Benin has 

directed that they should not 

vote for the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in the Sept. 28 

governorship election in the 

state. 

Describing the step as part 

of the desperate moves of the 

PDP governorship candidate, 

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, 

Idahosa disclosed that APC 

supporters were on the trail of 

one of the persons who dressed 

in traditional Benin robes. 

“This incident happened in 

Oghada, a local village in 

Uhumwonde, which is my 

local government. But we have 

directed our people that such 

people should be beaten silly 

before we hand them over to 

the police and that tells you 

that Ize-Iyamu is just a coward. 

the rise of many successful 

businessmen in Africa. 

Ogor said: “He can rightly 

be described as a man who had 

the midas touch, breaking 

new grounds in different 

spheres of life and succeeding 

in areas nobody dared to do 

business in and opened new 

grounds that brought about 

many successful businessmen 

in Nigeria and in the diaspora.” 

Chief of Staff to Delta State 

Governor, Mr Tam Brisibe, 

said: “In every nation, great 

men are born in different fields 

and in the business world; not 

many can tower above the titan 

that Olorogun Michael Ibru’s 

name hold worldwide”. 

Mr Abel Oshevire said; 

“Olorogun Michael Ibru’s 

death is the saddest news of the 

year. It is indeed a 

We have reported the incident 

to security agents because 

those people are on the run 

now”, he said. 

“We have also reported the 

matter to the palace and the 

palace was shocked. We 

discovered their latest move 

this morning and this is one 

of the tricks they intend to use 

and that is why they are 

boasting. The fake chiefs are 

fortunate to have escaped 

alive. They came in Sports 

Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and 

they were moving from 

village to village. 

“They told the people that 

monumental loss to the 

Urhobo nation. He was a great 

pride to the Urhobo people. 

His death draws the curtain on 

a glorious chapter that 

illuminated the Nigerian 

business community”. 

National Chairman of 

Urhobo Solidarity Forum, 

USF, Chief Smith Asohro, said, 

“Olorogun Michael Ibru is a 

proud son of Urhobo nation 

who bought economic 

awareness to Urhobo land”. 

Mr Sunny Onuesoke said 

the death of Olorogun is 

shocking and painful, 

describing him as one man 

who carried his siblings along 

in his business life. 

Mr Onuesoke said: 

“Olorogun Michael Ibru was 

the greatest ever produced 

among his generation of 

the palace sent them to inform 

our people that they should 

not vote for APC but PDP. We 

know they were not Benin 

chiefs, but they were dressed 

as Benin chiefs. We will surely 

get them. It was the same 

desperation that drove them 

to import militants from Delta 

and Rivers States. 

“As we speak, 13 of the 

militants are in prison, what 

they did in Rivers, Delta states, 

they cannot do it here. I feel 

sorry for some of our 

colleagues in urban areas; if 

you enter Uhumwonde, we 

all know ourselves, so it is not 

business mogul in the seventies 

in the history of the black race.” 

Mr Reuben Izeze said: “The 

late Michael Ibru was one of the 

most respected Urhobo patriots 

whose life of outstanding 

entrepreneurial spirit provided 

several jobs for the unemployed”. 

Meanwhile, Isoko 

Development Union, IDU, the 

apex socio-cultural organization 

of the Isoko nation, has condoled 

with the Ibru family and the 

people of Agbarha-Otor 

Kingdom, on the demise of 

Olorogun. 

President General of IDU, 

Chief Iduh Amadhe, described 

Ibru’s death as a great loss to 

Delta State and the country at 

large, saying: “A big iroko has 

fallen. We pray God to grant the 

family the fortitude to bear the 

irreparable loss.” 

EDO POLL: ‘PDP has recruited fake palace chiefs to misinform that 

Oba of Benin has directed voting against APC’ 

possible in the villages. 

Okowa and Wike cannot even 

pay salaries in their states, yet 

they are spending money. We 

are peaceful people in Edo; 

we have never had bloody 

election because the only 

reason we are smiling is that 

people who are pioneer 

members of PDP, like 

Iduoriyekemwen, they 

refused to give him the 

ticket. 

“They decided to give it 

to Ize-Iyamu who is doing 

everything to cause crisis 

and boasting everywhere, 

but we shall see. Ize-Iyamu, 

with all his tricks and boasts, 

will be beaten like a baby”. 

Pharmacists urge Amosun to clamp down on fake drugs 

Pharmaceutical Society of 

Nigeria, PSN, Ogun State 

chapter has implored Governor 

Ibikunle Amosun to rid the state 

of fake drugs. 

Giving the advice in Abeokuta, 

the state Chairman, PSN, Mr 

Remi Ogunyemi, noted that lives 

are endangered through the 

nefarious activities of the 

hawkers. 

“Ogun State government 

should as a matter of urgency 

clamp down on the operators of 

these open markets who are 

peddling fake drugs. They have 

not only become an eyesore, and 

nuisance, but their activities also 

pose danger to members of the 

public. Consumption of fake 

drugs is an open invitation to 

premature deaths, and other 

health hazards but gullible 

members of the public patronize 

them. It is sad that today these fake 

drug hawkers operate freely in 

many urban centres in Ogun and 

have become an eyesore in 

Abeokuta, especially in Lafenwa, 

Sabo, Oke-Aje, and New-Market. 

Governor Amosun should clamp 

down on them”, Ogunyemi 

said.He also appealed to the state 

House of Assembly to join hands 

with the Amosun government to 

tackle fake drug hawkers, 

recalling how a former deputy 

governor of Ogun lost his life as a 

result of being injected with fake 

drugs. ‘’We should not forget so 

soon how fake drugs contributed 

to the death of a former deputy 

governor of the state. Our research 

revealed that the influx of these 

merchants of death into Ogun is 

as a result of the clampdown on 

them by Lagos State government. 

If these criminals are chased away 

from Lagos, it should not be seen 

as if Ogun is providing a safe haven 

for them “.

Y 

K 

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

DELTA AT 25: Okowa’s SMART Agenda gives us 

cause to celebrate—Onoriode, PDP Organising Secretary 

By Olalekan Bilesanmi 

Hon. Sunday Eromedoghene 

Onoriode is a Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart 

and immediate past 

Chairman of Ethiope East local 

government area of Delta State. 

He is the incumbent 

Organizing Secretary of the 

PDP in Delta State. 

In this interview, Onoriode 

speaks on Okowa’s 

administration, Delta at 25 

and President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s 

D 

government. 

elta State is 25 years. 

How is the journey so 

far? 

The journey has not been so 

easy. From the time of creation 

and trying to get the state 

together, it has been a tasking 

job for all those who had 

governed Delta State up till 

the administration of our 

amiable Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa who is performing 

wonderfully. 

Several persons have 

contributed their quota to the 

development of the state, and 

these contributions is what we 

are celebrating today. But the 

celebration of the Delta at 25 

will not be completed without 

mentioning Okowa who has 

given the state a new face 

through his Smart Agenda. 

Many people still view 

Okowa’s administration as 

one that has not done much 

for Deltans, that most 

projects were continuation of 

Uduaghan’s government. 

What is your comment? 

I disagree with that view, 

because since the governor 

assumed office on May 29, 

2015, Okowa has made 

efforts to reduce 

unemployment in Delta 

through his job creation Smart 

Agenda programme. About 

1,300 youths have been trained 

and given starter pack to 

enable them commence 

business. 

These youths are expected 

to be employers of labour. 

Within the short time he has 

assumed office, Okowa has 

embarked on the construction 

of many township and rural 

roads. 

Despite the economic 

situation of the country, the 

governor has embarked on the 

construction of the middle 

section of Alisimie- 

Ozanogogo Road; 

dualisation of Nnebisi Road, 

from traffic light to Cable 

Point, Asaba. 

Okowa is also 

reconstructing the old Oleh/ 

Emede/Olomoro Road; 

widening/reconstructing 

Owhe-Ologbo/Abbi Road and 

embarking on the 

reconstruction/expansion/ 

construction of Kefas Road, 

Emore Road and Uzere Road. 

In Sapele, Orerokpe and 

Ughelli area of Delta Central, 

the governor is working on the 

dualisation of Sapele Road, 

from Amukpe Roundabout to 

AT&P, Sapele; the construction 

of Ejinyere/Orodje Street, 

Orerokpe and construction of 

Oteri township roads, Ughelli. 

In his mission to raise the 

standard of education, Okowa 

•Onoriode 

held, for two days, the 

Education Summit under the 

theme, ‘Leapfrogging 

Education in Delta.’ The 

summit attracted prominent 

Nigerians and educationists 

like Chief Afe Babalola, Prof 

Pai Obaya and a host of others 

to address the challenges 

education sector was facing in 

the state and the way forward. 

As part of his efforts to revive 

vocational study, Okowa has 

embarked on the upgrade of 

Sapele, Agbor, and Ofagbe 

Technical Colleges. 

He is also upgrading 

infrastructure in both primary 

and secondary schools across 

Delta. To drive home his policy 

of prosperity for all Deltans, 

believing that health is wealth, 

the Okowa administration is 

implementing the 

Contributory Health Pension 

scheme to give universal 

coverage to all categories of 

Deltans. 

The governor has equally 

consented to the 

establishment of the Nigerian 

Institute of Medical Research, 

NIMR, South-South out 

station in Asaba. This will 

bring closer collaboration 

between NIMR and tertiary 

health institutions in the state 

and that is besides providing 

employment for Deltans. 

And in line with the 

administration’s 

commitment to open up the 

state for business and tourism, 

he has embarked on the 

remodelling of the 3.4 

kilometers runway of the 

Asaba International Airport to 

meet international standards. 

The aviation authorities had 

recommended the measure to 

enable bigger aircraft to land 

at the airport. 

The economic 

diversification initiatives of 

government have also yielded 

results as many investors have 

signed Memoranda of 

Understanding, MoU, on key 

areas meant to boost the 

economy of the state with the 

State Government. 

The governor made several 

appointments to kick-start the 

government and equally gone 

ahead to pick on some key 

projects that are significant to 

the people of Delta. To show 

How Customs Service is helping economy to 

recover from recession — Haruna 

BY UDEME CLEMENT 

Comptroller Haruna 

Mamudu, has served 

Nigeria Customs Service 

(NCS) at various capacities. 

Aside from other top positions 

held in the Service, he was 

Customs Area Controller 

(CAC), Ogun State 

Command. When he took 

over the affairs of Ogun 

Command in December 

2013, he introduced 24 hours 

border patrol with all officers 

on alert to prevent smuggling 

of arms and ammunition into 

the country through the 

border, especially during the 

election period of 2015. His 

tenure in Idiroko not 

notwithstanding the volatile 

nature of the border yielded 

more revenue generation 

through Nigeria-Benin 

Republic import scheme. 

Currently, he is the CAC, 

Federal Operations Unit, 

Zone C, Owerri. He speaks 

on the activities of NCS in the 

last one year under Col. 

Hameed Ali (rtd) as the 

Comptroller General, and 

explained how NCS is 

working to help Nigeria’s 

economy recover from 

recession. 

With declining oil price and 

economic recession, the 

Federal Government is 

looking at more revenue 

generation from NCS to 

boost the economy. How is 

the Service performing in 

terms of revenue collection 

to help the economy recover 

from recession? 

To start with, we have 

increased revenue generation 

for government by blocking 

all loopholes to prevent 

leakages from our income. 

We are working tirelessly to 

enhance facilitation of 

legitimate trades to boost 

productive activities in the 

country. You are aware that 

at present, crude oil 

production is low, oil price at 

the international market is 

also declining and the volume 

of trade in the country 

generally has gone down, but 

notwithstanding these 

challenges, we are still doing 

our best to generate revenue 

for government. We have 

doubled our efforts in revenue 

that the governor has a 

mindset with a view to moving 

the state forward and within 

the short time in office, he has 

done great things through his 

SMART Agenda, rooted on 

making Deltans self-reliance. 

The governor’s programme 

is all about training the youths, 

and at the end of the day 

empower them to be on their 

own, with that they can help 

employ other youths to work 

with them. 

The first batch just got 

through with their training in 

different fields of 

specialization. 

Some are today into 

farming, welding and 

fabrication, crafts work, and 

all of that and they all left to 

start on their own with starterpack. 

The Smart Agenda will 

usher in tremendous changes 

in Delta. The agenda gives 

Deltans cause to celebrate the 

25 years anniversary of the 


You previously served 

under Chief Edwin Uzor as 

state PDP Chairman. How 

do you describe the 

administrations of Uzor, 

Peter Nwanboshi and the 

present administration of 

Kingsley Esiso and the claim 

of Esiso being press shy? 

Delta, PDP under 

Nwanboshi and later Uzor, 

•Compt. Haruna Mamudu 

drive. Though, we are not on 

target now due to these 

factors, but we are very close 

to target. 

At present, we are not 

experiencing reckless 

smuggling like before. Under 

the current CG, incessant 

cases of confrontation 

between smugglers and 

Customs had been 

addressed. We have new 

operating mechanism in 

place that paves the way for 

trade promotion in line with 

global best practice. The 

current management has 

created a level playing 

ground for operational 

efficiency and we are working 

to get the required results 

needed by government. Now, 

rice importation through 

land borders is banned and 

we do not hesitate to seize 

smuggled rice, foreign 

poultry products, textile 

materials and other 

prohibited items. This 

evidently shows in our 

warehouses that are filled 

with seizures of different 

contraband items. Today, false 

declaration of goods attracts 

outright seizure without any 

forgiveness, because we view 

that as serious economic 

sabotage. All these are 

measures NCS is putting in 

place to boost income flow in 

the system to enable the 

economy recover fast from 

recession. 

Can you tell us how the 

Service has performed in the 

last one year under the 

supervision of the current 

CG? 

The reality is that Customs 

is now seen from the inside 

because we have a CG who 

came from outside into the 

Service to pilot the affairs of 

NCS. When he took over 

NCS, he visited all the border 

stations, seaports and 

did so well, and that is what 

gave victory to the present 

administration of Okowa. 

Both chairmen, during their 

time, worked round the clock 

to ensure continuity even 

when there was the perception 

that PDP had lost out in Delta. 

It is the same vein, the new 

Chairman of Delta PDP, Esiso, 

is taking and l know with his 

experience as a seasoned 

politician who has contributed 

greatly to the growth of the 

party, Delta PDP will excel in 

future elections. 

On the perception that the 

Chairman is press shy, I 

disagree because what 

brought him to limelight in 

politics was his out spoken 

nature. So, it will be funny to 

say he is press shy when there 

are no issues to talk about. 

There is the fear that with 

the rate All Progressive 

Congress is going in Delta 

State, it is likely to win the 

forthcoming local 

government elections and the 

2019 general elections. What 

is your take? 

This is not an issue. We all 

know that all they are doing is 

to satisfy their pay masters. They 

tell their pay masters they are 

on ground and they are waxing 

stronger, but you and l know 

that APC has no structure in 

Delta. 

Commands at the hinterland 

to see a clearer picture of our 

operations. He first met me 

in Ogun Command during 

one of such visits. So, he looks 

inward to see the conditions 

in which we operate and the 

challenges we face. He 

understands that we need 

infrastructure and good 

welfare for officers who risk 

their lives to track down 

smugglers sabotaging our 

economy and government’s 

effort to grow local 

industries. 

When we cried out in the 

past, many people did not 

understand the situation we 

operated then and the 

difficulties we encountered in 

the discharge of our duties. 

But with the current CG, 

Nigerians have come to 

appreciate the Service much 

better that what obtained in 

the past. The current CG has 

greatly improved on the 

existing synergy between 

NCS and other security 

agencies in the country. 

Can you give us a brief 

comparative analysis of the 

Service in the last one year 

under Ali and the previous 

government? 

In fairness, the previous 

government did well by 

reforming the Service, 

putting new structures on 

ground to enhance efficiency 

in the system. With such 

reforms, the Service went 

through various 

modernisation processes and 

today other countries in the 

entire West African subregion 

see NCS as a role 

model. For example, we 

moved our operations from 

analogue to digital and to e- 

transactions where a lot of 

activities are done online. 

Online transactions have 

greatly reduced the aspect of 

bottlenecks in cargo clearing 

procedures, thereby reducing 

the contact between clearing 

agents and officers. Now, the 

image of NCS has improved 

so much, even the former 

government did a lot on 

building a good image for the 

Service. Today, we are a force 

to reckon with in the society. 

Ali does not tolerate illegality 

of any form. 

C

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 PAGE 7 

Lagos Series (1) 

LAGOS SHANTIES OF GOLD AND RUST 

The oil vandals' fortress, the hemp 

dealers' nest and the prophets' haven 

BY BOSE ADELAJA 

From time 

immemorial, 

some people see 

Lagos as no 

man’s land, 

reason being that people 

from all walks of life settle 

there. 

Geographically, nature 

has endowed Lagos to be 

an Island as it is 

surrounded by water. Ships 

from across the world berth 

at Lagos ports and this 

enhances commercial 

activities. The former 

federal capital has porous 

borders with some West 

African countries. 

Talking about the nature 

of Lagos, some Nigerians, 

from riverine areas, saw it 

as an advantage to settle 

along the creeks. The 

people, mainly Ijaw and 

Ilaje, carry out fishing 

business while some are 

there for illicit activities 

like theft, pipeline 

vandalisation, kidnapping 

and robbery. 

Over time, these sellers 

began to erect structures 

along the bank of the 

creeks which are mainly 

shanties. 

These shanties sprang up 

in the creeks of Majidun, 

Ajegunle, Isawo in Ikorodu, 

Agilinti, Makoko, Bariga, 

Agboyi, Somolu, Badore, 

Ikota and Awoyaya. Later, 

the development extended 

to some other parts of 

Lagos that are not only 

riverine but also slums and 

swampy. The areas include 

Festac, Ijeshatedo, Aguda, 

Ajeromi\Ifelodun, Lagos 

West, Igando, Badagry, 

Ebutemeta, Iworo-Ajido, 

Epe, Mende, Anthony, 

Mafoluku, Olusosun, 

Mushin, Itire, Ilasa, Aguda, 

Okokomaiko, Lusada, 

Ajangbadi, Osapa London, 

Ijeh and Agege. 

Due to the economic 

situation in the country, 

some low income earners 

and artisans also migrated 

While some of the 

residents are there 

to earn a living, 

many engage in 

illicit businesses 

like 419, hard 

drug,bunkering, 

robbery, 

kidnappings and 

hired assassination 

to some of these places as 

cost of accommodation in the 

metropolis rose. Meanwhile, 

some others due to the 

nature of their, business, 

have chosen to reside in 

such areas to enable them 

perpetrate illicit activities. 

One peculiar thing about 

shanties in Lagos is that 

the areas are stuffy, filthy, 

swampy and densely 

populated. They lack toilet 

facilities. Electric cables 

litter everywhere. But the 

irony is that residents 

enjoy electricity services 

better than many organized 

areas. 

In terms of religion, white 

garment churches and 

traditional religion 

structures and few mosques 

are common sight. 

Amongst occupants of the 

shanties are traditional 

healers who attend to bone 

fractures, local antenatal 

and midwifery, personnel 

commercial motorcycle 

operators and street 

hawkers. 

While some of the 

residents are there to earn a 

living, many engage in 

illicit businesses like 419, 

hard drug,bunkering, 

robbery, kidnappings and 

hired assassination. 

At the mention of the word, 

‘’shanties’’, what comes to 

the mind of many people is 

that the settlements are 

meant for criminals but 

investigation into the 

system established that they 

are inhabited by the good, 

the bad and the ugly as you 

have also there artisans, 

labourers, traders and some 

who were displaced by 

nature. 

In the course of Sunday 

Vanguard’s visit, it was 

observed that some 

residents of the areas live 

there in order to shield 

their illicit business dealings 

while some others are 

compelled by nature. An 

example is a patent 

medicine trader, Mr John 

Okeke, from Anambra State, 

who occupies a make-shift 

structure divided into a 

room and shop. He pays 

N170,000 per annum as 

rent. He said he had been 

arrested several times when 

he was living at Onike\Yaba 

and some of his goods 

Continues on page 8

PAGE 8—SUNDAY VANGUARD, September 11, 2016 

Lagos Series (1) 

Continued from page 8 

seized by law enforcement 

agents. For survival and 

avoidance of disturbance, he 

relocated to his present 

abode in Okoya\ Ajegunle. 

Another occupant, Biggy, 

who hails from Ilaje and 

deals in Indian hemp, said 

he is more comfortable living 

in the environment. He said, 

‘’I am comfortable here much 

more than any part of the 

world,’’. A peep into his oneroom 

apartment at Amukoko 

revealed that the furniture 

and electronics could be 

estimated at over N2m. He 

has aides on his payroll. 

Posing as a street hawker to 

conceal her identity, Sunday 

Vanguard reporter asked the 

Indian hemp baron how 

much he pays his aides and 

he boasted: “How much is 

the minimum wage in 

Nigeria? I can pay the salary 

of about 20 civil servants 

monthly. I have built houses 

in my home town Ondo State 

and married four wives in 

different parts of Lagos. I am 

mobile, so, not everyone that 

lives here is poor’’. 

Biggy bragingly offered the 

reporter a bottle of iced wine 

which she politely rejected. 

At Oko Baba in Ebute 

Metta, which has its literal 

meaning as ''Father's 

settlement'', the shanty is 

dominated by Ijaw and Ilaje 

who are fishermen and 

timber dealers. 

Initially, the place was 

swampy before it was 

transformed; with sawdust 

used to fill the waterlogged 

area, land was reclaimed. 

Today, it accommodates 

people from all walks of life 

such that the name of the 

shanty rings bell in Lagos 

State. 

The system operated there 

varies; in some areas, rent is 

paid daily, weekly or 

monthly while in some areas, 

it is paid quarterly or 

annually depending on the 

location. The amount paid as 

rent ranges from N100 to 

N250, N700 and N10,000. 

At Otumara, Lagos West, a 

mother of two, Taiwo 

Abegunde, said she 

relocated to the area about 

three years ago due to 

cultism and robbery attacks 

at Fadeyi\Onipanu. She said, 

‘’I used to own a big beer 

palour at Fadeyi until I lost 

my husband to cult attack. 

One of my customers brought 

me here to start life afresh 

after I was asked to quit by 

my landlord for inability to 

pay rent,’’ 

During a visit to Ajah, as 

the Sunday Vanguard 

reporter had a chat with 

some petty traders, suddenly 

a young man passed by and 

the smell of Indian hemp 

filled the air. The young man 

faced the reporter and said: 

“Ha, se e o mind? Oun ti a 

wa fi n se alejo niyi o, (hope 

you don’t mind, this is what 

we use to entertain our 

visitors). Another resident, 

simply identified as Abbey 

Isaga, said he relocated to 

the place due to high rent in 

Lagos metropolise ‘’I 

relocated here when life 

became unbearable in town, 

Gold and rust inside Lagos shanties 

•Different faces of Lagos shanties 

A peep into his 

one-room 

apartment at 

Amukoko 

revealed that the 

furniture and 

electronics 

could be 

estimated at 

over N2m 

my goods were seized twice 

at Idi-Iroko and life became 

so tough’’. 

At Majidun, Ikorodu, a 

traditional physiotherapist, 

Rire Emmanuel, said he 

grew into the business 

started by his 

parents. Sunday 

Vanguard met with some of 

his patients who confirmed 

his competency. One of 

them, a vehicle accident 

victim, Johnson Ajayi, said 

he had been an in-patient 

with him for the past six 

months. He said, ‘’I am 

recuperating seriously, my 

leg would have been amputated 

if not for this man, the charges 

are reasonable compared to 

the orthopedic hospitals in 

Lagos.’’ 

At Agilinti in Agboyi-Ketu 

area, a traditional gynecologist, 

Madam Priye Esther was seen 

attending to ante-natal issues 

and some of the patients said 

that was where they were 

delievered of their babies at 

low charges, stress and less 

risk. One of them Saidat 

Opaleye said this was her 

fourth delivery. She said, ‘’I 

have been delivered of four 

children in this place; it is 

cheaper, safe and no waste 

of time. All they need is 

government support for 

traditional medicine. They 

are doing well; afterall, they 

have been in existence 

before the advent of general 

medicine.’’ 

In the course of this 

reporter’s visit to 

Makoko, a church founder, 

simply identified as prophet 

Moses, said he preferred to run 

his church in the riverine area 

than upland. He said, ‘’Prayers 

are quickly answered in the 

riverine than any other 

place’’. 

NEXT WEEK: 

WE WILL TAKE YOU 

INTO THE NEW LAGOS 

OF GOV. AMBODE AND 

HIS DEVELOPMENTAL 

STRIDES AND WHY HE 

INSISTS HE CAN 

TRANSFORM THE 

SHANTIES.


ABUJA A LAND GRAB: 

Army battles 

ex - heads of state, 

nearly 400 others 

•How soldiers s seized Jonathan 

- linked multi-billion naira firm 

•Official quarter 

ers s of Senate 

President, Reps’ Speaker 

er, 

others s affect 

ected 

ed 

•FCDA authorities in dilemma 

Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor 

A 

development 

that may 

rock the relationship 

between the Nigerian 

Army and the Federal Capital 

Development Administration, 

FCDA, is building up and may 

crystallise into a show of force or 

legal tussle. 

The spat is masterminded by 

the Nigerian Army which, on 

Saturday, September 3, 2016, 

sealed off the road leading to the 

230 hectares of land known as 

the Maitama Extension District 

and drove out the workers of a 

company, Kakatar Civil 

Engineering Limited, providing 

engineering infrastructure for the 

district. The army says the land 

belongs to it. It did not, however, 

show any document to buttress 

its claim of ownership but has 

deployed soldiers to the site. By 

that action, the company’s 

working tools, like asphaltproducing 

plants, rock crushers, 

state-of-the-art fabrication 

workshop and earth moving 

equipment like bulldozers and 

excavators, as well as trucks, are 

trapped: they can neither be 

maintained nor repaired while 

those to be moved out for 

external jobs in locations like 

Karishi and Kyami, where the 

company is also working for the 

FCDA, have been barred from 

leaving the premises. 

It is not as if the new 

Minister of the Federal Capital 

Territory, Alhaji Mohammed 

Bello, has stoked any fire since 

his appointment by President 

Muhammadu Buhari last year, it 

is the military high command 

that is taking the fight to his 

doorsteps, claiming that its vast 

land in the area has been 

encroached on by the firm being 

run by a civil rights lawyer, 

Azibaola Roberts, a cousin of 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan. 

In fact, the rumour mill has 

been awash with stories that the 

entire Maitama Extension, a new 

district stretching over 230 

hectares of land with over 400 

plots allocated to Nigerians and 

duly captured in the Abuja 

master plan, is owned by 

Jonathan and is merely being 

managed by Kakatar. 

To worsen matters for the 

company and the FCDA, the 

•Private property already completed on the seized land 

massive parcel of land, 

overlooking the Katampe, Mpape, 

Guzape hills, shares borders with 

the Lungi Barracks of the Nigerian 

Army, making it possible for 

soldiers to hitherta provide 

security for the Kakatar premises. 

As a rule, no visitor could access 

the vast Kakatar premises, which 

hosts its construction facilities, 

without being cleared by armed 

soldiers, who manned the gates. 

The relationship between the 

company and the army had been 

very cordial until that morning 

when soldiers, claiming to ‘be 

acting on instruction from above’, 

changed their attitude and 

decided to act as an ‘enemy’ to 

Kakatar and its workers. 

“We are on order from the Chief 

of the Army Staff to take over this 

place and not to allow anyone in or 

out of the premises,” a soldier, 

mounting sentry at the first gate, 

warned a journalist, who 

attempted to penetrate the 

compound. 

“It was one of our generals, who 

led the team of soldiers to take 

over this place, last night, but we 

do not know the reason for our 

being here,” the soldier said, 

It was one of our 

generals, who led the 

team of soldiers to 

take over this place 

last night, but we do 

not know the reason 

for our being here,” 

the soldier said, 

refusing to disclose 

his name 

refusing to disclose his name. 

‘No to Jonathan District’ 

The point remains that as of 

the time of the invasion, there 

has been no claim by Kakartar 

that the said land belongs to it. 

Findings show that even when a 

former FCT Minister renamed 

*Deputy Senate 

President’s official 

residence under 

construction on the 

disputed land 

the district after Jonathan, the 

former President swiftly rejected 

the ‘Jonathan District’ appellation 

and ordered the said minister to 

revert to the popularly known 

‘Maitama Extension’. A scrutiny 

of the list of the owners of the 

allocation shows that the former 

President was not even allocated 

any plot in the said district by the 

FCDA, which, however, 

generously gave vast parcels of 

land to former heads of state, 

serving and former top military 

officials, top former ruling party 

leaders and some powerful and 

influential traditional and 

religious leaders in the country. 

In short, the Maitama Extension 

was carefully planned as 

highbrow residency for the 

mighty and powerful in the 

doorsteps of the military barracks 

for added security. Perhaps, that 

explains why it was tucked on the 

fringes of the Lungi Barracks, 

near the powerful Brigades of 

Guards Headquarters of the 

Nigerian Army between Asokoro 

Continues on page 10


How soldiers seized Jonathan 

- linked multi billion naira firm 

•Goodluck Jonathan 


and Maitama Districts. 

And, as an unwritten but 

operational rule, in every 

district where FCDA awards 

contract for the development 

of infrastructure, it is 

customary for the contractor to 

be provided with a temporary 

space for building of its site 

offices. The FCDA also 

maintains an oversight 

function offices in the yard to 

provide supervision for the 

contractor in the execution of 

the contract. It is, perhaps, for 

that reason, that Kakatar was 

provided with an area to use 

as its temporary site yard to 

execute the contract awarded 

to it by then Minister of FCT, 

Senator Bala Mohammed in 

2011. The district was 

actually designated as such 

by Senator Adamu Aliero, the 

Minister of the FCT under 

Yar’ Adua government in 

2008 alongside Katampe and 

Katampe Extension. Virtually 

all the plots were alloted by 

that regime to various 

allottees. It was eventually 

awarded to Kakatar for the 

development of the 

infrastructure and made 

history as the first Abuja 

district’s infrastructural 

development project in the 

history of the FCT to be 

awarded to a wholly Nigerian 

construction and engineering 

firm and the company never 

shied away from its 

responsibility. 

Under the project, Kakatar 

is to construct a total of 23 

kilometres of road of various 

types, one major bridge to 

link the various communities, 

provide 26.4 kilometres 

length of storm water line of 

various sizes, 31.8 kilometres 

length of four sewer line of various 

sizes; 38.7 kilometres length of water 

supply lines with relevant accessories 

and a booster pump station and 

1000m3 of clean water reservoir. 

In addition, the company is expected 

to construct a network of electricity 

distribution and telecommunication 

ducts with a 33 KV/11KV injection 

substation and 11/0.415KV transformer 

as well as underground cables for 

distribution and plot connections. 

Fate of allotees 

Apparently to prove that it is capable 

of doing what a foreign firm can do, the 

company has gone far in the provision 

of relevant infrastructure under the 

terms of the contract. This is clearly 

evident in the FCDA budget which has 

earmarked N2.5 billion for the 

settlement of outstanding liabilities to 

Kakatar and the continuation of work 

on the Maitama Extension project in its 

2016 project approved by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. Interestingly, all 

the workers of Kakatar are Nigerians 

and they have taken steps to deliver 

quality job. At completion, the 

Maitama Extension District is expected 

to be an improved version of the 

present day Maitama District, Abuja. 

But like a thunder from the blues, the 

Nigerian Army dealt a deadly blow to 

the smooth working operations of the 

company and does not appear to be in 

a hurry to lift its siege on the land. A 

few days after seizing the premises, the 

Nigerian Army came out to justify its 

action, saying the land was its own and 

that it took it back to prevent further 

encroachment. 

The Acting Director of Army Public 

Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said: “The 

said property is on Nigerian Army land 

and the army will not allow anybody to 

encroach on its land. Consequently, 

the property has to be sealed to prevent 

further encroachment,” Usman said. 

But the takeover of the company’s 

premises and the denial of access to its 

workers has thrown up many questions 

The beleagued plot owners 

expect the minister or his 

representatives to speak 

on the status of their plots 

but he has not been 

forthcoming 

than answers because of the over 400 

plots of land allocated to top Nigerians 

in the same premises. Although top 

management staff of the company went 

to the Army Headquarters last Monday 

to find out why the army descended on 

its site office, they were not given any 

concrete answer. 

The authorities did not also say what 

has become the fate of the top 

Nigerians who own the plots and 

whether they had also seized the plots 

as part of its property along with the 

Kakatar site which is believed to run 

into billions of Naira. 

There has been no other 

communication with the company ever 

since. 

However, the implication appears to 

be that with the army takeover of the 

Maitama Extension land and its 

unwillingness to allow the construction 

company’s workers access to Kakatar 

site, the owners of the over 400 plots 

have also forfeited them to the army, 

leaving the FCDA, which issued them 

the plots with certificates of occupancy, 

in a dilemma. 

While the FCDA may not be able to 

physically slug it out with the army, it 

is likely to be battered by those 

allocated the seized plots. In fact, given 

the status of the plot owners, it is to be 

expected that legal and physical forces 

could be applied on the 

FCDA by the allotees. It was 

learnt that the plot owners 

were boiling for legal action 

against the Nigerian Army 

and the FCDA over the 

forceful takeover of the 

property duly paid for. 

The beleagued plot owners 

expect the minister or his 

representatives to speak on 

the status of their plots but he 

has not been forthcoming 

allegedly because he is as 

puzzled as Kakatar by the 

action of the military. 

The seizure of the land by 

the army also raises the fear 

that the construction of the 

official quarters of the Senate 

President, his deputy, the 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives and other 

principal officers of the 

National Assembly, at various 

stages of completion, may be 

stalled. 

In fact, most of the official 

quarters of the senior 

government officials are at 

the level of being completed 

while the provision of 

infrastructure by the company 

has also reached advanced 

stage. But many privatelyowned 

property are already 

completed and ready for 

occupation. The major bridge 

linking all the facilities and 

segments in the district has 

been completed along with 

many roads, water, sewage 

ducts and electricity lines. 

Kakatar has expressed 

surprise at the action of the 

Nigerian Army, saying it had 

not breached any known law 

to warrant the action by the 

soldiers. 

Spokesman for the 

company, Mr. Austin 

Ekeinde, said in a statement 

that the action of the Nigerian 

Army had caused the firm 

daily losses estimated at 

hundreds of millions of Naira 

and caused untold hardship 

for thousands of families 

whose workers in Kakatar are 

now being forced to stay 

home. 

“It is instructive to note at 

no time did the company 

suggest or claim that the land 

upon which it was using as a 

site to coordinate the project 

belongs to Kakatar. Never!”, 

Ekeinde said. 

“All that we have been 

doing is to speedily complete 

the contract in accordance 

with the terms given by the 

FCDA and pull out our multimillion 

equipment so that the 

plot owners can move into 

their property and live 

happily. 

“And as a proof of our 

sincerity of purpose, and 

good neighborliness, no 

notice of any security breach 

or infraction has ever been 

sent to us by the Nigerian 

Army. “Nigerians should also 

note that no enquiry as to our 

presence or intention to 

recover any land was ever 

sent to us before the costly 

invasion locking in our 

equipment and driving away 

thousands of Nigerians 

working with us.” 

Apparently angered by the 

development, human rights 

lawyer, Femi Falana, 

slammed the Nigerian Army, 

describing the forceful 

takeover of the company’s 

premises as dictatorial and 

unwarranted in a decent 

democratic setting.


How security alert 

stopped Edo gov. poll 

By Simon Ebegbulem & 

Gabriel Enogholase, Benin-City 

You could see through the 

tension in Edo State last 

Thursday when the 

major combating political 

parties waited anxiously to hear 

the final announcement from 

the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, 

on whether the governorship 

election, scheduled for 

yesterday, could hold. The 

tension was quite high, 

particularly when supporters 

and leaders of the parties had 

concluded arrangements to 

move to their various 

constituencies for the election. 

They were all waiting to be 

mobilised for logistics for the 

election before leaving Benin, 

the state capital. The 

enthusiasm was manifest as 

APC leaders who thronged the 

residence of the Director 

General of the Obaseki 

Campaign Organisation, 

Osarodion Ogie, appeared 

battle ready, but waited for 

instructions. At the campaign 

headquarters of Osagie Ize 

Iyamu, the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, candidate, the scene 

was not different. The anxiety 

was obvious, palpable and 

sticky. 

Governor Adams Oshiomhole 

of Edo State had earlier 

informed all his political foot 

soldiers to assemble at 

Government House where they 

will take the final instructions 

before moving to their wards. 

As a matter of fact, the 

governor was attending to the 

leadership of the Nigeria Union of 

Journalists (NUJ), led by its 

President, Waheed Odusile, who paid 

him a courtesy visit, when the APC 

candidate, Godwin Obaseki bumped 

in, to announce to the governor, that 

INEC had just announced that the 

election will go on as scheduled. 

The governor hurriedly went into a 

close door meeting with his party 

leaders and was commanding his 

foot soldiers to move to their 

villages immediately. Obaseki’s 

running mate, Philip Shuaibu, was 

already at his village in Jattu, 

mobilising his people. 

He, however, put a call across 

to Obaseki in Benin, informing 

him of the heavy presence of 

militants in Okpella and riverine 

communities in Etsako Central 

and Agenebode, explaining that 

APC supporters had been 

advised not to engage them, 

adding that the police had 

already been informed. 

For PDP members were jubilant 

that the election will go on as 

announced by INEC. 

While APC leaders were on 

their way to their various 

communities, they got a call to 

return to base, after INEC, curiously, 

announced the postponement of the 

election about few minutes to seven, 

in the evening. You could see the 

disappointment on the faces of 

virtually all the supporters. 

The PDP celebration was cut short, 

as the state chairman of the party, 

Dan Orbih, who had earlier hailed 

the new INEC Chairman for his 

earlier decision, rejigged and rained 

abuses on INEC. 

However, after INEC’s subsequent 

However, this issue of alleged plot to 

perpetrate violence in the forthcoming 

governorship election had been on since 

President Muhammadu Buhari defeated 

former President Goodluck Jonathan. Ex 

militants and some Ijaws from Bayelsa 

and Delta states vowed to deal with 

Oshiomhole in the forthcoming 

governorship election due to what they 

described as his dogged opposition 

towards the re-election of Jonathan in the 

South South. 

Sunday Vanguard gathered that one of 

the PDP governors in the South South 

was mandated to lead the onslaught 

against Oshiomhole for going against 

Jonathan. The Edo State governor 

specifically fingered Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State and Governor 

postponement of the election to 28 Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. 

September, 2016, Governor 

But in a swift reaction, the Rivers State 

Oshiomhole faulted the date, saying Commissioner for Information and 

that it would not be fair to disrupt the Communications, Dr. Austin Tamtraditional 

rites which will follow George, charged back that Governor 

before and after the coronation Nyesom Wike and his Delta State 

ceremony of the Oba of Benin, 

counterpart, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, did not 

scheduled to take place on the 26 of mobilise to rig the Edo State 

September. The governor stressed the governorship election. 

fact that the kingdom will be 

Tam-George, in a statement, made it 

involved in traditional activities clear that claims by Governor Adams 

prior to the coronation, frowning that Oshiomhole that the two governors 

the election might distract 

donated N2 billion to rig the election in 

attention. Speaking also, 

favour of the PDP was false. 

Political Adviser to the governor, The commissioner said Wike never 

Charles Idahosa, asserted that made such financial donation. 

“INEC should have consulted “Governor Wike has no links with 

before announcing a new date but militants in the region or anywhere else 

I can tell you any day any time in the country,” he said. 

we are ready. We learnt PDP is Continuing, Tam-George said the 

complaining that we asked for governor gave moral support to the PDP 

postponement; how can we do candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to 

that; we know we were going to win the election. 

roast them. I have been in the He stated that Wike would continue 

village until I was asked to come to give moral support to democratic 

down to Benin due to the new forces, not just in the region, but 

development. Who are the leaders across the country, with a view to 

that will deliver them in various bringing better life to Nigerians. 

wards or local governments? The The commissioner said the governor 

truth is that they were relying on enjoined Edo people to vote for the 

violence so that election will be PDP in the election. 

cancelled because they imported But most of the ex-militant leaders 

thugs. But as the party in power in the Niger Delta had been waiting 

we cannot be mad and desperate patiently to work for the PDP in Edo 

like them, so we kept our cool. They State. The aim was to embarrass 

want to kill, but we don’t want to kill, Oshiomhole and frustrate his move to 

because we love our people. Ize- install a successor in the state. They 

Iyamu is desperate and I think he have their reason: Edo is the only 

should be careful. They should South South State that is ruled by the 

know they have no monopoly of APC and the state would be a good 

violence. I am just warning them to trophy for the outgone federal ruling 

know that they have just one head party. Therefore, all hands need to be on 

like others, I am saying this because deck. 

we know them in PDP, we were there 

before so all they are planning we 

know. But they should be careful”. Continues on page 12


PDP governors imported thugs to 

cause violence in Edo — Oshiomhole 


Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in a 

chat with journalists, warned 

Governors Nyesom Wike and 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Rivers and Delta States 

respectively, to stay off Edo State politics. 

He warned that the people of Edo will hold 

them responsible for any bloodshed in 

connection with the governorship election 

in the state. Excerpts: 

How do you react to the 

postponement of the election? 

I am not happy. I am not happy 

because the new date will clash with the 

coronation of our Oba and that is very 

dear to us. I believe INEC should have 

consulted since it decided to shift the date 

for the election. I have read comments 

made by some observers and it was, for 

me, very embarrassing. Let me tell you, 

party members becoming election 

observers these days are complicating 

issues for us as a nation. I think as 

observers it will be nice to identify 

politicians who are likely to join and hide 

under the cover of election monitors to do 

things that might discredit those 

legitimate and credible election 

monitors. After the police and the DSS 

announced that there were security risks 

if the election goes on, surprisingly, I 

could see a lot of mischief already. Some 

people wanting to suggest that APC is 

responsible for the postponement. If you 

allow me, let me be very clear. If you 

wake me up at midnight and say, ‘are 

you ready for election at 1 a.m. and 

you provide flood light, we will defeat 

PDP any day any time. Infact I was 

shocked about the postponement because 

everything was ready for the final 

political funeral of the PDP. 

But the APC organised a mega-rally 

just two days ago and...? 

Yes, we organised a rally which we 

called our final rally last Tuesday. If we 

had any idea that elections might be 

postponed for any reason, we would have 

delayed our mega rally as well because 

the idea of the mega rally was to 

conclude our rallies and go into technical 

issues that elections entail. And for any 

objective observer who is dealing with 

facts that are sacred, there were two 

rallies that day and both rallies were 

attended by most senior executives on the 

platform of the two main parties. In the 

case of my party, we were able for the first 

time to play host to the President and 

several state governors who were elected 

on the platform of the APC. That same 

day, PDP also organised a rally, because 

they did not have the supporters to fill 

even the lawn tennis court of the stadium, 

they used a small hall to host a rally that 

was addressed by virtually all the South 

South PDP governors. When you 

compare that in door rally of PDP in a 

small hall - we did not even call our own 

a mega rally, but the media described it 

that way because of the mammoth crowd 

- you would know the difference. If you 

have such a commanding performance 

in relation to the mushroom rally of the 

PDP, what can be more intimidating. 

Apart from the rally, how truly ready 

was your party for the election? 

We were ready and even now I am very 

ready. I cannot wait to have the final 

burial of PDP and their god fathers. And 

like I said, they did so well in 

misapplying the army and the police here 

before. but we still defeated them. The 

last election conducted in this state was 

the House of Assembly election under the 

PDP federal government; in that election 

we won in 16 Local Government Areas 

out of 18. Between then and now, even in 

Uromi, at least three major PDP leaders 

have decamped to APC. Thousands of 

PDP members have decamped to APC. In 

Edo South, the Edo South leader of PDP, 

Samson Esemuede decamped to APC. 

Last week here, the leader of the party in 

•Gov Oshiomhole 

Oredo, Evbuowan decamped to APC. 

Their woman leader decamped, all 

the ward leaders in Ikpoba Okhai 

three weeks ago decamped along 

with over five thousand members. In 

Etsako, Shagadi decamped along 

with hundreds of their supporters in 

SDP. 

But you have been making what 

some people have described as wild 

allegations against fellow 

governors - Okowa and Wike. 

Again, even though people run their 

mouth that the police are doing our 

bidding, they are not. I have shared 

my frustrations a couple of times; I 

raised alarm about reports through 

our network. I have had cause to raise 

alarm about the decision of South 

South Governors, Okowa and Wike 

to make Edo ungovernable during the 

THE Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) in Edo State is used to 

verbal attacks from Governor 

Adams Oshiomhole. Since the governor 

dethroned the former ruling party in 

2012, committed leaders of the PDP in 

the state have been defending themselves 

from allegations bordering on 

corruption, violence, electoral fraud 

amongst others. 

The latest allegation from the 

governor that the party had mobilized 

about 8,000 militants from some states 

in the Niger Delta area to vote in Edo 

and perpetrate violence during the 

rescheduled governorship election slated 

for September 28, however, took the 

party by surprise. 

In a reaction, Edo State Chairman of 

the PDP, Dan Orbih, described the 

allegation as baseless, adding that 

Oshiomhole has once again shown that 

he has the penchant for making 

unsubstantiated allegations. 

He said, “I find it disgusting that the 

governor could indict security agencies 

in the manner he has just done. I mean it 

is serious indictment on the security 

agencies to say that 8000 militants could 

quietly walk into Edo from Port 

Harcourt and Delta State without being 

detected. 

“I see this allegation as a pointer to the 

fact that the governor is an incurable 

liar. He has gone further to accuse 

governors of Rivers and Delta states of 

providing N2 billion donation. He is 

talking as if he is talking to a gathering 

of illiterates. 

“N2 billion is not N2 million nor N20, 

000. Nobody can carry N2 billion in a 

briefcase. The only way to do that is 

election and perpetrate violence by 

exporting militants from some of the 

South South states, may be with the 

exception of Cross River. As we speak, 

both governors have raised N2billion 

to give to Ize-Iyamu at a time when 

they could not pay salaries in their 

states. They mobilized militants to 

Edo to register, preparatory to using 

them for violence in this election. 

And the governors that came to Edo 

to raise N2billion for PDP, they have 

not paid salaries like in Delta State. 

In Rivers they don’t pay salaries, in 

Akwa Ibom as rich as they are they 

are yet to pay salaries. 

But as most commentators now say, 

once we launched one man one vote, 

we eliminated violence in our 

elections here. In my election in 2012 

PDP killed more than three people at 

Oba Primary School and brutalised 

hundreds of others in 2007. But there 

after we have ensured free and fair 

elections in Edo State - one man one 

vote. And when I raised that alarm, 

as we expected, those who are behind 

crime, you don’t expect them to easily 

confess. But we asked our people to 

be on the watch out, during the 

continuous voter registration 

exercise, hundreds of them actually 

came into town and to my shock 

INEC registered them. But at least 

we were able to apprehend 13 and we 

handed them over to the police. 

During the same period in Etsako 

Central, the Local Government 

where Dan Orbih comes from, they 

carried data capturing machines and 

turned private residences to 

registration centres. We did not take 

the law into our hands, we reported 

We have no thugs to 

deploy — Okowa 

through electronic transfer. As far as I 

know, our accounts are there for 

everyone to see. We have not received 

any contribution of even N2 million 

from any governor. 

“I challenge him to show evidence of 

his claims because each time I accuse 

him of fraud, I always come out with 

government vouchers signed by him to 

substantiate whatever I said.” 

Also reacting, Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa of Delta State described as 

alarmist the allegation credited to the 

Edo governor. 

Okowa, in a statement by his 

Commissioner for Information, Mr. 

Patrick Ukah, said Oshiomhole’s 

allegation is not only reckless but also 

childish and unfounded as the Delta 

governor does not own or sponsor 

militants or thugs. 

He said: “We reject this accusation as 

alarmist in conception, reckless in 

delivery, puerile in content and false in 

facts, and so fit only for kindergarten’s 

tales by moonlight”. 

The governor recalled a similar 

development in 2012, “when 

Oshiomhole surprised the whole nation 

by raising an alarm on election day 

against the umpire, the Independent 

National Electoral Commission 

(INEC) that it was about to rig the 

election in favour of the opposition”, 

adding: “It turned out to be hoax as he 

won his re-election bid. He was to later 

childishly explain his gaffe as just being 

proactive. 

“Ordinarily, we are weary of joining 

issues with, not just a next door neighbor 

governor, but also of a state which 

together with Delta, has shared such a 

to the police. The guy whose house was 

being used was arrested. We insisted 

that the police charge them to court 

and after they did that they were 

granted bail. And all these are PDP 

players. In the course of distributing 

the PVCs last week at Igueben, some 

PDP thugs came to forcefully hijack 

PVCs from the officer that was 

distributing them at a school in 

Igueben and he ran into the residence 

of a PDP leader. Those PVC cards were 

recovered by the DSS. I have asked 

them why they are not publishing it 

and those involved. Why will anybody 

snatch PVC since it is one man one 

vote. I am speaking to find not. You 

know before you arraign ten thieves, 

hundreds would have escaped. So we 

are talking about confirmed cases 

now. As we speak many militants 

have been imported into Edo State 

and the security agents are aware of 

this. They imported them before 

registration and they have been 

bringing more; they brought arms into 

the state and we have been sharing these 

information with security agencies. I 

want to tell Nigerians that I am not 

just one other governor, we are 

different, we invested in the struggle 

for democracy. We are not 

opportunists who were embedded in 

the military and today they are the 

firstliners in benefiting from the free 

space provided by our liberal 

democratic environment. So having 

made such investment, we are not 

going to join people who have no 

electoral value to do things that will 

make elections impossible. For us we 

are ready for the election but we know 

that PDP has perfected plans to 

unleash violence. If you watch 

their public pronouncements, it is 

all very indicative of their plans to 

frustrate this election. The PDP 

candidate has persistently talked 

about the possibility of 

inconclusive election and an election 

can be inconclusive if there is extensive 

violence which will make it impossible 

for our people to come out. 

•Gov 

Okowa 

long and enviable social, political and 

economic history from the old days Mid- 

West Region to that of the now defunct 

Bendel State. Oshiomhole is known for 

making wide, unsubstantiated and 

curious allegations and this is something 

of a trademark peculiar to him. If a man 

is gifted with the power of oratory, he 

must be careful to avoid a descent into 

suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth. 

“It beats one hollow that Oshiomhole 

would, in his wide imagination, come up 

with such a curious allegation that a state 

in this country will just dole out one 

billion Naira in cash and to imagine the 

other logistics of embarking on 

‘exporting militants’ to another state. 

“Much as Governor Okowa, as a 

faithful party member, will support the 

candidate of the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP), he certainly has better things 

to channel One Billion Naira into. And 

just for the record, Governor Okowa does 

not owe salaries. We wish to warn that the 

good people of Edo and Delta have come 

a very long way. Oshiomhole should not 

in the name of politics sow a seed of 

discord, suspicion and bitterness in their 

minds before leaving office. 

“He now has 18 more days to work for 

his candidate and party, we advise he 

faces it squarely and stop this impolitic of 

mudslinging and campaign of calumny”

C 

M 

Y 

K 

SUNDAY Vanguard, SETPEMBER 11, 2016, PAGE 13


healthyliving 

Deaths in 

the theatre 

•‘Clinical Governance’ to 

the rescue – Dr. Ukpaka 

•Ukpaka 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

In mid 1980s, Miss Azuka (surname 

withheld), as she then was, was 

diagnosed of appendicitis by an 

Owerri based medical doctor. The girl’s 

father quickly consented to her going in for 

surgery. 

The medical procedure was ordinarily 

said to be a “huge success”, but there was a 

minus. A cotton swab was left in the young 

girl’s belly! 

Following this avoidable mistake, the 

wound refused to heal. She remained in 

the private medical outfit while hospital 

bills kept increasing. 

Every member of Azuka’s immediate 

family became curious. This situation 

eventually attracted the attention of 

Azuka’s elder sister, who was a senior 

nursing officer at University of Benin 

Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Benin. 

Azuka was moved out of the private 

hospital against what the officials called 

“against medical advice” and taken to 

UBTH where her condition was reviewed. 

A thorough medical examination and tests 

revealed that a cotton swab was left in her 

belly! She was immediately wheeled into 

the theatre and corrective surgery carried 

out to remove the foreign body. 

Similarly, this writer experienced 

intermittent heart burn in the mid 70s. He 

consulted a doctor (name withheld) at the 

then General Hospital, Owerri (now 

Federal Medical Centre). His diagnosis 

was “functional neurosis”! 

The doctor then went on to prescribe 

three different types of sedatives for his 

patient, and directed how the drugs should 

be taken. The drugs were consumed 

religiously but the heart burn remained, 

while the patient almost slept to death. 

The timely intervention of a seasoned 

pharmacist, Chief Conleth Anokwu, who 

was then serving in the Specialist Hospital, 

Enugu (now the University of Nigeria 

Teaching Hospital, Enugu), saved the 

patient from imminent death! What saved 

him was Vitamin B Complex. The two 

instances above represent the lucky ones. 

Medical practice is one area of study that 

does not have second chance. There are 

many other near death tales told by 

patients and/or their relations. Whereas 

some are lucky to tell the stories 

themselves, the not so lucky ones die or 

suffer permanent disability. 

When confronted with these tales, a 

United Kingdom based Family Health 

Consultant, Dr. Chukwudi Ukpaka, not 

only said that “such negligence is wrong”, 

but equally pushed for “ Clinical 

Governance”, a body to support health 

professionals and protect patients. 

While expressing the belief that “bad 

leadership and weak health system are 

some of Nigeria’s biggest challenges”, 

Ukpaka however explained: “Clinical 

Governance is a government initiative 

and has about 12 pillars wherein health 

professionals are encouraged to do the 

right thing in taking care of their patients 

and are disciplined for their negligence to 

avoid deaths and health risks on patients 

“. 

Ukpaka recalled that the Minister of 

Health, Professor Isaac Folorunso 

Adewole, on Thursday, July 19, 2016, 

chaired the Clinical Governance Summit 

in Abuja, where the vision was shared with 

heads of health institutions across the 

nation, in order to avoid more deaths. 

It was his opinion that from the way 

some medical doctors make mistakes, it is 

as though patients pay doctors for them to 

be killed via wrong diagnosis, injection, 

among other mistakes, during treatment, 

saying, “All that will soon stop and be 

corrected “. 

KIDNEY FAILURE 

Ukpaka expressed regret that many 

people do not truly appreciate the damage 

they cause to their well-being by using 

bleaching cream. 

According to him, the use of bleaching 

creams is largely responsible for kidney 

failures in Nigeria. 

“Bleaching creams contain mercury and 

other heavy metals that enter the body 

through the blood, travels to the kidney 

and go out through urine. After a period of 

time, the mercury and heavy metals 

accumulate and break down the kidney. A 

lot of people, who require dialysis today 

inadvertently, caused their problems by 

their use of bleaching creams”, he said. 

The medical consultant regretted that 

about 20 million Nigerians cannot afford 

to pay for dialysis but prefer to use 

bleaching creams because they want to 

appear more beautiful or possibly look 

like Europeans and, in the end, cause 

themselves pain and their relations 

According to him, 

the use of bleaching 

creams is largely 

responsible for 

kidney failures in 

Nigeria 

discomfort while shopping for 

kidney transplant. 

ILLICIT USE OF DRUGS 

Speaking on condemning illicit 

and uncontrolled use of drugs, 

Ukpaka said continuous use of 

gentamycin causes deafness and 

kidney failure for people whose 

kidneys are not strong, pointing out 

that these problems may take one 

year to manifest. 

On fibroid, he said that as a result 

of research, fibroids no longer 

require surgery that may result in 

bleeding and infection. 

He said there is a drug that 

shrinks it until it becomes small and 

falls off, even as he added that it 

costs about N200,000 to procure the 

drug. 

TREATMENT OF MALARIA 

Ukpaka agreed that malaria 

remains a nagging issue in Nigeria, 

but cautioned that the way 

Nigerians treat the ailment was 

worrisome, possibly as a result of 

ignorance or quackery. 

“We have seen cases of Nigerians 

treating malaria with antibiotics. 

Those who indulge in this act 

erroneously believe that malaria 

always goes with typhoid. It is 

wrong to think so and it is also 

criminal to treat malaria with 

antibiotics. It must be noted that 

antibiotics expose the body to some 

clinical levels which ultimately 

generate drug resistance”, the health 

consultant said. 

He acknowledged that because 

drugs can be purchased over the 

counter, people swallow all manner 

of malaria drugs, thereby abusing the 

drugs and causing harm to their 

bodies. 

He warned against the use of 

chloroquine in the treatment of 

malaria, pointing out that the drug 

had long been banned by global 

health bodies, because it causes 

blindness and may take up to five 

years after use before presentation. 

ROAD TRAFFIC CRASHES 

The medical consultant posited 

that many road traffic crashes in 

Nigeria are caused by people battling 

blindness or poor vision as a result of 

diabetes, even as he stated that 

sufferers may be oblivious of their 

health conditions. 

“Many people do not see well while 

driving because they may be presenting 

signs of diabetes without being 

conversant with their health conditions. 

For such people, routine health check is 

not in their programme. They never 

check their blood pressure or sugar 

levels. Such people are truly 

responsible for the carnage on 

Nigerian roads. Momentary loss of 

their sight while driving, is all that is 

needed to complete the circuit for 

automobile crash”, Ukpaka said. 

FAULTY LAB RESULTS 

He corroborated the position of the 

Acting Registrar of Medical 

Laboratory Science Council of 

Nigeria, MLSCN, Mr. Tosan Erhabor, 

that about 95 percent of the medical 

laboratories in public and private 

hospitals in the country are manned by 

unqualified medical laboratory 

scientists. He lamented that a good 

number of the laboratory scientists 

simply collect money from patients but 

do not, in the real sense, conduct any 

test and end up writing typhoid fever. 

“Such people go ahead treating the 

wrong ailment over time and this 

results in avoidable deaths. In such a 

circumstance, people are left to think 

that the death was caused by fake 

drugs”, Ukpaka said.


healthyliving 

LASSA: 

154 DEAD, 24 STATES RECORD CASES 

We are all vulnerable 

—Experts 

•How poor surveillance 

fuels fever 

By Chioma Obinna 

Nigeria may be battling 

the worst outbreak of 

Lassa fever in history. 

The fever which has 

afflicted over 284 has 

killed about 154 Nigerians from 

different parts of the country from 

August 2015 to date. 

Fresh cases are recorded every 

day in some states like Ondo and 

Bauchi, where the outbreak had 

earlier stopped, signalling that the 

disease could spread further. 

What implications does this 

development portend for Nigeria a 

year after the latest outbreak 

began? What lessons do we 

learn? Could this outbreak 

become an epidemic? No one can 

provide definite answers to these 

questions presently. 

The new Director-General of the 

Nigeria Centres for Disease 

Control, NCDC, Abuja, Dr. Chikwe 

Ikpeazu, had, recently, in an 

interview, maintained that Lassa 

fever outbreak is yet to become an 

epidemic but there are fears that 

the continued deaths of Nigerians 

as a result of the fever may be 

pointing in a different direction. 

Health watchers believe that 

unlike the response to Ebola 

outbreak, government may have 

failed to do same to Lassa. Rather, 

the outbreak has been greeted with 

the attitude of complacency. 

For instance, the Minister of 

Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, while 

speaking to State House 

Correspondents in Abuja said 

Nigeria cannot win the battle 

against Lassa the same way it won 

the battle against Ebola because 

Lassa is endemic in Nigeria. 

The Minister also, at an 

Emergency National Council 

on Health meeting, said the 

country should not be talking 

about control, but rather should 

sign off the obituary of Lassa. 

He said: “I call it an 

embarrassment because as a 

nation we cannot witness Lassa 

fever every year; it is rather 

abnormal for a nation that has 

resources like we should have 

to be witnessing such 

epidemic.” 

He promised that with the 

strengthening of the nation’s 

epidemiology surveillance and 

response, Lassa would be put 

under locked and key. 

Before now, millions of 

Nigerians did not imagine the 

seriousness of the threat of 

Lassa outbreak. 

Unfortunately, months after the 

inauguration of the committee 

on the fever, the current 

outbreak has taken a new 

dimension, as the country may 

have failed to interrupt the 

transmission. Currently, the 

likely risk for medical 

personnel is the newest 

security threat confronting 

Nigeria. With the deaths of 

many doctors in the country, 

the threat of possible epidemic 

of the disease cannot be ruled 

out coupled with the 

resurgence of wild polio virus 

at a time Nigeria is facing 

serious economic challenges. 

Contrary to the assumption 

that Lassa is a seasonal 

disease, the Chairman, Lassa 

Fever Control Committee, Prof 

Oyewale Tomori, at a 

symposium in Lagos, disagreed 

that the outbreak was an 

emergency, adding that poor 

disease surveillance system has 

caused the escalation and 

persistent re-occurrence. 

According to him, no fewer 

than three people are 

diagnosed of the disease daily 

in the latest out-break. 

“We have little value for life, 

until more than 100 people die, 

it is not an emergency. For 

many years, Lassa has been 

with us but we don’t take it 

serious. In other parts of the 

world, when a single person 

dies of a disease, it is a national 

emergency. For how long are 

we going to continue to call 

tragedy an embarrassment? 

He explained that the 

breakdown in disease 

surveillance did not make the 

country notice that Lassa has 

consistently brought sorrow, 

pains and agony to several 

homes. 

“If you are not hearing of new 

cases, it is not that the disease 

is not occurring, but because 

our disease surveillance is not 

up to par. We deceive ourselves 

that it’s a seasonal disease, but 

the fact remains that it occurs 

throughout the year. At least, 

three people are diagnosed of 

Lassa daily somewhere in the 

country,” Tomori said. 

“We abandon disease 

surveillance and control 

activities; there was a time 

people worked together, the 

laboratories at Ibadan, the 

Ministry of Health, NIMR, 

joined forces to protect the 

country. In the 60s to 80s at 

Ibadan, we produced every 

reagent we needed in the 

country. We did not depend on 

importation. But now we are lazy 

and everybody wants to make 

money from importation.” 

Sadly, with the new trend of the 

infectious disease, only few 

Nigeria laboratories can give 

accurate results. 

To Tomori, Six to seven 

laboratories in the country cannot 

give proper results due to lack of 

support. The only few that 

function in the country have the 

support of partner agencies and 

backing from abroad. 

The professor of virology also, 

in a report, described Lassa as an 

annual recurrent budget of death 

for poor people of Nigeria, 

adding: “Because we have lived 

in a state of denial of the disease, 

we handle it with 

characteristic laxity, laissez-faire, 

negligence, sloppiness, 

slackness, disregard, triviality 

and freewheeling abandon. 

“Lassa lacks the zeal and 

trepidation that Ebola outbreak 

inspired and Nigeria still wakes 

up every year an outbreak is 

reported, “running like a 

decapitated chicken in any which 

direction, and forgetting about 

the disease till another year 

another outbreak.” 

To another stakeholder, a 

renown professor of 

pharmacognosy and President, 

Bioresources Development 

Group, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Lassa 

was more than an embarrassment 

because the country has the 

personnel required, knowledge 


PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11 2016 

healthyliving 


of the fever and how to prevent it, 

but the disease still claims lives. 

Iwu argued that unless the country 

adopts the approach used during the 

Ebola outbreak, many more people 

would fall victim. “As long as Lassa 

fever is anywhere in the country, as 

long as we have restaurants that 

don’t keep good hygiene, as long as 

we have houses that are co-infested 

with rat and horse, as long as we 

have dirty environment, we are all 

vulnerable,” he said. 

“The only thing we can do is keep 

track of the virus, and from time to 

time do research. Our universities 

should make sure that 80 percent of 

their research is localized to treat 

our own diseases, issues and viruses 

we live with.” 

Current burden 

Findings by Sunday Vanguard 

show that as far as the average 

Nigerian is concerned, a 

confirmation of pockets of the disease 

across the states is alarming, while 

an epidemic would be catastrophic. 

Such fears are well founded. The 

latest Lassa fever outbreak affected 

24 states in Nigeria. Unlike 

outbreaks of the past, it is spreading 

in rural and urban areas. In the 

country today, millions of people are 

walking around with high fevers and 

other kinds of symptoms that could 

confuse diagnosis of Lassa fever. 

Worse still, Nigeria has been listed 

among countries that may be 

threatened by global spread of Zika 

virus, another terrible, viral disorder 

caused by mosquitoes. This time, 

even health workers are not spared. 

WHO updates 

Update on the World Health 

Organisation, WHO, website showed 

that between August 2015 and 17 

May 2016, WHO has been notified of 

273 cases of Lassa fever, including 

149 deaths in Nigeria. Of these, 165 

cases and 89 deaths have been 

confirmed through laboratory testing 

(CFR: 53.9 percent). The cases were 

reported from 23 states. 

Since August 2015, 10 health care 

workers (HCW) have been infected 

with Lassa virus, of which two have 

died. Of these ten cases, four were 

nosocomial infections. Just two weeks 

ago, two medical doctors died from 

the disease in Anambra and Delta 

States. 

As of 17 May 2016, eight states 

reported Lassa fever cases 

(suspected, probable, and 

confirmed), deaths and/or following 

of contacts for the maximum 21-day 

incubation period. Currently, 248 

contacts are being followed up in the 

country. The other 15 previously 

affected states have completed the 

42-day period following last known 

possible transmission. 

Public health response 

Currently, two national laboratories 

are supporting the laboratory 

confirmation of Lassa cases by 

polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 

tests. All the samples were also 

tested for Ebola, Dengue, Yellow 

fever and so far have tested negative. 

The two laboratories that are 

currently operational are Virology 

laboratory, Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital and Lassa fever research 

and control centre, Irrua specialist 

hospital. Along with other key 

partners, WHO is supporting the 

Federal Ministry of Health in 

surveillance and response of Lassa 

outbreaks including contacts tracing, 

follow up and community 

mobilisation. Of particular concern 

since the onset of Lassa fever 

outbreaks in Nigeria is the high 

proportion of deaths among the cases 

that is still under investigation. 

What it is? 

According to WHO, Lassa fever is 

How poor surveillance fuels fever 

an acute viral haemorrhagic 

illness caused by Lassa virus, 

a member of the arenavirus 

family of viruses. It is 

transmitted to humans from 

contacts with food or 

household items contaminated 

with rodent excreta. The 

disease is endemic in the 

rodent population in parts of 

West Africa like Nigeria. 

Prevention and control 

Humans usually become 

infected with Lassa virus from 

exposure to urine or faeces of 

infected Mastomys rats. Lassa 

virus may also be spread 

between humans through 

direct contact with the blood, 

urine, faeces, or other bodily 

secretions of a person infected 

with Lassa fever. There is no 

epidemiological evidence 

supporting airborne spread 

between humans. Person-toperson 

transmission occurs in 

both community and healthcare 

settings, where the virus 

may be spread by 

contaminated medical 

equipment, such as re-used 

needles. Sexual transmission 

of Lassa virus has been 

reported. It also occurs in all 

age groups and both sexes. 

Persons at greatest risk are 

those living in rural areas 

where Mastomys are usually 

found, especially in 

communities with poor 

sanitation or crowded living 

conditions. 

Symptoms 

The incubation period of 

Lassa fever ranges from 2–21 

days. The onset of the 

disease, when it is 

symptomatic, is usually 

gradual, starting with fever, 

general weakness, and 

malaise. After a few days, 

headache, sore throat, muscle 

pain, chest pain, nausea, 

vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, 

and abdominal pain may 

follow. In severe cases facial 

swelling, fluid in the lung 

cavity, bleeding from the 

mouth, nose, vagina or 

gastrointestinal tract and low 

blood pressure may develop. 

Protein may be noted in the 

urine. Shock, seizures, tremor, 

disorientation, and coma may 

be seen in the later stages. 

Deafness occurs in 25 percent 

of patients who survive the 

disease. Death usually occurs 

within 14 days of onset in fatal 

cases and severe late in 

pregnancy, with maternal 

death and/or fetal loss 

occurring in more than 80 

percent of cases during the 

third trimester. 

Diagnosis 

Lassa fever is difficult to 

distinguish from other viral 

haemorrhagic fevers such as 

Ebola virus disease as well as 

other diseases that cause fever, 

including malaria, shigellosis, 

typhoid fever and yellow fever. 

Definitive diagnosis requires 

testing that is available only in 

reference laboratories. 

Laboratory specimens may be 

hazardous and must be 

handled with extreme care. 

Treatment 

There is currently no vaccine 

that protects against Lassa 

fever. The antiviral drug 

ribavirin seems to be an 

effective treatment for Lassa 

fever if given early on in the 

course of clinical illness. There 

is no evidence to support the 

role of ribavirin as postexposure 

prophylactic 

treatment. 

Lassa timeline (pls box this) 

Lassa fever is not new to 

Nigerians. The first ever 

documented case of Lassa 

fever was reported in Nigeria 

in 1969 when two missionary 

nurses died in a town called 

Lassa in the part of Nigeria 

now known as Borno State. 

They had complaints of 

weakness, headaches, fever 

and general malaise. 

A study in the journal Cell by 

a team that included Christian 

Happi of Irrua Specialist 

Hospital—where experts 

confirm strains of Lassa fever in 

samples had traced “ancient 

roots” of Lassa nearly 1,000 years 

to a region that is now presentday 

Nigeria. 

Up till 2008, specimens were 

flown abroad for confirmation. 

Since 2008, two centres have 

stepped in to fill the gap in 

laboratory diagnosis and research 

into the fever—Lassa Fever 

Research and Control Centre at 

Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo, 

and Lahor Research. 

Samples from the latest 

outbreaks have undergone 

confirmation at Irrua, which also 

provided confirmation for cases 

from 2012 onwards. 

In 2012, the number of cases 

peaked in 2012, when 1,723 

cases with 112 fatalities were 

recorded. 

In 2012, half a million vials of 

Ribavirin, an antiviral drug 

considered effective were 

procured after the first case of 

Lassa was reported in Ebonyi. By 

then, one doctor and up to four 

nurses had died, some others 

were hospitalised at Federal 

Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki. 

Lassa fever has the greatest 

impact among haemorrhagic 

fevers—rivalled only by dengue. 

Up to 300,000 are infected 

annually in West Africa alone, 

and an estimated 5,000 of them 

die. 

During 2012 and 2013, more 

than 2900 cases were reported in 

widespread outbreaks that 

occurred across many states. 

In 2013, three deaths—among 

them a health worker, it struck in 

Benue and Ondo States. 

Since the last quarter of 2015, 

the country has been battling the 

epidemic disorder, which at the 

last count, has reached 24 states 

and killed 154 people. More than 

684 suspected cases have so far 

been recorded in the Borno, 

Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, Plateau, 

Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, 

Rivers, Bauchi, Anambra, Lagos, 

Niger, Kano, Nassarawa, Plateau, 

Oyo, Gombe and Ondo, Kano 

states and the FCT amongst 

others and still counting.

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016, PAGE 17 

On September 22, 2016 

King Sunny Ade will be 

joining the league of 

septuagenarians, 70, and it is 

not by an accident of fate that 

he will not be having a quiet 

party with his family alone. By 

virtue of his status and his 

monumental achievements, it is 

inevitable that such landmarks 

in life be hijacked by many who 

have had their lives touched by 

the joy and talent this Ondo 

Prince is blessed with. 

As Henry Longfellow once 

said “Lives of great men all 

remind us, we can make our 

lives sublime, and, departing, 

leave behind us, footprints on 

the sands of time”. These 

words aptly encapsulate what 

King Sunny Ade means to the 

music world, not only in 

Nigeria but all over the world. 

According to the Wikipaedia, 

he is described as “a 

Nigerian musician, singersongwriter, 

multiinstrumentalist, 

and a pioneer 

of modern world music. He 

has been classed as one of the 

most influential musicians of 

all time.” 

On Wednesday the Lagos 

media community had a 

parley with the King at the 

Lagos Airport Hotel, where 

the Juju music crusader 

highlighted series of activities 

lined up to mark his70th 

birthday. Looking as radiant 

as ever, and exuding that 

latent energy that has 

captivated both young and old 

over five decades, he told us 

his 70 th birthday would be 

different from any he had ever 

had. Usually, the King 

celebrates his birthdays over a 

course of one week but his 

coming 70 th birthday, 

according to him, which began 

on September 1, 2016 will run 

till the end of the year, 

December 31, 2016, climaxing 

with a grand finale concert 

that will have African greats 

like Youssuf N’dour and many 

others on stage. 

Programme for the birthday 

Having the celebration to last 

four whole months is not the 

King’s design but demands 

arising from his many 

associations over the years. “I 

am a member of 79 social clubs 

and you can imagine that each 

and every one of them wants to 

be part of the celebration by 

organising something for me”, 

he said with a wry smile and 

reeled out a list of activities 

lined up for the landmark 

occasion. 

“I started my birthday 

celebration with a prayer from 

Pastor Enoch Adejare 

Adeboye on the 1st of 

September. On the 21st of 

September, we will be having 

in Ondo, the Gospel Night. 

Then on the 23rd of 

September, we will be visiting 

the Motherless Babies Homes 

and the next day will be a 

day where my family 

members will celebrate me. 

We will also have a special 

lecture in Obafemi Awolowo 

University, OAU, with the Ooni 

of Ife in attendance. After the 

lecture, we will go back to 

Reminiscences 

of KSA @ 70: My 

Onyeka Onwenu 

love story 

•Says he belongs 

to 79 social clubs 

Ooni’s palace with many 

distinguished royalties in 

attendance. The celebration 

will also be taken to South 

Africa with a book launch . 

There will be a concert in 

Ibadan. We will also have 70 

children performing for KSA. 

PMAN, Ondo chapter, 

Western states and National 

are also coming together to 

organise something very 

fascinating but I don’t know 

the details now. Here, PMAN, 

Ondo chapter will be playing 

the chief host. The grand 

Sincerely, I never 

knew my music 

would make it to 

this level. 

I bought the guitar 

on my own and 

nobody taught me 

how to play it 

finale will also attract foreign 

musicians into Nigeria for this 

celebration. Many 

organisations, clubs and 

associations have also set aside 

a day to celebrate me. All 

together, we plan to have a 

five-month celebration.”, he 

enthused. 

After the preamble of rolling 

out the programme for the 

birthday celebration, the King 

then fielded questions from 

newsmen who were itching to 

have a go at him. As anxious as 

they were, the music maestro, 

with his air of cordiality 

satisfied almost all of their 

curiosities. 

His story and Baba Sala 

It is impossible to tell the 

story of King Sunny Ade 

without having the name of 

Moses Olaiya, aka Baba Sala 

popping up. “Let me say that 

Baba Sala is my boss and 

he will continue to be my 

boss for life,” he began. “ 

I never planned to be a 

band leader but he gave 

me the opportunity for 

the talent to develop. I 

was a little boy, playing 

percussion in his band. 

He was a musician, 

playing guitar, Iya 

Ilu (talking drum) 

and accordion. At 

that time, we were 

playing I.K. Dairo 

kind of music and 

I was the youngest 

. When he formed 

the drama side he 

asked me to go to 

the drama group 

in order to see to 

the music side of 

it. So, I was in 

charge of music for 

his drama sector. 

Along the line I 

started playing 

Konga, Shekere 

and other 

instruments. After 

a while he 

transferred me 

back to the band. It 

was through Baba 

Sala and his 

friend, Chief 

Tunde Amuwo that 

I became a band 

leader. Chief 

Tunde Amuwo had 

some instruments 

in his house and 

invited me to come and take 

charge. I told him I could not 

come because I didn’t have any 

intention of becoming a band 

leader. To me, I saw it as biting 

the finger that fed me. But it 

was Baba Sala himself who told 

me ‘Sunday, this is an 

opportunity for you,go and try. 

If after nine months to a year 

you cannot do it, come back 

here, I am your father, I will 

take you back’. Up till now, I 

am yet to go back”,he joked. 

“Sincerely, I never knew my 

music would make it to this 

level. 

“I bought the guitar on my 

own and nobody taught mem 

how to play it. I do my dancing 

as I know and then whatever 

thing I’m doing now I do it on 

my own. I believe it’s only God 

•King Sunny Ade 

•KSA with Ayo Onikoyi, 

entertainment 

editor,Vanguard at the parley 

that taught me everything and 

that’s why up till now I still 

give Baba Sala that respect 

because for anybody to say go 

and try, I’ve never heard it 

before. I say to my members 

too, that if you feel like forming 

a band, go and try, if it doesn’t 

work let me know. Maybe I’m 

lucky on my own’, he added. 

On his affair with Onyeka 

Onwenu 

KSA debunked ever having 

any private affair with the 

songstress, categorically, 

stating he never had a crush on 

her. 

“Onyeka and myself came 

together to do a song like a 

campaign. The “‘If You Love 

Me’’ was a track to curb 

unwanted pregnancies 

among the youths back 

then. It was a campaign 

organised by Houston 

University in America 

where we needed a boy 

and a girl to sing against 

it. And that brought 

Onyeka Onwenu and 

KSA coming together. 

People became confused. 

However, myself and 

Onyeka had done some 

songs together before 

then. But many were 

anxious to know if we 

were dating each other. 

Onyeka Owenu is my 

good sister and I don’t 

have a crush on her. We 

are both musicians and 

therefore colleagues”, he 

stated. 

On the new generation of 

singers 

“I have done collaboration 

with Wizkid and some other 

young musicians. You 

people call it ‘’collabo’’ but I 

don’t like using such slangs. 

There are many things I really 

need to work on. I intend 

working more with the young 

musicians. My door is open to 

as many who want me to work 

with them provided the 

musician knows what he wants 

to do with me and I also know 

what I want to do with him or 

her. Many families at a time 

were not comfortable with 

their children listening to some 


PAGE 18—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

Onikoyi68@gmail.com 


music or even going into 

music. But that has changed 

over time. Today, we have 

parents calling on me to 

mentor and train their 

children who want to go into 

music. Music flows 

everywhere. I still perform 

with my bands and that 

doesn’t mean I can’t play with 

the computer (DJs). I am not 

against this, if it suits 

Nigerians. My stand is that, 

there is a huge difference 

between performing live and 

doing computer things. There 

are things the computer can’t 

do. 

On his last tour of the U.S. 

The King said his last tour of 

the U.S. lasted for two and a 

half months, saying he 

embarked on the tour to prove 

a point. 

“I didn’t go on tour two years 

ago because we were told at 

the American Embassy that 

they had technical problems. 

Other bands all over the world 

were also affected. It was even 

on the Embassy’s website back 

then. However, we were given 

Visa this year and we had one 

big mission: to redeem our 

name. This was necessary 

because there were 

speculations that I was dead . 

But my fans were very happy 

seeing me alive, hale and 

hearty. I know I am not 

supposed to blow my own 

trumpet but at times, one 

needs to adjust it. I can say it 

categorically that every show 

Funke Akindele pregnant so 

soon, before her nuptial? 

Reminiscences of KSA @ 70: I never 

had a crush on Onyeka Onwenu 

we did was a huge success.” 

On winning the lawsuit for 

his master tape 

Recently, a Federal High 

Court in Lagos awarded N500 

million to the world beat 

maestro, for copyright 

infringement. Recall that KSA 

had dragged a record 

manufacturing company, 

African Songs and its 

subsidiary Take Your Choice 

Stores, to court some years back 

over issues bothering on 

intellectual theft. The court 

awarded the sum against the 

defendants for infringing on his 

works, with additional N5 

million for prosecuting the suit. 

According to the music legend, 

the court ordered the 

companies to return the master 

tape of the original musical 

works to him. He said before 

the master tape could be 

returned, the companies’ 

Chairman/Chief Executive 

After a quiet marriage in London to her new heart-throb, 

JJC Skillz, last month, screen character, Jenifa, born Funke 

Akindele, has reached out to her fans to pray for her for the fruit 

of the womb this year, sparking a healthy suspicion she might 

have been pregnant before the nuptial. 

The top-rated actress, 39, sent out the message to her over 

one million fans on Facebook , highlighting the many 

troubles she had in her previous marriage to Kehinde 

Almaroof Oloyede, that barely lasted a year. 

“I’m not shy to say this”, she began and begged “Please 

don’t ignore. You all know, I, Funke Akindele, Jenifa, has 

been married for a while now without any issue”, she 

wrote. “Some have even laughed at me, insulted me, 

judged me, without knowing the pains I go through. I 

put every effort in entertaining my fans and Nigerians 

at large, I made you laugh and some would even say 

I’ve inspired them in one way or the order. “Now I’m 

in another man’s house, please put me in your 

prayers. I pray this year 2016 will not pass me by. I 

will not only give birth but I will give birth safe and 

sound. As you write ‘Amen’ to this prayer, may God 

answer all your hidden prayers,” she stated. The 

big question that arose from her 

•Funke Akindele 

post is that, the actress as she 

writes may have been at an 

advanced state of 

pregnancy if she expects 

to have a child this 

year 2016, between 

September and 

December. 

•Joy Ugochi John 

I didn’t go on tour 

two years ago 

because we were 

told at the 

American Embassy 

that they had 

technical problems 

Meet Nigerian girl 

rocking US modeling 

industry 

Joy Ugochi John,US-based Nigerian model 

may not for now rate as high as Naomi Campbell 

or Iman but the hugely breasted damsel has got the guts 

to do things these great models would hesitate to do. 

She’s certainly a fiery item with attitude to take her to 

any altitude she desires. Recently, Joy posted some 

nude pictures of herself, with a paint work that 

camouflaged as some lingerie or swim trunk of sort. 

While this act might have got on the wrong side of 

some people, to Joy, it is art and she was only 

doing her job. Her face and figure are to be seen 

dotting several billboards across the United States 

of America. 

When one annoying poker tried to slam the 

busty model for being too raunchy in her photos, 

she didn’t mince words in giving him her piece 

of mind: “I exist in my terms, so let nobody 

judge the God-given modeling talent in me. I 

thank God for his mercy and love over me,” she 

retorted. 

Officer, Chief Bolarinwa 

Abioro, died. 

His words: “I won that case 

and they said I should be 

compensated with 505 million 

Naira but they are yet to do 

that. I won’t want to say much 

on that. It is either I am given 

more than 505million Naira or 

they return the master tape. 

My master tape is even more 

important to me than the 

money”, he said. 

On his energy on stage 

The name ‘KSA’ is 

synonymous with electrifying 

dance steps, strong throaty 

vocals and high octane 

performances. Even when 

nudging 70, the maestro 

recently toured 36 states in 

the U.S. in a space of ten 

weeks. One wonders where 

he draws the energy from, and 

surprisingly, the King himself 

seems to be dumbfounded. 

“I’m always so happy when 

I see people around. If I have 

to do what I want, a lot of 

thoughts will be running 

through my mind to do what I 

know best. I don’t smoke and I 

don’t drink but when I hear 

music, not only my music, I 

dance and then the energy 

just comes naturally. So, I will 

say that the energy comes 

from God and I love what I do 

most. 

On his favourites among 

the new generation 

“Let me say all of them are 

my favourites because they 

have different styles. You 

cannot compare them between 

one and another. The music of 

Wizkid is quite different from 

Korede Bello’s, and same goes 

for others.” 

On new album 

“Yes, we are going to have 

another album this year to 

celebrate the birthday. We are 

working on so many, maybe 

not only one, maybe two or 

three, we just have to do 

something by God’s grace”. 

Glo’s Professor Johnbull episode 8 : 

Comedian AY gets 

bashed by KOK for 

indecent dressing 

Popular comedian, Ayo Makun (AY), and actress 

Queen Nwokoye earned the fury of Nollywood great Kanayo 

O. Kanayo (KOK) in Episode 8 of the Globacom-sponsored 

drama series, Professor Johnbull. 

Nwokoye who plays the role of KOK’s daughter was in an 

unusual position as she was upbraided by his father, a rare 

occurrence in the sitcom. She incurred his anger for fraternizing 

with “ill-dressed” AY who made a cameo appearance in the 

episode dedicated to exposing indecent dressing in the society. 

KOK who stars as moralistic Professor Johnbull was shocked 

to find his daughter in his son, Churchill’s room with AY, who 

played the role of Dudus, a mobile cloth seller. He was wearing 

his trousers half way on his thighs in the name of the fashion 

craze called “sagging”. 

“What I frown at, you should frown at”, he told Elizabeth who 

tried to explain she was attracted to AY and just loved his 

company. Her pleas to be allowed to “hang out” with him only 

elicited further rejection from her father. “He is nothing but a 

common itinerant, nomadic cloth merchant. He is an 

irresponsible young man”. With that, the professor banished AY 

from his house. “I don’t want to see him anywhere within 20 

kilometres radius and circumference of my house,” he declared 

with the tone of finality. “Please, he just wants to take me out. 

Let me convince myself that he is either good or not good for me. 

Please, please,” she begged the father. Professor Johnbull later 

acceded to Elizabeth’s request to go out on a dinner date with 

Dudus. The outcome of the date proved the professor right in his 

stand that people are addressed the way they dress. Dudus was 

thoroughly embarrassed as he could not pay the bill, having lost 

his purse. His pleas fell on deaf ears as the restaurant attendant 

insisted on collecting her money, declaring she would not be 

fooled by AY’s “what’s up” antics. Elizabeth returns home 

sobbing, confessing to her dad that she should have listened to 

his advice not to go out with somebody who dressed 

irresponsibly by exposing his underwear in the name of 

sagging. She admitted that if Dudus had dressed decently to 

the restaurant, his story of his misplaced purse would have been 

believed. 

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COMMON SEXUAL AL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVEL 

VELTY Y BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVER 

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bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 

08056180152, SMS only 

Husbands stray more when the wife is pregnant 

IF someone was caught 

having an affair, you’d 

think they’d make a full 

confession,” observed 

Caroline, a relationship 

counsellor. “You’d think 

they would know if they 

wanted to stay or leave. 

You’d think they’ll be 

able to explain why they 

were unfaithful and that 

if they promised to ‘fight’ 

for their marriage that 

their actions would match 

their words. However, for 

lots of people recovery is 

not so straight forward 

and takes far longer than 

they would have 

imagined on discovery 

day”. 

Sadly, we’re living in 

an age when infidelity 

has never been easier to 

commit or harder to deal 

with. A basic cause is the 

role of the internet. 

There are countless 

websites, and apps 

that exist solely to 

facilitate easy sex along 

with the services of 

prostitutes. Not to forget 

the fact that men and 

women are much more 

likely to be friends today. 

This was something that 

was much rarer 30 years 

ago. Now the general 

attitude is that the 

husband or wife thinks 

it’s acceptable to stay in 

touch with a lover when 

their fling is over. 

They’re ‘friends’ after all. 

Cheating on a wife who 

is pregnant or has 

recently given birth is 

one of the last remaining 

sexual taboos. But there 

are good psychological 

reasons behind such a 

destructive act. 

According to Caroline, 

when men cheat during 

their partner’s 

pregnancy or just after 

she’s given birth, it is a 

clear signal that they are 

uncomfortable about 

becoming a father. 

Sometimes it triggers a 

crisis about their own 

father, especially if they 

are frightened of 

becoming like him. It can 

also lead to feelings of 

entrapment and 

claustrophobia. Many 

men tell me they become 

frozen with fear by their 

new responsibilities. 

‘How on earth am I going 

to support all these 

people?’ they wonder. 

This can be a huge issue 

if you hate your job and 

dream of escaping. 

Some men are not 

tempted to cheat during 

their wife’s first 

pregnancy - but the 

second can tip them over 

the edge. Why? Many 

men find fatherhood and 

the reality of child care 

such a shock that they 

fear the second baby will 

only make matters worse 

- only this time they’ll be 

pushed further down the 

list of their wife’s 

priorities. Sex, already 

an infrequent event 

because of the pressures 

of baby number one, will 

surely only become even 

rarer when baby number 

two arrives. 

“It’s a biological fact 

that young children kill 

a couple’s sex life”, 

observes Caroline. “For 

the first 18 months after 

a baby is born, all the 

oxytocin - the bonding 

hormone - goes 

into the relationship 

between mother and 

child. And let’s not 

forget, men need sex 

because it is the only 

way it is socially 

acceptable for them to 

get close to someone. 

Into 

this mix, it’s hardly 

surprising that escapism 

of a fling is so tempting 

to many new fathers. 

“A word of reassurance, 

however, couples with 

children are more likely 

to survive an affair than 

those without. Children 

force us to find a balance 

between satisfying 

individual shortterm 

goals and considering 

others and the greater 

good.” 

One fact that shouldn’t 

be over-looked is 

women’s contributory 

factor to the male 

misbehaving badly game. 

“Most ‘expectant’ 

married men feel their 

wives ‘leave’ the 

relationship first. 

According to Caroline: 

“This was a shock for the 

average blamelessly 

monogamous woman. 

Lots of women become so 

wrapped up in their 

children that they 

neglect their husband. 

I’ve lost count of the men 

who tell me “she was too 

good of a mother and not 

a good wife. And so 

every time someone talks 

about ‘beautiful’ 

children, my alarm bells 

go off because it sounds 

like the children have 

been put on centre stage, 

and not just adored but 

idolised. Not even the 

most doting father will be 

able to cope with being 

a bit part in his own 

marriage for long. 

“Many men just want 

to please their partner 

and so don’t rock the 

boat - even when they’re 

unhappy with the 

attention they receive 

from their wives. 

Porn Addiction 

Making Young Men 

Impotent 

Addiction to online 

porn has sparked a surge 

in young men suffering 

impotency, health 

experts have warned. 

Frequent exposure to 

graphic images is 

desensitising men in 

their late teens and early 

20s leaving them unable 

to get aroused in bed. 

Psychosexual therapist, 

Angela Gregory, who has 

seen a soaring number of 

younger patients with 

erectile dysfunction said: 

“One of the first 

assessment questions I’d 

ask now is about 

pornography because 

that can be the cause.” 

The therapist, based at 

Nottingham University 

Hospital, went on: “Over 

the last 16 years, 

particularly the last five, 

I’ve seen 

an increase in younger 

men being referred. 

Historically, they were 

older men whose issues 

were related to disease. 

These younger men have 

already been tested by 

their doctors and 

everything is fine.” 

Experts also warn 

smartphones and tablets 

are making it easier to 

access porn. The issue 

was probed by ‘Brought 

up on Porn,’ on BBC 

Newsbeat, in which 

‘Nick’ told how he began 

watching on his laptop at 

15. He said: “Nothing 

would give me a kick, so 

I had to get more and 

more extreme materials.” 

Nick added he was 

unable to get aroused by 

partners because he had 

become ‘wired to porn’ 

A US study in 

Behavioural Sciences 

Journal claimed the sideeffects 

of watching online 

porn mirror those of 

alcohol addiction, such a 

low libido. 

YOUR column to express your loving thoughts in 

words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it 

flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel. 

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, 

Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: 

sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: 

“LOVE NOTES" 

Your are always in my mind 

Words flows, time fly but your memory remains 

forever! You maybe gone physically but deep down 

in me you are here with me. Words can't express 

how I feel for you. Still love you 

Pretty Amos 

rebeccamos18@gmail.com 

Overlook differences 

The secret of a good relationship is to overlook 

differences and embrace imperfection. 

Onyekaonwu Harrison, 

harrison.onyekaonwu@yahoo.com 

08064888266/ 

09097691852 

I Missed you 

I am not a poet but I know unsaid words have no 

value. I greet your absence these days and just to 

let the whole world know how that feels I am writing 

this. I am trying not to sound like a cry for help but 

here it goes. I can’t forget you. I will always love 

you. 

Prince Johnson 

shunkul@yahoo.com 

09052570138


people 

By Ephraim Oseji & 

Anino Aganbi 

Ayanfe Falana is the Head 

Queen of the Most Beautiful Girl 

in Eko Beauty Pageant 

sponsored by Ereon Pageantry. 

The Ekiti State-born 19-year-old 

political science student of the 

University of Lagos shares her 

experience on how she became 

a beauty queen. Excerpts: 

Have you always nursed the 

idea of being a beauty queen? 

Being a beauty queen is 

something I had always wanted 

to be. It is like a dream come true. 

It was something I wanted to do 

right from when I was in high 

school. I wanted to be a model. I 

wanted to give back to the society. 

Being a beauty queen can give me 

the platform to do what I want to 

do. 

Why beauty queen? You could 

have chosen to be something 

else... 

I have always loved cat walking. 

I would stand in front of the 

mirror to do cat walk and act like 

a queen. So I knew modeling was 

something I had always wanted 

to do. Wanting to be a beauty 

queen was something I wanted to 

be right from when I was a child. 

Growing up, was this 

something your parents 

encouraged? 

With my two parents being in the 

ministry, I can imagine what a lot 

of people would have thought. My 

parents being enlightened helped 

me a lot because, if they were not 

enlightened, they would not have 

allowed me do it. 

They knew I was passionate 

about it, so they had to give me 

their support. 

Did you think you stood a 

chance of winning the MBGE 

Pageantry? 

I am a positive thinker. Even if I 

knew I was not going to be among 

the top five, I was never going to 

think negatively. I always told 

myself that the other contestants 

may look more beautiful, but it 

was not just about beauty and I 

am not a dullard, so I would not 

give up. Besides, I am a prayerful 

person; so looking at those other 

contestants, I felt they had one 

head like me; so why couldn’t I 

win? 

Why did you choose MBGE as 

opposed to other pageants? 

I chose MBGE because it was 

available at that point. My friends 

told me about it; so I did my 

research online. I loved the fact 

that it promotes African culture. 

I did not sell my 

body to become 

beauty queen 

— Ayanfe Falana 

Every contestant had to represent 

her state, so it gave me a platform 

to represent my state which I did. 

It is not the kind of pageant that 

has to do with wearing bikini. 

What was your parents reaction 

when you told them you were 

going for this pageant...? 

Their reaction was not really so 

bad because, for me, it was a 

dream come true. All they had to 

do was to tell me, be careful. That 

if I thought this was not going to 

work, I should not go for it. A 

bikini pageant has never been my 

thing and they knew it. So all they 

had to do in the long run was to 

give me their support. 

Coming into the competition 

and seeing your counterparts, 

did you ever think you stood a 

chance? 

Even if I knew I was not as 

beautiful or as outspoken as the 

others were, I wouldn’t give myself 

a chance to wear myself down. 

Not until the very point I would 

have heard I was not the winner 

would I have given up. 

So, looking at the contestants 

did not freak me because I knew 

what it took and that was why I 

was there. If I knew I was not 

capable, I would not have 

contested. I looked at them and 

looked at myself, I knew I had 

what it takes. 

What was unique about MBGE? 

MBGE Pageant is 

trademarked. I would not want 

to go for a pageant that is not 

going to stand. I love what they 

are promoting. All of these 

encouraged me to go for the 

pageant. 

With most pageants, people 

believe being a beauty queen 

means you coming out half clad. 

They want to see your shape but 

that should not be what is 

important in pageantry. MBGE 

now coming out to say you do not 

have to be naked to win makes it 

unique. 

What were the criteria 

used in selecting the 

winner? 

For the judges, it was 50, 

while for the camp, it was 

also 50. The characters of 

contestants played a big 

role in what was used to 

judge us. Many of the judges 

knew what went on in camp, 

so, looking at the contestants 

come out on the run way and 

answering the questions 

correctly did not give us all 

the points because we were 

also graded right from when 

we were in camp. If you do 

not possess the character 

of a leader, then you 

cannot be a queen. You do 

not know how to talk 

politely, your manners of 

approach is nothing to 

write home about, a 

lot of the other 

contestants felt proud 

and these were all 

things that were 

taken into 

consideration in 

camp. 

What made you 

stand out from 

the other 

contestants? 

I stood out 

because I was on 

my best behaviour right from 

when we were in camp. I had to 

follow the criteria. I was as open 

as I could be to every body and as 

active as I could be. I followed 

instructions and answered my 

questions correctly. 

How have you been able to 

cope? 

I have been trying to cope well 

seeing that this is what I signed 

up for. There may be tough times 

ahead but I know these are things 

I will cross when I get there. 

What would you like your 

Music nearly cost me my marriage 

— Consicliff, Nollywood star 

sector? 

I left First Bank Nigeria Plc. as a 

By Ugochukwu Alaribe 

Constance Cliff Orji, a.k.a 

Consicliff, hails from 

Arochukwu in Arochukwu 

Local Government Area of Abia 

State. She worked in an old 

generation bank before she resigned 

and went into music and movie 

acting. In this interview, she speaks 

on why she left her plum banking 

job for music and film acting and 

how her decision almost cost her, 

her marriage. 

Excerpts: 

You were a banker, what 

happened? 

I’m into music and acting. 

Actually, I left banking because I 

had strong passion for music and 

the profession was not really giving 

me the chance to go to the studio to 

do musical stuff. 

What position were you 

occupying while in the banking 

•Constance Cliff Orji 

manager. 

How did you manage moving 

from the corporate world to the 

rough terrain of music and acting? 

It feels good but I might not know 

how people see it. When you are 

going after your passion, you do not 

need to worry about how people feel 

because what you see is not what 

they see, you are seeing a different 

thing. You know where you are 

going, and you know what your 

heart is crying out for. 

Are you finding it difficult to 

adjust in the entertainment 

industry? 

Not really. The corporate world is 

a different kind of world, so is the 

music world. There is nothing 

similar between both, but that does 

not mean I am having difficulty 

because this is where I want to be. 

So, I am happy with what I am into 

now. 

What type of music are you into? 

I am into gospel music. Actually, 

I’m multi-talented. I see myself as a 

•Ayanfe Falana 

successor 

to remember you for .... 

I would not want to be like a 

president that makes promises 

and cannot fulfil them. I want to 

be a queen who will make a 

difference. I have things I am 

really going to be focused for. I 

also want to throw out 

opportunities out there. If you fail, 

try again. All pageants are not the 

same. You do not have to sell your 

body to be a beauty queen. I did 

not sell my body to be a beauty 

queen. If it does not work, try 

again. 

worshipper, I sing a lot of worship 

songs and maybe a few hip-hop but 

I’ve never done rock. 

How many of your albums are 

in the market? 

Well, presently, I have only one in 

the market but by God’s grace, the 

second album will hit the market 

very soon. You know I just ventured 

into it and there are a lot of people 

in the music industry already. But 

the first album I did is doing well. 

There is nothing you start that 

booms immediately, you face some 

challenges and a whole lot of things. 

The music industry appears 

saturated. How are you managing 

to break in? 

Actually, the industry is saturated 

but, like some people say, there is a 

lot of competition. I am not 

competing with anybody because 

the sky is too large to 

accommodate everybody. All I know 

is that there is a reason I left my 

profession for music and I am 

determined to achieve my goal. I 

have a vision which is reaching out 

to the world through music, 

preaching the gospel through 

music. All the same, music has its 

own challenges just like any other 

profession. 

Pet projects...... 

My main focus will be on 

orphanages. There are rich 

orphanages and poor ones which 

people do not even remember. 

Orphanages are meant for 

people to go and adopt children 

but right now people do not 

even want to go there either 

because of the poor state of 

the orphanages or the 

bureaucracy involved. 

How can the 

government be of help in 

sustaining beauty 

pageants? 

A lot of these 

pageants 

are not 

duly 

registered 

yet 

they get 

funding’s 

f r o m 

government. 

Whereas pageants 

that go through the right 

channels in ensuring that 

they are properly 

registered and have trade 

marks are not 

acknowledged. These are 

issues government needs 

to address so they can step 

in and give assistance to 

those pageants which 

have trade marks. 

What is the MBGE 

Pageant all about? 

MBGE is an acronym for Most 

Beautiful Girl in Eko . It is a nonbikini 

pageant. The main 

objective is to promote and 

preserve Africa culture for future 

generations. Pageants that 

promote western cultures and 

bikini are from Europe and United 

States. Many Nigerian pageants 

that do not have trade mark copy 

western and bikini pageants 

which is unAfrican and are now 

retracing their steps by promoting 

Africa. It is all about 

enlightenment and exposure. 

You said going into music could 

have cost you your marriage. How 

did you resolve that? 

I resolved it all through prayers. I 

told God to help me if truly He is the 

one leading me because in all you 

do, your home is very important. 

God is not author of confusion; if 

actually He is the one leading you, 

He will make a way for you to cross 

bridges that you might meet on your 

way. 

How did your family feel about 

your decision? 

I didn’t have much problem except 

on the side of my spouse; to him, it 

was like madness. According to him, 

I was a well paid banker and, all of 

a sudden, I started talking about 

music. I see music as my calling, 

not just any music but gospel. I see 

my talent as something God has 

given to me to glorify his name and 

also to win souls for the kingdom. 

It got to a point that my husband 

advised me to travel abroad and 

start up business instead of going 

into music and film acting, but 

today I have his support. 

Some people dive into music 

just for the sake of it. How sure 



people 

FROM AJEGUNLE ‘STADIUM’ 

TO PREMIER LEAGUE 

Living the 

dream like 

Odion Ighalo 

The Maracana is famous 

worldwide as a theatre of 

dreams in football. It is the 

largest stadium in Rio de Jenario, 

Brazil, a country renown for 

football prowess and for 

producing some of the world’s 

best talents. Maracana has hosted 

many high-profile football 

tournaments and recently played 

host to the Olympics Games. 

Back home in Nigeria, a lot of 

people admire Brazilian 

footballers like Kaka, Pele, 

Ronaldiho, Rivaldo, Neymah, to 

name a few, so much so that they 

adopt their names as aliases. In 

Ajegunle, for instance, a densely 

populated community in Lagos, 

residents, like many Nigerians, 

are passionate about football and 

there is an abundance of music 

and football talents from the slum 

so much so that the Brazilian 

legends command a cult-like 

following. In addition to having 

churned out a number of 

international football stars, 

Ajegunle hosts the popular 

Maracana Stadium, named after 

the one in Brazil. Here, intercommunity 

tournaments are held. 

Young boys and girls can be seen 

from across the lagoon and the 

TinCan port, running round the 

field with determination on their 

faces as they hone their 

footballing skills. One of such 

players, Timothy Ugbade, a 

student who spends his spare time 

playing football with his friends 

there, said he hopes to be the next 

big star to come out of Ajegunle, 

just like two of his soccer heroes: 

Emmanuel Amunike and Odion 

Ighalo. 

Football, aside from music and 

fashion, is one of the tools 

employed in engaging young 

people in order to keep them away 

from delinquencies and positively 

During the 

ambassadorial signing 

ceremony at the DStv 

head office, Odion 

confirmed that he 

aspired to play in the 

Premiership whenever 

he went to watch 

football at viewing 

centres beamed via 

DStv SuperSport 

occupy their time and minds. 

Brands like SuperSport have used 

sports, particularly football under 

its Let’s Play initiative, to 

encourage healthy lifestyles as 

well as avail young people 

opportunities to harness their 

talents and become great sports 

men and women just like their 

football idols in Nigeria and 

across the world. Sometimes, the 

company enlists the support of ex- 

Super Eagle stars like Victor 

Ikpeba and JJ Okocha to inspire 

and encourage young people to 

stay true to their dreams. 

According to the General 

Manager, SuperSport, Felix 

Awogu, “providing football for 

young people and encouraging 

them to play has been quite 

impactful because they aspire to 

become like the Victor Ikpebas of 

this world and work hard toward 

achieving such dreams, just like 

Odion Ighoalo did.” 

Like many before him, the latest 

MultiChoice brand ambassador, 

•Odion 

Ighalo 

Music nearly cost me my marriage — Consicliff, Nollywood star 


you have the calling? 

Some may wonder; even the Bible says, ‘Who 

will believe their report?’ They will wonder when 

you tell them what you see in your dreams and 

conversation. God speaks to us through his word, 

dream but one thing is that if you have a calling you 

will know; people might not believe you. But as 

what God has put in you starts manifesting they 

will not have any option than to believe you. 

How convinced are you that music is your 

calling? 

It all started when I was a kid. I didn’t know what 

was happening but from childhood I was singing in 

the choir even in my university days. Also I was 

doing that when I was working in the bank, but I 

couldn’t combine the both because I didn’t have 

time for choir rehearsals. But when I pray, the Spirit 

of God tells me that this is my talent. I never thought 

Odion Ighalo’s dreams of being a 

world-class footballer also began 

on the streets of Ajegunle. 

Speaking on his journey to 

stardom, Odion said his parents 

were happy that he spent his spare 

time playing football in the fields 

and keeping away from trouble. 

His mother, a trader, ensured that 

she bought him football boots and 

gave him enough money to be at 

‘Maracana stadium,’ where he 

practised with his friends, 

nurturing the dream of one day 

playing on the international scene 

like his idols and making his 

family and country proud. 

As a young man with so much 

love for the sport but living in 

Ajegunle, it was the 

encouragement and support of his 

mother that kept him going to the 

Maracana Stadium even when he 

couldn’t always afford the bus 

fare. His mother, who has always 

been his biggest supporter, would 

rake money together from her 

store so he could continue to 

pursue his dream. His first club 

was the Olodi Warriors, where he 

played until he was spotted by the 

manager of Julius Berger FC, and 

then went abroad to where he was 

sent for trials at Lyn Oslo, Norway, 

a club which current Super Eagles 

Captain, Mike Obi, had a shirt in 

a few years ago. From there, he 

was bought by Italian Serie A side, 

Udinese. The rest, as they say, is 

history. 

Today, Odion plays for Watford 

FC, United Kingdom, a club he 

watched as a kid and is an 

inspiration to children hoping to 

follow in his steps one day. He is 

the perfect choice to drive the Live 

Your Dream campaign, which 

celebrates perseverance and the 

of leaving the bank but as time went on I started 

writing songs. After several years, I didn’t find 

peace because I felt my talent was wasting. 

When did you start singing? 

I started singing as a teenager but, 

professionally, it started in 2012. I joined the 

movie industry in 2013. 

How are you combining acting and music? 

It’s fun because the both help me and I’m 

talented in both of them. 

How many movies have featured in? 

They are uncountable; I have featured in 

Mystic mirror, Sorrow of Amanda, Cry of a motherin-law, 

Dangerous family, Bleeding king, Sorrow 

of Nene, among others. 

How would you rate Nollywood? 

We have not yet arrived, but Nollywood 

is improving and we look forward to a time 

Nollywood will be like Hollywood. 

What is the missing link? 

determination of Nigerians to 

achieve their dreams against all 

odds. According to MultiChoice 

Nigeria, the campaign also tells 

a story of hope and victory and 

what better way to tell it than with 

Odion Ighalo, a living example of 

an achiever who against all odds 

has emerged as a superstar. In 

addition to playing for an English 

Premiership club, he has been 

honoured by his former La Liga 

club, Granada, by having his name 

written on one of their stadium 

entrances. 

Hollywood has better environment, 

cameras and also their government gives 

them support. The people value entertainment 

so much and they are willing to assist people 

in the entertainment industry. 

Can you act nude in any movie role? 

No, I can’t but in Nollywood we don’t act 

nude; you can say semi-nude but not really 

nude. 

Going by our culture how do you see nudity 

in the industry? 

It is not right but when given a character, 

you have to interpret the character; that is also 

the reason movies are rated. 

What advice do you have for your fans? 

The only advice I have for them is for them 

to keep watching movies that I featured in; 

also, they should keep listening to Consicliff 

music, they should also go after their dreams, 

never give up no matter the problem. 

During the ambassadorial 

signing ceremony at the DStv head 

office, Odion confirmed that he 

aspired to play in the Premiership 

whenever he went to watch football 

at viewing centres beamed via DStv 

SuperSport. Dreams do come true. 

Not only does he now have DStv in 

his home, he is also bearing the DStv 

flag. “I am happy to be part of the 

MultiChoice family. Growing up, we 

couldn’t afford to have DStv in our 

house. I used to pay to watch football 

at viewing centres. It is a dream come 

true and I am looking forward to this 

new relationship with MultiChoice,” 

he stated. 

Odion Jude Ighalo’s fairy tale began 

on the streets of Ajegunle. This is an 

indication that everyone who has a 

dream, with perseverance and 

determination will achieve it. 

MultiChoice recognises this fact and 

encourages everyone to be inspired 

like Odion Ighalo to live their dreams. 

With football matches from across 

major leagues such as the Premiership 

and La Liga, including the fast-rising 

Nigerian Professional Football 

League available on SuperSport to 

DStv subscribers, many more talented 

youngsters will be inspired to follow 

in the footsteps of Ighalo. Watching 

theses matches, the moves, dribbles 

and incredible skills displayed by 

footballers with backgrounds similar 

to Ighalo’s, the sky is the limit for these 

youngsters.

When on June 23 

majority of 

British voters 

decided it was time to dump 

the European Union, they 

never expected it would take 

this long before the process 

that will ease them out will 

start. The joy of the 

announcement of the result 

in the early morning of June 

24 had turned into 

nightmare for them now. 

While some have openly 

regretted the decision to vote 

to "leg" it from the EU, 

majority have no idea what 

is going to happen next 

because of the foot dragging 

of their leaders. 

For some of them voting 

out was on sentiments rather 

than hard facts. Many have 

confessed if they were as 

educated as they are now on 

Brexit, they probably would 

have voted otherwise. 

Going down history lane, 

we do recall that the 

Brexiters were apprehensive 

on the eve of the referendum, 

they however woke up to a 

surprise result in their favour 

a day after. They were not 

confident in the ability to 

"deliver" Britain from what 

they described as European 

bureaucracy. To further 

compound their situation, 

the exit polls on the eve of 

the referendum gave them 

no chance. 

The rest of the story is now 

history. However the way 

and manner the campaign 

for the exit was carried out 

portrayed a UK in a mad 

rush to leave the EU. The 

impression at this time was 

that immediately the 

referendum was won the 

process of disengaging from 

the club would begin. 

It was not to be. The only 

process that commenced 

immediately was the exit of 

David Cameron from 10 

Downing Street. It did not 

take him ages to figure out 

that he should quit the stage. 

However, this has been the 

opposite for the citizens who 

voted based on the 

information provided by the 

politicians on what Britain 

stands to gain in the event of 

an EU exit. 

Just after the shock result 

was announced, the EU 

leaders, disappointed by the 

negative vibes oozing from 

the Brexiters, were quick to 

remind Britain that there 

was no turning back. To 

them exit means exit and the 

earlier the process is started 

the better. EU's Jean-Claude 

Juncker, advised that 

Britain should not delay its 

exit from the union. 

The eagerness of the EU 

leaders to see Britain start 

the process of exit is the 

opposite of the reaction of 

the Brexit leaders. The Brexit 

leaders could not hide their 

joy on the morning of June 

24, as they jostled to claim 

responsibility for the victory. 

We all remember the 

powerful speech the 

outgoing leader of the 

United Kingdom 

Independence Party (UKIP), 

Nigel Farage made after the 

result. 

He could not help himself 

when he giggled and 

announced that June 23 

should be declared the 

Independence Day for Great 

Britain. You wonder what 

type of independence? He 

made himself very clear in 

his usual garrulous manner 

that it was independence 

from the European 

bureaucrats in Brussels. He 

said: “The EU is a failing, 

the EU is dying. I hope we 

have knocked the first brick 

out of the wall." 

Not too long after, the 

others, such as Boris 

Johnson and Michael Gove 

Diaspora Matters 

Brexit: A Long Road To 

Independence for UK 

hurriedly came out, bare 

chested to claim some of the 

accolades for an 

independent UK. While 

these ones looked 

dishevelled, supporters put 

it down to the stress 

associated with the 

campaign for the 

referendum. To keen 

political observers, it was 

not anything associated 

with stress, but a confusion 

arising from the 

cluelessness of what to 

make of the just announced 

For the Brexit voters, 

the wait is still long. 

The independent 

Great Britain they 

voted for a few 

months ago may take 

longer than 

envisaged to become 

a reality. Frustrations 

may set in, but there 

is really nothing they 

can do than wait 

patiently as the 

leaders slowly plan 

or pretend to plan 

the exit 

result. 

And right on the result 

day, they showed they really 

have no idea of the 

magnitude of what they 

have led Britain to. Johnson 

said: "I want to reassure 

everybody that, in my view, 

as a result of this Britain will 

continue to be a great 

European power, leading 

discussions on defence and 

intelligence sharing and all 

the work that currently goes 

on to make our world safer." 

In the same vein, Gove 

wanted the benefits of 

Europe without being part 

of it. He declared: "We can 

build a new, stronger and 

more positive relationship 

with our European 

neighbours based on free 

trade and friendly cooperation." 

Fast forward to the 

present, the strain and 

disappointment of the 

people that voted Leave are 

becoming visible. The joy 

and happiness that greeted 

the results of the referendum 

have now been replaced by 

weariness and confusion. 

The voters have suddenly 

realised that the dream may 

take a while to become a 

reality. Apart from this, there 

is a feeling of having been 

taken for a ride by the 

politicians. 

There are no more visible 

Brexit leaders as they have 

all settled into new roles in 

the government. One has 

the feeling that these 

politicians who actively 

supported the Leave 

campaign did it for personal 

and selfish reasons. Some 

observers have described 

their action as coup against 

the government of 

Cameron. There is no doubt 

that the Theresa Mays, 

Amber Rudds and the Boris 

Johnsons are the 

beneficiaries of the 

referendum. 

The confusing part of the 

post-referendum is the 

quietness that has pervaded 

on this subject. The political 

leaders who were all over 

the places before the 

referendum are now shy to 

discuss when Britain should 

trigger Article 50 that will 

start the exit process. The 

Prime Minister, Theresa 

May, is not in any hurry to 

start this process. Infact she 

made it clear that the EU exit 

would not be rushed. 

In her first visit to the 

German Chancellor Angela 

Merkel, May was quick to 

reiterate the intention of 

Britain to quit the union but 

still maintain the status quo. 

She declared: "So it's good 

that we start from such a 

strong foundation and a 

position where both our 

countries believe in liberal 

markets and free trade and 

these should be the 

principles that guide us in 

the discussions ahead." 

Interestingly some of the 

Brexit leaders have been 

trying to pull the wool over 

the faces of other EU 

leaders. They are giving an 

impression that they want an 

exit without a loss of status 

in the continent or in the 

single market. 

The debate on when to 

trigger Article 50 is 

gathering. The prime 

minister has stated 

categorically that it would 

not be done this year. 

However, the minister in 

charge of Brexit, David 

Davis has suggested it 

should take place before the 

end of 2016. His famous 

"There will be no attempt to 

stay in the EU by the back 

door. No attempt to delay, 

frustrate or thwart the will 

of the British people," speech 

has not in anyway allayed 

the fears of the British 

people. 

The question on the lips of 

everybody is "when will 

British leaders be bold 

enough to follow through 

the wish of the people?" 

Observers believe that as it 

stands now, Theresa May 

would have wished there was 

no EU exit burden on her 

Prime Ministerial "neck". 

She would have loved the 

job without the headache of 

Brexit. 

For the Brexit voters, the 

wait is still long. The 

independent Great Britain 

they voted for a few months 

ago may take longer than 

envisaged to become a 

reality. Frustrations may set 

in, but there is really 

nothing they can do than 

wait patiently as the leaders 

slowly plan or pretend to 

plan the exit. 

Morakinyo Babajide-Alabi 

SEO Analyst - Syllable 

Media Limited (http:// 

www.syllablemedialimited.com) 

Visit my blog :- http:// 

www.babajidealabi.com 

Follow me on Twitter-: 

@AGEGE_Bread 


We are in September, 

somehow, I am 

excited. 

September seems to be a 

special month. It is the ninth 

month of the year. Expectant 

mothers always look up to 

the ninth month for 

delivery. Perhaps this is 

why it is called the 

month of fruitfulness. It is 

the month of expectation. 

It is the month that one 

begins to appreciate that the 

year is running out . Hence, 

the determination to work 

harder at attaining set goals. 

In the same manner, the 

ninth month should be the 

month that we work harder 

on our spiritual life for the 

attainment of our desired 

miracles. 

In this column today, we’ll 

focus more on the issue of 

child-bearing. Why? 

God commanded man in 

Genesis 1 verse 28. “Be 

fruitful and multiply, and 

replenish the earth, and 

subdue it and have dominion 

over the fish of the sea , and 

over the fowl of the air, 

and over every living thing 

that moveth upon the 

earth”. 

This is the command of 

God which he expects all 

human beings to obey. It 

is, therefore, not surprising 

that nine months after a 

marriage ceremony, people 

expect to see babies in the 

home . 

This is more so in African 

societies where parents 

are so desirous to see their 

grand children. 

Consequently, the couple is 

put under pressure moving 

from one doctor to another , 

from one spiritualist to 

another but what is certain 

is that it is God that gives 

children. 

When we refer to our 

popular Bible passage, 

Luke 1 vs. 37, “For with God 

nothing shall be 

impossible” , we often 

forget that this statement 

was made in relation to 

child-bearing matters. 

The Holy Bible referred to 

the birth of Jesus Christ by 

the power of the Holy Ghost 

in verse 35 and in verse 36 

referred to the case of 

Elizabeth whom the world 

had called barren. 

“ With God nothing shall 

be impossible” signifies the 

awesome power of the 

Almighty God to turn all our 

points of sorrow to joy, to 

change a situation that has 

been medically termed 

impossible to possibility. 

Our God is unlimited. 

Psalm 127 verse 3 tells us 

what children mean 

to God. It states, “Lo, 

children are an heritage 

of the LORD: and the fruit of 

the womb is his reward”. 

Verse 4 adds: “As arrows are 

in the hand of a mighty 

man; so are the children 

of the youth”. 

The word of God continues 

in verse 5 of the same 

Psalm: “ Happy is the man 

that hath his quiver full of 

them: they shall not be 

ashamed, but they shall 

speak with the enemies in the 

gate”. 

Are you trusting God for 

the fruit of the womb, hold 

Him to His word. 

Remind God that He has 

commanded that all human 

beings should go and 

multiply. Therefore, you 

cannot be an exception. 

Deuteronomy 7 verse 14 

states : “ Thou shall be blessed 

above all people: there shall 

not be male or female barren 

among you, or among your 

cattle”. 

This is the word of the 

Lord. In your prayer, 

repeatedly remind him of his 

word . 

Hold on to His promise 

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, 

during the last Holy 

Ghost Night for 

people trusting God for 

children, titled, “No 

more fruitless efforts” 

reminded us that it is 

God that decreed that 

we should go into the 

world and “ multiply”. 

He said when God 

speaks, it is done. In other 

words, since He said it, He 

will do it. 

Hold God to His word 

- will share with you a 

prayer point given to 

women trusting God 

for the fruit of the 

womb by Pastor Gbenga 

Oso of Laughter 

Foundation International 

Ministry some years ago. 

Genesis 1 verses 27 and 

28 of the Good News 

Bible: “So God created 

human beings, making 

them to be like himself. 

Hold the Lord to his 

word and declare to 

yourself what you 

are and, by His 

Grace, He will 

make you what you 

have declared that 

you are 

He created them male 

and female, blessed them 

and said have many 

children”. 

Pastor Oso directed then 

that this prayer point 

should be read seven 

times before going to bed. 

The prayer is followed 

with this declaration “ 

God says, I should have 

children. I agree with 

God. God says it. I agree 

with Him, it is 

settled. I am a father/ 

mother of twins, a boy, a 

girl or triplets”. 

Say to yourself what you 

want. 

Hold the Lord to his 

word and declare to 

yourself what you are and, 

by His Grace, He will 

make you what you have 

declared that you are. 

Let me say that I know 

many women prayed this 

way and today they are 

mothers. I prayed along 

this line too and the 

yoke was broken. 

In the name of our Lord 

Jesus Christ, every yoke 

will be broken as we call 

upon His name and hold 

on to His word. 

Why am I so sure? 

Let’s consider the word of 

the Lord in Psalm 50 

verses 14 and 15:. “ 

Offer unto God 

thanksgiving; and pay thy 

vows unto the most High: 

And call upon me in the 

day of trouble : I will 

deliver thee , and thou 

shalt glorify me”. 

So, let us call upon 

Him, we are sure that He 

will deliver us from that 

unpleasant situation and 

testimony shall follow. 

Is your case that of IVF 

that has failed several 

times? Seek the help of 

God. If you ever met 

people who have spent so 

much on IVF without 

something to show for it, 

then you will appreciate 

that even IVF needs the 

intervention of God to be 

successful. 

More importantly, we 

have a God that is able 

to give as many children as 

we want without 

consultation fees. 

Your seed, your 

testimony– In this column, 

I have emphasized the link 

between seed sowing and 

our miracle just as many 

men and women of God 

have done. Pastor Peter 

Akalamudo, while calling 

for offering, shared two 

significant testimonies 

with the congregation 

at the September last Holy 

Ghost Night of RCCG. 

He said a couple who had 

a 12-year-old child but 

wanted more children, kept 

coming to church believing 

God. Then they decided to 

donate a rug to the 

church. It was not long 

after this, he said, the 

woman conceived and had 

a set of twin boys. 

He also cited another 

couple who though 

didn’t have their own 

biological but donated 

a bus to the children’s 

department of the church . 

They had been waiting to 

have children for about 10 

years . Not long after this 

donation, the woman 

conceived and had a set of 

quadruplets; two boys and 

two girls. 

I also met a woman who 

though hadn’t children, 

made up her mind to do 

something for the 

children’s church. She 

told the pastor that she 

wanted to beautify the 

children’s church by 

painting it. She did and, 

after a while, she too 

became a mother. 

It doesn’t matter now, if 

the problem is physical or 

spiritual. Don’t even bother 

pointing accusing fingers 

on anybody or a group of 

people or focus on the 

problem. Focus on the 

breakthrough. 

Take steps to provoke the 

Lord with your offering or 

seed. 

Think out of the box, pray 

about it and the Spirit of 

the Lord will lead you to 

take a step or steps that will 

bring your miracle. 

The point that one is 

making is very clear: 

Do not get tired of seed 

sowing . 

Every seed is a spiritual 

investment and, by the 

grace of God, in this 

season, in the name of 

Jesus, you shall have a 

bountiful harvest. 

Whatever it is that 

troubles your mind, the 

Lord will give you rest 

in Jesus name. 

Hold on to his word, hold 

on to his promise and your 

testimony is assured.

PAGE 24 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

INEC almost 

surprised me 

When the 

Independent 

National 

Electoral Commission 

(INEC) announced that 

governorship elections 

would hold in Edo and 

Ondo States on 

September 10 and 

November 28, 2016 

respectively, i had cause 

to suspect that the dates 

would not be kept and that 

if the elections managed 

to hold as scheduled, they 

would not be free or fair. 

My suspicion was based 

on precedents. It is public 

knowledge that the 

average politician is not 

interested in playing the 

game of elections by the 

rules. What they normally 

do is to grossly 

circumvent the rules of 

the game to the extent 

that both the election and 

the electoral body would 

lose public confidence. 

This they do by 

compromising any 

personnel that has a role 

to play in the electoral 

process, be he in the 

Judiciary, Security, media 

or INEC. 

In 1964, government 

instructed electoral 

officers to collect only the 

nomination papers of the 

candidates of the ruling 

party and to disappear 

thereafter making it 

impossible for candidates 

of the opposition parties 

to submit their 

nomination forms for that 

year’s elections into the 

Federal House of 

Representatives. At the 

close of nominations, the 

officers came out of 

hiding only to announce 

that the candidates of the 

ruling party were elected 

unopposed. Since then, 

the manipulation of 

officials has continued in 

different forms as 

designed by the 

government in power. 

Events have shown that 

anyone including the 

military could be 

compromised as was done 

in the case of the Ekiti 

State governorship 

election in 2014. The 

evidence came through an 

audio recording provided 

by a Captain in the 32nd 

Artillery Brigade 

stationed in Ekiti State. It 

revealed how some top 

officials of the then ruling 

Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) planned and 

successfully rigged the 

gubernatorial elections in 

Ekiti State, and plotted a 

similar scenario in Osun 

in 2014. The said Captain 

reportedly recorded the 

conversation on 20th June 

2014 when he 

accompanied his 

Commanding Officer, a 

Brigadier to the meeting 

of the plot at Spotless 

Hotel, Ado-Ekiti. The 

army has since sanctioned 

The reasons for the 

postponement of the 

Edo polls were quite 

instructive to me 

because I happen to 

know that a few days 

earlier, the state 

governor irked by the 

failure of the federal 

government owned NTA 

Benin to function as a 

ruling party organ 

threatened to sanitize 

the place 

the military offenders 

Another example 

concerns the plot to 

disqualify candidate 

Muhammadu Buhari 

from contesting the 2015 

Presidential elections. The 

army through which the 

candidate had completed 

a meritorious service 

culminating in his 

attainment of the rank of 

General and Commander 

in Chief of the Armed 

Forces suddenly 

announced that it did not 

have the academic 

credentials of the former 

Head of State. How then 

did the man pass through 

the ranks? If he didn’t 

academically qualify for 

the 2015 elections, with 

what did INEC clear him 

to contest the elections of 

2003, 2007 and 2011? 

The politicians had 

earlier tried to use a 

University Teaching 

Hospital to validate the 

same candidate’s alleged 

ill-health? The truth 

however was that the 

government of the day 

had 

become 

apprehensive of daily 

reports that incumbent 

President Jonathan was 

likely to lose to candidate 

Buhari. Consequently, it 

sought to generate a 

number of rumours which 

would be made to look 

like truth using excessive 

media publicity to leave 

the subject in the subconsciousness 

of 

Nigerians. 

When all options failed, 

resort was made to 

security which would 

easily be believed in view 

of the general tense 

atmosphere caused by 

insurgency in the country. 

The then National 

Security Adviser, Col. 

Sambo Dasuki had to 

travel to as far as the 

United Kingdom to 

advice INEC which he left 

behind in Nigeria on the 

adverse security 

implications of holding 

the Presidential election 

as scheduled. Although 

the nation was in shock 

over the development, the 

election had to be shifted 

by six weeks to “enable” 

the security risks which 

supposedly threatened the 

election to be dealt with. I 

knew that the strategy 

would for a long time in 

our nation’s history serve 

as a reference point but I 

must confess I didn’t know 

it would recur in about a 

year. It was a major 

surprise to me and many 

other Nigerians when it 

served again as the reason 

for postponing the Edo 

governorship election 

scheduled for yesterday. 

Like the Dasuki episode, 

the advice to INEC to 

postpone the event came 

from our security forces 

not to INEC but to the 

nation at large through a 

joint press conference by 

the Police and the 

Department of State 

Security. Not many were 

amused by the dramatic 

presentation. Credible 

sources according the 

spokesman of the group 

had revealed that a few 

hours after President 

Buhari concluded his 

peaceful visit to Benin 

City, insurgents and or 

militants who were 

probably hiding in the 

borders of Edo State found 

their way in. For this 

reason, it was expedient to 

postpone the election. 

INEC almost surprised 

me when it initially made 

the suicidal decision to 

resist the plot. Anyway 

wise counsel prevailed and 

INEC fell in line. Analysts 

and scholars argued in 

vain that “cogent and 

verifiable reasons” which 

in the words of our 

constitution should justify 

the postponement didn’t 

exist. Did the constitution 

say that it is analysts that 

are to verify the weight of 

the reasons? On my part i 

took the security 

statement the way i always 

listen helplessly to airline 

staff that are trained to 

permanently announce 

before the departure and 

arrival of any flight that 

whatever delay in a flight 

arrangement “was due 

logistics reasons”. They 

don’t expect anyone to 

seek to verify their 

logistics reasons. 

The reasons for the 

postponement of the Edo 

polls were quite 

instructive to me because 

I happen to know that a 

few days earlier, the state 

governor irked by the 

failure of the federal 

government owned NTA 

Benin to function as a 

ruling party organ 

threatened to sanitize the 

place. He consequently 

made the necessary moves 

and the Zonal Director, 

the Head of News and all 

her immediate assistants 

in the news department 

were quickly transferred 

far away from Benin to 

other NTA stations. They 

have since been replaced. 

The offence of the staff 

was that they adopted 

professional coverage of 

events as directed by their 

organization. For 

someone who in the past 

was sacked five times but 

luckily got reinstated, I 

didn’t bother to identify 

who implemented the 

governor’s wish. I only 

note that those who 

accused the previous 

government of media 

censorship are probably 

more intolerant making it 

obvious that NTA’s 

problem as I have said 

severally is government 

control. This leaves our 

democracy in chains. 

The futility and irrationality 

of revenge (4) 

These attacks were 

partly due to the 

tendency of 

responding to crisis in Nigeria 

by blaming without careful 

thought and corroborating 

evidence those from the other 

ethnic group or other side of 

the country. As the late 

novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe 

observed, "there seemed to be 

lust for revenge, which meant 

an excuse for Nigerians to 

take out their resentment on 

the Igbo who led the nation in 

virtually every sector - politics, 

education, commerce and the 

arts...an open target, 

scapegoats for the failings and 

grievances of colonial and 

post-independent Nigeria." 

The main thrust of my 

arguments in the preceding 

paragraphs is that, contrary 

to the incendiary falsehood in 

certain quarters that the coup 

of January 15, 1966 was 

planned and executed by Igbo 

military officers to entrench 

Igbo domination of the 

country, it was a wellintentioned 

but fatally flawed 

attempt by a group of naive, 

overenthusiastic and 

idealistic soldiers to halt the 

decadence of the First 

Republic and make Nigeria, 

in the words of Major 

Nzeogwu, "a place we could 

be proud to call our home." 

But the pernicious lie of an 

"Igbo coup" had to be invented 

by certain power-intoxicated 

elements in the northern 

establishment, including 

PhD,Department of 

Philosophy, 

University of Lagos 

08116759758 

opuruiche2000@yahoo.com 

army officers, to justify the 

bloodthirsty revenge coup of 

July 29, 1966 and end the 

leadership of Maj. General 

Aguiyi-Ironsi, who, in their 

warped political calculus, 

ought not to lead because he 

was Igbo. Of course, that very 

lie fits well with the malicious 

argument that the subsequent 

pogroms against Ndigbo 

living in the north can be 

excused or at least explained 

on the ground that "they 

started it all." 

Now, even if the allegation 

of Igbo coup was correct, does 

that justify the senseless 

massacres of easterners and 

revenge coup of July 29, both 

of which eventually 

precipitated the bloodiest civil 

war in Africa? In the attempt 

to answer that question, we 

shall reanalyse, albeit briefly, 

the keynotes of Ironsi's regime, 

how he was toppled, together 

with the traumatic events 

leading up to the civil war and 

their horrifying aftermaths. 

Although, sadly, the first 

military coup was not 

bloodless, it definitely was far 

from a bloodbath. Of the senior 

military officers that were 

killed, four were from the 

north, two from western 

region, and two from the east 

(Lt. Col. Unegbe and a Major 

who was shot by loyal troops 

on the mistaken belief that he 

was one of the dissidents). The 

civilian casualties include two 

prominent politicians from 

the north, one each from the 

western and midwest regions. 

From the low casualty rate, it 

appears that the coup plotters 

did not actually intend to kill 

anyone. However, given the 

unpredictable nature of coups 

no matter how well planned 

in advance, things can go awry. 

In fact, Major Nzeogwu 

admitted later that there 

should have been no 

casualties at all, except that 

some of his colleagues became 

too excited and overzealous. 

As the most senior military 

officer and GOC 

commanding the Nigerian 

army, Ironsi took over power 

to forestall further 

degeneration of the confusion 

and crises that followed the 

coup of January 15. It was 

formally handed over to him 

after a council of ministers 

meeting by the Senate 

President and Acting 

President, Dr. A.A. Nwafor- 

Orizu. Ironsi was a career 

military officer, not a 

politician; yet he responded 

admirably to the daunting 

challenges of the moment 

foremost among which was to 

rebuild the crumbling country 

and reunite its deeply divided 

military. The new regime 

began on a positive note 

largely because it was 

supported nationwide. All 

over the country, including the 

north, people were happy that 

corrupt politicians had been 

swept out of office and hoped 

that things would improve. 

With the benefit of historical 

hindsight, one of the mistakes 

of Ironsi was that he largely 

ignored knowledgeable, 

trustworthy and hard working 

politicians in the scheme of 

things. That was probably 

because at the beginning of his 

tenure majority of Nigerians 

thought that most politicians 

were irredeemably corrupt 

and incompetent. Therefore, it 

seemed to Ironsi and other 

members of the Supreme 

Military Council (SMC) that 

the best thing to do was to 

distance his government 

from them. We have already 

noted the promotions and 

appointments he approved 

With the benefit of 

historical hindsight, one 

of the mistakes of Ironsi 

was that he largely 

ignored knowledgeable, 

trustworthy and hard 

working politicians in 

the scheme of things 

both in the military and the 

civil service which 

demonstrate that Ironsi 

strongly believed in the 

concept of "One Nigeria," that 

he bent over backwards to 

placate northerners, to the 

extent that he was criticised 

by fellow easterners. In order 

to buttress this point further 

and expose the deceit of 

mischievous historical 

revisionists, especially ethnic 

bigots brandishing academic 

titles of "professor" and 

"doctor" who falsify history by 

deliberately omitting in their 

accounts Ironsi's sincere 

efforts to run an inclusive 

government, we should point 

out that a reasonable 

percentage of his close aides 

were from the north. For 

example, he appointed 

Mallam Hamzat Ahmadu, a 

relative of late Sadauna of 

Sokoto, as his private 

secretary,Lieutenant-Colonel 

Yakubu Gowon, as his Chief 

of Army Staff, while his 

personal escort was 

composed mostly of Hausa 

soldiers under the command 

of Lieutenant Walbe, a fatal 

error, as the July 29 revenge 

coup later proved. 

Among the litany of lies 

paraded by apologists of the 

revenge coup was that because 

Ironsi was Igbo and majority 

of the coup plotters were Igbo 

also, he was unwilling to bring 

them to justice. It never 

occurred to those who argue 

this way that, perhaps, the 

tension and confusion of the 

moment prevented Ironsi 

from moving against 

Nzeogwu and his group under 

detention as quickly as 

champions of "an eye for an 

eye" response to the coup 

would have wanted. Moreover, 

in such matters, there must be 

meetings and consultations 

among members of the 

highest decision-making body 

in the country, the Supreme 

Military Council - Ironsi could 

not have taken decisions all by 

himself. In Lindsay Barrett's 

book, Danjuma: The Making 

of a General, one of the 

arrowheads of the revenge 

coup, Major T.Y. Danjuma, 

accused Ironsi of doing 

nothing to bring Nzeogwu and 

his fellow conspirators to 

justice. But Danjuma, probably 

blinded by obsession to avenge 

for prominent northern 

politicians and senior military 

officers killed in January 1966, 

was just looking for an excuse 

to liquidate Major-General 

Ironsi who promoted him 

some months earlier to the 

rank of Major. Major-General 

Hassan Usman Katsina in 

1968 acknowledged that the 

SMC chaired by Ironsi 

eventually decided that the 

officers involved in the failed 

coup would be courtmartialled 

not later than October 1966. 

Majar-General David Ejoor 

corroborated this: according 

him, although there were 

conflicting views when 

members of the SMC 

discussed the issue during their 

meetings, a consensus was 

reached that the coup plotters 

should be tried.Thus, it is false 

to claim that Ironsi was 

uninterested in holding the 

coup plotters accountable for 

their action. 

On May 24, 1966, Ironsi 

promulgated the Unification 

Decree 34, which abolished 

the four regions and divided 

the country into provinces. 

The decree stipulated that 

Nigeria ceases to be a 

federation and becomes 

simply the Republic of Nigeria. 

It also unified thepublic 

services of the federation and 

regions into one national 

public service superintended 

by a National Public Service 

Commission. The Unification 

Decree was followed by Public 

Order Decree 1966, which 

abolished all political parties 

and other organisations 

based on tribal, sectional and 

regional affiliations. Ironsi 

envisaged the resumption of 

political party activities by 

January 17, 1969, with the 

possibility of reducing the 

waiting period if normalcy 

returned and was sustained 

before then.Unfortunately, the 

Unification Decree was not 

well received in the north. 

Katsina, its military governor, 

in response to demonstrating 

civil servants in Kaduna 

demanding secession of the 

north, called a meeting of all 

northern emirs. When the 

meeting ended, the emirs sent 

a memorandum to Ironsi 

demanding the abrogation of 

decree 34 or the north would 

secede. Ironsi explained to 

them that nothing much had 

changed: the decree, he said, 

was a temporary measure 

intended for administrative 

efficiency in a military regime 

and that no permanent 

changes in the machinery of 

governance would be carried 

out without the referendum he 

had promised earlier. 

To be concluded.


By JAPHET ALAKAM 

CULTURE 

As preparations for a better 

and successful hosting of 

NAFEST 2016 slated for Akwa 

Ibom gears up, the Director- 

General, National Council for 

Arts and Culture and 

Chairperson, CEC, Mrs. Dayo 

Keshi, has charged all the 

stakeholders in the culture sector 

to find ways of improving on the 

presentation and marketing of 

existing Festivals while inventing 

new ones. Even as the Akwa-Ibom 

State Commissioner for Culture 

and Tourism, Otuekong 

Emmanuel Ibiok, charged 

Stakeholders in the Culture 

Industry to explore the option of 

partnering with corporate and 

private investors to organize a 

successful, economically viable 

and glamorous NAFEST 2016. 

The 2016 NAFEST with the 

theme “Exploring the Goldmine 

Inherent in Nigeria’s Creative 

Industries” scheduled for 2nd – 

9th October, 2016 will be hosted 

by Akwa Ibom state. 

The duo made the appeal 

during the 45th Meeting of the 

Chief Executives of Culture of the 

Federation (CEC) held in Uyo, 

Akwa-Ibom State to deliberate 

on the final adoption of the 

NAFEST Syllabus; assess the 

hosting State’s preparedness ; and 

to elicit the necessary input 

towards achieving collective 

desires for a better and successful 

NAFEST. 

Speaking about the festival, 

By PRISCA SAM-DURU 

EXCHANGE 

Five Nigerian students, 

selected by their faculties 

from universities across the 

country departed Nigeria from 

Lagos, on Saturday, 27 August for 

Beirut. They joined students from 

other countries’ universities in a 

cultural study exchange 

programme titled, ‘Study Abroad 

In Lebanon, SAIL’. 

The SAIL programme is an 

initiative of CEDARS Institute, 

Notre Dame University, Lebanon, 

which is designed as an intensive 

course for international students, 

in the spirit of the global effort to 

promote dialogue between 

cultures. 

This was disclosed during a 

press conference in Lagos with 

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole 

Soyinka, members of the Soyinka 

Foundation as well as the 

Lebanese initiator of the 

programme, Dr Jafaar Habib. 

Prof Soyinka said “I am 

interested in the efforts of the Wole 

Soyinka Foundation to try and 

expose youthful minds to all the 

cultures, civilisation, sociopolitical 

problems else where to 

ancient ways. Dr Jaffar is the 

brain behind the initiative, this is 

the first effort to participate in 

youthful exercises especially 

intellectual cultural artistic sides 

going on in other places. The five 

students selected for the SAIL 

programme is the first group 

which will be accompanied by 

Professor Ajayi Soyinka who is a 

gender study specialist.” 

The Lebanese fascilitator of the 

study programme, Dr Jafaar said 

it was a privilege for the “Wole 

Soyinka Foundation to be 

partnering with Cedars in the 

project dedicated to cultural 

exchanges and international 

Akwa Ibom set for a viable, 

glamorous NAFEST 2016 

Mrs Keshi disclosed that the 

festival is the oldest NATIONAL 

festival with representatives of 

the 36 states and FCT. “It 

provides a formidable platform 

in the bottom up approach to 

wealth creation as most of the 

participants are drawn from the 

grassroots of each local 

governments in the states. It is 

key in showcasing the economic 

strength of festivals as it provides 

a large inflow of participants 

tourists filling up hotels, 

increased Transport etc making 

it a veritable tool in the 

diversification of our economy.” 

Contuining, she pointed out 

that children are a key 

component of NAFEST giving 

them a keen sense of creativity as 

they participate in the 

competitive presentation of their 

paintings dances etc. For 

Nigeria can become 

a global power in 

culture as well as a 

major exporter of 

culture with right 

mix of resources 

and tourism 

integration 

I am interested in the 

efforts of the 

foundation to try and 

expose youthful 

minds to all the 

cultures, civilisation, 

socio-political 

problems else 

where... 

children can actually earn 

through creativity even while in 

school. 

NAFEST 2016 shall feature Arts 

and Crafts Competition, 

Indigenous Poetry Performance, 

Drama, Traditional Wrestling and 

Indigenous Cuisines where 

Children are to interpret NAFEST 

2016 theme through Essay 

Writing, Painting and Drawing 

Competition. 

The meeting which was declared 

open by His Excellency, the 

Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom 

State, Mr. Moses F. Ekpo, MFR 

was attended by the 

Representatives of Chief 

Executives of (2) Federal 

Parastatals of Culture: National 

Institute for Cultural Orientation 

Lebanon, Soyinka Foundation in 

cross cultural exchange 

collaboration. The partnership of 

the University of Notre Dame 

and Nigeria actually goes back 

some years, one of its most 

memorable initiatives being an 

international colloquium on the 

one year anniversary of the death 

of Professor Chinua Achebe. It 

was titled Honouring Chinua 

Achebe, a Lebanese-Nigerian 

Celebration, that event was 

presided over by the then 

Nigerian Ambassador 

Plenipotentiary, Amos Oluwole 

Idowu.” 

Five Nigerian students united 

with their counterparts from 

other countries in an intensive, 

interactive course on a syllabus 

• Prof Wole 

Soyinka( 

2nd l) and 

wife (R) Dr 

J a f a a r 

Habib(2nd 

L) and Prof. 

A j a y i 

Soyinka(l) 

designed to broaden their world 

perspectives. The students will be 

introduced to a modern Middle- 

Eastern nation with a complex 

history, filled with scenic 

surprises, a rich and facilitating 

cultural heritage, and a long 

experience in conflict resolution 

through experiments in 

governance systems. 

Dr Habib Jafaar who 

described himself as a Nigerian 

of Lebanese descent, having 

been born in Kano State and 

boasts of several business 

ventures in Nigeria, said through 

his life experience, has noticed 

that although Nigeria and 

Lebanon share a lot of 

experiences and challenges and 

are both multicultural and multi 

religious societies yet, “I find 

there are areas which are 

lacking in the social and cultural 

aspects of the relationship 

between these two countries and 

people. So over the years I have 

been in activities to improve that 

aspect among which is the 

Nigerian Lebanese initiative and 

most important is my recent 

work with the Wole Soyinka 

Foundation at the Cedars 

Institute of Lebanon. 

• Gov. 

U d o m 

Emmanuel 

of Akwa 

Ibom (R) 

with art 

w o r k 

presented 

to him by 

Mrs Dayo 

Keshi, DG 

NCAC (l) 

during the 

visit 

(NICO), National Commission 

for Museums and Monument 

(NCMM)and 13 Directors of 

State Council for Arts and 

Culture/History and Culture 

Bureaux, including (Abia, 

Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, 

Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, 

Kebbi, Niger, Ogun, Rivers, 

Plateau). 

On how to move the festival 

forward, they noted that it is 

needful to introduce innovations 

and creativity in designing, 

packaging and interpretation of 

the Syllabus contents and that 

Nigeria has a comparative 

advantage in the Cultural 

global market and we must all 

Swamiji and Art of living 

By JAPHET ALAKAM 

ART 

Swami Shivapad, fondly 

known as Swamiji, is a 

dedicated yoga and meditation 

teacher who has devoted his life 

to the upliftment and betterment 

of society. Swamiji who started 

his art life at a tender age by 

usually sitting alone, observing 

nature and introspecting into the 

purpose of life, has been teaching 

various programs from The Art 

of Living extensively across India 

through to the remote areas of 

the north eastern states, as well 

as abroad. He visited Nigeria 

recently to spread happiness and 

the seed of awareness to every 

Nigerian allowing one to tap into 

their inner wealth regardless of 

one’s status, position and power. 

After his first interaction with 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar he 

abandoned luxury for a higher 

cause of serving humanity and 

joined the Art of Living 

Foundation. He has a Masters in 

English literature (M.A), and 

excelled in various 

extracurricular activities which 

include cricket, archery, and 

target shooting and racing. 

Photography is one of his greatest 

passions to date with a keen 

subject interest in wild life. A very 

rare quality is his ability to 

interact with every age group, 

extracting one’s attributes and 

enabling them to blossom to their 

unrealized full potential. 

The Art of Living teacher has 

reached out to thousands with his 

expertise in meditation, specific 

yoga programs and discourses on 

various scriptures empowering 

many facets of an individual 

through to improved ethics and 

ethos in the work environment. 

His wealth of knowledge has 

transformed and enabled a 

diverse population that ranges 

from villagers, public servants, 

community groups, medical 

professionals, army personnel, 

war veterans, corporate and 

government officials. 

take its advantage and explore. 

They also adopted to do the Arts 

& Craft as a Competitive event while 

Traditional Apartment was agreed 

to be skipped till next time due to its 

high cost implications. 

Also, in its commitment to ensure 

early preparation and successful 

implementation of the National 

Festival of Arts and Culture, the 

meeting unanimously offered the 

hosting rights for the 30th edition 

(NAFEST 2017) to Kaduna State. 

Earlier, in his opening address, the 

Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom 

State, Mr. Moses F. Ekpo, MFR, 

called for a massive Cultural revival 

through strategic acculturation, and 

tasked them on the need to 

brainstorm and strategize on how 

to re-position Nigeria’s Culture to 

attract global patronage as a major 

foreign exchange earner for the 

Country, given the Federal 

Government’s re-investment drive 

in Culture and Tourism sub-Sector. 

He further noted that Nigeria can 

become a global power in Culture 

as well as a major exporter of 

Culture with right mix of resources 

and tourism integration.. 

The body commended the 

culture-friendly administration of 

Mr. Udom Emmanuel for his 

support to the State’s culture sector 

and the hospitality extended to 

delegates to the meeting, and for 

hosting the 45th edition of Chief 

Executives of Culture Meeting in the 

state in spite of the current economic 

challenges and for their tireless 

efforts in the Sector and enduring 

commitment to the development 

and growth of Culture and Tourism. 

Swamiji has taught and continues 

to teach the various programs 

across 3,000 villages and cities 

across India, South East Asia & 

Africa. 

According to him, when we live 

every moment of our lives with 

awareness we do not allow the mind 

to reminisce about the past or dwell 

in the future. These are spheres of 

regret, anger, uncertainty and fear. 

The beauty, depth and the 

possibilities of the present dawns in 

you. The unbounded potential 

within you finds a means to express 

itself in the present. To experience 

this though one needs to dive deep 

within. 

Thus when we live a life of 

awareness, every moment we are 

unconsciously directing our mind to 

change its perennial habit of either 

living in the past or the future. 

Mastering one’s mind is cakewalk 

for a person living with awareness 

in each moment. 

This seed of awareness can be 

sown and nurtured. Your unbounded 

potential can be experienced. Your 

mind can be mastered. This is all 

achieved through Meditation. 

In 2004, post Kargil war, he 

worked with the Indian Army 

personnel offering stress and 

trauma relief programs as well as 

rehabilitation programs. 

Creativity, Clarity of mind, 

Intuition, Sharpness of Intelligence, 

Empathy, Re-emergence of value 

systems, a Win-Win attitude and 

effective communication skills are 

factors that are essential for 

business. These traits and values 

surface in you as by products. 

• Swami Shivapad


“ 

Does Your Man Think The G-Spot Is A Type Of Acne Cream? 

THE average man thinks 

he’s great in bed, 

doesn’t he? Only a few 

days ago, while chatting with 

some young lively and 

adventurous women, one of 

them complained that, “some 

men’s between the sheets 

activities could be quite 

frustrating. It’s not that they 

lack enthusiasm, the problem 

is their technique - they 

scarcely have any. Foreplay is 

clumsy and hurried. And as for 

the sex, it’s all wham, bam, was 

that it?” 

It was by a stroke of luck that 

I recently got hold of ‘How T0 

Be A Great Lover’ by Lou Pajet 

and this week, I intend to share 

his “Key to fabulous sex,” 

which he agrees is foreplay. 

This might turn a fumbling 

lover into a sex machine! Take 

kissing for instance. A common 

mistake men make, according 

to Lou, is thinking that the 

things they enjoy will be 

pleasurable for their partners 

too ... “The man - who doesn’t 

like a tongue in his ear is rare” 

Lou observes .... But the 

woman who does like it is rare 

still. For most women, the 

“melt zone is the neck. They 

go gaga when kissed there.” 

If you have other melt zones, 

let your lover be aware of this. 

Ask for his too!! 

Sex toys: “The job of a sex 

toy is to enhance, not take 

over,” Lou explained ... . “Even 

if you’ve not used toys before, 

they can add sparks to your 

sex life.” 

But what if your man feels 

threatened by the “stiff 

competition?” “Men should 

think of a vibrator as being like 

the TV remote control. They 

can take charge if you want 

them to,” said Lou. Luckily, sex 

toys now abound in novelty 

stores all over the place - make 

the most of them! 

Finding the G-Spot (No, G- 

spot is not a type of acne 

cream!) The G-Spot is located 

inside the vaginal entrance, 

above the pubic bone in the 

front wall, Lou stated. . . .If he 

imagines your vagina entrance 

as a clock, the G-spot is 

typically at 12 noon. In order 

to “Hit the spot, the man 

should use his middle finger 

in a circular motion. Another 

tip is for him to press gently 

on top of the vagina with his 

other hand. This will increase 

a woman’s pleasure.” Lou 

pointed out that it is not just 

men who need to rethink their 

technique ... Women should be 

willing to expand their 

bedroom skills too by first 

learning how to stimulate their 

men by hand .... It’s an easy 

skill to master,” he insisted. 

For practice, a man needs to 

raise his two middle fingers in 

the air. Then his partner should 

grasp the base of his fingers, 

with her thumb facing down. 

Next, she has to move her 

hand up, twisting as if opening 

a jar, then back down again. 

Another tip is for a women to 

wrap a bead-necklace round 

her hand or her partner’s penis 

before beginning manual 

stimulation. He will love the 

different texture. 

Lou’s top tips for couples: 

Kiss each other all over. So that 

your partner knows exactly how 

much suction or pressure you 

prefer on a specific area, 

demonstrate on their finger or 

tongue. Get filthy with food. 

Buy your partner’s favourite 

food and then serve it 

somewhere you wouldn’t 

normally - if you get the drift! 

List three areas of your body 

you want attended to moist. 

Don’t make your partner guess 

what turns you on. Tell them 

where and how you want to be 

touched. Buy a sex book and 

highlight your preferences. 

Use pink highlights for you, 

blue for him. Then throw down 

the book on the bed. Do what it 

says on the first page that falls 

open! 

LOU’s top bedroom tips for 

him: Make sure you’re clean - 

and shave! 

Beard stubble feels like 

sandpaper. Don’t pinch her 

nipples. Most women simply 

don’t like it. When a woman 

says “that’s it’, she means just 

that. She doesn’t mean do it 

harder. Follow her lead. 

Women often touch where they 

want to be touched. The 

pressure she uses indicates 

how firm or light she’d like your 

touch to be. Slow it down. 

Teasing is very sexy. 

Bedroom tips for her: Don’t 

go to the action spot first, make 

him wait! 

Men are visual creatures. 

Consider asking him if he’d 

like to watch you. Suck on a 

mint before pleasuring him. It 

provides a tingling sensation 

many men love. Most men: 

‘like to be touched more firmly 

than women. Try scratching in 

a wavy motion down the inside 

of his arms, thighs or neck. 

Obviously, be more gentle with 

his genitals. Trim his pubic hair 

as part of your foreplay. 

I decided to share Lou’s 

recommendations with you 

readers based on most of the 

feed-backs I always get. It is 

unbelievable the amount of 

ignorance readers exhibit on 

sex. Sex is a natural part of a 

relationship - not a dirty grope 

that has to be done in the dark! 

“I was a bit put out to be 

described as dull in the sack,” 

confessed Jerome before I gave 

him a copy of the tips. “I always 

thought I was a pretty good 

lover. But now I realize what 

a lot I have to learn, especially 

about foreplay. With a little 

more practice, I might just be 

the stud my girl fantasises 

about!” 

Tips given here are just 

guidelines. What you do in the 

privacy of your room with your 

loved ones should be from 

your heart and you should 

never be ashamed of the body 

God gave you. You can’t 

change the structure of your 

body but you can improve on 

it to be confident in the 

bedroom. No one is too old to 

learn of the heights of ecstasy 

the right technique can take 

you! 

08052201867(Text Only) 

Exercises for suppleness 

The pre-requisite to 

greater health and 

well-being is the will to 

be up and exercise on a regular 

basis. 

The daily sacrifice of rising 

in the morning to practice will 

reward any and every one with 

the kind of body that will see 

him or her through thick and 

thin. Because Yoga is an integrated 

system, every part of the 

body is given equal attention. 

The harmonious functioning of 

all the parts of the body is its 

primary aim. 

The postures and breathing 

exercises apart, yoga also has 

principles governing diet and 

eating patterns. 

In terms of diet, the 

emphasis is on the consumption 

of fruits and vegetables. 

This is not to say that meant 

eaters can’t practise yoga. The 

advice is just that the greater 

part of our nourishment should 

be sourced from the vegetable 

kingdom. The reason being 

that they are more nourishing 

and less toxic in comparison to 

flesh. In this day and age 

when the cholesterol levels are 

high in the average individual, 

the advice that we 

should eat more fruits and 

vegetables make sense. 

You may try the following 

yoga postures. 

THE PLOUGH 

The Legs and Arms Raise Pose 

* The Plough 

TECHNIQUE: Lying flat on 

your back with the hands by 

your sides, swing backwards 

both legs till the toes touch the 

floor. 

Drop the knees to the floor or 

quite close and bring the hands 

to lie along the outside of the 

legs. Stay in this position for 

some ten seconds. 

BENEFITS: The plough 

instills suppleness to the spine 

and helps to massage the digestive 

organs. It also banishes 

indigestion and constipation. 

CAUTION: If you can’t get 

your toes touching the floor 

don’t force. Let the feet hang 

off the floor till you’re flexible 

enough in the back. 

THE LEGS AND ARMS 

RAISE 

TECHNIQUE: Sit on the 

floor and raising both legs 

high up stretch out the arms in 

the slightly arched. Stay in the 

posture between 5 to 10 seconds 

and drop the feet gently 

to the floor again, rest a while 

and repeat. 

BENEFITS: This exercise 

strengthens the muscles of the 

thighs and abdomen. It 

Yoga Classes 

STARTED 

Physical Therapy Centre 

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, 

Victoria Island Lagos. 

10.00am — 11.00am 

on Saturdays 

prevents a pot belly. 

THE CHAIR 

TECHNIQUE: Standing 

with the feet about a foot and 

half apart. Keep the hands 

stretched out at shoulder level. 

Gradually lower the body as 

you bend the knees, first, in a 

flat-footed manner. As you 

descend some more it will be 

impossible to remain flatfooted. 

At this juncture get 

onto the balls of your feet and 

get the buttocks in contact with 

the heels. Stay down on the 

heels for a slow count to ten 

and then start getting up 

rather slowly and on tip-toe till 

the knees are straight. Remain 

standing up on your toes with 

the hands still at shoulder 

level for another slow count to 

ten. Then drop the heels 

down. And start again on the 

way down and then up slowly 

again on your toes till you are 

upright for ten counts. Drop 

the heels and relax. 

BENEFITS: The chair tones 

up the muscles of the legs. It 

knocks off stiffness in the 

knees and ankles. It also aids 

in maintaining a more upright 

posture.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

Umuahia: As The 

Phoenix Rises 

Last weekend in 

Dearborn, Michigan, 

old students of the 

Government College 

Umuahia – “Umuahians” – 

as they’re called, under the 

banner of the GCUOBA- 

USA, met at their annual 

convention at the Henry 

Autograph Collection Hotel 

in Dearborn. I had flown in 

an early morning flight from 

Orlando, Florida. 

As a matter of fact, my wife, 

Mira, had driven me early 

through the last vestiges of 

Hurricane Hermine which 

had made its landfall the 

previous night, and swerved 

through Orlando, cutting 

across the Atlantic coast. The 

sky still looked forbidden that 

morning, and Mira had said, 

“I hope you make it!” with the 

likelihood that weatherrelated 

events might force the 

cancellation of my morning 

flight to Michigan, all of three 

hours on the haul. I was of 

course resolved to be at the 

convention, hurricane or no 

hurricane. At the airport, my 

wife said, “Say “up 

Umuahia!” to the 

Umuahians from me.” That 

was her way of conveying her 

regrets for not attending this 

year’s meeting much as she’d 

have loved to. 

The “Umuahian wives” – 

our lovely “young girls” are 

the real drivers of the passion 

and the commitment that 

have compelled us so far these 

last decade, since the first 

convening of the GCUOBA- 

rexmarinus@hotmail.com 

USA in North America, to 

move and brace up to the 

challenge of restoring our 

great alma mater, the 


Umuahia. And true enough, 

on arrival, and as soon as I 

settled myself to my 

surroundings in this quite 

elegant hotel, I called the 

formidable Okey Eneli, class 

of 1970, an Engineer, and 

Vice-President Engineering 

Services at Nationwide 

Children’s Hospital in 

Columbus, Ohio, who is the 

indefatigable chair of the 

Midwest Chapter of the 

GCUOBA, the hosts for this 

year’s convention. 

Eneli is a force of nature. 

Built tautly, like a well-tuned 

cello, with no waste of muscle, 

Eneli not only radiates 

infectious energy, but he has 

what someone later pointed 

out as the sharp and 

organized mind of an 

engineer, with a really great 

eye for detail. As the local 

chair and chief host of this 

year’s convention, Eneli and 

his equally formidable wife, 

Dr. Ihuoma Eneli, MD, 

Paediatrician and 

Epidemiologist, and 

Professor of Clinical 

Paediatrics at the Ohio State 

University College of 

Medicine, moved 

operationally from 

Columbus, Ohio, to Detroit, 

Michigan, ahead of us all, to 

ensure a hitch free event, and 

things ran indeed like a welloiled 

machine. He it was 

whom I called on arrival, and 

who told me that a few others 

had arrived ahead of me, 

among them, not surprisingly, 

Nnabueyi Chike Momah, our 

grand patron of the class of 

’44, and his dear wife, our 

“youngest girl” Arunne Ethel 

Momah. 

This inspiring octogenarian 

couple puts us all literally on 

the run, and we often play 

catch-up to no avail. Dr. Bato 

Amu of ‘65, President of the 

GCUOBA-USA board, had 

come in from Atlanta. Dr. 

Amu, an internist, and one of 

the founding spirits of the 

Association of Nigerian 

Physicians in North America, 

ANPA, is another truly 

remarkable Umuahian. I did 

note something he had in 

common with Christian 

Chike Momah: it is that Bato 

Amu – whom Umuahians 

love to call “Batman” ages 

backwards. 

Perhaps because they were 

both formidable cricket 

batsmen in their time in 

Umuahia, Momah making it 

to the Nigerian national 

cricket II with the likes of Rex 

Akpofure, Christopher 

Okigbo, Caleb Olaniyan, 

Leslie Harriman, Afolabi 

Ogunlesi (then “George”), 

Ebenezer Ikomi, Wilfred 

Chukudebelu, and so on, and 

Amu, captaining the 

University of Nigeria’s cricket 

team in the early ‘70s. 

The trauma surgeon, Dr. 

Sam Nwaobasi of the class of 

’56 – school goalkeeper in 

1962, captain of Hockey, and 

Captain of Cozens and his wife 

Margaret, had also come in 

early from St. Louis, Missouri. 

Onyema Nkele, a Computer 

Engineer, and his Attorney 

wife, Oma Nkele were also 

already there from Atlanta. So 

were Dr. Okechi Nwagbara 

and his wife Ijeoma, from 

Chicago, and my own 

classmate of the class of ’78, 

Dr. Kingsley Umezurike, a 

Pharmacist in Atlanta, who 

flew ahead of his wife, Stella, 

who came later that evening. 

And such is the commitment 

that drew Estelle Ngozi Oji who 

arrived ahead of her husband, 

Jideofo “Jay” Oji, President of 

Sphinx Development Corp and 

Principal of Oji Associates, Real 

Estate developers and Valuers, 

who got too busy in his office, 

arrived late at the airport, and 

missed his last flight out to 

Detroit. But there we all were at 

the lobby that Friday evening, 

with Umuahians trickling in 

from the various nooks of the 

United States. And there was the 

Eneli is a force of 

nature. Built tautly, like 

a well-tuned cello, with 

no waste of muscle, 

Eneli not only radiates 

infectious energy, but 

he has what someone 

later pointed out as the 

sharp and organized 

mind of an engineer, 

with a really great eye 

for detail 

Nigerian delegation – Dr. 

Eugene C. Ibe, ’55, former 

Director of Research at the 

NNPC and his wife, Prof. Mrs. 

Ibe of Uniport; Mr. Emeka 

Ifezulike,’70, Chartered 

Accountant, principal Ifezulike 

and Co, and currently Special 

Adviser to the Minister for trade, 

and Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi 

’79, former Managing Director 

of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity 

Trading Co, (NBET). 

Soon, we were invited to the 

suites of Mr. Randy Nduka, ‘67 

and his wife the Attorney Angie 

Nduka, for opening repast, 

where we began by disvirgining 

“Ifenii” – a fine bottle of the 

Baron Otard Extra 1795 

Cognac – taken mostly neat, 

after a short invocation by 

Nnabueyi Momah – whom we 

reminded not to make his hand 

too generous in pouring out the 

Otard to the ancestors and 

our departed fellow 

Umuahians who have 

ascended, and have 

doubtlessly formed a branch 

of the GCUOBA in heaven. 

Ali Talib, did use the 

occasion to beseech Mr. 

Momah, to use his elderly 

reaches in Nigeria to 

intervene on his behalf 

before the Olu of the 

Itshekiri, to return his wife 

Seje, who had been 

summoned to the Itshekiri 

palace, and as result could 

not be present in this year’s 

convention. 

It was of course all in 

good humor, and the small 

party in Randy Nduka’s 

“crib” presaged that 

evening’s reception by the 

oldboys of the Midwest 

chapter at the reception suite, 

where by now more 

Umuahians, having arrived 

had gathered. It was a lively 

evening with Dr. Jerome 

Nriagu, ‘55 PhD, DSc, 

Emeritus Professor of 

Environmental Chemistry 

at the University of 

Michigan in Ann Arbor, 

Gab. Ugwu, ‘63 Director of 

the Africa Resource Center 

in Detroit, the 

Physiotherapist Dr. Ahinze 

C. Osuamadi, ’76, Dr. 

Martin Nwankwo ’62, 

Neonatologist at Saginaw, 

Michigan, Charles Moka, a 

Chemical Engineer from 

Chicago, Dr. Emeka 

Aniagolu, Professor of 

Politics at the Ohio Wesleyan 

University and his wife 

Marianne Ndiaye 

Aniagolu, the internist, Dr. 

Osita Okpaloka,’66, and his 

wife Chinwe, Director of 

Undergraduate recruitment 

& Diversity at Ohio State 

University; Dr. Casmir 

Okoro ‘67 from Atlanta; 

Innocent Egedigwe of 

Silverspring Maryland, Dr. 

Okezie Anaba Wachuku, ’72 

of Michigan, Udobi and 

Ngozi Ikeji of Maryland, the 

Gastroenterologist, Dr. 

Emma Okafor ’65 of 

Beachwood, Ohio, Dr. 

Chinwendu Ike Mbanugo, 

‘64 President of Atlantis 

Engineering LLC Dearborn 

and his wife Ruki, Bonny 

Olumba ‘76 and his wife 

Winnie from Atlanta, Dr. 

Chuck Ibeku and his wife 

Chika from New Jersey, of 

course, the President of the 

GCUOBA-USA, Dr. Godswill 

Okoji ’67 and his wife, Naya. 

Umuahians are not all about 

“swots” and “jobbing,” they 

party hard too, and it always 

goes right well into the 

morning. But we were still up, 

bright and early, Saturday 

morning, and all through the 

day at the business meeting, 

interrupted only by a coffee 

break and lunch at a 

Japanese Restaurant. Here, 

various reports, the highlight 

of which were the reports of 

the new Board of Trustees 

under the Chairmanship of 

Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to 

which the administration and 

future development of the 


Umuahia had been ceded by 

Emeka Ifezulike; the Project 

Committee of the Trust by Dr. 

Ibe, and the GCUOBA-USA 

finance and fundraising 

committee, by Mr. Onyema 

Nkele were presented. The 

upshot is what Mr. Randy 

Nduka declared as “the report 

we’ve all been waiting for,” 

which is that the Government 

College Umuahia finally has 

a chance to rise from the 

sloughs and ruins of neglect, 

thanks to the initiative that 

has endowed it to a new 

Trustees. 

And this was the thrust of the 

dinner lecture by the guest 

lecturer that night, Dr. Ajovi 

Scott-Emuakpor, 

distinguished Professor of 

Medicine, who took us down 

the history of what made 

Umuahia tick, and the 

imperative of its rising like the 

phoenix. We also used the 

evening to honor a great and 

Umuahian – Dr. Kevin 

Uwazurike – who passed on 

the year, previous. Next year, 

it shall be in DC, and C.C. 

Momah already cannot wait. 

Ladipo Adamolekun 

essays 

Nigeria at crossroads 

(Written on December 3, 

1993) 

As we approach the 

mid-point of the last 

decade of the 20th 

century, Nigeria is at a 

crossroads in every sense of 

the word. The triumph of the 

military party in the face of a 

disunited civilian elite (who 

should lead the civilian party) 

is the most eloquent testimony 

of a crisis that is evident in 

every sphere: economic, 

political and social. 

When the unfolding 

political crisis began in 

November 1992 with the 

cancellation of presidential 

election primaries and the 

postponement of elections 

until June 1993, I confidently 

predicted that continuation of 

military rule beyond January 

1994 would not be tolerated 

by Nigerians. I was confident 

that Babangida would 

disappear from the scene one 

way or the other. I also knew 

that Sonekan’s first coming in 

the shape of a Transitional 

Council would not do any 

good for the country. Finally, 

I was confident that the 

Sonekan-led Interim 

National Government would 

not last its six-month term. All 

my predictions proved true 

except the apparent 

perpetuation of military rule. 

What really happened? How 

would it all unfold and, put 

more bluntly, what future for 

Nigeria? 

What really happened? I 

would have to admit that as a 

temporary expatriate 

Nigerian, the facts that are 

available to me are limited. 

On the basis of conversations 

with two intellectual giants 

[one from a southern state and 

the other from a northern 

state] between November 

28th and December 2nd and 

with insights derived from 

three visits to Nigeria between 

January and October 1993, I 

would like to record the 

following: 

(i) The forces mobilized to 

send Babangida packing on 

or before August 27th 1993 

(his self-imposed final 

departure deadline), were too 

strong for him to resist 

successfully. In the end, he had 

to bow out in disgrace. 

Babangida’s die-hard 

supporters among both the 

civilian and military elite 

groups were outnumbered ad 

the external environment was 

openly hostile. 

(ii) The anti-Babangida 

When the unfolding political 

crisis began in November 

1992 with the cancellation 

of presidential election 

primaries and the 

postponement of elections 

until June 1993, I confidently 

predicted that continuation 

of military rule beyond 

January 1994 would not be 

tolerated by Nigerians 

coalition began to show 

cracks as soon as he 

disappeared 

from the scene. Position 

taken for or against 

Babangida-imposed Interim 

National Government (ING), 

led by the feckless Sonekan, 

separated the two factions that 

emerged within the civilian 

elite. Although the ING was 

at the centre of the split, the 

polarization also took on the 

coloration of existing 

dichotomies: SPD/NRC, 

ethnic, linguistic, geopolitical 

and religious. However, 

because the June 12 electoral 

verdict had revealed 

Nigerians’ preparedness to 

de-emphasize these 

dichotomies (thereby 

affirming an unprecedented 

commitment to ONE 

Nigeria), supporters and 

opponents of ING were found 

across the barriers of these 

dichotomies. There were, of 

course, some outstanding 

“solidarities”: the Yorubas of the 

South-west massively rejected 

ING as did the press and prodemocracy 

NGOs. On the 

other hand, the majority of the 

Hausa-Fulani elite and a 

significant proportion of Ibo 

elite were pro-ING. 

Significantly, whatever 

disagreements were in the 

military were kept “en famille”. 

But there were rumours that the 

military was also divided like 

the rest of the society but 

outsiders did not know the 

details. 

(iii) ING’s collapse was 

heralded by its inability to 

mobilise society for new 

presidential and local 

government elections scheduled 

for February 19994 and its 

inability to proceed with the 

“probe” of the results of the June 

1993 elections. It was dealt a 

fatal blow when a Lagos High 

Court declared it illegal. When 

the military leadership decided 

to “collect powers” in the 

looming vacuum, the civilian 

elite was not organised to pose 

a challenge. Indeed, indecent 

scrambling for sharing power 

ensued, largely along inter- and 

intra-party lines but with due 

attention to the other 

dichotomies mentioned above. 

The military moved swiftly to 

quash dissent within its own 

ranks while it proceeded with 

the easier task of applying the 

tested “divide and rule” formula 

in dealing with the civilian elite. 

The civilians offered little or no 

resistance and the country was 

returned to military rule after 

83 days of ING. (A curious 

element in all this was the 

provision in the Decree 

establishing the ING on the 

designation of the most senior 

“Secretary” in the 

Government as the successor 

to the Head of State in the 

event of the latter’s 

resignation. General 

Abacha who was the 

designated most senior 

Secretary in the ING sensed 

an opportune moment to 

ask the weak and fumbling 

ING head to resign and he 

obliged!) 

Economic Basis of 

Political Behaviour: One 

powerful message that has 

emerged from the exercise 

of political power in Nigeria 

since the 1970s is that it 

constitutes an escape from 

poverty for those who 

directly exercise it and those 

who are their associates. A 

few daring ones make it 

through direct looting of the 

national treasury; some 

through rent-seeking 

activities, and others 

through jobs provided by the 

state. The overconcentration 

of economic 

power (notably oil revenues) 

at the federal level accounts 

for the intense struggle for 

the control of the presidency. 

The mix-bag of civilians 

who are in Abacha’s cabinet 

comprise established rentseekers, 

perpetual 

dependents on state offices 

and an assorted number of 

opportunists. A handful of 

apparently competent and 

honest public servants in the 

“team” would have to prove 

that they are different. As 

for the military leadership, 

General Abacha himself 

was a key participant in the 

institutionalisation of 

corruption during 

Babangida’s rule. Military 

rule and institutionalised 

corruption undermined the 

economic policy reforms 

embarked upon in 1986 to the 

disadvantage of the Nigerian 

society: the deepening of 

poverty, decay of the 

educational system, 

crumbling infrastructure and 

virtually non-existent health 

services. If Abacha’s rule 

would mean more of the same 

(I cannot see how it would be 

different), then, what future for 

Nigeria? 

Whither Nigeria? I had 

thought that a decision on 

whether a mismanaged 

Nigeria should be kept ONE 

at all costs should be 

postponed until 1998 or 

1999. Today, (December 3rd 

1993), I am convinced that the 

issue should be resolved within 

the next 24 months. 

Disintegration is an option 

that should be put on the table 

for free and frank discussion. 

What is needed is a system of 

rule that would allow the 

harnessing of the country’s 

human and natural resources 

for the benefit of all its 

citizens. That system of rule 

would not be military-led. It 

should be a federal 

democracy with significantly 

reduced powers at the federal 

level together with other 

characteristics similar to 

those set out in the November 

1991 issue of Publius, The 

Journal of Federalism 

devoted to “Federalism in 

Nigeria”. 

- December 3rd 1993 

Postscript: As a member of 

the Nigerian elite living 

abroad at this point in time, I 

feel hobbled, humbled and 

humiliated.


N145 petrol per litre: 

Appropriate 

pricing question 

•Signs of looming hike 

By Michael Eboh, Chiamaka 

Ajeamo, Susan Onuorji, Rebecca 

Amos & Abolade Olawale 

Nigeria seems to be walking a 

familiar path petrol on price, 

following the call by former 

Group Managing Directors (GMD) of 

the Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, for an increase in 

the price of the commodity. 

Though the Federal Government, the 

Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory 

Agency, PPPRA, NNPC and oil 

marketers have come out to deny any 

plan to increase the price, skepticism 

remains, as this was the same way the 

FG vowed, severally, that the price of 

petrol, otherwise known as Premium 

Motor Spirit (PMS), would not be 

hiked, until the increase was effected in 

May. 

Ahead of the incident of May, 

government utilized a perfect excuse 

when it blamed the hike on the 

unending petrol scarcity which almost 

crippled the country for about one year 

and the scarcity of foreign exchange. 

Today, the excuse, though tenable, 

appears to be the declining value of the 

naira against major international 

currencies, especially the dollar. 

To test the ground, government 

appears to be using the former GMDs 

of the NNPC. It is interesting to note 

that at the meeting where the call for the 

hike was made, the incumbent GMD, 

Maikanti Baru, was present, as well as a 

representative of the Minister of State 

for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe 

Kachikwu. 

Today, the PPPRA no longer releases 

petroleum products pricing templates, 

irrespective of the fact that the sector 

has not been totally deregulated. The 

development has put Nigerians in the 

dark as to the actual price of PMS, and 

this, according to some oil marketers, 

was a sign that a hike in the price was in 

the offing. 

Prior to the last increment, the PPPRA 

had disclosed that the pricing 

templates would be updated on 

quarterly basis, but it failed to update 

the templates for the third quarter. The 

PPPRA, in refusing to update the pricing 

template, is presently creating a 

semblance of a deregulated market, 

whereas Nigerians are told that the 

market is partially deregulated or 

liberalised. 

Even though the federal 

government has denied 

the plan, the unholy 

gathering of those former 

petroleum industry 

captains who suggested 

this should beat a retreat 

and not attempt to cause 

further economic 

dislocation 

Price cap 

Making the call for the price hike, the 

former NNPC GMDs claimed that the 

PMS price cap of N145 per litre is not 

congruent with the liberalization policy, 

especially with the foreign exchange rate 

and other price determining components 

such as crude cost, Nigerian Ports 

Authority (NPA) charges, among others, 

remaining uncapped. 

On the surface, the claim by the former 

NNPC chief helmsmen appeared true, 

but the fact remains that the Federal 

Government is not sincere about its 

pricing policy, as evident in the PPPRA’s 

refusal to update and publicise the 

template. Matters concerning the actual 

fuel price are shrouded in utmost secrecy 

unlike what obtains in the past, where the 

templates were updated almost on daily 

basis. 

The call for the removal of the N145 

price cap was started by some major and 

independent oil marketers, claiming 

difficulties in assessing foreign exchange, 

as well as the declining value of the 

naira. 

The Federal Government had, at 

different for a, disclosed that the country 

had saved over N1 trillion from the 

discontinuation of subsidy. What this 

means is that if petrol price is not hiked, 

the country might end up spending such 

amount on subsidy in the next one year. 

Devil’s alternative 

Therefore, Nigeria is faced with two 

unpleasant choices: effect a hike in 

petrol price and throw the people into 

more suffering; or return subsidy and 

plunge the economy into more woes. 

Meanwhile, Executive Director, 

Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, Dr. Eze 

Onyekpere, disclosed that for the 

Federal Government to be considering 

increasing the price of petrol and other 

fuel products at this time of grave 

economic hardship and distress shows 

total disconnect with the plight of 

Nigerians. 

Onyekpere argued that, for now, such 

a policy should be suspended and no 

rational mind should be seen or heard 

to be considering it. 

He said, “It is absurd and makes no 

sense. Even though the federal 

government has denied the plan, the 

unholy gathering of those former 

petroleum industry captains who 

suggested this should beat a retreat and 

not attempt to cause further economic 

dislocation. The kite they attempted to 

fly has refused to be up in the sky. 

“We should rather be thinking of how 

to reduce the price of energy which has 

played a key role in ramping up the 

inflationary spiral of recent months. 

The reason for this suggestion is clear 

— the foreign exchange regime that has 

seen Nigeria take a bashing and our 

failure to refine petroleum at home. 

“Evidently, there is no official plan to 

change the trajectory of the story 

beyond the private sector led Dangote 

refinery which preceded this 

administration.” 

Also, Executive Director, Africa 

Network for Environment and 

Economic Justice (ANEEJ), warned 

that care should be taken in managing 

government policy which could attract 

negative reaction from the public. 

According to him, the issue of petrol 

price is something we must be careful 

with, particularly during the current 

economic recession, so that they don’t 

unnecessarily create a crisis which will 

damage the reputation of President 

Muhammadu Buhari and his plans for 

the people. 

He maintained that irrespective of the 

fact that the present fiscal outlook does 

not support the current fuel price, 

government should not tempted to hike 

the price, adding that it should instead 

consider the effect on the people and 

look for a different option that will 

provide long-term benefit for the 

country. 

He said, “Looking into their proposal 

at a glance, you can see the conflict 

inherent in it. For example, they are 

suggesting that the NNPC should 

increase petrol price based on market 

approach and also at the same time 

asking NNPC to retain NAPIMS. 

How do you reconcile using a 

market approach in the fuel price and 

then at the same time encouraging 

state control of the institutions that 

will drive efficiency in the oil sector?” 

Labour slams suggestion 

The organised labour also warned 

against a new increase in the pump 

price of petrol, saying it would 

amount to madness to do so. 

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and 

Trade Union of Nigeria, TUC, insisted 

that Nigerians would not accept any 

policy that would compound the 

hardship they had been passing 

through. 

General Secretary of the Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Peter Ozo- 

Eson, in a statement, warned that any 

attempt to raise the price of fuel would 

be a bad policy decision, considering 

the fact that Nigerians are already 

bearing too much hardship. 

According to him, the NLC was 

opposed to the last fuel price hike 

and still believed the hike was wrong. 

Ozo-Eson said, “The call for the 

price hike is not something that is 

new. We have said before that this is 

what would happen. That is what is 

happening. Once you decide that 

import regime is what you are going 

to use and you claim to be 

deregulating, you are going to find the 

demand for foreign exchange to bring 

in product will weigh heavily on the 

Naira. 

“Therefore, the naira will continue 

to lose value and when that happens, 

you will come back to say the price is 

not right. That is what is happening. 

We said it when we were telling 

Nigerians that it was a wrong policy 

that that they were pursuing.” 

In its own reaction, TUC, in a 

statement by its President and Acting 

Secretary General, Bobboi Kaigama 

and Simeso Amachree respectively, 

said, “In case the management of the 

NNPC has forgotten, the economy is 

in crisis and life has become very 

difficult for the common man who 

now can hardly afford two square 

Continues on page 30 

C 

M 

YK


Signs of looming petrol price hike 

‘ ’ 


meals per day. 

“The present minimum wage can no 

longer purchase a bag of rice. Businesses 

are shutting down leading to millions of 

job losses, which of course have 

accentuated increased cases of crime 

and other vices. If all the members of 

the NNPC team can offer as recipe to 

contain this scourge of economic 

downturn is to hike the price of 

petroleum products, then they are not fit 

to manage the sector and should throw in 

the towel. 

“If the country had other sources of forex 

or produces most of what it imports, the 

economy would not be what it is now. What 

stops the government from building more 

refineries and diversifying the economy? 

The federal government should maintain 

some stability of forex, taking into 

cognisance the fact that Nigeria is an 

import-dependent country.” 

Nigerians speak 

Many other Nigerians also joined the 

labour unions to condemn the sugesstion by 

the former NNPC GMDs for a hike in the 

price of petrol. 

Mr. Ademola Alli, a civil servant in Abuja 

warned against the hike, stating that 

increasing the price of petrol is not the 

best option for the country, because of 

the current rate of inflation. 

He, however, stated: “If the 

government said a lot of money have 

been saved from removal of subsidy, in 

this present economic situation we are 

not seeing the effect of that money. The 

economy is faced with many 

challenges. For now, no Nigerian will 

want an increase in fuel price. We 

should remain with the current price 

which is N145 even if it can go lower it 

is better for us. 

“There is an international price for 

oil but we also produce oil in Nigeria, 

so there should be a local price for us. I am 

vehemently saying no to increase in fuel 

price, no normal Nigerian will want an 

increase or support the hike in price.” 

To Mrs. Ganiyat Folami, going back to 

subsidy is not the solution. “We heard that 

the government have saved about N1 

trillion. Has the money had any impact on 

the inflation we are facing now? No. Then 

they said the price should be hiked. Why 

should it be hiked and for who? Is it for 

Nigerians or for marketers that import 

fuel?”, she said 

“Hiking fuel price is not the solution too. 

How many filling stations that are selling 

fuel now that you can see queue? N145 as 

the current price is still a problem to the 

nation. People are feeling its negative 

impact. It is only mega station NNPC that 

you can see queue, all because they sell at a 

reduced rate which is N141 per litre. Most 

times if you see queue at NNPC mega 

station, if you have an emergency, if you are 

in a hurry you will rather go to a station 

that sells at N145 than N141. 

“They should think otherwise, because 

neither the hike in petrol price or return to 

subsidy is the solution. We are all suffering 

it. Look at me, as a woman, I am planning 

to travel for Sallah to meet my husband, I 

have to go and queue very early at the 

NNPC station so that I can buy fuel at 

reduced price. So, government should 

think out of the box and resolve this 

issue and not concur to hiking the price 

or return to subsidy.” 

A motorist, who gave his name as Mr. 

Samuel Samuel, claimed hiking the 

price of the commodity would further 

worsen the country’s economic 

situation. 

He said, “Fuel issue is the least of our 

problems. Has the removal of subsidy 

helped our economy in any way? 

Government is the one that has the 

hammer and they know where to hit to 

get the solution. To me, hiking petrol 

price will worsen the economy”. 

Another motorist, who gave his 

name as Dr. Lekan said, “The last time I 

checked, the Minister of Information has 

clearly stated that the government will never 

increase petrol price. That does not mean 

that they may not eventually do it but that is 

the disposition we still stand on now. 

“The call by the former NNPC GMDs was 

just a mere advice and it is not binding on 

the government yet. I believe it would not be 

the best interest of the masses, who are 

already going through a lot of serious 

crises.” 

To Oladele Abdullah, “The Federal 

Government should not increase petrol 

price because, life is hard enough for the 

common Nigerian as it is with the soaring 

foreign exchange, which is affecting 

everything and the uncontrolled inflation. 

“Increasing the price of petrol would 

have multiplier effect, increasing 

everything from the prices of food to the 

price of transportation. On the issue of 

subsidy, I would like to ask if where the 

money which they saved from not 

paying subsidy is, as the federal 

government cannot pay their staffs very 

well, while the state governments are 

telling their staffs to go back to the 

farm,”he said 

Temidayo Oluwaseun, also a motorist, 

said, “Government should not hike 

petrol price as it would make the lives of 

the average Nigerian more difficult as the 

prices of things would skyrocket, starting 

from transportation to the price of staple 

foods. 

“However, looking at the issue from the 

angle of government, if increasing the price 

of petrol would enable them to save more 

money, if they cannot afford to pay it 

anymore, then they should hike the price. 

But they should also take note that if 

they eventually decide to increase the 

price the masses in general would 

not the happy as it would cause 

more suffering for citizens.” 

Gayet Oluwaseun, resident in 

Lagos, said, “The money that was 

saved from not paying subsidy, what 

was it used for? Because in my own 

opinion, it is not like it was used for 

something important, as it is 

somebody that will still later embezzle 

the money while Nigerians will be 

suffering the consequences. Let the price 

of petrol come down and government 

should stop letting the masses suffer for 

their decisions.” 

Edo community exco lauds NPDC, flays EDSOPADEC 

By Yinka Ajayi 

Newly elected Itsekiri community 

leaders of Ajoki town in Edo 

State have unanimously pledged to 

commit their energies towards 

improving the community socioeconomic 

challenges by constant 

negotiations with the local and state 

government as well as corporate 

organization in the process of fast 

tracking various developmental projects 

in the area. 

The pledges were made by the 

respective executive of the reconstituted 

Ajoki community, amongst whom were 

the President-General, Mr. Smart 

Kekene, The Youth President, Mr. 

Ajatiton Isaac and the Woman leader, 

Mrs. Esther Koma at the swearing in 

ceremony of the new executive in Ajoki 

community, Edo State. 

In a welcome address, the community 

President Mr. Smart Kekene, while 

expressing gratitude for the support the 

elders and youths gave the community 

during its periods of tribulations, enjoined 

them to remain steadfast in embracing 

peace, in the pursuit of making Ajoki a 

mega community in Edo State. 

Mr. Kekene enumerated problems and 

prospects of the community assuring that 

all will be tackled headlong, especially in 

the areas of the dwindling standard of 

education in Ajoki, occasioned by 

inadequate teachers and learning facilities 

as well as the abandoned community 

health centre that has been drawn to the 

attention of Edo State Ministry of Health. 

While commending the cordial 

relationship between the community and 

Nigerian Petroleum Development Company 

NPDC, he lamented the non-employment of 

Ajoki sons and daughters into the companies 

in the area and as well berated the Edo State 

Oil and Gas Producing Area Development 

Commission – EDSOPADEC for not making 

its impact felt in Ajoki, especially in areas of 

abandoned projects and failure to provide 

skill acquisition for the youths and women. 

The Youth Chairman, Mr. Ajatiton Isaac, 

expressed gratitude for the support given 

them to succeed in carrying out meaningful 

projects in the community during his first 

tenure, enumerating some of them as the 

completion of the youth secretariat, the 

layout of the community and also ensuring 

payment of three years’ salary of teachers 

and providing borehole water for the 

community. 

Representing the women, Ajoki new 

community women leader, Mrs. Esther 

Koma, observed that efforts made in the past 

by her predecessor to ameliorate the plight 

of the women-folks were unsuccessful, 

promising to effect the necessary change by 

engaging in dialogue with the new executive 

and the youth association. 

While bemoaning the marginalization of 

women by the past administration, Mrs. 

Koma contended that there is a change in the 

offing by the inclusion of women in the new 

administration, pointing out that the era of 

not being carried along is over, as she 

further stressed that women can execute 

contract jobs, qualified girls can work in 

oil locations, while others could be 

engaged in catering as well as supplies, as 

obtained in other host communities of oil 

exploration. 

Holiness Chapel’s 72 

Hours Prayers 

A 72-hour-interdenominational 

prayer session 

organized by the Holiness 

Chapel holds between 

Wednesday, September 28 – 

Friday, September 30 at Ori- 

Oke Araromi, a.k.a. Holy 

Ghost Concentration Camp, 

Ajegunle Bus-stop, Papalanto 

– Ilaro Road, off Lagos- 

Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun 

State. 

According to the host minister, 

Rev. (Dr) Adesina Sanyaolu, 

the session, holding under the 

theme: Fetch Out For Divine 

Agenda, will feature prayer for 

Nigeria, individuals, and 

families while eminent men of 

God and choral groups will 

minister during the event.


Edited by EMEKA AGINAM 

Email: emekaaginam@yahoo.com 08057538314 

Enforcing regulatory standard 

NCC goes tough on equipment vendors, 

mobile phone manufacturers 

•Seals Nokia office for operating without licence 

•Fines Innjoo N4m fine on non type approved handsets 

This may not be the best 

of time for 

telecommunications equipment 

vendors operating in the Nigerian 

market without appropriate license 

and mobile phone Original 

Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs, 

selling non type-approved mobile 

handsets as the telecoms regulatory 

authority, the Nigerian 

Communications Commission, 

NCC, has vowed to bring culprits 

to book. 

Looking at the Nigerian market, 

analysis show default among 

operators in compliance to certain 

regulatory norms including sale of 

pre-registered SIM cards, operating 

with expired license or no license, 

selling of non type-approved mobile 

handsets, arbitrary migration 

subscribers of data bundles among 

others. 

But with intensified compliance 

monitoring and enforcement 

activities of the Commission, it may 

not be business as usual again for 

equipment vendors and operations 

across the nations. 

Just last week, the enforcement 

Unit of the Commission embarked 

on enforcement exercise that ended 

in sealing of Nokia Office located 

at CBC tower, Lekki, Lagos and 

enforcing Innjoo, Chinese mobile 

phone maker to pay a fine N4 

million for selling non type 

approved handsets in the Nigerian 

market. 

This development according 

industry watchers, will serve as 

deterrent to others who have seen 

the Nigerian market as a place 

where anything goes. 

The Head, enforcement unit of the 

telecom regulatory authority, Salisu 

Abdul had told Technology 

Journalists shortly after sealing the 

Nokia office last week in Lagos that 

the mobile equipment 

manufacturer has been operating in 

Nigeria without the license for many 

years. 

The license, he informed gives the 

equipment vendor the power to 

operate wireless transmission 

equipment and sales of 

manufacturing of equipment among 

others, he said. 

He said that Nokia had applied 

for the license about three months 

ago but did not complete the process. 

“It is criminal for any service 

provider to operate in the country 

without license. We have sealed the 

office until they comply. We have to 

charge them based on the number of 

years they have operated without 

license. We will use our discretion to 

charge them. 

“Equipment vendors,OEMs must 

comply with local regulations . The 

NCC is the sole regulator of the 

telecom sector in Nigeria and one of 

our functions is the issuance of 

telecom licenses. In one of our 

monitoring activities, we discovered 

that Nokia-Alcatel has not obtained 

the required authorization to operate 

their services in this country. 

“As a matter of fairness and 

transparency, we decided to pay them 

a visit. We however discovered that 

they only applied for license about 

three months back and are yet to 

complete the process for the license. 

Basically, we have decided to seal off 

the premises of Nokia until they 

obtain the requisite authorization. 

“The license is barely two million 

naira to obtain. We have sealed off 

the premises and we will not open it 

till they comply. The penalty is 

dependent on the number of years 

they’ve been on ground. We might 

have to levy a fine against Nokia 

before unsealing the premises. 

Meanwhile, following the closure 

of the Nokia office in Lekki, Lagos, 

Nokia will like to assure all 

stakeholders that, "The temporary 

closing of our administrative office 

In a committed effort to 

satisfy its teeming 

consumers and deliver next level 

convenience, LG Electronics, 

recently achieved 

unprecedented technological 

advancements with the offering 

of ten years warranty o its core 

products. 

Being first of its kind in 

home appliances in Nigeria, 

the products covered by the 

10 year warranty include 

LGRefrigerators and Chest 

Freezers, with Linear and 

Smart Inverter 

Compressors, LGWashing 

Machines with Inverter 

Direct Drive Motor, 

LGCharcoal Lighting 

Heater in microwave oven and 

LGCordless vacuum cleaner with 

Smart Inverter Motor. 

Speaking on the innovation, 

General Manager, Home 

Appliances Division, LG 

Electronics, West Africa operations 

Mr. Jiung Park said: “At LG, we 

understand that durability is just as 

important as strong performance. 

A large range of our products come 

backed by 10-year warranty, 

ensuring worry-free operation year 

after year. 

The 10 year warranty offering 

covers only specific parts of the 

selected products from the date of 

purchase.” LG Door in Door and Side 

by side refrigerator utilizes LG’s 

in Lagos is an important matter to 

us. We continue to closely 

collaborate with NCC and are 

accelerating our efforts to quickly 

regularize our licence. We remain 

fully committed to delivering worldclass 

connectivity solutions to the 

Nigerian market and positively 

contributing to the country socioeconomic 

development," according 

to a Nokia Regional official. 

The enforcement Unit of NCC last 

week had visited Aviat Network 

Limited for enforcement action but 

discovered that the equipment 

vendor has fully complied with their 

license obligation. This development 

made Aviat Network to escape the 

regulatory sanction of the 

Commission. 

In an committed effort to sanitise 

the Nigerian market from 

substandard mobile devices, the 

enforcement unit of the NCC also 

sanctioned Innjoo, Chinese mobile 

phone maker with a fine of N4 

million for selling non type approved 

handsets in the Nigerian market. The 

sanction necessited the Commission 

to seal their office late last year. 

This development may have also 

sent a strong message to foreign 

OEMs in the computer village ikeja 

importing all manners of cellular 

handsets without type-approval by 

NCC. 

Although payment was done after 

several months of grace by the 

Commission, one thing is clear. It is 

no more business as usual for 

defaulters who fail to comply with 

the local regulations. 

The Head, enforcement unit of the 

telecom regulatory authority, Salisu 

Abdu who also led the enforcement 

team while speaking with 

Technology Journalists in Lagos 

shortly after the payment of the N4 

million fine by Innjoo said that the 

sanction has been suspended 

following the payment. 

He said that the telecoms 

regulatory authority had in August, 

2015 carried out an enforcement 

action against Innjoo and discovered 

that the company was selling devices 

not type approved by NCC. 

“As a result of the enforcement 

action, a fine of N4 million was 

imposed on them and their office was 

sealed. We are in Innjo office today 

for enforcement action. We have 

been engaging with them. They have 

decided not to pay the fine. We have 

decided to come today for 

enforcement action. 

“When we got here, they told us 

that they have actually not received 

a notice of sanction. Honestly, a 

letter was sent to a lawyer 

representing Innjor technology 

limited. So when we gave them a 

copy of the letter of sanction today, 

they immediately complied. They 

have paid the fine of 4 million and 

the sanction has been suspended. 

This is a warning to other phone 

manufacturers to get their devices 

type approved by NCC. This is an 

opportunity for them to get 

necessary type- approval .It is an 

offence to sell devices not type 

approved by NNC”, he said. 

All equipment manufacturers, 

vendors and operators, including 

customer devices such as mobile 

phones and wireless adapters, he 

added must therefore ensure that 

their equipment conform to the 

applicable standards as mandated 

by the Commission before bringing 

them into Nigeria. 

To ensure maximum 

interoperability and affordability for 

consumers, the Type Approval 

standards set by the Nigerian 

Communications Commission, he 

saidare based on international 

standards. 

LG electronics woos customers with 10 yrs warranty on core technologies 

revolutionary Inverter 

L i n e a r 

Compressor 

which enables 

the refrigerator 

to consume 32 

percent less 

energy and 

produce 25 percent 

less noise. 

Employing a 

linear piston drive 

instead of a 

conventional 

reciprocating drive, 

LG’s advanced 

Inverter Linear 

Compressor generates 

less internal friction 

than other compressor 

systems. 

The reduction in friction results in 

lower energy requirements, less noise 

production, as well as greater 

reliability and durability for the 

compressor. 

The Inverter Linear Compressor 

creates an optimal temperature 

balance inside the refrigerator, 

helping to extend the amount of time 

that food stays fresh. 

In a test conducted by the German 

scientific and technical association, 

Verband der Elektrotechnik 

Elektronik Informationstechnik 

(VDE), the Inverter Linear 

Compressor was found to have an 

estimated lifespan of 20 years. 

The LG Chest freezer which is fitted 

with a powerful compressor that 

boast of a 10-year warranty. It comes 

with the super-fast Blast Freezing 

features and the Low Voltage 

Stabilizer (LVS). 

The LVS is a truly practical piece 

of technology that allows the chest 

freezer to function properly, even 

when local electricity supply is 

unstable. Specifically made for 

Africa, LG’s latest chest freezer offers 

efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) 

lighting, an easy-to-open handle 

door and quiet operation. 

LG’s Front Load / Top Load Washing 

Machine with Inverter Direct Drive 

Motor is designed to provide 

convenience, energy saving and 

durability of up to 10 year to 

consumers. LG is the first brand 

globally to offer 10 year warranty in 

washing machine market and this 

was achieved due to simple 

mechanism, there is direct rotation 

between the brushless motor and the 

drum unlike the conventional washer 

which makes use of belt connection. 

LG Cordless vacuum cleaner is 

another quantum leap in technology, 

every vacuum cleaner in the world 

has cord to power it during cleaning. 

LG cordless cleaner is cord free, 

providing consumers cordless 

freedom. LG Cordless vacuum 

cleaner has innovative Smart 

Inverter Motor, which delivers 

better performance and gives the 

vacuum a longer lifespan than 

conventional brush type motors. 

Interswitch plans 

network agent 

growth by 150,000 

...Financially excluded 

by 70% 

Interswitch, a digital pay 

ments and Commerce 

Company says there is plan 

underway to grow its agent 

network to 150,000 by 2020, 

while increasing availability 

of digital financial services in 

financially- excluded locations 

to 70 percent from 44 

percent 

Speaking on this initiative, 

Divisional CEO, IFIS, Mike 

Ogbalu said: “With currently 

over 500 - and growing - active 

agents in Lagos, Paypoint 

will be expanding to Ibadan, 

Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano, 

and other cities, within the 

next few months. We are 

poised to unlock the value of 

agency banking and financial 

inclusion in Nigeria, the target 

is to grow a network of 

agents to 150,000 by 2020 and 

increase the availability of 

digital financial services in financially-excluded 

locations 

across the country from 44% 

to over 70% in the next five 

years. 

“It is common knowledge 

that agency banking in Nigeria 

is currently behind potential. 

Opportunities for the 

growth of financial services 

are in abundance and interestingly, 

our population remains 

an untapped strength, 

Interswitch is on a mission to 

positively impact the Nigerian 

economy with 

Quickteller Paypoint.” 

Ogbalu noted. 

Further, he said: “Beyond 

bridging the existing gaps in 

the adoption and availability 

of financial services for 

Nigeria’s unbanked and under-banked 

population, 

Quickteller Paypoint will be 

creating sources of consistent 

and additional income for 

agents and invariably help 

create levels of sustenance 

and economic balance for 

their families.” 

This will be achieved with 

the creation of a vast network 

of growing businesses to act 

as agents for the many e-payment 

services Quickteller offers. 

Business owners who 

desire an extra source of income, 

NYSC members, job 

seekers, and anyone who is 

seeking additional income, 

can all sign up to become a 

Paypoint agent.” He continued 

Also speaking, Head of e- 

Banking, Fidelity Bank, 

Adedeji Olowe, We can recall 

that in December 2015 at the 

last Committee Of E-Business 

Heads Conference, which 

held in Uyo, IFIS was introduced 

to stakeholders in the e- 

business industry, and had this 

to say; 

“If there is a Nigerian organization 

capable of taking this on, 

it’s Interswitch. Just like they 

have been able to do with switching 

and linking the banks, I expect 

them to be able to make this 

work.” 

Modelled to empower thousands 

of Nigerians, the initiative, 

which is open to all, will provide 

a source of income for the unemployed 

and an additional source 

of income for the employed. 

Individuals, small to midsize 

businesses, institutions 

etc. can all become 

Quickteller Paypoint Agents 

upon registration and submission 

of requisite documentation.

PAGE 32—Vanguard, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

Meeting with Buhari on Nigeria auto industry exceeded 

our expectations – Nissan Africa Boss 

Managing Director Nissan 

South Africa, Mike Whitefield was 

one of the delegates of African 

Association of Automobile 

Manufacturers, AAAM, who 

recently met with President 

Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa 

in Abuja. In this interview in 

Johanesburg, South Africa, 

Whitfield, who doubles as 

President, National Association of 

Automobile Manufacturers South 

Africa, NAAMSA, and Vice 

President AAAM bares his mind 

with select journalists from Nigeria 

at the just concluded Festival of 

Motoring in Johannesburg, 

where he expressed high hopes 

that the meeting with the Nigerian 

President far exceeded the association’s 

expectations but wished 

the Federal Government could redouble 

her efforts to get the auto 

policy underway. Excerpts: 

YOU and the executive 

members of the African 

Association of Automobile 

Manufacturers, AAAM, recently 

met with President Mohammadu 

Buhari and his economic counsel 

at the Presidential Villa Abuja, 

how in your assessment would 

you describe your encounter 

with the president and his team? 

Without mincing words, our 

meeting far exceeded our 

expectations. As an industry, we 

felt the African motor industry, 

particularly Nigeria is critical and 

by far, the market with the highest 

potential if we exclude South 

Africa. The government and notable 

stakeholders had a number 

of years ago between 1990 and 

2014 took a bold step in terms of 

introducing the auto policy. Although 

the industry hasn’t moved 

at the speed everyone would like 

owing to a lot of challenges with 

implementation but coming 

together as an auto industry, we 

formed this association African 

Association of Automobile Manufacturers 

(AAAM) with Jeff 

Nemeth as the president and the 

objective of the association is to 

work with governments in Africa 

who have interest in establishing 

the auto industry. So our number 

one priority was to offer our support 

to the Nigerian government 

to develop a sustainable auto 

industry. A sustainable auto 

industry has many facets to it – 

the first aspect is to build a 

legislative frame work that allows 

stability and gives certainty to distance 

over a long period of time. 

The other aspect is that no one is 

going to invest in a market unless 

it’s of reasonable size. If one looks 

at the Nigerian market 800,000 

vehicles were imported plus or 

minus last year of which only 

40,000 were new vehicles with 

grey imports or parallel imports. 

The size of the market can only 

happen if we can offer affordable 

solution. Affordable solution 

doesn’t only mean cheap car, but 

we have to find ways of creating 

access to finance for people to be 

able to buy cars. If you are lucky 

you would get vehicle finance at 

24% in Nigeria and quite frankly 

at 24% you can’t do finance 

scheme. 

How then did you and the 

AAAM felt evaluating this 

somewhat feeble situation? 

I think the time has never been 

better for us to see how we can 

work together with industry 

•Mike Whitefield, Nissan Africa Boss 

parties in Nigeria to develop a 

sustainable motor industry. In 

South Africa, the auto industry 

creates sustainable jobs and 

employs directly more than 83,000 

people and that is the result of 

many decades of work. We have 

to make it start in Nigeria. The 

potential is massive with more 

than 170 million people and over 

350 million ECOWAS population, 

no one expects you to build an 

industry over night. However, 

there is potential if everyone can 

work together. I believe Nigeria 

could certainly become, in a 20- 

year time period, a major force in 

the auto industry. Sustainability 

is the key. It shouldn’t be shortterm 

project we all are going to 

focus on industrialization and 

diversification. 

Just recently, the National 

Automotive Council announced 

the inauguration of 7.5billion 

naira counterpart funding for the 

long awaited vehicle finance 

scheme to purchase made-in- 

Nigeria vehicles which can be 

accessed at between 8% and 10%. 

How would you react to this? 

That is one of the outputs of 

what we have been working on 

for a long time. But in addition to 

that, there needs to be a clear 

definition of who is the 

manufacturer. Today, Nigeria has 

41registered motor manufacturers 

while in South Africa we have 

seven. What is important here is 

that the Nigeria manufacturers 

have to be part of the long term 

plan to ultimately move to what 

we call CKD (Completely 

Knocked Down) manufacturing. 

You can’t move to CKD unless you 

start establishing a proper and 

reasonably size market. First the 

policy must be right as in total 

market through vehicle finance 

and affordability and thirdly, the 

policy needs a very clear 

definition such that SKD (Semiknocked 

Down) is SKD, 

(Completely Knocked Down) is 

CKD and those who are 

registered as manufacturers are 

truly manufacturers. That to me 

is very important. 

How in your observation would 

you describe President Buhari’s 

body language when considered 

Our number one 

priority was to 

offer our support to 

the Nigerian 

government to 

develop a 

sustainable auto 

industry 

against his disposition towards 

the National Automotive 

Industry Development Plan? 

He is very positive. He is a man 

who certainly understood what is 

needed. He has an excellent 

overview of the challenges that 

exist. It is not easy and would 

never be easy to resolve used car 

issue. It is not something that can 

happen overnight until you 

resolve the affordability concern. 

He is decisive and has good 

understanding of the industry. 

And very importantly, all the 

government leaders we interacted 

with have a good knowledge of 

the business. 

What then is AAAM attraction 

to Nigeria? 

First thing, the government in 

Nigeria has already made a move 

and established the foundation of 

the policy. Yes there’s still work to 

be done to make it perfect but we 

all need to work together to refine 

the project. Number two, in the 

whole world there are only two 

countries with a population of 

more than 100million people that 

doesn’t have functional motor 

industry - Bangladesh and 

Nigeria. However, our choice is 

without doubt Nigeria. Obviously 

if the Nigerian government feel 

they don’t need our support we 

will go elsewhere but we are very 

happy they do want to work with 

us. But with the experience that 

we have as global orient, we can 

bring global best practices to 

Nigeria. 

Local content development 

especially in the downstream 

sector has always been the 

contention, how do you intend 

to address this issue especially 

where virtually all the 

manufacturers bring in their 

CKDs? 

As it is, there is no downstream. 

We have always deliberated on 

the local content issue and that 

was why we had with us as part 

of the delegation that met 

President Buhari the President of 

the South African Component 

Manufacturers Association. As 

manufacturers we fully 

understand we can’t establish a 

sustainable modern industry 

without 

component 

manufacturers, so in the very 

early days as we developed the 

programme with Nigerian 

stakeholders, we realised 

components and part suppliers 

are key stakeholders we need to 

bring along. We are aware of it 

and we are working on it. 

What percentage of the 

Nigerian automobile market is 

Nissan targeting? 

As a Nissan brand, we would 

like to be around 20% of 400,000 

units and not 40,000 as the current 

volume of new vehicle market in 

Nigeria. Today, if you look at the 

vehicle market it is very difficult 

to justify any real focus in 

investment in the market that is 

only 40,000 or thereabout. 

However our focus is a long term 

approach. Everything we are 

doing in Nigeria today is because 

we have a long term faith. 

Nissan South Africa in 

partnership with Stallion Nigeria 

was the first to set up plant in 

Nigeria, how would you describe 

the journey so far? 

Without doubt, we are not 

disappointed but we are obviously 

frustrated because things haven’t 

moved as we would have liked to 

see it move. This isn’t due to 

policy but lack of foreign currency. 

But having done business in 

many developing countries, we 

realise you don’t go into any 

country and expect a short-term 

success. We believe from the 

Nissan perspective we are moving 

forward as planned but we will 

like to see it move much faster. 

However, we are still very 

committed to the ultimate goal to 

have sustainable presence in 

Nigeria. 

How would Nissan sustain the 

projected 20% share of Nigeria’s 

market when her stronghold has 

lately been the high-end market 

as against the low-end market? 

We intend finding solution to 

affordability first, and you are 

aware of our Datsun brand even 

though it is still only available in 

the right-hand drive. Indeed, we 

recognise one element, that what 

we do need to bring to the market 

is affordable transport solution 

and surely we will. 

Stakeholders are at variance 

with grey imports and used 

vehicle imports to Nigeria and 

this issue might have been 

discussed during your meet with 

President Buhari, how was it 

addressed? 

The Nigerian government 

understands that to get real 

growth in the auto market you 

need to address the used vehicle 

market but in the same token 

there’s also responsibility to 

ensure that the Nigeria population 

can get affordable vehicles, so to 

stop used vehicles and not 

instantaneously offer solution for 

an alternative wouldn’t make any 

sense. So part of the objectives of 

the task team is how to do we work 

on that transition. For us the 

competition to new vehicle is not 

the five or six- year old vehicles 

coming to Nigeria or one year old 

or parallel imports. These are the 

things that do need to be stopped 

but fundamentally you can’t stop 

it without an alternative solution 

and that is what we are going to 

work on. 

Where does your interest lies: 

Is it in building vehicles in 

Nigeria or exporting fully built 

up vehicles to Nigeria from 

South Africa? 

The best route is that we make 

vehicles in Nigeria within a very 

solid policy frame work that is 

enforced and implemented. 

Now how does it feel being at 

the helm of affairs at Nissan? 

I’ve grown up in the motor 

industry. It’s the only job I’ve ever 

had. I’ve only worked for Nissan. 

I joined Nissan when I was 21 

years old as a trainee - 

immediately after university. I had 

the unique opportunity of working 

in just about every area of the 

operation. During my course in 

Nissan I’ve been in the truck 

business when we still owned UD 

Trucks or Nissan Diesel as it was 

known in those days. I had a 

fortunate opportunity of 

developing and opening up our 

Nissan operations in Northern 

Europe and, in fact, I spent four 

years in Finland and developing 

Nissan’s businesses in Denmark, 

Norway, Sweden, Finland and 

the Baltic states. I then came back 

to South Africa approximately five 

years ago and have been focusing 

on developing and growing our 

presence, not only in South Africa 

but particularly in Africa. So I’m a 

Nissan person, that’s the only job 

I know, it’s the only place I’ve 

been, and certainly it’s a great 

company to be part of and a great 

brand to be associated with. I’ve 

been here a long time, it is an 

exciting industry, and it is fantastic. 

One of my key objectives is to see 

how we can grow Nissan in Africa 

not only in South Africa. 

One of Nissan’s cardinal 

objectives is to strengthen the 

brand and brand reputation on 

the African continent. How do 

you achieve these objectives? 

The Nissan brand stands for 

innovation and excitement, and 

it needs to be a coordinated 

approach throughout the world, 

and without doubt our drive is 

towards that. It’s not something 

that only the people within the 

business can do. The levels of 

service that our national sales 

companies and dealers and 

everyone within the dealers have 

also got to do that, and that’s got 

to be their philosophy and 

approach. We need to be 

consistent in what we do with the 

brand, and obviously as part of 

that, not only is it the above-theline 

advertising you will see, but 

many of our recent activities are 

in ICC cricket, the UEFA cup, and 

these are all part of building 

Nissan brand value of innovation 

and excitement.

Who is the Nigerian leader at 

the moment? 

“At the moment it must be 

crystal clear to all discerning 

minds that the President’s 

widely acclaimed magical 

body language has lost its 

presumed aura and efficiency. 

His no-nonsense demeanour is 

neither instilling fear nor 

commanding respect and 

loyalty from among his cabinet 

members.”—Senator Dino 

Melaye, APC Kogi-West, in a 

national newspaper, 

September 5, 2016. 

This article could just as 

easily be titled ‘HAS 

B U H A R I 

SUFFERED FROM A 

CIVILIAN COUP?’ And it 

would be just as apt. Melaye’s 

statement quoted above, 

given what had occurred since 

May 29, 2015, when Buhari 

was sworn in for the second 

time as Head of State, should 

alert all of us to a startling fact 

– that Buhari might no longer 

be in control of his civilian 

“troops”. In fact, the success 

of the rebels in installing the 

leaders of the National 

Assembly, against the wishes 

of the President and the other 

“leaders” of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

is a reminder of what occurred 

in 1985 when a reportedly 

aloof Military Head of State 

was removed in a bloodless 

coup with nobody to even give 

him a warning. Senate 

President Saraki and 

Speaker Dogara could not 

have emerged as they did 

without an air-tight 

conspiracy of silence – 

undoubtedly aided by a 

President-elect who was once 

again aloof from the newlyelected 

legislators who were 

absolutely vital to his success 

as President. Today, there is 

growing fear that Buhari and 

the “leaders” of the APC are 

becoming increasingly 

isolated and might be leading 

only a minority of those still 

claiming to belong to the APC. 

Unfortunately for Nigeria, 

even the PDP cannot now 

boast of a leader; and might 

stumble along until 2019 

without one. That is the 

tragedy awaiting this country 

in 2019 – the handwriting is 

now becoming clear on the 

political wall. 

There are supposed to be 

two major political parties in 

Nigeria at the moment, the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

and the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP. But, unless the 

generally accepted definition 

of political party has changed, 

neither one of them can 

possibly approximate any 

right thinking persons idea of 

a political party. Neither of 

them represents the ideals and 

aspirations of the people they 

pretend to lead. They have 

both become conspiracies by 

a few people, putting up a 

figurehead as leader, bent only 

on seizing power for their own 

sake. In every democracy, the 

So, who is Buhari 

leading now? 

Many in his party 

are not behind 

him; the PDP will 

never follow him; 

and the vast 

majority of people 

living in poverty 

no longer believe 

in him 

President or Prime Minister 

is the recognized leader of the 

ruling party and, by extension, 

the nation as well. The sort of 

statements credited to Melaye 

and an APC leader in Kano 

State can only occur in a 

situation where a strong 

faction or two had emerged. 

However, it is not only at the 

Federal level that the signs of 

revolt against the APC 

leadership are apparent. Even 

at states levels, members now 

openly defy the wishes of the 

leaders of APC and nothing 

happens. The recent party 

primary in Ondo State was 

nothing short of total defiance 

of the Party Leader – Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu and other leaders 

of the party including the 

President. Tinubu had a 

candidate - perhaps with the 

support of other leaders. Now 

the leaders’ candidate has lost. 

If Chief Rotimi Akeredolu 

should become Governor of 

Ondo State, the APC leader will 

have no influence whatsoever 

in that state. In fact, irrespective 

of which party – APC or PDP - 

wins in Ondo, the APC Leader 

had been demystified. No 

longer can it be taken for 

granted that his support will 

guarantee victory. 

In Edo State, Adams 

Oshiomhole made it clear from 

the start that he was going to 

install his successor. The weak 

plea by the party “leaders” for a 

level playing field was openly 

ignored – without any 

consequences. Times have 

changed and the “declaration 

of independence” by once 

subservient party members is 

just starting. Osun, Oyo, Imo 

and Ogun will most probably 

follow the same pattern. Forget 

Kwara, anybody thinking 

another candidate – other than 

Saraki’s – will be the next 

governor would need to have his 

head examined. 

With a growing number of the 

party members doing just what 

they please, the concept of 

leadership usually associated 

with political parties is fast 

fading in the APC. 

Unfortunately, the situation is 

set to get worse, instead of better. 

The problems in the National 

Assembly have raised the 

question: who is Buhari 

leading? Certainly, a President 

who claims to be fighting 

corruption cannot at the same 

time be the leader of the mob of 


unethical legislators at the 

Three Arms Zone. The NASS 

is probably the most 

despised legislature in any 

democracy on earth. 

Majority of them claim to be 

APC; all of them, including 

Buhari’s staunchest 

supporters, gladly collect the 

mind-boggling salaries and 

allowances which have 

given the parliament the 

appearance of a den of 

robbers. To hold on to the 

partial support he now 

receives from that zone, the 

President and the Executive 

branch he heads have been 

turned inside-out on matters 

of principle. 

Take budget padding for 

instance. On February 23, 

2016, Buhari announced to 

the entire world that the 

2016 Budget was padded 

and promised that the 

culprits would not go 

unpunished. It was a grave 

mistake and in March, on 

these pages, in an article 

titled “WHY BUHARI 

SHOULD STOP WASTING 

HIS/OUR TIME”, I advised 

the President to forget about 

the nonsense called 

“padding”. But, stubbornly, 

he repeated the threat many 

times after that. We are now 

in September and nobody 

had been punished yet – 

most likely because no 

culprit had been found. 

Then, a war broke out 

regarding padding in the 

House of Representatives 

between Speaker Dogara 

and Honourable Jibrin. 

Jibrin accused the Speaker 

and leaders of the House of 

padding; they denied it. The 

matter found its way to the 

Presidency. Guess what? 

Dogara is a friend of the 

Executive branch; Jibrin is 

not. So, the Presidency, which 

started the entire rumour 

about padding issued a 

statement saying ‘There was 

no padding’. One of those 

statements must be a lie; and 

the Presidency is responsible 

for both. It was, to say the least, 

contemptuous. Are we now to 

believe that an offense had 

been committed or not 

depending on whether the 

offender is a friend of 

President Buhari? Then, what 

is corruption? 

However, if there is one thing 

losing Buhari followers by the 

millions everyday, it is the 

economy and the hardship it 

has imposed on Nigerians. 

When the President utters 

those totally false words – “I 

share your pains” – he not only 

fails to impress the people 

who actually suffer the worst 

forms of hardship, he is 

rewarded with derision. 

Recently, I have made it a 

habit to go to various 

newsstands - not to buy paper 

because I can send my staff to 

do that – but to join and listen 

to the free readers making 

comments about public 

affairs. The day after his 

official visit to Osun State was 

no exception. And, once again 

he had made that statement. 

What Nigeria’s real sufferers 

thought of the President after 

reading that statement is best 

left in the gutter where it 

belongs. Not a single one of 

them was convinced and all 

left the stand feeling that they 

had been betrayed by a man 

who promised them change 

but now is literally asking 

them to get ready to change 

to another planet – “while 

shedding crocodile tears”, as 

one said. 

So, who is Buhari leading 

now? Many in his party are 

not behind him; the PDP will 

never follow him; and the vast 

majority of people living in 

poverty no longer believe in 

him. 

If not Buhari, who is the 

Nigerian leader at the 

moment? 

metro 

BY FRANCIS IGATA 

Motorists plying 

Ebeano Tunnel 

Road constructed 

in 2002 by former 

Governor Chimaroke 

Nnamani administration 

of Enugu State are 

gnashing their teeth 

following the deplorable 

condition of one lane of the 

dual carriageway. 

The affected lane, inward 

Okpara Avenue axis of 

Enugu metropolis, has 

become near impassable 

especially when it rains 

even as the blockage of 

drainage in the estate has 

forced a lagoon at the gate 

causing authorities to 

permanently lock the gate. 

Nnamani had constructed 

the road as a short-cut to 

ease traffic around Okpara 

Avenue. The road has a 

rail line on top. 

Former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo had, 

while commissioning the 

Ebeano Tunnel Road, 

described Nnamani’s 

vision in constructing the 

road as “worthy of 

emulation”given the 

excruciating hours 

motorists spend when 

trying to access Okpara 

Avenue,GRA among other 

parts of the metropolis. 

No doubt,the road, after 

construction,has reduced 

the man-hours spent while 

accessing parts of the 

metropolis while adding 

economic value to users. 

That accounts for the huge 

traffic experienced on the 

road daily. 

Enugu moves to stop Ebeano Tunnel Road from caving in 

HOW THINGS WENT 

WRONG 

The Chime administration 

was said engaged in a 

display of property 

parcellation of the Ebeano 

Estate, thus blocking 

drainage channels, which 

prevented free flow of rain 

water in and out of the 

estate. 

The action forced water to 

build a lagoon in front of 

the gate. Each time it 

rains,the lane inward 

Okpara Avenue becomes 

impassable occasioned by 

the high water level on the 

road while the police shut 

the Ebeano Tunnel Police 

Post, close to the lagoon for 

fear of being submerged. 

The tiles on the tunnel 

structure are rapidly 

falling off as water forms 

pool at the base of the road 

causing the walls to be 

drenched permanently.. 

The activities of residents 

who pour debris into the 

drainage channels have 

further worsened a bad 

situation which is now 

threatening to wash away 

the road linking major 

parts of Enugu metropolis. 

RESCUE UNDERWAY 

Rolling up his 

sleeves,Commissioner for 

Works,Patrick Ikpenwa, 

told Sunday Vanguard,at 

the wash-out spot: “We 

•Ebeano tunnel entrance 

have a situation in our 

hands. What you seeing is 

a palliative job to ensure 

that this wash-out does not 

get to the carriageway. 

“Abinitio, if you have been 

passing through here,you 

will find that immediately 

after it rains, there is 

flooding on top of this 

carriageway right from 

under the tunnel to this 

outlet. What has happened 

is that human activities 

have blocked the drainage 

channels. These activities 

reduced the water 

waterways by some 

encroachments by some 

developers. 

“Again,the runoff water has 

also increased for more 

volume of water entering 

into a small drainage 

channel blocked by debris. 

It causes it to begin to 

overflow at every rainfall 

coming from the upstream 

down to downstream. When 

it comes to this side,it 

washes out the carriageway 

and if not checked, the road 

will cave in. 

“If we allow this 

situation,before the next 

rains,this road would have 

caved in. What we are doing is 

to provide a palliative measure 

because the situation at hand 

now cannot be handles fully 

to restore the nature of the 

road. We know that from dry 

season onset, a permanent 

solution will be provided. 

But before then, we have to 

make sure that this place is 

not cut into two”. 

ECTDA VOWS TO 

RESOLVE 

ENCUMBRANCES 

A worried Commissioner for 

Enugu Capital Territory 

D e v e l o p m e n t 

Authority,ECTDA,Chidi 

Aro,vowed to resolve any 

encumbrances in line with 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s 

mandate on the condition of 

the road to avoid further toll 

motorists pass through. 

Aro said:”Ugwuanyi has 

visited this site four times in 

one week. That shows the 

depth of concern he places 

on lives and property. The 

palliative measure put in 

place by the works people 

by dumping large stubs of 

gravel will reduce the force 

of Kinetic energy with 

which the water threatens 

to washout the 

carriageway. 

“The large stubs of gravel 

will not allow the force of 

the water to eat deep into 

the carriageway. It will 

make the velocity diffuse. 

With that we can now 

control the level of the wash 

out pending the time dry 

season sets in for a 

permanent solutions. We 

are bent on resolving all the 

encumbrances that resulted 

in this situation. Where we 

need to apply law we not 

hesitate to do so. People 

should not build on 

waterways. The 

encroachment which is 

crystal clear is the cause of 

this problem. It has blocked 

the 

waterway 

considerably,that is why we 

are faced with this 

situation”.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, SETPEMBER 11, 2016 

08116759757 

killed by a stray bullet at Baji. 

BEREAVED MOTHER CRIES 

The case was reported to the police 

and they came to the scene of the 

Customs’ stray bullet killed my 

incident. They took my daughter to 

the General Hospital where she 

later died. After several months of 

assuring us that the police were 

investigating the case, nothing 

happened. At a point, we got tired of 

the police attitude; so we demanded 

daughter, 15, on her way from church 

for the release of her corpse and 

buried her. There was no 

•Villagers allege extra-judicial killings 

compensation, nothing whatsoever 

to show remorse for taking the life 

of my little girl, no line of action 

By Esther Onyegbula 

since it happened in 2008". 

R 

Whenaze added that the 

esidents of Gbaji-Ashiri- 

community residents were not in any 

Hulenu community, located 

way in support of the activities of 

along Lagos-Badagry expressway, 

smugglers or prevented the NCS 

are asking the authorities and the 

and soldiers from performing their 

human rights community to 

duties but that such duties must be 

investigate the killing of their 

done within the ambit of the law and 

members by stray bullets during fire 

without molestation or violation of 

fights between operatives of Nigeria 

people’s rights. 

Customs Service (NCS) and 

Unlike Oloitutu, Michael, 

smugglers. 

Micheline and Segun, among 

They also alleged extra-judicial 

others, whose lives were allegedly 

killings by men of the NCS and 

cut short, 21-year-old Josu Diken 

soldiers. 

narrowly escaped death after he was 

The residents listed those who were 

•Whenaze Whesu (victim's 

•Josu Diken 

allegedly shot by a Customs officer. 

allegedly killed between 2008 and 

this year to include Oloitutu Albert, 

mother) 

Diken narrated: “I was a goldsmith 

Whenaze Whesu, told Sunday apprentice as of the time of the 

Segun Adeberu, Michael Apase and The trigger that snuffed life out of Vanguard: “My daughter was in incident. I was coming back from 

Michael Whesu. 

the victim was allegedly pulled by primary six when she was killed. She work that day when I got caught up 

Oloitutu, according to the one Customs operative identified as was returning from holy in a crossfire between smugglers and 

President of Badagry West Youth Nwaeze at Seme border. 

communion service in our church Customs. The commanding officer 

Forum, Prince Nunawa Sunday, Michael’s alleged offence: on the fateful day. The officer who of Ibereko barracks came to the 

who spoke on behalf of the residents, Importing frozen chicken. 

shot my daughter was identified as scene and calmed the parties 

was shot dead while one Zofun He was said to have been shot in Abisosun who was obviously drunk involved and promised that detailed 

Satide sustained serious bullet the arm and hip and died on the spot. during a disagreement with some investigation would be carried out 

injuries in front of their house when Narrating the death of her people. He 

and that necessary action would be 

Customs men were chasing after daughter, Michelin’s mother, opened fire and my daughter was taken. “The case was also reported 

smugglers, shooting sporadically on 

September 29, 2013. 

Michelin, 15, Sunday stated, died 

in hospital after she was hit by a stray Why we are promoting food security and 

bullet allegedly fired by a drunken 

Customs operative simply identified 

as Abisosun. The victim, it was tourism in Africa —AFCO President 

learnt , was returning from church 

when the tragic incident occurred. By Ephraim Oseji 

is encouraging farmers’ concerning the organisation and 

Segun, allegedly killed at Afowo 

village waterside on June 29, 2016, 

A 

corporation through diversified the forthcoming African Crops 

frican Farmers and Cultural exchange of programs in keeping 

was said to have been shot in the 

and Cultural Festival to be held 

Organisation (AFCO), a with world peace. In this 

neck. 

in Nigeria. 

non-governmental and nonprofit 

making organisation 

interview, the Founder/ 

Michael, the latest of the victims, 

What is AFCO all about and 

allegedly met his fate on June 29, 

Convener of AFCO, Chief its objectives? 

concerned about African food 

2016. 

Chukwunwike Esiole Moses, AFCO is a non-discriminatory 

security, fair trades and tourism, bares his mind on issues organisation which aligns with 

the principle of Africans Union, 

Ugwuanyi’s reforms in primary y school system 

United Nations and UNESCO. 

The organisation is open to all 

Francis Igata 

is poised to train the teachers after for the promotion of African 

G 

the recruitment for quality output. 

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is 

produce and cultural heritage 

The Board Chairman noted that 

carrying out far-reaching 

without prejudice to race, 

the governor had sacrificed a lot to 

reforms in Enugu State Universal 

gender, religion, political 

initiate the reforms, having 

Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) 

discovered decay in the school 

affiliation or social status. AFCO 

aimed at improving the standard of 

system, which include lack of is endorsed by International 

education in the state primary 

qualified teachers and Organisation of Folk Art (IOVschool 

system. 

infrastructure. 

World) for the keeping of the 

While most states are unable to 

“Right now, construction works are UNESCO Convention of 

pay salaries of their workers, not to 

ongoing in three hundred and fortyfive 

primary schools in the seventeen Intangible Global Cultural 

Safeguarding the Tangible and 

talk of embarking on capital 

projects, Ugwuanyi, apart from 

•Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 

local government areas of the state. Heritage. It boosts of a robust 

regular payment of workers’ Education Board, according to its The achievements of ENSUBEB platform for connection of African 

salaries and execution of capital Executive Chairman, Chief Ikeje under Gov. Ugwuanyi’s farmers and agro-commodity 

projects, has embarked on the Asogwa, is based on merit. He administration are unprecedented producers regardless of location 

process of recruiting 2,000 primary added that the governor was and we want to assure the people and promotion of projects that will 

school teachers in the state. committed to “the core values of that before the end of the year, there assist in increasing farming and 

The recruitment, being conducted discipline, merit, transparency and would be tremendous changes in our cultural infrastructure in Africa. 

by the Enugu State Universal Basic accountability” in the exercise and schools”, Asogwa said. 

How old is the organisation in 

Akpofure, renowned traditionalist, passes on at 98 

Nigeria and your achievements 

so far? 

By Abel Kolawole 

the United Kingdom for further studies. out in her absence. A spiritual leader of We started two years ago and 

M 

With no formal education and in the high repute, she stood for piety, humility, have been consulting widely, 

adam Agnes Akpometeghore company of two other wives of her honesty and respect for all peoples. meeting with traditional rulers, 

Akpofure is dead. The oldest husband, Mrs. Agnes Akpofure A great philanthropist and lover of captains of industry, technocrats 

adherent of the Igbe African Traditional supported herself and her children, the people, she showered assistance on all and culture enthusiasts for 

Religion passed on at the age of 98. youngest being Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN) who came her way especially people in endorsement, We are educating 

Born in February 1918, Akpofure by working as a seamstress and petty her immediate community particularly stakeholders on our mandate 

hailed from Kokori in Ethiope East Local trading. A visionary leader with wisdom to the needy. 

Government Area of Delta State. A 

which is primarily promoting the 

and foresight, she insisted with her Mama Agnes Akpometeghore 

grandchild of Ubiesha, she was born into 

culture of “eat what we produce 

husband to give their children quality Akpofure is survived by two children, Prof. 

the religious Odje-Ijaro family and was 

and produce what we eat” and 

formal education. 

Clement Onisuru Akpofure and Chief 

among the three children to be personally While awaiting the return of her 

the response is awesome. With 

Efe Akpofure (SAN), FCIArb, grand 

named by the Uku Supreme, Ubiesha, husband from the UK, she joined the Igbe 

the feedback we are getting, 

children, great grand children, great 

her grandfather, who founded Igbe Traditional Religion alongside her father 

indeed, we believed that AFCO 

great grand children, brothers and sisters. 

traditional religion who named her and meticulously carried out the native 

is committed to contributing its 

Akpometeghore. 

worship, ranking next to her father who 

quotas to revamping our ailing 

Married to the late Chief M. O. then was spiritual head of Igbe 

economy. 

Akpofure (SAN) while still at Ondo Boys 

• Agnes 

Worldwide. 

High School, Ondo, she and her children 

Akpofure 

As the Emeganase Oboro Nobo of the 

AFCO is planning to organise 

were left with her mother in law, the late worldwide African religion sect, Mrs. 

the African Crops and Cultural 

Madam Irese Awharitefe by her Agnes Akpofure availed herself of 

Festival soon. What are the 

husband, who, on graduation from religious ceremonies at the Igbe palace 

objectives of this Festival? 

Ondo Boys High School, left her to go to as all officialdom could not be carried 

We would like to look inward 

C 

M 

YK 

to the police at Badagry police 

station. I spent over a year in 

hospital before I could walk again. 

But till today nothing was done by 

the authorities about my case”. 

Sunday, Badagry West Youth 

Forum leader, said the killing of 

Micheal was avoidable if Nwaeze, 

the alleged trigger-happy Customs 

officer, had applied professionalism 

in the discharge of his duties that 

fateful night. He also accused 

Nwaeze of using his position as a 

Customs officer to cover up his 

illegal business activities in 

Seme. “He brings in goods and 

also assists people to bring in goods 

without 

paying duties. He has boys 

working for him. We challenge him 

to prove us 

wrong and tell us the source of his 

wealth. He has been in Seme for the 

past years and always resists 

attempts to transfer him,”Sunday 

said. The youth leader asked the 

human rights community and the 

authorities to investigate the alleged 

killings in Gbaji-Ashiri-Hulenu. 

When contacted, the Public 

Relations Officer, NCS Federal 

Operations Unit (FOU), Jerry Atta, 

said the allegations were very 

strong and that the FOU is separate 

from Badagry/Seme Command. 

Meanwhile, when Sunday 

Vanguard contacted, on phone, the 

Badagry/Seme Command Public 

Relations Officer, Mr Selechang 

Taupyen, he simply said his 

Comptroller General had 

addressed the issue before. He 

declined further comments 

•Chukwunwike Esiole Moses 

to what has delayed us from 

producing enough food and 

certain beliefs that have kept us 

for so long in one position while 

we have the capacity to build a 

bridge of farmers cooperation to 

share knowledge and resources 

amongst potential community 

producers and commodity 

providers within. Also we are 

bringing together innovations 

from Africans in Diaspora and at 

home to forge a common front to 

start improving on what we 

produce and create a platform 

whereby we will see farming and 

culture as a profession. 

What are your plans to get 

support? 

As soon as we are done with 

the inauguration of the executives 

to run the organisation, we are 

planning to visit some royal 

fathers as the custodians of 

culture and tradition for their 

participation as AFCO Traditional 

Royal Fathers. We intend 

visiting HRH Igwe Godwin 

Nnaemeka, the Eze Idegwu 111 

of Achina, HIM, Oba Adeyeye 

Ogunwusi,(Ojaja11), the Ooni of 

Ife, HRH. Alh. Muhammad 

Abubakar 111, the Sultan of 

Sokoto, HRH. Igwe Alfred 

Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, etc 

for their endorsement. We are 

also meeting the federal and state 

governments through the various 

ministries responsible for 

agriculture, trade and 

investment, outh, culture and 

tourism, etc.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Three reasons my 

people occupied 

Chevron 

—Omadeli, Ugborodo monarch 

‘Rename Escravos, it is 

connected to slave trade era’ 

By Ephraim Oseji 

HRM Benson Omadeli is the 

Olaja-Orori, the spiritual and 

traditional head of Ugborodo in 

Warri South West LVA, Delta State. 

His community is significant to the 

extent that it is only oil-producing, it 

is also home to Shell and Chevron. It 

equally is host to the proposed Export 

Processing Zone (EPZ) in Delta State. 

In this interview, the Olaja-Orori 

speaks on the protest carried out by 

his people against Chevron recently 

among other issues affecting 

Igborodo. 

Perhaps we should start this 

interview with the recent lock-up 

of Chevron’s multi-dollar Escravos 

Gas To Liquid, EGTL, facility by 

your people in public display of 

anger in a non-violent protest. Do 

you have any comment on it? 

Number one, as the number one 

citizen of Ugborodo land,I am the 

repository of the sadness and 

happiness of that community. 

Because of my position, I cannot 

react as an average citizen. I see 

things at the higher level of the 

goodness to come rather than what 

has been. Yes, the people have often 

come to me with complaints against 

Chevron but I have always 

counseled for patience and 

dialogue. I have always told them 

that what is hot today will be cold 

tomorrow. And before the 

showdown, I had asked that 

President Buhari’s campaign for 

positive change should be given a 

chance and that we should wait for 

Chevron to toe the line of what is 

needful under the current 

circumstances. But notwithstanding 

the fact that all communication 

lines were open to Chevron, it refused 

to repent and dialogue with 

stakeholders in the community; 

instead it continued to cooperate 

with a handful of indigenes of 

Ugborodo who are renegades and 

oppressors installed by Chevron’s 

money with illicit intents. Two, 

Chevron flagrantly refused to deal 

with mainstream Ugborodo’s 

legitimate organs in performing 

their recent Turn Around 

Maintenance, TAM, and the gains 

from this local content was lost. 

Three, Ugborodo went to great 

lengths to organize democratic 

elections into community organs 

and, to satisfy all righteousness, 

Chevron was duly notified of the 

results and the community’s resolve 

to disband those people who had 

been holding it hostage. Anyway, 

every excess must have a limit. The 

decision to lock-out Chevron’s yard 

was very painful because we know 

what it could mean, in terms of the 

cost to Nigeria’s fragile economy. 

The protest was therefore tailored 

to be absolutely non-violent and one 

with minimal pains. It was an 

exercise to make a statement and to 

prove a point. 

Do you think Chevron has learnt 

a lesson? 

I cannot answer for them. But for 

the intervention of the Delta State 

Governor Okowa and some Federal 

Government’s figures, it would have 

become a different ballgame. 

Ugborodo has given Chevron a new 

lease of life and a new and better 

•HRM Benson 

Omadeli 

template of improved relationship 

is being awaited. Actually, it is 

Chevron that has problem, not 

Ugborodo. But it must be noted that, 

together, Chevron and Ugborodo 

remain veritable economic allies to 

Nigeria. No matter how strong and 

devious, no one can take the land 

from under our feet? Chevron must 

not disrespect the change mantra of 

President Buhari. We crave the 

intervention of the US Ambassador 

to Nigeria to restore the little 

legitimate rights of Ugborodo 

There is some measure of 

bickering about the way you have 

suddenly taken control of the 

affairs of Ugborodo and … 

I have heard these complaints as 

well. They are the handiwork of 

people who do not mean well for 

Ugborodo. Even though some of 

them are indigenes, they are more 

By Tony Nwankwo 

Blue Pictures, leading film 

distribution and consulting 

company based in Nigeria with a 

link to West African territories in 

conjunction with Crimson 

Multimedia Limited and Filmhouse 

Cinemas held a VIP media 

screening for the 2016 Hollywood 

biographical drama film Sully. 

The movie screened at the newly 

opened Filmhouse IMAX Theatre, 

Lekki, had celebrities like Timi 

Dakolo, Bryan Okwara, Funmi 

Holder, Ayoola Ayodeji, Marvelous 

Odiete, amongst others in 

attendance. Starring Tom Hanks as 

Capt. Chesley Sully’ Sullenberger, 

the movie also stars three-time 

Academy Award nominee, and 

three-time Tony Award nominee, 

08116759757 

Hoteliers have appealed to Governor 

Akinwumi Ambode to scrap 

consumption tax and some other levies 

imposed on hoteliers operating in Lagos 

State. 

Making the appeal during the launching 

of N30 million Appeal Fund and the 

commissioning of a new ultra modern 

secretariat built by Hoteliers Association 

of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, the 

President, Aare Tola Odunuga, noted that 

consumption tax and other levies have 

crippling effect on hotels operating in the 


Odunuga said hoteliers operating in the state were 

already paying five per cent VAT in addition to 

annual registration fees to Lagos State Ministry of 

Tourism. 

“Since his assumption of office, Governor Ambode 

has been doing a yeoman’s job, and not only that 

he is a listening governor, he has also promised to 

look into this issue of multiple taxation which we 

have raised. We will like him to act on it very fast. 

We want consumption tax to be abolished; after 

that, we want other taxes we are asked to pay to be 

of foreigners or expatriates to the 

land. Some of them cannot even 

point to the graves of their fathers. 

They jump from other places, 

interfere with the affairs and fate of 

Ugborodo, rob Ugborodo of its 

legitimate money and rights and run 

away. The good news is that we are 

smoking them out methodically. 

Are there questions or 

controversies on the seat of the 

Olaja-Orori? 

None despite the meddlesomeness 

of those who only want to feather 

their own nests. The seat of the 

Olaja-Orori is reverent and 

hereditary and has remained 

without blemish since the 10 th 

Century. Whoever will desecrate it 

will do so at his or her own risk. 

SUNDAY Vanguard, SETPEMBER 11, 2016, PAGE 35 

Can we go back to the economic 

promises of Ugborodo? 

Even though not much has been 

heard of the EPZ since the 

emergence of President Buhari, it is 

still on record that the project is 

worth over 16 billion dollars and is 

to serve as a major hub for several 

petroleum based facilities. 

How do you think this will impact 

on Ugborodo? 

A: At the community level, we 

have decided on a wait-and-see 

policy while praying that President 

Buhari should take a critical look 

and review it with present realities 

and make it a reality. The baby 

should not be thrown away with the 

bath water. For the moment 

Ugborodo will not place the cart 

before the horse. How the project 

will impact on us will ensue from a 

definite policy statement and plan 

of action by President Buhari. We 

are on our knees praying for its 

resuscitation. 

Considering that the EPZ could 

be one of the major solutions the 

government can deploy to repair 

the dwindling economy in terms 

of replacement of crude oil by gas 

as a foreign exchange earner, 

massive employment 

opportunities and so on, why should 

it not be speeded up? 

Government in its wisdom and its 

time will do what is right for the EPZ. 

I am neither an expert in politics 

nor the economy of oil but I have 

done reasonable homework on the 

proposed Gas City, as many prefer 

to call the project. Apart from being 

a veritable foreign exchange earner 

for the country, it will be one of the 

highest employers of labour. Indeed, 

Nigerians will wonder why a project 

such as this has not been conceived 

long before now. I pray President 

Buhari should earn this credit and 

kudos. 

Blue Pictures, Crimson Multimedia hold VIP media screening 

Laura Liney as Sully’s wife, Aaron 

Eckhart, Jerry Ferrara, Autumn 

Reeser, Sam Huntington and Max 

Adle. 

Sully” tells the story of American 

pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, 

who heroically glided his disabled 

plane US Airways Flight 1549 onto 

the frigid waters of the Hudson River, 

saving the lives of all 155 passengers 

onboard. However, even as Sully 

was being praised by the public and 

the media for the unprecedented 

feat of aviation skill, an 

investigation was unfolding that 

threatened to destroy his reputation 

and his career. 

The movie which is based on 

Sully’s 2009 book, “Highest Duty: 

My Search for What Really 

Matters,” is produced and directed 

by Clint Eastwood. 

harmonized,”he said. 

“We’ve already registered as hotel 

operators with Ministry of Tourism but 

unfortunately local government 

officials are fond of harassing us 

threatening to deal with us if we don’t 

register with them again and pay other 

taxes which state government is 

already collecting from us. This is 

multiple taxation and is killing our 

business, and this is why we want 

Governor Ambode to intervene.” 

The hoteliers’ leader enjoined Lagos 

State government to call to order some 

of the consultants hired to collect tax from hoteliers 

and other business operators in the state over their 

alleged high- handedness. 

Odunuga said: “Some of these consultants have 

become a bone in the throat of hoteliers. They extort 

our members at will and if you refuse to dance to 

their tune, they will threaten them with closure of 

their business premises. At times, in order to make 

money from us, they will tell a member that he is 

due to pay N800,000 as annual tax to the state 

government, but that they could reduce it by half, 

Tor 

oront 

onto o Film 

Festival open’s with 

Nigeria’s 

Filmone 

By Olalekan Bilesanmi 

Two years since its inception, 

FilmOne has grown to becoming 

Nigeria’s premier distribution and 

production company and no where has 

this been more established than at this 

year’s Toronto International Film 

Festival where the distribution arm of 

the business represents 6 out of the 8 films 

selected to showcase Nollywood and the 

production arm of the business were the 

producers behind two very popular films 

screening at the festival. The Wedding 

Party (2016) and Taxi Driver: Oko 

Ashewo (2015) 

With close to a hundred stakeholders 

from actors, producers, directors, 

investors and the usual uninvited guests 

expected to grace Toronto this month, 

never has Nollywood gotten such an high 

profile endorsement on the international 

stage and have been able to back the 

recognition with global standards films 

Nollywood has never been able to put 

together a strong showcase of movies 

like ’76 (Izu Ojukwu), The Arbitration 

(Niyi Akinmolayan), Taxi Driver (Oko 

Ashewo by Daniel Emeke Oriahi), Just 

Not Married (Uduak-Obong-Patrick), 

Okafor’s Law (Omoni Oboli), Green 

White Green (Abba Makama), The 

Wedding Party (Kemi Adetiba) and 93 

Days (Steve Gukas) all coming out the 

same year in the box office.Its important 

to note that never in the history of our 

modern cinema reign have we enjoyed 

a consistent flow of qualitative box office 

movies like we have experienced since 

2014. 

According to Don Omope, head of films 

and content strategy at FilmOne, about 

the company’s hugely successful movie 

production programme that has 

produced films like Lunch Time Heroes 

(1st kid’s film) Chasing Hanifa (Hausa), 

Taxi Drive: Oko Ashewo (Yoruba) and 

FilmOne’s latest movie The Wedding 

Party (English blockbuster) made in 

conjunction with Ebonylife, Koga 

Studios and Inkblot production. 

“I make films solely on their creative 

merit and commercial potential and 

thats why our programme is successful, 

we saw a gap in the market to collaborate 

with talented filmmakers to co-produce 

films by providing a creative and 

commercial support system for them”. 

He continued. 

“Toronto is here today on merit, and the 

reason can only be attributed to one thing 

which is the professionalisation of 

Nollywood. New producers coming 

into the industry from better structured 

professions like banking, engineering, 

Law etc and introducing a discipline of 

purpose and commercial ethics to the 

making of films. The growth and rapid 

expansion of cinemas multiplexes/ 

distribution and perhaps most 

significantly the strong support system 

for directors to make better creative and 

commercial films”. 

Setup by the charismatic Kene Mkparu 

MD of Filmhouse cinemas, FilmOne is 

fast growing to rival the strong success of 

its sister company Filmhouse cinemas 

which just added the first ever IMAX 

cinema in West Africa to its portfolio of 

cinemas across Nigeria. 

Hotelier 

eliers s plead with Ambode on multiple tax 

axation, ation, alleged extor 

ortion 

tion 

•Aare Tola 

Odunuga 

Speaking after the movie, Ben 

Raynor, General Manager, 

Filmhouse Cinemas said it was the 

first IMAX in Nigeria and in West 

Africa and that it is the next step; the 

next big thing in entertainment. 

Explaining the edge of the IMAX 

screen to others, Ben explains, “The 

view is bigger, the sound is clearernot 

necessarily louder but clearer 

and you feel every part of the movie. 

Everything is positioned in such a 

way that you get optimum view. 

Whether you sit in the front, the back, 

by the side or in the middle, your 

whole vision is of the film. And then 

when you bring 3D to the whole mix, 

the 3D comes out better with 

IMAX.” He concluded by saying 

that Filmhouse will be opening soon 

with IMAX screens in other parts of 

the country. 

and that he will pay N200,000 to 

government coffers, and the other N200,000 

goes into their private pockets. Some of 

the consultants are extortionists, we are tired 

of them.” 

On the issue of insecurity challenge facing 

the country, the hotelier urged federal and 

state governments, as well as the police 

to develop closer relationship with 

hoteliers as part of efforts to combat the 

scourge. 

Odunuga further noted that hoteliers, 

police and government have greater role 

to play in efforts to tackle insecurity. 

“We are mindful of the responsibility put 

on our shoulders as hoteliers. As a result, we 

have always strived to be on the top of the 

situation to avert calamity. We have also 

ensured that we recruit adequate personnel 

including security guards and experts to 

provide security for our customers. We however 

wish to implore the federal and Lagos State 

governments as well as the Inspector General 

of Police to increase security patrols along 

major highways in Lagos State.


AYO ONIKOYI 

08052201215 

Dare Babarinsa’s mother in-law buried 

Some notable Nigerians were among guests who turned up to pay their last respects to the late Mrs 

Florence Okhokhere Oikelome, mother of Mrs Modupe Babarinsa,wife of leading journalist and cofounder 

of the Tell magazine, Dare Babarinsa. Commendation service in honour of the the late mother 

and grandmother held on Tuesday at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, 

Lagos. Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi 

Service of songs for 

Umukoro 

Friends and associates of Late Chief Chris 

Umukoro, the Uruese 1 of Agbarho 

Kingdom: at were a his Treasure Garden 

Estate residence, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos to be part 

of the Service of Songs held in his honour. Top 

APC chieftains from Delta State were among the 

dignitaries that graced the occasion. 

L-R: Mr Dare Babarinsa, Mrs Modupe Babarinsa, 

Mr Tunde Oikelome and Mrs Faith Oikelome. 

L-R: Obong Victor Attah, former Governor 

of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Dare Babarinsa and 

Mr Kunle Ajibade. 

Family of Late Chief Chris Umukoro, the Uruese 

1 of Agbarho Kingdom: Mrs. Flora Umukoro 

(wife) 2nd right and her children. 

Mr Funminiyi Afuye (l) and Mr Kayode Otitoju. 

Temit 

emitope 

Ajayi yi 

weds 

Damilola Ajayi 

MR Kunle Ajayi, the popular gospel flutist 

entertained friends when his son, Damilola Ajayi, 

wedded former Temitope Ajayi at the Redeemed 

Christian Church of God Camp along Ibadan 

Express Way penultimate Tuesday. It was such a 

harmonious wedlock that the bride wouldn’t even 

need to change her maiden name. 

L-R: Chief Bayo Ojo, Mrs Anike Ojo and Engr 

Oluwole Komolafe. 

Omoike’s daughter called to Bar 

The families of Superior Evangelist Eddy Omoike was 

recently filled with joy when their daughter, Miss Rebecca 

Isibhahomen Omoike was called to bar. 

R-L: Prof Amos Utuama (SAN), immediate past 

Deputy Governor, Delta State; Chief (Brig-Gen) 

Dominic Oneya (Rtd), former Military 

Administratorand a guest 

The new couple, Mr and Mrs Damilola 

Ajayi. 

From left: Superior Evangelist Eddy Omoike and Mrs. 

Omoike with their daughter Rebecca at the event. 

Joy weds Rhema 

The families of Ogueri-Chiabor of Imo State and Ogbuka 

of Anambra State became one recently when their 

children, Rhema Emmanuel and Chinyerem Joy got married 

at the Winners Chapel, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State. 

L-R, Deacon Uba Mrohwobor, APC chieftain, 

Delta State; Dr. Cyril Ogodo, deputy state 

chairman, APC Delta; Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, 

leader, APC, Delta State; Chief Great Ogboru; 

Chief (Arch.) O.C. Majoroh, convener, Urhobo 

Foundation; and Mr. John Onojeharho, APC 

Chieftain, Delta at the Service of Songs. 

Pastor and Mrs Kunle Ajayi, groom's 

parents, the new couple and parents of the 

bride, Mr and Mrs Ajayi. 

Rhema & Joy during the marriage 

Members of Urhobo Social Club (USC), Lagos (L- 

R): Hon. Prince Oghene Emma Egoh, member, 

House of Rep. representing Amuwo Odofin 

Federal Constituency, Lagos; Most Senior Evang. 

Emmanuel Evue; Mr. Oma Odoh-Tadafe; Chief 

Johnson Barovbe, JP; Prince Austine Enajemo- 

Isireh, 2nd Vice President (USC); and Sir, Simeon 

Ohwofa, President (USC), Lagos.


With Emeka Anaeto (08104056415) 

emekaanaeto16@gmail.com 

YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR BANK 

Getting Your Bank 

To Finance Your 

Next LPO/Contract 

Just as every agreement has its terms and conditions, 

there are some criteria which you will need to meet 

in getting your bank to finance your local purchase 

order (LPO) or contract. While the details may vary from 

bank to bank, the general criteria can be grouped into 4 

main categories: 

•Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo 

Presidency, SMEDAN 

initiate national 

entrepreneurship 

programme in schools 

By Emeka Anaeto, 

Economy Editor 

The Small and Medium 

E n t e r p r i s e s 

Development Agency of 

Nigeria, SMEDAN, an arm of 

the Presidency, has rolled out 

a new initiative for cultivating 

entrepreneurship 

development at the grass roots 

and in schools. 

The core mission of the 

initiative which is named 

National 

School 

Entrepreneurship Programme 

(N-SEP) is to deliver handson 

entrepreneurship and 

community service education 

to every primary and 

secondary school student in 

Nigeria so as to eliminate 

poverty, conflicts and massive 

youth unemployment. 

According to the details of 

the programme, participating 

schools will run a “School 

Bank” conducted by students 

and facilitated by participating 

commercial banks. 

This is expected to boost 

financial literacy and financial 

inclusion as well as spur 

investment culture in young 

people. 

It is also expected to create 

a network of young leaders 

who will see the challenges in 

their communities as their 

responsibilities. 

According to SMEDAN’s 

calculations the expected 

outcome in the first year of the 

programme includes a direct 

impact on about 370,000 

pupils. 

The programme is projected 

to create about 3,700 micro 

businesses and community 

service projects by 

participating schools, while 

about 5,000 teachers will be 

trained on how to deliver 

hands-on entrepreneurship 

and community service 

education to students in 

•DG SMEDAN,Dikko-Umaru-Radda 

About 370,000 

students bank 

accounts is 

projected to be 

operated along 

with about 3,700 

school enterprise 

bank accounts to 

be operated in 

estimated 3’700 

school banks 

primary and secondary 

schools. 

It also projects to recruit 

about 18,500 business and 

civic leaders as Business 

Advisory Board Members, 

thereby enhancing 

community participation. 

About 370,000 students bank 

accounts is projected to be 

operated along with about 

3,700 school enterprise bank 

accounts to be operated in 

estimated 3’700 school banks. 

N-SEP is an initiative of 

SMEDAN and Students for 

the Advancement of Global 

Entrepreneurship (SAGE). 

SAGE is an international 

programme initiated at the 

California State University 

Chico, USA. It is currently 

operating in all the continents 

of the world and it engages 

young people in a hands-on 

learning process on how to 

create wealth, help others and 

their communities. 

According to SMEDAN, 

because N-SEP is a 

comprehensive national 

program it will be coordinating 

its planning and activities 

with the office of the Vice 

President and various 

stakeholders, which include 

state governments, Federal 

Ministry of Education, 

Financial Institutions, public 

agencies and private sector 

organizations. 

Your Credit Worthiness: 

This is the most critical of all as the main reason why a 

bank reviews your loan request is to determine your 

credit worthiness. 

To do this, the bank relies on your bank statements i.e. 

do your accounts get overdrawn, have your cheques ever 

been returned (bounced) as a result of insufficient funds? 

A credit check will also be conducted from at least two 

credit bureaus to find out if you have non-performing 

loans in any financial institution. 

Ability to execute the LPO/ Contract: 

Often, it is expected that you would have executed 

similar contracts in the past. If this is the case, you will 

need to provide copies of such Purchase Orders or 

contract agreement, completion certificates, payment 

invoices from the contract employer and the bank 

statements that reflect these payments. 

Commitment: 

You will be required to make an equity contribution. 

This may vary from 10-20% of the cost of executing the 

LPO/Contract. For example: you have been issued an 

N10m purchase order to supply telephones and the cost 

of purchasing and delivering the telephones is N7m; 

your equity contribution will be 10-20% of N7m. 

Payment Ability of the Issuer/Contract: 

Whilst this is totally out of your control, the ability of 

the issuer of the LPO/contract to pay and also pay on 

time is often times a deciding factor on whether your 

LPO is financed by your bank or not. As this is the 

primary repayment source of the LPO finance the bank 

will want to be assured of the payment of the contract 

proceeds on time. You may be required to show proof of 

payment from the contract employer; however the bank 

reserves the right to only finance LPOs from issuers 

that they are comfortable with. Delayed payments of 

contract proceeds can have a negative impact on your 

profitability and your ability to repay the loan as a result 

of the prolonged interest payment. 

Other areas which 

you have to consider 

include: 

• Are you a registered business or limited liability 

company? Do you have your registration/incorporation 

documents? 

• Validity of the LPO or contract- was it duly signed by 

a designated representative of the issuing company? 

Has the contract expired? Does the time before the expiry 

of the contract give you ample time to execute it? 

• Do you have invoices from suppliers? Are your 

suppliers local or foreign based? If foreign, what 

payment mode are you adopting- LC, Bills for 

Collection? 

• Have you reviewed the terms and conditions of the 

LPO/contract to ensure that you are able to abide by 

them. Are there some clauses in it that may make the 

bank uncomfortable? 

Continues next week


With Emeka Anaeto (08104056415) 

emekaanaeto16@gmail.com 

NASME seeks 5-yr tax holiday, 

amnesty for SMEs 

By Jonah Nwokpoku 

The Nigerian Association of Small 

and Medium Enterprises, 

NASME has called on the 

federal government to grant at least 

five years tax holiday for small and 

medium enterprises in the country to 

boost the growth of the sector. 

The group also called for a tax 

amnesty to existing SMEs in the 

Agribusiness requires research, funding, says Bell 

Apple producer 

Akinyemi Oluwagbenga is a 

researcher and founder, Bell 

Apple Wealth Ventures. The young 

entrepreneur has utilised his wealth 

of experience garnered in research 

during and after his NYSC programme 

at Institute for Oil Palm Research to 

set up a bell apple farming that is 

attracting much demand in the 

country. In this chart with Moses 

Nosike, he revealed the need to fund 

agricultural research, projects saying, 

government has made some efforts but 

it is not enough and that is not 

encouraging individuals to go into 

agriculture especially the youths. 

Poor funding as a challenge 

Poor funding has not only affected 

research on agricultural development 

in the country but also on the area of 

food security. Nigeria needs to do 

more on this area now the country has 

seen the need to diversify into 

agriculture. This is what other 

countries are doing by engaging 

seriously in plantation farming and 

they have enough food to take care of 

their citizens and as well export to 

other countries. But in our case, we 

don’t have enough plantations for 

whatever food we produce and 

consume. Even with enough land we 

still import foods because we have not 

been able to go into massive 

agricultural produce that will take care 

of our population and enable us to 

export. 

Entrepreneurs’ attitude towards 

research 

country in order to promote tax 

compliance among them including 

fostering voluntary tax record 

disclosures. 

These were contained in an advocacy 

paper prepared by NASME in 

collaboration with professional 

services firm, Deloitte and with the 

support of Enhancing Nigerian 

Advocacy for a Better Business 

Environment, ENABLE. 

My experience and others have 

shown that research is very important 

to any one who wants to invest in 

agriculture, become SMEs or 

entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, 

many young people are not interested 

in research that can position them to 

invest. They see it as a waste of time 

and that is why they just want to settle 

for a monthly earned jobs. Often time, 

many of them have discouraged me 

when I was researching for bell apple 

farming, but I didn’t yield to their 

discouragement. And this is one of the 

things that discourages some young 

entrepreneurs from advancing if you 

are not focused. 

“It is important to know that when it 

comes to research, you need to 

develop passion for you to get 

results and rightful information. 

On my own case, I was fortunate 

I did my NYSC at the Nigerian 

Institute for Oil Palm Research. 

There I really developed the 

ability to do research 

because I worked 

with professors, 

doctors and often 

time we went to 

field work I 

always asked 

questions that 

would warrant 

them giving me 

assignments, 

which will 

require me 

going to library to study extensively 

and coming out with findings”. 

Therefore, I get encouraged seeing 

people with inquisitive minds to 

According to the paper’s 

recommendations, enactment of 

preferential tax rules and other tax 

incentives requested will boost 

investment and encourage more 

players in the sector. Consequently, it 

will lead to increased employment, 

more goods being produced for export 

and increased GDP. 

At the public presentation of the 

position paper by Deloitte to NASME 

research on agriculture in Nigeria. So, 

entrepreneurs need to know that 

research is not about immediate gain, 

but about facts that can help them in 

investment. 

Unfortunately, many of the research 

documents end up on tablets and 

shelves, and often, investors had come 

into the sector being ignorance of 

research findings. This is because 

several research institutes carry out 

research and it ends in journals and 

table. 

According to Oluwagbenga, 

research helped him discover that bell 

apple is a tropical fruit that grows in 

Nigeria, and that attracted his 

interest. “It is bigger in size 

compared to the imported 

apple, very attractive, highly 

nutritious, and even 

medicinal. It grows in 

Lagos, Delta, Edo and 

Benue states. We have 

bell apple trees sparsely 

scattered around the 

country. 

Cultivating bell 

apples and your 

first harvest 

time takes a 

•Akinyemi Oluwagbenga 

period 

three 

years. 

From 

the 

third 

year, 

it starts fruiting gradually, and you can 

get over 1,000 apples per harvest and 

you harvests two times in a year”. 

in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer of 

Deloitte Nigeria, Mr. Fatai Folarin, 

said in spite of government’s efforts 

and the clout garnered by MSMEs, the 

sector has not performed creditably 

well and hence have not played the 

expected vital and vibrant role in the 

economic growth and development of 

Nigeria. 

He said the report findings show an 

existing or perceived disconnect 

between policy intent and the realities 

of SMEs. 

He said: “The need to bridge the gap 

between policy intent and SME reality 

has necessitated this position paper. 

The drivers for this position paper are: 

Encouraging interaction and 

adoption of a concerted approach to 

issue of strategic importance to the 

development of SMEs in Nigeria; 

establishing a framework that ensures 

effective realization of government 

objectives and targets for SMEs and 

creating an active platform for policy 

advocacy on issues affecting SMEs in 

Nigeria.” 

Also speaking, Zonal Vice President, 

South-West, NASME, Ladi Jemi- 

Alade, said: “SMEs are able to 

manufacture products up to 

international standards for export 

which will boost foreign trade, and 

increased innovation and technology 

as SMEs tend to be major drivers of 

innovation while achieving wider 

socio-economic goals such as poverty 

alleviation. That is why we are saying 

five years tax amnesty for the SMEs 

will bring about a voluntary disclosure 

of records. For instance, most 

companies are indebted to Corporate 

Affairs Commission and the Federal 

Inland Revenue Service, because the 

penalties are stringent. So, companies 

need help. They need to be granted 

amnesty to voluntarily disclose their 

records and the inequalities in the tax 

system must also be addressed.” 

New Horizons takes 

Nigerian student to 

Microsoft global IT contest 

Information Technology training firm, 

New Horizons, has disclosed plans to 

take another Nigerian Secondary School 

prodigy, Master Oluwatobi Ed Adetula, from 

Woodland Hills High School to represent 

Nigeria in the 2016 Certiport Microsoft Competition. 

The firm also disclosed plans to sponsor the 

guidance of Adetula to accompany the award 

winner to the event holding in Orlando Florida 

later this month. 

The training firm said the sponsorship is in 

furtherance of its corporate social responsibility 

towards youth empowerment and Information 

and Communication Technology 

(ICT) penetration in Nigeria. 

Adetula had emerged top in the final of the 

Nigerian National Edition of the Microsoft 

Office Specialist Competition that saw the 

participation of 200 students from different 

secondary schools across the Country. 

This year Certiport’s competition marks the 

14th anniversary of the global competition 

while New Horizons has consistently sponsored 

school youths in the last six years. 

Adetula, who has emerged Nigerian representative, 

will be competing against other 

national champions from other countries to 

demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office 

products. 

Globally, the World Championship attracts 

more than 400,000 candidates from 130 countries. 

Speaking on the new development, the New 

Horizons Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tim 

Akano, said that, “as a company, we believe 

ICT sector, as one of the most viable solutions 

to Nigeria’s current economic crisis, is to reposition 

its economy from an oil- dependent 

nation to an ICT-producing nation such as 

Israel, South Korea and India.” 

He, however, noted that this can only happen 

if kids were given quality ICT education 

from primary school to university levels. 

“This is why, for the past eleven years, New 

Horizons Nigeria has taken it upon itself to 

champion this noble cause by focusing on 

massive ICT education across board,” he said.


TICAD IV: Japan’s economic 

pathway for Nigeria 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

Though it held in Nairobi, Kenya, 

the just concluded sixth Tokyo 

International Conference on 

Africa’s Development, TICAD IV, 

holds great promise for Nigeria 

should the opportunities be 

explored. 

Japan is interested in the 

future of Africa, especially 

Nigeria. This was the 

summary of the just concluded 

sixth Tokyo International 

Conference on Africa’s 

Development, TICAD IV, held in 

Nairobi, Kenya between 27 and 

28 August 2016 under the theme, 

“Advancing Africa’s Sustainable 

Development Agenda-TICAD 

Partnership for Prosperity”. 

The same interest also 

compelled the Japanese 

government to move the venue of 

the conference to Africa. Hitherto, 

Tokyo, the political capital of 

Japan, had always hosted the event 

since its inception in 1993. 

The latest edition of the event 

attracted over 35 African 

countries including Nigeria. 

Also, chief executives of about 80 

major companies from Japan 

were present. 

The TICAD VI agenda focused 

on three area: “Economic 

transformation through 

diversification 

and 

industrialization; promoting 

resilient health systems for quality 

life and promoting social stability 

for shared prosperity. 

To this end, $30 billion has been 

earmarked for investments in 

various areas of Africa’s 

development: Infrastructure, 

health, industrialization, water, 

energy, agriculture, et cetera for 

three years starting from this year. 

The Japanese Prime Minister, 

Shinzo Abe, who made the 

announcement while addressing 

the conference, said Japan is, by 

the token, committed to the 

greatness of Africa’s future. 

He said: “With 23 years behind 

us, TICAD is now on African soil, 

opening a new chapter in the 

relationship between Japan and 

African countries. Throughout the 

continent, I cannot but think that 

we are witnessing a `quantum 

leap’. 

“Today, Africa has leapfrogged 

over legacy technologies and aims 

at cutting-edge quality. It is little 

wonder that an increasing number 

of young people from Japan find 

Africa intriguing and want to be a 

part of it. 

“For a period of three years from 

2016 to 2018, Japan will invest 

for the future of Africa through 

implementating measures 

centering on developing quality 

infrastructure, building resilient 

health system and laying the 

foundation for peace and stability, 

amounting to approximately 

USD 30 billion under publicprivate 

partnership.” 

Under Economic Diversification 

and Industrialization, Abe 

recalled that one of the priority 

areas in the Nairobi Declaration 

of TICAD VI was that “Japan will 

steadily translate into action in 

Africa the outcomes of the G7 Ise- 

Shima Summit”. 

“Japan will provide training to 

1,000 people to promote public 

awareness for intellectual 

prosperity in Africa”, the Prime 

Minister said, adding: “Japan 

will promote practical training for 

•President Buhari.... As a government, we know our responsibility 

youths engaged in the IT industry 

which is expected to grow in Africa 

under the collaboration among 

industrial, public and academic 

sectors. 

“Japan will aim by 2020 to have 

agreements related to investments 

signed or entered into force in 100 

countries and regions and will 

intensify work towards 

concluding them with African 

countries to achieve the goal 

above”. 

For Nigeria, the conference 

provided a healthy economic 

opportunity. Apart from being an 

appreciable buyer of Japanese 

made vehicles, the diplomatic 

relationship between the two 

countries speaks volumes. 

But both countries needed to 

take their relationship a notch 

higher and explore more new 

grounds. This was why President 

Muhammadu Buhari who led the 

Nigerian delegation to the 

conference, engaged in bilateral 

talks with Abe. 

Buhari’s presentation was direct 

and simple: Nigeria has 

decimated Boko Haram and 

would also contain the crisis in the 

Niger Delta. 

“We are talking to some of their 

leaders. We will deal with them as 

we dealt with Boko Haram if they 

refuse to talk to us. As a 

government, we know our 

responsibility, which is to secure 

the environment. It is clear to us 

that lenders won’t fund projects in 

insecure environments. We realize 

that we have to secure the country 

before we can efficiently manage 

it,” the President said. 

He also told Abe that security in 

the Gulf of Guinea which, he said, 

was being greatly affected by 

piracy and armed robbery at sea, 

was a priority for the Nigerian 

government. 

“We have provided funds to our 

Navy to buy new platforms, train 

and effectively organize the 

personnel to protect the area. We 

are looking forward to support 

from developed nations for 

satellite surveillance covering the 

Gulf,” he said. 

Recalling his audience with G7 

leaders in Germany, which was 

attended by the Japanese Prime 

Minister, Buhari thanked Japan 

for responding positively to the 

Japan has greatly 

advanced in technology, 

particularly in solar 

powerinfrastructure to 

spur growth in medium 

and small-scale industries. 

Because of the advanced 

use of technology, farming 

and agriculture can 

become competitive 

request for the rehabilitation of 

victims of Boko Haram and 

rebuilding of infrastructure in 

north eastern Nigeria. 

The President, however, said 

there was still more to do on 

education, health and other 

infrastructure to ensure quick and 

voluntary return of displaced 

persons to their native 

communities. 

Dell Technologies has 

announced completion of the 

acquisition of EMC Corporation, 

creating a unique family of 

businesses that provides the essential 

infrastructure for organisations to 

build their digital future, transform 

IT and protect their most important 

asset, information. 

This is expected to create a $74 

billion market leader with an 

expansive technology portfolio that 

solves complex problems for 

customers in the industry’s fastgrowing 

areas of hybrid cloud, 

software-defined data center, 

converged infrastructure, platformas-a-service, 

data analytics, 

mobility and cybersecurity. 

With the new development, Dell 

Technologies serves 98 percent of the 

Fortune 500 and comprises several 

market leading businesses. 

Speaking on the new 

development, Michael Dell, 

chairman and CEO of Dell 

Technologies, said, “We are at the 

Nigeria’s support to Japan 

On the United Nations Security 

Council reform, the President 

agreed to work with Japan to 

achieve it, stressing that the case 

for a permanent seat for Africa on 

the council was a moral one. 

He equally expressed Nigeria’s 

support for Japan in its bid for a 

UN resolution on the problems in 

East China and South China as 

well as the “uncontrolled nuclear 

tests by North Korea.” 

“The UN system is sufficient for 

the resolutions of all disputes and 

no nation should be above the 

United Nations. This has to be 

made absolutely clear and I assure 

the Prime Minister that I will 

meet as many leaders as possible 

at the forthcoming UN General 

Assembly concerning the issues”, 

Buhari said. 

‘We are creating enabling 

business climate in Nigeria’ 

While making his submission at 

the plenary session on “Dialogue 

with the priave sector” at TICAD, 

the President told the Japanese 

business community that 

Nigeria’s business environment 

was now healthy for investors. 

He explained that government 

Dell to create $74billion market expansion 

dawn of the next industrial 

revolution. Our world is becoming 

more intelligent and more 

connected by the minute, and 

ultimately will become intertwined 

with a vast Internet of Things, paving 

the way for our customers to do 

incredible things. 

“ This is why we created Dell 

Technologies. We have the products, 

services, talent and global scale to 

be a catalyst for change and guide 

customers, large and small, on their 

digital journey.” 

Also speaking, Jamie Dimon, 

Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan 

Chase, said that, “Financial services 

is one of the first-movers in 

embracing technology to better 

serve our customers, and the next 

wave of digitalization continues a 

trend that’s been occurring my 

whole lifetime. 

“As one of the world’s biggest users 

of Dell and EMC, we spend 

approximately $9 billion a year on 

had established a Presidential 

Enabling Environment Council, 

PEEC, and Inter-Miniterial 

Council to eliminate inherent and 

artificial bottlenecks likely to 

impede the ease of doing business 

in Nigeria. 

Buhari hoped that the efforts 

would move Nigeria from the 

rating of World Bank’s business 

index to 20 places this year and 

be in the top 100 within the next 

three years. 

“One of the most important 

priorities is to create right and 

enabling environment for business 

and investors in Nigeria. Our 

vision and objective is to make 

Nigeria one of the most attractive 

and the easiest places of doing 

business in the world”, he said. 

“We believe government has a 

particular responsibility to create 

right and attractive environment 

for businesses and economic 

activities to thrive. 

“In furtherance of this vision, we 

have launched the Presidential 

Enabling Environment Council, 

PEEC and Inter-Miniterial 

Council to oversee the efforts of 

government to remove various 

bottlenecks that stifle businesses 

and economic activities and 

thereby create economic 

activities; thereby create the 

right enabling environment and 

investment climate in Nigeria. 

“The secretariat will include 

strong private sector 

representation that would be led 

by experienced business 

professionals from the private 

sector. We are committed to 

moving up the rating of the world 

bank’s ease of doing business 

index 20 places in first year and 

be in the top 100 within the next 

three years”. 

‘Nigeria’s expectations from 

Japan’ 

On his expectation from TICAD, 

Buhari said Japan’s story of rapid 

economic growth, hardwork and 

advanced technology should 

encourage Africans to strive 

harder and solve its development 

challenges. 

“Japan has greatly advanced in 

technology, particularly in solar 

power infrastructure to spur 

growth in medium and smallscale 

industries. Because of the 

advanced use of technology, 

farming and agriculture can 

become competitive. Japan has 

the knowledge, technology and 

capital to assist African countries 

to develop and Japanese firms are 

in a very good position to 

successfully compete for the 

development of infrastructure in 

Nigeria,” he said. 

The President also called for 

increased participation of the 

Japanese government and the 

private sector in the Nigerian 

economy. 

technology, including infrastructure 

as well as cloud computing, big data 

analytics and cybersecurity. We 

make sure we spend wisely and 

select our partners very carefully. 

For Marc Benioff, Chairman and 

CEO, Salesforce, “Salesforce’s 

partnership with Dell and EMC has 

been instrumental in pushing 

innovation across the industry. 

Michael is an incredible visionary 

and one of the most important 

leaders in our industry. He has been 

an amazing partner contributing to 

our success. Now with Dell 

Technologies, he is once again 

reshaping the technology industry.” 

Also speaking, Tim McGrath, 

President and CEO of PC 

Connection, Inc., said that, “Our 

relationship with Dell has grown 

tremendously in the past six-plus 

years. Along with being recognized 

as a Dell Partner of the Year in both 

2014 and 2015, the business has 

grown significantly.


Nigeria’s survival up to this point is a miracle 

– Uma Ukpai, PFN founding father 

*Asks Buhari to protect Nigerians first, then fight corruption 

BY TOM MOSES 

As many Nigerians continue 

to call for the restructuring of 

the country, a founding father 

of the Pentecostal Fellowship of 

Nigeria (PFN), Reverend UMA 

Ukpai, who is also the President, 

UMA Ukpai International 

Evangelical Ministries, says 

what Nigeria needs is leadership 

with vision, leaders who 

know what the questions are 

and those who can see Canaan 

and take Nigerians to that 

Canaan. 

Ukpai also bares his mind on 

the poor state of the economy 

and points the way forward. He 

also speaks on the Boko Haram 

insurgency and renewed militancy 

in the Niger Delta. 

There are growing calls 

for the restructuring of 

Nigeria. Do you share 

that sentiment? 

It is another form of trial and 

error. Why did we opt for the 

present structure? It was for the 

government to be closer to the 

people but, as I speak, we’ve 

not had any government led by 

somebody that knows what the 

questions are. 

Before independence, our 

problem were bad roads, lack 

of water, poor power supply, 

poor educational system and 

poverty of the worst type. We 

have an educational system 

that does not answer our question 

or solve our problem. We 

have men who are trained to use 

their heads and not their hands. 

As I speak, none of those problems 

has been solved. The problem 

is not the structure, rather 

the problem is the people 

who are operating this structure. 

We are selfish, we are selfcentred. 

We have no feeling for 

the poor, we have no regard for 

the poor. 

A leader can go to bed and 

sleep whether the poor around 

him eats or not. We have no 

programme for the masses, 

something that can lift us up, 

upgrade and promote us. 

I am not even sure we know 

how many people exist in Nigeria 

and, if we know how 

many people live in Nigeria, 

what are we doing with their 

welfare as a nation? 

We have leaders who are into 

government to enrich themselves, 

not to serve and the sacredness 

of human lives does 

not mean anything to them. A 

nation of this kind has no future. 

We have no love one for 

another. Our leaders attempt to 

occupy national seats but amplify 

tribalism because they 

want to use their tribal seats to 

rule us. 

There is so much unemployment 

and nobody cares. I was 

shocked when one of our leaders 

said some time ago that 

until we take food from the dust 

bin, let nobody say we are suffering. 

That was the message of 

a heartless man and a man who 

could not think, a man who did 

not care and a man who could 

not be a leader but a follower 

because no leader would say 

what he said. We have political 

lepers who claim to be leaders. 

We don’t look like a nation anywhere. 

We are not organized, 

our problems are so innumerable. 

How we survive is a miracle. 

What the agitators for restructuring 

think is that if Nigeria 

should embrace true federalism, 

Nigeria would be better 

off. 

We don’t need restructuring to 

embrace true federalism. We 

only need leaders with vision, 

leaders who know what the 

questions are, leaders who are 

visionary, leaders who can see 

our Canaan and can take us to 

our Canaan. As it is, we have no 

Canaan as a nation. 

Asking for restructuring is to 

continue to look for an excuse 

for them to continue to waste 

our time and lead to no direction. 

There is also the problem of 

the Naira falling steadily to 

the dollar? 

When leaders don’t know 

what the question is, the economy 

has to collapse. It is like 

asking you, which is the longest 

river in the world and you 

say, Aba River. Our economy is 

bound to collapse because we 

don’t have leaders who are visionary. 

A blind man does not 

see the things going on around 

him. Our leaders are blind leaders. 

We are neither going forward 

nor going backward, we 

are standing still, our economy 

has become a free fall economy. 

We need leaders who will 

come to serve us; people who 

know what we need to rise up 

and be like others. There is no 

reason we should be as tremendously 

rich and, yet, hopelessly 

poor. We are a gigantic paradox. 

In the midst of plenty, we 

are hopelessly poor because a 

blind man cannot run. Our 

leaders are political lepers, 

they don’t feel any pain, they 

don’t hear the cry of the people 

around them, they don’t even 

know where we are; therefore, 

they don’t where we are going 

to 

Ċould it be what Nigeria is 

passing through as a nation is 

as a result of the sins of our 

leaders against God and humanity? 

No, every Nigerian has equal 

number of holes in his head, has 

ten fingers, ten toes. We have 

seven days in a week, 12 months 

in a year and 365 days in a years 

as other nations have. There is 

nothing other nations have that 

we don’t have. 

Number one, we have no respect 

for God; we don’t care for 

the poor amongst us. A man 

who does not care for the poor 

around him cannot be a great 

man; we don’t have the desire 

to care for the poor around us. 

We like them to remain poor 

and die poor and because we 

don’t have a purpose of going 

into governance, we go and 

come out without achieving 

anything except to fill our little 

pockets that cannot feed the 

masses. 

Number two, our educational 

system does not answer our 

questions or solve our problems. 

We have remained a consumer 

nation when others are 

*Reverend Uma Ukpai 

A man who has no 

feeling for others 

cannot solve that 

problem. The man who 

does not know what 

the questions are, 

cannot answer the 

questions. We have 

been running in circles 

without making 

progress 

busy inventing things that can 

make life easier and more 

comfortable and more pleasurable. 

It is a terrible thing to be 

led by a blind man. Everyone 

of us can run only as far as he 

can see. Leaders ought to be 

our eyes, ought to be our ears, 

ought to be our legs. It is painful 

that we are ruled in a way 

that frightens me. 

When God wants to punish a 

nation, He gives them small 

boys who don’t know what the 

questions are to rule over them. 

A small boy is a selfish person, 

he thinks only about himself. 

How can only one man steal 

One billion Naira when many 

are going to bed without food? 

I am of the opinion that God 

is not happy with us because we 

don’t have respect for Him, we 

don’t obey Him, we don’t seek 

His mind in what we do. The 

average Nigerian is a periwinkle, 

the only king without a 

kingdom. The average Nigerian 

is a self-centred person, the 

average Nigerian recognises 

no higher authority over him 

and around him. When God 

gives a Nigerian a brand new 

shirt, he concludes God wants 

him to become god to his people, 

whereas when God gives a 

man a shirt, He wants the man 

to serve Him by serving His 

people, to be of help to the poorest 

of the poor. You know, lepers 

feel no pain. The nerves that 

are supposed to convey feelings 

to other parts of the body are 

dead. When our nerves are 

dead, we don’t care about what 

others are going through. 

What is the way forward? 

There is nothing like innocent 

Nigerian. I have said that 

an average Nigerian is like a 

periwinkle; the only king without 

a kingdom. The person you 

want to call an innocent Nigerian 

is so arrogant and does not 

care whether somebody rules 

over this world, whether there 

is a manager over this world. 

Is there a way out? 

The way out is for us to go 

back to the Bible, believe the 

Bible, obey the word of God. We 

are called to love one another, 

care for one another, respect 

one another and serve one another 

and support one another. 

That is what the Bible commands 

us to do. 

Almost everywhere in the 

country now, there are problems. 

Up North, Boko Haram 

and down South, the militants. 

Where are we going? 

When you look down on me, 

you compel me to fight you. 

When you refuse to know who I 

am, I will be compelled to tell 

you who I am. Somebody 

around Boko Haram is asking 

questions that nobody wants to 

listen to the same thing with the 

Niger Delta Avengers. They are 

asking questions and nobody 

wants to answer those questions. 

They are asking, how can 

we be generating so much money 

a day in oil proceeds, yet, we 

are hopelessly poor? And when 

somebody is tired of persuading 

you, he is bound to apply 

pressure. Somebody is asking 

a question and nobody is answering 

the question. So, the 

people are saying, ‘our leaders 

don’t think we exist, we need to 

tell them that we exist’. 

I was in South-Korea when 

they were hopelessly poor as we 

are but, as we speak, they export 

cars. The first time I went 

to Dubai, I cried. You could see 

what they have done with their 

money for the welfare of their 

people. When I speak of our 

thoughtlessness and wickedness, 

I mean it. For example, 

our road engineers are about 

the most corrupt in this country. 

They build roads today and 

tomorrow the roads collapse. 

They will build roads near a 

house without gutter. They will 

build roads not to specifications 

and they will expect somebody 

to say that they have completed 

the roads as required by 

law. I want to say that our road 

engineers, civil engineers are 

among the enemies of this 

country. 

Are you in support of the ongoing 

war against corruption 

by President Muhammadu Buhari? 

Everybody is in support of the 

war against corruption but the 

man whose house is on fire is 

not interested in the chase of 

mosquitoes and rats, you have 

to protect the human beings in 

that house first. Nigeria is on 

fire and our leaders are running 

after mosquitoes and rats. They 

have abandoned the issue. Our 

house is on fire, there is poverty 

everywhere. 

Yes, there is war against corruption 

which is good in a way 

because the discoveries have 

helped us to know that the first 

coming of the soldiers was 

right. Now, we are shocked that 

even soldiers are as corrupt as 

civilians but our house is on 

fire. So, while we are chasing 

the fire, we should remember 

the human beings in that house 

and protect them because it is 

for their sake and their sake 

only that they want to put out 

the fire. But a man who has no 

feeling for others cannot solve 

that problem. The man who 

does not know what the questions 

are, cannot answer the 

questions. We have been running 

in circles without making 

progress. 

As we speak now, there is no 

road out of the East. To go to 

Onitsha, you have to go 

through Owerri. We don’t have 

road out of the whole East and 

from Uyo to Calabar, we don’t 

have roads, from Uyo to Umuohia, 

we don’t have roads from 

Umuohia to Owerri, we don’t 

have roads and this has lasted 

for more than five years. I was 

expecting our leaders to commit 

suicide and I am shocked 

that none of them is behaving 

as if something has gone wrong. 

That is why I call them political 

lepers. A leper does not feel 

anything.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 --- PAGE 41 

WHY are some 

Christians so up 

set when we question 

Paul’s epistles? Why do 

they become abusive when we 

demonstrate painstakingly 

that Paul’s doctrine is at variance 

with Jesus’? The reason 

is simple; many Christians are 

Christians not because of 

Jesus but because of Paul. 

Without Paul, Christianity 

would no longer hold any attraction 

for them. 

Condoning sin 

Paul’s message permits us 

to remain sinners as Christians. 

He entices us with the 

fallacy that: “There is none 

righteous, no not one.” (Romans 

3:10). This provides the 

perfect excuse for unrighteousness 

by implying we 

cannot be righteous even if we 

want to be. According to Paul, 

righteousness is essentially a 

gift of God. (Romans 5:17). 

God tells Moses categorically: 

“I will not justify the 

wicked.” (Exodus 23:7). But 

Paul contradicts this by insisting 

God justifies sinners: “To 

him not working, but believing 

on him justifying the ungodly, 

his faith is counted for 

righteousness.” (Romans 

4:5). This gives Christians the 

false assurance that we don’t 

have to be good. All that is 

needed is our faith and not 

our works. 

However, Jesus insists we 

shall be held accountable for 

our works: “The hour is coming 

in which all who are in 

the graves shall hear his voice, 

and shall come forth, those 

who have done good to the 

resurrection of life, and those 

who have practiced evil to the 

resurrection of condemnation.” 

(John 5:28-29). 

Unlike Paul, Jesus says we 

can be righteous. Indeed, he 

insists we should strive for 

righteousness: “Blessed are 

those who hunger and thirst 

for righteousness, for they 

shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 

5:6). He then makes perfection 

our attainable goal: “Be 

perfect, even as your Father 

in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 

5:48). 

Accommodating sinners 

Paul says: “God was in 

Christ reconciling the world 

to himself, not imputing their 

trespasses to them.” (II Corinthians 

5:19). This is false. God 

is God, so he never has to reconcile 

himself to anything or 

anybody. We are the ones who 

have to be reconciled to God. 

Indeed, Jesus indicates the 

world will not be reconciled 

to God. Accordingly, he alerts 

us that the world will hate his 

disciples: “If the people of this 

world hate you, just remember 

that they hated me first. If 

you belonged to the world, its 

people would love you. But 

you don't belong to the 

world. I have chosen you to 

leave the world behind, and 

that is why its people hate 

you.” (John 15:18-19). 

Paul’s message leads Christians 

into the error that, since 

RIGHT OF REPLY 

Femi Aribisala, you 

can’t rewrite the Bible 

By J.E. Idhugwe 

The time has come for 

all true ministers of 

the gospel and pious 

Christians of all denominations 

to rise up and express 

displeasure over the contempt 

and public ridicule one 

Femi Aribisala has subjected 

Apostle Paul and the scriptures 

to, on pages of newspapers. 

It should be pointed out 

to Aribisala and any other 

Christian that our call to enlist 

into the Lord’s armies does 

not include a mandate to vet 

the Bible. To assume such responsibility 

is to play God. 

This is mischievous, condemnable 

and unacceptable. 

It is absurd and has no 

scriptural backing. What Aribisala 

is ding is reminiscent 

of an event in heaven which 

led to an ignoble expulsion 

of Lucifer (devil) and about 

one third of the angels in haven 

who joined him (Lucifer) 

to dare God. If I were Aribisala, 

I will capitalize on the 

unlimited mercy of God and 

retract and retrace my steps 

and humble myself as some 

major characters in the Bible 

like David, Ahab , to mention 

but a few, did. But if Aribisala 

finds satisfaction in giving us 

a bastardised version of the 

Bible, I wish him goodluck. 

But the Bible warns, “It is a 

fearful thing to fall into the 

hands of the living God”Heb. 

10:31 (Believers, beware! 

I enjoin all Christians not 

to lament but to rejoice in the 

sense that Bible prophecies 

are being fulfilled. Scriptures 

say in 2nd Timothy 4:3, “For 

the time will come when they 

will not endure sound doctrines, 

but according to their 

own desires ...” While this is 

happening, we are told in the 

book of Hebrews 13:19,”Do 

not be carried about with various 

and strange doctrines ...”. 

The mandate of every 

Christian is to win souls but 

how can Aribisala win souls 

when he is telling the whole 

world that some portions of 

the Bible are insertions of 

men. Jesus called all Christians 

to continue the work of 

the kingdom from where He 

and His disciples/apostles 

stopped but He is the source 

of our strength and powers. 

Luke 4:18 makes it clear, “the 

spirit of the Lords is upon me, 

because He has anointed me 

to preach the gospel to the 

poor, He has sent me to heal 

the broken hearted. To proclaim 

liberty to the captives 

and recovery of sight to the 

blind. To set all liberty those 

who are oppressed”. Who is 

Aribisala working for? It 

couldn’t be for Christ because 

he was not called to re-write 

the Bible. God views seriously 

an attempt by anybody to 

mislead His people. Let’s consider 

the words of Jesus in 

this regard; “But whoever 

causes one of these little ones 

who believe in Me to stumble, 

it would be better for him if a 

milestone were hung around 

his neck and he were thrown 

CHILDREN OF FATHER PAUL 

Paul provides the most outrageous 

justification for sin in the entire bible 

our sins will not be imputed 

to us, we can remain in our 

trespasses without losing our 

salvation. However, Jesus’ 

message is not at all reassuring 

for Christians who continue 

in sin. Jesus maintains 

categorically that a sinner 

cannot be saved unless he repents: 

“If your hand causes 

you to sin, cut it off. It is better 

for you to enter into life 

maimed, rather than having 

two hands, to go to hell, into 

the fire that shall never be 

quenched.” (Mark 9:43). 

Paul justifies sin 

Paul provides the most outrageous 

justification for sin 

in the entire bible. He says 

when he sins, he is not the sinner. 

It is the sin in him that is 

the sinner: “What I will to do, 

that I do not practice; but 

what I hate, that I do. If, then, 

I do what I will not to do, I 

agree with the law that it is 

good. But now, it is no longer 

I who do it, but sin that dwells 

in me.” (Romans 7:15-17). 

This is analogous to a thief 

claiming it is the sin in him 

that stole a cow and not him. 

Well then, if the sin in him is 

into the sea”. (Mark 9:42). 

To raise doubt on any part 

of the Bible is to denounce 

the scripture. And if this is the 

view of Aribisala, he should, 

as a matter of urgency, consider 

the timeless advice of 

prophet Elijah in the book of 

First Kings 18:21, “... for how 

long will you falter between 

two opinions? If the Lord is 

God, follow Him, but if Baal, 

follow him!”. This is the path 

of honour Aribisala should 

consider. While still pondering 

on what has become of 

this respected man of God, I 

discovered that Aribisala is 

a victim of Apostle Peter’s 

advice (some will say warning) 

on Apostle Paul’s writings. 

Said Peter. “...there are 

some difficult things in his 

(Paul) writings which ignorant 

and unstable people explain 

falsely, as they do with 

other passages of the scripture, 

to their own destruction”. (2nd 

Peter 3:15,16). We need to 

seek God if we lack understanding 

especially in Paul’s 

writings as advised by Apostle 

Peter. 

For the benefit of the reading 

public, let’s devote some 

time here to prove the authenticity 

of the Bible which 

Bro. Aribisala appears to be 

contesting. It is the author of 

a book that makes the difference. 

The Bible contains the 

infallible words of God. 

About 45 authors of different 

occupations and professions 

write the Bible through the 

inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 

“For prophecy never came 

by the will of man but holy 

men of God spoke as they were 

moved by the Holy Spirit (2nd 

Peter 1:21). This is corroborated 

in 2nd Timothy 3:16. 

“All scripture is inspired by 

God is useful for teaching the 

truth ...” Many of the authors 

sent to jail, will he not end up 

in jail as well? 

James quickly refutes this 

and warns us not to be deceived 

by such sophistry: 

“Each one is tempted when 

he is drawn away by his own 

desires and enticed. Then, 

when desire has conceived, it 

gives birth to sin; and sin, 

when it is full-grown, brings 

forth death. Do not be deceived, 

my beloved brethren.” 

(James 1:14-16). 

Paul practices lawlessness 

Jesus says a false prophet 

will promote lawlessness. 

(Matthew 7:15-23). This identifies 

Paul who says: “All things 

are lawful unto me, but all 

things are not expedient.” (I 

Corinthians 6:12). Following 

such licentiousness, sin becomes 

lawful in the jaundiced 

theology of Paul. It only needs 

to be avoided as a matter of 

expediency. 

Paul says, in effect, truth is 

whatever we decide to make 

it: “Some of the Lord's followers 

think one day is more important 

than another. Others 

think all days are the same. 

But each of you should make 

Who is Aribisala 

working for? It 

couldn’t be for Christ 

because he was not 

called to re-write the 

Bible. God views 

seriously an attempt 

by anybody to 

mislead His people 

of the Bible lived apart and 

never met each other, yet there 

is perfect harmony among the 

books they wrote in the Bible. 

This explains the indisputable 

fact that they all had the same 

source of inspiration – God. 

The Bible is the channel of 

communication between 

man and God after the process 

of direct communication 

was marred by sin at the4 

Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:10). 

The scripture says: “The Lord 

never does anything without 

revealing His plan to His servants’ 

(Amos 3:7, 1st Samuel 

3:10-13). 

Let me make it clear to Bro 

Aribisala and his admirers, if 

he has any, that God does not 

need the approval of man to 

authenticate the Bible. Evidences 

of its credibility 

abound in the Bible. For example, 

before the Babylonian 

Kingdom reached its peak, 

God foretold its fall in the Bible. 

The name of the man who 

will command the army 

against this kingdom was 

prophesied 150 years before 

his birth. The man was Cyrus. 

Again, the birth of Jesus Christ 

by a virgin, the small town and 

region where He was to be 

up your own mind.” (Romans 

14:5). While Jesus berates the 

church in Pergamum for eating 

food sacrificed to idols, 

(Revelation 2:14); Paul gives 

us a hall pass: “All foods are 

fit to eat.” (Romans 14:20). 

“Happy is he who does not 

condemn himself in what he 

approves.” (Romans 14:22). 

Thereby, Paul gives every 

Christian the license to determine 

his or her own righteousness. 

Paul says: “You were saved 

by faith in God, who treats us 

much better than we deserve. 

This is God's gift to you, and 

not anything you have done 

on your own.” (Ephesians 

2:8). This gave Martin Luther, 

one of Paul’s disciples, the 

liberty to write this kind of 

heresy and still claim to be a 

follower of Jesus: 

“Be a sinner, and let your 

sins be strong, but let your 

faith in Christ be stronger, 

and rejoice in Christ who is 

the victor over sin, death, and 

the world. This life is not a 

place where righteousness 

can exist. No sin can separate 

us from Him, even if we were 

to kill or commit adultery a 

thousand times each day.” 

Our nemesis 

Jesus, our Saviour, does not 

born, and His mission on 

earth were prophesied many 

years in advance. In Acts 9:16, 

the tribulations and suffering 

Paul went through after his 

conversion were foretold beforehand. 

It is worthy of note 

that out of the 27 books in the 

New Testament, Apostle Paul 

alone wrote 14. According to 

Aribisala, Paul’s writings in 

those 14 books are not the 

words of god but personal to 

him. This is heart-breaking. 

According to veteran theologians, 

Paul was a self-sponsored 

minister and, perhaps, 

the most travelled missionary. 

He brought into the Ministry 

of the Gospel unbroken 

record of fearlessness, commitment 

and self-denial. During 

his conversion, God told 

Ananias, “Go; for he (Paul) is 

a chosen vessel of Mine to bear 

my name before Gentiles, 

Kings and the children of Israel. 

For I will show him many 

things he must suffer for my 

name’s sake” Acts 9:15, 16). 

This is clear enough but Aribisala 

has contrary view. He 

is alone. Even Satan the devil, 

a murderer, liar and father 

all lies and the accuser of the 

Brethren for once abandoned 

what he is known for and publicly 

acknowledged Apostle 

Paul as a true servant of God. 

Speaking through those possessed 

with demons and evil 

spirits, Satan cleared Paul, 

“Jesus I know and Paul I know 

but who are you?” (Acts 

19:15). Satan was responding 

to those who were mimicking 

Paul by using the name of 

Jesus to cast our demons. Paul 

was a gallant soldier of Christ 

till the end. He joined the club 

of martyrs of Jesus around 

A.D.67 when he was beheaded. 

By this, he fulfilled the 

words of Jesus in Matthew 

16:25, “For whoever desires to 

condone sin. Neither does he 

guarantee our salvation. Instead, 

he warns that: “Many 

are called, but few chosen.” 

(Matthew 20:16). 

Paul, on the other hand, 

gives us many bogus assurances 

of salvation: “He who 

has begun a good work in 

you will complete it.” (Philippians 

1:6). “Nothing shall 

be able to separate us from 

the love of God.” (Romans 

8:35-39). “There is therefore 

now no condemnation to 

those who are in Christ 

Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). “He 

who calls you is faithful, who 

also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 

5:24). “Our Saviour 

Jesus Christ has abolished 

death.” (II Timothy 1:10). 

Therefore, if Paul’s error is 

exposed, we lose the very gospel 

that seduces us. We are 

then left with the reality that 

salvation is not attained by 

merely answering an altarcall 

and confessing the lordship 

of Jesus Christ, according 

to Paul. (Romans 10:9- 

10; Matthew 7:21-23). 

Without Paul, we are forced 

to address Jesus’ different and 

exacting gospel of salvation 

by works. (Matthew 21:28- 

31). Salvation by hating our 

life. (John 12:25). Salvation 

by denying self, carrying our 

cross and laying down our 

life. (Matthew 16:24-25). 

Salvation by walking a narrow 

road and a difficult path. 

(Matthew 7:13-14). Salvation 

by enduring to the end. 

(Matthew 10:22). 

Therefore, when we expose 

Paul’s error, Christians are 

confronted with Jeremiah’s 

bitter truth: “The harvest is 

past, the summer is ended, 

and we are not saved!” (Jeremiah 

8:20). 

save his life will lose it, but 

whoever loses his life for my 

sake will find it”. 

This is the same Paul, Aribisala 

is humiliating by calling 

him (Paul) a fake Christ, 

a liar, an impersonator, describing 

his writing as fake. 

Or is he referring to another 

Paul? If Apostle Paul and his 

writings are fake, as “researched” 

by Aribisala, it is 

none of his business because 

it was God who called Paul 

and qualified him to be a 

Minister of the gospel. I don’t 

know if Aribisala has a congregation, 

if he does, one 

wonders where he is leading 

the flock through these distortions 

of Bible facts. And 

what will be bequeath to the 

next generation of Christians? 

By these sacrilegious writings, 

Bro. Aribisala has damaged 

his reputation in Christendom 

and borrowing the 

words of Henry Fielding 

(1707 – 1954), “to damage 

one’s reputation is another 

form of suicide”. 

Every believer who truly 

desires to be harvested into 

God’s kingdom should remain 

focused and not be distracted 

and bamboozled by 

these unsubstantiated theologies 

of Aribisala. After all, 

the right to talk, they say, does 

not include the right to be taken 

seriously. It is clearer now 

more than ever before that 

Christianity is a religion of 

absolute peace. This, Aribisala 

has exploited and grossly 

abused. But we need to remind 

ourselves that God’s 

judgement is coming. 

*Idhugwe, a pastor, is of the 

Seventh-Day Adventist 

Church, Benin-City. His reaction 

here is personal, not that 

of his church. He can be 

reached on 08094024905.

Y 

K 

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

VIEWPOINT 

By Folu Olamiti 

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF 

The implication of 'Change begins 

with me' 

VIEWPOINT 

By Ken King 


The urgent VIEWPOINT 

need to stop Niger 

Delta unrest 

SUDDENLY sentiments are ri 

otous in the Niger Delta: deploy 

the military and don’t deploy 

the military; declare a republic 

and don’t you dare deploy the military; 

we are the authentic mediator 

and you are not the authentic 

mediator. Since the Niger Delta 

Avengers and a handful other militants 

groups emerged to ‘make the 

country ungovernable’ for President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, 

the region seems to 

be in more confusion. 

It has not always been like this. 

The Niger Delta was once part 

of Nigeria without the appellation 

of this current moniker. 

The present agitation is anchored 

on the failure of past governments 

to develop the area from 

the humongous oil resources that 

VIEWPOINT 

By Damilola Oluwatunmise 


A case VIEWPOINT 

for next generation 

cyber security 

SECURITY of data is better 

integrated into your system 

than just being a routine 

carried out by a personnel; this 

point is usually ingrained with 

this analogy “endpoint security 

is like butter and bread, its 

better baked in and not just 

brushed on”. 

Computers in the real sense 

are designed to have little or no 

security. By default, most computer 

users’ have multiple services 

turned on, no firewall installed, 

and with haphazard or 

little patching, leaving organization’s 

data susceptible to 

phishing. All these forces combined 

make computers (more 

importantly data contained in 

the system) vulnerable to hacking, 

as hackers can remotely 

scan and hack into literally millions 

of computers without the 

need for interaction by the end 

user. 

The change mantra 

NOT too long ago, on March 

17, 2009, to be precise, Nigerians 

were roused to a blistering 

campaign on attitudinal 

change. Its passcode was: Nigeria, 

Good People, Great Nation. 

And it was from the fertile ideas 

factory of the then Minister of Information 

and Communications, 

the late Prof Dora Akunyili. May 

God rest her beautiful soul. 

A few years later, the National 

Orientation Agency (NOA) under 

Mike Omeri launched a fresh campaign 

anchored on the slogan: Do 

The Right Thing. Yet the effort met 

with similar indifference by Nigerians 

whose attention it was meant 

to catch. 

The answer was not too far to locate. 

There was an apparent disconnect 

in the campaign between 

the people and those in government. 

What lessons have we brought to 

the table to guide our policy makers 

in their latest attitudinal 

change campaign? The initiative, 

launched in Abuja on Thursday 8 

September 2016 has theme; 

Change Begins With Me. 

It is good to galvanize the populace 

to be on the same page with 

the government in its various initiatives 

towards making Nigeria 

an utopian state (if there is any 

such thing) in all its ramifications, 

be it political, social and economic. 

But from my observation, the 

people that should have been mobilized 

to buy into these projects 

have always been inadvertently left 

out. Hence they are often dead on 

arrival. The reason is not difficult 

to locate: our policy makers love 

putting the cart before the horse. 

Let the truth be told; the "Change 

Begins With Me" campaign came 

too little and too late. It is belated. 

For me, the change mantra started 

way back when President Muhammad 

Buhari was sworn in as 

the President of Nigeria. The people 

voted massively for him because 

they saw in him a renewal of 

hope, a rebirth of sort from their 

seemingly hopeless estate. The frenetic 

chants of Sai Baba almost 

became the national anthem of Buhari 

fanatics who showed their loyalty 

in diverse forms. Some trekked 

hundreds of kilometers to Abuja 

while others gave their last coin to 

celebrate PMB’s second coming. 

A change slogan like this should 

have started with a well thought 

out advocacy programme a year 

ago beginning with the rural populace; 

comprising farmers, traders, 

community leaders, traditional 

rulers and school children. It 

should have come with juicy and 

attractive welfare packages that 

will translate into training them 

how to fish. Had this been done, it 

would have been easier for the people 

to key into it. It would have been 

easier for the people to engrave into 

their hearts an undying love and 

commitment for positive change. 

The government should learn 

how to put smiles on people's faces 

- like the ongoing efforts for 

mass employment for the millions 

of unemployed, before 

dreaming of how to mobilize 

MILITANCY: Who is being fooled? 

have been exploited from our land 

for decades now even with the attendant 

degradation that has led 

to the stage that for some communities 

that fishing and farming are 

no longer possible. 

However, while we have every 

right to agitate for greater control 

of our natural resources, we must, 

for a start, seek understanding of 

how we got to where we are and on 

the strength of that better articulate 

where we want to go. The agitations, 

as currently shaped, whether 

it is for resource control, greater 

regional autonomy, fiscal federalism 

or most of all the sick notion 

of breaking up Nigeria, are 

all solutions that will turn out to 

be worse than the problem if the 

processes are not deliberate. We 

could find ourselves being worse 

off than South Sudan whose people 

suddenly came to the painful 

realisation that they were their 

own worst enemies as opposed to 

them for change of attitude. This 

is certainly a challenge for the 

government with its current advocacy 

campaign, to draw new 

people and new nation out of Nigeria. 

However, hope is not completely 

lost as Mr President has 

pledged personal commitment 

and leadership for the project. 

His apparent goodwill and honesty 

will definitely be an added 

advantage. The people must start 

seeing the reflection of change 

which they are noticing from the 

President. The cabinet members 

should cue-in by conducting their 

affairs transparently. National 

Assembly members too should 

take a new attitude in which they 

put the interest of Nigerians first 

in their agenda and shun extravagant 

living. The Judiciary too 

must begin to to fight corruption 

within its fold and desist from 

trading judgement with money 

bags. The Nigerian Police that interface 

more with the public must 

be the show piece of this change. 

This is absolutely necessary in 

order to encourage Nigerians to 

key into the change mantra.They 

must walk the talk. This must be 

expressed through some variations, 

including: 

* Showing strong leadership 

sensibility. 

* Establishing trust by proving 

practically to taxpayers and voters 

that as leaders, they are dedicated 

to the society, community 

and the people. 

* Restoring confidence and 

demonstrating strength and leadership 

through actions and programmes 

that beam strong rays 

of hope for the future. And of 

course, ensuring fairness and justice. 

Even before President Buhari 

got to power, he had foreseen the 

enormity of the problems facing 

Nigeria and the Herculean task 

of changing the culture of governance. 

But no matter how hard he 

tries, President Buhari cannot do 

it alone. For the campaign to 

succeed, all hands must be on 

deck. Those charged with the implementation 

of his initiatives 

must pull the country out of the 

current recession. This is one 

battle we must win for our country. 

•Olamiti, a media consultant, 

lives in Abuja. 

Improving your organisation’s network security 

To combat this, Original 

Equipment Manufacturers 

(OEM’s) have worked tirelessly 

to build security into computers 

by deploying firewalls enabled 

by default, reducing services, 

using advanced memory 

protection, standardized the 

patching processes and other 

features. As a result of their 

approach to computer safety, 

computers have become more 

secure. However, data contained 

in computers and servers 

are largely still vulnerable 

to attacks by hackers and phishers. 

The next generation of system 

users and technologists have 

come to embrace the idea of 

computing and securing data in 

the cloud. However, it is imperative 

to ask this question, how 

does your company use the 

cloud? Almost certainly it allows 

your employees to work more 

efficiently by enabling them to 

access email and vital documents 

wherever they are in the 

world. But, are you taking advantage 

of the benefits of the 

being victims of the old Sudan before 

an ill-advised partitioning. 

As an indication, those of us currently 

lamenting the neglect of our 

areas by the government and oil 

multinationals often omit the fact 

that there were monies allocated 

from these two stakeholders for 

several decades and that a key 

problem was the self-declared contemporary 

chiefs who abused their 

influence as the interface for their 

people to demand that developmental 

projects be monetized so 

that they can share the proceeds 

with equally dubious collaborators 

in government or the companies 

not minding that what came to 

them were mere fractions of the 

funds that would have developed 

their communities. When youths 

started becoming restive, these 

same leaders were the ones that 

went into negotiations on behalf 

of the communities only to further 

mortgage the future of the region. 

The militant agitation that gave 

rise to the Amnesty Programme 

under the late President Umaru 

Yar’Adua marked a sharp bend 

from which we can only pray to be 

able to make a return. While the 

chiefs and other self styled leaders 

were able to make some cut for 

themselves from that negotiation, 

the militants came away as the 

largest bounty winners from what, 

to me, has turned out to be the greatest 

misadventure yet of the Niger 

Delta. 

This unholy arrangement is what 

has created the situation where the 

rich-poor divided yawns widest in 

the South-South with two of the 

states being the epicentre of that 

chasm. It is a normal sight to have 

a ‘general’s’ mansion overlooking 

the most depressing slum the mind 

can conceive or the fact that so destitute 

are the poor that they can no 

longer even form the thought train 

to question why the chiefs, militant 

cloud to protect your email servers, 

support data privacy and 

integrity, and protect your intellectual 

property from cyber 

theft and phishing? If yes, what 

technology did you adopt? Is the 

technology adopted optimized 

to serve your needs? (Included 

in this are security needs you 

are not even aware of). 

For over half a decade, the 

cyber security industry has taken 

a massive step forward by 

going cloud. Cloud based solutions 

have the capacity to 

process enormous quantity of 

data quickly and with high automation, 

giving end-user 

greater and better visibility and 

a firm grip and control over their 

worldwide assets. Cloud-based 

security also enables a various 

set of endpoints to be managed 

simultaneously, regardless of 

physical location, and it does 

this in split seconds. 

Worthy examples of cloud 

based services that have become 

the focal points of operations 

for businesses world-over 

are the likes of Amazon, Google, 

LinkedIn and Salesforce. 

Cloud-based cyber security is 

similar to this in both innovation 

and efficiency. 

Cloud based security has become 

the present and future of 

securing email and protecting 

against malicious web traffic; 

for managing user account, 

identification and accesses; for 

continuously monitoring threat 

activities and patching vulnerabilities 

across a geographically 

dispersed and mobile workforce 

(hence, your data is secured 

no matter the geographical 

location of your employee); 

for aggregating and analyzing 

huge volumes of security-related 

data; and, ultimately, for 

detecting, containing and mitigating 

incidents amongst other 

things, malware that threatens 

the data and information of 

businesses and organizations. 

The evolution of cloud-based 

security and the influx of cybersecurity 

solutions have left endusers 

in dilemma of the best 

security to adopt for their business 

and organizations; this led 

generals or their people in government 

can have all the fancy boats 

and send their children abroad 

when they can barely feed once a 

day. 

The region’s ruling class will not 

do anything to improve on the 

quality of life for the larger populace 

since it was never their intention 

and they definitely would not 

want the poor to be emancipated 

to the point where they will begin 

demanding accountability. Our 

South Sudan will come upon us 

when after getting out of Nigeria 

they begin to turn the component 

ethnic nationals of the Niger Delta 

against each other so that they 

can keep the population busy 

fighting needless battles. 

Let us say enough is enough and 

give peace a chance to flourish 

while we attract the needed development 

to our region without becoming 

slaves to a new master 

class. 

•King, an environmentalist, is 

resident in Asaba, Delta State. 

to research by Cyber-security 

experts comparing cloud-based 

end-point security solutions 

using several benchmarks (visit 

https://goo.gl/cc4nNP for 

report). 

The reports however, posits 

that Webroot Secure Anywhere 

Endpoint Protection is 

the next generation protection 

that gives users full control of 

their data and assets with maximum 

protection from hackers 

and phishers. 

Webroot is the Next-Generation 

Endpoint security with 

cloud-based threat intelligence 

services for mobile security, security 

of web gateway, IoT cybersecurity 

amongst others. 

One of Webroot’s key strengths 

as a cybersecurity provider has 

been its leadership in developing 

next generation approaches 

to prevent attacks, and a 

proven technology base that 

spans millions of devices. 

•Oluwatunmise is based in 

Lagos. 

C

C 

M 

Y 

K 


VIEWPOINT 

By Tunde Ajibulu 


Chaos in opposition party 

IN ancient biblical times, the 

populace of the City of Babel 

decided they were invincible, 

indestructible, immortal and 

omnipotent… all culminating into 

masochist ego and arrogance at 

its peak! So they decided to build 

a monument to themselves that 

would reach the heavens, to let God 

know there was competition! What 

gumption! What audacity? And 

God responded by sowing 

confusion in their midst. He just 

easily gave them different 

languages and they could no 

longer ommunicate…. and presto! 

they dispersed! Can we see 

similarities between the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) and the 

City of Babel? 

PDP had all the opportunities to 

both steer Nigeria towards the 

promised land and make history, 

but they derailed and abused the 

God given priviledge and 

mandate (no one can rule without 

Gods permission). We started 

hearing statements like: “PDP is 

VIEWPOINT 

By Emmanuel Ajibulu 


The search VIEWPOINT 

for a sucessor 

THE sterling performance 

of outgoing Ondo State 

Governor Olusegun 

Mimiko in the last seven and a half 

years remains a cynosure of all 

eyes. This political enigma painstakingly 

put his feat on the strength 

that the state must be compassionate 

to the poorest and weakest in 

the society and must provide the 

highest quality of amenities to 

better their lot, either free of charge 

or at affordable cost. 

It is this philosophical and ideological 

position of compassion for 

the poor and the weak and the 

opportunities for the rich and the 

powerful that has made his government 

a benchmark for other 

states in Nigeria. 

Mimiko is not just a pride to 

VIEWPOINT 

By Femi Fani-Kayode 


Ripples of the encounter between 

the US and Russian leaders 

THE other day I posted a copy 

of the now famous picture of 

President Barack Obama and his 

Russian counterpart President 

Vladimir Putin where they both 

coldly looked into one another’s 

eyes without the trace of a smile. 

They looked like two hardened 

prize fighters in their prime that 

were summoned into the middle 

of the boxing ring by the referee, 

for the usual short pep talk, just 

before he shouts “seconds out” and 

sends everyone, apart from the two 

boxers themselves, out of the ring. 

The encounter took place in 

Hangzhou, China during the G20 

meeting. As they say a picture is 

worth more than one thousand 

words but this particular one is 

worth more than ten thousand because 

it told the whole story. 

Such was its visual power and 

vivid expression that CNN, Al 

Jazeera, Fox News, the BBC and 

numerous other international television 

networks kept airing it and 

it was strewn all over the internet 

and social media. 

After posting it on my Facebook 

wall I wrote a short caption just 

above the picture which reads as 

follows: 

PDP: A Tower of Babel? 

•Tunde Ajibulu 

the greatest party in Africa”, “PDP 

is ultimate power”, “PDP will be 

in power for 60 years” etc….. 

armed with this toga, they 

proceeded in an unprecedented 

manner especially in the last six 

years to plunder the 

commonwealth of Nigeria to the 

detriment of the masses. They were 

sated, sleek, and fat and it 

couldn’t get any better. The new 

measurement for wealth became 

Private Jets, Rolls Royces, 

Ferraris et al… unknown to them 

their cup had run over…. their 

case was like the biblical proverb 

Sustaining Mimiko’s giant strides 

of the rich man with a full barn 

that that said he lacked nothing 

in the world that it can only get 

better ... and God said you fool you 

will die tonight! 

In came APC, out went PDP… 

APC had a rocky start with a lot of 

in fighting, lack of trust and I 

wonder why it surprised a lot of 

people? It was to be expected 

especially considering the matrix 

of APC, diverse groups rom 

diverse backgrounds will always 

struggle to build consensus or a 

common ground….this scenario 

and the Executive/National 

Assembly imbroglio was a giltedged 

opportunity for PDP to rally 

and become a credible opposition 

party and work to wrest power 

back A few governors led by Dr. 

Olusegun Mimiko, who I greatly 

admire and who I recommend 

Governor Ayo Fayose to take 

tutorials and lessons in mature, 

objective and dignified 

opposition, and quit is tactless and 

rabid rants against the Federal 

government of Nigeria. Anyway, 

Mimiko and other forward 

thinking governors sensed the 

opportunity and also knew that 

Ondo but also the entire black race 

in the areas of urban renewal, 

transportation, sports, social welfare, 

agriculture, etc. God has 

blessed the state with uncommon 

grace, given that the people supported 

the Mimiko government 

through the hard times and good 

times. 

His intervention in the state 

health sector with the Abiye programme 

is adjudged the mother 

of all achievements. Abiye has recorded 

so much success such that 

it has been signposted as the model 

for tackling infant and maternal 

mortality in the developing 

world. This global acclaim is evident 

in the fact that the World Bank 

officially listed the Abiye programme 

on its website as one of 

the success stories coming out of 

Africa. 

At the elementary level, he started 

with construction of Mega 

schools across the state; the mega 

schools which are of international 

standard have ultra modern facilities 

and environment that is conducive 

enough for learning. Each 

school has a computer studio, libraries 

and other facilities that can 

be found in a standard school. Also 

the students enjoy free transportation 

to school and get free uniform. 

Impressively, whilst other states 

are battling with the fulfillment of 

Millennium Development Goals 

(MDGs), Ondo State is already 

ahead, and proud of deepening its 

Sustainable Development Goals 

(SDGs), which is a new global target 

for improving people’s lives 

around the world. 

However, being a precursor to 

Mimiko’s glorious exit in Febru- 

Face-off in China 

“It looks as if Barack Obama 

has finally met someone that is 

stronger and better and that is prepared 

to face him down. This is 

what you call an ‘eyeball to eyeball’ 

encounter or a good old fashioned 

‘squaring off’. Thank God 

for Vladimer Putin”. 

These words and the picture itself 

sparked off a spirited and interesting 

debate on my Facebook 

wall which involved people that 

were residing in many countries 

all over the world including the 

United Kingdom, Finland, the 

United States, India, Dubai and 

China. 

The topic of discussion was 

Obama. I was particularly impressed 

with the contribution of 

two distinguished individuals and 

I will share their contributions in 

this essay together with my response 

to one of them. 

The first was my old school 

friend and brother Mr. Joe Thorn. 

Mr. Thorn is an Englishman who 

has lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

in the the United States of 

America for many years. 

He served us with an extraordinary 

and factual analysis of 

Obama’s performance, or rather 

lack of it, over the last years when 

it came to the fortunes and economic 

welfare of the African 

American population in America. 

Relying very much on the excellent 

research that was done by the 

respected Mr. Larry Elder and 

armed with facts and figures which 

few could dismiss, Mr. Thorn successfully 

put the case against 

Obama in an effective and clinical 

manner. Hear him: 

“What about poverty? In 2009, 

when Obama took office, the black 

poverty rate was 25.8 percent. As 

of 2014, according to Pew Research 

Center, the black poverty 

rate was 27.2 percent. 

“What about income? CN- 

NMoney says, ‘Minority households’ 

median income fell 9 percent 

between 2010 and 2013, compared 

to a drop of only 1 percent 

for whites.’ 

The Financial Times wrote last 

October: ‘Since 2009, median nonwhite 

household income has 

dropped by almost a 10th to 

$33,000 a year, according to the 

U.S. Federal Reserve’s survey of 

consumer finances. 

As a whole, median incomes fell 

by 5 per cent. But by the more telling 

measure of net wealth — assets 

minus liabilities — the numbers 

offer a more troubling story.’ 

“What about net worth and the 

black-white ‘wealth gap’? The Financial 

Times said: ‘The median 

non-white family today has a net 

worth of just $18,100 — almost a 

PDP needed a new type of hybrid 

leader — who should be 

stupendously wealthy, gutsy, 

gritty, audacious, confident, 

resolute, plucky and a fearless 

leader — in came Alhaji Ali 

Modu-Sheriff. Say ill or good of 

him, he is a man we all know 

possesses all the above mentioned 

attributes who left APC because 

he had those attributes. 

I was perturbed, apprehensive, 

and concerned because I 

realised the danger this man 

posed to my party APC for 

whom I worked unremittingly to 

contribute my quota to actualize 

change in the last elections….It 

seemed to one else saw it! I 

wanted to climb mountains and 

roof tops and scream to the APC 

leadership DANGER! I wanted to 

dial 911 EMERGENCY! A 

menace to APC was about to be 

unleashed! And just when they 

were gaining traction….. there 

was a divine intervention! Like 

the city and populace of Babel, 

God changed their language and 

sowed discord. All of a sudden, 

the party prevailed on the 

ary 24, 2017, the emergence of 

immediate past Attorney- General 

and Commissioner for Justice 

in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede 

(SAN), as the party’s standard 

bearer in the November 26 gubernatorial 

election, will simply help 

to sustain the irreversible developmental 

strides of his predecessor 

if elected as governor. 

In the interest of larger majority, 

there must be continuity 

in Ondo through the choice 

made by the People’s Democratic 

Party-led government in 

the state; otherwise the Ondo 

cohesive fabric may be completely 

destroyed if political 

desperadoes are allowed to 

usurp power. 

It is obvious that those in opposition 

are more concerned 

with intrigues and subterfuge, 

fifth lower than it was when Mr. 

Obama took office. 

White median wealth, on the other 

hand, has inched up by 1 percent 

to $142,000. In 2009, white 

households were seven times richer 

than their black counterparts. 

That gap is now eightfold. Both 

in relative and absolute terms, 

blacks are doing worse under Mr. 

Obama.’ Remember, these numbers 

apply to all ‘non-whites’. For 

blacks, it’s worse. 

“When looking only at ‘black net 

worth’ — which is lower compared 

to non-whites as a whole — white 

households are actually 13 times 

wealthier than black households. 

“From 2010 to 2013, according 

to the Federal Reserve, ‘white 

household median wealth increased 

a modest 2.4 percent, 

while Hispanic families’ wealth 

declined 14 per cent, to $13,700. 

“But blacks’ net worth fell from 

$16,600 to $11,000. This is an astonishing 

three-year drop of 34 per 

cent. 

“Investors Business Daily put it 

this way, ‘That’s a steeper decline 

than occurred from 2007 to 2010, 

when blacks’ net worth fell 13.5 

percent.’ The black/white 'wealthgap' 

has reached a 25-year high. 

“What about unemployment? In 

2009, black unemployment was 

12.7 percent, and by 2014, it had 

fallen to 10.1 percent. 

“This sounds like good news until 

one examines the black labor 

Mimiko and his cohorts to 

withdraw their support for 

Sheriff and endorse Ahmed 

Makarfi as Chairman. 

Confusion and chaos ensued, 

sounding almost a death knell 

for PDP, hence ex-President 

Olusegun Obasanjo’s 

observation that PDP was in its 

death throes and Ali Modu 

Sheriff may be the undertaker….. 

The fact that Ali Modu Sheriff 

is still standing albeit on one 

leg... testifies to his bullishness, 

doggedness and tenacity…I 

want to thank PDP for going 

against Sheriff and I pray he is 

successfully neutralized so my 

party APC can continue solving 

its internal issues, building 

bridges, getting stronger and 

proffering solutions under quiet 

diplomatic vibrant leadership of 

the likes of the President Buhari, 

Vice President Osinbajo, Senate 

President Bukola Saraki, APC’s 

National Secretary, Hon. 

Mai Mala Buni, et al...... once 

again I am beholden to PDP and 

will struggle for front row seats 

to watch the in coming 

cataclysm... 

•Ajibulu is based in Lagos. 

but, to their disappointment, 

the Akure- born legal luminary 

has established an umbilical 

connection with the principled 

people of Ondo Central, South 

and North, thereby making it 

easy for him to record a landslide 

victory on November 26. 

In democratic contests, victory 

comes from the ability of a candidate 

to market his ideas and 

vision to the electorate. 

These, when juxtaposed with 

the aspirant’s pedigree, provide 

the natural aura of acceptance 

around the candidate and not 

mere propaganda which members 

of opposition are known 

for in Ondo. It is a common 

knowledge that the people of 

the state can never be hoodwinked; 

their choice remains 

Jegede judging from his intimidating 

credentials and noble 

background. 

•Ajibulu, from Akoko 

North West LG, wrote via 

emmanuelajibulu@gmail.com 

force participation rate — the percentage 

of blacks working or seeking 

work. It’s the lowest since these 

numbers have been recorded”. 

Mr. Thorn’s contribution was 

very effective and he opened the 

eyes of those that erroneously assumed 

that Obama had been a 

blessing to members of his own 

black American community over 

the last seven years. How wrong 

they were. 

Having attended one of the best 

private schools in England before 

going to one of the best universities, 

Mr. Thorn certainly knows 

how to do his research, marshal 

his points and fight his corner. 

Yet perhaps the most damning 

analysis of all came from my 

brother, Mr. Victor Oladokun, 

who is another old friend and a 

leading light in the Christian community 

both in the United States 

of America and Nigeria. 

If Mr. Thorns’ analysis was clinical, 

Mr. Oladokun’s can best be 

described as precise, ruthless and 

devastating. Permit me to share it 

here. He wrote as follows: 

“We warned all of those who voted 

for Obama on sentimental 

grounds simply because he was 

black. The bottom line is that he 

has been an unmitigated disaster 

on multiple levels." 

•To be continued 

Fani-Kayode was Aviation Minister 

under the Obasanjo administration.

C 

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PAGE 44 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

THISDAY EDITOR’S MOTHER’S BURIAL 

From left: Mr Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director, Thisday Newspapers; 

Mr Tunji Bello, Secretary to Lagos State Government; Mrs Funmi Komolafe, 

former Labour Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Gboyega Somuyiwa; Mr Bayo 

Amusan and Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers, during 

the burial ceremony for Mrs Elizabeth Nwogwugwu, mother of Editor of Thisday 

Newspapers, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, at Church of Resurrection, Anglican Communion, 

1004 Estate , Lagos, yesterday. 

From left: Mr Herbert Wigwe, MD, Access Bank; Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, 

Chairman, Thisday Newspapers; Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, a former Governor 

of Delta State, and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, a former MD, Access 

Bank. 

From left: Ugo Nwogugwu, Nnnenna Nwogugwu , Ijeoma Nwogugwu, Adim 

Okwesa and Obi Nwogugwu, children of the late Nwogugwu. 

From left: Mr Aigboje 

Aig- Imoukhuede; Dr. Emmanuel 

Uduaghan; Mr 

Chike C. Ogeah, Chairman, 

Global Integrared Digital 

Media; and Mr Ike Chioke 

of Afrinvest West Africa. 

From left: Mr Ejike Oraunsi; Chief Olisa Metuh, a former National Publicity 

Secretary, PDP; Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Editor, Thisday; Mrs Elizabeth 

Nwogugwu and a former Gov. of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi. Photos by 

Diran Oshe. 

DEACON JOSIAH OBAFEMI DOSUNMU’S FUNERAL SERVICE 

From left: Mr. Philip Ayodeji Dosunmu, Head of Protocol, Lagos State, son of the 

deceased; Mrs. Esther Omowunmi Ugbor, daughter, Mrs. Aduke Bamiro, sister, 

Madam Oluranti Dosunmu,widow, Mrs. Oladunni Uddin, daughter, Alhaja Sidikat 

Sarumi, cousin, and Mr. Samuel Ibidun Dosunmu, son, during the funeral service 

for Deacon Josiah Obafemi Dosunmu, in Lagos, yesterday. Photos by Bunmi 

Azeez 

From left: Mrs. Bukola Olukoga, Otunba Fatai Olukoga and Dr. Leke Pitan, a 

former Commissioner for Health, Lagos State. 

From left:Habib 

Aruna, Chief Press 

Secretary to Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode, 

Mrs. Yetunde 

Odejayi, Permanent 

Secretary, Deputy Governor’s 

Office and Mr. 

Fola Adeyemi, Permanent 

Secretary Ministry 

of Information and 

Strategy. 

From left: Mrs. 

Olabowale Ademola, 

Head of Service, Lagos 

State, Mrs. Abiola Dosunmu, 

husband, Mr. Philip 

Ayodeji Dosunmu, Head 

of Protocol,and Mrs. 

Omobolanle Ogunmola.


•Ighalo.... still striking for Watford. 

NOVAK Djokovic 

looks to consign 

two of his most 

heartbreaking Grand 

Slam losses to the dustbin 

of history when he tackles 

old foe Stan Wawrinka for 

the US Open title today. 

World number one 

Djokovic, the 2011 and 

2015 champion in New 

York, takes a mighty 19-4 

head-to-head lead over 

the 31-year-old Swiss into 

the championship match. 

On paper, that should 

translate into a 

comfortable afternoon on 

Arthur Ashe Stadium for 

Djokovic, playing in his 

21st major final and 

seeking a third Grand 

Slam title of 2016 and 

13th of his career. 

But Wawrinka has 

played Grand Slam 

party-pooper before at 

the Serb’s expense. 

In 2014, Wawrinka won 

a five-set quarter-final on 

his way to a first Grand 

Slam crown at the 

Australian Open, beating 

Rafael Nadal in the final. 

Twelve months earlier in 

Melbourne there had 

been warning signs with 

Djokovic needing to grind 

out a 12-10 final set in the 

fourth round. 

Last year, Djokovic saw 

his hopes of completing 

a career Slam crushed in 

four sets by the Swiss in 

the Roland Garros final. 

“He’s a big match 

player. He loves to play 

on the big stage, against 

big players, because 

that’s when he elevates 

his level of performance,” 

said 29-year-old 

Djokovic. 

“He doesn’t get too 

stressed by the big 

occasion. He’s very 

Ighalo spear-heads Watford’s fight back at West Ham 

ODION 

Ighalo 

opened his 2017 

season goal account at 

West Ham and his club 

Watford clawed their way 

from 2-0 down to win 4-2 

at West Ham yesterday. 

Michail Antonio’s two 

headers had appeared to 

put West Ham on course 

for all three points as halftime 

approached, both set 

up by the returning 

Dimitri Payet. 

However, Ighalo pulled 

a goal back with a 

deflected effort after 41 

minutes, before captain 

Troy Deeney took 

advantage of a terrible 

mix-up at the back 

between James Collins 

and Adrian to send the 

visitors in level at the 

break. And further goals 

early in the second period 

from Etienne Capoue and 

Jose Holebas completed a 

remarkable comeback for 

the Hornets, who moved 

out of the relegation zone 

as a result. 

US OPEN: Djokovic, Wawrinka set for war 

•Djokovic (l) and Wawrinka set for showdown 

powerful, big serve. 

Probably the best, most 

effective one-handed 

backhand in the world 

now. He can be very 

dangerous for everybody.” 

However, the big Swiss 

has won his last 10 finals 

and will draw on those as 

well as his Slam record 

with Djokovic for 

inspiration. 

“It’s gonna give me 

confidence to tell myself 

that I know I can do it, 

because I did it at the 

French Open. He knows 

also that I can play my best 

•Dibaba... Ethiopian 

athlete 

tennis in the final of 

Grand Slam,” said 

Wawrinka. 

The Swiss player, so 

often in the shadow of 

Roger Federer, has 

blossomed late in his 

career, winning the 

Australian title at 28. 

That made him the 

oldest first-time Slam 

winner since Goran 

Ivanisevic at Wimbledon 

in 2001. 

But history at the US 

Open may not favour 

Wawrinka on Sunday. 

Pete Sampras was the 

last player over-30 to win 

in New York and that was 

back in 2002. 

ETHIOPIA 

must 

carry out mass 

doping tests on up to 200 

athletes by November or be 

the latest to face further 

action by the World Anti- 

Doping Agency (WADA) 

and a possible ban by the 

IAAF, track and field 

officials in the country said. 

Ethiopia will attempt to 

test between 150 and 200 

athletes over the next seven 

months and will start as 

soon as next week, national 

Ighalo could have 

scored three times before 

15 minutes of the game 

were up. In the third 

minute he squared up 

against James Collins, 

threw him off balance and 

fired a shot just wide of 

the post. A quick 

M ANCHESTER 

United legend, 

Andy Cole, believes 

Kelechi Iheanacho has a 

great future at 

Manchester City. 

Iheanacho scored the 

second and made the first 

goal in yesterday’s 

Manchester derby 

between United and City. 

Cole says Iheanacho 

and United’s precocious 

striker, Marcus Rashford, 

who has been severally 

compared to the 19-yearold 

Nigerian, have big 

futures in the game. 

“They’re both young 

players starting out in 

their careers. 

“Though they are 

different types of players 

they have both forced 

their way into their teams 

counterattack in the 

eighth minute left the 

nimble Roberto Pereyra 

bearing down on the West 

Ham goal. Entering the 

box he squared the ball for 

Ighalo who took a touch 

and got a shot off but Reid 

managed to get a 

by scoring goals. 

“I’m sitting here as a 

Manchester United fan 

thinking what a fantastic 

future Rashford has and 

with Iheanacho he has 

deflection on to the ball. 

Four minutes later 

Ighalo was on the spot 

again to connect with 

Daryl Janmaat’s cross. 

The Nigerian hit his 

volley into the ground 

but Adrián saved with 

his legs. 

Andy Cole tips Iheanacho for greatness 

By Ben Efe 

R Nigerian ENOWNED 

athletics 

coach, Tobias Igwe has 

cried out to Nigerians to 

rescue him from penury 

and rehabilitate his 

coaching career as 

inactivity is killing him 

slowly. 

Toblow, as he is fondly 

called by his admirers, 

lamented that after he was 

relieved of his coaching 

job by the Enugu State 

government he went to 

Abia State where he was 

retired as assistant 

director but his dues were 

not paid. According to 

him he is yet to settle down 

with a job, adding that 

because of his poor state 

of finances he has been 

unable to discover and 

groom young athletes like 

he always did in the past. 

“This is my sixth year I 

have gone on without a 

paid job. I was laid off 

without benefits by the 

Enugu State government 

taken his opportunity 

with both hands,” Cole 

told 888sport. 

Iheanacho scored 14 

goals in all competitions 

for City last season. 

I’m dying slowly, Toblow cries out 

•Igwe 

and Abia my home State. 

I am just appealing to 

Nigerians most especially 

the Eastern State 

governors to help me with 

a job. 

“I still have passion to 

coach, but in my condition 

I cannot do that. I am more 

concerned with how to 

survive. I need 

rehabilitation; it is not 

when I pass on people will 

come to my aid.” 

He disclosed that he 

was even more pained that 

there are talents in the 

country, but he is unable 

Test 200 athletes or face ban, IAAF threatens Ethiopia 

track team doctor Ayalew 

Tilahun said. 

“We are told that we 

could be banned from the 

IAAF if we don’t comply 

with the request,” Ayalew 

said at a news conference 

in Addis Ababa. 

Results of the drug tests 

must be provided to WADA 

and the IAAF, he said. The 

government has provided 

$300,000 to fund the 

testing. 

•Cole ... Man United legend. 

Ayalew told The 

Associated Press in a 

separate interview that 

Ethiopia could be banned 

from all sports if its doping 

program is not significantly 

improved. 

“The struggle is critical,” 

he said. 

WADA officials will visit 

Ethiopia to assess the 

progress on June 3 and 

IAAF President Sebastian 

Coe is also expected to visit 

to take action to discover 

athletes that will do the 

country proud. 

“I am determined more 

than ever to coach kids 

most especially from the 

grassroots. There are 

talents in the country and 

if only I can sort myself 

out I will be much ready. 

“I am so inspired by the 

74- year- old coach Ans 

Botha who helped South 

Africa’s Wayde van 

Niekerk break 400m 

world record. Look at 

people like Glen Smith 

who is Usain Bolt’s 

coach, these are my 

contemporaries, their 

countries still look up to 

them, but it is not so 

here.” 

Coach Toblow is 

credited with discovering 

the likes of Mary Onyali- 

Omagbemi, Tina 

Iheagwam, Davidson 

Ezinwa, Clement 

Chukwu, Charity Opara 

and other athletes who 

made the country proud 

in the past. 

around that time, Ayalew 

said. 

Ethiopian Athletics 

Federation head 

Alebachew Nigussie said 

there was no threat of a ban 

from this year’s Olympics 

in Rio de Janeiro, adding 

“but that doesn’t also mean 

we need to relax.” 

Ethiopia is the latest 

country to face sanctions 

following major doping 

scandals in Russia and 

Kenya. 

C 

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46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

IN-CHARGE... Pep Guardiola marshalling out instructions during the Manchester derby 

which he won yesterday. He is the fourth manager to win his first four matches in the Premier 

League, alongside Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti. 

Mourinho blames ref for team’s home loss 

MANCHESTER Unit 

ed manager Jose 

Mourinho has blamed referee 

Mark Clattenburg for his 

side’s 1-2 loss in yesterday’s 

Manchester derby on home 

ground at Old Trafford. 

According to Mourinho, 

Clattenburg “made two big 

mistakes” in the game Super 

Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho 

who stood in for suspended 

Sergio Aguero nicked 

the vital second goal for Pep 

Guardiola’s Manchester City 

but added that he “cannot be 

happy” with United’s first-half 

performance. 

Kevin de Bruyne’s cool finish 

and Iheanacho’s tap-in after 

the Belgian hit the post put 

City in complete control as 

they outclassed Mourinho’s 

Manchester United for most of 

the opening 45 minutes. 

United were handed a lifeline 

just before the break when 

City’s debutant keeper Claudio 

Bravo summed up his desperately 

uncertain display by 

dropping a free-kick to allow 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pull a 

goal back. 

Ekpo urges Eagles to concentrate on World 

Cup qualifiers 

By Victor Otti 

FORMER Nigerian Inter 

national, Friday Ekpo has 

advised Super Eagles players 

duel less on agitation for money 

and instead concentrate on their 

upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. 

Ekpo, who spoke on a Brila FM 

sports programme monitored in 

Lagos, said that the Eagles 

should focus their attention on 

winning the first match of the 

qualifiers, which is against Zambia 

and forget about the NFF. 

“The players should be focused 

on winning the first game against 

Zambia because making a name 

for themselves and the country is 

the most important thing to do for 

now,”he said, adding that the 

NFF should buckle up considering 

the economic problem of the 

country. 

“The NFF should buckle up 

and ensure the necessary things 

are done to encourage the players 

called up to have the zeal to 

put in their best and be happy 

until the economy is stable 

again,”the former Mbilinga FC 

of Gabon player said. 

Enyimba’ll fight for continental ticket – Afelokhai 

By Victor Otti 

ENYIMBA Football Club 

goalkeeper, Theophilus 

Afelokhai has attributed the 

team’s defeats in recent times 

to their inability to play at their 

traditional home ground in 

Aba due to the renovation work 

going on there. 

The team boosted their 

chances of getting a place in 

the in continental championship 

by defeating Wikki Tourist 

in their Matchday 31 fixture 

at the Yakubu Gowon stadium 

in Portharcourt on 

Wednesday. 

Afelokhai said that Enyimba 

are supposed to be at the top 

of the league table but due to 

several games played outside 

the Aba Township stadium, 

they recorded defeats in their 

last few matches. He affirmed 

that that the team have woken 

up and are ready to fight for 

the top spot, adding that they 

could pick a slot for the continental 

Cup campaign if they 

remain unbeaten till the end of 

the season and finish among 

Army Ordnance School boosts troops 

morale with Summer Soccer 

By Bashir Adefaka 

THE Nigerian Army Ord 

nance School, penultimate 

weekend, treated youths 

in the Military Cantonment, 

Ojo in Lagos to a sports fiesta 

tagged Summer Soccer. This, 

according to the school authorities, 

was held to keep the 

youths on the barracks busy 

during the long holiday especially 

at a time many of their 

fathers, who were soldiers, 

were away in battle either 

against Boko Haram or Niger 

Delta militants with the hope 

that it will take care of their 

home fronts and put the soldiers 

in better frame of minds 

to do better at their different 

fronts. 

The Summer Soccer ceremony, 

first of its kind in the cantonment, 

was preceded by series 

of life performance, 

peaked in the final match of the 

the top 3 in the league. 

week-long football competitions, 

presentation of different 

categories of souvenirs, cash 

awards and medals including 

the trophy to the respective 

team coaches, players and the 

teams. 

The final match, which was 

commissioned by special guest 

of honour and Commander of 

9 Brigade Command Nigerian 

Army Ikeja, Brigadier General 

Sanni Mohammed, saw 

Fin Nigerite team defeating 

Camp 2 lifting the trophy with 

a 3–1 victory. 

Speaking to Sports Vanguard 

after the ceremony, Commandant 

of the Nigerian Army 

Ordnance School Ojo, Brigadier 

General AO Akintade, 

said the summer soccer programme 

apart from keep the 

youths in the Barracks busy, 

is to discover budding talents 

who could be useful in the 

national age grade teams. 

Beyond Abdullahi and Ogba punches 

IT is no longer news that Nigeria failed to make any serious impact at 

the 2016 Rio Olympics which ended over a month ago. Nigerians have 

been x-raying the performance of Team Nigeria and proffering the way 

forward. Most have however, told the authorities not to waste scarce resources 

and precious time trying to find out why the country failed again, 

after the woeful outing four years earlier in London. 

Former sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi added his voice in the quest to 

finding solutions to the decline in sports, a sector that once gave Nigerians 

course to smile despite the excruciating pains they suffer as a result of 

declining economic fortunes which has since seen the once pride of Africa 

now being classified as a lower middle class country. 

He picked on two federations, Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the 

Weightlifting Federation of Nigeria in reviewing the country’s performance 

at the Rio Games and called for their replacement because, according to 

him, “The people in charge of those federations (Solomon Ogba for athletics 

and Chibudom Nwuche for weightlifting) have over stayed. There is 

nothing they have to offer to Nigerians. For the country to make progress in 

athletics and weightlifting, the current leadership need to make way”. 

His call took many, including me, by surprise because he and Ogba were 

very good friends. Abdullahi even mentioned Ogba as one of the best federation 

presidents working for the progress of our sports. Was that not why he 

ensured the Delta-born administrator returned as AFN president for a 

second term. They were both strong members of the ruling party, the PDP 

then. While the revolt was on to truncate Ogba’s re-election, with the minister’s 

loyalists spear-heading the revolt, Abdullahi ordered for a manhunt 

for his loyalists who went underground to work against Ogba who was 

sweating profusely from the heat of the election that was stalemated for a 

record three times after voting. Abudjllahi finally got hold of the ‘renegade’ 

loyalists who were ordered to make sure Ogba returned as AFN president. 

After the victory, there was backslapping to celebrate the ‘victory’ in the 

minister’s camp. Then nothing was heard about the slide in athletics,(why 

athletics alone because the slide is general even in football, the most pampered 

sport), and nothing was also heard about the High Performance 

Centre, be it the one in Port Harcourt which the Abdullahi camp now claim 

is favoured by Ogba because of the grant given for it by the IAAF or the one 

in Abuja(which is so ordinary anyway) which had direct supervision by 

Abdullahi himself. A case of rub my back and I rub yours too. 

It is funny that after forcing Ogba’s return against the wishes of majority 

of the AFN Board members whose grouse against Ogba was that he was 

running a one-man show, Abdullahi could turn around to criticise Ogba. 

When Ogba fired back , calling for the probe of the N3bn spent on the socalled 

HPC, because as an insider he knows the whole truth about the fund 

released by then president Jonathan, Abdullahi’s ‘main-man’ and his Special 

Assistant on Media, Julius Ogunro, came to his master’s defence and 

told Ogba to shut up and resign instead because he recommended for the 

employment of the American coaches he now condemns. 

I see this as rather ridiculous. Who should hide his head in shame, the 

man now being accused of being a failure and asked to resign or the man 

who forced him on those who never wanted him back? I know Ogba won’t 

keep quiet over the latest attack from Abdullahi’s camp, he will further spill 

the beans. He is said to be on vacation in the United States. 

However, not in defence of Ogba per se, Toni Urhobo, himself a former 

president of the AFN came out strong against Abdullahi, stressing that the 

former minister’s assessment of the sport was wrong, arguing rather that 

“it was the policies (of government) and politicians (like Abdullahi) that 

brought Nigerian sports down to its knees.” 

“His assessment was not a true reflection of the situation. This is not an 

issue of personality, but about results which dates back to 16 years,” Urhobo 

claimed. More reactions from both camps will still come out, I 

know. 

My concern however, is why Abdullahi who was at the helm when a 

sports retreat was put together by his boss and then president, Dr. 

Goodluck Jonathan, to redress the decline of sports in the country 

after the 2016 London Olympics fiasco had to pick out only two sports, 

athletics and weightlifting. 

After the presidential retreat and the approval of a huge sum by the 

government, what did Abdullahi do except embark on the construction 

of a so-called High Performance Hostel in Abuja. If his camp are 

now condemning the High Performance Centre in Port Harcourt, which 

according to them was given priority by Ogba because of the funds for 

released for it by athletics world body, the IAAF, it shows the latest 

attack on Ogba was because he refused to allow the former minister a 

piece of the cake. 

It didn’t matter to Abdullahi and maybe Ogba that the solution was 

not really in the establishment of such High Performance Centres 

when when didn’t have A class athletes any more. It didn’t also matter 

to them that you can’t a build a school without students and also 

criminal to higher teachers to operate in empty classrooms. 

Both Abdullahi and Ogba should have known that we needed to 

plan for our future by returning sports to the schools from where our 

past heroes and heroines like the Onyalis, Egbunikes, Olapades. 

Ogunkoyas and others came out from. That was what the Jamaicans 

did and are still doing that they have run us, the Americans and other 

countries renowned for the sport, out of the athletics ‘market’ so to say. 

Again it is not enough to declare a state of emergency by just word of 

mouth as was recently done by sports minister, Solomon Dalung to 

get the country back on the right direction towards reclaiming her 

position in all sports where we were once leaders or challenged for the 

top spots against the super powers. 

It must take a serious attention by President Muhammadu Buhari 

who will have no alternative but probe the sector to find out the truth 

about why our sports have continued to nose-dive. That is truly when 

we could be said to be serious about making sports a big business than 

the recreation status and the much abused political slogan ‘only unifying 

factor’ it is condemned to at the moment.


Derby winner dream come true — Iheanacho 

M ANCHESTER 

City striker Kelechi 

Iheanacho has described 

his derby winner 

against Manchester United 

as a “dream come true”. 

The Nigerian netted 

City’s second at Old Trafford 

in a 2-1 win, doubling 

the lead given to the visitors 

by Kevin De Bruyne, 

before Zlatan Ibrahimovic 

brought United back into 

the game on the stroke of 

half-time. 

Iheanacho was only 

handed a start due to the 

suspension of Sergio Aguero, 

but he took his opportunity 

and was delighted 

to help Pep Guardiola’s 

side to victory against their 

local rivals. 

S/Sudan FA 

boss fails 

FIFA integrity 

check 

SOUTH 

Sudan 

Football Association 

President Chabur 

Goc Alei will not be 

among candidates to 

stand for election into the 

vacant FIFA Executive 

Committee posts reserved 

for the Confederation 

of African Football. 

Although the Sudanese 

FA supremo had indicated 

interest to contest for 

the post, it has been discovered 

that he has 

failed the FIFA integrity 

check. 

A CAF source in Zurich 

informed Sports Vanguard 

that “Mr Chabur 

Goc Alei, the South 

Sudan FA boss is definitely 

out of the race as 

he has failed FIFA integrity 

check.” 

The elections into the 

FIFA Council are slated 

for September 29 and 

CAF had earlier announced 

the seven candidates. 

Iheanacho 

Continued 

backpage 

from 

minute after he was 

kept onside by Blind. 

Ibrahimovic gave the 

Red Devils hope when 

he halved the deficit in 

the 42nd minute, volleying 

in after Bravo failed 

to catch a set piece ball. 

The home team cleared 

all the damages noticed 

in the first forty five minutes 

but could not get an 

equalizer in the second 

half. 

Iheanacho subbed out 

seven minutes out of intermission 

in what appeared 

to be a tactical 

substitution by manager 

Pep Guardiola. 

“It is a dream come true 

to play in the Manchester 

derby and to get a winning 

goal,” he told Sky Sports. 

“I’m happy, I’m very happy, 

for my team, for everyone. 

They really worked 

hard to get the victory today.” 

Iheanacho slotted home 

after a shot from De Bruyne 

rebounded off the post and 

straight to his feet, and he 

admitted there was some 

good fortune involved. 

“It was about being in the 

right place at the right 

time,” he added. “I didn’t 

expect the shot, I didn’t 

expect it to hit the post and 

come back, but I’m happy 

to be in the right place and 

to score.” 

Man of the match De 

Bruyne, meanwhile, acknowledged 

that it was a 

tough test for City, despite 

their flying start. 

“It feels very good,” he 

told Sky Sports. “It was a 

very hard game, very intensive, 

both teams showed 

their skillset. 

“The second half was 

more difficult - they played 

powerfully and with long 

balls. They are much stronger 

in the air, but I think 

we coped well and we just 

missed the third goal in the 

second half.” 

Paralympics: Ezuruike wins Team Nigeria’s first gold 

TEAM Nigeria won 

their second medal 

on Friday at the Rio 2016 

Paralympic Games when 

Ronald Ezuruike won 

gold in the men’s 

powerlifting -54kg 

category. 

Latifat Tijani had 

PARALYMPICS: AFRICAN COUNTRIES 

STANDING 

Country G S B 

Tunisia 3 3 1 

S/Africa 2 0 0 

Nigeria 1 2 0 

Egypt 1 1 0 

Kenya 1 0 1 

Rivers Utd. 

Continued from 

backpage 

Wolves the lead after 28 

minutes. 

However, home team 

Rivers United fought 

back to draw level six 

minutes later through 

Godwin Obinze. 

Bernard Ovoke then 

put Rivers United in front 

after 40 minutes, before 

Guy Kuemian scored a 

third goal for ‘Pride of 

Rivers’ two minutes from 

time. 

In Ibadan, goals by 

Ajani Ibrahim and 

Ifegwu Ojukwu gave 

hosts Shooting Stars a 2- 

0 lead, before Chisom 

Iheanacho is congratulated by team-mate Nolito after scoring the 

winner 

earlier in the day won a 

silver medal in women’s 

powerlifting, just falling 

short of gold. 

Ezuruike was far 

ahead of the 10 other 

finalists, lifting 200kg to 

finish in first place. 

Egbuchulam pulled a 

goal back for Rangers in 

the 81st minute. 

Both teams finished 

this game with 10 men 

after Rangers defender 

Chibuzor Madu was 

sent off for a professional 

foul and later Moses 

James of 3SC also saw 

red. 

Sunshine Stars turned 

back Plateau United 3-1, 

while bottom team 

Ikorodu United 

upstaged Kano Pillars 4- 

1. 

The match between 

MFM and Lobi Stars in 

Lagos will be played 

Sunday morning after it 

rained off. 

His lift also shattered 

the previous Paralympic 

record of 185kg, making 

the Nigerian the new 

owner of the record. 

China’s Jian Wang 

Moses 

Continued 

backpage 

from 

Moses, 25, starred for 

Nigeria as they won the 

2013 Nations Cup and 

played in the qualifiers 

en route to the 2014 

World Cup in Brazil. 

But niggling injuries 

forced the Chelsea 

winger away from 

international fixtures 

before he re-joined the 

Super Eagles this year. 

“I’m really happy to be 

back with Nigeria again 

after a stop-start 

international career,” 

Moses told BBC Sport. 

“I’ve been injured lots 

of times and that spell 

gave the fans the wrong 

impression about my 

international 

commitment. 

“It was frustrating but 

I’m over that, played the 

last three competitive 

games and getting 

better. When you’re 

playing you enjoy 

yourself.” 

Moses, who had spent 

the last three seasons on 

loan at Liverpool, Stoke 

won silver with a lift of 

170 kg, a whole 30kg 

behind the Nigerian 

gold medallist. Greece’s 

Dimitros Bakochristos 

won bronze with 162kg. 

and west Ham, has 

scored twice in four 

appearances for Chelsea 

this season. 

The former Wigan and 

Crystal Palace winger 

believes his form for club 

will only benefit his 

country in the 2018 

World Cup qualifying 

matches starting with an 

away fixture in Zambia 

next month. 

“I want to play every 

single game for my 

country and I need to 

keep doing well at 

Chelsea to enjoy that,” 

he said. 

“We’ve failed to reach 

the next Nations Cup but 

we have a new manager 

and things must take a 

great path for us to reach 

the World Cup. 

“The three countries in 

our group [Algeria, 

Cameroon and Zambia] 

are desperate to be in 

Russia. I played the last 

one in Brazil with an 

injury but I want to play 

in the next one and it 

starts with that tough 

away game against 

Zambia.” 

GOtv Boxing 

Night 9: 

‘Ghana must 

go,’ Fijaborn 

tells 

Kwabena King 

NATIONAL light 

welterweight boxing 

champion, Olaide “Fijaborn” 

Fijabi, has declared 

that Raphael Kwabena 

King, his Ghanaian opponent 

at GOtv Boxing Night 

9, will leave Nigeria wishing 

he never came after 

their international challenge 

contest billed for October 

2 at the Indoor Sports 

Hall of the National Stadium, 

Lagos. Fijabi was responding 

to the Ghanaian’s 

boast that he would 

be the first boxer to defeat 

him. 

“King was quoted in the 

papers as saying he would 

defeat me. I believe he was 

misquoted. He said he has 

seen me fight on a number 

of occasions and I congratulate 

him on that. What I 

want to say, however, is 

that everybody at the venue 

will enjoy the fight except 

him. Nigeria is bigger 

than Ghana and I will 

prove that to him. Ghana 

must fall,” he boasted. 

Another Ghanaian billed 

for the seven fight event, 

Richard Amefun, has also 

been warned by his Nigerian 

opponent, Oto “Joe 

Boy” Joseph, the national 

lightweight champion, to 

expect defeat. 

Joe Boy, a knockout specialist, 

said Amefun has 

been deceived into thinking 

that he is in the elite 

class by the low-level boxers 

he has been beating in 

his country. 

Nigeria 

goalkeeper 

dies 

Continued 

backpage 

from 

posted their tribute to the 

shot stopper popularly 

called number 1. 

The highly respected 

goalkeeper who is 

known for his reflexes 

and agility between the 

post, represented Ocean 

Boys, Akwa United and 

Bayelsa United in the 

past before taking a step 

down to the Nigeria National 

League with Go 

Round FC of Port Harcourt. 

The shot stopper last 

played for Nigeria National 

League side Go 

Round FC and, in April 

he saved the vital spot 

kick that helped the second 

division side shock 

their illustrious state rival, 

Rivers United 4-2 on 

penalties to lift the State 

FA Cup after both sides 

had battled to a 1-1 draw 

at regulation time.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

SUNDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 

Moses reaffirms 

commitment to Nigeria 

SUPER 

c 

forward, Victor 

Moses says he wants to 

“play every game for his 

country” and is happy to 

have put a “stop-start” 

international career 

behind him. 


Iheanacho lives up to boast, 

scores against United 

KELECHI Iheana 

cho became the first 

Nigerian player to score in 

the Manchester derby 

when he opened his account 

for the season as 

City beat neighbours 

Manchester United 2-1 in 

the Premier League at Old 

Trafford on Saturday afternoon. 

He had promised to 

score in the game to "justify 

my coach's faith in 

me." 

Togo international Emmanuel 

Adebayor and 

former England youth international 

Nedum Onuoha 

had a chance to clinch 

the accolade when they 

played for the Citizens but 

failed to find the back of 

the net. 

De Bruyne netted the 

opener in the 15th minute 

when the Manchester 

United defense were slow 

in reacting to Iheanacho’s 

flick on, before the Super 

Eagles striker tapped 

home in the 35th 


•Pep Guardiola 

POACHER: Kelechi Iheanacho was in the ideal place to slot home De Bruyne’s rebounded 

shot to double City’s first-half lead. 

Rivers Utd. go top as Rangers, Enyimba slip 

RIVERS United are 

the new leaders of 

the Nigeria league after 

they came from behind to 

beat Warri Wolves 3-1, 

while IfeanyiUbah beat 

Akwa United to move to 

third on the table. 

Rivers United now have 

56 points from 33 

matches, while Enugu 

Rangers slipped to 

second place after they 

lost 2-1 at Shooting Stars. 

IfeanyiUbah were very 

much at home after they 

extended their home 

invincibility as they 

stopped Akwa United 2- 

0. 

They have 53 points 

and leap frog Wikki, who 

slip to fourth on the 

table. 

There were also away 

losses for front runners 

Wikki Tourists and 

champions Enyimba. 

Wikki lost 2-1 at 

Nasarawa United after a 

stoppage time winner by 

Aminu Kadir, while 

Enyimba fell 1-0 at 

Niger Tornadoes 

courtesy of a penalty goal 

by Solomon Owello. 

Nigeria 

goalkeeper dies 

THE Nigeria football 

family has been 

thrown into a period of 

mourning following the 

death of one time Nigeria 

Premier League safe 

hands Iboro Akpakpan. 

Details of his death is 

yet to be known. His 

death has however, led to 

emotional messages from 

his former and present 

team-mates, who have 


Kevin Itoya stunned 

the fans in Port Harcourt 

when he gave Warri 


RESULTS 

•Moses 

INSIDE 

Beyond Abdullahi 

and Ogba punches 

— Pg. 46 

•Ogba 

Mourinho blames 

ref for team’s 

home loss— Pg 46 

•Mourinho 

Iheanacho: 

Derby winner 

a dream 

come true 

— Pg 47 

NPFL 

Ifeanyi Ubah 2 Akwa 0 

Ikorodu Utd 4 Pillars 1 

Nasarawa 2 Wikki 1 

Tornadoes 1 Enyimba 0 

Rivers Utd 3 Warri 1 

Shooting 2 Rangers 1 

Sunshine 3 Plateau 1 

EPL 

Man United 1 Man City 2 

Bournemouth 1 West Brom 0 

Arsenal 2 Southampton 1 

Burnley 1 Hull City 1 

M’brough 1 C/Palace 2 

Stoke City 0 Tottenham 4 

West Ham 2 Watford 4 

Liverpool 4 Leicester 1 

•Abdullahi 

See solution on page 5 

•Late Iboro 

La Liga 

Celta Vigo 0 At/Madrid 4 

Real Madrid 5 Osasuna 2 

Bundesliga 

Leverkusen 3 Hamburger 1 

Darmstadt 1 E/Frankfurt 0 

Freiburg 3 M’gladbach 1 

Ingolstadt 0 Hertha Berlin 2 

Wolfsburg 0 FC Cologne 0 

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E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com. Internet: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 

0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. 08111813023 All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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