AS GUNMEN ATTACK LAGOS SCHOOL: V-Principal, teacher, 4 students abducted

•P.35•P.21 

RECESSION: Senate, Reps 

ask Buhari to address joint 

session of NASS 

•P.8 

BUDGET PADDING: 

EFCC grills officials of 

16 ministries •P.10 

...towards a better life for the people 

VOL. 25: NO. 63131 

ONDO GOV POLL: 

When peaceful 

rally turned 

bloody 

See inside 

COLUMNISTS: 

Embracing civil 

war: The illogical 

option in 

Colombia •P.31 

Independence 

day reflections 

•P.17 

** 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 

AS GUNMEN ATTACK LAGOS SCHOOL: 

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com 

V-Principal, teacher, 4 

students abducted 

•How I narrowly escaped abduction — Student 

•Dep. Gov, CP, visit school, say govt on top of situation 

Nigeria's stolen 

$20bn hidden in 

Dubai, book on 

Buhari reveals 

See 

Page 15 

for more 

GUILD OF EDITORS HOUSE—From left: Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State; Mrs Funke 

Egbemode, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE; Dr Idiat Adebule, Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Aremo Olusegun 

Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State; Mr Martins Babale, Deputy 

Governor, Adamawa State; Alhaji Waheed Odusile, National President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, 

former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Mallam Isa Gusau, representing Borno State Governor, during the commissioning 

of the Guild of Editors House, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. Story on Page 10, more pictures on Page 16. 

•P.8 

N200 

By Evelyn Usman, 

Olasunkanmi Akoni 

& Bose Adelaja 

L AGOS—GUNMEN 

suspected to be 

militants, yesterday, 

stormed Lagos State 

Model College, Igbonla 

in Eredo Local Council 

Development Area, Epe, 

Lagos State, abducting 

six persons, including the 

school’s Vice Principal, a 

teacher and four students. 

However, two of the 

students were later 

rescued by policemen 

who immediately arrived 

the scene. The gunmen, 

numbering over 10, it was 

Continues on Page 5 

Paden was 

wrong, 

Tinubu 

nominated 

Osinbajo 

— Bello, 

Lagos SSG 

•P.30 

Mr & Mrs

2—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

C 

M 

Y 

K 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 —3

4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 

DOUGLAS ROAD, OWERRI GARBAGE: Why we left 

Douglas Road refuse — IMO GOVT 

•My Deputy won't succed me —Okorocha 

•As Kano Governor urges him to shun sycophants 

•He snatched Imo from political hyenas—Akintola 

By Chidi Nkwopara & 

Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—IMO 

State 

Government yesterday, 

affirmed that it deliberately 

abandoned the mountain of 

smelly refuse along the ever busy 

Douglas Road, Owerri, to get 

back at the indigenes who have 

been fighting the administration. 

Governor Rochas Okorocha’s 

Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. 

Samuel Onwuemeodo, made the 

disclosure during an early 

morning public accountability 

phone-in programme anchored 

by Hot 99.5 FM, Owerri. 

“Government deliberately 

abandoned the refuse along 

Douglas Road, Owerri, to get 

back at Owerri people who have 

been battling the state 

government, over the relocation 

of the market”, Onwuemeodo 

said. 

The Governor’s CPS, who 

poured invectives on the 

leadership and indigenes of 

Owerri municipality, also fumed 

that “Owerri people must be 

made to understand that they 

cannot eat their cake and have 

it.” 

He further explained that 

“there is a court order restraining 

government from tampering with 

the market and this also explains 

why we left the refuse.” 

Most of the citizens who called 

into the programme, described 

the abandonment of the huge 

refuse as “a damnable plot to 

inflict hardship and disease on 

the people and not to respect a 

court order.” 

A caller, who simply identified 

himself as Amanze, wondered 

why and how a government 

should deliberately hoist pain 

and disease on its people, in a 

democracy. 

“From what the Governor’s 

Press Secretary has said, it is now 

very clear that the palpable 

hatred which Owerri people 

have been complaining about is 

real,” Amanze said. 

While recalling that Owerri 

used to be the cleanest city in 

Nigeria, Amanze, however, said 

that “the Governor must hate 

Owerri so much to allow this level 

of devastation and dirt in the 

city.” 

My Deputy not incoming 

Governor of Imo 

—Okorocha 

Meantime, the Imo State 

Governor, Rochas Okorocha has 

said that his Deputy, Eze 

Madumere will not succeed him 

as the next Governor of the state, 

even as he said that those who 

will assume the leadership of the 

state in 2019 will be politicians 

who are “rescue mission 

compliant.” 

Okorocha spoke yesterday at 

Concord Hotel, Owerri, during 

the launch of the book written 

by Mr Peter Clever titled: Eze 

Madumere: A True 

Manifestation of a Loyal 

Prince.” 

He said: “I have not decided 

who will be the next Governor 

of Imo state. I want to also tell 

you that, this is not a launch 

for a path for Madumere as the 

incoming governor of the state. 

I want to say this before you 

start to distort the political 

landscape of Imo State. 

“But he is my son in whom I 

am well pleased. I have 

confidence in him. The joy of 

an aging father is to see the 

son rising." 

Kano Governor urges 

him to shun 

sycophants 

Also speaking at the book 

BIAFRA: IPOB insists Nigeria must appear 

before ECOWAS court 

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

& Ugochukwu Alaribe 

N NEWI—THE 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, has said that no 

ploy by the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, led 

government of President 

Muhammadu Buhari will 

make it not to appear to 

defend itself in the Community 

Court of Justice, ECOWAS 

Court, sitting in Abuja. 

IPOB in a statement titled 

'APC Government can run but 

cannot hide from the law' 

signed by its Media and 

Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma 

Powerful said: “He who brings 

home ants-ridden faggots 

must be ready for the visit of 

launch, the Kano State 

Governor, Abdulahi Umar 

Ganduje, has advised his 

counterpart Governor Rochas 

Okorocha, to desist from 

listening to sycophants if he 

wants to go far in governance. 

“ For you as a governor to 

succeed in the affairs of 

governance, you must shun 

sycophants. Sycophancy is a 

deadly disease in government. 

It is HIV in governance.” 

On his opinion about the 

Deputy Governor of Imo State, 

Prince Eze Madumere, he said: 

“I congratulate you for being 

loyal to your governor and also 

for the confidence the governor 

reposes in you.” 

However, he said that deputy 

governors should act according 

to the situation they found 

themselves and not to engage 

in any activity that would 

undermine the relationship 

they have with their superiors. 

“With what we have seen today, 

you have helped and are still 

helping to move Imo State 

forward. I am happy that, what 

has been written is an honest 

contribution of the deputy 

governor to the development of 

the entire state. The subject of the 

book has portrayed your loyalty 

to the governor,” he said. 

Okorocha snatched Imo 

from political hyenas 

—Akintola 

Also speaking at the book 

launch, a lawyer and Senior 

Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, 

Adeniyi Akintola said that the 

Imo State Governor, Rochas 

Okorocha, snatched the State from 

political “hyenas.” 

“Okorocha snatched the 

patrimony of Imo State from 

political hyenas who are busy 

feeding their stomach,” adding 

that, he could go ahead in 

explaining how Okorocha started 

with his deputy. 

“ I consider it as a great honour 

to come and chair the occasion of 

a book launch written in honour 

of the Deputy Governor of Imo 

state, Prince Eze Madumere,“ he 

said. 

LAUNCHING: From left: General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG Ltd, Kudo Eresia 

Eke, Minister of Information and Culture, Ahlaji Lai Mohammed, D-G, National Orientation 

Agency, Dr. Garba Abari, and Head, Corporate Communications, Matthew Obiazikwor, at the 

launching of Change Begins With Me organized by Ministry of Information and Culture in 

Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

•As MASSOB replies Okechukwu 

lizards”. The statement added 

that "it is not enough arresting 

our leader and Director of Radio 

Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and 

charging him on frivolous 

allegations, but can they prove 

the allegations? When it 

matters most that they prove 

their allegations, they started 

running.” 

IPOB statement continued: 

“ECOWAS court is not a 

Nigerian court that they can 

manipulate. The Judges are 

not people to toss up and down. 

They are judges who can hold 

their own and now, the onus is 

on the Federal Government to 

come to the court and defend 

their allegations against the 

IPOB leader and not sending 

lawyers that will come and give 

flimsy reasons not to attend court 

sittings.” 

IPOB alleged that “one of the 

reasons APC led Nigerian 

government is running away from 

the case is because they earlier 

thought they can intimidate the 

Judges like they did when the 

matter first came up, but have 

found out that the Judges are men 

of honour.” 

MASSOB replies Okechukwu 

Meantime, Movement for the 

Actualization of Sovereign States 

of Biafra, MASSOB, has berated 

the Director General of the Voice 

of Nigeria, Mr. Osita 

Okechukwu, over his recent 

comment that Biafra is no longer 

feasible, and urged him not be deceived 

as the actualization of an independent 

state of Biafra will soon be actualized. 

EFCC arrests 

Wonder Bank 

owner over 

N4bn 

depositors' 

fund 

By Emeka Mamah 

ENUGU—THE Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, has 

arrested the Managing Director 

of a “wonder bank” in Enugu 

for allegedly defrauding its 

customers about N4 billion. 

Sources close to the 

commission in Enugu said that 

the Managing Director of the 

“bank,” known as Lets Partner 

with You, Chief Patrick Shanchi 

Nwokike was arrested at his 

Enugu residence on Thursday, 

September 6, following 

hundreds of petitions from 

defrauded customers across the 

country. 

The sources said that 

thousands of customers of the 

wonder bank were defrauded 

adding that the petitions cut, 

across “religion, gender, ethnic 

and economic social class, 

indicating that the company 

had over the past five years 

solicited and obtained deposits of 

more than N4 billion from the public 

with promise of mouth- watering 

interest in return.” 

It was said that investigations 

conducted by the Commission, 

showed that the company has no 

license to solicit and manage funds for 

the public nor was it registered with 

Securities and Exchange Commission, 

SEC or the Nigeria Deposit Insurance 

Company, NDIC. 

Further investigations showed that 

a 10 percent interest was for some time 

paid on invested capital which was 

suddenly stopped even as all efforts 

by depositors to have at least the 

capital of their investments returned 

nor terminate their investments 

proved abortive. 

According to the EFCC sources, 

many of the complainants alleged that 

the operators of the scheme especially, 

Chief Nwokike not only lived very 

flamboyant lifestyles but acquired 

several personal assets, apart from 

using their deposits for philanthropic 

enterprises. 

The company was also found to 

have over six accounts in about four 

banks with the CEO of “Lets Partner 

With You Ltd” and his wife being the 

only signatories. 

However, Nwokike was alleged to 

have acknowledged the receipt of 

about N4 billion depositors’ funds with 

his company but denied operating 

both money lending and investment 

business as alleged by the petitioners. 

He reportedly stated in his 

statement with the EFCC that his 

company was into partnership 

business which received “money from 

interested customers who desired 

interest from their money after it 

might have been infused into 

businesses especially that of small 

scale traders. 

Meanwhile, investigation was still 

on-going to ascertain the extent of 

the company’s operations, its 

culpability, likely recovery of funds 

and possible prosecution.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

Parents and students gather at Government Model College, Igbonla, Epe, Lagos State, yesterday. 

Gunmen hit Lagos school: V-Principal, 

teacher, 4 students abducted 

Continues from page 1 

gathered, came through 

the waterways in three 

speed boats. They were 

said to have positioned 

themselves strategically, 

around the school 

building , while about six 

of them gained entrance 

into the school premises 

through a collapsed 

fence. They made straight 

for the school hall, where 

the assembly was being 

held. 

Their presence caused 

commotion as the 

students ran in different 

directions for safety. The 

school guards were 

helpless; they also ran for 

cover into adjoining 

buildings. 

In the process, the Vice 

Principal of the Junior 

Secondary School, whose 

identity was given simply 

as Oyesola and the 

teacher, identified as 

Lukman Oyerinde, as 

well as four students, all 

in the Junior Secondary 

School, JSS, were 

abducted. . 

The names of the two 

kidnapped students were 

given as Isaac Adebisi 

and Okonkwo, all in 

JSS1. 

The gunmen were said 

to have abducted the 

students first and later 

went after the vice 

principal and the teacher, 

who attempted to free the 

students from the 

invaders. 

The abducted persons 

were, thereafter, whisked 

into their waiting speed 

boats and headed towards 

Ogere in Ogun State. 

One of the teachers, said 

to have sustained injury, 

was rushed to an 

undisclosed hospital. 

Help on the way 

While the students and 

teachers ran helter 

skelter, a male student 

was said to have collected 

a mobile phone from one 

of his teachers and 

intimated his father, who 

is a security agent. 

The father, Vanguard 

learned, contacted the 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

WHAT you have in you and with you is enough 

to get you where you dream of going. The 

only problem is that you either don’t recognize it or 

you simply trivialize it. It is up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

Life speaks to us us everyday. If you’re listening 

and aware, you’ll be awakened to greater 

possibilities in life—Take Heart Quotes 

WHEN we go through the experiences that are 

part of our everyday lives, often there are 

times of joy in between the lessons. But sometimes 

it seems there are a lot more rocks in our way than 

soft grass to walk on. There are always things that 

will cause one to trip or stumble, but the beautiful 

knowing is your ability to turn these stumbling blocks 

into stepping stones. It all depends on your attitude. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

He who wants to learn how to box, must first 

try a bag of sand. 

necessary security 

agencies, who were 

immediately deployed to 

the scene. 

At about 10am, a 

combined team of the 

Rapid Response Squad, 

RRS, Nigerian Navy, 

Nigerian Army, Marine 

Police and local security 

groups stormed the scene, 

combing the entire area 

for the students. There 

was also aerial patrol of 

the waterways. 

Parents storm 

school 

When news of the 

invasion filtered out, 

apprehensive parents 

stormed the school to pick 

their children, majority of 

who live in the boarding 

house. 

A parent, Mrs 

Chukwuma, who spoke 

with Vanguard, said: “We 

live in Ikorodu area of 

Lagos and my child is a 

boarder. It is a mixed 

gender school. My 

daughter is still in shock 

because she said one of 

the abducted students 

that was later freed was 

her classmate. 

"She said the gunmen 

fired warning shots into 

the air when the whole 

place was in disarray. 

From all indications, it 

was obvious that they 

wanted to abduct more 

than that number but the 

screams and quick 

telephone calls to the 

necessary agencies 

stalled that. 

"My daughter also said 

that one of the gunmen, 

suspected to be the 

leader, instructed them to 

leave immediately when 

others were going to get 

more students. Each of 

the kidnappers took one 

person according to her. 

She said they pointed 

their weapons at the 

teachers and threatened 

to shoot if any of them 

tried to play smart.” 

How I narrowly 

escaped —student 

A Junior Secondary 

School student, who 

spoke on condition of 

anonymity, told Vanguard 

on phone how she 

escaped being abducted. 

She said: “I narrowly 

escaped being a victim. 

As I was running, when 

they came, one of them 

told me to stop. In my 

confused state, I did 

because I was afraid he 

would shoot. About five of 

us stood at the same 

position. But as he 

approached us, I 

summoned courage and 

ran as fast as my legs 

could carry me. 

"My action prompted 

others to run as well. But 

unfortunately, one of them 

was among those 

abducted.” 

Another JSS 1 student 

who cried as he begged 

his parents to take him 

back home, said they ran 

to neighbours to alert 

them. 

He said: “Our teachers 

tried to protect us but they 

could not do much. Some 

of us ran to the 

neighborhood to spread 

the information.” 

A parent, who has three 

children in the school, was 

seen wailing, yesterday, 

that she was yet to see one 

of her children. 

She said: “I have three 

students in this school but 

I am still searching for my 

daughter who alerted me 

on phone while on my 

way to work. 

Unfortunately, I can’t 

reach her as the phone 

was switched off before 

my arrival and I am yet to 

locate her." 

Olu of Epe speaks 

The Olu of Epe 

Kingdom, Oba Sefiu 

Olatunji, speaking after 

visiting the school, 

expressed displeasure at 

the incident, saying the 

culprits must not go 

unpunished. 

The Oba assured that 

necessary steps would be 

taken to unravel the 

situation the traditional 

way. 

Efforts on to 

rescue them 

—Police 

Meanwhile, the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos State Police 

Command, Mr Fatai 

Owoseni, said efforts were 

in top gear to rescue the 

abducted persons. 

Speaking with 

journalists at the 

command headquarters, 

Ikeja, yesterday, Owoseni 

said the command had 

swung into action, adding 

that it was being assisted 

by the Nigerian Navy. 

“We are monitoring the 

movement. The Marine 

Police and our 

counterparts from the 

Navy are at work. We 

hope to rescue them in 

the shortest possible 

time,” Owoseni assured. 

Owoseni assured 

parents and families of 

the victims that the rescue 

operation already 

launched would be the 

shortest in the history of 

the command and 

solicited their support. 

The 

police 

commissioner, who noted 

that security agencies 

were already in custody of 

useful leads, said: “All I 

just want to say for now is 

that you have to work with 

us. What we also need 

from you is your prayers. 

We will seek your 

understanding and for 

now, I will not reveal 

much because as we 

speak, there are agents of 

the kidnappers here and 

they will reveal whatever 

we say here to them. 

“We have a government 

in Lagos State that is 

ready to go all out and I 

can assure you that this 

will be the shortest rescue 

operation that we will 

carry out. We will do 

everything we need to do 

to secure release of the 

victims, as there is a 

strong hope of rescuing 

them.” 

Lagos govt 

condemns act 

Meanwhile, Lagos State 

Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat 

Adebule, visited the 

college yesterday, 

accompanied by top 

government functionaries 

and heads of security 

agencies. 

She condemned the act, 

but pleaded with parents 

and families of the victims 

to cooperate with 

government and security 

agencies to ensure prompt 

rescue of the victims. 

Adebule admonished 

parents, who rushed to 

the school to pick their 

children, advising that 

such action would not 

help the situation. She 

said panicking would 

further compound the 

situation. 

Adebule said: “It is true 

that in the last 29 years 

that this school was 

established, we have 

never experienced such a 

thing as this. But now that 

it has happened and it is 

confronting us, we must 

come together to find a 

lasting solution to it. 

"We, as a government, 

parents, the school and 

security agencies, must 

remain united to solve 

this problem. 

“I know you are angry, 

worried and agitated, but 

we must look for solution. 

I, therefore, plead for the 

understanding of parents 

in this matter. I know how 

traumatic it could be, I 

know how emotional the 

issue we are discussing 

could be but the best we 

can do is to handle it with 

care and with utmost 

wisdom that God can give 

us." 

Also reacting to the 

incident, yesterday, the 

House of Representatives 

called on security 

agencies in the country to 

intensify rescue efforts for 

the kidnapped students 

and their teachers. 

The House’s resolution 

followed a motion by Wale 

Raji, a lawmaker from the 

state, under matters of 

urgent national 

importance. 

The House heard from 

Raji, how some suspected 

kidnappers attacked 

Government Model, 

College, Igbonla, Epe, 

yesterday morning to 

carry out the abduction. 

Raji said he was told 

about the development 

shortly after the House 

resumed plenary 

yesterday, adding that he 

was compelled to bring it 

to the attention of the 

House and, by extension, 

the country.


08052867023 

08052867058 

2 docked 

for 

sodomy 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A 16-yearold 

boy, Ebere 

Nwankwo, and one other, 

who allegedly engaged in 

sodomy, were yesterday 

arraigned before an 

Igbosere magistrate’s 

court, Lagos. 

The teenager, who is a 

cleaner at a shopping 

mall and Job Martins, 20, 

a house keeper, are both 

facing a two-count charge 

of sodomy preferred 

against them by the 

police. 

The duo, who resides at 

Goshen Estate, Ikate, and 

Aboki Estate, both in 

Lekki, respectively, were 

docked before Magistrate 

O. Ogunbowale. 

The prosecutor, 

Sergeant Ajaga Agboko, 

told the court that the 

defendants committed 

the alleged offences 

sometimes in August, at 

Aboki Estate in Lekki 

area of the state in Eti- 

Osa Local Government 

Area. 

He said that 

Nwankwo stole a Zenith 

Bank Plc ATM card, 

belonging to Martins 

and then used it to 

withdraw N22,000 from 

his account. 

Agboko also alleged 

that Martins unlawfully 

acted indecently with 

the teenager by 

sodomising him. 

He said: “The 

defendants were caught 

committing sodomy and 

when asked why they 

engaged in such an act, 

Nwankwo said that 

Martins, who is his 

boyfriend, had forced 

him to do it because he 

took his ATM to 

withdraw N22,000 from 

his account.” 

The defendants were 

denied bail, as the court 

said it was only the high 

court that they can 

approach for bail, and 

adjourned the case till 

November 11. 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

A 

young man, Promise 

Iwuoala, has been 

sentenced to 15 years 

imprisonment by an Apapa 

Magistrate's Court, Lagos, for 

raping a girl (names withheld) 

in Tedi community, Ojo Local 

Government Area of Lagos State. 

The convict, a gateman at 15, 

Woman pays assassins N600, 

•... as 2 dismissed policemen, 4 others nabbed for looting expatriates’ home 

By Evelyn Usman & 

Cherechukwu Okoye 

LAGOS—POLICE have 

arrested a housewife, who 

allegedly paid N600,000 to 

hired assassins to kill her 

husband in Ajah area of Lagos 

State. 

Lagos Command police boss, 

Mr. Fatai Owoseni, did not 

disclose the identity of the 

housewife, but explained that 

information at the command’s 

disposal foiled her plan. 

Owoseni added that 

investigation was still on to 

arrest the assassins, adding 

that thereafter, they would be 

arraigned in court. 

This is just as police 

operatives nabbed six 

suspected members of a gang 

that specialised in posing as 

security agents, invading 

expatriates’ homes in search 

of drugs and stealing cash in 

the process. 

Among them were two 

dismissed policemen. 

The syndicate usually 

invaded homes of expatriates, 

particularly Chinese, 

informing them that they had 

information that they were 

dealing in drugs. 

The unsuspecting foreigners 

would, thereafter, allow them to 

conduct a search of their 

apartments. But in the process, 

members of the syndicate 

would steal cash and other 

valuables. 

The suspects gave their 

DEFORMATION: Collapsing property of Federal Information Press Unit, Lagos Liason Office, Federal Ministry 

of Information, Broad Street, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

I wanted to remove my parents from poverty: 

Domestic help steals boss' £40,000 

By Peter Odili 

LAGOS—A 24-year-old 

domestic worker, who was 

arrested for allegedly stealing 

his boss’s 40,000 Pounds in 

Lagos, has blamed his action 

on his desire to assist his family. 

Arrested alongside the 

suspect, Ugbem Samuel, was 

his younger brother, Ugbem 

Monday. 

The prime suspect reportedly 

invited his younger brother to 

his boss’ house immediately the 

latter returned from a trip 

outside the country. 

Narrating how he stole the 

money, Samuel, who was 

paraded alongside 25 other 

Samous Street, Tedi, Ojo-Alaba, 

was arrested by policemen 

attached to Festac Police Station 

with the support of Lagos State 

Domestic and Sexual and 

Violence Response Team, 

DSVRT and Family Support 

Unit and charged to court 

September 4, on a three-count 

charge. 

Earlier, the victim’s mother, 

said that the convict lured the 

The suspects and part of the money. 

robbery suspects, who were 

arrested within one week in 

Lagos, said: “When my boss 

came back with a lot of 

money from his trip, I 

invited my younger brother 

over, with the intention of 

Gateman gets 15 years jail term for rape 

child with candy and biscuit 

to his apartment, whenever 

she was at work. 

The single mother 

lamented that the convict had 

raped the child no fewer 

than three times in his 

apartment before the act was 

discovered. 

During the court 

proceedings, Promise 

pleaded guilty. 

stealing some of the money 

and handing it over to him 

to take to our parents, who 

are suffering. 

“I gave him 40,000 Pounds, 

which he kept with my 

brother-in-law to keep for us 

Magistrate Adegbite 

Oluwatoyin sentenced him to 

15 years imprisonment and 

ordered that the victim be 

taken for counselling and 

rehabilitation. 

Reacting, Coordinator of 

DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour- 

Adeniyi, said the name and 

other details of the victim had 

been captured in the Sex 

Offenders Register. 

until we are ready to use it.” 

However, when his boss, 

identified simply as Ajayi, 

discovered that his money was 

missing, he enquired from 

Samuel, who denied 

culpability. 

Samuel said: “But my boss’ 

brother came and begged me 

to say the truth that part of the 

money would be given to me. 

Because stealing is not in my 

blood, I opened up to him that 

I was the one that took the 

money with the help of my 

brother. I also told him where 

the money was.” 

It was gathered that the 

money was split into two, with 

his in-law and his younger 

brother in possession of each 

part. But when policemen 

arrived his in-law’s home in 

Ikorodu, he was discovered to 

have bolted with the money. 

The Commissioner of Police, 

Lagos State Police Command, 

Fatai Owoseni, who paraded 

the suspects, disclosed that 15 

armed robbery suspects were 

arrested in one week in Lagos. 

He said nine locally-made 

pistols, 50 live cartridges and one 

expended cartridge, three 

vehicles and assorted phones 

were recovered during the period.

000 to kill husband 

names as John Ada, Francis 

Onu, Peter Owechou, Aladu 

Emenuo, Abdul Emmanuel and 

James Omo all from Benue 

State. 

They admitted to have got 

$770 and N700,000. They also 

made away with the expatriates 

the residents with two 

policemen. We would tell them 

that we have information that 

they were dealing in cocaine. 

“In one of the cases, we 

collected N700,000 and $770 

from the home of a Chinese 

national in Gbagada. We 

money. I bought the idea out 

of greed.” 

Another suspect, Francis 

Onu, was discovered during 

investigation to have been 

dismissed from the police 

force since 2008. Onu, who 

served with the MOPOL 43, 

phones. 

shared the loot $100 and Bauchi, said he was 

Explaining how they N170,000 each. I regret my dismissed for illegal duties. 

masterminded the act, one of 

the suspects, Peter Owechou 

said: “The idea was sold to us 

by one Nelly. We would go to 

action because the amount is 

chicken feed to me because I 

run a domestic service for 

clients, where I make better 

His partner, John Ada, was 

reportedly dismissed when 

his involvement in the 

expatriate saga was revealed. 

By Kingsley Omonobi & 

Samuel Oyadongha 

MILITARY personnel of 

Operation Delta Safe, 

fighting militancy in the Niger 

Delta, have arrested five 

suspected militants in separate 

operations, rescued two 

kidnapped women and 

recovered a document alleged to 

be a list militants and how they 

are paid. 

The operatives also carried out 

several clearance operations of 

militant’s hideouts and destroyed 

illegal refineries and bunkering 

sites. 

Making the disclosure in a 

statement, Deputy Coordinator, 

Joint Media Campaign Centre, of 

Delta Safe, Lt. Commander 

Thomas Otuji, said that a document 

containing names of 30 persons 

suspected to be militants of the 

Bakassi Strike Force, BSF, had 

been recovered by the troops of 

Joint Task Force, JTF. 

Otuji noted that the document 

was found when the troops 

stormed the hideout of the 

militants at Efut Esighi, Bakassi 

Local Government Area of Cross 

River State, noting that the troops 

also combed another hideout of 

the militants at Creek Road by 

Slaughter in Anantigha, Calabar 

South, where other incriminating 

items were found. 

He said that during the raids, 

which were carried out in 

company with the Special Boat 

Services of the Navy, the troop 

arrested three suspected 

militants, including one Moses 

Okokon, popularly known in the 

creeks as Alomo. 

“When the vehicle seized from 

Alomo was searched, sentry duty 

rosters, 73 wraps of substances 

suspected to be Indian hemp 

and a payroll were found,” he 

said. 

According to him, “troops of 

Sector 4, while on patrol, 

apprehended two suspected 

militants that stole two highpowered 

outboard boat engines 

from boat operators. 

“They were about selling the 

engines at Aqua Beach when the 

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 , 2016—7 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

& Davies Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

TWO operatives of the 

Rivers State Police 

Command were, yesterday, 

killed in an area at Borokiri, 

Port Harcourt City Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

A source privy to the 

Operation Delta Safe: 

5 militants arrested, payroll recovered 

•2 kidnapped women rescued; illegal refineries destroyed 

troops arrested them. The 

arrested suspects, Mr. Elijah 

Daniel and Francis Shedrack, 

were subsequently handed 

08052867023 

08052867058 

Cultists kill 3 

policemen in Rivers 

over to Nigeria Police Force 

for further action.” 

SPILLAGE: The scene of an accident involving a commecial bus and a commercial 

motocycle, popularly known as okada, at Adamasingba area of Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday. 

NAN PHOTO. 

2 uniformed personnel arrested over 

Emefiele kidnap 

By Ifeanyi Okolie 

TWO serving and a 

dismissed military 

personnel, have been arrested 

by operatives of the Inspector 

General of Police Special 

Intelligence Response Team, 

IRT, for their alleged 

involvement in the kidnap of the 

wife of Governor of Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

Margaret Emefiele and three 

others, last Friday. 

Six other suspects were earlier 

arrested by police, following a 

directive from the Inspector 

General of Police, who deployed 

reconnaissance helicopter, 

sniffing dogs and his operatives 

of the IRT to Delta and Edo 

states. 

The arrest of the military 

personnel, who were picked up 

in Auchi and Benin in Edo State 

and Otupko in Benue State, has 

increased the number of 

suspects arrested in 

connection with the kidnap of 

the CBN Governor’s wife to 

nine. 

Vanguard gathered that six 

of the suspects were Fulani 

herdsmen, while the three 

serving and dismissed 

military personnel were from 

Gombe, Benue and Delta 

states. 

Share of loot 

It was further gathered that 

the two serving military 

personnel arrested had 

bought two exotic cars with 

their share of the loot, while 

the dismissed soldier had 

bought a car and also rented 

an apartment with his share 

few days after the operation. 

A source at the Edo State 

Police Command disclosed 

that the military officer 

arrested in Benue State was 

found with an unregistered 

Honda Accord saloon car and 

millions of naira. 

His serving colleague, 

who was arrested in 

Auchi, was said to have 

stashed his share with his 

relatives in Anambra State. 

Mrs Emefiele and three 

others were abducted last 

Friday on the Benin-Agbor 

Expressway. 

Her police escorts were 

said to have been 

overpowered as the 

hoodlums opened fire on 

them. 

After kidnapping her, the 

abductors demanded a N100 

million ransom. 

Sources at Police High 

Command, Abuja, said that 

a large part of the ransom 

had been recovered and that 

the IRT operatives, led by 

Abba Kyari, were on the trail 

of the three remaining 

members of the gang. 

incident told Vanguard that 

the two police officers were 

attached to the Anti-Terrorism 

Unit of the command. 

The source, (names 

withheld) said that the 

security operatives were shot 

while attempting to foil an 

attack in the area by suspected 

cultists. 

It was learned that the 

suspected cultists had opened 

fire on the team of Anti- 

Terrorism Unit around Rex 

Lawson Street near Borokiri, 

on arrival at the place. 

One of the members of the 

team, who confirmed the 

attack on grounds of 

anonymity, said the state 

Commissioner of Police, 

Francis Odesanya, had 

visited the scene of the 

incident and directed the 

deployment of more troops in 

the area. 

Odesanya also ordered full 

investigation to unravel and 

prosecute the persons 

responsible for the crime. 

When contacted, the Public 

Relations Officer of the 

command, Nnamdi Omoni, 

confirmed the incident. 

He noted that the CP had 

also visited the area. 

Omoni said: “Well, 

investigation has been 

ordered. The Commissioner of 

Police has ordered intensive 

investigation into the incident. 

The State Criminal 

Investigation Department is 

handling the investigation.” 

Also, Wednesday night, 

suspected cultists shot dead a 

policeman attached to the 

Anti-Kidnap Unit of the state 

police command at the same 

Borokiri area. 

The state police imagemaker, 

Omoni Nnamdi, who 

confirmed the incident said 

that policemen were on the 

trail of the cultists. 

Sources at Rex Lawson 

Waterfront, Borokiri, where 

the incident occurred said that 

the policemen engaged the 

cultists in a fierce gun battle. 

Meanwhile, residents of the 

area alleged that some angry 

policemen stormed the area, 

yesterday, smashing vehicles 

parked on some streets. 

The state Police 

Commissioner, Mr Francis 

Odesanya later visited the 

area, ordering the Criminal 

Investigation Department, 

CID, to conduct full scale 

investigation into the 

incidents. 

Omoni confirmed the 

directive from the police chief 

to newsmen, adding “well, 

investigation has been ordered, 

the Commissioner of Police has 

ordered intensive investigation 

into the incident. 

“The State Criminal 

Investigations Department is 

handling the investigation.”


RECESSION: Senate, Reps ask Buhari to 

address joint session of NASS 

•Buhari gives condition for appearance 

By Henry Umoru & 

Levinus Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—THE National 

Assembly, comprising 

Senate and the House of 

Representatives, has asked 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

to address its joint session on 

government’s plan to get the 

country out of recession. 

The decision yesterday, 

followed the concurrence of the 

Senate with an earlier resolution 

of the House of Representatives. 

The House had two weeks ago 

passed a resolution asking 

Buhari to appear before a joint 

session of the National 

Assembly to present strategies 

for addressing the country’s 

prevailing economic crisis which 

had meant high inflation, loss 

of jobs, and dwindling naira 

value in response to foreign 

exchange scarcity. 

The Senate, yesterday, 

concurred with resolution of the 

House of Representatives but the 

Presidency has not stated if or 

when President Buhari would 

address the lawmakers. 

Reacting to the summon last 

night, the Presidency gave 

conditions for the appearance of 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

before the National Assembly. 

Senior Special Assistant to the 

President on Media and 

Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, 

who disclosed this, stated that 

the President had not been 

summoned through the 

established channels of 

communication. 

Shehu told Vanguard that 

there were formal channels of 

communication between the 

Presidency and the National 

Assembly, adding that the 

President could only respond to 

the National Assembly when it 

utilized the proper means of 

communication. 

“There is a channel of 

communication between the 

Presidency and the National 

Assembly which we utilize. So, if 

they communicate to us through 

those channels, then the 

Presidency will reply. 

“But as it is now, it remains a 

newspaper report and newspaper 

is not a means of communication 

for the Presidency. When they 

communicate, the Presidency will 

also communicate back,” he said. 

CERTIFICATE 

OF RETURN: 

From Left: 

Anselm Ojezua 

Chairman, Edo 

State All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

Philip Shaibu, 

Deputy governorelect, 

and Godwin 

O b a s e k i , 

governor-elect 

after receiving the 

certificate of 

return from 

INEC in Benin. 

Photo: Barnabas 

Uzosike. 

PERVERSION OF JUSTICE: Ibori's case resumes in 

London today 

•Calls for independent inquiry into his trial 

LONDON—AS the James 

Onanefe Ibori London trial 

resumes today at the Southwark 

Crown Court in London, the 

former Delta State governor has 

called for independent inquiry 

into alleged perversion of justice 

in his prosecution occasioned by 

graft on the part of those, who 

investigated him. 

The resumed trial will be 

under His Honour David 

Tomlinson to enable the Crown 

Prosecution Service, CPS, led by 

Jonathon Kinnear and Mike 

Newbold to set out its position 

in relation to the recent National 

Crime Agency, NCA, Review. 

In a statement, yesterday, 

Ibori’s Media Assistant, Tony 

Eluemunor, said that the Review 

was an internal investigation 

into the allegations from Ibori’s 

counsel that some people, who 

investigated and prosecuted the 

former governor and his 

associates, were corrupt and that 

the CPS erred terribly by 

withholding pertinent materials 

from the Defence Team and even 

misled the court outright. 

Eluemunor called this Review 

a scandalous ‘whitewash’ that 

is deeply flawed and cannot be 

sustained in any free and fair 

trial even as reasons for the cover 

up allegation has been 

established. 

‘’For instance, it is now totally 

clear that the NCA, which 

investigated the corruption 

allegation against the Police 

officers, is funded by the 

Department for International 

Development, DfID, the same 

body that funded the original 

Ibori and Gohil investigations. 

The same DfID also funded the 

CPS (the prosecutors), so it is 

difficult for a DFID-funded body 

to indict a sister DfID funded 

body, especially after it has been 

established that the same DfID 

Nigeria's stolen $20bn hidden in Dubai, book 

on Buhari reveals 

By Soni Daniel & 

Levinus Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—DETAILS of how 

much money some 

powerful but corrupt Nigerian 

politicians have stolen and 

hidden away in foreign land in 

recent years have begun to 

emerge. 

The details of the stolen funds 

are contained in President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

biography, entitled 

Muhammadu Buhari: The 

Challenges of Leadership in 

Nigeria, which was unveiled in 

Abuja on Tuesday. 

According to the book, at least 

$20 billion of Nigeria’s oil 

proceeds are stolen and stashed 

away in banks in two United 

Arab Emirates’ major cities, 

signed an agreement with the 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC that it will 

have a first line payment of 

USD$25 million from any monies 

confiscated from Ibori, before 

even a penny is repatriated to 

Nigeria, if Ibori’s conviction is 

achieved in any way. So there is 

a clear conflict of interest as the 

DfID, through its various arms, 

has been engaged in a bounty 

Dubai and Abu Dhabi, by some 

key officials of the previous 

administration. 

The book listed a former 

Comptroller-General of the 

Nigeria Custom Service. 

The book said: “In some cases, 

fake names were used to hold 

such properties. Nigerian 

security sources believe that as 

much as $20 billion in stolen 

Nigerian funds had been packed 

in banks and invested in 

properties in UAE’s two major 

cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 

“A former goverment official 

was believed to be hiding in 

Dubai as some PDP governors, 

high level PDP officials had 

property in UAE.” 

It will be recalled that it was in 

an effort to track the looted funds 

hunt. 

‘’Moreover, the NCA is the same 

body which over sees the Proceeds 

of Corruption section where DC 

McDonald worked when he 

investigated Ibori. Thus, NCA 

would be effectively investigating 

itself and clearing itself 

prematurely despite continuing 

and outstanding disclosure, 

because that McDonald is tainted 

over corruption charges and has 

been as a result, dropped from the 

Ibori and its related cases." 

and bring the culprits to justice that 

President Buhari travelled early 

this year to UAE to seal a Mutual 

Legal Assistance, MLA, with the 

government to pave way for the 

prosecution of the officials and 

repatriation of the stolen cash. 

“The two countries signed an 

extradition agreement which 

explicitly pledged UAE help on 

the recovery and repatriation of 

stolen assets and extradition of 

Nigerian fugitives. 

“In late January, panic began to 

grip former PDP government 

officials, who had previously seen 

no reason to fear that their 

property holdings in UAE would 

be exposed and become 

vulnerable to legal actions by the 

Nigerian government,” the book 

also stated. 

CCT TRIAL: 

A-Court 

reserves 

judgement on 

Saraki's 

appeal 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Court of 

Appeal sitting in Abuja, 

yesterday, reserved judgment in 

an appeal embattled Senate 

President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, 

lodged against his trial before the 

Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. 

A five-man panel of Justices of 

the appellate court, led by Justice 

Abdul Aboki, okayed judgement 

on the appeal marked CA/A/ 

172c/2016, after it heard 

arguments from Saraki’s lawyer, 

Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, and 

counsel to the Federal 

Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, 

SAN. 

Saraki had gone before the 

appellate court to query the legal 

propriety of the 16-count 

criminal charge the federal 

government entered against him 

before the CCT. 

He is challenging jurisdiction 

of the Justice Danladi Umar-led 

tribunal to try him on the basis 

of a charge he said was 

incompetent and legally 

defective. 

Liaise with US 

Congress on 

return of $458m 

looted fund, 

Reps direct AGF 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

& Johnbosco Agbarakwu 

ABUJA—THE House of 

Representatives yesterday 

directed the Attorney-General of 

the Federation, AGF, and 

Minister of Justice, Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, to liaise with the 

United States Congress men 

and women that initiated the 

resolution for the forfeited $458 

million to be returned to 

Nigeria. 

The directive to the AGF was 

contained in the resolution on 

the motion, titled Urgent need 

to assist in the assets 

repatriation of Nigeria’s looted 

money that has been forfeited 

to the United States, sponsored 

by Ehiozuwa Johnson 

Agbonayinma, who represents 

Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal 

Constituency of Edo State. 

Agbonayinma had in the motion, 

noted that in 2013, as part of 

Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, 

the United States Department of 

Justice commenced forfeiture 

proceedings to confiscate $550 million 

allegedly corruptly obtained. 

He said: “A portion of this loot valued 

at $458 million that belongs to the 

people of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria, has now been forfeited to the 

United States by a judgement of the 

District Court for the District of 

Columbia.”


C 

M 

Y 

K 

2015: How we disappointed 

prophets of doom, by Buhari 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari 

has revealed that commitment 

to democratic ideals 

and the patriotic zeal exhibited 

by the major political 

actors in the 2015 presidential 

election shamed 

prophets of doom who predicted 

that Nigeria would 

disintegrate. 

According to him, the success 

of the election has 

deepened the practice of 

democracy in Nigeria and 

made the people to have 

faith in the electoral system, 

believing that their votes 

can actually count. 

Buhari, who named himself, 

former President 

Goodluck Jonathan and 

former chairman of Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, Professor 

Attahiru Jega, as the 

critical stakeholders in the 

election, spoke at the Leadership 

Awards, an event 

organized by Leadership 

Newspapers in Abuja, yesterday, 

with the theme: 

Democracy, Political Transition 

and the Challenge of 

Leadership in Africa, where 

he was honoured alongside 

Jonathan and Jega as 

“Leadership Persons of the 

Year.” 

We've shamed prophets 

of doom—Buhari 

He said: “Let me hasten 

to congratulate my joint 

award winners, my predecessor, 

His Excellency, 

President Goodluck Ebele 

Jonathan, GCFR and Professor 

Attahiru Jega, the 

former Chairman of Independent 


Commission, as 'Leadership 

Person of the Year.' 

“The events of 2015, 

which the Leadership 

Newspaper has chosen to 

bring to the fore today, 

marked a watershed in the 

political history of our country. 

“Those of us who were 

participating actors in the 

elections were led by the 

higher ideal of the future 

of our great country and the 

well being of our people 

rather than the mere desire 

of politicians to win elections. 

“It is, therefore, our commitment 

to this ideal, the 

patriotic zeal of former 

President Jonathan, the 

impartiality of the electoral 

umpire, INEC, and exemplary 

conduct of the political 

parties, foreign pressure 

and other actors that, we 

collectively disappointed 

the prophets of doom who 

had predicted the disintegration 

of the country after 

the 2015 general elections. 

“Our democracy has been 

strengthened by the outcome 

of the 2015 elections 

as our people now have 

more faith in the electoral 

system, in the sense that 

their votes would count 

when choosing political 

leaders at various levels. 

We, the political class, 

should build on the experience 

of the 2015 elections 

to nurture our democracy.” 

The President commended 

the effort of the Leadership 

Newspaper and 

tasked the media on fostering 

democratic tenets. 

“The media must continually 

see itself as true partner 

in the task of nation 

building and thus act in the 

spirit of patriotism at all 

times in the important role 

of informing the people of 

the country. 

“On our part, our doors 

are wide open to media inquiries 

in line with the 

transparency and anti-corruption 

stance of our administration,” 

he said. 

Buhari, Jonathan, Jega’s 

cooperation paid off — 

Abubakar 

In his opening remarks, 

former military leader, Gen. 

Abdusalami Abubakar 

(retd.), who was the chairman 

of the event, hailed the 

awardees for their roles in 

the elections, saying Nigerians 

should be proud of 

the three leaders. 

In his speech, titled Half 

full, not half empty, Abubakar 

enjoined Nigerians 

to celebrate their nation in 

the light of the outcome of 

the election, as many countries 

had been involved in 

the orgy of violence after the 

elections. 

He, however, said their 

efforts as members of national 

peace committee 

would have come to nought 

without the collective cooperation 

of the three leaders. 

“Our efforts would have 

been in vain if President 

Buhari and former President 

Jonathan were not 

willing to cooperate with us 

and think about Nigeria first 

or if Prof. Jega had failed 

to perform his statutory role 

well." 

Jonathan’s decision to 

concede defeat prevented 

10,000 deaths —Isaiah 

Also speaking, chairman of 

Leadership Newspaper, Mr. 

Sam Nda-Isaiah, in his welcome 

address, said the three 

men were deserving of the 

awards due to their critical 

roles in the election. 

He went down memory 

lane to highlight the mood 

of the country as results of 

the election were being collated, 

submitting that 

Jonathan’s decision to concede 

defeat saved the country 

a gargantuan crisis that 

would have claimed about 

10,000 lives. 

He said: “Today’s event is 

basically to celebrate our democracy 

because there is a 

lot to celebrate. It is easy to 

forget the fright, trepidation, 

and panic that attended the 

build-up to the 2015 presidential 

election and how 

several doomsday pundits 

concluded that the election 

might spell the end of Nigeria. 

‘’The tension was so high 

that the United States President 

felt so genuinely concerned 

that he had to address 

Nigerians in a televised 

broadcast in the fashion 

that colonial powers used 

to address their colonies. 

“A few thought there was 

no way we could get out of 

the presidential election 

alive as a country. And there 

was actually the basis for 

such dire doomsday prophecy. 

“The election held on 

March 28 and by Sunday 

evening, the opposition 

candidate was leading and 

had momentum. By Monday, 

the ruling PDP had fired 

its best shots and was clearly 

behind. That was when 

people within the ruling party 

started working towards 

actualizing what everyone 

feared." 

Labour to Buhari: Set up tripartite 

c'ttee on new minimum wage 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

AHEAD of today’s 

World Decent Job celebration, 

Organised Labour, 

yesterday, called on 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari to immediately constitute 

a tripartite wage review 

committee, involving 

labour, employers and government, 

to negotiate new 

minimum wage as a first 

step towards rescuing the 

country from the current 

economic recession. 

Speaking through a member 

of the National Executive 

Council, NEC, of Nigeria 

Labour Congress, 

NLC, and General Secretary 

of the the National Union 

of Textile, Garments and 

Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, 

NUTGTWN, Mr. Issa 

Aremu, in Lagos, Labour lamented 

that indecent or precarious 

works had taken over 

the nation’s world of work. 

He said: “Most affected are 

women and young workers 

in general. In many commercial 

banks, for instance, 

precarious work takes the 

form of agency work in 

which a labour contractor 

supplies workers to the banks 

but the workers still remain 

the employees of the contractor. 

‘’These workers are 

known as contract workers 

or temporary workers." 

Most banks today are 

mere modern day slave 

trade terminals reminiscent 

of the despicable trans-Atlantic 

slave trade of 15th century 

in which young girls are 

employed under corporate 

prostitution scheme and 

paid slave wages.

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 

Malaria, HIV, 

diarrhoea top 

killer diseases in 

Nigeria 

By Chioma Obinna 

Anew global burden of 

Disease released, 

yesterday, has revealed that 

malaria and HIV are now 

leading causes of death in 

Nigeria even as it found that 

Nigerians now live longer than 

they did 25 years ago. 

In Nigeria, malaria was said 

to be a leading killer, resulting 

in 192,284 deaths in 2015. The 

second and third top causes of 

death were diarrhoeal diseases 

and HIV/AIDS, killing 143,689 

and 131,873, respectively. 

Scientists in the new 

scientific analysis of more than 

300 diseases and injuries in 

195 countries including Nigeria 

also noted that income, 

education, and birth rates, 

though critical are no longer 

the only keys to healthy living 

in the countries. 

These and other significant 

health findings were published 

in a dedicated issue of The 

Lancet as part of the Global 

Burden of Diseases, Injuries, 

and Risk Factors Study (GBD). 

Int'l digital, mobile 

and computer 

forensics 

conference 

holds in Lagos 

T 

HE Computer Forensics 

Institute of Nigeria, 

CFIN, in collaboration with 

First Digital & Techno-Law 

Forensics Co. Ltd. have 

announced their 2016 

International Digital, Mobile 

and Computer Forensics 

Conference & Training Expo 

slated to hold from October 17- 

19 at the Regency Hall, 

Central Business District, 

Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. 

The Institute’s 8 th 

anniversary celebration and 

awards and induction of new 

professional members and 

fellows will also hold during 

the conference. 

Dr. Peter Olu. Olayiwola, 

Conference Director and 

President, CFIN, while 

speaking to newsmen on the 

theme of the event; Digital 

and Mobile Forensics: Tools for 

Terrestrial and Cybercrime 

Investigation, Security and 

Intelligence, said the 

conference would provide rich 

contents and depth from each 

presentation covering all 

aspects of cyber security, 

digital and mobile phone 

forensics, electronic evidence 

collection, analysis and 

presentation; crime scene 

documentation, forensic 

laboratory development and 

management and crossexamination 

of expert witness. 

Curb excesses of new media, Minister urges 

Guild of Editors •Uduaghan advocates cooperation among public officials 

By Gabriel Olawale 

MINISTER of 

Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed, yesterday, 

expressed concern over the 

excesses of new media in the 

country and urged Nigeria Guild 

of Editors to salvage the situation. 

He said this on a day former 

Governor of Delta State, Dr. 

Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, 

called for more cooperation 

among public office holders in the 

country, irrespective of their 

political affiliation. 

They spoke at the 

commissioning of the Nigerian 

Guild of Editors House in Lagos. 

The Minister of Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Mohammed, 

expressed worry over the 

excesses of new media and called 

on the Nigeria Guild of Editors 

to salvage the situation. 

Mohammed, who hinted that 

the media space had been taken 

over by all kinds of new media, 

said: “the Nigeria Guild of Editors 

must find a way of embracing 

them, even though they did not 

meet the criteria to be members. 

‘But in as much as they push 

out content for general public to 

consume, the Guild of Editors 

should find a way of making them 

embrace the rules of fairness and 

objectivity in whatever they are 

doing so that we can have a better 

society.” 

The Minister, who was 

represented by the Managing 

Director of News Agency of 

Nigeria, NAN, Mr. Bayo 

Onanuga, tasked the Guild of 

Editors on media award 

censorship. 

He said: "The Guild should take 

BUDGET PADDING: EFCC grills 

officials of 16 ministries 

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor 

THE allegation of budget padding raised by the 

embattled former Chairman of the House of 

Representatives Committee on Finance and 

Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jubrin, against the 

leadership of the National Assembly, appears to be 

gaining the attention of security agencies. 

The apparent attention being given to Jibrin may 

put the leadership of the House of Representatives 

at odds with the Economic Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC and the Executive. 

But it could not be confirmed at press time if it was 

in connection with the matter that Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, met 

behind closed doors with President Muhammadu 

Buhari at the Presidential Villa, yesterday. 

Although Jibrin has been suspended by his 

colleagues from the chamber, the EFCC appears to 

have given a listening hear to his major claim that 

the leadership of the National Assembly allegedly 

conspired with key officials of government Ministries, 

Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to insert 

personal projects into the 2016 budget. 

Vanguard learned that operatives of the antigraft 

agency swooped on the Directors of 

Finance and Administrations in 16 Federal 

Ministries, yesterday, questioning them on 

what they knew about padding of the budget. 

control of all series of awards being 

given to journalists in the 

country. In other societies, it is the 

media people who grade 

themselves, not external people 

and the Guild should be in a 

position to do so.” 

Uduaghan seeks 

cooperation among public 

office holders 

In his remarks, Dr. Uduaghan, 

explained that while in office as 

governor, he enjoyed the 

cooperation of neighbouring 

states to cut cost of governance. 

He said this will help in 

reduceing the cost of governance. 

He said: “For instance, if Mr. 

President is going to a particular 

state, it is expected of that state 

government to provide 

bulletproof cars that looks like Mr. 

President’s official cars. If not, the 

President will not be allowed to 

visit that state. 

"But that doesn’t mean every 

state must have bulletproof cars. 

If your neighbouring state has it, 

you can borrow and return it after 

the President had left, after all the 

President’s visit is not often." 

Uduaghan recalled how his 

government usually borrowed 

public address 

systems from 

Cross River 

State while he 

was in office as 

governor. 

“As at the time 

we built the 

hall that the 

Guild of Editors 

used for their 

programme in 

Asaba, the state 

did not have a 

public address 

system. ‘But we knew that Cross 

River State had one, so each time 

we needed it, we went there to 

borrow because that kind of public 

address system is very expensive, 

the same thing with Governor 

Adams Oshiomole of Edo 

State. We enjoyed good relationship, 

even though we are not in 

the same party. 

“So, we had that kind of cooperation 

and that is what we are 

advocating for in cutting cost of 

governance. There must be cooperation 

among states, it does not 

matter whether you are from the 

same political party or not.” 

On her part, President of 

Nigeria Guild of Editors, Funke 

Egbemode, who recounted how 

the association had been coping 

in the last 55 years before the 

actualisation of the newly 

commissioned house in Lagos, 

said her predecessors remained 

the secret behind the actualisation 

of the project. 

She said: “My predecessors did 

all the heavy lifting. Late Oluremi 

Oyo; Baba Halilu Dantiye, 

Gbenga Adefaye of Vanguard 

Newspaper, who started the plan, 

Femi Adesina, who took the plan 

from the drawing board and 

planted it firmly on the ground to 

Garba Deen Muhammed, who 

put finishing touches to the plan, 

you have all written your names 

in gold. 

“Aside the newly commissioned 

building here in Lagos, we have 

a fenced 6,000 square metres of 

prime property just outside 

Asokoro in Abuja. Our deepest 

gratitude goes to the federal 

government, state governments, 

men and institutions that helped 

us to realize this dream and made 

this day possible.” 

Roll Call: In attendance were 

the Lagos State Deputy Governor, 

Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; former 

governor of Anambra State, Mr. 

Peter Obi; former governor of 

Ogun State, Chief Olusegun 

Osoba; Special Adviser on 

Communication and Strategy 

who represented the special guest 

of honour and governor of Borno 

State, Kashim Shettima, Mr. Isa 

Gusau; General Manager and 

Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Media 

Limited, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; 

Special Adviser, Media and 

Publicity to President Buhari, 

Mr. Femi Adesina; among 

other dignitaries.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 — 11 

Change begins with me is my idea — LAI MOHAMMED 

By Monsuru Olowoopejo 

LAGOS — MINISTER of 

Information and Culture, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

yesterday, refuted claims by 

Chief Afe Babalola and Akin 

Fadeyi, that the Federal 

Government’s national reorientation 

campaign, 

‘Change Begin with Me’ was 

a copyright version of drama 

skits ‘Not In My Country’ 

initiative. 

Mohammed’s reaction came 

barely seven days after a 

senior lawyer at the Afe 

Babalola Chambers, Adebayo 

Adenipekun, wrote to the 

President, alleging that the 

initiative launched to bring 

attitudinal change in the 

country, originated from him 

and was taken from his project: 

‘Not In My Country.’ 

The minister made the 

explanation after unveiling the 

national re-orientation 

campaign to stakeholders in 

the private sector in Lagos. 

He noted that the idea 

behind the national reorientation 

was designed and 

completed two months before 

he met Fadeyi. 

He said: “I was nominated 

in October and the moment I 

was nominated, I called my 

team and I told them that the 

most important thing was to 

ONDO GOV POLL: S'West APC chairman opens up on primaries 

•Oyegun's remarks disappointing 

By Emmanuel Aziken & 

Dayo Johnson 

LAGOS—NATIONAL Vice- 

Chairman, SouthWest of 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Mr. Pius Akinyelure has 

opened up on the behind-thescenes 

moves to amicably resolve 

the crisis that arose from the 

nomination of Chief Rotimi 

Akeredolu as governorship 

candidate of the party. 

Akinyelure in an interview with 

Vanguard also faulted claims that 

the National Working 

Committee, NWC rejected the 

report of the appeal panel into 

the Ondo State governorship 

primaries of the party. 

He said: “We as a committee 

WORKSHOP: From left; Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; 

representative of the Minister for Transportation, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; Hon. Aminu Isa, Chairman 

House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport; Director General, Nigeria Institute for 

Transport Technology, Dr. Aminu Musa Yusuf and Representative of the Corps Marshal Ast. 

Corps Commander S.O Okpogbo at the opening of the 2 day National Workshop for Chief 

Executives of Mass Transit Organisations on the Nigeria Automotive Policy organized by The 

Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. 

change the attitude of 

Nigerians. I am happy that 

the agencies that worked on 

the idea are here today. 

“We started working on the 

initiative immediately and on 14 

October, 2015 when I was 

confirmed as a minister, I had 

completed work on the initiative. 

I made available to the media, 

incontrovertible evidence that by 

do not have the right to reject the 

appeal committee’s report, so I 

couldn’t have been a party to 

rejecting it. All that could have 

happened was for us to consider 

their recommendations; accept or 

reject same. We don’t need to 

reject their report; it is not 

possible.” 

He spoke against the 

background of claims by the 

National Vice-Chairman, South- 

South, Hillary Etta that he, 

Akinyelure voted for the rejection 

of the report. 

“No, no, never. What happened 

was that we said in the meantime 

that we should put the report on 

one side and let us consider a 

political solution to the problem 

since there was not much time 

October 14th, 2015, I had 

completed work on the initiative. 

“On 31 October, 2015, I had 

completed the radio jingles 

and television commercials. 

After we had completed work 

on the programme, Mr. Akin 

Fadeyi came to me on 

December 30th, 2015. So, how 

can one accuse me of stealing 

an idea which was completed 

for us to do a rerun and which 

was what we put to vote; those 

who said put a dummy, for now, 

had eight and those who said put 

Akeredolu had five. 

“How can we reject a report that 

we have no authority to reject? If 

you asked someone to be on an 

appeal committee, you are bound 

to consider their report, all you 

can say is you accept or reject 

some of the recommendations.” 

Oyegun’s remarks 

disappointing — Abraham 

This came as one of the 

aggrieved APC governorship 

aspirants, Dr Olusegun Abraham 

expressed disappointment over 

utterances made by the party’s 

National Chairman, Chief John 

Odigie-Oyegun on the skewed 

by October last year? The 

person, who claimed that I stole 

his idea came to me in December. 

Mr. Akin Fadeyi, Afe Babalola 

and I will meet in court.” 

Earlier, Director General of the 

National Orientation Agency, 

NOA, Garba Abare, said the 

initiative was aimed at making 

citizens major players in the 

redevelopment of the country. 

exercise. 

Abraham said Oyegun’s 

utterances after “unilaterally 

imposing” Mr Rotimi Akeredolu 

was disappointing, undemocratic 

and unbecoming of his office. 

He said: “I am very disappointed 

with the National Chairman that he 

does not read the Electoral Act and 

the constitution. It is the same 

Oyegun, who illegally, 

undemocratically sent the name of 

Akeredolu that should write INEC 

and tell them that he has committed 

blunders. 

“By his singular action, he has 

rubbished the psyche of Nigerians 

telling them to do what they like 

and they would do that by voting 

Akeredolu out come November 26. 

The interest of the 

party should be the 

utmost in the mind of 

the Chairman; 

unfortunately, he is 

not bothered because 

of ego.” 

Ekiti Assembly 

suspends 

member for 

disloyalty 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—Ekiti 

State House of 

Assembly, yesterday, 

suspended its embattled former 

Chairman, House Committee 

on Information, Olugboyega 

Aribisogan, for 180 legislative 

days and also banished him 

from within one kilometre 

radius of the Assembly 

complex. 

The decision was arrived at 

during yesterday’s plenary. 

Chairman, House 

Committee on Information, Dr 

Samuel Omotoso disclosed this 

to journalists at the Assembly 

Complex. 

Aribisogan was also barred 

from holding any position of 

responsibility on behalf of the 

House of Assembly during the 

period of his suspension while 

all benefits associated with his 

office were suspended. 

The suspension was an 

adoption of the report and 

recommendation of the panel 

by constituted by the Speaker 

of the House, Rt Hon. Kolawole 

Oluwawole and submitted to 

the Ethics and Privileges 

Committee of the House. 

The panel had investigated 

allegations bordering on gross 

misconduct and acts capable of 

destabilising the House 

against Aribisogan by the 

House Leader of Business, Mr 

Tunji Akinyele. 

I’ll seek redress 

—Aribisogan 

Responding to the 

allegations against him, the 

embattled lawmaker, described 

his suspension as “a 

confirmation of a rubberstamp 

nature of the assembly, 

stressing that he would meet 

with his constituents on 

whether to seek redress in 

court over the matter. 

KCCDEI set 

to host ‘Back 

to School' 

children party 

THE management of 

Kingdom Concept 

Children Development 

and Education Initiative 

(KCCDEI) have concluded 

plans to organise the 

maiden edition of its 

children development 

event tagged: ‘2016 Back 

to School Children party.’ 

The event, which is 

geared towards raising 

funds for children who 

are out of school in the 

inner city, will hold on 

Saturday 8th October 

2016, at QS-Daystarl 

Schools, Egan, Lagos.


Avoid escalation of N-Delta militancy, 

NASS tells Buhari 

By Emman 

Ovuakporie & 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE 

two 

chambers of the 

National Assembly have 

told President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

engage in meaningful and 

inclusive dialogue with the 

aggrieved Niger Delta 

militants to avoid an 

escalation of the militancy 

in the region. 

The House, in a motion 

by the Deputy House 

Leader, Buba Jibrin, 

concurred with the 

resolution of the Senate the 

government to ensure the 

protection of the nation’s oil 

and gas assets to facilitate 

increase in oil production 

and boost revenue 

therefrom. 

The House, in the motion, 

also adopted the 25 point 

resolutions of the Senate 

Adhoc Committee on the 

‘state of economy’ on 

September 27, 2016. 

The House in concurring 

with Senate resolutions 

said: “Government must 

engage in meaningful and 

inclusive dialogue with the 

aggrieved Niger Delta 

militants to avoid an 

escalation of the unrest in 

the region and ensure 

protection of our nation’s oil 

and gas assets to facilitate 

increase in oil production 

and boost revenue 

therefrom. 

“To this end, we advise 

Mr. President to, as a matter 

of urgency, raise a team 

that should coordinate the 

government’s engagement 

with all stakeholders in the 

Niger Delta region and the 

team should include the 

elected representatives 

from the zone.” 

According to the 

resolutions, the National 

Assembly urged the fiscal 

and monetary authorities to 

meet a view to 

“harmonising all policies 

that lower interest rates for 

genuine investors in the 

real sector as well as 

medium and small scale 

farmers and processors. 

“In order to shore up our 

foreign reserves, 

government should 

explore every avenue to 

restore the oil production 

target of 2.2 million barrels 

per day. Peaceful means 

should be immediately 

crafted and adopted to stop 

the vandalisation of 

petroleum and gas assets 

in the Niger Delta region. 

“In order to avoid flooding 

the market with excess 

liquidity, release of low 

interest funding under the 

stimulus package (Special 

Intervention Funds) 

should be calibrated, 

targeted and monitored in 

favour of specific industries 

and projects that add 

immediate value to the 

economy by way of job 

creation, cost reduction and 

import substitution.” 

INEC issues Certificate of Return to Obaseki 

C 

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By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

B ENIN—THE 

Independent 


Commission, INEC, has 

presented a Certificate of 

Return to the Edo State 

governor-elect, Mr Godwin 

Obaseki and his Deputy, 

Philip Shuaibu. 

Obaseki defeated his 

closest rival, the candidate 

of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Pastor Osagie 

Ize-Iyamu, after polling 

319,483 votes as against 

253,173 votes polled by Ize- 

Iyamu. 

National Commissioner of 

INEC in-charge of the 

South-South zone, Dr 

Mustapha Lecky, who 

presented the certificate, 

commended stakeholders 

in the state for the conduct 

of a peaceful election, 

saying that INEC will 

continue to improve in the 

conduct of elections in the 

country. 

In his address, the 

Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, Mr Sam 

Olumekun, who described 

the election as historic in 

the life of INEC and Edo 

people said, “It is a historic 

day not only in the lives of 

our new leaders but also in 

the lives of Edo people. It 

is the dawn of a new era.” 

Obaseki, who responded 

after receiving the 

certificate, in company of 

his Deputy, Shaibu, 

thanked God and the 

people of Edo State for their 

support, saying that he 

joined the race to serve and 

not to enrich himself. 

According to him, “Let 

me start by thanking God 

Almighty and also the REC 

and INEC Chairman for 

conducting what has been 

adjudged one of the most 

peaceful, free, fair and 

credible elections in the 

state. 

“I feel so exited today 

because I decided to enter 

politics because I felt it was 

time to expand the polity. I 

see my role as one of a torch 

bearer so as to attract 

resources into our 

democratic space. 

“Because I was cognisant 

By Henry Umoru & 

Joseph Erunke 

of the fact I had to run my 

campaign as professionally 

as possible, dealing with 

the issues that concern our 

people and trying to down 

play the none issues. 

Today’s result has proved 

that we can be open, we 

don’t have to tell lies, we 

don’t have to deceive our 

people to get electoral 

success. 

“I want to assure 

everybody here that I 

decided to become 

governor because I want to 

serve and I will put your 

interests over and above my 

personal interest.” 

Senate probes mismanagement 

of N328bn N-Delta Amnesty Fund 

A Senate BUJA—THE 

has begun 

probe into how a total of 

N328 billion that was 

budgeted for the running 

of the Amnesty Programme 

since 2009 was spent, just 

as it vowed to thoroughly 

look into the books and 

sanction those who may 

have been found to have 

embezzled the money. 

Declaring open a twoday 

Public Hearing on the 

Amnesty Programme, 

organised by the Senator 

Peter Nwaoboshi-led 

Senate Committee on 

Niger Delta, Senate 

President, Bukola Saraki, 

who noted that we must be 

courageous to tell ourselves 

the truth, warned that the 

Senate will not hesitate to 

sanction anyone found to 

have been responsible for 

the disappearance of money 

meant for the Amnesty 

Programme in the past. 

Saraki who recalled that 

it was exactly six years ago 

that the programme took off, 

however, described the 

timing of the public hearing 

as perfect, adding that 

answers must be provided 

for a number of questions 

which include why the 

programme had not 

achieved target goals and 

why corruption inherent in 

the programme should be 

exposed through the 

hearing. 

It will be recalled that 

former Special Adviser to 

ex-President Goodluck 

Jonathan on Niger Delta 

Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, 

had said that the Federal 

Government spent N243 

billion on the programme 

as of 2014.


C 

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A-Court refuses to stop Edaiken N’Uselu's 

installation as new Oba of Benin Edo State Government and 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—ATTEMPTS 

by 

Chief Rich Arisco- 

Osemwingie, who proclaimed 

himself the Ogiamien of Utantan 

Benin nation, to stop the installation 

of the new Oba of Benin, Crown 

Prince Ehenede Erediauwa, 

suffered a setback, yesterday, as the 

Appeal Court sitting in Benin, Edo 

State, refused to hear the motion 

asking the court to stop the 

installation. 

At the hearing of the matter, 

yesterday, counsel to Arisco- 

Osemwengie and others, G. 

Oaikhena, informed the court of his 

application seeking for an injunction 

to stop the installation of the new 

Oba which is slated for October 20, 

2016, on the ground that the reenactment 

of the Ekiagbado Treaty 

which they claimed the Ogiemien 

family was supposed to be part of, 

is not included in the programme 

of events for the installation of the 

Oba. 

No injunction 

Oaikhena’s motion was 

countereded by counsel to the 

Governor of Edo State and others, 

Austin Alegeh, SAN, Chief Charles 

Edosomwan, SAN, Omoruyi 

Omonuwa, SAN, when Alegeh 

informed the court that the court had 

earlier ordered that it would not 

grant any injunction but would hear 

the substantial appeal, therefore, it 

could not be heard. 

Consequently, the presiding 

Justice, Justice Olukayode Baba in 

a short ruling on the matter, agreed 

with Alegeh, saying that the court 

was not going to grant any 

Rivers PDP vows to drag APC Chair to court 

By Davies Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HARCOURT— 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Rivers State has 

threatened to drag the Chairman 

of All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in the state, Chief Davies 

Ikanya, to court over what it 

termed inflammatory statement 

aimed at demeaning the image 

of Governor Nyesom Wike. 

PDP handed down the threat, 

yesterday, while reacting to a 

statement by Ikanya that Wike 

should take responsibility for the 

killing of a chieftain of the APC 

in Gokana Local Government 

Area of the state, Boris Neenwi, 

who was killed by gunmen, 

Monday. 

Ikanya had said that “Neenwi 

is a strong ally of Senator 

Magnus Abe and staunch APC 

member. Until his assassination, 

the late Neenwi was a known 

critic of Wike and his ex-militant 

leader and collaborator, Solomon 

Ndigbara, who also hails from 

Yeghe community.” 

Ikanya had said that Wike and 

his alleged ally were responsible 

for the killing of Neenwi and his 

companions in Nonwa Tai. 

Reacting, the Publicity 

injunction, rather that they were 

going to the main appeal and 

give judment. 

He, therefore, urged counsel 

to argue the main appeal 

which was before the court. 

Court reserves 

judgment 

After exhaustive argument by 

counsel, Justice Baba said: 

“The court is reserving 

judgment on the substantive 

appeal and I advise all parties 

to maintain status quo until 

judgment is given on the 

appeal.” 

It will be recalled that the Edo 

State Government had filed a 

charge against Arisco- 

...alleges inflammatory statement 

Secretary of PDP in the state, 

Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, 

described the accusation as 

irresponsible and capable of 

bringing about a breakdown 

of law and order in the state. 

Nwanosike said: “We will 

take every step to press legal 

charges against Ikanya, so 

that he will know how to 

conduct himself in a 

Ijaw youths, women protest EFCC’s alleged 

harassment of Patience Jonathan 

By Samuel Oyadongha & 

Emem Idio 

Y 

E 

N A G O A — 

HUNDREDS of Ijaw 

youths and women, yesterday, 

took to the streets of Yenagoa, 

the state capital, in a peaceful 

protest against the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, over what 

they described as the 

“continuous and constant 

harassment" of the former First 

Family. 

The protest was led by the 

President of Ijaw Youths 

Council, IYC, worldwide, 

Udengs Eradiri, President of 

Osemwengie and others after the 

latter ascribed to himself, the 

Ogiamien of Utantan Benin 

nation which the state 

government described as an 

attempt to usurp the powers of 

the Oba of Benin and waging 

communal war. 

But Arisco-Osemwengie 

challenged the charge at the state 

High Court, arguing that the 

charge before the Magistrate 

Court was above the powers of 

the Edo State Government and 

an attempt to set aside the 

chieftaincy Edict in Edo State 

which makes the Ogiamien a 

chief in the palace of the Oba of 

Benin. 

Following Osemwnegie's suit 

at the High Court, counsel to the 

democratic environment. We 

are going to press charges 

against him to serve as a 

deterrent to anybody that will 

want to overheat the polity in 

the state. 

“We are calling on the 

security to do a thorough 

investigation into the killings 

in the state and make the 

report open for once so that the 

Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Wing, 

Dr Gilbert Langour, and Women 

Leader of Ogbia Brotherhood 

Women Wing, Ms. Unity Ototo. 

The busy Sani Abacha 

expressway was locked down as 

the protesters converged on the 

road as early as 8a.m., causing 

motorists to make detour through 

the Swali-Oxbow Lake flank, 

Amarata and Okaka axis of 

Mbiama-Yenagoa Road. 

They were armed with 

placards, some of which read: 

“EFCC leave Patience Jonathan 

alone,” “EFCC stop harassing 

Jonathan,” “EFCC follow due 

process,” “EFCC obey rule of 

law” “Give us jobs not soldiers” 

others, Alegeh, filed a 

preliminary objection, 

contending that the suit was 

“status barred,” and that Rich 

Arisco-Osemwengie and others 

have no locus standi to institute 

the suit and that the suit did 

not disclose any reasonable 

cause of action. 

The trial judge, Justice 

Ahamoje, however, ruled 

against the Edo State 

Government and others in the 

matter. 

Consequently, the Edo State 

Government appealed against 

the decision of the lower court 

at the Court of Appeal, Benin 

City, contending that the trial 

judge erred in his ruling. 

It urged the court to reverse 

the decision of the lower court. 

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (left), felicitates 

with Principals and Vice Principals of public post primary schools in the state, during a 

meeting to mark the World Teachers’ Day, at Government House, Yenagoa. 

reports and accusations by 

the Chairman of APC will 

come to an end. 

“It is unfortunate that 

Iknaya has shown lack of 

capacity to be the chairman 

of a political party in the 

state. How will the governor 

of the state connive with 

Solomon Ndigbara to take 

the life of any person?” 

“Unfreeze Jonathan’s account,” 

“EFCC return Bayelsa funds,” 

“We need true federalism,” 

“deploy bulldozers, not 

armoured tankers.” 

Eradiri said: "We want to 

show the world how peaceful 

the people of the Niger Delta 

can be, especially the Ijaws. You 

know we are the largest ethnic 

group in the Niger Delta and 

fourth largest in the country. 

Usually, we are painted in the 

negative light but today we 

have proved to the world that 

we are peaceful. 

“We want to send a message 

to the Federal Government on 

the attitude of the EFCC 

towards the First Family from 

the Niger Delta region." 

Recession: FG 

warns 

employers 

against 

lowering labour 

standards 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

THE 

Federal 

Government has 

said that it was 

considering strategies to 

reflate the economy and 

place it on the path of 

sustainable growth and 

development and as 

such, will not tolerate the 

lowering of labour 

standards by employers 

in the country. 

This came as 

government announced 

that it would work with 

the Human Capital 

Providers Association of 

Nigeria, HuCaPAN, to 

the rid the country of 

unscrupulous and 

unregistered 

employment agencies. 

Speaking through the 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Dr. Chris 

Ngige, at the opening 

ceremony of the 3rd 

Annual Workshop for 

Private Employment 

Agencies, PEAs, 

organised in Lagos, by 

HuCaPAN in 

collaboration with Labour 

Ministry, the 

government vowed to 

deal with any employer 

caught lowering 

standards. 

The minister, who was 

represented by the 

Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Labour and 

Employment, Dr. 

Clement Illoh, urged 

employers, especially 

members of HuCaPAN, 

to avoid cutting corners 

because of the present 

economic situation in the 

country. 

He said: “Our focus this 

year on fair recruitment 

practices is borne out of 

the need to ensure that 

PAEs resist the 

temptation to cut corners 

by lowering labour 

standards in a bid to stay 

afloat in this challenging 

period of economic 

downturn. 

"While government is 

seriously considering 

strategies to reflate the 

economy and place it on 

the path of sustainable 

growth 

and 

development, PEAs 

must complement 

government efforts in 

upholding labour 

standards as instrument 

of enhancing overall 

national competitiveness 

and productivity.”


C 

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2016 LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER CONFERENCE AND AWARD IN ABUJA, YESTERDAY. 

From left, Chairman, LEADERSHIP Group, Mr Sam Nda’Isaiah, Key note 

Speaker, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom State; President 

Muhammadu Buhari and former Head of state, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar 

(retd) during the 2016 LEADERSHIP Conference and Award at the Transcorp 

Hilton in Abuja yesterday. Photos by Gbemiga Olamikan. 

From left, President Muhammadu Buhari; representative of former President 

Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Tanimu Turaki; former Chairman, Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega and Gen. Abubakar (retd.) 

(LEFT) From left, President Buhari; Mr Sam Nda Isaiah and Speaker, 

House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara. 

(TOP): From left, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State; Governor 

Ishiaku Darius of Taraba State and Governor Udom Emmanuel. 

COMMISSIONING OF NIGERIA GUILD OF EDITORS' HOUSE IN LAGOS, YESTERDAY. 

From left; Dr 

Idiat Adebule, 

D e p u t y 

Governor of 

Lagos State; 

Mrs Funke 

Egbemode, 

President, 

Nigerian Guild 

of Editors and 

Dr Emmanuel 

Uduaghan, 

f o r m e r 

governor of 

Delta State. 

From left; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor in Chief, Vanguard Newspapers 

and former President, Nigerian Guild of Editors; Mr Isa Gusau, SA, Media to 

Borno State Governor; Mr Onyema Ugochukwu, former Editor, Daily Times and 

Mr Semiu Okanlawon, representing Osun State Governor, during the commissioning 

of the Nigeria Guild of Editors' House in Lagos. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele. 

Mr Bayo Onanuga, MD, News Agency of 

Nigeria and Mr Patrick Ukah, Information 

commissioner, Delta State. 

From left, Waheed Odusile, National President, 

Nigerian Union of Journalists; Feyi Smith, Secretary, 

Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and Lekan 

Otufodunrin, Managing Editor, The Nation. 

From left; Mr Femi Adeshina, Special Adviser to 

the President on Media and Publicity; Mrs Kate 

Popoola, Director of News, News Agency of Nigeria 

and Mr Joe Babatunde.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 —17 

Independence day reflections 

And most Nigerians have yet to 

regard governance as a catalyst 

of progress and development 

in a just and egalitarian 

society. 

My take is that the current 

economic recession is a blessing 

and that the experience, if 

properly managed, shall be 

immensely beneficial in the 

long run. 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

LAST week, on the eve of 

our 56th Independence 

Day “celebrations” (what is 

there to celebrate?!), I compared 

Nigeria’s lack of progress with 

the daily progress that takes 

place in other parts of the world 

– Europe, America and Japan, 

for example. 

I described this contrast as 

depressing, blamed us for most 

of our nation’s failures and challenged 

Nigerians to emulate 

the White man’s commitment to 

self-improvement by sitting up 

and becoming architects of a 

brighter future. 

Several Vanguard readers 

responded to my comments; 

and I’ve decided to share the 

two most thought-provoking 

emails I received with a wider 

audience. 

From: Mudiaga Okorodudu 

 

I totally agree with your 

views. No doubt, the White 

man has helped the human race 

in so many ways, be it in science, 

medicine, infrastructural 

development, governance, etc. 

It was the late Chief Sam 

Mbakwe of blessed memory 

who once said several years ago 

that the White man should recolonise 

Nigeria and rule the 

country thereafter for at least 

50 years. 

Religious and 

ethnic lines 

I think the late Chief was 

right. As a nation we have 

indeed under-achieved in every 

aspect since we got our independence 

56 years ago. My 

thinking is that if the White 

man had been allowed to rule 

us at least till the 1990s, Nigeria 

could have been a much 

better place, even in terms of 

values. 

Nigeria at 56 is yet to be united 

as a country and is still divided 

along religious and ethnic lines 

and still grappling with 

infrastructural development 

and poverty. 

Being in government has become 

the most lucrative business. 

We still find it difficult to 

conduct free and fair elections 

because getting into government 

is still a do or die affair. 

From: 

Victor 

 

Dear Donu, as usual, your 

piece in today’s Vanguard 

newspaper is food for thought. 

As you rightly noted, we are 

ALL collectively guilty in terms 

of our failure to keep apace with 

other civilisations. And the reasons 

for this failure are numerous. 

First and foremost is our lack 

of love for one another. For instance, 

Vanguard recently reported 

that Nigeria has lost over 

16 trillion naira because of the 

non - passage of the Petroleum 

Industry Bill, PIB, by the National 

Assembly, NASS. 

For God’s sake, who are the 

members of NASS? Are they 

extra-terrestrial, are they from 

There is no rule of 

law in Nigeria today, 

only that of the 

jungle! Nigeria is the 

only country where a 

criminal will dare the 

government and 

refuse to be arrested 

President Muhammadu Buhari inspecting a guard of honour 

Celebrating Nigeria on Independence Day 

China, Australia, Iceland or 

Greenland? No! They are our 

brothers and sisters. But those 

who are not from the Niger 

Delta won’t pass the PIB because 

they have a grouse based 

on the advantages it gives oilproducing 

communities. 

This is outright wickedness 

and does not depict love at all, 

especially when you consider 

that oil-producing communities 

have been bearing the financial 

burden of this country for 

more than half a century and 

have very little to show for it! 

This lack of love is exemplified 

by tensions between the 

North and the South; and I 

wonder why all of the key defence 

and security agencies 

should be headed by Northerners 

or why the upper cadre of 

the judiciary is dominated by 

Northerners. 

These things just don’t measure 

up and prove that equality 

is scarce within the Nigeria 

Project. You do not need soothsayers 

to tell you why things 

don’t just work in Nigeria. Serious 

nations pass us by because 

people, including some Southerners, 

are appointed into positions 

NOT on the basis of intelligence, 

knowledge or skill. 

We are progressing backwards 

every day and heading 

to a doomed destination because 

our leaders do not care 

as long as their egos are massaged. 

Another reason why Nigeria 

is where it is, is IMPUNITY. 

Because leaders don’t comply 

with standards, rules and regulations, 

Nigeria is now jagajaga, 

where everything and 

everyone dey scatter-scatter. 

Nigeria has become a market 

place where you grant amnesty 

to murderers, criminals, kidnappers, 

etc. 

There is no rule of law in Nigeria 

today, only that of the 

jungle! Nigeria is the only 

country where a criminal will 

dare the government and refuse 

to be arrested. 

I have just read in Vanguard 

that “the FG is to build ranches, 

grazing reserves for Fulani 

herdsmen”. And I regard this 

move as obnoxious and parochial! 

We have over 100 tribes in 

Nigeria and each has its own 

peculiar needs and challenges. 

If the FG panders to the herdsmen 

at enormous cost, then 

other ethnic nationalities deserve 

to have full-blown federalism 

at whatever cost. 

As things stand, Donu, you 

cannot expect any miracle of 

performance from the Nigeria 

Team. 

Bitterness 

and confusion 

But there is a way of getting 

out of the woods and dousing 

the bitterness and confusion in 

the land: We need to set up a 

Truth and Reconciliation 

Commission, like the one that 

was chaired by Desmond Tutu 

in South Africa. 

We need to listen to each other 

and to the voice of the people, 

and palliate their anger in an 

honest and transparent atmosphere. 

And, at the end of this 

process, there will be forgiveness; 

and a new and authentic 

road map for true federalism 

and national integration will 

have been charted; and Nigeria 

will become a country where 

no man shall be oppressed even 

when tribes, religion and 

tongue may differ. 

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 

6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY 

NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, 

YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR 

NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.


Kudos to League 

Management Company (LMC) 

On Sunday October 2 , 2016, Nigerians 

saw what they had not 

seen in more than a generation in 

Nigeria’s local football scene: the 

last day of the Nigerian Professional 

Football League (NPFL) 

ended on a triumphant note that 

got the Shehu Dikko-led Nigerian 

Professional League Management 

Company (LMC) applauded 

across the nation. 

On that day, the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

Stadium, Enugu, the venue of 

the title decider between Enugu 

Rangers and El Kanemi Warriors 

of Maiduguri, was filled to capacity. 

The same was reported in the 

Agege Stadium, Lagos, where the 

local team, Mountain of Fire Ministries 

(MFM) Football Club 

(which was fighting to escape relegation) 

and continental ticket 

aspirants, Ifeanyi Ubah FC of 

Nnewi clashed, with the venue 

filled to overflowing. Similar reports 

came from many other venues 

around the country. 

Only a few years ago, the venues 

of our national league matches 

were like ghost towns, even 

when the gates were thrown open 

for all comers. The fans were simply 

no longer interested. This was 

because the level of organisation, 

officiating and the general standard 

of football management by 

the Nigerian Football Federation 

(NFF) left so much to be desired. 

As a result, Nigeria’s standing on 

the continent and the world at 

large plunged, and this was evident 

in the periodic FIFA ratings. 

Nigerian soccer lovers exported 

their love to Europe, especially 

England, Spain and Italy, where 

they adopted football clubs as 

their own and invested so much 

emotional capital. Meanwhile, 

back home, our league was no 

longer able to feed our national 

teams with new talents and Nigeria 

could no longer boast of exceptional 

players, even among 

those playing professional football 

abroad. 

But the situation gradually 

changed when the NFF, in partnership 

with the owners of the 

participating clubs in the Nigerian 

league, formed the LMC as 

from 2012. A number of far-reaching 

reforms based on the business 

model were put in place by the 

LMC, then led by Mr Nduka Irabor. 

Shehu Dikko, who took over 

from Irabor, has continued to 

move our football forward, and 

today, things have dramatically 

changed. 

The violence that used to await 

visiting teams has been reduced 

to a minimum, and away teams 

now regularly win matches. 

Match officiating has improved, 

so is the standard of our league, 

which is now ranked as the best 

in Africa. In fact, night football 

now features regularly in Lagos 

and Enugu, with more venues to 

follow suit in the next season. 

We join the NFF and the generality 

of appreciative Nigerians to 

commend the LMC and urge it 

not to relent until the private sector, 

both local and foreign, bring 

in their money to enrich our 

league and take our football to the 

height where it rightly belongs. 

OPINION 

Niger Delta development: The agitation, 

the resistance 

By Paul Orie 

THE struggle for the development of 

the Niger Delta Region has remained 

a staple subject for heated controversy. 

Sadly, the history of the development of 

the region has been riddled with bitter 

struggle pioneered by nationalists of the 

Niger Delta who fought for Nigeria’s 

independence alongside their 

counterparts in other parts of the nation. 

That was an era before the discovery of 

crude oil. Their principal objective was to 

get a fair deal in terms of development. 

This agitation was tense, devoid of arms 

struggle which resulted in the famous 1958 

Willinks recommendation, declaring the 

region as a special Area of Development. 

The onus of implementing the contents of 

the recommendation fell on the incoming 

Federal Cabinet that took over power from 

the British colonial master in October 1960. 

This gladdened the minds of the people 

especially the politicians who agitated for 

a developed Niger Delta Region. 

Naturally, the people would have sung a 

victory song then, but cautiously waited 

for the new Federal Executive Council, 

headed by Nigeria’s Prime Minister Sir 

Tafawa Balewa to commence the 

development of the area based on the 

Willinks recommendations: a developed 

Niger Delta region where intra community 

trade would boom, surpassing the level 

scored before the Willinks recommendation 

when transnational companies chiefly UAC 

and John Holt had trading posts used for 

export of palm produce, cocoa products, 

woods, etc. Specifically, the hapless people 

who had absolute faith in the 

recommendations looked up to the 

It is a pity that Niger Delta 

people have to agitate for 

the uplifhnent of the 

conditions of their 

communities 

government that was saddled with the 

responsibility of deepening the numerous 

rivers, creeks, clearing wrecks, derelics, 

sunk canoes and trunk of trees hampering 

navigation of badges, crafts and few 

passengers boats existing then. 

Further more, Niger Deltans expected a 

thriving boat building and repair yards 

located at various parts along the rivers 

and creeks, a booming fishing industry, 

supply fish for export and for domestic 

consumption. Undoubtedly, the region has 

the highest wet land in Africa with huge 

fish resources being devastated by oil 

exploration. All these are economic 

potentials that would have attracted 

investors to invest, create wealth, generate 

employment, thus arresting the exodus of 

young men to the cities. More over, the 

people expected well equipped hospitals 

in their communities to save lives. Flood 

and coastal erosion remain the greatest 

environmental problems threatening the 

people, haplessly watching their buildings 

crumbling.The above and others not 

mentioned here are their dreams. But after 

waiting in vain for the implementation of 

the Willinks commission by Balewa’s 

government, Isaac Boro and his Ijaw 

revolutionary group revolted, jolting 

Balewa’s government and halting oil 

exploration for 12 days. That government 

was the first Nigerian government to resist 

the development of the Niger Delta 

development and activity supported by the 

powerful clique and opposition party leaders 

who were in the Federal parliament and 

wanted the region to remain in bondage. This 

initial disappointment led to the suspension of 

victory song by the Niger Delta people. 

General Yakubu Gowon’s military regime 

could not give a thought on it, he was busy 

executing the civil war, grappling with the task 

of keeping Nigeria one, a beautiful war slogan. 

Similarly, after the Civil War, he was grappling 

with the problem of fulfilling his three ‘Rs’ - 

Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and 

Reconciliation. Luckily for him, the leaders of 

the Niger Delta Region, largely southern 

minorities of this nation believed in one Nigeria 

and helped Gowon’s government to 

accomplish the “Rs” 

However, the regime cannot absolve itself 

from resisting the development of the region. 

The nation after the civil war enjoyed some 

degree of stability, witnessed oil boom that 

created business tycoons in Nigeria, massive 

construction of highways, bridges across the 

country, thus neglecting the development of 

Niger Delta. The General Olusegun Obasanjo’s 

military regime also offered resistance to the 

development of the region. He did nothing, 

perhaps he was busy with his belt tightening 

economic policy. The return of Democracy in 

1979 was an opportunity for the Alhaji Shehu 

Shagari’s led National Party of Nigeria, NPN, 

to request for the recommendations of the 

Willinks Commission, but the inter-party 

wranglings blurred the regime’s vision to think 

of this issue that has been a great riddle to be 

resolved since the last years of colonial rule. 

It is a pity that Niger Delta people have to 

agitate for the uplifhnent of the conditions of 

their communities. The military regime of 

General Ibrahim Babangida equally resisted 

the elevation of the region through 

infrastructure development like his 

predecessors. His Directorate of Food Road 

and Rural Infrastructure, DFRRI, programme 

was silent on the Niger Delta Development. 

Another sad era for the oppressed people. 

General Sani Abacha’s regime responded 

when he unwittingly invited Niger Delta youths 

to Abuja to join in his infamous two million 

man march to prolong his military tenure. This 

triggered the fireworks from Niger Delta 

revolutionaries whom others choose to call 

militants. He could not use Oil Mineral 

Producing Area Commission, OMPADEC, 

created by Babangida’s military regime to 

soothe the ruffled feeling s of Niger Delta 

Continues on Monday pg 18 

*Mr. Orie, a public affairs analysis, wrote 

from Lagos.


IMF to grant 

concessionary loans 

at zero interest rate 

to member countries 

•Conditions are too tough to handle — 

Nigeria official 

By Omoh Gabriel 

MANAGING Director, In 

ternational Monetary 

Fund, IMF, Ms Christine Lagarde 

yesterday said that the board 

of the multilateral institution has 

approved a zero interest loan facility 

for concessionary loans for 

member countries facing financial 

challenges. 

She said: “That is really important 

for low-income countries to 

be able to actually absorb the 

shocks without necessarily going 

to the international markets or 

relying on bilateral lending capacity 

of close to a trillion dollars 

by extending access to bilateral 

borrowing agreements. The new 

agreements that are being signed 

this week will run at least through 

the end of 2019, and will continue 

to serve as a third line of defence. 

“As you know the first line of 

defence is quota, second line is 

New arrangements to borrow, and 

the third line of defence will be 

those bilateral loans. We have so 

far received pledges of $344 billion 

from 26 members. We look forward 

to others joining this effort. We will 

provide more detail shortly, and 

there will be some signing sessions 

organised in the course of the next 

two days. 

IMF 

conditions 

This ordinarily would be cheering 

news for Nigeria but the facility 

is hamstrung by the 

conditionality that top government 

sources say Nigeria will not be 

willing to subject its citizens to its 

requirements at this time. 

A top government source said in 

Washington that the IMF will be 

pressing for further devaluation of 

the Naira and fuel price hike which 

Road walk: From left, General Manager Refinery Dangote Sugar Refinery, Engr. Braimah Ogunwale, 

Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Oluwatoyin Suarau ,Perm. Sec. Lagos State Ministry 

of Agric. Dr. Olayiwola Onasanya, at the Road Walk Against Hunger, in Ikeja Lagos. Dangote Sugar 

Refinery is a Sponsor of the Lagos State 2016 Wold Food Day celebrations. 

the government may not be 

willing to accept as a result of 

the social implication of further 

devaluation and another hike in 

fuel prices. 

Lagarde at a press briefing 

yesterday said “the outlook for 

advanced economies remains 

subdued and the outlook for developing 

economies provide 

some guarded optimism with 

great diversities within the various 

economies. Prospects for 

low income economies may be 

more challenging with varied 

outlook. We see growth as too low, 

too long and benefiting few. 

“We believe that there are more 

policies that meet the eyes. By exploiting 

synergies in policies we 

can overcome these challenges. 

We also believe that each country 

has something to offer. My hope 

is that at the end of these 

meetings, each finance minister, 

each Governor of central banks 

will go back home thinking of 

what to fuel growth.” 

Monetary , 

Fiscal policies 

She further said: “For example, 

when monetary policy has been 

over stretched, fiscal policy can 

step up. This will also put in place 

the structural reforms that are 

much needed, which have been 

sorted out in some countries, but 

which are still lacking in other 

places. So, what does it mean 

for the IMF? 

Islamic financing can reduce infrastructural gap— World Bank 

By Omoh Gabriel 

THE use of Islamic 

financial instruments can 

help reduce the infrastructure 

gap, the World Bank said yesterday. 

The bank said that the growing 

products in Islamic finances 

are capable of closing the 

huge financial gap that exists 

globally. 

These facts were disclosed 

while speaking yesterday at the 

World Bank / Islamic Financial 

Services Board High Level by 

the Vice President and 

Treasurer, World Bank, Arunma 

Oteh. 

Oteh said less than 20 percent 

of approximately 1.6 billion 

Muslims population use 

conventional banking 

worldwide. “The growth of 

Islamic finance is critical in 

closing this gap,” she said 

According to her “this statistic 

is scary but with the emergence 

of Islamic financing products 

there is tendency that many 

Muslims will access financial 

services of their choice.” 

She added, “during the last 

fiscal year for instance, the 

World Bank issued $ 63.5 billion 

of bonds across different markets, 

22 different currencies with some 

of them innovated for the developing 

countries around the world. 

FG to float new agric-focused bank 

•Invest pension funds in agriculture — Bagudu 

We also manage about $170 billion 

asset for 62 clients and our 

own institution”. 

“In some cases people will like 

to access financial services but 

they are unable to do so because 

of factors that are prohibitive because 

of their faith or lack of financial 

institutions near their area 

or lack of trust of financial service 

By Michael Eboh & Gabriel Ewepu 

THE Federal Government, 

yesterday, stated that it is planning an 

agriculture-focused financial institution that 

would be owned by both the Federal Government, 

farmers and other stakeholders in 

the agricultural sector. 

This was disclosed by the Minister of State 

for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. 

Audu Ogbeh, when the Governor of Kebbi 

State, Mr. Atiku Bagudu and officials of the 

Nigerian Agribusiness Group, NABG, paid 

him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja. 

According to Ogbeh, though the Federal 

Government is also considering revamping 

and recapitalizing the Bank of Agriculture, 

the new bank would cater to the financing 

needs of farmers and other stakeholders in 

the agricultural sector at very low interest 

rates. 

Ogbeh lamented commercial banks’ lack 

of commitment to financing agriculture, noting 

that the 25 per cent to 35 per cent interest 

rate charged by the banks was not suitable 

for agricultural financing. 

He said, “We are looking at a new bank 

where stakeholders in the agricultural sector 

would be shareholders along with the 

Federal Government. Farmers and other 

stakeholders would be involved in policy 

formulation concerning the bank and would 

also determine the interest rate to be 

charged. 

“The bank would not be profit-oriented, but 

would concentrate on meeting the financing 

needs of the country’s agricultural sector.” 

He commended NABG for its commitment 

towards the development of the agricultural 

sector, adding that agriculture would continually 

be private sector-driven, while the 

Federal Government would provide the necessary 

incentives to grow the sector. 

Also speaking, Governor of Kebbi State, 

Atiku Bagudu, advocated increased financing 

for the agricultural sector, while he stated 

that a minimum of N1 trillion of the total 

pension funds can be invested in the sector. 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

providers. Many Muslims around 

the world refrain from actively accessing 

the conventional financial 

services around the world due to 

their beliefs.” 

$146.10 -2.10 

$2,797 -39.00 

$23.16 -0.65 

$52.56 0.70 

50.45 0.62 

304 304.5 305 

384.9552 385.5884 386.2215 

340.024 340.5833 341.1425 

310.5844 311.0952 311.606 

2.9318 2.9666 2. 9415 

0.5009 0.5109 0.5209 

423.2069 423.9029 424.599 

45.5442 45.6196 45.6949 

81.0235 81.1567 81.29 

422.864 423.5595 424.255 

CBN Exchange rate as at 06/10/2016 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Why we ended RT Briscoe partnership — Ford 

FORD Motor Company 

has consolidated its dealer 

representation in Nigeria, 

ending its association with local 

distributor RT Briscoe as at 30 

June 2016, while reinforcing its 

partnership with Coscharis 

Motors Limited as the country’s 

sole official Ford distributor. 

“RT Briscoe has been a Ford 

dealer since 2005 alongside the 

Coscharis Motors group, but 

having two separate dealer 

groups representing the brand in 

Nigeria doesn’t make commercial 

sense,” said Rob Johnston, 

Regional Manager Sales and 

Marketing, Ford Customer 

Services Division for Sub 

Saharan Africa. 

“Our long-term strategy is to 

focus on Coscharis and continuously 

improve our sales, service 

and parts network within 

Nigeria. We would like to thank 

the RT Briscoe team for the 

dedication to the brand over the 

past 11 years, and wish them all 

the best in their future 

endeavours.” 

Ford has invested extensively 

in developing the Nigerian market 

in conjunction with Coscharis 

Motors, which includes the 

launch of a semi-knockdown vehicle 

assembly plant for the Ford 

Ranger, and the opening of three 

Quick Lane centres and a Quick 

Parts outlet. 

“The local Ranger SKD assembly 

operations and Quick Lane 

centres are in line with the global 

One Ford approach to deliver 

product and excellence service 

for our growing customer base, 

particularly in the important Nigerian 

market, while driving innovation 

in every part of our business,” 

Johnston added. 

Coscharis Motors currently has 

11 outlets Ford dealers located 

in the major centres of Lagos, 

Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar, 

which will continue selling, 

servicing and maintaining Ford 

vehicles throughout Nigeria according 

to Ford’s stringent global 

standards. 

Ford Motor Company and Coscharis 

have also opened three 

Quick Lane Tyre and Auto Centres 

in Nigeria, starting out in 

The iconic Ford Mustang 

Speed limiting device: 2,800 commercial 

vehicles issued ticket 

CORPS Marshal of Federal 

Road Safety Corps, Dr. 

Boboye Oyeyemi has expressed 

satisfaction with the take off of the 

advisory enforcement of speed 

limiting device nationwide, as 

2,800 commercial vehicles were 

issued tickets on the take off, on 

October 1, 2016. Oyeyemi said 

the enforcement was not to inflict 

pains on motorists and road 

users but designed for commercial 

vehicle operators to voluntarily 

imbibe the culture of using 

speed limiter to save lives and 

investments. Mr. Bisi Kareem, 

Head Media Relation and Strategy 

of FRSC said the advisory 

enforcement is a sort of subtle 

No regret ending business with Ford — RT Briscoe 

THE last may not have 

been heard about the recent 

ending of relationship between 

Ford Motor Company and RT 

Briscoe one of its local dealerships 

in Nigeria. 

Ford Motors had, in a statement, 

stated that it had ended the 11 

years relationship with RT Briscoe 

in order to consolidate its dealer 

representation in Nigeria. 

But in its response yesterday, RT 

Briscoe said it had no regret ending 

business with Ford in Nigeria 

but noted that Ford should resolve 

some issues, especially the 

N500 million worth of stock (60 

new vehicles), N100 million spare 

parts and nine law suits from aggrieved 

customer over defective 

vehicles. 

Response of RT Briscoe concerning 

the ending of the partnership, 

signed by the General 

Manager Eguaikhide Olorunfemi 

said: 

“We want to state categorically 

that we have no regrets whatsoever 

exiting the Ford dealership 

business in Nigeria. We had since 

force that entails stopping commercial 

vehicles, verifying electronically 

whether the devise is 

fixed and giving citation to offenders 

for corrective purposes. 

The exercise is also known as free 

safety checks. In the coming 

days, the leadership of the organized 

transport unions such as 

NURTW, NUPENG PTD, NAR- 

TO, RTEAN LUBOAN shall be 

involved in the advisory enforcement 

by joining FRSC top officers 

to patrol he said. He therefore 

advised commercial vehicle 

operators to continually patronize 

the devise as there is no going 

back on its full and real enforcement 

come January 2017. 

Lagos in 2013, with Calabar and 

Ado-Ekiti being launched earlier 

this year. 

The Quick Lane centres are an 

initiative of Ford Motor Company, 

with facilities that offer motorists 

professional maintenance 

for minor service items in the 

shortest amount of time, with the 

emphasis on personalized care, 

Jeff Nemeth, Ford boss SSA 

activated our exit plan when the 

signs became clear to us that medium 

to long term profitability could 

not be quaranteed despite all the 

huge challenges we face daily running 

the Ford Dealership in Nigeria 

to ensure customer satisfaction. 

We have over nine 

law suits from some of 

the aggrieved customers 

demanding compensations 

and these 

cases have been reported 

to Ford but no 

serious response has 

been received to date 

“Fundamentally, our main concern 

has been to do everything we 

can to ensure that this mutually sort 

exit does not affect all our loyal RT 

Briscoe customers who purchased 

their Ford vehicles due to their long 

term faith and confidence in the RT 

Briscoe brand legacy that is over 

60 years old in the Nigerian auto 

industry. 

“As part of the transition process, 

we have asked Ford to work with 

us in taking actions required to resolve 

the following pending chal- 

quality and value for money. 

“The expansion Quick Lane 

franchise reinforces the commitment 

of Ford and Coscharis to 

Seyi Onajide, RT Briscoe Boss 

lenges facing our customers in Nigeria 

apart from the casual instruction 

to direct them to the other dealer 

in the market. 

´*”What happens to our current 

stock of 60 new vehicles amounting 

to over N500m and stock of 

spare parts amounting to about 

N100m? 

*We have over 90 vehicles belonging 

to our valued customers 

currently in our workshops 

awaiting warranty approvals and 

repairs which have been duly 

communicated to Ford and for 

which no response has been receive. 

*24 Ford focus vehicles with 

faulty semi-automatic transmission 

systems and Ford have not 

been able to support us to repair 

which is however not perculiar 

to the Nigerian market. It is in 

public domain that Ford focus and 

fiesta models are having this 

challenge globally and as at date 

no permanent fix has been deployed 

for dealers to implement. 

As a result of “the item above, 

we have over nine law suits from 

some of the aggrieved customers 

demanding compensations 

and these cases have been reported 

to Ford but no serious response 

has been received to date. 

“There are cases of customers 

improving aftersales support to 

customers in Nigeria through 

improved parts and service availability,” 

Johnston said. 

who purchased the ESP package 

from BriscoeFord from October 

2015 to June 30th 2016 under the 

promo but denied registration by 

Ford. These customers currently 

cannot enjoy the free service program 

from the other dealer be- 

of this singular action of 

scause 

Ford because of some administrative 

reasons which lack merit 

at the time. These customers are 

currently stranded and have been 

left in the dark as to what happens 

to their free service promo 

in the face of these administrative 

bottlenecks which they 

should not be blamed for. 

We would like to assure all the 

customers who purchased their 

Ford vehicles riding on their 

strong confidence and faith in the 

RT Briscoe Brand that we will not 

abandon them and will deploy all 

necessary resources at our disposal 

during this transition period to 

get their vehicles repaired and returned 

to them. 

In the light of the current realities, 

all customers with new warrantable 

repairs are kindly advised 

to visit the other dealer to 

enjoy their warranty repairs which 

remain valid under the published 

warranty timelines and mileage 

as clearly stated in their vehicle 

and warranty manuals. 

Our major focus remains doing 

everything possible to mitigate 

any potential negative impact this 

exit from Ford dealership on our 

customers hence our request for 

a meeting with Ford Motor Company 

in our last letter which has 

not been replied as at the time they 

released their press statement. We 

remain hopeful that both parties 

can work together in the coming 

days and months to achieve a 

smooth transition of customers to 

the other dealer in the market 

while resolving all pending repairs 

in our workshops for customers 

whose vehicles have been 

grounded.

Understanding vehicle brake fluid 

By Majemite Okome, 

okome.majemite@gmail.com 

BRAKE fluid is possibly the 

single most neglected 

component of the automobile. 

Most high performance drivers 

check their tire pressures and 

change their engine oil at 

frequent intervals, but virtually 

no one ever changes the brake 

fluid in their street car. The 

function of brake fluid is to 

provide an incompressible 

medium to transmit the driver’s 

foot pressure on the brake pedal 

through the master cylinder(s) to 

the calipers in order to clamp the 

friction material against the discs. 

The foot pressure is multiplied 

by the mechanical pedal ratio 

and the hydraulic ratio of the 

master cylinders, booster (if 

used) and caliper piston(s). 

This is a simple concept. 

When fresh, all brake fluids are 

virtually incompressible and the 

system works as well as its 

mechanical and hydraulic design 

allows. There can be, however, 

significant problems in the 

proper functioning of brake fluid. 

Overheated brake fluid can (and 

will) boil in the caliper. Boiling 

produces gas bubbles within any 

boiling fluid. Gas is compressible 

so boiling brake fluid leads to a 

“soft” brake pedal with long 

travel. In extreme cases overheated 

brake fluid necessitates 

“pumping the brake pedal” in 

order to get a pedal at all. 

The laws of thermo-dynamics 

dictate that the energy from 

motion is turned into heat 

through friction. A braking 

system only works efficiently if 

the fluid remains incompressible. 

If the brake fluid boils, it turns to 

gas, which is compressible and 

the braking system becomes 

“spongy” or in extreme cases fails 

completely. 

A brake system is not perfectly 

sealed and moisture can get into 

the system and be absorbed by 

the fluid. The effect is to reduce 

the boiling point of the fluid, 

which reduces the efficiency of 

the braking system, as described 

above. 

The most common ingredient 

of brake fluid is glycol-ether. This 

fluid is hygroscopic which 

mean it absorbs moisture from the 

atmosphere. The ‘percent by 

volume’ is a measure of the water 

content in the brake fluid. 

This leads to a discussion of 

boiling points. Brake fluids are 

classified by both “dry boiling 

point” and “wet boiling point.” 

They are also classified by US 

Department of Transportation 

(DOT) rating, DOT 3, DOT 4, 

DOT 5, and DOT 5.1. 

The DOT specifies two 

reference tests for brake fluids. 

•Dry boiling point - the boiling 

point of fresh fluid 

•Wet boiling point –the boiling 

point once the fluid has absorbed 

moisture (representing brake 

fluid after time spent in a real 

situation). There are two main 

types of brake fluids: •DOT 3, 

DOT 4, Super DOT4* and DOT 

5.1 which are based on poly 

glycol compounds. •DOT 5, 

which are based on Silicone. Note 

the two types of fluid are not 

compatible and must not be 

mixed in a braking system. 

SILICONE BRAKE FLUID 

(DOT 5) Silicone based DOT 5 

was originally introduced to give 

higher temperature performance 

over glycol DOT 4. Silicone fluid 

also has other advantages, it does 

not damage paintwork and it 

does not absorb water. 

However, silicone fluid is a poor 

lubricant and does not lubricate 

ABS pumps as well as PAG 

fluids. It is also more compressible 

than PAG fluids, which can 

result in a sluggish or spongy 

pedal. It therefore requires 

special design considerations in 


DOT5 Main ingredient is 

Silicon, Special application cars 

(Hummer, Harley-Davidson) 

Major difference DOT3 vs 

DOT4 Boiling point temperature 

DOT4 vs DOT5.1 Boiling 

point temperature & viscosity at 

low temperatures 

DOT 5.1 has strict viscosity 

braking systems. Further, standards at lower temperature 

because it does not absorb water, in addition to having a high 

any water remains as globules, boiling point temperature. Therefore, 

in cold climate areas, the 

which can pool in low spots in 

the system and cause corrosion. DOT 5.1 brake fluid is very 

This water can vaporise when commonly used on most cars. The 

heated under heavy braking most widely distributed brake 

giving a disastrous effect on fluid is the DOT 4, which has a 

braking efficiency. 

dry boiling point temperature 

DOT5 fluids are not around 270! and a wet boiling 

recommended for motor sport applications. 

170!.The boiling point tempera- 

point temperature around 

POLY GLYCOL BRAKE tures of DOT4 is very similar to 

FLUIDS (DOT 3, 4 AND 5.1) those of DOT5.1. The major difference 

is the viscosity at low 

Glycol based DOT 4 fluid is the 

current mainstream brake fluid, temperatures. 

and you will see that the Today, cars are commonly 

specification is considerably equipped with ABS, and DOT5.1 

better than DOT 3 which it fluid is used since the viscosity 

replaced. The higher the DOT of it helps the ABS work consistently 

even in cold climates 

number, the higher the brake 

fluid performance? 

How frequently should brake 

This is not exactly correct. The fluid be replaced? 

DOT numbers categorizes the For everyday drivers, who use 

fluids by various uses. 

brake fluid that exceed DOT4 

Specification 

specification, fluid replacement 

Application use 

once 2 years is acceptable. For 

DOT3 Cars with small to people who use DOT3 fluid, fluid 

medium sized engines. DOT4 replacement every year is 

Cars with larger sized engine recommended. For people who 

and/or for use with sports driving. drive aggressively on winding 

DOT5.1 Cars with larger roads, fluid replacement every 

sized engine and/or for use with six month to a year is recommended. 

For people who drive 

sports driving Cars with larger 

sized engine and/or for use with their cars on the race circuit, replacement 

before each event is 

sports driving (Cold climate 

regions) 

recommended.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 , 2016 

Fresh pepper...now very expensive 

RECESSION: 

We're dying, 

Nigerians lament 

•Device coping measures 

•Price of essential commodities sky-rocket 

By Our Reporters 

ON the lips of many 

Nigerians across the 

country are lamentations and 

tales of woe as hardship 

occasioned by the prevailing 

wind of recession bites harder. 

Apart from feeding, a host of the 

citizenry, who spoke to 

Vanguard, said they are finding 

it difficult to meet other basic 

needs of life. 

Prices of foodstuffs 

doubles in Imo, Jigawa: The 

current hardship sweeping 

across Imo State, hit fever pitch, 

weekend, as the prices of some 

major staple foods have gone out 

of the reach of many families. 

Vanguard’s check at markets in 

Owerri revealed that most food 

items had gone up by 100 to 150 

percent in the state. 

A bag of rice now goes for 

between N23,000 and N25,000, 

as against N8,000 in 2014. 

Similarly, 30-litre container of 

palm oil that was sold for N5,000, 

now goes for N12,500, while a 

measure of beans now sells for 

N1,500 as against N500. A tiny 

ball of onion sells for between 

N10 and N20, depending on the 

bargaining power of the buyer, 

as a small paint bucket of garri, 

which was sold for N300 now 

goes for between N700 and 

N850. 

Most residents who spoke to 

Vanguard said that their 

purchasing power has gone 

down so badly that they are 

barely managing to survive. 

“We have either deleted 

completely or reduced the 

frequency of serving some 

foodstuffs in my family’s menu. 

Food items have really gone out 

of the reach of poor people in 

Imo State”, a widowed mother 

lamented. Continuing, the 

anguished mother said: “My 

children and I have been 

surviving by the sheer grace of 

God. It has not been easy to pay 

our medical bills and the 

children’s school fees”. A staff of 

one of the ministries in Owerri, 

said it has not been easy for Imo 

workers and pensioners. 

Salaries and 

pensions 

“It is no longer news that those 

of us that can be said to have 

received salaries and pensions, 

were largely underpaid for 

months. You can, therefore, 

imagine what we are passing 

through”, the civil servant said. 

In her own contribution, Mrs. 

Augustina (surname withheld) 

said that the economic situation 

in the country was sending 

heads of families crazy. I am 

aware that many families have 

adopted divergent ways to tackle 

the economic crisis, including 

withdrawal of their children from 

private schools,” Mrs. Augustina 

said. 

A young man, who simply 

identified himself as Harrison, 

lamented that “the ugly situation 

in the country has led to massive 

reduction of jobs in various 

sectors of the economy”. 

Meanwhile, a visit to the red light 

districts in Owerri municipality 

at the weekend, showed that 

prostitution was gathering 

momentum. "I am in this business 

(prostitution) because of the 

hardship members of my family 

are passing through. We lost our 

father three years ago and my 

mother can’t get her pensions, a 

young girl sobbed as she 

narrated her story. 

Asked if prostitution was the 

only way out of the economic 

crisis, the girl said: “Where is the 

capital to even start sale of 

groundnut or crayfish? I was 

given a sales job that was to give 

me N5,000 monthly. What can 

this solve for a family of seven? 

This is how I found myself in this 

business”. 

She appealed to government to 

make good their promise of 

creating jobs and improving the 

sagging economy. A transporter, 

who identified himself as Onye 

Army, lamented that “commercial 

transport owners are equally 

finding things hard. Fuel has 

jumped from N87 to 145 per litre. 

The Naira has since been messed 

up by the American dollar. The 

costs of new and used cars have 

hit the skies. The same is also 

true of motor spare parts and this 

is why fares have been adjusted 

in line with the reality of the 

time.” 

A similar scenario obtains in 

Jigawa where prices of foodstuffs 

and other essential commodities 

in major markets and mini shops 

have rising by 150 per cent 

thereby throwing many 

households into economic chaos. 

The situation is worsened by the 

closure of Niger Republic border 

through which food items such 

as rice, spaghetti, macaroni, milk, 

vegetable oil and other assorted 

goods are imported to Nigeria. 

The development has 

compelled many people 

especially those living in rural 

areas to revert to local foods such 

as moringa, cassava and their 

related leaves combined with 

groundnut cake popularly 

known as kulikuli. Even garri has 

been priced beyond the reach of 

many people. A small measure 

of rice is now N1,100 as against 

N500 while local rice goes for 

Even garri has 

been priced 

beyond the reach 

of many people 

kilo of fish is now N800 as 

against N600; kilo of chicken now 

costs N1,000 as against N600. A 

sachet of powdered peak milk 

sold at N35 is now N50; a mudu 

of sugar is now N1,100 as against 

N600, flour costs N580 as against 

N350. Big pack of stick matches 

now costs N50 as against N25. 

Asked how he is coping, 

Malam Abdulkahar 

Mohammed, said he and his 

family now eat twice a day. “Life 

isn’t easy with the increase in 

everything and money is hard to 

get. It is not easy to get job and 

even those with jobs, their 

salaries are not enough for them 

to cater for their daily needs. The 

circumstance had compelled 

many of us to withdraw our 

children from private schools back 

to government schools as an 

alternative for them to pursue 

their education,” he said. 

Malam Aliyu Dangida, one of 

the parents who has withdrawn 

hischildren from private schools 

and enrolled them in 

government schools, said: “I have 

six children in private schools, 

but with the increase in their fees 

by over 100 per cent, I can’t afford 

to continue paying their fees. So, 

I have transferred them to 

government schools.” 

Families cry 

out in Abia 

Residents of Aba, Abia State 

have cried out over the soaring 

prices of foodstuffs in the market, 

and urged the government to 

introduce policies to check the 

trend. 

Vanguard investigations 

revealed that some families have 

devised stringent measures to 

tackle the prevailing situation. 

Such measures include ‘skipping 

meals’ and avoiding those they 

classify as luxuries. Some are 

used to taking breakfast and 

skipping lunch to have dinner 

while others take light meals to 

save cost. It was also discovered 

that some men have set up small 

scale businesses for their wives 

to generate more income for the 

family. 

A visit to major markets in the 

city revealed that prices of 

foodstuffs have sky-rocketed 

beyond the reach of consumers. 

Worst hit are the prices of staple 

foods like rice, beans and yam. 

A bag of rice sells for N21,000 

up from N11, 000 while a cup of 

foreign rice goes for N120. It was 

also discovered that a bag of local 

rice sells for N10, 000 while a cup 

goes for N80.A tuber of yam sells 

for N700 from N400, while a bottle 

of Kings cooking oil has gone up 

from N250 to N450. 

A cup of beans which was sold 

for N60 now goes for N90, same 

for carton of tomatoes which now 

sells for N1, 500 from N1, 200. A 

bowl of garri consisting of 16 cups 

has gone up to N600 from N400. 

On the other hand, a family 

size loaf of bread sells for N600 

from N400 while a basket of 

tomato fluctuates between N12, 

000 and N18, 000 depending on 

availability. A bag of pepper, 

which formerly went for N12, 000 

has gone down to N4, 000. A 

bottle of palm oil is now N400 

from N200. A carton of ice fish 

has shot up to N13, 500 from N9, 

N800-N900 as against N350- 

N400 in the past. A mudu of 

beans is N800 as against N400, 

while a pack of Maggi star is 

N360 as against N250. A carton 

of Indomie noodles which sold 

for N1,800 now costs N2,500. 

A kilo of meat which sold at 

N800 now costs N1,200 and a Continues on page 23

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 , 2016—23 

We're dying, Nigerians lament 

Continues from page 22 

000 while a bowl of crayfish sells 

for N1,500 from N1,200. 

A housewife, Nnenna 

Nwabeke, said: “Prices of 

everything has shot up in the 

market. I used to make a pot of 

soup with N3, 000, but today it is 

no longer possible. You will spend 

N400 to buy only vegetable. Even 

the normal ice fish, which my 

family prefers for rice and stew 

now sells for N1, 500 from N500 

each. The woman, who I buy fish 

from told me that the price of a 

carton of ice fish now sells for N13, 

500 from N9, 000. The worst thing 

is that any foodstuff you buy for 

N100 today will soar to N200 

before two days. It is a terrible 

situation. People are dying of 

hunger. The government should 

do something to assist the 

citizenry.” 

Exorbitant 

fees 

A lecturer at the Abia State 

Polytechnic who declined to have 

his name on print, lamented that 

he had to return his two children 

to the public school as he could 

no longer afford the exorbitant 

fees being charged by private 

school. “I have two children in 

higher institution, including the 

younger two in private school. I 

had to withdraw them from private 

school to the public one because 

I can no longer afford it. I’m being 

owed six months salary; how can 

I feed my family, pay bills and 

school fees for my children? It has 

been difficult for me in the last 

three months that we had to 

adjust some expenses due to lack 

of money. My wife runs a 

boutique, but she no longer gets 

patronage as before. It takes tact 

and careful planning for any 

family to survive this period.” 

Speaking on the situation, 

Harold Nwanne who deals on 

dredging equipments in the city 

said the dwindling economic 

situation has adversely affected 

many businesses as families are 

now preoccupied with survival 

strategies. 

He said, “There is hunger in the 

land; every family is now 

concerned with how to survive. I 

blame the government; 

yesterday’s jamboree has turned 

to today’s misfortune. There was 

a lot of miscalculation on petrol 

dollars; they thought that oil sales 

would continue even when most 

countries had developed 

alternative energy. The 

government should invest in 

social welfare and rebuild 

infrastructure.” 

Traders record low sales: 

Businessmen in Aba also 

lamented that customers no longer 

patronise them. 

Chairman of the National 

Association of Nigerian Traders, 

There is hunger in 

the land; every 

family is now 

concerned with 

how to survive. I 

blame the 

government; 

yesterday’s 

jamboree has 

turned to today’s 

misfortune 

NANTS, Ariaria chapter, Deacon 

Michael Aniorji, said: ‘’We are 

finding it difficult to make sales. 

Our customers are complaining 

that they don’t have money to 

make purchases. It boils down to 

the dwindling economic situation 

in the country. It is high time the 

government introduced policies 

to boost the local economy. Unlike 

the situation before now, you can 

stay in the market from morning 

to evening without anybody 

asking if your wares are for sale. 

It is only when you make sales 

that you get the profit to take care 

of your family needs. We have the 

stock but no sales.’’ 

Recession in Bayelsa: In 

Bayelsa, residents have devised 

coping mechanisms to survive the 

recession as prices of food stuffs 

such as garri, rice, beans, and 

yam and bread among others soar 

by over 100 per cent. A bag of rice 

previously sold for between N11, 

000 to N14, 000 is now sold at 

N22, 000 to N24, 000. A bowl of 

garri formerly at N300 is now 

N500. A bread of N250 is now 

N400. A tuber of yam now goes 

for between N500 to N1, 000 

depending on size. 

The dire situation in Bayelsa 

state has been aggravated due to 

the delayed and infrequent 

payment of salaries to workers in 

the predominantly civil service 

state where one third of the 

population are civil servants. 

Unfortunately, the state and local 

governments owe their workers 

backlog of salary arrears 

following the drastic drop in 

federal allocations. The state 

government now pays half 

salaries to workers. This scenario 

has piled more misery on many 

families and plunged many into 

starvation and huge debts. 

Many families hardly afford two 

square meals daily. Most families 

now skip meals and are contented 

with eating once daily while 

staple foods like garri and rice 

which used to be a common menu 

in many homes are now 

considered as luxuries. 

Many families now resort to 

cheap and affordable food 

substitutes, like coco yam and in 

Yenagoa for instance, many 

families now consume locally 

made bread called Madiga in 

local dialect, even though it is 

said to be high in bromate. Many 

parents have withdrawn their 

children from private schools to 

access the tuition free public 

schools in the state. 

A resident of Yenagoa, Mr 

Akene, a father of four, said he 

had to withdraw one of his 

daughters from a more expensive 

school to a cheaper one while his 

last child who is over three years 

old could not be enrolled due to 

the economic situation. We also 

gathered that some parents have 

stopped home lessons for their 

children and disengaged private 

drivers. We gathered that most 

private schools have also 

downsized their work force or in 

most cases slashed workers’ 

Rice queue... 

wages. 

In the state civil service, 

findings indicate that the 

electronic mandatory clock 

introduced to ensure punctuality 

and check absenteeism is no 

longer tenable as civil servants 

barely go to work promptly due 

to high transportation cost. Some 

residents, who cannot afford 

exorbitant rents in the cities have 

sent their families to their country 

homes and moved into smaller 

apartments. 

Foodstuff 

business 

Some understanding landlords 

now accept instalment payments 

and other concessions. 

Commodity trading in food 

stuffs and transportation seem to 

be attractive now in the state. A 

seamstress, Miss Naomi, who 

abandoned her tailoring job to 

venture into foodstuff business, 

said that people are not thinking 

of clothes or fashion but food first. 

“In this present economic 

situation, what people are 

thinking is food and food. Nobody 

is thinking of clothes because you 

must eat before you think of 

fashion. Look around, other 

businesses are on standstill but 

at all times people must buy 

foodstuff, and that is why I started 

it,” he said. 

Now, many people go to the 

hinterland to buy foodstuff and 

fruits for sale in the city. With low 

construction activities, many 

young people have embraced 

commercial tricycles popularly 

called Keke NAPEP operators. 

The hunger in the land has led 

to an upsurge in criminal and cult 

activities. A new trend of thieves 

have emerged, they dispossess 

people mainly of their food stuffs, 

phones and electronic gadgets. 

Religious centres, schools 

record low attendants in Ekiti 

In Ekiti, the tales of lamentation 

are very loud as residents lament 

on the daily increases in price 

of foodstuffs, especially rice 

which is one of the common 

foods consumed in Nigeria. 

In Ekiti, government is the 

largest employer of Labour and 

workers dictate the pace of the 

state’s economy, but presently 

they are being owed six months 

salary arrears. 

In-spite the parlous nature of 

the state’s economy, the prices of 

foodstuffs and other commodities 

keep increasing daily. For 

example the price of a bag of rice, 

which is the staple food of the 

people in this area jumped from 

N8,500 to N20,000 and locally 

produced one, which could serve 

as an alternative has also moved 

up, almost matching the imported 

one. 

Mrs Kike Adeyemi, a clothes 

seller, Mrs Jumoke Ogundele, a 

provision seller and most of the 

residents, who spoke to Vanguard 

complained about the low inflow 

of money, rising costs of foodstuffs 

and essential commodities. 

They therefore implored the 

federal government to finance the 

small scale farmers with capital 

and other necessary equipment 

to facilitate the productivity. 

Private Schools are not left out 

of the effect of the gloomy 

economy as many parents have 

withdrawn their wards to public 

schools. Churches and other 

religious houses in the state are 

also suffering from the economic 

crunch, as many worshippers 

prefer to stay at home. 

Lagos residents lose 

purchasing power 

Lagos residents are also 

groaning over the hike in prices 

of goods and services in the 

country. 

Some corporate organizations 

are laying-off staff,while many 

parents have withdrawn their 

children from private schools and 

enrolled them in public or less 

expensive schools. 

To be comcluded 

Baskets of tomatoes...who can buy them now? 

Onions and other condiments... also very costly


VOL. 1: NO. 17 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, , 2016 

By Dayo Johnson 

RATHER than abate, the 

internal crisis in the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, in 

Ondo State turned bloody during 

the week leaving many injured 

and property destroyed. 

This is coming barely few weeks 

to the governorship election in the 

state. 

While party supporters earnestly 

await the October 19 deadline 

given by the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, for substitution of candidate 

by political parties, supporters 

of the APC candidate, Mr 

Rotimi Akeredolu, and an aggrieved 

aspirant, Dr Olusegun 

Abraham, engaged themselves in 

a battle of wits. 

Supporters of Abraham across 

the 18 Local Government Areas 

of the state converged on Mobil 

Petrol station opposite Fiwasaye 

Girls Grammar school, on Tuesday, 

to stage a rally rejecting the 

“imposition” of Akeredolu by the 

National Working Committee, 

NWC and asking that the mandate 

be returned to Abraham. 

Placards displayed by the protesters 

had such inscriptions as: 

“With Abraham we stand” “Restore 

Abraham’s mandate” 

“Abraham is APC’s candidate” 

and “ Abraham is the authentic 

winner of September 3 primary.” 

Supporters clash: Abraham's 

supporters had a successful outing 

until they got to the party secretariat 

where their leader wanted 

to address newsmen. 

Economic 

activities 

Some youths numbering about 

50 invaded the secretariat and a 

bloody clash ensued. The popular 

Oba Adesida road became a 

battle field between the youths 

and the protesters. 

Initially, the supporters of 

Abraham, who were not expecting 

such an attack took to their 

heels only to return with full force 

to dislodge the youths said to be 

Akeredolu's supporters. Many 

people reportedly sustained 

machete wounds, while vehicles 

were vandalized. 

Economic activities were paralysed 

while the bloody clash 

lasted. An unspecified number of 

party supporters and passers-by 

were reportedly wounded during 

the melee. The timely deployment 

of policemen with Armoured 

Personnel Carriers by the 

Police Commissioner, Hilda 

Harrison, saved the situation and 

brought normalcy to the state 

capital. 

The blame game: Both parties 

ONDO GOV POLL: When 

peaceful rally turned bloody 

traded blames after the clash. 

The spokesperson of the protesters, 

Rotimi Agbede, said: “We are 

The protesters 

are not our party 

members. We do 

not have hooligans 

in our Party 

protesting against the name submitted 

by the national leadership 

of our party. If as a party, we are 

preaching anti-corruption and a 

sane society, we cannot be seen 

to be doing otherwise. We don’t 

want some people to drag our 

party into the abyss. 

Agbede, who alleged that the 

delegates list was padded with 

over 200 fake delegates, said: “We 

believe that the national leadership 

will see reasons with what 

we are saying. We are not leaving 

the party because we are 

founding members." 

He alleged that some hoodlums, 

who have sympathy for 

Akeredolu “came armed with cutlasses, 

dane guns, charms and 

other dangerous weapons to attack 

the people that were carrying 

on with their peaceful protest. 

Some people are saying they are 

from Aketi’s camp, I wouldn’t 

know.” 

Reacting, Abraham described 

the attack on his supporters as uncivilized 

and barbaric, noting that 

such people should not be trusted 

with governance as their administration 

would further worsen the 

present economic and financial 

crises facing the state . 

Peaceful 

rally 

He said: “It was a peaceful rally 

asking for our mandate to be restored 

and not to be delayed. All 

of a sudden, the people attacked 

the peaceful rally organised by my 

supporters. Is this the kind of thug 

we want to put in power? Is it 

IN THIS EDITION 

Oyo, Osun flex muscles 

over LAUTECH ownership 

•Page 26 

thuggery they use 

for governance? 

Thuggery is different 

from governance.” 

The aggrieved 

aspirant also insisted 

that the 

party would fail 

woefully in the 

coming election if 

Akeredolu’s name 

was not substituted 

before the 

October 19 deadline 

given by 

INEC. 

According to 

him: “The crowd 

has also shown 

clearly and I believe 

that the powers 

that be would 

also listen to the 

crowd because 

these are the people 

that will vote, 

unless they don’t 

want their votes. 

And that is a recipe 

for failure. I don’t 

pray that our party 

should fail. 

“It is not all 

about me, but at 

this level, we 

think we should 

work together so 

that we can rescue 

our state.” 

Ondo APC reacts: 

Also reacting, 

the Party’s 

Publicity Secretary, 

Abayomi 

Adesanya disowned the protesters 

alleging that they were “hired 

hungry youths from Kogi, Ekiti 

and Edo states.” Adesanya, said 

“we reliably gathered that these 

people, who are youths and students 

were hired from neighbouring 

states and tertiary institutions 

and given N2000 each then were 

mobilized to Akure.” 

The party’s spokesperson said 

the protesters were mobilized “to 

create an unnecessary scene and 

disrupting the peace we enjoy in 

the state. 

“The protesters are not our party 

members. We do not have hooligans 

in our Party. All our members 

have accepted the decision 

of the Party on Akeredolu’s candidature 

and are in various units 

and wards across the state mobilizing 

for the Party and its candidate,” 

he added. 

Besides, he said: “The Party is 

supreme and its decision is binding 

on all members irrespective 

of status. The public should disregard 

them and security agencies 

should do the needful.”


OYO STATE 

•Aregbesola: Osun gov 

•Ajimobi: Oyo gov 

Oyo, Osun flex muscle over 

LAUTECH ownership 

By Ola Ajayi 

ACRISIS of ownership is 

looming in the Ladoke 

Akintola University of Technology, 

Ogbomoso between Oyo 

and Osun states. 

The crisis seems to have 

become an indelible stigma 

which appears to have defied all 

solutions. The issue has been a 

ding-dong affair since the 

tenures of former Governor 

Olagunsoye Oyinlola and 

Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala in 

2010. 

Oyo was so desperate to be the 

sole owner of the institution that 

it gazetted it on May 16, 2011 

and was signed by then 

governor Alao Akala. The gazette 

was marked 09 and Vol. 36. 

Sections 26 of the amended law 

states that: “rules, convention or 

practice in existence in respect 

of the joint ownership of the 

university is hereby revoked and 

shall cease to have validity or 

force of law with effect from 

December 31, 2010.” 

Section 27 stated that “the 

university is deemed to be solely 

owned by Oyo state as from December 

31 2010.” 

At the moment, tussle has degenerated 

to a more frightening 

dimension with a group, forgetting 

that Osun was carved out of 

old Oyo, threatening all indigenes 

of Osun State working in 

the institution to return to their 

state. Even though, a Supreme 

Court judgement delivered on 

December 26, 2012, expressly 

stated that the university was, 

and will always be jointly owned 

by Oyo and Osun states, both 

parties in the crisis have refused 

to sheathe their swords. 

A fortnight ago, the Oyo State 

House of Assembly, set up a com- 

mittee to facilitate take-over of the 

institution, but the Osun State 

House of Assembly insisted that 

it would not allow the joint ownership 

agreement to be tampered 

with. 

Oyo, Osun Assembly bicker 

In a statement, the Osun State 

Assembly, through its Chairman, 

Education Committee, Mr. 

Folorunso Bamisayemi, said: 

“We honestly want to believe that 

the unconscionable attempt to 

take over the ownership of 

LAUTECH by all means, is 

being orchestrated by only the 

Ogbomoso Community which 

erroneously thinks that it owns 

the college but not the entire 

people of Oyo State, who are our 

kith and kin. The University was 

sited in Ogbomoso on the basis 

of trust by the other communities 

in the old Oyo State. 

Financial 

travails 

“The unscrupulous attempt to 

betray the trust and convert the 

University to an Ogbomoso 

Community institution did not 

start recently, it pre-dated the current 

financial travails bedevilling 

the polity. 

“The issue began in 2010, 

when Governor Alao Akala of 

Oyo State, acted out the script 

written by him on behalf of the 

Ogbomoso community by using 

the apparatus of Oyo State 

government to convert 

LAUTECH to an institution solely 

owned ostensibly by Oyo state but 

in reality Ogbomoso Community. 

“The then State government of 

Osun challenged Akala’s illegal 

attempt in the Supreme Court of 

Nigeria and in a judgment delivered 

on 26th day of December, 

2012 the apex court held that 

the university was and will always 

be jointly owned by Oyo 

and Osun states and Oyo state 

alone cannot unilaterally lay 

claim to sole ownership of the institution. 

“Having met with failure in the 

court, the hostile takeover has 

Agreed that Osun 

State is not paying 

as it should be paying, 

Oyo State has 

paid substantially 

more than Osun 

has paid. What we 

are saying now is 

for us to sit down 

and see the need for 

co-owners to fulfill 

our obligations 

now been tied to Osun’s financial 

travails and inability to meet 

our obligation to LAUTECH 

which is a recent issue and which 

equally affects Oyo state." 

The state admitted that it defaulted 

in remitting its subvention 

to LAUTECH in the last one 

year as a result of a drastic drop 

in revenue accruing to it and 

warned that its responsible approach 

on the matter should not 

be misconstrued for weakness. 

It complained that, “Seven and 

a half faculties of the university 

are located in Ogbomoso while 

only a quarter (some say half) of 

a faculty is located in Osogbo. In 

spite of this obvious lopsidedness 

we still contribute equal amount 

as partners and joint owners. 

“The postgraduate school, the 

pre-degree centre, Part-time programme 

and centre for distance 

learning are all sited in 

Ogbomoso. The staff ratio is 1100 

for Oyo state to 610 for Osun 

state. 

“16 TETFUND need 

assessment projects are in 

Ogbomoso campus with none in 

Osogbo. The people of 

Ogbomoso and their supporters 

in Oyo State Government are obviously 

mistaking our maturity 

for weakness and foolishness. 

They will soon realise that it is 

not so.” 

In fact, while taking exception 

to the ownership crisis between 

the two states, Ogbeni Rauf 

Aregbesola, shortly after he became 

governor, criticised the 

PDP-led governments in the 

states accusing them of thoughtlessness. 

Last week, Governor of Oyo 

State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi 

said: “Before we came in 2010, 

the former governor, Chief 

Adebayo Alao-Akala and his 

Osun State counterpart then, 

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, 

had an agreement to transfer 

LAUTECH to Oyo State. But 

Governor Rauf Aregbesola went 

to court, and the case got to the 

Supreme Court. In 2012, the 

court gave a judgement that coownership 

of LAUTECH by both 

states remained unbroken. 

"The judgement held that unless 

both owners sit down and 

agree, no party can singlehandedly 

decide to severe the 

relationship. 

“Agreed that Osun State is not 

paying as it should be paying, 

Oyo State has paid substantially 

more than Osun has paid. What 

we are saying now is for us to sit 

down and see the need for coowners 

to fulfill our obligations.” 

Ladoja clears grey areas 

A former Governor of Oyo 

State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, in 

an interview with Vanguard on 

the issue, said the agreement of 

joint ownership by the two states 

should be respected by Oyo, 

adding that if there is going to 

be any change in the agreement, 

Oyo State has to dialogue with 

its counterpart and reach a 

mutual agreement not to attempt 

to forcefully take possession of 

something that belongs to states. 

Myopic 

views 

The defunct Action Congress of 

Nigeria, ACN, which is now the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

had scolded the former PDP governors 

of the two states through 

its Director of Publicity, Mr. Ayo 

Afolabi. 

The party said: “It leaves much 

to be desired and is very 

unfortunate to have little minds 

with myopic views such as these 

governors at the helm of affairs 

of Osun and Oyo states that are 

prepared to destroy LAUTECH 

founded and nurtured on the 

strength of integrity of reputable 

elderly and selfless indigenes 

with great foresight for the 

future.” 

Observers have urged Ajimobi 

to explore the option of begging 

his counterpart in Osun to have 

a re-think of his previous comment 

when he accused the then 

PDP governors of thoughtlessness 

and avoid being entangled 

in the same act.


OGUN STATE 

RECESSION: Day Ogun village heads, 

250 aged, others got relief 

•Beneficiaries of the empowerment programme facilitated by a House of Representatives 

member, Mr. Micky Kazeem in Ogun State, recently. 

By Daud Olatunji 

IT was indeed a relief for 

some aged men and 

women as well as able bodied 

persons, who are groaning 

under the effects of the 

economic recession in the 

country. 

No fewer than 250 persons 

including village heads, 

aged women and men as well 

as youths in three Local 

Government Areas of Ogun 

State, heaved a sigh of relief 

when they got financial 

assistance and empowerment 

to cushion the effects of the 

economic downturn. 

The assistance was facilitated 

by a member of the 

House of Representatives, 

Mr. Micky Kazeem. 

The programme exposed 

the rate of the impact of the 

economic recession as many 

aged men and women as well 

as youths, thronged the 

venue and struggled for the 

empowerment items. 

The empowerment programme 

was attended by the 

state governor, Senator 

Ibikunle Amosun, who was 

represented by his deputy, 

Chief Yetunde Onanuga; 

House of Reps Majority 

Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila; 

Speaker of the Ogun State 

House of Assembly, Suraj 

Adekunbi among others. 

The lawmaker, who represents 

Abeokuta North/ 

Obafemi Owode/Odeda 

Federal Constituency, said 

political office holders should 

not wait for constituency 

projects before they give back 

to their people. 

He urged his colleagues in 

the National Assembly to use 

their money to fund empowerment 

programmes. 

The issue of 

constituency 

projects would help 

us to get the 

support of our 

people during 

election period. It is 

the time we have to 

give back to our 

community 

der the Small Scale Entrepreneurship 

Support, while 18 

women got N900,000 to boost 

their business. 

The Council of Baales in 

three local governments 

(Abeokuta North, Odeda and 

Obafemi-Owode) got four 

Toyota cars while seven 

people also went home with 

Toyota Previa from the 

lawmaker. 

Five Toyota Camry were 

His words: “The issue of 

constituency projects would 

help us to get the support of 

our people during election 

period. It is the time we have 

to give back to our 

community. We all know the 

situation of the economy, it is 

time to give back to the 

people because if we 

consider the economic 

situation, we won’t do 

anything till kingdom come.” 

The lawmaker dolled out 

N1million to 10 women unalso 

given to five persons 

while 80 aged men and 

women in the three local 

governments got what the 

House of Representatives 

member called social welfare 

package for community 

elders. 

Twenty persons also received 

cash prize of N25,000 

as empowerment for their 

business while 40 persons received 

sewing machines just 

as 20 persons got grinding 

machines. 

The lawmaker also gave out 

10 generating sets to 10 

persons, even as he gave five 

deep freezers to five women, 

with 16 others receiving 

cash. 

Physically challenged 

persons were not left out as 

four of them got cash gifts of 

N100,000. 

Governor Amosun lauded 

the lawmaker’s gesture, 

saying empowerment 

programmes should also be 

part of measures to cushion 

the effects of recession in the 

state. 

Amsoun said, the economic 

situation in the country 

needs to be tackled on all 

fronts by people both in 

government and the private 

sectors. 

Represented by his deputy, 

Mrs.Yetunde Onanuga, the 

governor said, “political 

office holders should be 

concerned over the plight of 

their people in the state as 

the country is battling with 

economic recession.” 

No fewer than 63 

councillorship candidates in 

the three local governments 

as well as 11 chairmanship 

candidates were also given 

financial assistance by the 

lawmaker. 

ONDO GOV POLL TIT-BITS 


INEC distributes 1m PVCs 

OVER one million Permanent Voters Cards PVCs, have been 

distributed to registered voters in Ondo State by the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, INEC. 

The Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr Olusegun 

Agbaje, who made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, 

said that 344,006 PVCs were yet to be collected and urged those yet 

to collect theirs to do so. 

Agbaje said: “It is important to stress at this juncture that only PVCs 

would be used to vote during the governorship poll, while the smart 

card readers would be used for accreditation of voters.” 

Mimiko wants Third Term via Jegede 

—Akeredolu 

CANDIDATE of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, 

Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has said that a vote for the candidate of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is a vote for governor Olusegun 

Mimiko’s third term in office. 

Akeredolu, in a statement issued by his Chairman, Research and 

Communication, Kunle Adebayo, in Akure, said that the governor 

has been boasting that Jegede’s tenure will bear indelible imprints 

on the lives of the people and he will achieve monumental feats that 

exceeds that of his own tenure. 

The statement reads: “It is important to state that Mimiko’s boasts 

are not only insulting to the memory and intelligence of the people of 

the state, they are evidences of his disdain for the sensibilities and 

emotions of the people. 

“The point must be made clearly that Eyitayo Jegede’s candidacy is 

a daring attempt by Governor Olusegun Mimiko to seek a third term 

in office from the backdoor through the use of a stooge." 

PDP is the party to beat — EYITAYO 

CANDIDATE of the PDP in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, said 

that the party would defend its vote during the forthcoming election. 

Jegede, who spoke after a road show across Akure, the state capital, 

said what happened in Edo State could not deter the PDP from winning 

the November 26 election in Ondo State. 

“Happening here is a confirmation of what we all know that I am 

the only candidate of the PDP and the fact that PDP’s candidate has 

generated some form of interest because I won’t call it a dispute, also 

confirmed to me that PDP is party to beat. 

“Otherwise, nobody will show interest. I wonder why everybody is 

interested in PDP’s candidate. There were the transparent primaries 

here in Akure, and a winner emerged and that was me. INEC was 

present both from Akure here and INEC from Abuja, security agents 

were also there and it was open for all to see and that to me, was a 

confirmation that what we have done was transparent and lawful. 

Agunloye frowns at non-payment of 

workers’ salaries 

THE candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Ondo 

State, Dr Olu Agunloye, has described the non-payment of salaries 

to workers in the state “as criminal and sinful.” 

Agunloye, who said this in Akure pledged to give priority to 

workers’ welfare and salaries, if elected. 

He said: “It is sinful, it is criminal to have workers work and you 

don’t pay them and they are not allowed to do any other thing. If 

you find them doing another thing, you can terminate their 

appointment .But now that they have put all their lives in their 

jobs, you are not paying them. 

“Our programme is both short and medium term. Once we get 

there, we will start to do debt management so that we can start to 

pay monies that are owed.” 

Oke’s defection not surprising — Alasoadura 

AN APC aspirant, Senator Tayo Alasoadura has described the 

defection of Mr Olusola Oke to Alliance for Democracy, AD, as good 

riddance to bad rubbish. 

Speaking with Vanguard in Akure, Alasoadura said that Oke's 

defection was never a surprise to him. 

He said: “Oke’s defection never came to me as a surprise, he jumped 

ship immediately the APC won the presidential election. He took that 

decision so as not to drown with the sinking ship of the PDP. I also 

do not expect him to come third in the primaries but because of the 

hunger in the land and the money he spent."

Hi SOCIETY societyvanguard@gmail.com 

•CHIDI 

•EKEH 


Nnamdi Okonkwo, 

Leo Stan Ekeh, Chidi 

Mokeme, others rock 

Yudala Zero Gravity 

IDELITY bank GMD, 

FNnamdi Okonkwo, President 

Zinox Technologies, Leo Stan Ekeh, 

top Nollywood actor, Chidi 

Mokeme, were among the popular 

faces that rocked Yudala Zero 

Gravity, concert in Lagos, weekend. 

The show which Yudala said was 

to host and celebrate their 

customers saw a line-up of A- list 

Nigerian artistes including 

Olamide, Naeto , Humblesmith, 

Sound Sultan and Zoro. 

Much as these stars kept the 

night alive, it was Olamide that 

stole the show as the Shakitibobo 

crooner got everybody in the hall 

rocking when it was his turn to 

perform. 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Mother of all concerts 

for KSA @ 70 

Stories by Anozie Egole 

KING Sunny Ade again! 

After celebrating a high 

class 70th birthday that saw 

who is who in Nigeria 

in attendance late last 

month, the juju singer 

is hooking up with the 

guitar again in a 

spectacular concert 

meant to celebrate his 

friends, and make his 

fans and well wishers 

shuffle their feet to his 

usual juju dance. 

The celebrations will 

climax with a groundbreaking 

concert 

production. 

The organizers, 

Temple Management 

Company, have 

promised that KSA, will 

have the very best of 

local and 

international 

•KSA 

entertainers as he deserves an 

event that reflects his iconic 

status. 

Expressing his happiness 

KSA said, “I have been around 

the industry long enough to 

realize that the guys at Temple 

Management Company are 

very sharp and know what they 

are doing with their level of 

professionalism. I am very 

pleased to work with them to 

put together a befitting 70th 

birthday concert for me. With 

this arrangement in place, I can 

concentrate on what I 

know how to do 

best. You can call 

this concert one 

of the biggest of 

my music career 

and I am looking 

forward to giving 

my fans the best 

performance of 

my life.” 

•Mabel Makun 

Jamaican-African 

cuisine comes to 

Lagos via Jamo Afrique 

LAGOS big boys can now enjoy their favourite 

Jamaican cuisine in Lagos, without 

spending a dime on airfare. 

Yes! This is because Lagos billionaire and 

socialite, Fifi Umenyiora Dilly, is bringing 

Jamiacan tasty dishes to Lagos via her Jamo 

Afrique concept. 

The business woman and wife of Okwudili 

Umenyiora, a business mogul and the CEO of 

Dilly Motors, who recently celebrated her star 

studded birthday gig in Lagos where she hosted 

some of Lagos, finest personalities to a lavish 

party in the restaurant has promised to ensure 

the restaurant, ‘Jamo Afrique’ becomes a 

household name associated with distinct quality 

and excellence of service in the shortest possible 

time. 

She told Hi Society,“it’s been a long time 

coming but I thank God we are here today to 

show results.” 

Like AY, like wife Mabel 

MABEL Makun, wife of ace-comedian and 

award-winning film maker, Ayo Makun a.k.a 

AY is a head-runner any day. Whenever she steps out, 

she commands such an influence that beats the 

imagination of her haters. And this was the case, 

Friday evening, when she was spotted at an event at 

Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi. 

Dressed in yellow-coloured local fabric, the beautiful 

mother of one who turned 30 years in March, was the 

cynesure of all eyes. In fact, she was everywhere 

posing for shots and exchanging pleasantries with 

both her friends and foes. 

Rather than living under the shadow of her husband, 

delectable Mabel is working hard to build her 

brand as an interior designer. She’s leaving no stone 

unturned in her resolve to live her dreams like her 

husband. 

•Fifi


C 

M 

Y 

K 



How Tinubu nominated Osinbajo 

By Tunji Bello 

NOTHING strengthens 

deceit more than silence. 

And on an occasion like this, one 

often wonders why some people 

twist events and history in order to 

legitimize a mission. While 

ruminating over why this should 

be, it is not impossible to embark 

on introspection by thinking out so 

many possibilities that politics is 

replete with. This line of thought 

is informed by laughable events of 

the last few days. 

The news media have become 

awash with false stories of how 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came 

to be. During the launch of a book: 

‘Muhammadu Buhari: The 

Challenges of leadership in 

Nigeria,’ a biography on President 

Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on 

Monday, October 3, 2016, 

Nigerians were fed with half truths 

by the author, Professor John 

Paden, on how Osinbajo became 

the Vice President of the country. I 

don’t know how the author came 

about his story, but he totally got it 

wrong because what he wrote 

basically is based on falsehood that 

reeks of deliberate misinformation 

and mischief. 

I know how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu picked Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo because I was part of the 

process that midwifed his 

nomination. In mid December 

2014, it was a Saturday morning 

after President Muhammadu 

Buhari had been picked by All 

Progressives Congress (APC), at 

the party’s presidential primaries 

at Teslim Balogun Stadium in 

Surulere, Lagos. 

Muslim-muslim 

ticket 

I received a phone call from 

Asiwaju to see him that morning. 

On my way to his house, I 

discovered that a car at a 

reasonable distance was that of 

former Lagos State Commissioner 

for Information and Strategy, Dele 

Alake, who was, ostensibly, 

heading towards Asiwaju’s house 

in Ikoyi. Asiwaju must have called 

him too for that task that could be 

explained underneath. 

As soon as we arrived, Asiwaju 

quickly asked us to join him in his 

car as we headed to a guest house. 

At the guest house, the former APC 

Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo and one 

renowned pastor joined us. At the 

meeting, Asiwaju related to us the 

urgent need to pick a Vice 

Presidential candidate for the APC. 

He advised that we immediately 

discard the idea of him being 

nominated for the vice-presidential 

slot as it was no longer possible to 

pick a muslim-muslim ticket. This 

he reasoned made sense if indeed 

we were to be realistic in our bid to 

defeat President Goodluck 

Jonathan in the 2015 election. He 

reasoned that what was important 

and imperative at that time was to 

look for a good Christian nominee 

to complement President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 

I remember Baba Akande 

responded to his aversions that he 

would still have preferred that 

Asiwaju should be the running 

mate since it had been done 

before. Baba Akande was 

obviously referring to the MKO 

Abiola/ Babagana Kingibe 

nomination. Asiwaju responded 

by distinguishing the political 

equation then from what was 

before us at that point in time. He 

foreclosed that scenario as no 

longer possible. We all voiced our 

opinions, and at the end of the day, 

it was resolved that we had to get 

a Christian candidate. 

It was at this point that Asiwaju 

reminded us to be fast in coming 

up with an option because he felt 

other geographical zones are also 

jostling for same position 

reiterating the need for the 

Southwest to get it as a must. 

Asiwaju audaciously told us that 

left for him, and if he were to pick 

anyone, he would suggest 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo. That 

Osinbajo, apart from being a 

brilliant legal luminary is also a 

committed progressive democrat. 

And having been married to late 

Asiwaju 

audaciously told us 

that left for him, and 

if he were to pick 

anyone, he would 

suggest Professor 

Yemi Osinbajo 

Obafemi Awolowo’s granddaughter, 

it would not be a problem 

selling him to the old political 

establishment of southwest for 

acceptance. He asserted that Alake 

and myself having served in his 

cabinet could attest to the great 

works he did as attorney general 

during his, Asiwaju’s 

administration as governor of 

Lagos State. He also reasoned that 

the second major factor in favour 

of Osinbajo was the fact that he is 

a strong Christian being that he is 

already a pastor at the Redeemed 

VP, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo 

Christian Church of God 

(RCCG). In the long run, 

Osinbajo’s nomination was well 

received by all of us at that meeting 

and Professor Osinbajo was asked 

to start detailing with us, further 

strategy sessions to which he 

brought out his laptop and we all 

commenced a brainstorming 

session. The rest of the discussion 

was to strategise on how to contain 

other likely opponents from the 

southwest zone before proceeding 

to Abuja to battle other regional 

zones in the coming 

nomination. The meeting did not 

finish until about 9.00pm when we 

returned to Asiwaju’s residence in 

Bourdillon. By the time we returned 

to his house, there were about six 

serving governors already waiting 

to see him from different parts of 

Nigeria. 

What is particularly sad now is 

that the book launch of the 

president was deployed to create 

a make-believe story that puts the 

society at a disadvantage in history. 

One would have thought that now 

that the progressives, through an 

uncommon alliance in 2015, 

created an upset by defeating, for 

the first time in the country’s 

history, the then ruling People’s 

Democratic Party, it might be taken 

as a given that the role of all active 

participants in the exercise would 

be correctly recorded. But 

surprisingly and painfully too, 

such an avenue was used to create 

an historical distortion of facts. 

If a political adversary had done 

that, one would not have been 

disturbed. This is because at the 

end of the day under such 

circumstance, the goal is usually 

to create a make-believe story that 

puts the society on the wrong side 

of history. But now that the 

progressives, through an 

uncommon alliance in 2015, 

created an upset by defeating, for 

the first time in the country’s 

history, the then ruling People’s 

Democratic Party, it might be taken 

as given that the role of all active 

participants in the exercise would 

be correctly recorded. But 

surprisingly painful is the fact that 

a historical distortion of facts is 

coming from an unexpected 

quarters at this early stage of 

progressive politics. 

It becomes more of a matter of 

concern when a renowned 

intellectual writes a book and 

begins to redefine events in his 

own way by abashedly evading 

facts that are reverberating in the 

public space in order to re-create a 

world of make-believe for his 

audience. Sincerely, such an act 

understandably becomes a matter 

to ponder seriously. Let us stop 

here. It is not all clothes that can 

be dried in the sun. 

•Bello is the Secretary to Lagos 

State Government. 

Ezinne Lady Gladys Beatrice 

Oritsegbeyiwa Ebreneyin, a year after 

TRIBUTE 

By Anthony Okotie 

TODAY marks a year 

since the transition to 

glory of the late Ezinne Lady 

Gladys Beatrice 

Oritsegbeyiwa Ebreneyin 

nee Ogbe, who was 

popularly called mama 

divine Mercy/Mummy. Her 

enduring legacy will be her 

philanthropic commitment to 

the church, helping 

individuals in need, her 

authentic and courageous 

pursuit for fairness and 

justice. She was not afraid to 

stand alone in what she 

believed to be right, or even 

to take the mantle of 

leadership in very difficult 

situations when seeking a 

peaceful way to resolve 

conflicts. 

A common aphorism states 

that there is a time to be born, 

a time to live and a time to 

die. So it was with our aunty, 

Ezinne Lady Gladys Beatrice 

Oritsegbeyiwa Ebveneyin. 

Her death took her beloved 

ones, members of her 

immediate family by surprise 

and left them downcast. 

Solemn 

ceremony 

Tears flowed, and on 

December 11, 2015 when 

she was lowered to the 

grave, those who witnessed 

the solemn ceremony knew 

that a great woman who 

devoted her life to 

the service of God 

and humanity 

had departed the 

world. 

We find it 

extremely 

incredible to agree 

with the obvious 

reality that she 

has passed on. 

Ezinne was a 

friend to all and 

was loyal and 

dependable. She 

was a woman that 

could be relied 

upon in any 

circumstances. 

She was a sweet 

mother to all her 

siblings and pleasant to 

everyone who came across 

her. 

Three leadership lessons 

can be learnt from Lady 

Ezinne Ebreneyin nee Ogbe. 

The first is that we must 

always invest in others. She 

learnt very early the gains of 

grooming and empowerment 

of young people. 

She invested so much in 

people and her children will 

obviously reap from her 

labour. She was one woman 

who was so full of humility 

and kindness. 

The second lesson is that 

we must always put in 

positive words for those who 

mean well for us. She 

demonstrated these qualities 

while she lived and equally 

sowing seed in people’s 

lives. Her ability to be 

entrusted with several roles 

in the church was a 

testimonial of her character 

and trustworthiness as a 

person. 

The third lesson to be 

learnt is that it pays to look 

good at all times. This could 

be because of her Itsekiri 

background and her family 

lineage. As princess in the 

land, at all times she was 

glamorously dressed. She 

believed that looking good 

and feeling good go hand 

in hand. Her dress sense 

and elegance were in line 

with her values 

Ezinne Lady Gladys 

Beatrice Oritsegbeyiwa 

Ebreneyin was born on 

December 6, 1952 to the 

family of late Chief London 

Datson Ogbe of 

Ugbuwangue village in 

Warri South Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State and late Madam 

Lodge Ogbe of Ekete village 

in Udu Local Government 

Area of Delta State. 

Ezinne Lady G.B.O 

Ebreneyin met and married 

Sir Charlie Ebrenyin in 1968. 

The marriage was peaceful 

and fruitful and blessed with 

biological and adopted 

children and grand children 

who loved and adored her 

for her fairness, firmness, 

kind nature and extreme 

generosity. She was a vibrant 

woman who immediately set 

up the “Devotion to the 

Divine Mercy' a prayer 

Late Gladys Beatrice Oritsegbeyiwa 

Ebreneyin 

group with which she 

managed to pull a great 

number of families back to 

the Catholic faith. She was 

a valuable asset to the 

Catholic Church in general. 

Particularly the C.W.O she 

was a leader in the C.W.O 

group. AIN St. Joseph’s pro. 

Cathedral Asaba. 

She was a virtuous woman 

who believed in adherence 

to the tenets of the Holy Bible 

as a way of life. She affected 

all those she came in contact 

with. No doubt we will all 

greatly miss you, but we 

take solace that you are in 

fact resting in the bosom of 

our Lord Jesus Christ. May 

her soul rest in peace until 

we meet to part no more.

Embracing civil war: The 

illogical option in Colombia 

THERE are communities who 

allegedly rejoice at the prospect 

of war. In Nigeria, the Ijesha people 

in the Western part are said to be one 

of such. But generally, nobody or 

group rejoice in fighting wars unless 

there are territorial or material 

benefits to gain, some point to be 

made or ego to massage. 

Naturally, humans desire or want 

peace. Therefore the Sunday 

October 2, 2016 decision of 

Colombian voters to reject a peace 

deal ending 52 years of civil war was 

illogical. More so for an 

undeveloped country that lost 

218,094 lives in the five-decade 

conflict and is facing economic 

challenges primarily due to fall in 

oil prices; a commodity that 

accounts for 45 percent of its income. 

The Colombian situation is even 

more tragic because in an earlier 

10-year insurgency from 1948, over 

200,000 people were killed. Given 

the fact that the Colombian civil war 

has its origins in the 1920 peasants 

revolt, it means that the country has 

been at war for virtually 96 years 

with over half a million killed. It 

would be logical to conclude that 

war is part of the Colombian psyche. 

This however, does not explain why 

more people voted to reject the peace 

deal. 

The war is directly linked to the 

April 1948 assassination of the 45- 

year old charismatic leader of the 

Liberal Party, Jorge Eliecer Gaitan 

Ayala an ex-Mayor of Bogota, and 

former Minister. The populace 

which claimed that he was killed for 

his pro-people programmes while 

campaigning for the Presidential 

elections, poured out in street 

protests. Over 4,000 people were 

killed in the protests which led to the 

ten year uprising. This was followed 

by a systematic repression by the 

Colombian armed forces. American 

special forces drawn from those who 

hunted down the rebels of the 

Hukbalahap (Huks) Rebellion in the 

Central Luzon Province of the 

Philippines joined the Colombian 

Army in hunting and exterminating 

the protest leaders. Following the 

1964 military attack on the town of 

Marqutalia, the rebel leaders led by 

Dumar Aljure, united to establish the 

Revolutionary Armed Forces of 

Colombia otherwise known as 

FARC. The guerrilla organisation 

said it decided to take to armed 

struggle to defend the populace 

against repression, protect the rights 

Nigeria joins digital broadcasting world 

By Sampson Ikemitang 

AFTER several years of unsuccessful move 

by successive administrations to 

switchover from analogue to digital 

broadcasting, the administration of President 

Muhammadu Buhari has at last edged the 

country into the league of digital world. 

Nigeria transited from analogue to digital 

television viewing on April 30, 2016 in the city 

of Jos, the Plateau State Capital when it 

launched the pilot phase of the Federal 

Government’s digital transmission project that 

kick started the digitisation process in Nigeria. 

Digitisation is the process of converting 

analogue signals or information from any 

format into digital forms that can be 

understood by computer systems or electronic 

devices. The term is used when converting 

information like text, images or voices and 

sounds into binary codes. Digitised 

information is easier to store, access and 

transmit and digitisation is used by a number 

of Consumer electronic devices. 

The switchover to Digital Terrestrial 

Television, DTT, was a necessity for Nigeria as 

a signatory to the International Broadcast 

Union Agreement tagged: “Geneva 2006” 

which mandated all countries to switchover to 

avoid signal interference from other countries. 

Indeed, the switchover is sure to enable viewers 

enjoy up to 15 free-to-air channels as against 

the four channels they enjoyed prior to the 

launch. The free – to – air scheme will see about 

200, 000 television households in Jos receiving 

free Set -Top- Boxes,STBs, for the Digital 

Switchover (DSO). 

It will be recalled that Nigeria’s journey to 

the switchover from analogue to digital 

broadcasting started in 2006 when the 

International Telecommunications Union, 

ITU, Council adopted its Resolution 1185 to 

transit from analogue to digital terrestrial 

broadcasting. 

It is imperative to note that Jos, the Plateau 

State Capital has always been a hot spot of 

history in Nigeria. For instance, in 1959, the 

Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, 

WNBC, launched the first TV station in Africa. 

In 1975, the first colour TV was switched on, 

and this year 2016, Nigeria has transited from 

analogue to digital broadcasting. 

According to the Minister of Information 

and Culture, Lai Mohammed, “Nigeria’s free 

TV DTT will be the largest in the world as 

against that of UK with 10 million, Australia 

with 13 million and New Zealand with 3 

million. He noted that history was being made 

on that day, both in Nigeria as a country and 

in the city of Jos 

With the digital switch 

successfully on, there 

appears to be a fresh breath 

of hope for the June 20, 

2017 deadline for Nigeria to 

complete the digital 

switchover and achieve 

analogue switch off 

“What we have dreamt of, imagined, 

attempted and what even seemed impossible 

at a stage is now happening right before our 

very eyes. More importantly, we are 

democratising the right to know, the right to 

knowledge and the right to be informed. This 

is simply because with what we are doing today, 

the average Jos person does not need to pay 

subscription to watch the best news and 

entertainment from around the world. This 

high quality sound and high resolution pictures 

are equal, if not superior to any in the world,” 

he said. 

The Minister intensified that in terms of 

economy; all licensed Set-Top-Boxes 

manufacturers have been mandated to 

establish manufacturing companies in 

Nigeria to produce the boxes locally, after 

importing the first set of boxes. He added that 

this will indeed create massive employment 

and ensure the transfer of technology to 

Nigerian people, noting that there will be an 

of the citizenry and establish a propoor 

government based on social 

justice. On the other hand, the 

government, backed by paramilitary 

death squads, says it is maintaining 

law and order. That was the 

beginning of the 52-year war. 

Another guerrilla organisation 

which took up arms like the FARC, 

is the National Liberation Army, 

ELN. This group produced one of 

the most charismatic and romantic 

guerrilla figures in the world, Father 

Camilo Torres. He was the Catholic 

Not a few 

Colombians 

would wonder 

why the 460,773- 

strong armed 

forces and police 

cannot defeat the 

guerrillas whose 

strength is put at 

less than 30,000 

priest who famously said "If Jesus 

were alive today, He would be a 

guerrilla." Torres was killed on 

February 16, 1966 when his brigade 

ambushed a military patrol team. 

The Colombian war has been a 

brutal one which included terrorism, 

death squads, kidnapping, 

disappearances, massacres and 

arson by both sides. One of the most 

famous cases of kidnapping was that 

of Colombia-French citizen, 

Senator Ingrid Betancourt who was 

married to a French diplomat. She 

was kidnapped by the FARC on 

February 23, 2002 while 

campaigning for the Presidential 

elections. Held for six and a half 

years before her rescue on July 2, 

2008, Betancourt was freed along 

with fourteen others including three 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 — 31 

Americans and eleven Colombian 

policemen and soldiers. 

Not a few Colombians would 

wonder why the 460,773-strong 

armed forces and police cannot 

defeat the guerrillas whose strength 

is put at less than 30,000. The answer 

maybe that the FARC has popular 

following in the areas it controls 

especially in rural Colombia. 

Secondly, it is a guerrilla movement 

which can hit and melt away like 

invisible forces. Thirdly, guerrilla 

movements are usually quite 

committed and highly motivated by 

the cause they fight for while the 

motivation of the state forces are 

usually the wages they collect and 

not necessarily patriotism. 

Four years ago, the government 

and FARC began peace 

negotiations. President Juan 

Manuel Santos was interested in 

bringing peace to his homeland and 

he found a ready partner in FARC. 

On September 26, 2016 both sides 

signed a 297-Page Peace 

Agreement. The terms include the 

FARC handing its arms to United 

Nations inspectors, and 

transitioning into a political party 

with token seats in parliament. Rebel 

leaders who own up to their crimes 

during the war will not be jailed. 

An enthusiastic President Santos 

who is a former Defence Minister 

said: “What we sign today is a 

declaration from the Colombian 

people before the world that we are 

tired of war…that we don’t accept 

violence as the means of defending 

ideas.” 

All present at the ceremony 

including United Nations Secretary 

General, Ban Ki-moon and Cuban 

President Raul Castro were in white. 

The pens used to sign the Agreement 

were made from recycled bullets 

used during the war and they had an 

inscription on the side which read 

"Bullets wrote our past. Education, 

our future" 

While the FARC had held its 10th 

astronomical increase in the need for content 

which will fire the creative ability of Nigerian 

youths. 

He further assured Nigerians that very soon 

every household in the country will switch to 

DSO, after over 200,000 boxes have been 

distributed freely to the inhabitants of Jos. 

“Distribution is ongoing and government 

will watch and supervise the pilot scheme. In 

the couple of months from now, we shall move 

to the FCT and then to Lagos, until we cover 

the 36 states of the federation,” the Minister 

stated. 

He assured Nigerians that the Federal 

Government will not relent in its effort to ensure 

that Nigeria meets the June 20, 2017 deadline 

for Digital Switchover, DSO. 

Digital TV broadcasting offers many 

advantages over analogue systems for endusers, 

operators and regulators. Apart from 

increasing the number of programmes, digital 

systems have the capacity to provide new 

innovative services such as interactive TV, 

electronic programme guides and mobile TV 

as well as transmit images and sound in highdefinition, 

HDTV, and Ultra-high definition, 

UHDTV. Digital TV requires less energy to 

ensure the same coverage as for analogue, 

thereby decreasing the overall cost of 

transmission. 

With the digital switch successfully on, there 

appears to be a fresh breath of hope for the 

June 20, 2017 deadline for Nigeria to complete 

the digital switchover and achieve analogue 

switch off. It would be recalled that Nigeria’s 

inability to meet up the June 17, 2015 deadline 

for transiting to digital terrestrial broadcasting 

stipulated by the International 

Telecommunications Union, ITU, was as a 

result of poor funding. 

Meanwhile, the June 20, 2017 deadline for 

the switchover from analogue to DTT has 

heralded the development of ‘all-digital’ 

terrestrial broadcasting services for sound and 

television in 119 countries belonging to the 

ITU Region 1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East 

and Central Asia) and the Islamic Republic of 

Iran. 

Through this singular move, Nigeria has 

pointed the way forward for other African 

countries that have been struggling in the effort 

to find financing for their own digital 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Congress a week before the signing, 

and ratified the Agreement, the 

Colombian government conducted 

a referendum to ratify it a week later. 

To assist in the campaign for the 

Agreement, FARC made a public 

apology, invited the UN to oversee 

its destruction of over 620kg 

explosives and promised to use its 

liquidated war assets to assist victims 

of the war. The polls indicated that 

the Agreement would be passed by 

two thirds. But in a stunning defeat, 

those who rejected the Agreement 

won by 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent. 

The reasons for the loss in my 

analysis include insufficient 

sensitisation by an overconfident 

government. A poor votermobilisation 

which saw only 13 

million people or 40 percent voterturnout. 

Complacency by pro- peace 

supporters who saw the vote as a 

mere formality. An underestimation 

of the mobilisation powers of those 

who oppose the agreement including 

former Presidents Alvaro Uribe and 

Andreas Pastrana. Lots of 

misinformation which included 

presenting the rebels as criminals 

who are not just escaping justice, but 

also about being rewarded for their 

criminality. 

The referendum loss is a serious 

setback, but it is not enough to deal 

a death blow on the peace process in 

the face of a willing government and 

a willing rebel group who in reaction 

to the vote agreed not to resume 

hostilities. Rebel leader, Rodrigo 

‘Timochenko’ Londono said “The 

Farc reiterates its disposition to use 

only words as a weapon to build 

toward the future …To the 

Colombian people who dream of 

peace, count on us, peace will 

triumph.” With five million 

internally displaced by the war, an 

international community in strong 

support and a war-weary citizenry, I 

think the Peace Agreement will 

eventually be ratified. 

switchover programmes. It is imperative to 

know that Nigeria and 51 other African 

countries could not meet the ITU deadline and 

the implication is that analogue signals from 

Nigerian broadcasting stations will not receive 

protection in the event of interference with or 

from digital signals from neighbouring 

countries. When fully completed, the Minister 

of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed 

has said that digitisation will revolutionise the 

economy of Nigeria; and not just changing 

the face of broadcasting, it will be a spinner 

that in its wake will create more wealth, jobs 

and create more avenues for talented youths 

to achieve their potentials. 

“Prior to our going digital, we have only four 

national channels which are: AIT, Channels 

TV, ITV and of course NTA. These are channels 

that you can tune into and without paying any 

fee, watch what is going on; but with digitisation, 

we are going to have 30 channels that would 

be national and free,” he stated. 

“Apart from giving you quality pictures and 

more platforms, it is going to create more jobs. 

With digitisation, you are going to have 

distributors in every local government of the 

country. It also allows for better interaction 

between government and the governed 

because aside from advertisements on the 

channels paid for, with digitisation you can 

get government messages on its policies and 

programmes on any channel you tune into.” 

The Minister further explained that this 

process is also going to encourage many young 

talented youths in the area of content 

production. Adding, with digitisation, there will 

be strict division of labour between signal 

distributors and content producers. He 

espoused that another good spin of the process 

is the fact that the government has encouraged 

all those who are licensed to bring in the STBs 

and to manufacture them locally in Nigeria. 

The Chairman of the DigiTeam, Edward 

Amana while speaking at the launch said that 

a total of 30 million STBs are required for the 

whole country. According to him, 4 out of the 

13 companies have already established their 

factories in Calabar and Port Harcourt and 

will soon commence production. 

*Mr. Ikemitang , wrote from the 

Federal Ministry of Information & 

Culture, Abuja. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

32 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS; Monetary Venus makes an ingress into 

your Star sign with good luck to you. Financial 

success is closer to you than you can imagine. 

Give it a big push. 

GEMINI; Here is a good day when influential 

personalities around you will be willing to assist 

you but you will need to take the initiative. Take 

good advice. 

CANCER; This is your day. The more ambitious 

you are along your career line the better for you. 

And friends are willing to give the needed supports. 

By Richard Eromosele 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

Want to live in peace with 

your enemy? 

THE holy writ 

says if our 

ways pleases the 

Lord, he will make 

our enemies to live in 

peace with us.I want 

to ask you a 

question:Are you living 

in peace and harmony 

with your 

neighbour?If you 

are not,then it is time 

for you to examine 

your relationship 

with your creator.If 

your relationship 

with your creator is 

smooth,there is no 

way your relationship 

with your 

neighbour won’t 

benefit from it.You 

cannot be antagonistic 

towards your 

neighbour and expect 

your creator to 

be happy with 

you.Relate well with 

your creator and 

your enemies will be 

at peace with you. 

Think about it! 

LEO; Your mind is truly active and if you’re more 

practical about it success’ll crown your efforts. 

Reason with your tried and trusted friends. 

VIRGO; Coming of monetary and loving into a 

positive angle to your Star sign is a big plus. On a 

day like this the more ambitious you are the better. 

It’s good to be loving 

LIBRA; The more willing you are to listen to your 

partners and/or spouse the better for you today. 

Friends are trying to convince you that the are 

reliable. 

SCORPIO; The more push-full you are along your 

career/business lines the better. Embrace new 

method at work. Don’t neglect your love life. 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

By Kola Fayemi 

SAGITTARIUS; Here is a day you are not meant 

to ignore new ideas that come suddenly. It’s good 

to take matters of the heart more seriously. Listen 

to your spouse please. 

CAPRICORN; Monetary and romantic Venus is 

joining mighty Sun at positive angle to your Star 

and bringing you good influence. Be more ambitious. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

AQUARIUS; Although your being co-operative can 

enhance your scope, your personal ideas and initiative 

are guarantee for a bigger do. 

PISCES; Those of you who are more consistent 

will have more to gain. Good ideas on monetary 

issues will enhance your finances. Be more family 

minded. 

ARIES; Entrance of monetary and romantic Venus 

into a positive angle is meant to enhance your 

finances. The more willing you are to take good 

advice the better. Be loving. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date e and place of birth th to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

Dear Joshua, 

I am a regular reader of your work since you 

were with The Punch Newspapers. I want you 

to please tell me my lucky dates and dates to 

beware this last quarter of year. More ink to 

your pen. 

Opara, Lagos. 

Dear Opara, 

On your lucky dates try to maximise your gains 

on one hand and or the other hand, try your 

best possible to avoid trouble and/or loss during 

those dates to beware of. But take note that 

there is nothing to worry about concerning dates 

to beware of because, they are mere warnings. 

However the lucky dates are for real. 

Important days quarter of the year 

YOUR LUCKY DATES 

October B 16* 20, 25 & 30. 

November B 4, 11, 13***, 17, 21** & 26. 

December B 1***, 10, 14, 23 & 28. 

DATES TO BEWARE OF 

Oct B 18 

Nov B 1 

Dec B 6 

Prince Joshua Adeyemo 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa


RECESSION: FG flags off 4-day training programme 

for SSE 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—THE Federal 

Government has flagged 

off a four-day entrepreneurial 

training programme for Small 

Scale Enterprises, SSE, as part of 

efforts towards tackling the 

economic recession in the country. 

Flagging off the programme 

with the theme Training the 

Trainers in Asaba, Delta State, 

Director-General, National 

Directorate of Employment, Mr 

Kunle Obayan said that the 

training programme was due to 

the crucial role played by 

entrepreneurs in boosting the 

country’s economy. 

Obayan who was represented 

by Director, Small Scale 

Enterprises, SSE, Department 

NDE, headquarters, Abuja, Mrs 

Henrietta Achigbu, said that the 

programme was designed combat 

unemployment and to meet the 

demands of the nation’s teeming 

youths. 

He said, “The Directorate has 

recently introduced new schemes, 

one of which is the school-to-work 

scheme targeting JSS 3 and SS 2 

students, designed to encourage 

the culture of skill acquisition 

among secondary school students 

in Nigeria. 

“Another scheme introduced is 

the NDE Agricultural Park to boost 

green houses with market 

gardens for production of 

tomatoes, green pepper, among 

others and to promote fish farms 

and poultry farms.” 

Earlier in his speech, the Delta 

‘Nobody can force Oyegun out of 

office as APC national chairman' 

By Lucky Oji 

A 

chieftain of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Edo State, Chief Francis 

Inegbeniki, has warned that no 

amount of calls by some leaders 

of the party can remove Chief 

John Odigie-Oyegun, from office. 

Inegbeniki, in a statement, 

yesterday in Warri, on behalf of 

“APC Disciples in Edo,” said, “It 

is unfortunate that our national 

leader, whom we all respect so 

much and Timi Frank, have asked 

Oyegun to resign from office, 

without disclosing the offence that 

he committed to warrant his 

resignation. 

“Our national leader’s anger 

against Oyegun is related to the 

just concluded Ondo State APC 

governorship primaries, while 

Timi Frank’s anger is the 

unfortunate crisis rocking the 

National Assembly. Oyegun is not 

the cause of the crisis in the 

National Assembly and cannot 

take decision alone without other 

members of the National Working 

Committee. 

“Oyegun was not an aspirant 

in the Ondo APC primaries, so, it 

MEETING: Commissioner for the Environment, Lagos State, Dr. Babatunde Adejare (middle), 

Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe (left) and Permanent 

Secretary, Eng. Adeyemi Saliu at the meeting with the Sole Administrators of LGAs/LCDAs on 

Sustainable Environment in Alausa Secretariat, yesterday. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

State Coordinator, NDE, Mr 

Godfrey Ugbaja, charged the 

participants to key into the 

programme which according 

to him, would be of immense 

is unnecessary for anyone to direct 

his anger at Oyegun. It is not fair 

to put all the blames on him. 

Nobody should use Oyegun as 

the sacrificial lamb. 

“We are therefore, calling on the 

former Vice President Atiku 

Abubakar and members of the 

National Working Committee to 

call Timi Frank to order.” 

benefit to them. 

He said that the workshop has 

the primary objective of 

strengthening the delivery 

capacity of SSE officers for 

Pitman opens centre in PH, laments 

poor communication skills 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT 

HARCOURT— 

EXECUTIVE Director, 

Pitman Port Harcourt , Rivers 

State, Mr Ebirien Nte, has 

expressed worry over he quality 

of some English write ups, saying 

there was need for writers, 

journalists to improve their 

knowledge of the language. 

Speaking at the opening of the 

Port Harcourt office of Pitman 

Training, Nte said that the centre 

which will serve the entire South 

South region will improve 

writers, broadcasters in 

reading, speaking and writing 

of the English language. 

“With Pitman English, you 

can improve in key English 

language, skills, converse more 

fluently and build vocabulary and 

pronunciation in a flexible way. 

At the beginning of the course, 

you will sit a proficiency 

assessment test to ascertain your 

current skill level. From there you 

will get straight into the course 

choosing subjects interesting and 

relevant to you,” he said. 

Nte said at the end of the 

training, Pitman will issue 

certificates from United Kingdom, 

adding that it was entirely an 

online training programme 

where participants would be 

assessed every three months. 

effective 

business 

entrepreneurship training of 

NDE beneficiaries which would 

be reflected in their ability to write 

bankable feasibility reports. 

EDO POLLS: Protect ballot papers from destruction, 

group urges INEC 

BENIN CITY — A rights 

group, the Centre for 

Good Governance (CGG), has 

urged the Resident Electoral 

Commissioner in Edo State to 

maintain the integrity of the 

recently conducted 

governorship election in the 

state by protecting ballot papers 

and other sensitive materials 

used during the September 28, 

2016 election. 

In a statement signed by its 

Executive Director, Mr. Clement 

Osahon, CGG said it has come 

to its knowledge that one of the 

parties that contested and lost 

the governorship election is 

covertly making overtures to 

INEC staff at the local 

government level to mutilate, 

and/or destroy ballot papers in 

order to make their intended 

case at the Election Petition 

Tribunal easy for them. 

The statement reads in part: 

“We call on INEC to be alive 

to its responsibilities to maintain 

the credibility of the recent 

election. We are most reliably 

informed of attempts by 

desperate politicians to bribe 

INEC staff to either release used 

and unused ballot papers to 

them or help them destroy 

papers. This, they believe in 

their machination, will make 

their lost case easy for them at 

the election tribunal.” 

“The question is: If this party 

actually won the election, as 

its candidate is falsely 

claiming, why will their 

leaders be planning to destroy 

ballot papers, ahead of filing 

their case at the tribunal? “ 

“INEC has a constitutional 

obligation to safeguard not only 

the used and unused ballot 

papers, but also all official 

documents used for the election, 

including results sheets and 

their duplicates”, the group 

stated. 

It noted that the said 

materials belong to the INEC 

and “no political party or 

candidate can or should have 

access to the sensitive 

documents without seeking and 

obtaining an order to that effect 

duly given by the tribunal. “ 

USAID, CSOs 

study indicts 

development 

agencies of failure 

in N’Delta 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

WARRI—A study by 

two civil society groups 

has accused Niger Delta 

Institutions, NDIs, of delivering 

too little to improve lives in the 

region against overwhelming 

funds made available to these 

agencies. 

The study sponsored by the 

United State Agency for 

International Development, 

USAID, and Partnership 

Initiatives for the Niger Delta, 

PIND, was carried out by Delta 

State based Lite-Africa and Edo 

rooted African Network for 

Environment and Economic 

Justice, ANEEJ. 

Titled Citizen Report Card on 

Niger Delta Institutions, NDIs, 

the study in 2015 covered eight 

local government areas across 

Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo and 

Ondo. It noted that the Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, states oil 

commissions, the Ministry of 

Niger Delta Affairs and even 

Community Development 

Committees, CDCs, set up by 

oil firms in the region do not 

consult the communities in the 

choice of project allocation. 

“Findings revealed that 

development interventions by 

NDIs have failed to meet the 

needs of the region. It reflects 

poor policy nature of these 

agencies and how far they are 

from the communities. 

“Poor coordination among 

NDIs led to duplicated and 

substandard projects across 

communities surveyed. Delta 

and Ondo states topped the 

list of abandoned projects 

followed by Edo before Cross 

Rivers,” the report stated. 

Delta community alerts govt 

of looming communal crisis 

By Rojhene Omamadia 

WARRI—THE leaders of 

Okere-Urhobo, Warri 

Kingdom, have called on the Delta 

State Government to wade into an 

escalating intra-communal crisis 

before its turns bloody. 

Speaking to newsmen in Warri, 

the Okpakorere (oldest man) in the 

community, Chief Dickson Eburu, 

narrated how an illegally body, 

known as the Land Committee, 

has allegedly been using the police 

to victimize members of 

legitimately constituted 

committees. 

According to the community 

leader, who was flanked by other 

members of the community, among 

them the Vice Chairman of Okere- 

Urhobo Development Movement, 

OUDM, Brume Eyekpimi, whose 

group is responsible for matters 

involving the community’s youths, 

he said that the illegal group has 

been interfering in the jurisdictions 

of community’s management 

committee and that of the youths, 

a development that has been 

creating tension in the community. 

Narrating the events that had 

culminated into the crisis, Chief 

Eburu said that the illegal group, 

started off by assigning itself as a 

committee, usurping the duties of 

the youths committee, by going on 

to collect development fees, a 

situation that led to serious 

disagreement and arrest of some 

community youth leaders. 

‘’We are calling on the state 

government to help us cut the 

excesses of this illegal land 

committee, with the aid of the BOT, 

to stop further harassment in the 

community. Today, the committee 

has caused four boys to be 

arrested, by labelling them 

kidnappers.''


Umahi's increase of workers' pay by 5% 

laughable —APC •Lifts suspension of members 

By Peter Okutu 

ABAKALIKI—THE Ebonyi 

State chapter of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

yesterday criticized Governor 

David Umahi-led 

administration for insignificantly 

increasing the salaries of civil 

servants by five percent and 

making a celebration out of it. 

The political party which 

stressed that the present 

administration was busy taking 

Ebonyi people for a ride in its 

policies and programmes 

described the increment as 

laughable and an 

embarrassment to Ebonyi 

people. 

Speaking during its 

emergency State Executive 

Council, SEC, meeting at its 

headquarters in Abakaliki, the 

embattled chairman of the party, 

Hon. Ben Nwobashi who 

charged Ebonyi people not to 

allow themselves to be deceived 

or manipulated by the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP-led 

government in the state further 

described the appointment of 

over 191 Special Technical 

Advisers, STAs and Technical 

Advisers, TAs by the present 

administration as unnecessary 

and wastage of scarce resources. 

The SEC of the APC also 

recalled all its members who 

were hitherto suspended by the 

party including Chief. Austin 

Edeze and Pastor Eze 

Nwachukwu and 

demonstrated the readiness of 

the party to live in peace for 

the benefit of all its members 

and agenda to retake power 

from the PDP. 

“PDP is not doing well in 

Ebonyi state. Five per cent 

Tension in Imo communities over devt levy 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

O WERRI—PALPABLE 

tension is brewing in the 

644 autonomous communities 

in Imo State, following the 

planned implementation of the 

N3,000 Development Levy 

slammed on every taxable 

adult by the state government. 

Already, Governor Rochas 

Okorocha has handed over 

what a traditional ruler called 

“Taxpayers Ledger,” to all the 

recognized royal fathers in the 

state. 

Vanguard equally gathered 

that apart from from being used 

as tax collectors, “the state 

government would use the 

performance of the traditional 

rulers, in the assigned duty, to 

grade them”. 

Strong feelers emanating 

from the communities 

yesterday, indicated that “most 

of the royal fathers are now 

under serious threat from their 

subjects.” 

Court orders AMCON to pay Capital Oil 

N26.5bn 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

High Court sitting in 

Abuja, Thursday, ordered the 

Asset Management 

Corporation of Nigeria, 

AMCON, to pay N26.5 billion 

to Capital Oil and Gas 

Industries Ltd. 

The court, in a judgement 

delivered by Justice Abdul 

Kafarati, equally made an 

order appointing an 

independent auditor to 

ascertain losses the firm which 

is owned by a one-time 

governorship aspirant in 

Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyi 

Ubah, incurred due to failure 

of AMCON to comply with its 

obligations under a consent 

judgement it entered for the 

parties on June 21, 2013. 

increment in salaries of 

workers is an embarrassment 

to the entire workers. LGA 

workers are not being treated 

as human beings. Ebonyians 

should wake up. PDP has 

reduced Ebonyians to nothing; 

the civil servants are no longer 

being promoted, no more 

workshops or leave allowances. 

In his reaction, Chief 

Blessing Osuagwu, an 

indigene of Umunachi Obowo, 

not only condemned the 

imposition of the latest tax by 

government, but also said its “a 

direct way of pitching the 

traditional rulers against their 

subjects.” 

Court restrains Onitsha traders 

from conducting union election 

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

NNEWI—AN Onitsha 

Magistrate's Court sitting 

in Anambra State, presided by 

U. M. Amechi, has restrained 

the leadership of Uba Planks 

and Joist Association, UPJA, 

Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, 

from conducting the election of 

the association on October 5, 

2016, or any other date, 

pending the hearing and 

determination of the suit 

The Registered Trustees of 

The consent judgment followed an 

agreement between Ubah who is 

majority shareholder in Capital Oil, 

and AMCON, for the restructuring of 

debts the firm owed various creditors, 

including banks, suppliers and staff. 

Under the arrangement which was 

backed by the court, AMCON was to 

provide N55.89bn to the plaintiff for 

the repayment of the debts, as well as 

an additional N16bn as trading capital 

to the plaintiff for the purpose of its 

petroleum products' trading business. 

PEOPLE SPEAK 

The 191 SAs is a disgrace. 

Imagine, some of them are in 

charge of dust bins.” 

But in their separate reactions, 

the factional chairmen of APC, 

Pastor Eze Nwachukwu and 

Chief Austin Edeze stated that 

the embattled chairman, 

Nwobashi lacked the constitutional 

backing to call for a SEC meeting even 

as they described the resolutions of the 

meeting as null and void and of no effect. 

His words: “There is tension in 

the land occasioned by the biting 

economic recession. People find 

it difficult to feed or meet their 

daily domestic demands. The 

poverty is so pervasive that no 

one is capable of giving helping 

hand to one’s relatives.” 

Uba Planks and Joist Association, 

UPJA, Bridge Head Market, 

Onitsha Anambra state had 

dragged the leadership of the 

association led by its chairman 

Mr. Tony Chilori to the court, 

seeking to restrain them from 

conducting election of its new 

executives before September 18, 2016. 

The suit was filed by Messers 

Donatus Echesi, Joseph Ifeadi, 

Jude Nwufo , Walter Okpala and 

Louis Ejinkonye, for themselves 

and representing the 

stakeholders, trustees and 

members of UPJA, 

Onitsha, against Mr. Tony 

Chilori, Chairman UPJA, Odera 

Nwosu, Ejeagbo Godwin, 

Chukwuma Anadumaka and 

Rapuluchukwu Okafor. 

The plaintiff are asking the 

court to grant among others, that 

the election of the association 

shall be held at the expiration of 

the tenure of the incumbent 

which is on October 18, 2016, 

having been inaugurated on 

October 18, 2012. 

Teachers're 

bridge builders 

—UGWUANYI 

By Chinedu Adonu 

ENUGU—ENUGU State 

governor, Mr. Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi has described 

teachers as bridge builders who 

are responsible for moulding and 

constructing many professionals 

and renowned individuals in the 

society today. 

Governor Ugwuanyi who was 

represented by the deputy 

governor of the state Mrs Cecilia 

Ezeilo, made this known during 

the celebration of this year’s World 

Teacher’s Day at the Michael 

Okpara Square, Independence 

layout Enugu. 

“Teachers are the reason we are 

what we are today. They are the 

bridge builders who patiently, 

with tender care, nurtured us to 

become the professionals; 

doctors, lawyers, engineers, 

governors and presidents that we 

are today. As the world celebrates 

teachers in every country of the 

world and their efforts in making 

us great in the society, we can 

only show them love and 

appreciation for what they have 

done for us. We can only do that 

by improving their welfare and 

making sure that they are 

comfortable,” he said. 

He, however, urged teachers in 

the state not to relent in imparting 

knowledge on their students and 

bringing them up morally and to 

discipline them whenever the 

need arises, adding that his 

government will make their 

welfare his priority in the state. 

In a welcome address, the state 

chairman of Nigeria Union of 

Teachers, NUT, Comrade Ozor 

Paul Nnaji, said the celebration is 

about recognizing the efforts of teachers 

globally. 

“The World Teacher’s Day is a global 

celebration in recognition and 

appreciation of the important role of 

teachers in the upbringing and 

education of children which is the 

foundation for development for any 

nation." 

By Bartholomew Madukwe 

(08051019450) 

nwamad@yahoo.com 

Ihail the judgment and 

urge Nigerian authorities 

to immediately comply with 

the judgment without delay, 

before Nigeria is seen 

by the world as a state that 

brazenly violate court orders 

and human rights of 

her citizens. Mr Ibuchukwu 

Ezike, Lawyer 

ECOWAS AS court t order der on release of Dasuki 

Security reason is a neb 

ulous concept which belongs 

to the vanishing 

world of undemocratic forces. 

I can only shout bravo. 

I also hope that our courts 

will take a cue from this 

court and lean in favour of 

protection of human rights. 

Chief Goddy Uwazurike, 

Lawyer 

This ECOWAS Court’s 

order goes with 

multidimensional implications, 

which cannot be fully discussed 

here, but in another 

more appropriate forum. 

For now, it is a clear 

fitting akin to a square 

peg in a square hole. 

Chief Morah Ekwunoh, 

Lawyer 

Has the treaty which 

established the 

ECOWAS court been reenacted 

into local law? It 

is ironic to say there are 

already 14 decisions of 

ECOWAS Court that 

have not been enforced by 

countries under ECOW- 

AS- Mr George Akingbola, 

Lawyer 

It speaks volumes of the 

related issue of our judges’ 

apparent indifference to 

government’s disobedience 

to their orders, rulings 

and judgments. It is so unfortunate 

to hear and see 

this coming from outside 

Nigerian judicial firmament. 

Miss Joy Amos, Self 

Employed 

My take on the Court 

of ECOWAS judgment 

is that it is refreshing 

and an invigorating air of 

freedom from the present 

suffocating air and environment 

of tyranny, absolutism, 

fascism, despotism and 

executive rascality. Chief 

Mike Ozekhome SAN, 

Lawyer


Probe panel on Jang's govt begins sitting; receives 105 memos 

By Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

JOS—THE 

Judicial 

Commission of Inquiry set 

up by the Governor of Plateau 

State, Mr. Simon Lalong, to 

investigate the financial 

activities of the government of 

the state from May 29, 2007 to 

May 29, 2015 has commenced 

sitting in Jos. 

No potable 

water for 

57m 

Nigerians 

—OXFAM 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

OXFAM Head of 

Programme in Nigeria, 

Constant Tchona, 

yesterday, disclosed that 

over 57 million Nigerians 

lacked access to safe or 

clean water. 

Tchona, who spoke at the 

commissioning of 

Tyowanye Motorised Water 

Scheme, implemented by 

Oxfam in Nigeria with 

support from Guinness 

Nigeria, in Buruku Local 

Government Area of Benue 

State, said access to safe 

water and sanitation was a 

major challenge in the 

country. 

He said over 10,500 

persons within and outside 

the community would 

benefit from the project, 

which would be run by a 

local management team. 

In his speech, Managing 

Director of Guinness 

Nigeria, Peter Ndegwa, 

said his company had since 

2007 embarked on a Water 

for Life Programme, which 

had helped provide over 10 

million people in 18 

countries across Africa with 

potable water. 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

& Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—SECRETARY to the 

Government of the 

Federation, Mr. Babachir David 

Lawal, yesterday, failed to show 

up at an investigative hearing 

to explain how his office spent 

the N12 billion allocated for 

internally displaced persons, 

IDPs, and the North-East. 

The public hearing was 

organised by the House of 

Representatives Committee on 

IDPs and North-East. 

The committee, headed by 

Mohammed Sani Zoro, APC, 

Jigawa, also queried the 

Presidential Initiative on the 

At the inaugural public 

sitting held yesterday, 

Chairman of the Commission, 

Justice Stephen Adam, 

disclosed that 105 memoranda 

were submitted to the 

commission. 

He added that the 

commission would sit for the 

hearing on all days of the 

week except Sundays, to be 

able to meet its deadline. 

He also noted that the 

commission was a fact-finding 

one, mandated to inquire into 

the terms of reference given, 

make findings and 

recommendations which it 

considered necessary and 

submit its report within three 

months from the date of 

inauguration or such 

extended period as the 

governor might approve. 

He added that all concerned 

parties had been served with 

copies of the memoranda, 

adding that the parties would 

be given the opportunity to 

present their submissions 

personally or through any 

legal practitioner of their 

choice. 

The chairman further 

solicited the support and 

cooperation of members of the 

public and those concerned to 

avoid any act of time wastage 

or disruption of proceedings 

of the commission, while 

urging the media to engage 

in fair and accurate reporting 

of the events at the 

proceedings. 

Meanwhile, the State 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Jonathan Mawiyau, said the 

commission was set up to 

investigate, not prosecute 

anyone, expressing confidence 

that the chairman and 

members had what it took to 

deliver on the assignment. 

BRIEFING: From left— Project Consultant and MD/CEO, DD-IMC Ltd., Mr. Tosin 

Bakare; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Community Development and 

Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, and Director, DD-IMC Ltd, Mr. Kesiena Akoreh, 

at a briefing on Lagos State Government market activation and roadshow in Ibile division. 

PHOTO: Akeem Salau. 

More troubles for Jigawa workers, 

as govt insists on biometrics 

By Aliyu Dangida 

D UTSE—TROUBLE 

appears not to have 

ended for Jigawa State 

workers, as the government 

has insisted on continuing 

with its earlier biometric data 

scheme to fish out ghost 

workers. 

Vanguard investigation 

revealed that the biometric 

scheme was targeted at health 

workers, with a view to 

North-East, PINE, for 

spending N270 million on 

clearing of grass and another 

N188.685 million for 

Nigerian refugees living in 

Minawao in Republic of 

Cameroon and Niger. 

Zoro, apparently angered 

by the SGF’s absence, said: 

“The SGF, who was slated to 

appear hasn’t shown up, 

neither did he write to 

intimate us on why his office 

would not come to explain 

why the condition of 

internally displaced persons 

has remained unencouraging, 

despite the 

billions of naira claimed to 

have been spent. 

slashing their salaries, 

especially those who are not 

health professionals but 

benefiting from COHENS 

salary scale. 

Commissioner for Health, 

Dr. Abba Zakari, who disclosed 

to newsmen the decision of 

government to conduct the 

second phase of staff biometric 

data this month, said the 

exercise was aimed at 

identifying ghost workers. 

Zakari stated that the state 

SGF shuns Reps c’ttee on N12bn IDP funds probe 

“The PINE officials said he 

is at the Villa. But as the 

Secretary to the Government 

under whose office the 

rehabilitation of the North- 

East was placed, we had 

expected him to come to 

throw light on the financial 

expenses made by his office 

and the implementation 

framework being used to 

spend money. 

“We have been inundated 

with reports of diversion of 

materials and funds meant for 

the rehabilitation of the IDPs, 

and the North-East and the 

scandal had led to 

international embarrassment 

for the country.” 

government had approved the 

upgrading of Kafin Hausa 

cottage hospital to general 

hospital, adding that the 

renovation of Ringim, Babura 

and Gumel General Hospitals 

was in progress. 

He said: “In the last 18 

months, Badaru’s health care 

service has received a lot of 

priorities. Government has 

constructed health facilities 

and midwives' staff quarters 

in all the 27 local government 

areas, in addition to the 

construction of two wards at 

Ebola Centre at Rasheed 

Shekoni Hospital. 

“The government is 

committed to improving the 

healthcare services in the 

state.” 

Meanwhile, the workers 

affected by the 70 percent 

salary slash, mainly in the 

administration and finance 

departments in the state’s 

Ministry of Health, who were 

posted to various hospitals in 

the state, are seeking the 

intervention of the state 

assembly. 

However, the Health 

Commissioner had stated that 

the exercise was not to witchhunt 

worker, but to ensure 

justice, accountability and 

transparency in governance. 

Suicide 

bomber 

neutralised in 

Maiduguri 

TROOPS of Operation 

Lafiya Dole, yesterday, 

intercepted a female suicide 

bomber on the outskirt of 

Maiduguri, Borno State, 

who attempted to infiltrate 

them with Improvised 

Explosive Devices, IEDs, 

strapped to her back. 

Acting Director, Army 

Public Relations, Col. Sani 

Kukasheka Usman, who 

confirmed the development 

yesterday, said the incident 

occurred at about 6:30a.m. 

He said the terrorist was 

neutralised as she tried to 

infiltrate troops’ forward 

defences at Jidari Polo area, 

having come in through 

Alidawari village, about 

four kilometres from Jidari, 

with the IED-laden vest 

defused. 

PR 

practitioners 

tasked on 

self-devt 

A BUJA—TOWARDS 

creating better corporate 

relationship with customers 

in the business environment, 

public relations practitioners 

across the country have been 

tasked on self-development. 

The PR/Communications 

Strategist, Arowin Media 

Consult, Barbara Onyejose, 

who spoke, yesterday, at a 

briefing on its forthcoming 

capacity building 

programme, said: “The 

practice of public relations 

evolves with modern day 

approach to carry both the 

organisation and customers 

along in order to maintain 

and sustain a win-win 

transaction, where every 

party smiles home. 

“This could be possible if 

personnel in public affairs 

department and public 

relations are well trained and 

are abreast with best 

international practice in 

doing business.” 

He added that it was why 

they engaged Sterling 

Business Network, SBN, 

International, to train public 

relations practitioners in the 

capacity-building event in 

Lagos and Abuja. 

Convention 

THE All Soul’s 

Transformation Church 

will hold its convention and 

ordination from October 25 

to 30, on the theme 

Supernatural Provision, at 

its premises, to be hosted by 

Pastor Lawrence Opene, 

with the Lagos State PFN 

Chairman, Rev. A. I. 

Anyanacho and other 

clerics ministering.


FRIDAY EVENTS 

akinwunmiibrahim30@gmail.com / 08139074278 

Royal splendor as King Sunny Ade turns 70 

Story and photos by Akinwunmi Ibrahim 

T 

HE Lagos social scene took on a royal tinge last 

weekend, when the legendary juju maestro, King 

Sunny Ade, KSA, joined the septuagenarian club. 

With the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. 

Mudashiru Obasa, as chairman of the occasion, KSA 

serenaded guests to a memorable evening of music, 

assorted meals and wines of choice at Haven Events Centre, 

GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. 

The Ondo State-born musician, one of the most influential 

of all time, began his career with a highlife band in Lagos. 

He was inspired by I. K. Dairo and later joined the Rhythm 

Dandies, led by Moses Olaiya, Baba Sala, Nigeria's preeminent 

funny man and a prolific filmmaker. 

King Sunny Ade was influenced by the legendary Tunde 

Nightingale, an early juju pioneer extraordinare. 

For KSA, the King of Music, it is 70 royal cheers for 

evergreen music and sublime entertainment. 

From left—Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Evangelist 

Ebenezer Obey; the celebrant, King Sunny Ade and ex-Lagos House of Assembly Speaker, 

Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji. 

Erelu Abiola Dosunmu (left) and King 

Sunny Ade. 

From left— Lagos State Commissioner for Women 

Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande; Hon. 

Ajoke Adegeye and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. 

Chairman, Lagos Island Club, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi 

(left) and Chief Lanre Rasak. 

CHANGE: From left (front row)—Head of Civil Service, Mrs Winifred 

Oyo-Ita; Information Minister, Lai Mohammed; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; 

President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; Secretary to 

the Government of the Federation, Mr. BabaChair David Lawal, and other 

cabinet members supporting the CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME campaign at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida. 

OBASEKI: Edo State Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd left) 

and the management of Yongxing Steel Company Limited, during a 

congratulatory visit to Mr. Obaseki in Benin, yesterday. 

REWARD: From left— Chairman, Nigerian 

Union of Teachers, Ikorodu branch, Mr. Lateef 

Oduguwa; Mr. Amadu Excellence Olugbemiga; 

Alhaja Sherifat Ogunniyi, receiving award of 

Teachers' Pride Award; Principal, Ayangbunren High 

School, Ikorodu, Mr. Adedoyin Obasaan, and Alhaji 

Lukman Erogbogbo, during the World Teachers' Day 

celebration. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele. 

COCKTAIL: From left— General Manager, 

Protea Hotel Select, Ikeja, Mr. Fraser Johnston: Mrs 

Marlene Van Der Merwe and Mr. Ronald Celliers, 

guests, at a cocktail event held at the hotel. 

MOTHERS: From left—Founder/President, 

Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; 

Founder/CEO, Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, Mrs. 

Ibidunni Ighodalo and wife of the Vice-President, 

Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo, at the launch of the Merck 

More than a Mother campaign in Abuja.


MUSE-ARIYOH 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss 

Habeebah Muse- 

Ariyoh, now wish to be 

known and addressed 

as Mrs. Habeebah 

Ashorobi. All former 

documents remain 

valid. General public 

please take note. 

ISUAMA 



Isuama Oluchi Patricia, 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. 

Okpani Oluchi 

Patricia. All former 




BULAMA 



Bulama Hyelkuzuku 

Hena, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Ndahi Titus 

Hyelkuzuku. All 

former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please take 

note. 

EZOMIKE 



Ezomike Vivian 

Anwuli, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs. 

Nwadomere Vivian 

Anwuli. All former 




OMOKARO 



Esther U. Omokaro, 



Esther Jagboro. All 




note. 

BAB 

ABATUNDE 


addressed as 

Olufblgbe Moses 

Babatunde, now wish 

to be known and 

addressed as 

Olufogbe Moses 

Tunde. All former 




FAMUGBODE 


addressed as Oni 

Famugbode Daniel, 


and addressed as Oni 

Gbenga Daniel. All 



public please take note. 

IKEABA 



Josephine Ngozi 

Ikeaba, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Josephine 

Ngozi Clifford. All 




EYEWUMI 


addressed as Mr. 

Imuzeze Godbless 

Eyewumi, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mr. 

Imuzeze Godbless 

Samson. All former 




POPO 

Confirmation of Name 

This is to confirm that 

Sunday Popo and Sunny 

Popo is one and same 

person as appear in my 

document that I now wish 

to be called Sunny Popo 

as stated in the Affidavit. 

General public, please 

take note. 

OTITE 


addressed as Jacinta 

Omamuriemu Bosco 

Otite, now wish to be 


as Omamuriemu 

Charles Ojaide. All 




MBAK 

AKOGU 


addressed as 

Mbakogu Uzoamaka 

Peace, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Uzoamaka 

Osiogbovba. All 




POLOBIRI 



Polobiri Ebimobo-Owei 

and Orusede Ebimobo- 

Owei is one and same 

person as appear in my 

document that I now wish 

to be called Orusede 

Ebimobo-Owei as stated 

in the Affidavit. General 

public, please take note. 

NWUJU 



Esther Odichinma 

Nwuju, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Esther 

Odichinma Daniel. All 


remain valid. Federal 

Polytechnic Nekede 

Owerri, NYSC and 

general public please 

take note. 

ALLOTEY 

Correction of Name 

I wish to confirm that my 

full name and its correct 

spelling are as follow: 

Allotey John 

Otoristemoste Adotei. 

Any of my documents 

bearing Allotey John 

Otoritsemotse or Allotey 

John Alote remains valid. 

Please, general public 

should take note. 

OSUMAH 



Osumah Obuhwereya 

Benita, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Chukwuka 

Obuhwereya Benita. 

All former documents 



OWEH 


addressed as Miss Oweh 

Okeoghene Josephine, 



Akpodiete Okeoghene 

Josephine. All former 

documents bearing former 

names remain valid. The 

general public should 


ONYEBUCHI 



Happiness Uzochukwu 

Onyebuchi, now wish to 

be known and addressed 

as Mrs. Happiness 

Uzochukwu Ighrakpata. 


remain valid, general 

public please note. 

OK 

ALO 



Omolola Florence Alo, 



Omolola Florence 

Efejuku. All former 




OGUNDE 


addressed as Sarah Y. 

Ogunde, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Sarah Y. 

Olude. All former 




ADENRELE 

Reconciliation of Name 

This is to certify that 

Adenrele Micheal 

Oluwaremilekun is 

one and the same 

person as Kayode 

Micheal. All former 


valid, general public 

please note. 

AMUAMUZIA 

AMUZIA 


addressed as Miss Joy 

Awunlika Amuamuzia, 



Joy Awunlika 

Emeghebo. All former 




MAUREEN 


addressed as 

Ulioneukugha 

Maureen, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs 

Omiretsuli Maurren 

Tsitseweworitse 

Blessing. All former 




JACKSON 


addressed as Godwin 

Kokoete, but have 

added Jackson to my 

name, now wish to be 


as Godwin Kokoete 

Jackson. All former 




RAPHAEL 


addressed as Raphael 

Uzoma, now wish to be 


as Uzoma Okereke 

Raphael. All former 




CHICHIDI 


addressed as Chichidi 

Samuel Mba, now 

wish to be known and 

addressed as Samuel 

Chidi Mba. All former 




BOSE 


My name was 

wrongly written as 

Sakirat Bose Waheed, 

instead of Sakirat 

Abosede Waheed. All 




note. 

HYGINUS 

Addition of Name 


addressed as Hyginus 

N d u b u i s i 

Onyemelukwe, now 


addressed as Hyginus 

N d u b u i s i 

Onyemelukwe Ubaka. 




ARINPE 


addressed as 

Olanrewaju Sherifat 

Arinpe, now wish to be 


as Lawal Sherifat 

Arinpe. All former 




MOLOKWU 


addressed as 

Molokwu Justice 

Chidi .O., now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Molokwu Justice 

C h i d i e b e l e 

Okechukwu. All 




ABIBA 


addressed as Abiba 

Abosede Adebayo 

Aderonke, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Ogundele Abosede 

Adebayo Aderonke. 




NWABUEZE 



Nwabueze Ebele 

Nancy, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Mordi Nancy 

Ebele. All former 




OJANOMA 



Ojanoma Joy 

Aghogho, now wish to 

be known and 


Amereca Joy 

Aghogho. All former 


valid. Whoever it may 

concern and general 


NNADI 



Judith Oluchi Nnadi, 



Judith Oluchi Obinna. 




UDEGBULEM 


addressed as 

U d e g b u l e m 

Confidence Udoka, 


and addressed as 

N w a s o e g w u 

Confidence Udoka. All 




ADALE 

ALE 



Nwadiokwushi Joy 

Adale, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Maduku Joy. 


remain valid. Ecobank 

and the general public 

please take note.


OMEIZA 



Omeiza Onyiohinoyi 

Comfort, now wish to 

be known and 


Moses Comfort 

Onyiohinoyi. All 




note. 

OGHALE 


addressed as Othe 

Charles, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Othe 

Oghale Charles. All 


remain vaild. Eco 

bank, Union Bank and 


take note. 

EYEBOKA 



Eyeboka Sarah 

Emamuyovwi, now 



Onoriode Idibie Sarah 

Emamuyovwi. All 




EZE 



Eze Chinenye 

Elizabeth, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as 

Mrs.Oguekusi 

Elizabeth Chinenye. 




GABRIEL 


addressed as Ogirisen 

Akpobome Gabriel, 



Ogirisen Harrison 

Akpobome. All former 




IKPI 


addressed as 

Okiemute Mercy Ikpi, 



Okiemute Endurance. 


remain valid. The 



EKIM 



Idara Edo Ekim, now 


address as Mrs Idara 

Joseph Mark. All 





NDUKWE 


addressed as Ms. 

Amaka Joy Ndukwe, 



Joy Nwamaka Ijomor. 


remain valid. LASU 

and general public 


OKORUWA 


addressed as Okoruwa 

Onuwabhagbe Anita, 



Oseghale Anita. All 



bank, Keystone bank 



DAVID 


addressed as 

Ohwovokpotu Ukiri 

David, now wish to be 


as Gbugbama Ukiri 

David. All former 




OKU 


addressed as 

Ohworhiephron Destiny 

Oku, now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

Samuel Doghor Destiny. 

Samuel Doghor Destiny 

and Ohworhiephron 

Destiny Oku is one and 

the same person. All 

former documents remain 



OGUNDANA 


I hereby confirm that the 

name Ogundana Olayinka 

Joseph and Ogundana 

Olayinka as appear on 

some of my documents 

refer to one and same me. 

I now wish to be known 


Ogundana Olayinka 

Joseph. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

OVIRUO 



Oviruo Hope 

Obatavwe, now wish to 

be known and 


Erhinyoja Hope 

Obatavwe. All former 


valid. The general 

public should please 

take note. 

CHANGE OF NAME 

EKEH FANIBUYAN DEDEH IYANDA 



Ekeh Matthew is the 

same person as Ekeh 

Matthew Chibuike. 


remains valid. General 




Fanibuyan Arike 

Esther, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Akintokun 

Arike Esther. All 




note. 


addressed as Dedeh 

Peter, now wish to be 


as Nwagbalam Peter 

Chidiebere. All former 





addressed as Iyanda 

Ajomale Adefiranye, 



Adebayo Alfred 

Adefiranye. All former 


valid. Diamond Bank 

Plc and general public 


SAMUEL CHUKWUKA EFEJUKU EJEH 


addressed as Samuel 

Ebiofoni Lott, now wish 


addressed as Bezibe 

Benjamin Lott. All 



bank, Union Bank and 


take note. 



Chukwuka Caroline 

Chinasa, now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

Mrs. Chukwuji Caroline 

Chinasa. All former 


University of Abuja, 

NYSC and general public 




Gbubemi Efejuku, now 



Gbubemi Agwase. All 






Ejeh Anwuli Joy, now 



Bekeowei Anwuli Joy. 




note. 

OGHENEOVO NGENE APUGO POPOOLA 


I, Fank Ogheneovo Pius 

hereby confirm that the 

name Ogheneovo Odu as 

it appears on some of my 

documents refers to one 

and same me. I now wish 


addressed as Fank 

Ogheneovo Pius. All 





I, Mr Chika Joseph Ngene 

hereby confirm that the 

name Emeka Chika Ngene 

as it appears on some of 

my documents refers to 

one and same me. I now 


addressed as Mr Chika 

Joseph Ngene. All former 



note. 



Apugo Chinwe 

Queen, now wish to be 


as Mrs. Onyekwere 

Chinwe Queen. All 




note. 



Popoola Rantimi 

Oluwafunmilayo, now 



Adekunle Rantimi 

Oluwafunmilayo. All 



Public please take 

note. 

ONORIODE AYENOR OBIEBI CHRIS 



Akakabota Rachael 

Onoriode and Akakabota 

Rachael who is the same 

and one person, now wish 



Akakabota Rachael 

Onoriode. All documents 

bearing former names 

remain valid. First Bank 

Plc and Union Bank Plc 

and general public please 

take note. 

Addition of Name 


addressed as Maku Prince 

Ayenor, wish to add 

Christopher, thus to be 


as Maku Prince 

Christopher Ayenor. All 

former documents bearing 

Maku Prince Ayenor 


public take note. 

I, formerly known, called 

and addressed as Miss 

Oghenetekevwe Thelma 

Obiebi, now wish to be 

known, called and 


Thelma Obiebi- 

Arienmughare. All former 





addressed as Ebireri 

Onoriode Chris, now 


addressed as Ebireri 

Onoriode Sylvester. All 




note. 

JAMES UMUTITE SYLVESTER UMAR 



Ekaette Peter James, 



Ekaette Daniel 

Ebolum. All former 






Vera Oghale Umutite, 



Osadebe Vera Oghale. 





This is to confirm that the 

names Ogheneochuko 

Sylvester Nyerhovwo 

and Sylvester 

Nyerhovwo refer to one 

and the same person, but 



Ogheneochuko Sylvester 

Nyerhovwo. All former 



note. 


addressed as Umar 

Odunayo, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Afolabi 

Yussuff Odunayo 

Raufiat. All former 




take note. 

AHANOR GOODLUCK OMOROGBE RUME 


addressed as John 

Ahanor, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Okoro 

John. All former 




take note. 


addressed as Aladetan 

Adedeji Goodluck, 



Aladetan Ebimene 

Adedeji. All former 




take note. 



Ethel Itohan 

Omorogbe, now wish 


address as Mrs Ethel 

Itohan Oromoni. All 





Confirmation of Names 

My BVN bears Afe 

Rume Tessy, while my 

other Bank and my 

documents bear Afe 

Theresa Oghenerume 

now Afe Theresa 

Oghenerume. All 





AKPODE OKORO NNACHETAM SOJE OAMEN 

Reconciliation of Name 

That I operate account 

with Eco Bank, UBA and 

Access Bank with names 

Anthonia Okiemute 

Akpode and Anthonia 

Okiemute Edighomor. I 

now wish to reconcile my 

entire account name to 

appear as Akpode 

Anthonia Edighomor. All 


valid. The general public 

should please take note. 



Okoro, Nkechi Edith, 



Nkechi Edith 

Ogbonnaya-Udoh. All 






Nnachetam Juliana 

Chinagorom, now wish 



Njoku Juliana 

Chinagorom. All 






Lucy Zainab Soje, now 



Lucy Zainab Alemoh. 






Justina Edoghogho 

Oamen, now wish to 

be known and 


Justina Edoghogho 

Okon Okpo. All former 



please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME 

NWOZO 



Nwozo Nancy Nneka, 


and addressed as Mrs 

Nweje Nancy Nneka. 




note. 

OKOL 

OLO 


addressed as Dr 

(Miss) Okolo Adaobi 

Nzoluagbo, now wish 


addressed as Dr (Mrs) 

Dimkpa Adaobi 

Nzoluagbo. All former 




EGBO 



Adaku Anthonia Egbo, 



Adaku Anthonia 

Otaye. All former 




YEVOO 



addressed as Julius 

Madison Yevoo, now 


addressed as Julius 

Madison Yevu. All 




IBEKWE 


This is to certify that 

Obiora Aloysius Ibekwe, 

Obiora Aloysius 

Barthlomew Ibekwe and 

Aloysius Barthlomew 

Ibekwe is one and the 

same person, but now 


addressed as Obiora 

Aloysius Ibekwe. All 


valid. Access Bank, 

Ecobank and general 


IPINLAIYE 



Kehinde Deborah 

Ipinlaiye, now wish to be 

known and address as 

Mrs Kehinde Deborah 

Akpotor. All former 


The general public 


OGUNBIYI 



Oluwashola Jennifer 

Ogunbiyi, now wish to 

be known and address 

as Mrs. Irite 

Oluwashola Jennifer. 





OGBONNA 


addressed as Kenneth 

Ogbonna .E., now 


addressed as Kenneth 

Odoh Uwakwe. All 




EZELIBE 



Ezelibe Ifeyinwa 

Lynda, now wish to be 


as Mrs Umeakuka 

Ifeyinwa Lynda. All 


remain valid. NYSC 



ODOFIN 


addressed as 

Bamidele Aina Boye 

Odofin, now wish to be 


as Bamidele Aina 

Nzekwu. All former 




UDOFIA 


addressed as Udofia 

Affiong Gloria, now 


addressed as Glory 

Affiong Iniobong Uko. 




ESEOGHENE 



Bojeghre Blessing 

Eseoghene, now wish to 

be known and address as 

Mrs Eseoghene B. 

Bojeghre-Ewubareh. All 


valid. The general public 


ABIROR 


addressed as Abiror 

Jolomi Doris, now wish 


address as Tosanwumi 

Jolomi Doris. All 





EGBAYIL 

YILO 


My name was wrongly 

written as Egbayilo 

Dorcas Akugewhien, 

instead of Egbayelo 

Dorcas Akugenhien. All 

documents bearing 

Egbayilo Dorcas 

Akugewhien and 

Egbayelo Dorcas 

Akugenhien refer to one 

and same person and 



Philippines President dares US, EU to 

withdraw aid 

PRESIDENT Rodrigo 

Duterte has told the 

United States and the European 

Union to "go ahead" 

and withdraw financial aid 

to the Philippines if they are 

unhappy with his bloody 

anti-drug war. 

"Go away, bring your money 

to somewhere else. We 

will survive as a 

nation," Duterte said in a 

speech to police officers on 

Thursday in the southern 

city of Butuan. 

"How do you look at us, 

mendicants? We will survive. 

Even if we'll go 

through hardships, we will 

survive. But we will never, 

never compromise our dignity. 

"If you think it is high time 

for you guys to withdraw 

your assistance, go ahead 

we will not beg for it," Duterte 

said, adding he doesn't 

expect the US, EU, and 

human rights group to understand 

his policy. 

More than 3,680 people 

have been killed by police 

and unidentified attackers 

Fox News stars feud over Trump 

TWO of the conserva 

tive news channel's 

biggest stars have turned 

their sharp tongues on 

one another after Sean 

Hannity accused Megyn 

Kelly of being in league 

with Hillary Clinton. 

The clash began when 

Kelly said on her Wednesday 

night programme that 

both Mrs Clinton and 

Donald Trump avoid 

tough media interviews. 

She said the Republican 

nominee "will go on Hannity 

and pretty much only 

Hannity". 

Hannity - a vocal supporter 

of Trump - fired 

back on Twitter, writing: "u 

in the Philippines since June 

30, when Duterte took office. 

Last week, two US senators 

raised alarms about the 

mounting death toll linked 

to the anti-drug war, and 

called for a review of American 

foreign aid to the Philippines. 

should be mad at @HillaryClinton 

Clearly you 

support her. And @real- 

DonaldTrump did talk to u." 

Another Twitter user 

chided Hannity, urging 

him to stand by his colleagues, 

but the host replied: 

"Sure. When they 

stand by me." 

S/African investigator questions Zuma again 

ASouth African inves 

tigator who reported 

on a spending scandal that 

seriously weakened President 

Jacob Zuma is rushing 

to complete another investigation 

involving the president's 

conduct, just one week 

before she leaves her post. 

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, 

head of South Africa's 

state watchdog agency, 

has been widely praised for 

her probe into more than $20 

million in state spending on 

Zuma's home. That case 

went to the Constitutional 

Court, and Zuma eventually 

was instructed to pay back 

more than $500,000 for security 

upgrades. 

Madonsela met Zuma for 

four hours on Thursday as 

part of a separate, preliminary 

investigation into 

whether the Guptas, an Indian 

immigrant family with 

close ties to the president, 

sought to influence the selection 

of some Cabinet minister 

picks, the News24 media 

outlet reported. Zuma, who 

has denied allegations of 

wrongdoing, argued that the 

matter should be handed to 

Madonsela's successor because 

there isn't enough time 

to conclude the investigation, 

News24 said, citing a statement 

from Madonsela. Zuma 

agreed to answer questions 

in an affidavit, it said. 

Outrage as teachers filmed beating pupil 

in Tanzania 

AUTHORITIES in Tan 

zania have ordered an 

investigation into a video 

which appears to show a 

group of five teachers savagely 

beating a student. The 

headteacher of the school, in 

Sudan denies allegations it used 

chemical weapons in Darfur 

SUDAN is denying 

allegations made by 

a rights group that it used 

chemical weapons in the 

country's western Darfur 

region, describing them as 

an "unfounded fabrication." 

The deputy chair of President 

Omar Bashir's ruling 

National Congress 

party says the allegations 

by Amnesty International 

were made to undermine 

the country. 

Mahmoud Hamid tells 

reporters in Khartoum 

Thursday that allegations 

of rights violations have 

•President Duterte 

been used as a pretext to 

attack Sudan in the past. 

Last week, Amnesty accused 

the Sudanese military 

of using chemical 

weapons against civilians, 

including young 

children, in a remote corner 

of Darfur over the past 

eight months. 

The Britain-based 

group said it had gathered 

"horrific evidence" 

including satellite imagery, 

more than 200 indepth 

interviews with survivors 

and expert analysis 

of dozens of images in 

its investigation. 


Liberal Jewish 

groups take 

battle over holy 

site to court 

the town of Mbeya in the 

southwest of the country, has 

been suspended. 

In the short video clip, which 

was widely shared on social 

media, several men are seen 

forcing the boy to the ground 

with kicks and slaps. 

Corporal punishment is illegal 

in Tanzania. The 38-second 

footage has raised outrage 

online, with Tanzanians 

demanding that the government 

take action against the 

culprits. The video appears 

to have been filmed in a staff 

room, and the victim is believed 

to be around 16 or 17. 

Tanzania's Home Affairs 

Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, 

said the government had 

sent a team of investigators 

from the ministry of education 

and security to probe the incident 

at Mbeya Day Secondary 

School. 

GROUPS represent 

ing liberal streams 

of Judaism appealed to 

Israel’s Supreme Court 

Thursday to force the 

government to implement 

its decision on equal 

prayer at a key Jewish 

holy site. 

Israel’s government 

agreed in January to enlarge 

and recognize a 

mixed-gender prayer 

area at the Western Wall, 

in Jerusalem. The wall, 

believed to be a retaining 

wall of the Second Temple, 

is the holiest site 

where Jews can pray. The 

compromise came after 

Israeli and American 

Jewish leaders negotiated 

with Israeli authorities 

for three years. 

But the prayer site was 

never established. 

The groups’ legal petition 

signals their frustration 

with Israeli Prime 

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 

coalition government, 

which is 

propped up by two ultra- 

Orthodox parties. The 

Western Wall is run by an 

ultra-Orthodox rabbi who 

opposes liberal Jewish 

customs at the holy site. 

Emergency 

hunger levels 

likely to hit 

Madagascar by 

end of 2016 

By Blessing 

Akporughe 

HUNGER is expect 

ed to reach emergency 

levels by the end 

of the year in drought-hit 

southern Madagascar, 

where many families 

have already been forced 

to sell their homes or 

land, or migrate, the 

World Food Programme 

(WFP) has warned. 

At least 1 million people 

need food and cash 

aid, and some 200,000 

pregnant women and 

children under five need 

treatment for acute hunger, 

the U.N. agency 

said. 

Four out of nine districts 

in the southern tip 

of the country are likely 

to fall to emergency hunger 

levels by the end of 

the year, according to preliminary 

results of a food 

assessment carried by out 

by WFP and other agencies. 

The survey also showed 

that three more districts 

could follow unless swift 

action is taken. 

The districts are currently 

in phase three of a 

five-point scale used by 

food agencies, where five 

is famine.

Incoming UN Secretary General pledges to 

serve most vulnerable 

UNITED Nations 

S e c u 

rity Council on Thursday 

unanimously nominated 

former Portuguese Prime 

Minister Antonio Guterres 

to be the next Secretary- 

General, recommending 

that the 193-member General 

Assembly appoint him 

for five years from Jan. 1, 

2017. 

The General Assembly is 

likely to meet next week to 

approve the appointment of 

Guterres, 67, who would 

replace Ban Ki-moon, 72, 

of South Korea. Ban will 

step down at the end of 

2016 after serving two 

terms. 

“I have two words to describe 

what I’m feeling now: 

gratitude and humility,” 

Guterres said in a short 

statement in Lisbon, which 

he repeated in various languages. 

“Humility is what I feel 

about the huge challenges 

ahead of us, the terrible 

complexity of the modern 

world. But it is also humility 

that is required to serve 

the most vulnerable, victims 

of conflicts, of terrorism, 

rights violations, poverty 

and injustices of this 

world,” he said. 

Ban, speaking during a 

visit to Rome, described 

Guterres as a “super choice” 

as his successor. 

“I am sure he will carry 

the torch on the full range 

of key challenges, from 

strengthening peace operations 

to achieving sustainable 

development, upholding 

human rights and easing 

humanitarian suffering,” 

Ban told reporters. 

Guterres was prime minister 

of Portugal from 1995 

to 2002 and served as United 

Nations High Commissioner 

for Refugees from 

2005 to 2015. 

“He has great United 

Nations credentials and 

being High Commissioner 

for Refugees means travelling 

the world and seeing 

some of the most gruesome 

conflicts we have to deal 

with and then of course he 

is a high-level politician,” 

said Russian U.N. Ambassador 

Vitaly Churkin, president 

of the council for October. 

Hurricane Matthew leaves 100 people dead in Haiti 

HURRICANE Mat 

thew has left 108 

people dead in Haiti, the 

interior minister has told 

AFP news agency. 

One local official, speaking 

to AFP, said 50 people 

had died in the southern 

town of Roche-a-Bateau 

alone. 

New images from remote 

and cut off areas in the 

south-west of the country 

show scenes of devastation. 

The hurricane has again 

been upgraded to a Category 

Four storm, the second 

highest hurricane classification, 

as it heads for the 

US state of Florida. 

Hurricane Matthew is already 

the deadliest Atlantic 

storm since 2012, when 

Hurricane Sandy directly 

killed at least 147 people. 

Sandy was a category 


three storm. Matthew is a 

category four, after being 

downgraded from category 

five - the highest classification. 

Pakistan makes new law against honour killing 

PAKISTAN’s gov 

ernment has closed 

a loophole allowing 

those behind so-called 

honour killings to go 

free. 

New legislation means 

killers will get a mandatory 

life sentence. 

Previously, killers 

could be pardoned by a 

Unrest resurges in Ethiopia 

after stampede 

OFTEN violent pro 

tests in which rights 

groups say hundreds of 

people have been killed 

by security forces have 

flared up again in Ethiopia, 

with a US citizen 

among the latest deaths. 

Protests reignited in the 

Oromia region - the main 

focus of a recent wave of 

demonstrations - after at 

least 55 people were killed 

in a stampede at the 

weekend, which was 

sparked by police firing 

tear gas and warning 

shots at a huge crowd of 

victim’s family to avoid a 

jail term. Now forgiveness 

will only spare 

them the death penalty. 

It is being seen as a 

step in the right direction 

in a country where 

attacks on women who 

go against conservative 

rules on love and marriage 

are common. 

According to the independent 

Human Rights 

Commission of Pakistan 

(HRCP), nearly 1,100 

women were killed by 

relatives in Pakistan last 

year in such killings, 

while many more cases 

go unreported. 

protesters attending a religious 

festival. 

The official death toll given 

by the government is 

55, though opposition activists 

and rights groups 

say they believe more than 

100 people died as they fled 

security forces, falling into 

ditches that dotted the 

area. Ethiopian radio said 

excavators had to be used 

to remove some of the bodies. 

UK-based 

speaker to 

speak at 

mentorship 

seminar 

A non-governmental 

organisation, HOW, 

is set to hold a one day seminar 

on leadership and mentorship 

for Nigerian youths. 

With the theme: Be the 

Best, the event which is 

billed to hold tomorrow in 

Lagos, is being organized 

in partnership with UK 

based company, Genero. 

Internationally known 

motivational speaker Mr. 

Joshua Ajitena , who speaks 

at numerous secondary 

schools in UK would be the 

guest speaker.


Eagles need to build their 

stamina — Onigbinde 

BY JUDE OPARA, 

Abuja 

AS the Nigeria 

senior national 

team, the Super Eagles 

continue to prepare for 

the crucial 2019 FIFA 

World Cup qualifier 

against the Chipolopolo 

of Zambia, former 

Technical Director of the 

Nigeria Football 

Federation (NFF), Chief 

Adegboye Onigbinde 

has noted that the team 

needs to build on the 

stamina level of the 

players. 

Onigbinde who spoke 

to Sports Vanguard after 

watching the warm-up 

match between the 

Super Eagles and 

Plateau United of Jos on 

Wednesday noted that 

the team showed some 

flashes which he stated 

could be built on to have 

a formidable side that 

can withstand any 

opposition. 

The former Coach of 

the Super Eagles also 

declared that the team 

Kalaba 

Continues from BP 

and we have been 

champions, so the final 

whistle will determine 

who will win.” 

He further urged the 

fans to turn out in huge 

numbers to support the 

team on Sunday. 

“The only thing I can 

say is that supporters 

should be there for us, 

Taribo 


I would live long and 

take part in my own 

celebration”, Taribo said. 

The 2002 World Cup 

star however, took time 

off to speak on this 

weekend’s World Cup 

cracker between Zambia 

and Nigeria and he 

warned the Super 

Eagles to be wary of 

Zambia. ‘’They are a 

crafty side with very 

intelligent forward 

line,’’ he warned. 

Taribo added that the 

Zambian team he saw 

against Kenya, in their 

2017 AFCON qualifier 

were an organised side 

with a very ambitious 

attacking force. 

‘’They’re fast and good 

in their movement,’’ he 

added, cautioning the 

Eagles back line to 

watch it. 

needs to intensify its 

preparations for the 

challenge ahead given 

the fact that Nigerians 

will be eager to see their 

national team book one 

of the tickets for the 

Russia 2018 FIFA World 

Cup. 

However, the 

Modakeke High Chief 

was cagey in his 

response declined to 

give any advise to the 

Technical Adviser of the 

team, Gernot Rohr 

ostensibly to avoid being 

seen as meddling in the 

affairs of the team. 

“I don’t know who the 

coach is but I know they 

have a Technical 

Adviser, so I should not 

be advising an adviser. 

The success of the team 

will depend largely on 

the formation of the 

handlers. I am not close 

to the team and so can 

not make much comment 

because I am not an 

armchair critic. But from 

the game I just watched, 

it is obvious that the 

team has not arrived yet, 

because it is not ours 

alone, it is for the whole 

country. When the 

supporters are behind 

the team, the stadium 

fully packed, we will 

always get results,” the 

TP Mazembe player 

said. 

The match will kick off 

at 2.30pm local time, 

1.30 pm Nigerian time. 

‘’However,’’ Taribo 

said, ‘’l believe we have 

an advantage, in terms 

of experience and 

personnel in Mikel and 

Musa. We have the stars 

that can dim them. If our 

players can reinvent 

the spirit they exhibited 

against Tanzania, then 

they can beat Zambia in 

their own backyard,’’ 

Taribo said. 

He lamented the 

team’s inability to 

qualify for the Africa 

Cup of Nations back-toback 

and said it was sad. 

“They have to qualify for 

the World Cup. Should 

they fail, then the NFF 

would have no business 

being there any more. 

They must quit if that 

happens because they 

would have nothing to 

offer Nigerians again.” 

they need some 

improvement. Virtually, 

the team that played in 

the second half was 

better but they need to 

build on their stamina if 

they must go far. I am a 

Nigerian and since I 

have not changed my 

nationality, I will like to 

see Nigeria win this 

match.” 

Onigbinde led Nigeria 

to the 2002 FIFA World 

Cup co-hosted by Japan 

and Korea. 

•Onigbinde 


some top officials of the 

Federal Ministry of Youth 

and Sports, some 

members of the National 

Assembly, few members of 

the NFF Executive 

Committee and 

Management, some NFF 

staff and some 

stakeholders including 

media representatives. 

“We have allocated slots 

to some stakeholders 

because it is a chartered 

flight and a number of 

seats are available after 

the players and team 

officials have taken their 

seats. 

“The NFF is not paying 

anybody for being on the 

trip. We don’t have the 

money. All the 


a position on their 

request for a special 

government bailout,” a 

top official informed. 

“This account is to be 

presented today 

(Thursday), just as the 

Senate President 

admitted he has received 

reports on how monies 

from sponsorships have 

been applied over time.” 

Last Tuesday, NFF 

president Amaju Pinnick 

told the senate sports 

committee in Abuja the 

federation are faced with 

“financial incapacitation” 

that has caused 

them not to pay for a 

Team 

Saraki 

ACCOLADES are 

still coming the 

way of the newly 

crowned Nigeria 

Professional Football 

League (NPFL) 

champions, Rangers 

International of Enugu 

with the latest coming 

from the umbrella body 

of NPFL Club Owners 

and Managers called the 

Football Club Owners 

I see sports as strictly 

business – Ifeanyi Ubah 

•Signs historic partnership deal with West Ham 

BY JACOB AJOM 

THIS is definitely 

the best of times for 

the Nigeria Professional 

Football League as one of its 

new but trail blazing clubs, 

FC IfeanyiUbah Wednesday 

signed a partnership pact 

with English Premiership 

club, West Ham United in an 

elaborate ceremony at Eko 

Hotel and Suites, Victoria 

Island Lagos. 

The event which was 

stakeholders on the trip will 

be there simply to support 

the team during the game. 

We have told the persons 

involved that they will pay 

for their own board and 

lodging, and they have 

accepted to do that,” said 

NFF 2nd Vice President 

Shehu Dikko. 

Dikko, who is also 

Chairman of the League 

Management Company, 

said: “In the near future, we 

would look at the possibility 

of commercializing this 

kind of opportunity. If you 

give out, say 80 seats, to 

persons who can pay for 

them on 145 –seater 

aircraft, you can raise some 

good money for the team. 

It is a practice firmly in 

place in some climes.” 

chartered flight and 

hotel for the Super 

Eagles in Zambia. 

The country’s Europebased 

stars have had to 

buy their flight tickets to 

be part of a training 

camp in Abuja this week 

ahead of Sunday’s 

World Cup qualifier 

against Zambia. 

The NFF are 

demanding a financial 

bailout from government 

as a result, even as a 

former NFF marketing 

director sharply 

disagreed, insisting the 

NFF have the funds to 

pay for their immediate 

expenses. 

Club owners salute 

Rangers 

BY PRINCESS 

CHUKWUEMEKA 

Association Of Nigeria. 

A statement from Alloy 

Chukwuemeka, the 

Executive Secretary of 

the Club Owners 

congratulated the 

attended by Chairman, 

Senate Committee on 

Sports, Senator Obinna 

Ogba, Nigeria Football 

Federation President, Amaju 

Pinnick and the second Vice 

President who doubles as 

chairman of the League 

Management Company, 

Mallam Shehu Dikko saw 

the Chairman, FC 

IfeanyiUbah, Dr Patrick 

Ifeanyi Ubah and 

Managing Director, West 

Ham United Football Club, 

Angus Kinnear sign the pact. 

The event also attracted a 

large turnout of ex-Super 

Eagles players and players 

of FC IfeanyiUbah. 

Speaking at the event, 

Ifeanyi Ubah said, “I see 

sports as business and I have 

never started a business 

venture that didn’t succeed. 

I want to attract investments 

and tourism to Anambra 

State through this venture.” 

He said that the FC 

IfeanyiUbah partnership 

with West Ham United 

involves multiple interests 

that include, but not limited 

to “exploring the potential of 

our youths in the 


more games next year. 

“We are all looking 

forward to the qualifying 

matches, starting 

with Sunday’s game in 

Zambia. Each and 

every one of us knows 

what it means – big battles 

that we have to win. 

We are ready for the 

challenge.” 

Nigeria has won six of 

16 previous matches 

with Zambia at international 

level, drawing 

five and losing five. 

Zambia walloped Nigeria 

5-1 in the first – 

ever encounter, a 1974 

Africa Cup of Nations 

qualifying match in 

Lusaka on 15th July 

1973. Nigeria’s 3-2 win 

in the return leg in Lagos 

two weeks later was 

of no effect. 

Both teams battled to 

Eagles 

Management, players, 

officials, supporters and 

fans of Rangers 

international Football 

club of Enugu and the 

government of Enugu 

state on their historic 

emergence as 

champions of the 

Nigeria apex league 

after 32 years. 

international scene, 

increased revenue for our 

club, training of our 

personnel, scouting, football 

development, transfer of 

players, playing friendly 

matches, etc. Above all, our 

parent company, Capital Oil 

has been given more visibility 

internationally, as you find 

the company’s name on the 

pitch panel in West Ham’s 

home games. The benefits 

are enormous.” 

On his part, Angus 

Kinnear said that West 

Ham was a club with a 

fantastic heritage. He 

commended the 

partnership with FC 

IfeanyiUbah as having 

come at the right time. “We 

are very discerning and 

selective in our choice of 

partners. We deal with 

people and organisations 

that share the same vision 

and we find that in Dr 

Ifeanyi Ubah. “Like he said, 

the partnership is limitless,” 

Kinnear said, adding, “we 

have the best academy in 

world football. We have 

vision, purpose and 

discipline.” 

a 0-0 draw in Accra at 

the 1978 Cup of Nations, 

but Zambia then 

gained two successive 

3-0 wins over Nigeria – 

a friendly in Lusaka in 

1981 and a group phase 

clash at the 1982 Africa 

Cup of Nations in 

Libya. 

However, the Zambians 

have not beaten 

the Eagles in a competitive 

match in the past 31 

years. 

Nigeria edged a 

memorable Africa Cup 

of Nations final in Tunis 

in 1994, and then prevailed 

over the Zambians 

5-4 on penalties 

after a 0-0 draw in the 

quarter –finals of the 

2010 Cup of Nations in 

Angola. 

None of the 16 previous 

clashes was a World 

Cup qualifying match.

42—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 

LG POLL: Ogun set for 

one-horse-race 

*Police warn against electoral offences 

•Amosun: Second LG elections under his watch 


IN the next 24 hours, 

residents of Ogun State 

would go to the polls to elect a 

new set of officials, who would 

steer the affairs of the Local 

Government Areas in the state, 

in the next three years. 

According to the Ogun State 

Independent Electoral 

Commission, OGSIEC, no 

fewer than 17 political parties 

will participate in the exercise. 

However, the ruling All 

Progressives Congress,APC, is 

regarded as the front runner 

among other parties in the 

race. 

This will be the second time 

in five years that council 

election would hold under the 

Ibikunle Amosun-led 

administration. 

Amosun had conducted the 

first local government election 

on July 21, 2012, during his 

first term. Three years after the 

tenure of the elected offices, 

caretaker committees were 

constituted and they have been 

administering the councils till 

date. 

This poll would be unique 

because, for the first time, an 

election would hold in 57 

council areas which consist of 

the existing 20 local 

governments and the 37 newly 

created Local Council 

Development Areas, LCDAs. 

Findings showed that the race 

may be a one-horse-race even 

though 17 political parties will 

be participating. 

To ensure his party wins the 

contest, the state governor had 

led APC party leaders and 

supporters to the three 

senatorial districts to canvass 

for votes. 

In a bid to display its 

independence, the OGSIEC 

had embarked on so many 

activities with a view to giving 

the political parties a level 

playing field. 

In spite of that, most parties 

are not satisfied with the 

conduct of the commission 

regarding preparations for the 

poll. 

The commission had received 

two lists from the factions of 

the PDP but eventually settled 

for that of the Ahmed Makarfi 

Caretaker Committee. 

In doing that, the list of 

candidates from the Adebayo 

This will be the 

second time in 

five years that 

council election 

would hold 

under the 

Ibikunle 

Amosun-led 

administration 

Dayo-led faction was 

jettisoned. 

The Labour Party, LP, which 

filed a suit against the electoral 

body demanding the exclusion 

of its candidates lost out as a 

court ordered the OGSIEC to 

go ahead with the election. 

Meanwhile, the state police 

command has warned the 

parties against fomenting 

trouble during the election. 

The command gave the 

warning during a meeting 

convened by the state 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Ahmed Iliyasu, which had the 

heads of all security agencies 

and representatives of all 

political parties in attendance. 

He stated that electoral 

offences such as canvassing for 

votes during the voting period, 

snatching of ballot boxes and 

disorderly conduct among 

others would not be tolerated. 

He further warned that 

nobody apart from the electoral 

body should announce the 

election results. 

The commissioner, therefore, 

assured residents of adequate 

security before, during and 

after the poll. 

Some of the political parties 

in a chat with Vanguard 

expressed satisfaction with the 

level of preparation by the 

OGSIEC. It was gathered that 

the All Progressives Grand 

Alliance, APGA, Peoples Party 

of Nigeria, PPN, and Labour 

Party may not participate in the 

election. This development 

may likely increase the chances 

of the APC in the contest. 

Urhobos are doing better under Buhari 

— Olorogun Egbo 

OLOROGUN Jaro Movudu Egbo, a stalwart of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in 

Delta State is the national leader of Urhobo Nationality Council, UNC and one of the 

aides to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. 

In this interview, he responds to the court decision that voided the election of Prophet 

Jones Erue as chairman of the state chapter of the party and the recent move by some 

party elders to fill the vacancy among other issues. Excerpts: 

By Festus Ahon 

WHAT is the crisis in Delta 

APC all about and which 

of the factions do you belong? 

There is no crisis and there 

are no factions in Delta APC. 

We have only one APC in Delta 

united under the Exco led by 

Prophet Jones Erue and 

Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor. 

What happened was that some 

elders and handful of their 

supporters called a meeting 

and declared that they now 

have a caretaker committee. 

The APC, as a ruling party, 

has a Constitution with well laid 

organs and sections. So they 

were acting ultra vires at the 

behest of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP 

controlled State Government 

that has hit the panic button as 

a result of the massive 

defections to the APC. 

How are you working as a 

party to resolve it and what are 

you putting in place to position 

the party ahead of the 2019 

elections? 

As a way of resolving the 

illegal act, the National 

Working Committee, NWC of 

the APC has summoned those 

causing problems in the party 

for sanction. Since then they 

have been running from pillar 

to pole begging for 

forgiveness. 

I am sure you are aware that 

the State Chairman, Prophet 

Jones Erue led the State Exco 

to hold meeting at the 

secretariat last week. 

So where are the said 

factions? Where are they 

operating from? Even Chief 

Adolo Okotie Eboh who went 

to court has stated clearly that 

he is with us, not with them. 

Those elders and their 

supporters are not parties to the 

court matter; they are at best 

meddlesome interlopers. 

What is your take on the 

economic recession being 

faced in the country which 

some persons say is caused by 

bad policies of the APC led 

Federal Government? 

There is no denying the fact 

that the economic recession is 

biting hard but I am sure with 

the measures being taken by 

Mr. President, the economy will 

soon turn the corner. 

Those in PDP believe the 

anti corruption crusade is 

targeted at only their 

members. What is your 

take on this? 

I do not believe that the anti 

corruption crusade is targeted 

at the opposition party 

leadership or a particular 

section. It’s a trite fact that when 

you fight corruption it fights 

back. Senator Saraki today is 

the number three citizen and a 

national leader of the APC; he 

is facing trial. 

Almost two years into the 

APC administration at the 

federal level, the Urhobo are 

not represented in the Federal 

Executive Council. 

Yes the Urhobo nation is better 

off under the APC government. 

We now have a voice and our 

views are no longer subsumed 

under the nebulous Niger Delta 

interest that benefitted only a 

particular tribe. 

We may not be in the Federal 

Executive Council but we have 

been appointed as Executive 

Director Projects, EDP on the 

board of the Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, Director in Refineries, 

•Egbo: APC is on course 

NAPIMS, NERC and NPA. 

What is your assessment of 

the President Mohammadu 

Buhari administration against 

the background of the present 

hardship being faced by 

Nigerians? 

There is no denying the fact 

that times are hard and our 

people are hungry as a result 

of recession and global oil price 

collapse but I am very 

confident that the President will 

rise to the occasion and very 

soon we will heave a sigh of

C 

M 

Y 

K 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 — 43

44—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 , 2016 

Keep Shaytan out of the house: 

Allah has told us in the Quran that 

Shaytan is our enemy and we 

should do everything to keep him 

out of our lives. Shaytan hurts us by 

misguiding us toward evil deeds, 

making the bad look acceptable, 

bringing misfortune in our lives and 

families, and so on. 

The more we succeed in keeping 

his tactics and curses away from our 

lives and our homes, the fewer will 

be the fights, arguments, misunderstandings, 

etc., and the more will 

we enjoy Allah’s peace and blessings. 

Both Allah and the prophet (s) 

have told us how to ward off Shaytan’s 

whispers and other evil tactics. 

For example, when entering a 

house, we should ensure that everyone 

welcomes the others at home 

by saying the Islamic greeting of “Assalamun 

alaikum”. 

Abu Dawood reported in his Sunan 

that the Messenger of Allah (S) 

said: “If a man goes out of his house 

and says, ‘Bismillaah, tawakkaltu 

‘ala Allah, laa hawla wa laa quwwata 

illaa Billaah (In the name of 

Allah, I put my trust in Allah, there 

is no help and no strength except in 

Allah),’ it will be said to him, ‘This 

will take care of you, you are guided, 

you have what you need and 

you are protected.’ The Shaytaan 

will stay away from him. Obviously, 

what can he do with a man who is 

guided, provided for and protected 

by Allah? Certainly nothing. 

Recitation of 

the Surah 

Also, endeavour to recite Q2 at 

home. The surah is long, but family 

members can alternate in the recitation 

of the Surah. You can also play 

it from a CD or any device. The 

Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 

“Do not make your houses into 

graves. The Shaytaan flees from a 

house in which Suratul Baqarah is 

recited.” 

Let respect, kindness and trust 

rule the affairs of the family 

Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased 

with her) said: “The Messenger of 

Allah (S) said: ‘When Allah – may 

He be glorified – wills some good 

towards the people of a household, 

He introduces kindness among 

them.’” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad 

in al-Musnad, 6/71; Saheeh 

al-Jaami’, 303). 

Each individual has a unique 

identity and individuality that deserves 

to be respected. Giving time 

to listen to each other and helping 

solve problems in the light of Islam 

will make a household more conducive 

for productive problem solving. 

On the contrary, a home filled 

with frequent argumentation, disputes, 

and quarrels will only foster 

bad feelings and is something that 

stands counter to the teachings of 

Zhul-Hijjah 28, 1437 A.H. 

How to live ‘Islam' within families (2) 

Continued from last week 

the Quran and the Sunnah. 

Let’s remember that the prophet 

(s.a.w) associated an argumentative 

and disputing attitude with misguidance. 

He said, “A nation never went 

astray after being guided except by 

means of disputation (Tirmidhi 

#3253 and ibn Majah #48 on the 

authority of Abu Umamah).” In this 

context, we should also exercise the 

use of our tongues with great care. 

The Prophet (S) said: “Blessed is 

the one who controls his tongue…” 

Family members should also uphold 

each other’s trust and ensure 

that family matters stay private unless 

there is a specific need to share 

Another way to 

foster a learning 

environment at 

home is for each 

family to instill the 

love of Islamic 

literature and 

books 

it with others. This especially pertains 

to spousal issues and matters. 

The prophet (s.a.w) said, “One of 

the most evil of people in the sight 

of Allah on the Day of Resurrection 

will be a man who went in unto his 

wife and she went in unto him (had 

relations with each other), then he 

(or she) disclosed her (or his) secret.” 

(Reported by Muslim, 4/157). 

There are other ahadith that clearly 

and strictly warn the spouses (likening 

them to devils) when they let 

others in their very private matters. 

Foster a culture of Islamic learning 

and knowledge: We must teach 

our children and wives the religion 

and goodness, and whatever they 

need of good manners. Fostering 

Muslim children after Jumat Prayer 

and nurturing a learning environment 

at home where family members 

share Islamic teachings regularly 

can help all members to become 

more knowledgeable about Islam, 

improving one’s life in turn. 

Let’s remind ourselves that the 

prophet (s.a.w) used to teach his 

wives / family and even servants 

quite regularly. If the Messenger of 

Allah (s.a.w) used to urge the teaching 

of female servants, who were 

slaves, what do you think about your 

children and wives, who are free?” 

Discussing Islamic wisdom regularly 

can help us to stay informed 

and involved in ongoing self assessment. 

Most of us are usually preoccupied 

with issues related to our responsibilities, 

work, relationships 

and disappointments in life. While 

discussing these matters with our 

family members, we can relate them 

to how the prophet (s.a.w) and his 

companions resolved such matters. 

We should find opportunities to discuss 

such issues when everyone 

comes together as for instance during 

meal times. 

Family members should also use 

the learning opportunities at home 

to learn and advise each other on 

matters of halal and haram. Let’s remind 

ourselves that once we cross 

those lines and start characterizing 

the bad as acceptable, Satan further 

raises those limits and does not stop 

until he completely pushes us into 

the darkness of evil and shirk (polytheism). 

Another way to foster a learning 

environment at home is for each family 

to instill the love of Islamic literature 

and books. So, beyond keeping 

a Quran and a book on hadith, 

the family should look to maintain 

literature on Quran interpretation 

and books of renowned Islamic 

scholars that can help family members 

get a deeper insight into the 

wisdom of the Quran and the Sunnah. 

Make family decisions through 

mutual consultation: Involving the 

family in important matters before 

making a decision ensures closeness 

among the members. Allah says in 

the Quran 42 

verse38. “… 

and who (conduct) 

their affairs 

by mutual 

consultation…” 

Mutual consultation 

allows 

for each 

member to 

have a sense 

of importance 

and responsibility. 

Besides, 

when trying to 

solve a problem, 

the more 

brains that are 

involved, the 

better the 

Barka Jumah 

Faith in Allah 

Faith is the sense of the heart as truly as sight is the sense of 

the eye. Faith enliven the soul, power goodness into our trail 

and mend life’s challenges with assured triumph. 

A person without faith is lost for good. But those who possess 

and live by faith always claim divine guidance and security 

from the earthly furnace of sorrow. To be a Muslim is to live 

by faith in Allah’s abiding law that binds us to eternal peace 

and joy. 

May faith align you with it’s luminous lamp that vanquish 

doom but ignite hope and fulfillment. Happy Jumat. —Adewale 

Adeeyo, OON 

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chances for a solution. Problems can 

be resolved with one-on-one conversations 

between parents and children, 

and other family members. 

Rather than venting frustrations and 

focusing on the problems, family 

members should find ways to engage 

in conversations where solutions 

are sought in an amicable manner. 

Venting frustrations, blaming 

each other, harsh tones, and demeaning 

each other not only does 

not solve problems but also sours 

relationships and closes all doors for 

future consultations and trust. Let’s 

remember the hadith of the Prophet 

where he compared harshness with 

good behavior. He (s.a.w) said, “Allah 

loves kindness and rewards it 

in such a way that He does not reward 

for harshness or for anything 

else.” 

Understand and fulfill responsibilities 

toward other family members: 

Living with other family 

members also necessitates that 

each of us learns the rights of 

others. As Muslims, we should 

know the rights of our parents, 

children, spouses, siblings, and 

others. For example, Allah provides 

us clear instructions about kindness 

to parents. He (Subhanahu wa 

Ta’ala) Has instructed us: And your 

Lord has decreed that you worship 

none but Him. And that you be 

dutiful to your parents. If one of 

them or both of them attain old age 

in your life, say not to them a word 

of disrespect, nor reprimand them 

but address them in terms of honor. 

“And lower unto them the wing of 

submission and humility through 

mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow 

on them Your mercy as they did 

bring me up when I was young.” 

(Quran 17: 24) 

Culled from Iqrasense

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016—45 

Zhul-Hijjah 28, 1437 A.H. 

Religions abhor killing — Sultan 

•Says: Suicide bombers are going to hell 

•Felicitates with Muslims on new Islamic year 

THE Sultan of Sokoto and 

President General, 

Nigeria Supreme Council for 

Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), Alhaji 

Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said 

religions abhor killing. 

Abubakar spoke when 

Innocent Idibia, a musician 

popularly called 2Face, paid 

him a courtesy call in Sokoto, 

recently. Abubakar added that 

* * * Islam * * * * * * and * * * * Christianity 

* * * 

preached peace and love among 

their faithful. 

According to the Sultan, no 

THE Amir, Head Ahmadiyya 

Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria; Dr 

Mashuud Fashola has commended 

the unique and unflinching sacrifices 

made by Nigerians since 

independence. 

Dr Fashola gave this 

commendation during his Friday 

sermon, saying the citizens must 

be ready to put government on its 

toes to deliver on their promises of 

good life to all irrespective of religion 

or ethnic background. 

He specifically noted the 

tremendous support given to 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 

administration since its inception, 

calling for patience as the leadership 

navigates out of the economic 

recession. Dr Fashola, praised the 

SOME Islamic groups have 

called on the Federal and 

state governments in Nigeria to 

declare Muharram 1, the first day 

of the Islamic Hijrah Calendar 

1438 A.H, a public holiday. 

The groups, in separate Hijrah 

1438 A.H messages, said such a 

declaration would be in line with 

the principle of fairness and justice 

to Muslims in Nigeria. 

The demand came from Muslim 

Muslim Media Practitioners 

of Nigeria (MMPN), Obafemi 

Awolowo University Muslim 

Graduates Association 

(UNIFEMGA) and Muslim Community 

of Oyo state (MUSCOYS). 

Others include National Council 

of Muslim Youths Organisations 

(NACOMYO), Muslim 

Rights Concern (MURIC) and 

Muslim Students Society of Nigeria 

(MSSN). 

MMPN in its statement signed 

by its President, Abdurrahman 

Balogun, urged the Federal Gov- 

human being can claim to love 

God without loving his 

neighbour. 

“Religion is a personal choice 

of an individual. Therefore, 

nobody can force any religion 

on anybody. Suicide bombers 

are going to hell.” 

The Sultan urged Idibia to 

continue to use his talent in 

promoting peace and peaceful 

coexistence amongst Nigerian 

youths. The monarch 

admonished youths never to 

allow selfish preachers and 

Independence: Ahmadiyya commends 

Nigerians’ sacrifices 

‘Change-begins-with-me’ campaign 

urging the country’s leadership to 

show practical and exemplary 

examples of discipline in all strata of 

life. 

On agriculture, Dr Fashola call on 

government to support farmers 

through purchase of farm produce 

from the farms, direct sale to 

Nigerians at reasonable prices to cut 

down on middlemen exploitations 

of farmers. 

He also felicitates with Muslims 

in the country on the occasion of the 

new Islamic calendar, Hijri 1438 A.H 

which began last Sunday. 

He enjoined Muslims to always 

demonstrate exemplary life styles 

and utmost humility in all their 

dealings. 

Muslim groups demand holiday for Islamic new year 

politicians to use them for their 

selfish reasons. 

Idibia had earlier promised to 

continue to use his talent to 

promote peace and peaceful 

coexistence amongst Nigerian 

youths. 

Meanwhile, NSCIA 

felicitated with the Nigerian 

Muslim Ummah and their 

counterparts all over the world 

on the auspicious occasion of 

the new Hijrah Year 1438 A.H. 

In a statement by the body, 

NSCIA said: “The 

significance of the New Year 

borders on the opportunity it 

offers Muslims to migrate from 

whatever is wrong and sinful 

and the potential it holds for all 

to be closer to Allah through 

devotion and obedience. 

Without migrating from 

disobedience to obedience, 

sinfulness to righteousness, 

indiscipline to discipline, kufr 

and shirk to Islam, as enshrined 

in the Qu’ran and Sunnah, the 

essence of Hijrah is 

compromised and defeated. 

“Therefore, as the New Year 

begins and new vistas are 

opened, Muslims are enjoined 

to use the privilege, not a right, 

of witnessing another year to 

renew their faith and 

commitment to righteousness. 

They are to come closer to 

Allah and re-dedicate their lives 

to His divine service and 

humanity.” 

ernment to give recognition to 

Muslim New Year in the interest 

of fairness. 

Balogun said that declaring 

Muharram 1, a public holiday 

would give Muslims a sense of 

belonging. 

In the same vein, UNIFEMGA 

in its message signed by Abdulwaheed 

Odeyimka , its National 

President, called on the government 

at various levels to recognise 

the Hijrah calendar and use 

it side by side with the Gregorian 

calendar. 

It congratulated Muslims and 

non-Muslims alike for witnessing 

another new Islamic year and 

urged them to reflect on their 

deeds and activities during the 

past year. 

In his own message, the Chairman, 

Muslim Community of Oyo 

State, Alhaji Ishaq Sanni said the 

declaration and recognition of 

Hijrah was long overdue and 

called for its immediate implementation. 

He called on the Nigerian 

Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs 

to enter into dialogue with 

the Nigerian Government on the 

issue. 

Sanni equally called for a stringent 

legislation against rapist in 

the country, saying it was getting 

too rampant because the culprits 

always get away with it. 

ONE of the airlines 

marked for the airlifting of 

passengers to the Holy land, 

Med-view Airline said it has 

completed the airlift of Pilgrims for 

the 2016 Hajj back to Nigeria, being 

the first to complete the hajj 

assignment at a record time. 

Med-view Airline is among the 

three carriers contracted by the 

National Hajj Commission of 

Nigeria (NAHCON) for the 2016 

NAHCON to refund pilgrims for 

services not t rendered 

THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it 

will compensate pilgrims who could not get any service they 

paid for during this year’s Hajj. 

The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, 

said this after a meeting with the main service provider for Nigerian 

pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 

He said the service provider had agreed to compensate pilgrims 

from Adamawa, Taraba, Osun and Nasarawa State, whose air coolers 

provided at their tents in Arafat malfunctioned. 

Mohammed said the commission was happy with the services rendered 

to the pilgrims by the company, adding that the meeting discussed 

on how to improve on the services next year. 

He said NAHCON was particularly impressed with improvements 

made in sanitation at pilgrims camps in Muna as well as the transportation 

of pilgrims to and from various points. 

Also speaking, the Chief Executive of the company, Ramy Lebaly, 

said the meeting afforded both sides to assess the performance and 

identify the challenges experienced. 

He said his company was happy with the relationship with NAH- 

CON and promised to continue to improve on the services it renders 

to Nigerian pilgrims. Lebaly promised to take up the seizure of electronic 

wristbands of some pilgrims by the Saudi Customs Service with 

the Ministry of Hajj Affairs. 

From left: Dr. Adeniyi Omotope Zafahan, Guest Lecturer; 

Commandant Ebenezer Akinwande Aboluwoye, Corps 

Commander, Ogun State; Brigadier-General Mohammed Dan- 

Walis, Brigadier Commander Alamala Barrack Abeokuta and 

Sheikh Imam Liadi Orunsolu, Chief Imam of Egbaland at the 

lecture organised by the state Muslim Community of Nigeria 

Security and Civil Defence Corps recently. 

Muslims Doctoral students across Nigeria universities offered 

scholarships by the Conference of Association of Muslims 

Organisations of Nigeria ,CAMON, Ibadan. From right: 

Qasim Akinreti, Babcock University, Rémi Adeyemi ,Obafemi 

Awolowo, Abdul-Rasheed Ibitomiwa, from University of 

Ibadan (all recipients of the award). 

Med-view Airline completes airlift of pilgrims 

Hajj operations. 

Its last two flights on hajj 

operations arrived Port Harcourt 

International airport and Kaduna 

International airport respectively 

on Monday. 

The flight to Port Harcourt had 

452 pilgrims from Rivers, Edo, 

Delta , Abia, Anambra, Imo, 

Ebonyi and Cross River states 

while that of Kaduna had 320 

pilgrims on board. 

Speaking on the successful Hajj 

operations, the Managing 

Director/CEO of the airline, Alhaji 

Muneer Bankole, praised Allah 

just as he commended 

NAHCON and the Federal 

Government for the necessary 

structures put in place to ensure 

a hitch-free Hajj exercise. 

It was gathered that the airline 

deployed three wide body aircraft 

- B747-300, B777-200 and B767- 

300 for the hajj operations.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

C 

M 

Y 

K 

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 — 47

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 

Zambia, a crafty 

side! •Taribo warns Eagles 

BY JACOB AJOM 

FORMER Super 

Eagles defender, 

Taribo West who was 

rumoured dead last week 

‘resurrected’ at the Eko 

Hotel and suites 

Wednesday, where FC 

IfeayiUbah and West 

Ham FC of London 

signed a partnership 

deal which will see the 

two clubs exchange 

programmes and 

personnel from time to 

time. 

Taribo said he had 

forgiven the rumour 

mongers as God uses 

such stories to bless his 

people. “By those 

stories, they have told me 


Saraki demands NFF’s account details 

AN unimpressed 

Senate President 

Bukola Saraki has 

demanded NFF 

sponsorship accounts 

since last year after the 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Tanzania 

name 

squad 

for 

Eagles 

•Mikel 

Sudoku 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

have two of the same number). 

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

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

bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 

through 9. This means that no number can appear twice 

in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division 

or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

•Kalaba 

football federation has asked the NFF to 

informed the senate’s present their 

sports committee of their 

precarious financial 

position. 

“The Senate President 

sponsorship accounts 

since 2015 for him to take 


YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

Eagles to improve superior 

record against Chipolopolo 

THE Super Eagles 

are committed to 

improving Nigeria’s 

superior record against 

Zambia at senior 

international level, 

when both teams clash 

in a 2018 FIFA World 

Cup African Round 3 

qualifying match in 

Ndola on Sunday. 

Skipper Mikel John 

Obi confirmed on 

Thursday that the team is 

ready for the 2018 FIFA 

World Cup qualification 

duels, which will see 

Nigeria play Zambia 

away on Sunday and 

host Algeria on 12th 

November before four 


Kalaba: We want to 

welcome Wada with a win 

•Iheanacho 

C HIPOLOPOLO 

skipper Rainford 

Kalaba says the Team fly to 

Chipolopolo are focused 

on winning the the 2018 

Russia World Cup Ndola tomorrow 

qualifier on Sunday 

against Nigeria. THE 

Nigerian 

Kalaba told The Post that delegation to 

his team would like to Sunday’s 2018 FIFA 

welcome new coach World Cup qualifier 

Wedson Nyirenda (Wada) against Zambia’s 

with a win. 

Chipolopolo will depart 

“We are looking forward from the Nnamdi Azikiwe 

to the game. We are a full International Airport 

squad, everyone is tomorrow. 

putting in their best, from NFF officials 

now onwards it will be confirmed on Thursday 

hard work. It will be good that the team will arrive 

to welcome the coach with in time for an evening 

a win on Sunday,” Kalaba training session at the 

said. 

Levy Nwanawasa 

“Football is played on Stadium in Ndola. •Rohr 

the pitch. They (Nigeria) Thenff.com further officials that will be on 

have been Champions learnt that apart from the the flight, there will 

Continues on Page 41 23 players and 15 team Continues on Page 41 

ACROSS 

1 Address (6) 

5 Reflect (6) 

9 Enjoyed (5) 

10 Clergyman (6) 

11 Inclined (6) 

12 Abrupt (5) 

14 Ogle (4) 

17 Age (3) 

18 Front (4) 

20 Enlist (5) 

22 Father (5) 

23 Harmed (7) 

24 Stitched (5) 

26 Punitive (5) 

29 Threesome (4) 

30 Damp (3) 

32 Challenge (4) 

33 Hell (5) 

35 Streamer (6) 

36 Courteous (6) 

37 Danger (5) 

38 Dashed (6) 

39 Rely (6) 

DOWN 

1 Lithe (6) 

2 Simpler (6) 

3 Curdle (4) 

4 Chartered (5) 

5 Untidy (5) 

6 Inactive (4) 

7 Reiterate (7) 

8 Tiller (6) 

13 Devastated (7) 

15 Go in (5) 

16 Round-up (5) 

18 Paled (5) 

19 Tree (5) 

21 Youth (3) 

22 Vitality (3) 

24 Idiotic (6) 

25 Victor (6) 

27 Inherent (6) 

28 Myth (6) 

30 Declined (5) 

31 Lukewarm (5) 

33 Trust (4) 

34 Only (4) 

ACROSS: 1, Demure 5, Spoken 9, Angle 10, 

Relent 11, Eluded 12, Greet 14, Step 17, Yak 

18, Cast 20, Sited 22, Puppy 23, Tattler 24, Relay 

26, Refit 29, Idol 30, Wry 32, Data 33, Mined 

35, Detain 36, ailing 37, Learn 38, Earned 39, 

Newest. 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

DOWN: 1, Duress 2, Mallet 3, Rang 4, Entry 

5, Sleek 6, Pelt 7, Kidnap 8, Nudity 13, Eastern 

15, Tired 16, Petal 18, Cured 19, Split 21, Day 

22, Per 24, Riddle 25, Loiter 27, Famine 28, 

Target 30, Wined 31, Yeam 33, Mile 34, Dine. 

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

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

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Acting Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

AS GUNMEN ATTACK LAGOS SCHOOL: V-Principal, teacher, 4 students abducted

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