Senate threatens ‘strike’ over pending re-run polls

APC hasn't managed victory well — OKOROCHA 

....As govs intervene on party crisis, say nobody can bully Oyegun out 

>>5 

>>8 

Oil producing communities issue 5-point demand to FG >>13 

...towards a better life for the people 

VOL. 25: NO. 63150 

** 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com 

N200 

Senate threatens ‘strike’ 

over pending re-run polls 

•Gives INEC Dec 10 deadline to conduct outstanding polls in Rivers 

•Says INEC’s action endangering democracy; Senate is right – Afenifere 

•We‘ll conduct elections before December 15 — INEC 

•Don’t shut down govt, Wabara, Ita-Giwa tell Senate 

FOR THE SULTAN—From left: Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III; Emir of 

Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II; and former governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, at the distribution of Zakkat and 

endowment items as part of activities to mark the 10th Year Anniversary of the Sultan in Sokoto, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

FG appoints transaction adviser 

on new national carrier 

•P.12 

Demolition in Lagos: Shop owner 

dies, another suffers miscarriage •P.7 

By Henry Umoru, 

Dapo Akinrefon, 

Charles Kumolu & 

Omeiza Ajayi 

A BUJA—THE 

S e n a t e , 

yesterday, threatened to 

suspend plenary 

sessions if the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, fails to conduct 

all pending re-run 

elections into legislative 

positions in Rivers State. 

This followed the 

unanimous adoption of a 

Continues on Page 4 

Banks' 

loans 

rise to 

N13.8 

trn 

>>19 

Mr & Mrs 

Now that Abati 

is on the menu 

•P.17 

COLUMNISTS: 

Why thieves 

pick on Pension 

funds •P.31 

Rivers State's 

forgotten re-run 

elections •P.31 

MRS. JONATHAN'S $15M: 

Court convicts 

4 firms, reserves 

sentence 

>>9

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016—3 

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

Electricity 

companies 

tackle 

Dangote on 

power 

situation 

By Sebastine Obasi 

E LECTRICITY 

distribution 

companies, (DISCOs), 

under the aegis of 

Association of Nigerian 

Electricity Distributors, 

ANED, yesterday, said 

though they might not 

have performed as 

expected due to the 

enormous challenges in 

the sector, government 

should not reverse the 

privatisation of the 

generation and 

distribution companies. 

ANED’s Executive 

Director, Research and 

Advocacy, Sunday 

Oduntan, while reacting 

to the assertion by 

businessman, Aliko 

Dangote, that the 

investors “went in 

without even 

understanding what they 

were doing…”, said it 

would be difficult for 

anyone to suggest that 

people, seasoned and 

successful investors, 

who committed $2.3 

billion of their money, 30 

percent or $690,000,000 

of which is equity, did so 

without knowing what 

they were doing. 

He stated: “We have 

done a lot, but we have 

not done enough. We are 

not happy where we are. 

There is no way you can 

correct the anomaly of 

63 years in just three 

years. 

“If the GENCOs 

(Electricity Generating 

Companies) and 

DISCOs investors are to 

be accused of anything, 

it is that they believed in 

their country and had a 

strong desire to put their 

money at risk behind that 

belief, rather than those 

who may be considered 

nothing more than 

armchair experts, with a 

reluctance to dip their 

toes in the water. 

“In fairness, we note 

that Alhaji Dangote’s 

company did put in a bid 

during the privatisation, 

but his bid was delivered 

late, after the bid 

deadline, and was 

rejected. Interestingly, 

it was a privatisation 

that was universally 

deemed to be one of the 

fairest and most 

transparent exercise of 

its kind." 

Senate's move to allow substitution of dead gov, 

presidential candidate in polls deadlocked 

By Henry Umoru & 

Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—ATTEMPT by 

the Senate yesterday to 

amend the Electoral Act 2010 to 

provide for the substitution of a 

dead governorship or 

presidential candidate before 

the announcement of result with 

the first runner-up in the party 

primary, suffered a major setback 

as it ended in a deadlock. 

Deliberating on the report of 

the Senate Committee on the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, on a Bill for 

an Act to Amend the Electoral 

Act No. 6, 2010 and for other 

related matters, (S.B.231 and 

S.B.234), the Senate decided to 

suspend further discussions on 

it as it was inconclusive and 

against the backdrop of some 

controversial causes. 

In his presentation, Chairman, 

Senate Committee on INEC, 

Senator Abubakar Kyari, APC, 

Borno North, said amendment 

to the Electoral Act became 

important because Nigerians 

wanted a situation where the 8th 

Senate would come up with a 

modern and better electoral law 

altogether and one that would 

deliver credible electoral 

outcomes through sustainable 

processes, consistent with global 

best practices. 

Senate’s amendment of the Act 

was designed to put an end to a 

repeat of the crisis which came 

up following the death of the 

governorship candidate of All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Abubakar Audu, during the 

November 2015 governorship 

election in Kogi State. 

It was a move by the Senate to 

solve all the problems that may 

come up from the death of a 

presidential or governorship 

candidate. 

The resolution to suspend 

amendment of the Electoral Act 

along this line was arrived at, 

due to the contentious nature 

which debate on the matter 

could assume when subject to 

consideration. 

The Senate was dissatisfied 

with the recommendations of the 

panel which focused on the 

mode of substituting dead 

FG approves take-off of 8 new private universities 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—THE 

Federal 

Government yesterday 

gave its nod to the take-off of 

eight new private universities in 

Nigeria. 

This was sequel to a memo 

approved by the National 

Universities Commission, NUC, 

and presented to the Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, by the 

Federal Ministry of Education 

in Abuja, yesterday. 

With this development, the 

number of universities in 

Nigeria has increased from 143 

to 151, while the number of 

private universities has risen to 

69 from 61. 

The eight universities and 

their promoters include Anchor 

University, Ayobo, Lagos, owned 

by Deeper Christian Life 

Ministry; Arthur Jarvis 

University, Akpabuyo, Cross 

River, engineered by the Clitter 

House Nigeria Limited; Clifford 

University, Owerrinta, Abia, 

owned by Seventh Day 

Adventist Church; Coal City 

University, Enugu, operated by 

African Thinkers Community of 

Inquiry College of Education, 

Enugu; Crown-Hill University, 

Eiyenkorin, Kwara, floated by 

Modern Morgy and Sons 

Limited; Dominican University, 

Ibadan, the brainchild of Order 

of Preachers, Nigerian 

Dominican Community; Kola 

Daisi University, Ibadan came 

from Kola Daisi Foundation and 

Legacy University, Okija, an idea 

of The Good Idea Education 

Foundation. 

Briefing State House 

correspondents at the end of the 

meeting presided over by 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

the Minister of State for 

Education, Professor Anthony 

Anwuka, said the reason for the 

approval was to give the 

teeming youths the opportunity 

to acquire university education 

Anwuka, who was joined by 

$29.9bn loan: Buhari’ll re-present request —Lai Mohammed 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari will 

reapply for approval of the 

Senate on request to borrow 

$29.9 billion, the Minister of 

Information, Alhaji Lai 

Muhammed, has said. 

It will be recalled that the first 

request of the President to the 

National Assembly for external 

candidates and it became 

imperative to refer the report 

back for further legislative input. 

The amendment, which is 

among several amendments 

being carried out on the 

Electoral Act 2010, is meant to 

amend Section 36 of the 

Electoral Act “by inserting a 

new sub-section ‘3’ which 

provides for the substitution of 

a candidate of a political party 

who dies before the declaration 

of the result of an election with 

the first runner up in the party’s 

primaries, which was won by 

the deceased candidate.” 

Section 3 states that “If after 

•Appoints UNILAG, UNN, UNICAL, others as mentors 

his counterparts in Aviation, 

Hadi Sirika, and Information, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: 

“The Ministry of Education 

submitted a memo to Council 

this morning seeking approval 

for eight private universities as 

recommended by NUC after 

very serious comprehensive 

and exhaustive compliance to 

the conditions that warrant such 

approval. 

Anwuka said the new 

universities would be 

supervised by the older 

universities within their zone 

for a period of three years to 

assist them put necessary 

infrastructure in place, adding 

that the supervision was in sync 

with the law. 

borrowing to fund critical 

infrastructural projects in the 

country between 2016 and 2018 

was turned down by the Senate 

on Tuesday. 

Briefing State House 

correspondents at the end of 

meeting of the Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, 

yesterday in Abuja, 

Mohammed said what 

the commencement of poll and 

before the announcement of the 

final result and declaration of a 

winner, a nominated candidate 

dies, the chief National Electoral 

Commissioner shall, satisfied of 

the fact of the death, proceed with 

the election after allowing the 

political party whose candidate 

died, to substitute the late 

candidate with the person who 

scored the next highest number 

of lawful votes in the primaries, 

which was won by the deceased 

candidate, as if the substituted 

person was the candidate 

originally nominated by that 

party.” 

WORKING TOUR: Third left (front row): Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court, 

Abuja; next to her right is Ms. Maria Svensson, Director, Customer Care, Globacom, and Justice 

Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, Chief Judge of River State. Behind Svensson is Executive Director, 

Globacom, Mr. Adewale Sangowawa, with officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission, 

(NCC) and Globacom, during a working tour of Globacom’s Customer Care facilities at Ahmadu 

Bello Way , Victoria Island Lagos. The tour was put together by the NCC as part of the Workshop 

entitled Legal Issues in Telecommunications it organized for the National Judicial Institute, Abuja. 

He said: “While approving these 

universities for licensing 

provisionally for three years, the 

Universities should be mentored 

by some existing older 

Universities in Nigeria. And those 

will include: Anchor University 

will be mentored by University of 

Lagos, Akoka; Arthur Jarvis 

University will be mentored by 

University of Calabar; Cliffored 

will be mentored by University of 

Agriculture, Umudike; Coal City 

University will be mentored by 

University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 

“Crown-Hill University will be 

mentored by University of Ilorin. 

Dominican University will be 

mentored by University of 

Ibadan. Kola Daisi University 

will mentored by University of 

Ibadan. Legacy University will be 

mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe 

University, Awka." 

frustrated the approval was lack 

of detailed information. 

He said the government would 

provide the necessary information 

which the Senate needed for the 

approval. 

He said the disagreement 

between the legislative and 

executive arms of government was 

not unusual, adding that it was in 

the interest of Nigerians.

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 

POCKET CARTOON 

PROTEST RALLY—The members of Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, led by 

Convener, Mr. Adeola Ilori, on a rally against Department of State Services, DSS, on recent clampdown 

on judges in Nigeria, with theme: "War on Corruption Through Due Process", yesterday, in Lagos. 

Photo: Bunmi Azeez. 

Senate threatens ‘strike’ over 

pending re-run polls 

Continues from page 1 

motion under matters of 

urgent public importance 

sponsored by Deputy 

President of the Senate, 

Senator 

Ike 

Ekweremadu, PDP, 

Enugu East and Senate 

Leader, Senator 

Mohammed Ali Ndume, 

APC, Borno South. 

Moving the motion, 

Senator Ekweremadu 

said INEC’s failure to 

conduct the re-run 

elections in Rivers State, 

within the time frame 

ordered by the 

respective Election 

Petition Tribunals/Courts, 

was in total breach of the 

Electoral Act and Section 

76 of the 1999 

Constitution, wich stated 

that “Election to each 

House of the National 

Assembly shall be held 

by the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission at such time 

as may be prescribed by 

an Act of the National 

Assembly.” 

He added that the 

action of the electoral 

umpire in Rivers State 

was endangering the 

nation’s democracy. 

The Senate’s threat 

elicited concern from 

former Senate President, 

Chief Adolphus Wabara 

and Senator Florence Ita- 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

IF you can be at peace with who you are, then 

what you seek to become will become 

unstoppable. It's up to you. 

TAKE HEART 

BY ELLA RANDLE- O8084919482 

"Gratitude the key to more abundance" 

WHEN we pay attention, life brings to us 

answers in unexpected ways. Often it's a 

reminder of Divine presence and protection, in 

everyday routine as we go about our activities. 

Maybe, it's just a quiet early morning walk or that 

moment after your prayers. Then comes a feeling of 

calm and a knowing that you are in good hands…just 

being grateful for that moment in the rising sun and 

for many small miracles that are continually affirmed 

in our paths; for the universe is conspiring to being 

us, all these blessings of awareness. We only have 

to stay open to recieve it. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

The chicken says it roosts early, not because 

it is no longer hungry, but because the night 

has come. 

Giwa, who urged the 

lawmakers not to shut 

down government but 

rather should carry out 

their oversight functions. 

Speaking with 

Vanguard, Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

President on National 

Assembly Matters, 

Senate, Senator Ita 

Enang, said: “ It will not 

be fair for me to talk on 

the matter that involves 

INEC. It is an 

independent body and I 

am sure that it will take 

a decision within the 

stipulated time.” 

However, INEC said, 

yesterday, that it would 

conduct the pending 

elections before the 

middle of next month. 

On Tuesday, the House 

of Representatives gave 

marching orders to the 

electoral umpire to 

conduct the elections 

because it was denying 

affected states legislative 

representations. 

In the motion, the 

sponsors resolved to 

“call on the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission (INEC) to 

conduct all outstanding 

elections in Rivers State 

before the end of 

November 2016; failing 

which the Senate will 

suspend plenary till 

such a time the said 

elections are held and 

the people of Rivers State 

are represented in the 

respective Legislative 

houses.” 

It was later amended to 

read that the Senate 

resolved to “call on the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission 

(INEC) to conduct all 

outstanding elections in 

Rivers State not later 

than December 10, 2016; 

failing which the Senate 

will suspend plenary till 

such a time the said 

elections are held and 

the people of Rivers State 

are represented in the 

respective Legislative 

houses.” 

Ekweremadu’s 

motion 

Deputy Senate 

President, Ike 

Ekweremadu in his 

motion titled, “ Nonconduct 

of elections in 

Rivers State”, said, 

Senate “observes that in 

spite of her resolution S/ 

Res/O16/02/16 of 27th 

day of September, 2016 

calling on lNEC to 

immediately conclude all 

pending re-run elections 

in the country, lNEC has 

failed, refused and or 

neglected to conduct rerun 

elections in Rivers 

State into the Senate, 

House of Representatives 

and State House of 

Assembly. 

“Also observes further 

that the failure of lNEC 

to conduct the re-run 

elections in Rivers State 

within the time frame 

ordered by the 

respective Election 

Petition Tribunals/Courts 

is in breach of the 

Electoral Act and Section 

76 of the 1999 

Constitution, thus 

endangering the nation’s 

democracy. 

“Further observes that 

non representation of the 

entire people of Rivers 

State in the Senate and 

some constituencies of 

Rivers State in the 


and State House of 

Assembly is in breach of 

Section 14 (2) (c) of the 

1999 Constitution, and 

endangers peace and 

order in the State. 

“Further observes that 

failure of lNEC to 

conduct election in 

Rivers State has 

continued to deny the 

people of Rivers State 

their constitutionally 

guaranteed rights to be 

represented in the 

legislative houses where 

laws affecting them are 

being made, and has 

engendered palpable 

anxiety amongst people 

of the State. 

“Aware that lNEC had 

successfully conducted 

elections in the North- 

East of Nigeria, 

especially in the areas 

around Sambisa Forest, 

in spite of the area 

having 

been 

acknowledged 

worldwide to be ravaged 

by terrorist activities. 

“ Also aware that INEC 

recently conducted 

successful elections in 

Edo State even after 

security advice from 

Police and DSS forced a 

rescheduling of the 

election date. 

“Further aware that 

elections were held in 

Bayelsa State in spite of 

g o v e r n m e n t 

acknowledged threat of 

militant activities that 

necessitated provision of 

additional security 

personnel in the State 

for the elections.” 

How can we 

discuss PIB 

without 

senators from 

Rivers? 

– Ndume 

Contributing to the 

motion, Senator Ali 

Ndume said: “Imagine 

that we are about to 

discuss PIB without any 

member from Rivers 

State. Some of our 

colleagues here today 

thought that they won 

while others believe that 

they did not win. 

"Let us remember that 

any of us could be in that 

position. If for whatever 

reason, elections were 

not conducted in my 

state, I would not be here 

let alone being the leader 

of the Senate. How will I 

defend my people? 

Imagine the Bill on the 

NDDC, how would we 

have brought it and 

passed it? 

"Our colleagues are out 

there and it is not their 

fault, we have a new 

leadership in INEC and 

we know the historyinconclusive, 

inconclusive suspension 

and sometimes 

confusion. We have a 

capable government and 

we must get the voice 

from here.” 

INEC must be 

called to order 

– Urhoghide 

Senator Matthew 

Urhoghide, PDP, Edo 

South, who noted that 

INEC must be called to 

order, said, “what INEC 

is doing in Rivers State 

is inhuman and the 

National Assembly 

cannot sit and have this 

country tolerate this 

treatment. I support this 

motion, INEC should be 

called to order. This is no 

time for favouritism, so I 

ask that INEC be called 

to order, I believe one 

month is too much.” 

Also, yesterday, the 

Senate asked President 

Muhammadu Buhari to, 

as a matter of urgency, 

appoint a minister from 

Continues on page 5


PROGRESSIVE GOVERNORS: From left: National Chairman of All Progressives Congress 

(APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Chairman, Progressive Governors and Imo State Governor, Rochas 

Okorocha; with Deputy National Chairman, South-West, Segun Oni, during the Progressive Governors' 

meeting with the National Working Committee at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, yesterday. 

Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Senate threatens ‘strike’ over 

pending re-run polls – INEC 


Kogi State to be part of 

the Federal Executive 

Council. 

According to the 

Senate, the new 

ministerial nominee will 

replace the late Minister 

of State, Labour and 

Productivity, James 

Ocholi, SAN, who died 

in a motor accident in 

March 2016 with his wife 

and son on the Kaduna- 

Abuja road. 

The decision of the 

senate was sequel to an 

added prayer to the 

Ekweremadu's motion by 

Senator Dino Melaye, 

APC, Kogi West. 

Senate should 

invite whoever is 

in charge of 

INEC—Wabara 

Speaking on the Senate 

threat, Senator Adolphus 

Wabara, said: "You can’t 

shut down the NASS or 

the government because 

of the perception about 

INEC’s competence. 

That is not right. What 

the NASS is supposed to 

do is to perform its 

oversight functions 

because the NASS is 

stronger than INEC. 

They should move in and 

find out why INEC has 

not concluded the 

elections. That can be 

done by inviting 

whoever is in charge of 

INEC to brief the Senate 

on what could have been 

the reasons for the 

inconclusive elections. 

But saying that you will 

shut down the 

government because of 

INEC’s incompetence is 

not right." 

It’s not the 

appropriate 

thing to do 

—Ita-Giwa 

On her part, former 

Presidential Adviser on 

National Assembly 

Matters, Senator 

Florence Ita-Giwa, said: 

“Inasmuch as the Senate 

has the powers to 

suspend plenary over 

INEC’s failure to 

conduct elections that 

were declared 

inconclusive, I do not 

think it is the appropriate 

thing to do. I am aware 

that the Senate has its 

committee on INEC. I 

advise that the 

committee invites the 

INEC chairman and his 

executives and discuss 

the matter and come up 

with something strategic 

that will ensure election 

is concluded. If INEC is 

hinging their inability on 

security challenges, the 

state government and the 

security chiefs should 

meet and proffer 

solutions to security so 

that the areas with 

inconclusive elections 

can have their elections 

concluded. It has not got 

to the stage of 

suspending plenary. 

Senate should proceed 

with their oversight 

function by inviting 

INEC for a meeting.” 

It’s the right 

decision 

—Afenifere 

National Publicity 

Secretary of Afenifere, 

Mr Yinka Odumakin 

said: “It is a right 

decision by the Senate as 

there is no reason those 

elections should not 

have been held. If we 

want to remain under 

constitutional 

democracy, there should 

be some irreducible 

minimums. There is too 

much rule of the thumb 

in our affairs these 

days.” 

We’ll conduct 

polls before 

December 15 

However, barring 

u n f o r e s e e n 

circumstances, INEC has 

expressed hope of 

concluding most of the 

outstanding re-run 

elections in the Federal 

Capital Territory, FCT, 

Abuja, Lagos, Rivers and 

other states by the 

middle of December. 

The commission’s 

Director in charge of 

Publicity, Voter 

Education, Civil Society 

and Gender Liaison, Mr 

Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, 

disclosed this in a 

telephone interview with 

Vanguard, yesterday, in 

Abuja. 

“All things being equal, 

we are looking at 

conducting most of them 

(elections) by the middle 

of December”, he said. 

He said the 

commission’s timetable 

could, however, be 

affected by court orders, 

explaining that in Rivers, 

INEC had just received 

three court orders 

restraining it from going 

ahead with the elections 

in Tai Local Government 

Area. 

INEC had before now 

said it would not go back 

to Rivers State until 

stakeholders in the area 

could commit to the 

safety of electoral 

personnel and materials. 

APC hasn't 

managed victory 

well — OKOROCHA 

•Says APC is to be rebranded 

•As Buhari wades into the party crisis 

By Henry Umoru, 

Emman Ovuakporie, 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & 


A 

B U J A — 

CHAIRMAN of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

Governors' Forum and 

Governor of Imo State, 

Owelle Rochas Okorocha, 

yesterday, said the party 

has not managed its 

victory properly, as there 

were hunger and serious 

hardship in the country. 

Governor Okorocha, 

who was at the National 

Assembly to mediate 

peace between the 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari-led executive and 

the legislature, which had 

been having frosty 

relationship, stated that 

members of the ruling 

party, APC, are angry. 

He said that in the next 

few weeks, President 

Buhari will be bringing 

members of the party 

together to ensure 

amicable resolution of the 

problem threatening to 

tear the party apart and 

promised that the party 

will soon be rebranded. 

This came as the 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Yakubu 

Dogara said that the party 

cannot afford to fail the 

people that voted them 

into power, even as he 

said the legislators are 

loyal party members. 

Okorocha said: “As you 

can see, this is the very 

first time i will be coming 

to the office of the 

Speaker. I have come here 

to look at issues as they 

affect our nation, our party 

in particular. I have been 

to the national office of 

our party and I have met 

with the national working 

committee. 

“I have also visited the 

Senate, where we also 

deliberated and I am here 

with the leadership of the 

House where we have 

also deliberated on a lot 

of issues on how to move 

our nation and our party 

forward. 

"Today, we are proud to 

say APC is not an 

opposition party, it is the 

ruling party of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria. 

“This our victory is very 

dear to us, but we are 

concerned that our victory 

so far has not been 

properly managed due to 

anger, bitterness among 

the members of our party 

at different levels and at 

different cadres. 

“This calls for concern 

and that is why we are 

trying to bridge the gap 

to close ranks on how to 

unite, provide 

governance, leadership to 

our people, Nigerians and 

also move our party 

forward. 

“It is true that our nation 

is going through difficult 

times, but with unity of 

purpose, we shall 

overcome. There have 

been so many complaints 

and distrusts, confusion 

and we have resolved as 

a people, as governors, as 

senators as federal House 

members, as national 

working committee 

members to come together 

and resolve these issues 

once and for all. 

“The president will be 

talking to the party and 

the leadership very soon 

on this matter. Nigerians 

expect so much from us 

and at the end of it all, 

Nigerians will not ask us 

how far have you dealt 

with each other, but they 

will ask us how much food 

have we put on the table 

of the common man...?" 

FG urges states to access 

dormant N41bn funds 

By Chester Yakubu 

ABUJA—Worried by 

the deplorable 

conditions under which 

children of poor parents 

attend classes beneath 

trees for lack of 

classrooms, Minister of 

State for Education, Prof. 

Anthony Anwukah, has 

tasked State Governments 

across the country to, as a 

matter of urgency, access 

the over N41bn made 

available to them by the 

Federal Government 

through the Universal 

Basic Education 

Commission (UBEC) to 

improve on education 

infrastructure at that 

level. 

In a press release made 

available to Vanguard in 

Abuja, after a marathon 

consultative meeting with 

21 chief executives of 

agencies under the 

Federal Ministry of 

Education, the Minister 

said the refusal, and or 

inability of States to 

access their share of the 

fund is strangulating the 

development of basic 

education nationwide; a 

development he 

described 

as 

‘unfortunate'.



2 arrested in 

Ughelli with 

adulterated 

drinks, 

chemicals 

By Perez Brisibe 

U GHELLI— 

POLICEMEN 

attached to Ughelli Area 

Command have arrested 

two persons for allegedly 

selling adulterated drinks 

to the public. 

It was gathered that the 

suspects, Mr. Sunday 

Ekomoli, and Mrs. 

Patience Enadiamor, were 

arrested at the Ughelli 

Main Market, Tuesday, 

while offloading the said 

adulterated drinks from a 

bus, which was said to 

have also contained six 20 

litres of gallons containing 

chemicals used in the 

production of the 

adulterated drinks. 

Giving details of the 

arrest, a member of the 

Ughelli Main Market 

executive, who spoke on 

condition of anonymity, 

said: “One of the suspects, 

Mr. Ekomoli, was the 

driver of the bus used in 

conveying the drinks. 

“He said he was only 

hired to transport the items 

from Onitsha for one M. C. 

and Oyis before he was 

arrested by the police, 

adding that he was 

oblivious of the fact that the 

drinks are fakes.” 

Couple 

allegedly 

steals N65m 

jewelleries 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A couple, 

Simon and Glory 

Bisong, alleged to have 

stolen jewellery worth N65 

million, were yesterday 

arraigned before an 

Igbosere Magistrate’s 

Court, Lagos. 

Simon, 41 and Glory, 32, 

were docked alongside a 

domestic cook, Joseph 

Agbeh, 43, and a 

businessman, Amidu 

Musa, 55. 

The prosecutor, Sergeant 

Tubi Olajide, told the court 

that the defendants committed 

the alleged offences 

on two separate days. 

The defendants pleaded 

not guilty to the charge 

against them. 

The presiding 

magistrate, Mrs O. M. 

Ajayi, granted the 

defendants bail in the sum 

of N1 million each with two 

sureties each in like sum 

and adjourned till 

November 25 for mention. 

Makurdi Courts Under Siege 

Exhibits, case files, cash looted 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—UNKNOWN 

hoodlums, yesterday, 

broke into the premises of Benue 

State Court complex, carting 

away exhibits, case files, other 

valuables and cash. 

Among the courts affected, in 

what appeared a coordinated 

raid, were High Court 9, Chief 

Magistrate’s Court 1 and Area 

Court 1, all in Makurdi, the state 

capital. 

Briefing the state’s Attorney- 

General and Commissioner for 

Justice, Mr. Mike Gusa, who 

visited the scenes, Chief 

Magistrate Issac Ajimu 

explained that the gang broke the 

padlock of the courtroom and his 

chambers and took away some 

By Imanuel Jannah 

ABUJA—A 40-year-old 

man, Livinus Andoma, 

has been arraigned before Gudu 

Upper Area Court for allegedly 

raping and impregnating a 12- 

year-old girl (names withheld). 

The victim is a relation of his 

wife and stays with the couple 

as housemaid in their 

Lokogoma area of Abuja 

residence. 

According to a prosecution 

witness, in April 2015, the 

accused allegedly lured the 

girl into his bedroom, raped her 

and threatened to kill her, if she 

disclosed the incident to 

anyone. 

Andoma allegedly continued 

to sleep with the girl until she 

became pregnant. 

In what appeared to be a 

mild drama, one Moses 

Anukia, told the court that the 

same matter had been filed at 

an FCT High Court; arguing 

that the Upper Area Court could 

not entertain the suit. 

However, the presiding 

exhibits. 

He said: “They also carted 

away courts files of both 

disposed and pending cases. 

“From there they went to 

High Court 9, presided over by 

the wife of the state Deputy 

Governor, Justice Mary 

Abounu, where they also 

removed valuables.” 

At the Grade 1 Area Court, 

the Registrar, Mrs. Serah 

Gbodi, told the Justice 

Commissioner that the 

criminals broke into her office 

and made away with over 

N280,000 revenue belonging to 

the state government. 

She said: “Afterward, they 

proceeded to the Area Court 

judge’s chamber, which they 

also ransacked, but got 

judge of Gudu Upper Area 

Court, directed the 

prosecution team to find out 

nothing.” 

On her part, the Registrar of 

the Chief Magistrate’s Court 1, 

Mrs. Grace Udende, told the 

Commissioner that after 

removing the valuables, the 

invaders got their own padlock 

and locked up the court 

entrance. 

Reacting, the Attorney 

Protesting corruption in the judiciary in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

the true position of the matter 

and report back to the court on 

December 14 and ordered that 

General, who condemned the 

incident, appealed to youths in the 

state to engage themselves in 

useful activities instead of taking 

to crime. 

Contacted, the state Police 

Public Relations Officer, ASP 

Moses Yamu, said the command 

had commenced investigations 

into the matter. 

Man, 40, rapes, impregnates 12-yr-old wife’s niece 


LAGOS—A 35-year-old 

a p p r e n t i c e , 

Nzubechukwu Mbamara, 

yesterday, appeared before a 

Lagos Magistrate’s Court 

sitting at Igbosere, for 

alleged theft of his 

employer’s N3 million, after 

which he escaped to Nnewi 

in Anambra State. 

Mbamara, who resides on 

Omo-Odofin Street, Festac 

Town, pleaded not guilty to 

the one-count charge of theft 

preferred against him by 

police. 

The prosecutor, Eshiet 

Eshiet, said the defendant 

committed the alleged offence 

between January and 

October at Trade Fair 

Complex in Ojo, Lagos. He 

The premises of High Court 9, yesterday. PHOTO: Peter Duru. 

said Mbamara stole N3 

million, property of his 

employer, one Mr. Francis 

Chukwudebelu. 

According to Eshiet, 

“Mbamara collected the said 

sum from a customer, who 

bought goods from the shop, 

which he kept for his 

employer, and converted it to 

his personal use. 

“He, however, ran to Nnewi 

in Anambra State, where 

police apprehended him.” 

The prosecutor said that the 

offence was punishable under 

Section 285(1) of the Criminal 

Law of Lagos State, 2011. 

The Magistrate, Mr. W. B. 

Balogun, granted the 

defendant bail in the sum of 

N500,000 with two sureties in 

like sum. 

He said one of the sureties 

the accused be remanded in 

prison custody until the 

adjourned date. 

35-yr-old apprentice steals boss' N3m 

must be a blood relation to the 

defendant and then adjourned 

the case till November 25 for 

mention. 

18-yr-old, 3 oth 

By Demola Akinyemi 

ILORIN—NO fewer than four 

persons were feared killed 

after a clash between rival cult 

members in Ilorin, the Kwara 

State capital. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

clash between the rival cultists 

started Monday night in Gaa- 

Akanbi area of the metropolis, 

when suspected rival cult 

members murdered a boy in his 

20s. 

In what was seen as a reprisal 

attack, it was gathered that the

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 , 2016—7 

By Monsuru 

Olowoopejo 

AN 80-year-old man died, a 

woman suffered 

miscarriage, while a yet-to-beidentified 

lady sustained injury, 

when a demolition squad razed 

their shops and other structures 

within Jakande Estate, Isolo, by 

agents of Lagos State 

Government. 

The man, identified as Pastor 

M. O. Sobanjo, and the lady, 


Reps grill IGP over missing guns, 

N1.9m exhibits 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

& Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—MEMBERS of the 


Public Accounts Committee, 

PAC, yesterday, grilled the 

Inspector General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris, for 30 minutes over 

alleged missing rifles and N1.9 

million cash exhibit. 

Chairman of PAC, Kingsley 

Chinda (PDP, Obio/Akpor, 

Rivers), said based on the report 

of the Auditor General of the 

Federation of 2010 to 2013, four 

rifles were missing along with 

the cash exhibits with 55 queries 

raised against the Nigeria Police 

Demolition in Lagos: Shop owner dies, another suffers miscarriage 

Demolition of illegal structures at Jakande Estate, Isolo, by Lagos State Ministry of Environment. 

Inset (right) is the late Pastor M.O. Sobanjo. PHOTOS: Lamidi Bamidele & Monsur Olowoopejo. 

ers killed as cultists run amok in Kwara 

violence spread to Ipata Market 

and Kankatu areas of Ilorin on 

Tuesday, where two persons were 

killed by suspected cultists. 

The two incidents were said to 

have happened between 4p.m. 

and 9p.m., as the corpse of an 

18-year-old boy, killed at 

Kankatu area of the town, was 

said to have been dumped 

beside Amule bridge. 

It was gathered that the boy 

hailed from Osoogun compound 

of the metropolis. 

Vanguard checks revealed that 

men of the state police evacuated 

Force during the period. 

The report said that during the 

audit examination of arms and 

ammunition in 2012, it was 

observed that four different 

brands of pistol were missing. 

The report also said cash 

exhibits of N928,000 was 

missing in 2011; N100,000 in 

2012 and N720,000 and a laptop 

worth N250,000, totaling N1.998 

million, were missing. 

Immediately the session 

started, the IGP requested that 

he be allowed to go and attend 

to other responsibilities, while 

his other officers, led by Assistant 

Inspector General, AIG, in 

charge of budget, Abdulsami 

Chikodi Nwokoji, in her 40s, 

were both shop owners within 

the housing estate. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Sobanjo, who had been sick, 

slumped last Friday when 

government announced November 

1 as date for demolition. 

It was learned that the 

demolished shop had served as 

source of livelihood for late 

pastor, a retiree, but was not 

receiving his pensions. 

Vanguard gathered that 

the corpse and deposited same 

at an undisclosed hospital 

morgue in the town. 

Yesterday 

In continuation of the attacks, 

another person in his 30s was, 

yesterday, allegedly hacked to 

death by the rampaging cult 

members in Odoota area of the 

metropolis. The suspected 

cultists were said to have struck 

at 11a.m. 

According to the source, the 

deceased was preparing to go 

to work when the rival cult 

Iyaji, would respond. 

In his response, the AIG 

said in June 2009, an officer 

was issued a pistol and was 

attacked and killed by robbers 

in Lagos, while they went 

away with the pistol. 

On the second pistol, he 

said it was issued to one 

sergeant, who was declared 

missing in action, while the 

third pistol was given to an 

officer on official assignment 

who lost it during an attack 

by robbers. 

On the fourth pistol, AIG 

Iyaji said it was issued to an 

inspector in February 2008 

and that he was attacked in 

his hotel room in Lagos, 

where the robbers took the 

pistol away. 

Chikodi, who deals in frozen 

foods, slumped when she got 

to her shop on Tuesday and 

found it demolished. 

Sources said that the two 

cartons of frozen foods 

Chikodi was carrying fell on 

her stomach, causing her 

miscarriage. 

Chikodi’s husband, 

Cyprian, lamented that she 

started bleeding immediately 

she slumped. 

He noted that efforts by an 

group attacked him. 

Contacted, spokesperson of 

the state Police Command, 

Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed 

the incident at Gaa-Akanbi, 

adding that he was yet to get 

information regarding the 

other incidents in the 

metropolis. 

He, however, promised to 

call the DPOs of the areas in 

question for confirmation, 

adding “I can only confirm to 

you that the Gaa-Akanbi 

incident was as a result of 

rival cult clashes.” 

He said the affected 

inspector was indicted and 

sanctioned. 

He said the officer involved 

in the N928,000 sum could 

not give account of the amount 

and was investigated and 

arraigned in court even after 

retirement, while N100,000 

cash exhibit was given to the 

rightful owner. 

According to him, N720,000 

was erroneously stated, as the 

amount was actually 

N250,000, which he said was 

still available and in custody 

of the police. 

He said the case of a laptop 

did not exist as there was no 

such record with the force. 

The investigative hearing 

continues next week. 

Ire-Akari hospital to provide 

appropriate treatment proved 

abortive, saying “she was 

referred to Isolo General 

Hospital, where they believed 

she could get better 

treatment.” 

Cyprin disclosed that they 

became aware of the planned 

demolition last Friday and 

efforts to seek another location 

for their business proved 

abortive. 

As the bulldozer continued 

to roar in the estate, 

demolishing more shops, 

Secretary of the Jakande 

Landlord Association, Mr. 

Toba Johnson, told Vanguard 

that the demolition would lead 

to displacement of over 12,000 

traders within the estate, 

saying “we have about 12,000 

shops within the estate.” 

Vanguard gathered that over 

500 shops were pulled down 

on Tuesday at the 

commencement of the 

exercise, barely 24 hours after 

the residents stormed Alausa 

Secretariat, protesting 

government’s planned 

demolition of their shops. 

Efforts to reach Lagos State 

Building Investment 

Corporation, LBIC, and other 

authorities on the matter 

proved abortive, as phone 

calls and messages to them 

were not replied. 

Deadly Kogi 

Amala Meal: 

6 more 

hospitalised 

ORE revelations 

Memerged, yesterday, 

over the death of six 

persons that took cassava 

flour meal in Ogaminana, 

Kogi State, as six other 

persons were hospitalised 

after the meal. 

This came as the state 

governor, Alhaji Yahaya 

Bello, condemned the 

ethnic slant being given to 

the incident that claimed 

the lives of a woman, her 

three sons and two of their 

neighbours. 

Top police source in Adavi 

Divisional headquarters in 

Okene, said on condition of 

anonymity that three of 

those hospitalised had been 

referred to the Federal 

Medical Centre, FMC, 

Lokoja on the order of the 

state governor. 

The Commissioner for 

Health, Dr. Saka Haruna, 

was said to have taken the 

samples of the flour for 

laboratory analysis. 

Mystery, as 

man commits 

suicide 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—A 

former Director 

General, Services and 

Administration, Oju Local 

Government Area of Benue 

State, Mr. Emmanuel 

Onwuke, yesterday, 

allegedly committed 

suicide, by jumping into a 

well situated in his house 

for yet-to-be disclosed 

reason. 

Vanguard learned from 

an eyewitness that the 

remains of the deceased 

was found in the well after 

his family members started 

searching for him, following 

his sudden disappearance 

from his Oju residence for 

several hours without 

contacting his family 

members. 

BROKEN LINKS: The current condition of Moro 

Bridge on llorin-lgbeti Highway, linking Kwara and Oyo states.



APC GOV S MEET REPS : Leader, House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; 

Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and Deputy Speaker, Yusuff Lasun, shortly after their meeting with 

Okorocha and APC Principal Officers at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

APC CRISIS: APC govs intervene, say nobody can 

bully Oyegun out 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—DAYS after its 

trouble-shooting meeting 

with President Muhammadu 

Buhari, governors of All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

under the aegis of Progressive 

Governors’ Forum, yesterday met 

with the National Working 

Committee, NWC, to address 

issues afflicting the party. 

The governors, who were 

represented by chairman of 

Progressive Governors Forum, 

Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo 

State, met behind closed-doors 

with the Chief John Odigie- 

Oyegun led NWC, passing a vote 

of confidence on the party 

leadership. 

Addressing journalists after the 

meeting, which held at the 

national secretariat of the party, 

Okorocha said the tenure of the 

Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC would 

end in 2018. 

A national leader of the party, 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as 

well as the Deputy Publicity 

Secretary of the party, Comrade 

Timi Frank, have been vociferous 

in their calls for the national 

chairman to resign. 

“You may recall that it was the 

same National Working 

Committee and these party 

leaders that saw us through 

during the last election. What that 

means is that if these people were 

good enough to see us through 

and never betrayed us, they 

should be so honoured. 

‘’I want to assure them that no 

one will bully them out or push 

them out. But, where there is 

need to make amendments, 

which is natural within any 

human organization, the party 

will be restructured for the 

purpose of making it stronger and 

move forward as a people and as 

a party. 

“No one is going to boot 

anybody out. Where there is need 

...Buhari to meet with party leadership soon 

for amendment, we shall make 

amendment in order to save the 

party and move it forward. 

“Restructuring is not in terms of 

changes. Who comes in or who 

goes out. No. But, in every human 

organization, there comes a time 

when they restructure. It could be 

to add more people, it could be to 

strengthen the party at all levels. 

And, of course, you know that 

these people are duly elected, 

whose tenure will expire by 2018. 

“I have come to reassure them, 

because sometimes, when you 

have the fear or worry that you are 

not stable, you begin to react in a 

negative way, but if you know you 

are stable, you will put in your best. 

Here is a reassuring visit,” 

Okorocha stated. 

The governors had last Monday 

met with the President to 

discuss several internal party 

issues and also express their 

displeasure at the President’s 

unilateral decision to name 

ambassadors without due 

consultations with many of the 

governors. 

Vanguard learned that the 

parley, meant to calm frayed 

nerves, did not, however, go 

down well with the party’s 

NWC,, many of whom felt 

slighted to have been excluded 

by the Presidency at the last 

minute. 

Buhari to address party’s 

NWC within two months 

Consequently, the President 

will in the next two months, 

meet with the leadership of the 

party to address concerns 

regarding its progress. 

Okorocha said: “Mr President 

and Commander in Chief, 


Buhari, who is the leader of the 

party would be addressing the 

party leadership very soon, in 

a couple of weeks to come or 

before the next two months. 

‘’From there, we would take 

it up but our party is united and 

strong. We must take advantage 

of the moment, especially with 

the visible crisis in the PDP; 

many good people in the PDP 

want to join APC but they are 

still watching because they 

have not seen us show that 

which we were known for before 

the election and there is no reason 

we cannot manage this victory.'' 

N4.5TRN LOSS: Reps move to amend AMCON Act 

By Emman Ovuakporie & 

Johnbosco Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—WORRIED by 

the total accumulated 

losses of Assets Management 

Company of Nigeria, AMCON, 

of N4.5 trillion and the total 

outstanding bad loans owed the 

company by individuals and 

companies which was put at N3.5 

trillion, the House of 

Representatives has started the 

amendment of the Act 

establishing the company for 

efficiency. 

Already, a bill to amend the 

AMCON Act 2010 that seeks to 

amend Section 10 of the Principal 

Act, at plenary yesterday, passed 

through second reading without 

any opposition. 

The bill, sponsored by Joseph 

Edionwele (PDP, Edo), was titled, 

A Bill for an Act to Amend the 

Assets Management Corporation 

of Nigeria Act of 2010 to Expand 

the Board of the Corporation so 

as to Enhance its Efficiency in the 

Discharge of its Statutory Duties 

and for Other Related Matters.” 

Leading debate on the bill, 

Edionwele said although 

AMCON was established for the 

purpose of addressing the issue 

of non-performing loans of banks 

in the country, its board as 

currently constituted maked it 

impossible for the agency to 

function optimally. 

He said: “ A corporation 

saddled with such responsibility 

is left to be managed by part-time 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI—THE Corps 

Marshal of the Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Dr. 

Boboye Oyeyemi, yesterday 

disclosed that road accidents 

claimed over 6,000 lives 

annually in the country. 

chairman and representatives 

solely from MDAs. These 

people have their agencies to 

manage.” 

The lawmaker said to to cure 

this deficit and deficiency, it was 

imperative to amend the principal 

act “which prescribes 

appointment of a part time 

chairman, executive 

directors, non executive 

directors among officers from 

various MDAs exclusive to 

the Ministry of Finance.” 

Dr. Oyeyemi, who attributed the 

alarming figure to reckless driving 

and over-speeding, said the 

development necessitated the 

introduction of speed limit 

devices in vehicles in the country. 

The Corps Marshal, who spoke 

yesterday at the 2016 Zone RS4 

Jos Annual Retreat of the FRSC 

in Makurdi, said: “So far, over 

10,000 commercial vehicle 

Reps move 

to abolish 

state, LGA 

joint account 

...Seek autonomy 

for LGs 

By Emman Ovuakporie 

& Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE House 

of Representatives 

yesterday renewed efforts to 

stop the joint account between 

states and local government 

areas which is currently in the 

Nigerian Constitution. 

The House also has started 

the process of ensuring local 

government autonomy which 

the State Houses of Assembly 

voted against during the 7th 

Assembly. 

This renewed efforts to 

strengthen local government 

administration was made 

known during the debate on 

the bill which seeks to amend 

Section 162 of the 1999 

Constitution and ensure 

financial autonomy of local 

government councils. 

Leading the debate on the 

matter, sponsor of the bill, 

Nkiruka Onyejeocha, 

explained that the proposed 

amendment when passed into 

law, would foster the 

autonomy, transparency and 

accountability of local 

government administration in 

the country. 

She said: “The practice of 

true federalism is lacking in 

Nigeria, especially at the local 

government level. 

‘’Some state governments 

deprive their local 

governments of principal 

source of their revenues. 

“Unless more stable internal 

sources of revenue are 

exploited, and state-local 

government joint account 

abolished, the objective of 

strengthening local 

governments in terms of its 

relationship with state and 

federal governments will 

remain a mirage.” 

She decried the state of 

deprivation and underdevelopment 

of local 

government councils 

across the country, adding 

that the spirit behind the 

bill was to make the 

councils in the country 

have financial autonomy. 

Road accidents claim over 6,000 lives in Nigeria annually 

— FRSC CHIEF 

operators have complied with the 

installation of speed limiting 

device and there is no going back 

on the policy. 

“The number of deaths on 

our roads is unacceptable; that 

is why we are determined to 

stem the tide by enforcing all 

road safety rules in order to 

stop the wastage of innocent 

lives on our highways.’’

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 — 9 


FG bemoans 

sharp practices 

by foreign 

shipping firms 

By Godfrey Bivere & 

Ifeyinwa Obi 

THE 

Federal 

Government has 

bemoaned the unwholesome 

practices of some foreign 

shipping companies as 

regards surcharges on 

shippers bringing in cargoes 

to Nigerian seaports. 

Minister of Transportation, 

Mr. Rotimi Amaechi who 

made the remarks at the 

celebration of the World 

Maritime Day said, 

“Government is not mindful of 

the unwholesome practices of 

some foreign shipping 

companies and their local 

collaborators operating within 

the sub-region, who often 

impose additional surcharges 

on shippers without prior 

consultation with relevant 

government agencies. 

“Therefore, due to this 

anomally, there is the need to 

mobilise resources to 

adequately equip indigenous 

service providers to provide 

services at competitive prices. 

This has been identified and 

would be vigorously pursued.” 

On the myriad of challenges 

facing the maritime industry 

in Nigeria, Amaechi 

explained that, “the maritime 

industry in Nigeria is faced 

with myriad of challenges 

bordering on noncompetitiveness, 

low level of 

investment, absence of 

requisite funding, low 

implementation and 

enforcement of existing laws 

in the sector and high charges 

among others. 

“All these challenges place 

the country at a disadvantaged 

position compared to ports of 

neighbouring countries within 

the West and Central African 

sub-region.” 

Meanwhile, operators 

took the opportunity of the 

World Maritime Day 

celebration to lament the 

high insurance premium 

payments made by vessels that 

call at Nigeria’s seaports. 

MRS JONATHAN'S $15M: Court convicts 4 firms, 

reserves sentence 

By Abdulwahab Abdulah 

& Onozure Dania 

AGOS—A Federal High 

LCourt sitting in Lagos, 

yesterday, convicted four 

companies allegedly used by 

Waripamo-Owei Emmanuel 

Dudafa, a former Special 

Assistant to President Goodluck 

Jonathan to siphon 15 million US 

dollars. 

Delivering judgment after 

reviewing of the charge by the 

Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC prosecuting 

the case, Justice Babs Keuwunmi 

pronounced all the four 

companies guilty as charged. 

Justice Kuewumi, however, 

declined to pronounce sentence 

on them, saying that their 

sentence will be determined at the 

conclusion of trials of other 

accused persons in the matter. 

He said; “In view of the facts 

stated by the prosecutor, and 

based on the evidence tendered 

and based on the agreement of 

the companies’ directors, the 

prosecution has proved its case 

beyond reasonable doubt. 

“The companies are found 

guilty in counts 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 

9. In order not to prejudice the 

case of first, second and third 

defendants, sentencing them is 

hereby reserved pending the end 

of the trial of the first, second and 

third defendants. 

The companies convicted are: 

Pluto Property and Investment 

Development Company Limited, 

Seagate Property and Investment 

Development Company Limited, 

Transoceanic Property and 

Investment Development 

Company Limited, and Avalon 

Property and Investment 

Development Company Limited. 

The purported companies’ 

BIRTHDAY: Pepsuzi Aluko, Nigerian Olympic medalist beaming with joy after she collected the 

latest edition of motorised scooter from Senator Osita Izunazo at the International Conference Centre, 

Abuja, where Senator Izunaso gave out thousands of equipment and aid materials to people with 

disability as part of activities marking his 50th birthday and 11th anniversary of Kpakpando Foundation. 

directors, who pleaded guilty on 

behalf of the companies and 

agreed with facts reviewed by the 

prosecutor are: Friday Davis: Agbo 

Baro; Kola Fredrick; Taiwo 

Ebenezer and China John. 

The four companies were 

charged alongside a former 

Special Assistant to President 

Jonathan, Waripamo-owei Dudafa, 

a lawyer, Amajuoyi Azubike 

Briggs, and Adedamola 

Bolodeoku, a senior staff of Skye 

Bank Plc, on alleged $15,591, 700 

million USD, which the former 

first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, 

is laying claims to. 

However, lawyers representing 

other accused persons, Gboyega 

Oyewole, Ige Asemudara and 

Joseph Okobieme, urged the court 

to allow their clients to go through 

the documents sought to be 

tendered by the prosecutor, saying 

that they were all charged with on 

the offence of conspiracy, which is 

count one of the charge. 

The lawyers stated that admitting 

of the documents, will have 

negative impact on their clients. 

Upon the submission made by 

the lawyers, the prosecutor 

pleaded with the court to expunge 

the name of Dudafa, Briggs and 

Bolodeoku from count one. 

Consequently, the court admitted 

the documents sought to be 

tendered by the prosecutor. 

Upon the admissibility of the 

documents, the prosecutor urged 

the court to pronounce the four 

companies as guilty as charged by 

the anti-graft agency. 

The matter has been 

adjourned till December 16, for 

continuation of trial of the three 

other accused persons 

Adekanye, Falana, others want military out of politics 


LAGOS—A 

renowned 

expert in civil-military 

relations, Prof Emeritus, Bayo 

Adekanye, National Democratic 

Coalition, NADECO chieftain, 

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, lawyer and 

human rights activist, Mr. Femi 

Falana, SAN, yesterday urged 

Nigerians to take their destiny 

into their hands by chasing out 

military from Nigeria politics. 

Equally, the first president of the 

Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, 

Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu and 

former student leader, Comrade 

Olusegun Mayegun agreed that 

the military's impunity and 

incursion into the country’s 

politics had dragged back the 

wheels of the nation's progress. 

Speaking at the National 

Symposium organized by the 

Department of the Political 

Science, University of Lagos, the 

keynote Speaker, Professor 

Adekanye, who dwelt on the 

topic: “X-raying 50 years of 

Military Intervention in Nigeria’s 

Politics” warned that except a 

drastic step is taken by the 

political leaders to address the 

problems facing the country, “they 

will wake up one day and observe 

that the country is gone.” 

The lead speaker, who 

discussed the political history of 

Nigeria from the period of 

amalgamation to the first military 

coup and the present political 

dispensation said, without the 

military men who are cabals in 

the country, the people cannot 

freely chose their political leaders. 

Prof Adekanye said: “What we 

don’t know is that the military may 

not be in power formally but they 

are still there in camera. They 

dictate what we do and who 

becomes the political leader. They 

ensured that the central 

government now becomes an 

obstacle to the growth of the 

nation, and we ended up being 

weakened at the regional levels.” 

Analyzing the various past 

military administrations in 

Nigeria, Adekanye said Nigeria 

is a “paradox of parasitic state” 

which left nearly every Nigerian 

corrupt because of the chase for 

oil money. 

In his contribution, Mr 

Opadokun gave a history of how 

NADECO struggled hard under 

the military junta to ensure that 

the country returned to 

democratic rule and how their 

efforts to ensure that the country 

Let’s speak for our girl-child, 

says Joe-Odumakin 

By Elizabeth Uwandu 

DR Joe Okei- Odumakin, 

founder, Women Arise for 

Change and human rights 

activist, has said that it was high 

time government, parents and 

non-governmental organisation 

took the issue of girl-child 

seriously by protecting them from 

all forms of sexual abuse and 

molestation. 

Speaking recently at a forum 

becomes truly a democratic 

nation has declined. 

Falana in his contributions, said 

what we have right from the time 

of the first military intervention 

was a system where the welfare 

of the masses of Nigeria is 

nothing to the rulers. 

He said “what we have now 

is the government of the 

contractors where 74 percent of 

the state budget goes for the 

services of the bureaucratic. We 

must take Nigeria serious; we 

must not allow military men in 

civilian cloth to dictate to us. 

They are parasites; they sold the 

country’s resources to be rich.” 

themed, “Rape and sexual 

harassment, the plight of the 

Nigerian girl child,’’ organised by 

National Union of Lagos State 

Students, NULASS to 

commemorate world girl-child 

day themed, “ Girls’ Progress = 

Goals’ Progress: What Counts for 

Girls; Dr Odumakin said the 

continous silence and 

sweeping under the carpet of 

abuses of the girl-child were 

the reasoons why culprits of 

molestation went scot-free.

10—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 

A-Court sets up fresh panel to hear 

Jegede’s case 

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

PRESIDENT of the Court of 

Appeal, Justice Zainab 

Bulkachuwa, yesterday, 

constituted a fresh three-man 

panel of Justices to resolve the 

dispute over who should be the 

candidate of the PDP for the 

November 26 governorship 

election 

The new panel will be headed 

by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa of 

the Calabar Division of the 

appellate court. 

Other Justices on the special 

panel are Ignatius Igwe Agube 

and Godwin Mbaba. 

In a letter with reference 

number, PCA/Abuja/VII/2016, 

Justice Bulkachuwa, 

empowered the fresh panel to 

hear three out of the five 

appeals. 

“You are hereby empanelled 

to sit and determine the above 

appeals in Abuja Division 

expeditiously”, the letter 

further read. 

It will be recalled that a 

previous panel of the court led 

by Justice Jummai Hanatu- 

Sankey had on Tuesday, 

withdrawn from handling the 

matter following a bribery 

allegation levelled against 

them by factional Chairman of 

the PDP in Ondo State, Prince 

•••Alex Iziyon 

withdraws as 

Jimoh Ibrahim’s 

counsel 

By Charles Kumolu 

COUNSEL to Peoples 

Democratic Party,PDP, 

candidate in Ondo State, Mr. 

Jimoh Ibrahim at the Federal 

High Court, Mr. Alex 

Iziyon,SAN, has withdrawn his 

representation at the Court of 

Appeal over what he described 

as professional ethics and 

integrity. 

Iziyon in a personally signed 

letter to his client dated 

November 2, 2016, noted that 

his withdrawal was informed by 

his alleged indictment by the 

Presiding Judge that he had 

foreknowledge of Prince 

Poroye’s petition despite his 

protest and innocence. 

He said: ‘’For professional 

ethics and my integrity I cannot 

continue on this as I was not 

told or given a copy of the said 

petition. It is in this regard that 

I hereby withdraw from further 

appearance. This is to enable 

you brief another lawyer who 

shall take over the file. We will 

forward the file and the 

processes to your personal 

assistant.” 

•Jegede: Vows to reclaim ticket 

Biyi Poroye. 

Poroye had in a petition he 

forwarded to the Court of 

Appeal President, Justice 

Bulkachuwa, alleged that the 

panel collected over N350m as 

bribe from the Ahmed 

I’m not supporting 

Akeredolu — Abraham 

By Dayo Johnson 

THE second runner up in the 

All Progressives Congress 

APC governorship primaries, Dr 

Olusegun Abraham, has denied 

supporting the candidature of 

Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. 

Akeredolu said recently that 

Abraham had buried the hatchet 

and decided to support his 

candidature after the alleged 

skewed primaries he won. 

However, Abraham, who is in 

court to challenge Akeredolu’s 

emergence, said he could not 

support Akeredolu because he 

wants justice. 

In a statement by his media 

aide, Sayo Aluko, Abraham said: 

“I urge my supporters and the 

people to distance themselves 

from any information or attempt 

to confuse them and sway their 

conviction, by wrongfully 

claiming that I am considering a 

move to work with or support 

Rotimi Akeredolu. 

“I, Olusegun Abraham, have 

not thrown my weight behind 

Rotimi Akeredolu or any other 

person(s), I remain solidly 

behind the people of Ondo State. 

I strongly believe that justice will 

be secured soon. 

Afenifere backs Jegede 


THE Pan -Yoruba socio- 

Political Organisation, 

Afenifere, yesterday, described as 

arbitrary, wrong and unjust the 

substitution of the PDP 

Governorship Candidate, 

Eyitayo Jegede, SAN by the 

INEC. 

Afenifere Chairman, Chief 

Reuben Fasoranti, said in Akure 

that the whole process appeared 

set for manipulation, warning 

that the consequences might be 

Markarfi-led faction of the PDP. 

He said the bribe was paid for 

the appellate court panel to 

vacate the judgement of Justice 

Okon Abang of the Federal 

High Court, Abuja, which 

ordered the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, to recognise Mr. Jimoh 

Ibrahim as flag-bearer of the 

PDP for the poll. 

INEC had on the strength of 

the High Court verdict, 

substituted Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, 

SAN, who it initially recognised 

as PDP candidate for the 

election, with Mr. Ibrahim. 

Whereas Jegede emerged 

from primary election that was 

sanctioned by the Markarfi-led 

faction of the PDP, Ibrahim on 

the other hand, secured his 

ticket from the Ali Modu- 

Sheriff- led group. 

“Any rumour stating such is a 

product of deliberate deceit and 

a selfish attempt to confuse the 

people. The matter seeking the 

reclamation of my mandate, 

which is the mandate of the 

people is in Court, with another 

hearing slated for the 10 th of 

November, 2016. I am standing 

firm on getting justice, not only 

for myself or the members of the 

APC in Ondo state, but also for 

the entire people of Ondo state 

who have earnestly shown their 

desire for good governance by 

embracing my candidature.” 

•Abraham 

undesirable. 

Fasoranti said: “The INEC 

decision was wrong. It is 

arbitrary. There is no basis for it. 

Ibrahim went to hold his primary 

in Ibadan and not here. That is 

not fair. If he wants to be sincere 

and honest, the thing should be 

held here. 

“I am bold enough to say that. 

So the process is set for 

manipulation. And in any case, 

Jegede is the choice of the 

people. Certainly, this is not an 

issue of party affiliation.'' 

God’s will, people’s desire can't be 

subverted — Jegede 


FORMER Attorney General and Justice Commissioner in Ondo 

State, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, yesterday said no amount of 

intimidation, blackmail or undue interference with the administration 

of justice will stop him from contesting the governorship election 

In a statement titled: “The Will of God and The Desire of the People 

Cannot be Subverted,” which he personally signed , Jegede said the 

recent event is an evidence that some anti-democratic elements are 

poised to subvert his mandate. 

His words: “We are not unaware of the fact that the anti-democratic 

elements and their allies in the system have mapped out series of 

surreptitious tactics to subvert our mandate, and interfere with the 

course of administration of justice, with the latest of such being a 

baseless petition against the Justices of the Special Panel set up by 

the President of the Court of Appeal, to blackmail them to washing 

off their hands from the case before them. 

“No matter the act of blackmail, intimidation and undue interference 

from any quarters, as a senior member of the legal profession, I have 

absolute confidence in the judiciary as the last hope and bastion of 

our democratic process. I am confident this struggle will soon set 

precedence in the nation’s democratic annals. We will triumph.’’ 

It’s too early to panic, Jimoh Ibrahim 

replies Fayose 

PDP Governorship Candidate, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim has lambasted 

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose for saying that he could never be 

governor of Ondo State. 

In a terse message to the governor, titled: Fayose, too early to panic, 

Jimoh Ibrahim said that the same horsewhip used for the incumbent 

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko would soon be used on the 

governor. 

His words: “The crisis in Ondo State PDP has not degenerated to a 

situation where a Judge was beaten up in his court during 

proceedings as it was in Ekiti State during Governor Fayose’s bid to 

become governor. There is no need for Governor Fayose to panic at 

this time as it is too early to do so. 

“Fayose is advised to wait till November 27 after the election in 

Ondo State, as we shall move to Ekiti in full force to enforce Justice 

Abang’s judgement, which also covers the Executive of PDP in Ekiti 

State. Our movement to Ekiti will be in day time, so it is better for 

Fayose to prepare and also learn from the experience of Governor 

Mimiko, who was performing in Ondo until he was distracted by 

Governor Fayose." 

Oke not qualified to run — Abayomi 

•My emergence followed due process — OKE 


AHUMAN Rights activist and former governorship aspirant of 

the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi 

yesterday said that the governorship candidate of the Alliance for 

Democracy, Chief Olusola Oke was not qualified to contest the 

November 26, governorship election. 

Abayomi has therefore called on INEC to disqualify Oke and his 

running mate, Mr. Gani Dauda for allegedly not being eligible to 

contest the poll. 

Speaking in Akure, Abayomi alleged that both Oke and his deputy 

did not participate in the primary of the AD, which according to him, 

was against provisions of the Electoral Act. 

He further alleged that the duo got the nomination of the AD through 

a back door arrangement. 

“Nobody can contest an election in the country unless he or she is 

a member a political party. In the case of Oke and his deputy, they 

neither participated in nor were they elected in a primary. Oke can 

only be a candidate of the APC where he contested but he didn’t win 

the primary . The Electoral Act says he must be elected by the members 

of AD and they must vote for him in a primary. A party is not allowed 

to nominate a candidate without the candidate participating in the 

primary of the party. 

He said that INEC did not attend or supervise the primary that 

produced Oke as the candidate of the AD. 

But reacting, the Director-General of the Olusola Oke Campaign 

Organization, Mr. Bola Ilori said publishing the name of Oke in the 

list of the candidates by the INEC had shown his eligibility to contest 

the election. Ilori said nomination process of the AD candidate followed 

due process. 

According to him “Dr. Abayomi is not a member of the AD and he 

has no right to be interfering in the affairs of our party. He should 

face the internal problem in his party. Nomination of Oke as the AD 

candidate followed due process, that is why INEC published his 

name. It amuses me when somebody of another party is taking pain 

killers for the headache of another party.



10TH ANNIVERSARY OF APPOINTMENT OF SA'AD AS SULTAN OF SOKOTO 

From left; Sultan Muhammad Sa'ad of Sokoto; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II and 

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at a special prayer session to kick-start activities marking 

the 10th anniversary of the appointment of Muhammad Sa'ad as the Sultan of Sokoto. 

Governor Aminu Tambuwal (left) distributing ‘Zakkat’ and 

endowment items at the event. 

Ogun workers suspend strike after Amosun, 

labour’s parley 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA—THE 

organised labour in Ogun 

State , yesterday, suspended the 

14-day strike action after signing 

a Memorandum of 

Understanding with the state 

government. 

The National President of 

Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba 

Wabba, in the presence of other 

national leaders of the organised 

labour made the pronouncement 

at the Labour Congress 

Secretariat, Abiola way, Abeokuta, 

shortly after they held a 10-hour 

closed-door meeting with the 

officials of the state government. 

Earlier, the Ogun State 

government and the leadership 

of the organised labour in the state 

signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding on the modalities 

of payment of workers’ deduction, 

check-off dues and gratuities 

among others. 

The resolution was signed by 

Head of Service Olushola 

Adeyemi and Permanent 

Secretary Bureau of 

Establishment and Training, Mrs. 

M .T. O Dosunmu on behalf of 

the government while the State 

Chairman of Joint Negotiating 

Council, Biodun Olakanmi, state 

Chairman, Nigeria Labour 

Congress, Akeem Ambali and 

chairman, Trade Union Congress 

Bunmi Fajobi signed on behalf of 

the workers. 

The meeting also had in 

attendance as observers national 

Presidents of Trade Union 

Congress, Boboi Kaigama, his 

counterpart in Joint Public Service 

Negotiating Council , National 

Union of Local Government 

Employees Khaleel Ibrahim and 

National Association of Nigerian 

Nurses and Midwives, Rafiu 

Adeniji. 

Olakanmi who read the 

resolution to the newsmen said; 

“The state government should 

pay global deduction with 

November 2016 salary and 

release global deduction every 90 

days and as soon as bullet 

payment is received from the 

Federal government and the 

state revenue improves. 

Outstanding deduction shall be 

paid on or before May, 2017. 

“Immediate offset of one year 

arrears of check-of dues. 

“The 2015 promotion result to 

be released immediately . 

“A joint committee on both 

government and labour should 

be set up to look into the issues 

of the officers that have 

completed loan payments and 

whose money are still being 

deducted. Also, officers that have 

completed loan repayment 

should be allowed to exit from 

the cooperatives societies. 

“Towards promoting industrial 

harmony, there should be 

instituted a quarterly meeting 

between the government and 

labour. 

“Consequent upon the above, 

the two sides agreed that the 

ongoing strike action should be 

suspended and no worker will 

be victimized of the strike 

action”. 

The Labour leaders having left 

the governor’s office went to meet 

their members at the Labour 

secretariat in Abeokuta where 

they announced the suspension 

of the strike. 

While announcing the 

ssuspension, the national 

President of NLC who was 

flanked by other national leaders 

of the organised labour ordered 

all the public workers to resume 

at their duty posts today 

(Thursday). 

Meanwhile, there was drama 

at the governor’s office over 

alleged missing of a point which 

the Labour leaders claimed was 

part of the agreement but, 

suddenly disappeared. 

Amosun reacts 

Addressing newsmen after the 

meeting , the state governor, 

Senator Ibikunle Amosun 

lamented that the 14 days strike 

has crippled the state's economy. 

Amosun who was flanked by 

the labour leaders in his office, 

declared that the strike made it 

difficult for him to pay October 

salary. 

He however, refused to pardon 

the sacked workers, saying, the 

workers’ action infuriated him. 

According to him, lessons have 

been learnt and this is the 

second time that something of 

this nature will happen, but I 

pray that this should be the last 

time we would be in the media 

for any wrong thing. 

“But am happy that the labour 

leaders are here and they know 

that there are two issues at hand 

and the first, which is structure , 

is the agitation that we are owing 

and have shown them figures 

that do not lie. For instance, what 

we get from the federal 

government is about N600 

million and we have showed 

them what we pay now and what 

we used to pay in 2011 when we 

came on board and the 

difference is about N7 billion 

naira and we have been paying 

it but when there are issues all 

of us must know that these are 

issues. 

“We have 36 states in the 

country and I make bold to say 

as bad as it is, we are second to 

no other state. I have told them 

on my honour that all of we 

agreed upon will be done. 

“Indeed, I pray that even 

before I leave as governor in 

Ogun state we will be able to 

say that our civil servants are 

getting more money than what 

they were taking before. 

“And clearly we should not mix 

what we are doing with politics 

and that is what get me so 

inferiorated. 

“As a governor I have sworn 

that, I will do the best for Ogun 

people even if it has to do with us 

having sleepless nights. We will 

do it." 

2012 FUEL SUBSIDY PROTEST: Appeal Court 

reserves judgement in ex-DPO’s case 


& Onozure Dania 

THE Lagos Division of the 

Court of Appeal, 

yesterday reserved judgment 

on an appeal filed by the ex- 

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) 

of Agege Police Station, Segun 

Fabunmi, praying the court to 

nullify a 10-year jail term 

passed on him by a Lagos High 

Court for manslaughter. 

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a 

Lagos State High Court had 

sentenced Fabunmi to 10 years 

inprisonment for manslaughter, 

following the death of one 

Ademola Aderintola Daramola 

during the January 9, 2012 fuel 

subsidy protest in Lagos. 

The lower court found 

Fabunmi guilty of shooting 

three other persons – Alimi 

Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and 

Chizorba Odoh, during the 

protest, thereby causing them 

grievous bodily harm. 

Dissatisfied, Fabunmi in his 

notice of appeal urged the 

appellate court to set aside the 

judgment of the lower court and 

set him free. 

Arguing the appeal yesterday, 

Fabunmi’s counsel, C.J 

Jiakponna stated that the 

conviction and sentencing of 

Fabunmi was in error, urging 

the court, in the interest of 

Justice, to allow the appeal and 

set aside the judgment of the 

lower court. 

AIG debunks 

restiveness over 

police transfers 

in Zone 2 

By Emma Nnadozie 

THE Assistant Inspector- 

General of Police, Zone 

2, Onikan, Lagos, Abdulmajid 

Ali, yesterday, disassociated 

himself from reported 

restiveness over his recent redeployment 

by Police 

authorities and stated that he 

had no reason to complain 

because transfer is part of 

police duty. 

AIG Ali who was reacting to 

reports that his recent transfer 

out of the Zone has led to 

protests by policemen in the 

Zone stated unequivocally that; 

“transfer is part of police duty 

which I am bound to obey. My 

posting to Zone 2 was a 

privilege and not my birthright. 

In my 30 years in service, I have 

served in many capacities 

assigned to me without 

complaint. I have served very 

well in all the six geo-political 

zones of the country without 

blemish. 

“I have a great respect for our 

Inspector-General of Police 

and confidence in his 

management team. I am loyal 

and committed to the 

constituted authority in the 

force and cannot protest 

against decisions which I know 

must be in the best interest of 

the force and the country. 

''There is no belabouring the 

glaring fact that our Inspector- 

General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, 

is honestly committed and 

dedicated to the good ideals 

that will propel the force to 

greater heights and it will be 

unfair for anybody to ascribe to 

him acts inimical to the growth 

of the force.” 

The AIG Ali was recently redeployed 

to the Force 

headquarters, Abuja, barely 

two months after he assumed 

duties in Zone 2 comprising 

Lagos and Ogun States.



FG appoints transaction adviser on new 

national carrier 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—THE 

Federal 

Government has 

appointed a transaction adviser for 

the new national carrier billed to 

take off in the next 12 months. 

The government also approved 

additional N1.57 billion for 

rehabilitation of the local and 

international wings of Port 

Harcourt International Airport, 

even as it made trapped $300 

million available to foreign 

airlines, some of which had 

suspended operations to the 

country. 

Briefing journalists at the end 

of yesterday’s Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, Minister of State 

for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the 

new carrier would come on 

stream in 2017 to give air 

travellers a choice of airlines to 

fly. 

He said the new carrier would 

be run by the private sector, with 

government contributing only five 

percent. 

The minister said government 

had set up the machinery to 

realise the national carrier project 

by appointing an adviser who 

would facilitate the process. 

On the rehabilitation of Port 

Harcourt International Airport, 

Sirika said FEC approved a 

review of the cost of rehabilitating 

the international wing of the 

airport from N777,726,669.30 to 

N1,684,520,310.58 for the original 

contractor Messes Entaba. 

The second project, he said, 

was the refurbishment of the 

airport terminal building Phase 

II domestic wing which was 

jerked up from N746,830,782.12 

to N1,411,662,855.67. 

He also said that FEC 

approved bilateral agreement 

against double taxation with the 

Kenyan government. 

He said: “FEC approved the 

rectification of climate change 

Paris agreement. It also 

approved bilateral agreement 

against double taxation with 

Kenya and while Nigeria is not 

exporter. This is very important 

for the Nigerian economy and 

businesses. 

“Also, FEC approved the 

revised total estimate cost of 

finishing Port Harcourt Airport 

both domestic and international 

wing. So, FEC approved the 

project as it is captured in the 

2016 and 2017 budget. 

‘’So, very soon, we will 

complete that very important 

airport, especially the arrival 

wing. 

‘’Port Harcourt airport has 

been tagged the worst airport in 

the world but by the grace of God 

and the wisdom of council, it will 

be completed.’’ 

Giving details on why many 

foreign airlines were flying the 

best of aircraft on Nigeria 

airspace, Sirika said it was not 

as a result of not having 

corresponding facilities for 

such services, assuring that the 

government was working to 

put the necessary 

infrastructures in place. 

The minister also gave 

hopes on the stability of 

aviation with a provision of over 

$300 million to pay foreign 

airlines. 

CONFERENCE: From left: Miranda Amachree, Director, Inspection and Enforcement, 

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESRA); Daniel 

Adedokun, Head of Geocycle and Business Development, Lafarge Africa Plc; Olapeju Ibekwe, 

Head, Branding Strategy and Communications, Sterling Bank; and Olivier Doyen, Head of 

Sub-Sahara Africa for Geocycle, LafargeHolcim Group, at the National 

Management Conference held at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

EFCC chairman disowns, detains ex-Gov 

Akpabio’s brother, Ibanga 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

A BUJA—THE 

Chairman of 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, 

yesterday disowned Ibanga 

Akpabio, the brother of 

former Governor Godswill 

Akpabio of Akwa Ibom 

State, saying he had never 

met him nor spoken with 

him directly or through a 

third party. 

This came as EFCC 

detained Ibanga at its Port 

Harcourt Zonal Office over 

alleged fraud worth N10 

million 

Magu issued the 

disclaimer following reports 

by an online medium by 

the former governor’s 

brother that he had bought 

Magu and other top 

security chiefs in the 

country to be able to deal 

ruthlessly with a former 


member, Robinson Uwak, 

who is having some political 

differences with the former 

governor, now a senator. 

In the report, the online 

portal also attached an 

audio clip purported to be 

a conversation between 

Ibanga Akpabio and Magu 

on how to deal with Uwak, 

a claim Magu denied 

vehemently. 

In a statement in Abuja, 

the commission drew the 

attention of Nigerians to 

the fact that if Magu was 

Akpabio’s friend, he would 

not have been in detention 

in EFCC custody over N10 

million fraud scam. 

The statement said: “The 

attention of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission has been 

drawn to a recorded audio 

conversation attached to a 

report with the caption, 

EFCC Detains Brother of 

Former Akwa Ibom State 

Governor Ibanga 

Akpabio, which appeared 

today, November 2, 2016 

on the online news portal, 

Sahara reporters allegedly 

featuring two Akwa Ibom 

politicians, Ibanga Akpabio 

and a certain Osong. In the 

recording, a voice 

purporting to be Akpabio 

could be heard dropping 

the names of some security 

chiefs including the acting 

Chairman of the 

Commission, Ibrahim 

Magu and boasting about 

the supposed EFCC boss’ 

willingness to help deal 

with his purported political 

adversaries in Akwa Ibom 

state." 

Bad 

governance 

moving 

Rivers' 

fortunes 

backward 

—Dakuku 

THE governorship 

candidate of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in the 2015 elections 

in Rivers State, Dr 

Dakuku Peterside, has 

alleged that bad 

governance by the 

Governor Nyesom Wikeled 

administration is 

moving back the progress 

of the state. 

Dr Dakuku who stated 

this during the formal 

reception and public 

declaration of former 

Executive Director 

(Finance and 

Administration) of Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, Dr 

Henry Ogiri, for the APC 

at Abua/Odual, said 

Rivers people were 

already tired of the 

government in the state. 

He said: “Rivers State is 

in reverse gear because of 

bad governance. The bad 

governance in the state is 

telling on the people and 

they are aware that this 

government is not for 

them. Ogiri got to the top 

and saw the bad 

governance in the state 

and decided to return to 

his original political fold 

to meet with his friends 

and those who he played 

politics with earlier. 

“Ogiri was part of those 

who helped PDP in the 

2015 elections in many 

ways and they know it. 

The coming re-run and 

2019 elections will prove 

that the government of 

Rivers State is not leading 

the people well, which is 

why Ogiri left them.” 

Dakuku, who is also the 

Director-General of 

Nigeria Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA, 

berated the Wike-led 

government of being 

unable to maintain several 

infrastructural facilities 

built by the immediate 

past administration of 

former Governor 

Chibuike Amaechi. 

“Wike cannot maintain 

the infrastructure Amaechi 

put on ground. Look at 

the health centres and 

schools, the overseas 

scholarship, among 

others. Instead he has 

introduced tax regimes in 

secondary schools that 

are supposed to be free. 

Rivers State is indeed 

retrogressing," he added.



Aftermath of N-Delta peace talks: Oil-producing 

communities issue 5-point demand to FG 

By Michael Eboh 

ONE day after the 

meeting between 

leaders of the Niger Delta 

region and President 

Muhammadu Buhari, oilproducing 

communities, under 

the aegis of Host Communities 

of Nigeria, Producing Oil and 

Gas, HOSTCOM, yesterday, 

reeled out an additional and 

separate five-point demand for 

the Federal Government, which 

it said would guarantee the 

success of the on-going 

dialogue and ensure a peaceful 

resolution of the crisis in the 

Niger Delta. 

The demands are: Immediate 

release by the Federal 

Government, of part of the gas 

flare penalty funds to 

HOSTCOM; immediate 

passage of the Petroleum 

Industry Bill, PIB, by the 

National Assembly; re-routing 

of the 13 per cent derivation 

fund in the Exclusive List, 

directly to HOSTCOM account 

as enshrined in Section 162.2 

of the constitution, which the 

group said is against the 

ongoing practice of payment to 

the accounts of states and local 

governments; outright award of 

pipeline surveillance contracts 

to HOSTCOM and creation of 

a new Directorate of Hostland 

Security with the Ministry of 

Petroleum Resources, to cater 

directly for security needs of 

host communities including 

government and International 

Oil Companies’ investments. 

During a visit to Vanguard's 

office in Abuja, National 

Chairman of HOSTCOM, Dr. 

Mike Emuh, expressed joy over 

the dialogue held with the 

Niger Delta leaders, but faulted 

non-inclusion of youths of the 

region in the dialogue. 

According to him, in the 

committee set up by the Federal 

Government, no youth was 

included. The youths, who are 

the major agitators, were not 

included among those to meet 

with President Muhammadu 

Buhari, thereby denying them 

the opportunity to air their 

grievances. 

He said: “We support 

everything that was discussed 

and agreed upon at the 

meeting, especially as they 

were all in the interest of the 

Niger Delta. However, it should 

not always be about the elders. 

The people who are responsible 

for all the destructions in the 

region and those who are at the 

forefront of the agitations are 

the youths; they should have 

been carried along also.” 

Accuses govs of subduing 

discussions on 13% 

derivation 

He alleged that the issue of 

stripping the state governors of 

FINANCE MASTER CLASS: From left: Dr. Temitope Oshikoya, CEO, NEXTNOMICS; 

Yemisi Tayo-Aboaba, Head of International Corporates, Standard Chartered Bank 

Nigeria (SCBN); Mr. Omoniyi Jegede, Managing Partner, Ijewere & Co and Mrs Yemi 

Owolabi, Executive Director, Finance, SCBN during the 2016 Finance Master Class 

organized by the bank in Lagos. 

the 13 per cent derivation fund 

and transferring same to the 

host communities was 

curiously removed from the 

agenda of the meeting, 

because of the presence of the 

state governors at the meeting. 

According to him, the state 

governors might have 

cautioned and prevailed on the 

Minister of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, 

not to bring up the issue of the 

13 per cent derivation, because 

of their interest in the fund. 

Five-point demand 

Highlighting the demands 

of the oil-producing 

communities, Emuh called on 

the Federal Government to 

immediately release part of the 

gas flare penalty funds, put at 

N98 billion, to HOSTCOM. 

According to him, the 

Presidency had confirmed the 

availability of the fund and 

signed for the release, while 

the fund was scheduled to be 

released by October 2016, but 

due to certain circumstances, 

the release was delayed. 

He accused the Chief of Staff 

to the President of delaying the 

release of the funds, claiming 

that despite an agreement 

reached between the 

Presidency and leaders of the 

oil-producing communities, 

represented by HOSTCOM, 

the fund was yet to be 

released. 

Emuh explained that the gas 

flare penalty fund was from 

fines imposed on oil 

companies for flaring gas in 

the region, with the 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources, DPR, collecting the 

fines and paying same into an 

account with the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN. 

He said the total funds was 

about N2 trillion, but an 

agreement was entered into 

with the Federal Government 

for the release of N98 billion, 

as majority of the funds had 

been spent by the Federal 

Government due to the 

absence of an organized oilproducing 

communities’ 

groups in the past. 

Saraki directs c’ttee to submit bill on host communities’ issues 

within 4wks 

By Henry Umoru & 


A BUJA—SENATE 

President, Bukola 

Saraki, yesterday, instructed 

the Senate Committee on 

Petroleum, Upstream, led by 

Senator Tayo Alaosoadura, to 

prepare and submit the 

Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, 

which deals solely on the 

issues of host communities and 

fiscal considerations. 

The development came as 

the Senate passed the first 

batch of the PIB, sponsored 

by Senator Alaosoadura, who 

represents Ondo Central senatorial 

district. 

The first leg of the bill, 

tagged: Petroleum Industry 

Governance Bill, PIGB, 2016, 

which is in the second reading 

stage, only deals with provision 

of institutional framework 

for governance in the 

nation’s oil and gas sector. 

The Senate President’s directive 

came amidst protest by 

Senator James Manager, PDP, 

Delta South, who, during his 

contribution to the debate on 

the bill, faulted the priority 

accorded the first leg of the 

bill, whose objectives were 

mainly on governance. 

While also directing the 

committee, which was given 

four weeks to treat the bill and 

submit same to the Senate, he 

said the second aspect of the 

bill which intends to treat host 

communities’ issues must be 

submitted to the Senate before 

the four weeks expected for 

submission of the first one. 

He said: “I want to make 

observations on the comment 

by Senator James Manager. 

Clearly, what we have done 

here is really to make us move 

forward in this important bill, 

to see that after so many 

years, we finally pass this petroleum 

industry bill. That is 

why it has been put into different 

sections. But I want to 

give a commitment on behalf 

of our colleagues that this 

one is just on the issue of 

governance. Before we proceed 

into the finalization of 

this part of the bill, the committee 

must come up with a 

bill regarding the issue of the 

RETRACTION 

Prof Okonjo 

bags national 

award from 

Ghana govt 

P ROFESSOR 

Chukwuka Okonjo, 

Obi of Ogwashiukwu, 

Delta State, has received 

the highest civil national 

award from the 

Government of Ghana. 

The award was conferred 

on him by President John 

Dramani Mahama in 

recognition of his stellar 

and distinguished 

contributions to the 

country’s education 

system. 

Professor Chukwuka 

Okonjo, father of two-time 

former Minister of Finance, 

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala of 

Nigeria, is a renowned 

Mathematician and 

Economist who worked for 

a long time in Ghana as a 

United Nations staff and 

later as a consultant to the 

Ghanaian Government. 

He joined the United 

Nations System in 1974 as 

an official based in New 

York with his duty station 

at Accra, Ghana, as the 

Director of the Regional 

Institute for Population 

Studies, RIPS, at the 

University of Ghana, 

Legon, Accra. 

Prof Okonjo worked as a 

Professor of Economics at 

the University from 1974 to 

1985 at a time the country 

was going through severe 

economic and political 

difficulties. 

During that time, 

Professor Okonjo installed 

the first African population 

information network 

popularly known as the 

Population Information and 

Documentation System for 

Africa, POSA, valued at 

$350,000. 

host communities for discussion. 

I think that that can be done 

within the next four weeks before 

we come back for consideration 

clause by clause. We must 

bring the bill here on community 

issues and frontiers so that we 

can also pass it into second reading 

and commit it to the committee." 

IN the Vanguard 

Newspaper edition of 

October 26, 2016, Page 15, 

we published an article titled 

FG Sends ICPC Boss on 

compulsory leave. In the 

said article, we inadvertently 

reported that a letter 

from the Office of the Secretary 

to the Government of 

the Federation, SFG, informed 

that Mr. Nta Expo 

should proceed on compulsory 

leave, which he allegedly 

ignored, among others. 

We have discovered that there 

was no such letter from the 

SGF or any other person. In 

the circumstance, we hereby 

retract the article in its entirety 

and apologize profusely for 

the inconvenience the said 

article may have caused Mr. 

Nta Expo and we assure him 

of our highest regards at all 

times. 

-Editor

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 


ADVAN AWARDS FOR MARKETING EXCELLENCE IN LAGOS. 

Photos by Akeem Salau. 

From left: Product Manager, Indomie, Onome Asagbra; General Manager, Indomie, 

Girish Sharma; recipient of the Brand Manager of the year award/Brand Manager, 

Indomie, Amber Yadav; President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), David 

Okeme; Group Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Tope Ashiwaju 

and Research and Media Manager, Indomie, Ananya Mahato. 

From left; Mrs Ebere Udemi, Assistant Manager, Marketing 

Communications, Stanbic IBTC; Ame Okwudi, Manager Events & CSI 

Stanbic IBTC; Dr Austine Eruotor, President, Whitehouse Hotel and 

Demola Adesina,Manager Marketing and Communications. Stanbic 

IBTC received Award for Marketing Excellence 2016 CSR Category. 

From left; Mr Oluwafemi Adeniba of Sustmark 

Consult; Mrs Iquo Ikwo and Mrs Bunmi Oke, CEO 

141 Worldwide. 

Mr Princewill Ekwujuru of Vanguard (left) receiving the 

award for the 3rd position of Brand Journalist of the year 

from Mr Abiona Babarinde, GM, Marketing & Corporate 

Communications, Coscharis Group. 

From left; Mr Olaseni Fawehinmi,Corporate 

Marketing Service Manager, UAC of Nigeria Plc; 

Mrs Ediri Ose-Ediale, Executive Secretary, 

ADVAN; Mrs Toluwatomi Fawehinmi and Mr Allen 

Ose-Odiale, CEO, Shepard Field Network. 

MERIDYEN INTERNATIONAL FAIR ORGANISATION FASHION WEEK 

NNPC trade deficit dips to N11.2bn in one month 

•Pays $24m to federation account 

•Manufacturing gets boost on 90-day Forward FX deals of $330.9m 

By Michael Eboh 

ABUJA—THE Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, 

announced a trade deficit of 

N11.22 billion in the month of 

August 2016, dropping 

significantly from a deficit of 

N24.18 billion recorded in the 

month of July. 

This came on a day the 

manufacturing sector of the 

economy received a boost, 

following the intervention of the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, 

in the settlement of balance of the 

valid applications of 60-day 

forwards funding deals in favour 

of agricultural machinery and raw 

material sectors. 

The NNPC, in its Monthly 

Financial and Operations Report 

for August 2016, attributed the 

improved financial performance 

to an increase in Pipeline and 

Products Marketing Company, 

PPMC, coastal sales and the 

significant improvement in 

Nigerian Petroleum Development 

Company’s, NPDC, revenue for 

the month under review. 

Specifically, the report stated 

that NNPC’s operating revenue 

for August appreciated by 41.35 

per cent to N181.53 billion, 

compared to N128.43 billion in 

July 2016, while operating 

expenditure rose to N192.75 

billion from N152.61 billion 

recorded in July. 

In addition to improved sales 

from PPMC, the NNPC stated 

that the marked improvement in 

revenue was mainly due to 

resumption of NPDC production 

from Oil Mining Lease, OML, 

119, which was shut in 

following export line repair 

completion. 

Furthermore, the report stated 

that the NNPC recorded total 

export proceeds of $180.93 

million in August, dropping by 

14.76 percent from$212.25 

million recorded in July. 

Of the total receipt, the NNPC 

disclosed that the $157.05 

million was used to fund Joint 

Venture cash call, while $23.88 

million was remitted to the 

Federation Account in the 

month under review. 

Again, the NNPC domestic 

crude oil and gas receipt for the 

month of August stood at N96.15 

billion, comprising N1.80 billion 

from domestic gas sales and 

N88.01 billion from domestic 

crude oil sales. 

According to the NNPC, of the 

N88.01 billion receipt from crude 

oil, the sum of N52.96 billion 

(US$268.83 million) was 

transferred to Joint Venture Cash 

Call, JVCC, being a first line 

charge and to guarantee 

continuous flow of revenue stream 

to the Federation Account. 

However, the report stated that 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

FIDELITY Bank Plc has 

recorded gross earnings of 

N110.3 billion in its unaudited 

financial results for nine month 

period ended September 30, 2016, 

representing three per cent 

increase over N107 billion recorded 

in the same period in 2015. 

This was contained in a statement 

issued by the bank and made 

available at the Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE. The bank also 

grew its deposit base by 3.4 percent 

the NNPC transferred the sum of 

N35.05 billion to the Federation 

Account during the month under 

review from the net domestic 

crude oil receipt and N 1.80 billion 

from gas receipts. 

The report said NNPC is also 

collaborating with International 

Oil Companies, IOC, to carry out 

value–for-money audit on all 

the Federation’s Joint 

Ventures with a view to 

improving business processes, 

projects execution and 

to N795.6 billion from N769.6 

billion in 2015 financial year end. 

Commenting on the financial 

results, the Managing Director/ 

CEO, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Nnamdi 

Okonkwo, said the bank’s 

performance was indeed 

reflective of the recessionary 

environment characterized by 

lower government revenues, 

rising inflation, lower consumer 

disposable income, significantly 

tougher operating environment 

in all sectors and the impact of 

these headwinds on asset 

revenues accruable to the 

Federation. 

Manufacturing sector 

Meanwhile, the manufacturing 

sector of the economy received a 

boost yesterday, following the 

intervention of the Central Bank 

of Nigeria (CBN) in the 

settlement of the balance of the 

valid applications of 60-day 

forwards funding deals in favour 

of agricultural, machinery and 

raw materials sectors. 

Sources at the CBN disclosed 

that the forwards deals totaling 

$330.09 million represent 

requests from the various sectors 

in the secondary inter-bank 

market, thereby providing a boost 

to the manufacturing sector. 

Fidelity Bank posts N110.3bn gross earnings in 9 months 

quality and foreign trade 

transactions. 

He said: “We continued with 

the disciplined execution of our 

medium term strategy and 

recorded decent growth on some 

key operational metrics while 

moderating the impact of the 

headwinds above on other 

financial indices.” 

The unaudited financial 

showed that the bank’s Profit 

before Tax, PBT, decreased by 28.7 

percent to N9.8 billion from N13.8 

billion in the period under review.



Anambra gets UK order for scent leaf export 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA—AFTER successfully 

exporting Ugu vegetable to 

some European countries, 

which yielded about five million 

British pounds for the state, 

Anambra State government 

said, yesterday, that it had 

received another order from the 

United Kingdom for scent leaf, 

popularly called Nchuanwu. 

To meet the demand for the 

export, 40 cooperative 

societies from the three 

senatorial zones of the state 

have been empowered to grow 

the vegetable to be able to meet 

the order in the next two 

months. 

Representatives of the 

cooperative societies, who 

were tutored on the processes 

involved in the cultivation of 

the vegetable for two days in 

Awka, were given three water 

pumps each with suction and 

discharge facilities, special 

type of fertilizer and some 

quantities of the scent leaves. 

Senior Special Assistant to 

Governor Willie Obiano on 

UNDP and Foreign Donors, 

Mrs. Nneka Onwudiwe, 

urged the farmers to work 

hard to meet the terms of the 

UK order. 

She said: “Usually we do dry 

season farming, but because 

the state is exporting 

vegetables, we decided to 

grow Nchuanwu at this time, 

because we have ready uptakers, 

who will export the 

vegetable so that we can meet 

the demand of those who have 

placed orders.” 

ENUGU: From left—Executive Chairman, Enugu Sports Club, Chief Obum Arum; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu 

State; Chief Executive Officer Annjessy Events, Mrs Ujunwa Ikediashi, and Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of 

Sports, Mrs Ngozi Ani, during 042 Golf Tournament in Enugu. 

Govs should be 

involved in 

granting 

mining licence 

— Ugwuanyi 

By Emeka Mamah 

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu 

State has asked the 

Federal Government to 

compel companies with 

licences or leases to 

mining fields in the state 

to commence operations 

or have such rights 

revoked. 

Ugwuanyi noted that the 

practice of holding on to 

mining leases without 

utilising them could be 

eliminated if governors 

were involved in the 

review process leading to 

issuance of licences. 

He spoke when 

members of the Revenue 

Mobilisation, Allocation 

and Fiscal Commission, 

RMAFC, paid him a 

courtesy visit at the 

Government House, 

Enugu, yesterday. 

The governor, however, 

commended the Federal 

Government in its efforts 

to diversify the economy 

and reduce the country’s 

dependence on oil, 

pointing out that the 

measure would improve 

its revenue and bolster 

economic activities across 

the country. 

IPOB lauds Buhari’s 

comments on ‘secession’ 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

& Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

O NITSHA—THE 

Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, said 

it welcomed, with open arms, 

the recent declaration by 


Buhari that anybody who 

wants to, is free to leave 

Nigeria. 

The group said it is, 

therefore, expressing the hope 

that Buhari would now stop 

the arrest and detention of 

peaceful and unarmed IPOB 

members, who are agitating for 

Biafra and hurriedly release 

their detained leader, Mazi 

Nnamdi Kanu and others, who 

they described as illegally 

detained prisoners of 

conscience. 

In a statement by their 

spokespersons, Mr. Emma 

Nmezu and Dr. Clifford 

Iroanya, IPOB declared: “We 

look forward to President 

Muhammadu Buhari making 

arrangements for a bipartisan 

meeting of Arewa-dominated 

Nigeria and IPOB for the 

purpose of determining the 

modalities and date of a 

Biafrexit referendum to 

determine the will of the 

people once and for all, so that 

we can go home and rebuild 

our battered but blessed nation 

•... says no to conditions 

of Biafra.” 

In the statement entitled 

IPOB welcomes Muhammadu 

Buhari’s declaration on the 

impending disintegration of 

Nigeria, but says no to certain 

conditions he attached to it, 

IPOB said that for once, 

Buhari had spoken reasonably 

though his conditions are not 

acceptable to them. 

According to the statement, 

“Buhari needs to come to terms 

with the fact that IPOB will not 

leave any part of Biafraland, 

from the plains of Idoma to the 

shorelines of Opobo Kingdom, 

to become a conquered 

territory like the Yoruba-owned 

Ilorin, which today is under a 

caliphate rule answerable to 

the Sultan of Sokoto and not 

the Ooni of Ife.” 

By Emeka Mamah 

ENUGU—THE South-East 

zone of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, has appealed 

to the Senate to reconsider its 

rejection of the $29.680 billion 

loan requested by President 

Muhammadu Buhari for 

provision of infrastructure 

between 2016 and 2018, 

Insisting that the restoration 

of the nation of Biafra is 

irrevocably sacrosanct and 

irreversible, that no amount of 

gamesmanship on the part of 

Buhari and his colonial 

handlers can stop it, IPOB 

noted that by that declaration, 

Buhari seemed to have bowed 

to international pressure to 

consider the inevitable 

disintegration of Nigeria, 

though with conditions found 

to be inconsistent with 

common sense and logic. 

IPOB quoted Buhari as 

declaring to Niger Delta 

leaders that “any Nigerian is 

free to leave the country if they 

have another one.... If 

anybody has a country to go 

to, let him go, we will stay here 

and salvage our country.” 

pointing out that the rejection 

was not only ill-advised, but 

an ill-wind that would not 

blow anyone any good. 

This was contained in a 

statement by the Zonal 

Publicity Secretary of the 

party in the area, Hyacinth 

Ngwu, in Enugu yesterday. 

The statement read: “We 

believe the loan, which is 

Railway 

authorities 

threaten to 

shut Enugu 

roads 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—UNLESS 

Enugu State 

government makes haste to 

reconcile with the Nigeria 

Railway Corporation, NRC, 

the transport agency may 

soon close all roads in the 

state that intersect rail lines. 

Eastern District Manager 

of NRC, Mr. Olamisesede 

Adeeyinwo, made the 

disclosure while interacting 

with Vanguard in Enugu, 

yesterday. 

He said the proposed 

action became necessary 

following an ultimatum the 

state government gave NRC 

as a result of last week’s 

killing of a man by a train at 

Holy Ghost area of Enugu 

metropolis, blaming the state 

government and Federal 

Ministry of Works for failure 

in maintaining level 

crossings on rail lines at 

different intersections in the 

state. 

End recession, 

Provost 

challenges 

academia 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—THE Provost 

of Alvan Ikoku Federal 

College of Education, 

Owerri, Imo State, Dr. 

Blessing Ijeoma, has 

challenged members of the 

Nigeria Academy of 

Education, NAE, in the 

country to end economic 

recession through research. 

According to the Provost, 

who spoke at the 2016 

Annual Congress of the NAE 

in Owerri, time had come to 

start thinking outside the box 

to find lasting solutions to the 

economic meltdown, for 

which she said the academia 

must take the lead. 

She said: “Our nation has 

coasted along for too long, 

paying lip service to 

diversification. With the 

decline in oil prices and the 

increased drive by many 

countries to explore the use 

of alternative energy sources, 

we must innovate or suffer 

grave consequences.” 

APC asks Senate to reconsider rejection of $30bn loan 

within the acceptable Debt 

Management Office, DMO, debt 

threshold of 19.39 per cent for 

External Debt/GDP ratio and far 

below 56 per cent debt threshold 

for External Debt/GDP ratio by 

the World Bank’s Country Policy 

and Institutional Assessment, 

CPIA, for countries in Nigeria’s 

peer group, respectively, is 

sustainable in the medium term.”


Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2016 — 17 

C 

M 

Y 

K


THE Senate arm of the National 

Assembly took an important step 

towards checking the longstanding 

menace of sexual 

harassment, especially in higher 

institutions recently, when it 

passed the Sexual Harassment in 

Tertiary Institutions Bill into law. 

The Bill sponsored by Senator 

Ovie Omo-Agege, prescribes a jail 

term of five years or a fine of five 

million Naira against any lecturer 

found culpable of sexually 

harassing female students. It also 

protects lecturers and educators 

from false accusation by 

prescribing severe punishments for 

students who engage in the act. 

Criminalisation of sexual 

misconduct in educational 

institutions has become 

imperative, as this practice has 

been in existence for a very long 

time with very little done to 

address it holistically. 

Given the complex nature of 

sexual harassment, we are pleased 

Checking sexual harassment 

in schools 

to note that this Bill provides 

safeguards for both students and 

lecturers from any form of 

victimisation. However, we believe 

it is too simplistic to limit the law 

to tertiary institutions and 

lecturers when it is obvious that the 

social malaise pervades almost 

every strata of academic pursuit 

and all cadres of staff of 

educational institutions who are 

often tempted to use the influence 

of their positions for sexual 

gratification. 

The law alone, when it becomes 

operational, may not go far in 

addressing the problem. Efforts 

should be made to spell out in more 

detail, the nature of this problem 

and procedures for tackling it in all 

schools. Perhaps, we need to borrow 

a leaf from the United States which, 

pursuant to Title IX of the Education 

Amendments of 1972, caused the 

Department of Education to spell out 

the modus operandi of the law 

through the Sexual Harassment 

Guidance of 1997. 

Among other things, it was made 

clear that even if students and their 

educators mutually consent to 

exchange sexual favours for grades, 

it is still a punishable act as it 

compromises academic integrity. It 

also provides for sanctions, 

irrespective of the sex of the 

harasser. 

The law should be properly finetuned 

to ensure that the era of 

educational staff seeing sexual 

extortion of students as part of their 

“fringe benefits” is over, and that 

the nation is now serious in 

protecting its young men and women 

and also staff from sexual predators 

and blackmailers in educational 

institutions. 

A major challenge that may be 

difficult to overcome is the difficulty 

in providing proof of allegations of 

unwholesome sexual advances, more 

so as students caught in the dilemma 

might not want to step forward and 

testify to avoid scandals and 

stigmatisation. 

More effort should also be put into 

getting school authorities to act with 

dispatch when complaints are 

lodged, and to face sanctions when 

they fail to act to protect the 

integrity and honour of their 

students and staff as may be 

applicable. 

Much ado about about northern 

By Simon Abah 

THE prerequisites for the greatness of 

a modern-day country include the 

presence of visionary leaders, abundance 

of productive human capital, 

infrastructure, technology, constant 

research, a stable environment (political 

and socio-cultural), the capability of 

defending the territorial integrity of state 

and the ability to inspire pride in citizens. 

I am inundated with random stories that 

resources from southern Nigeria were 

used by northern military potentates in 

time past to develop the north. And this 

accounts for why the south today is 

grappling with dire economic challenges. 

Which north? The one I was raised in? 

Where are the manufacturing companies 

employing thousands in the North? And 

even though the insurgency no doubt has 

stalled economic prosperity of the people 

of the north-east, there wasn't an economic 

demarche by the government of that 

region before the insurgency. 

When people elsewhere are busy making 

plans to launch satellites into space, to 

venture to the moon, we glory in 

jawboning people negatively. 

Our educational foundations which is to 

prepare our youths for camaraderie 

without borders are now mean-spirited, 

hate-filled centres, where youngsters are 

groomed to look at others as our 'enemy.' 

The governors of the North have not 

managed the many companies owned by 

the Northern Nigeria Development 

Corporation. Nearly all the companies 

they once managed are all gone . How sad 

to think of the loss of revenue to the 

government which offered the chance to 

provide people with a means of sustainable 

living. 

Seventy percent of Nigeria's economy is 

located in the south whereas the north 

controls barely thirty percent. The 

investments of the northern political elite 

is mainly situated in the south. No need 

for second-telling but the human 

The harsh reality is that 

visioners are few in the 

polity and this has 

contributed to our 

retrogession as a people 

development index in the north over the 

years is horrendous. The north is 

landlocked and depends on southern ports 

for importation. 

So tell me, how is the north better than 

the south. Today's Northern leaders are 

not bothered about developing the region. 

Most of the legacies of Sir Ahmadu Bello 

are now in ruins with no abatement from 

rhetoricians in the north who are more 

interested in self-development than 

regional good. 

And like the elite in other regions in 

Nigeria, the northern elite venture out to 

seek medical help outside our borders. The 

hospitals in the north aren't well-equipped 

for all manner of ailments. 

OPINION 

hegemony 

Many who were not raised with silver 

spoon in their mouths upon becoming 

political office-holders also embark on this 

expensive junkets (medical holiday) away 

from Nigeria, at the nation’s expense even 

at a time of dwinddling national fortune 

such as now. 

Remembering yesterday, northern 

students revered lecturers but not 

anymore like their southern counter 

parts. The forte of the student union leaders 

today is to teach "these lecturers a lesson." 

Their unionism is defined by the paroxysm 

of shouting matches. Respect for the 

elderly lecturers today is negotiated. 

Those days many a Nigerian opted to stay 

in Nigeria when they had opportunity to 

venture out like "Andrew" but not any 

longer. Northerners and Southerners all 

suffer from cultural cringes and must 

travel out when the need arises to 

participate in training overseas, even for 

courses that can be handled in-country. 

When they return, they must go after the 

jugular of north versus south seeking 

regionalistic relevance. Forgetting that 

even though Japan attacked Pearl 

Harbour both the US and Japan now are 

allies. The past is behind them. 

The black man was once called a "negro" 

in America. Then the 'negro' asked to be 

called a 'black man.' Today they are called 

'African-Americans.' Mexicans prefer to 

be called 'Hispanics' and 'Latinos'. Indian 

Americans say they are 'native 

Americans.' But in Nigeria I am called a 

"stranger" in another state and although I 

was born in that state the status quo 

remains so long as I am not a native of 

that state. This happens everywhere in 

Nigeria. 

I wish everyone knew that George Bush, 

the 41st president of the United States lay 

claim to more than one home state: the 

states of Missouri where his mother is 

from, Massachusetts where he is born, 

Ohio where his father is from and Texas 

where he lives. 

Will there ever come a day when we will 

transit to something positive? 

The problem of Nigeria cuts across all 

regions. A selfish cabal over time 

mismanaged the natural resources of the 

country. The south south for instance 

collects money from four different sources. 

The federal government, NDDC, Ministry 

of Niger Delta Affairs and state internal 

generated revenue. In spite of this, the 

state of affairs in that region is nothing to 

write about. 

When I travel to Bayelsa and see 

northerners fishing in the open waters, 

and selling same to the local people, I 

shake my head. Whatever happened to 

the capacity of the locals? 

The harsh reality is that visioners are 

few in the polity and this has contributed 

to our retrogession as a people. The north 

is worse-off and a trip there would 

reinforce the fact that the resources from 

the south hasn't developed the north as 

behemoths would want people to believe. 

Some even point to Abuja as a northern 

enclave despite its centrality to all parts 

of the country. 

* Mr. Abah, a teacher, wrote from Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2016 — 19 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

Banks’ outstanding loans rise to N13.8trn 

against sluggish deposit growth 

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor 

OUTSTANDING banking industry 

loans to the economy as at end of 

third quarter 2016 rose by N2.1 

trillion to N13.8 trillion, about 17.9 per cent 

rise against N11.7 trillion recorded in the 

corresponding period of 2015. 

The new figure is made up of loans that 

have matured but remain either unpaid, 

rolled-over or restructured, as well as new 

ones created in the period under review. 

‘FRC overbearing stance disincentive to businesses’ 


SHAREHOLDERS under the aegis of 

Independent Shareholders Association 

of Nigeria, ISAN, yesterday said that the 

overbearing position of the Financial 

Reporting Council in relation to regulation 

of financial institutions, if unchecked, is 

capable of destroying business interests in 

the country. 

They said that the Council under the 

Secretary, Jim Obazee, through various 

regulations brought to bear on companies, 

tries to elevate itself to the position of 

‘another super regulator over existing 

sectoral regulators. 

ISAN National Coordinator, Sir Sunny 

Nwosu, stated these while making the 

position of the association known on the 

new National Code of Corporate 

Governance for private sector in Lagos. The 

new code became effective on October 17, 

2016. 

According to him, there are some observed 

contradictions in the FRC Code, which are 

in direct conflict with existing laws 

governing some sectors, while the short 

period provided for compliance might 

rubbish the initiatives of the FRC and 

Reporting on selected banking 

industry statistics for the period, the 

National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 

yesterday, indicated that the 17.9 per 

cent increase of loan portfolio was 

coming against just 4.02 per cent 

growth in deposit base of the banks to 

N18.1 trillion in third quartwer of 

2016 from N17.4 trillion within the 

same period in 2015. 

The figures represent a growing 

funds mismatch, capital adequacy 

MEETING: From Left – Mrs. Elke Helen, Deputy CEO, Giessen Friedberg Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry; Dr Matthias Leder, CEO, Giessen Friedberg Chamber of Commerce and Industry; 

Chief Dr. Mrs. Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Mr 

Robert Malzachar, Head, German Law and Taxes, Giessan Friedberg Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry and Mr Joachim Muench, Advisor, Development Cooperation of Hessian CCI - 

Alliance during the Business Meeting betwwen the Giessen Friedberg Chamber of commerce, 

Germany and the LCCI at the Commerce House, yesterday. 

suggested three years transitional 

period to enable companies rationalise 

their executive directors. 

Some gray areas being contested by 

the ISAN include provision of the Code 

which allows executive directors of 

companies to be appointed board 

members of another company or 

companies. Time frame provided or 

cool off period before a former executive 

director can be appointed chairman of 

same company he served to a maximum 

of 10 years and the engagement of two 

auditing firms and the provision of the 

Code that companies shall have not less 

than five directors among others. 

He stated that all the issues were raised 

at the public hearing prior to the review 

of the Code but was ignored by the 

Council, except for the provision relating 

to chairmanship of audit committee that 

was expunged before the final draft was 

released by the FRC. 

He stressed that while shareholders are 

not in support of reckless conduct by 

management of companies, they would 

not allow the overbearing stance of the 

Council to destroy their investment in 

the capital market. Nwosu, therefore, 

stress and liquidity ratio challenges 

in the banking industry in line with 

the report of the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, for the first half of 2016 

which pointed to inadequacies in 

funding of banks’ assets mainly loan 

portfolio, with about N4.9 trillion 

funding gap recorded as at end of 

June, 2016. Reporting the funds 

maturity mismatch for the period 

ended June 2016, CBN had stated 

‘‘the industry pre-shock position 

revealed that the shorter 

end of the market less 

than or equal to 30-day 

and 31- to 90-day 

buckets was adequately 

funded. 

‘‘In the less than or 

equal to 30 day bucket, 

five banks were not 

stated that the association would 

explore every available option, 

including law suits to get the FRC 

to overturn the contentious 

provisions. 

He said: “ISAN’s categorical position 

on the Code mostly stemmed from 

the perceived negative implications 

of over regulation of the nation’s 

corporate world, particularly the 

financial industry and the noticeable 

contradictions and conflicts with the 

subsisting Companies and Allied 

Matters Act, CAMA, as amended. 

The review raised the concern by 

ISAN on the suffocating effect of the 

Code on entrepreneurial aspirations 

and initiatives of Nigerians and 

persons seeking to establish 

business in the country. This is based 

on the provision of the code that 

companies must have not less than 

five directors. This provision is seen 

by ISAN as an unnecessarily 

expansionary and costly for Micro 

Small and Medium Enterprises, 

MSMEs, noted as engine of the 

nation’s economy.” 

A 

B a n k i n g 

industry, medium 

and small bank 

groups, showed 

vulnerability to 

the most severe 

shock of 200 per 

cent rise in NPLs 

as their CAR fell 

to 8.01, 2.51 and - 

83.32 per cent 

respectively’. 

adequately funded, while in the 31- 

to 90- day bucket, nine banks had 

funding gaps. The cumulative 

position for the industry showed an 

excess of N4.9 trillion assets over 

liabilities’’. 

Also in its first half year 2016 

financial stability report the apex 

bank stated: ‘‘large banks were 

resilient to credit risk and would be 

able to sustain an impact of the most 

severe shock of a 200 per cent rise 

in non-performing loans NPLs as 

it resulted in 12.60 per cent Capital 

Adequacy Ratio, CAR, which was 

above the 10 per cent minimum 

requirement. 

‘‘However, banking industry, 

medium and small bank groups, 

showed vulnerability to the most 

severe shock of 200 per cent rise in 

NPLs as their CAR fell to 8.01, 2.51 

and -83.32 per cent respectively’’. 

The apex bank also said that large 

banks showed significant resilience 

to credit concentration risk as their 

CAR remained above 10 per cent 

under the respective shocks and 

scenarios. 

According to its report, under the 

scenario of “five biggest corporate 

obligor credit facilities shifting from 

doubtful to lost”, CARs of the 

banking industry, large, medium 

and small banks would deteriorate 

to 9.24, 13.09, 0.90 and -38.52 per 

cent, from 14.74, 15.65, 11.99 and 

3.16 per cent respectively, adding 

that under this scenario, large banks 

maintained CARs above minimum 

requirement of 10 per cent, while 

all other peered banks recorded less 

than 10 per cent CARs. 

Presenting the liquidity challenge 

CBN had said that ‘‘the result of the 

liquidity stress test it conducted 

within first half of 2016 revealed 

that after a one-day run, the 

liquidity ratio for the industry would 

decline to 30.1 per cent from the 43.0 

per cent pre-shock position, and to 

5.3 per cent after a cumulative 30- 

day run. 

It added: ‘‘A 5-day and cumulative 

30-days run on the banking industry 

would result in a liquidity shortfall 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

$162.00 0.55 

$2,697.00 1.00 

$21.15 -0.04 

$47.58 -0.56 

$45.99 -0.68 

304 304.5 305 

369.1776 369.7848 370.392 

332.12 332.6663 333.2125 

305.7735 306.2764 306.7793 

2.8848 2.8895 2.8943 

0.4881 0.4981 0.5081 

417.6291 418.316 419.0029 

44.8269 44.9011 44.9753 

81.0472 81.1805 81.3138 

416.9968 417.6827 418.3685 

CBN Exchange rate as at 2/11/2016


, 

The most important pillar you 

need to succeed is to innovate; 

, 

you need to unleash your 

creative power in times like this 

BUSINESS 

Entrepreneurs must be 

innovative, creative 

—Peterside 


ENTREPRENEURS and anybody desirous 

of starting his own business must put on 

their thinking cap and unleash their creative 

powers at this time when the country is going 

through a recession in order to continue to stay 

afloat. 

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General, Nigeria 

Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, 

NIMASA, made the proposition at the Lagos/ 

South West, University of Liverpool Alumni in 

Nigeria, 2016 Business and Career Fair, in Lagos. 

He said it is important for entrepreneurs to 

develop what he termed, ‘The You Economy”, 

rather than continue to wait for the country’s 

economy to improve before taking important 

decisions that would move their companies 

forward. He observed that remarkable progress 

are usually made in challenging times as long 

as business owners are willing to dare and step 

outside their current position. 

Speaking on the theme of the programme, 

“Staying Afloat: Strategies for Surviving and 

Thriving in Challenging Times”, he said that 

entrepreneurship involves identifying existing 

gaps with a view to fill them, creating something 

originally not in existence or improving on 

something already in existence, while insisting 

that those innovations must also be relevant to 

the market need. He emphasized the need for 

entrepreneurs to originate their own ideas. 

Most important 

pillar 

Dakuku argued that money is not the most 

important tool required by entrepreneurs to 

succeed, but rather a well thought out plan and 

detailed execution of the plan. He said: “The most 

important pillar you need to succeed is to 

innovate; you need to unleash your creative power 

in times like this. 

Innovation is, in itself, the key to unlocking your 

potentials in times of depression if you truly want 

to maximize or optimize opportunities in times 

like this. It is good to be an employer of labour, 

but you cannot be an employer of labour if you 

are not offering service and if you are not offering 

service, then, there is no reason to be an employer 

of labour. There must be something you are 

addressing. 

You must have entrepreneurial capacity and 

you must be addressing a need, if not, you cannot 

be said to be an entrepreneur. At best, you are a 

trader. You must have your personal plan; you 

must have your financial plan, an investment plan 

and growth plan, including investing in 

advancing yourself and you must be mentally 

ready to follow through with your plan. You must 

retool yourself to be mentally alert to execute your 

plan,” Peterside added. 

To innovate, he said there is need for 

entrepreneurs to study their environment, the 

marketplace and build the network necessary to 

leverage on opportunities. 

In her welcome address, Mrs. Joy Duncan, 

Coordinator, Lagos/South West, University of 

Liverpool Alumni in Nigeria, said the programme 

is an annual event that offers members 

opportunity to continuously learn in an informal 

environment. 

Speaking on the theme, she said they ensure 

that their themes align with the current economic 

realities to prepare members to take advantage 

of opportunity presented by every situation. 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT: 

Tony Elumelu Foundation draws government, 

institutional support 

•Microsoft commits $300m, AfDB, ECOWAS, others too 

By Yinka Kolawole 

THE effort of the Tony Elumelu 

Foundation (TEF) to develop and 

empower young entrepreneurs from 

across African countries has received a 

huge boost with the Foundation 

attracting the support of regional 

institutions and private organisations. 

Chairman/Founder of TEF, Mr. Tony 

Elumelu disclosed this last weekend, in 

Lagos, at the 2 nd annual TEF 

Entrepreneurship Forum, a gathering of 

about 1,000 young men and women 

STARTING a business is a bit 

like falling in love for the 

first time: it’s exciting, 

exhilarating, and new. You want 

to savour each moment and be your 

very best every minute of every 

day. 

After the adrenaline rush 

subsides, however, reality sets in 

and you may discover that not 

everything about running a 

business is so wonderful. There 

will be tasks you don’t like to do, 

activities you find stale 

and boring, technical difficulties 

to test your patience, and clients 

and vendors who might challenge 

you. Here are some tips for falling 

in love again with your small 

business. 

Delegate tasks 

If they really don’t need your 

personal attention or expertise, 

consider handing them over to 

someone who is perfectly capable 

entrepreneurs drawn from 54 African 

countries. 

The Forum celebrates the 2016 cohort of 

Elumelu Entrepreneurs, selected from over 

45,000 applicants. It is the annual highlight 

of the Tony 

Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) 

and saw the presence of leading policy 

makers and business leaders from across 

Africa, giving their support to the 

Foundation and its promise to identify, train, 

mentor and seed 1,000 entrepreneurs in 

a decade-long $100 

million commitment. Following the Forum, 

FORUM - From left: Former Prime Minister of Benin Republic, Lionel 

Zinsou; former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria; President Ernest 

Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone; Mr. Tony Elumelu, Founder of Tony Elumelu 

Foundation; Mrs. Awele Elumelu, CEO Avon Medical; Mrs. Folorunsho 

Alakija, Vice Chair of Famfa Oil; and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of 

Information, Tourism and Culture, at the 2nd Annual Tony Elumelu 

Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos. 

How to love your business again 

of tending to them. So, if entering 

expenses in your accounting software 

or proofreading proposals drags you 

down, lighten up by giving the 

responsibility to an employee or 

virtual assistant. 

Streamline processes 

Take an objective look at how you’re 

managing your employees, producing 

your products and services, and 

running your business overall to 

identify where your productivity hits 

roadblocks. Then, brainstorm with 

your team to discover tactics and tools 

that can improve workflow and yield 

better results. 

Evaluating 

plans 

Business owners need to set time 

aside not only to do the work, but also 

to plan. No matter how small or large 

your business, you need to consider the 

big picture, identify goals and 

each entrepreneur is eligible to 

receive up to $10,000 to implement 

their business plan. 

Specifically, Elumelu acknowledged 

the support of both Nigerian and 

Ivorian governments, ECOWAS, the 

International Trade Centre (ITC) in 

Geneva, and Microsoft which has 

committed $300 million worth of 

business software to help TEF 

entrepreneurs manage their 

businesses. 

“In addition to our advocacy and 

research, the Foundation has thrown 

out a challenge to all stakeholders - 

from the public sector to the private 

sector, to civil society, multilateral 

organisations and individualsinvested 

in Africa’s economic 

development. 

Enabling 

environment 

The challenge is to tell us how to take 

action to support African entrepreneurs 

and improve the enabling environment 

for entrepreneurs to succeed. And, I 

am delighted to inform you that we are 

off to a great start. 

The Nigerian government has 

accepted the TEF Challenge and 

committed to working with us to 

improve the enabling environment for 

entrepreneurs in the much-neglected, 

yet growing, creative industries; the 

government of Cote D’Ivoire has 

adopted the TEF model to identify, 

train mentor and seed thousands more 

aspiring Ivorien entrepreneurs; 

objectives, and create a roadmap to 

guide you toward success. Schedule 

time on your calendar, at least weekly, 

to review your master plan and check 

your progress toward achieving your 

goals. 

Join networking group 

Socializing face to face with 

inspiring entrepreneurs and 

professionals always motivates me. 

Energy and enthusiasm are truly 

contagious. Get out there to mix, 

mingle, and revive your business 

drive and determination. 

Find new opportunities 

Look for ways to expand upon your 

business offerings and enter new 

markets. And add new team members 

or promote my existing staff to higher 

positions. New opportunities, 

whether you’re on the receiving or 

giving end, can recharge your 

batteries like nothing else. 

*Culled from AllBusiness.com


& YOU 

, 

As a result of dwelling 

on positive thinking, 

organisation performances 

have been impacted 

negatively 

, 

ECOWAS will partner with the 

Foundation to develop a regional 

strategy to promote entrepreneurship 

and Africapitalism in the West Africa 

region; the International Trade 

Center in Geneva and the Nigerian 

Export Promotion Council (NEPC) 

will work with us to achieve their goal 

of helping to connect one million 

female entrepreneurs to global 

markets; Coca-Cola is doing 

something similar with women on 

the private sector side by 

incorporating a million women into 

their global supply chain; General 

Electric is providing skills 

development for African SMEs; and 

Microsoft is providing a whopping 

$300 million worth of business 

software to help the TEF 

entrepreneurs manage their 

There are 

many more 

things 

stakeholders 

can do to 

support 

entrepreneurs 

and improve 

the enabling 

environment 

businesses in a systematic and 

sustainable way.” 

Elumelu promised to continue to 

challenge all stakeholders to do more 

to develop entrepreneurship in 

Africa.He gave examples of the kinds 

of commitments the Foundation 

hopes to secure in the coming years. 

These, according to him, include: 

Large corporates, philanthropies 

and high networth individuals 

stepping up to help fund some of 

the great ideas that TEF and other 

organisations are not able to finance; 

Governments to take measures to 

increase the ease of business 

incorporation; To provide tax relief, 

incentive and singular collection 

points for federal, state and local 

business taxes; and for any of the 

stakeholders to set up or invest in 

SME industrial parks and incubators 

across Africa. 

“For example, through CC-Hub, 

TEF provided seed capital of $5,000 

each to 20 Nigerian start-ups, several 

of which have grown to national and 

international acclaim. In fact, CC- 

Hub has grown to attract the attention 

of legendary Mark Zuckerburg, the 

creator of Facebook. But TEF saw 

their potential much earlier and more 

of these types of gems should be 

given, not a handout but a hand up 

to unleash their potential to grow, 

scale and transform large segments 

of society with new jobs, new 

innovations and help to create the new 

narrative of Africa. There are many more 

things stakeholders can do to support 

entrepreneurs and improve the 

enabling environment,” he stated. 

Elumelu said the Foundation’s 

ambition is for the selected 

entrepreneurs to become ambassadors 

for entrepreneurship in Africa, 

describing them as “a generation of 

wealth creators, who share our 

commitment to the economic and social 

transformation of Africa.” He also 

shared the testimony of 

Momarr Mass Taal, the CEO 

of Tropingo Foods, who has turned his 

first $5,000 seed capital received from 

the Foundation last year, into a $1.2 

million revenue business. ”I want many 

more of these,” he added. 

In his remark, President Ernest Bai 

Koroma of Sierra Leone hailed the TEF 

programme as “a genuinely innovative 

approach to philanthropy in Africa – 

an African offering African 

solutions. What is unique about this 

programme is that it not only provides 

a platform for entrepreneurs to build 

connections, but they are also being 

taught how to build their businesses in 

a sustainable way.” 

The TEF forum also featured a highlevel 

panel dedicated to identifying 

policies to strengthen the enabling 

environment 

for 

entrepreneurs, moderated by BBC 

anchor, Lerato Mbele, with panellists 

including President Ernest Bai Koroma 

of Sierra Leone; Nigeria’s former 

President Olusegun Obasanjo; former 

Prime Minister of Benin Republic, 

Lionel Zinsou; Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

Minister of Information, Tourism and 

Culture and; Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, 

Vice Chair of Famfa Oil. 

Resilience and 

doggedness 

In her contribution, Alakija 

congratulated the entrepreneurs, 

praised TEF’s focus on 

entrepreneurship and shared 

her own personal story of 

perseverance to demonstrate the 

entrepreneurs need for resilience and 

doggedness. Obasanjo emphasized 

patience to the young entrepreneurs. 

In his words, “For strength in life you 

need a bit of adversity.” 

He also called on the Nigerian 

government to implement policies that 

encourage investors and entrepreneurs 

to do business in Nigeria. Former Prime 

Minister of Benin, Lionel Zinsou, 

commended the Tony Elumelu 

Foundation, stating “What Tony 

Elumelu is doing is the exception, not 

the norm.” 

Other speakers at the event included 

Clare Akamanzi, Representative of 

President Kagame of Rwanda, 

Kennedy Uzoka, Group CEO 

of the United Bank for 

Africa Plc (UBA), Minister of Solid 

Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Mr. 

Segun Awolowo, CEO of Nigerian 

Export Promotion Council, amongst 

others. 

Positive thinking no longer enough for 

organisation's growth 

“Embracing vulnerability is your path to 

wholeness”…Rosalene Glickman 

WITH the current realities and 

business uncertainties, what brings 

about success in your organisation today 

might not bring the same success tomorrow. 

An idea, thought, or belief that we have 

been used to in the time past and that has 

worked may not work for us in the same 

manner it did in the time past. But that does 

not mean that those ideas or beliefs that 

worked in the time past are not necessary, 

they may still be necessary, but are not 

sufficient for today’s world. They could be 

parts of the ingredients needed for success 

in your organisation, but are not sufficient 

ingredients. In a bid to improve our 

individual performances, we have been 

introduced to positive thinking. We have 

been thought amongst other things to be 

positive and things will be okay, avoid 

negativity, always alienate ourselves from 

any negative thoughts or feelings, and 

always believe that situations 

will improve over time. A very 

pertinent question to ask 

ourselves is: can our 

organisational problems simply 

varnish because we have 

positive thinking mindset? Is 

positive thinking enough in this 

ever changing and turbulent 

world? 

on positive 

thinking as a 

magical way 

to achieve 

result in this 

e v e r 

changing 

business 

world could 

only do more 

harm to 

organisations 

than good. 

It is 

totally 

impossible 

to grow 

any 

organisation 

by mere 

wishful 

thinking 

Positive 

thinking 

For years, the motto of the 

productive world has been 

“Think Positive.” 

Even countries are not left out, with or without 

clear cut game plans, they are always positive 

that challenges like terrorism, unemployment, 

unfavourable economic situations etc will one 

day become things of the past. The reality is 

that without being definite of what to do whether 

as a country or an organisation challenges and 

issues will continue to rear its ugly head. I 

remembered speaking to a young entrepreneur 

who was having serious challenges driving 

sustainable business. 

During our meeting, my first question to him 

was: what do you think will happen to your 

business given the current situation? He quietly 

answered, “I am positive that things will 

improve in the future”. Having said that, I 

quickly asked him; do you have clear cut 

strategies of what to do? His answer clearly 

showed that he has left the success of business 

to chance or fate. 

In another situation, a senior person in an 

organisation (in my presence) has also told his 

subordinate who had some official challenges 

and required a superior input to “just be 

positive” that with time everything will be okay. 

Off course, I quickly advised him to call back 

that his subordinate (who had trust in him) and 

proffer step by step solutions and never pretend 

there was no problem. 

The truth is that it is totally impossible to grow 

any organisation by mere wishful thinking or 

by being positive without having a strong 

desire to commit plans to actions. So, are we 

saying that positive thinking is not necessary 

in this age and time? No, positive thinking is 

valuable, and useful, however dwelling only 

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE 

The belief of most organisation is that positive 

thinking is always in there best interest, but that 

is not always the case. We have been thought to 

always see the brighter side of the business alone 

and most of the times, we ignore the treats and 

the warning signals for optimisation. Martin 

Seligman, who wrote Learned Optimism said, if 

the cost of failure is high optimism is the wrong 

strategy. As a result of dwelling alone on positive 

thinking, organisation performances 

have been impacted negatively; bad 

debt has increased and the road map 

to organisational success has been 

reduced to mere wishful thinking or 

“business as usual”. 

We all remembered when 

foreclosures were off the charts in 

America. What did you think that 

happened? Many people bought 

homes when they did not have the 

money to pay for them. They 

suppressed their doubts and 

concerns, and eventually were hit 

with foreclosure. In addition, the 

global financial crisis that we had 

came as a result of questionable strategies that 

were used by some Wall Street executives. 

Those that questioned the workability of those 

strategies and who also expressed doubt were 

labeled negative thinkers. Indeed, positive 

thinking has not been enough. The world and 

indeed the business world require a more 

realistic style of thinking that empowers 

individuals and organisations to be their best 

and at the end deliver targeted results. 

In most organisations, positive thinking is 

often used to suppress negativity. Why do I 

say so? Because many positive thinkers often 

judge, suppress, and ignore negativity. What 

they want to hear alone is good news, and as a 

result they distance themselves from any 

negative thoughts, events or actions that are 

likely to ruin their organisations. They often 

do not pay attention to the red flags. 

Like, Dr Rosalene Glickman will say: by 

alienating themselves from negativity, they 

sacrifice authenticity, vulnerability, wholeness 

and intimacy. Secondly, it is often no more than 

wishful thinking. It is a mere wishful thinking 

when an organisation announces that they 

want to make $10 million in six months without 

having clear cut strategies. 

Believe me, a lot of organizations engage in 

this kind of false expectations all in a bid to 

sound positive. Thirdly Positive Thinking has 

different shades. There are extraordinary 

positive thinkers and mediocre (moderate) 

positive thinkers. Communications between 

positive thinkers on different levels is often 

problematic. 

Email: uju.onwuzulike@mclgroup.net 

C 

M 

YK

22 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 

Nestav and campaigns that changed flying 

experience 

AT a time when about 47 

airlines have closed shop 

in Nigeria in the last 30 years as 

a result of harsh operating 

environment,Nesto Aviation 

Services Limited, Nestav, a 

charter service airline is taking 

steps to ameliorate the situation. 

However, industry operators 

had argued that there has been 

no remarkable change in the way 

government agencies in the 

aviation sector push out policies. 

That however has not changed 

the way airlines connect and 

engage with ever more 

experienced, connected, and 

informed consumers, who 

routinely ignore the 

commercials thrown at them. 

Marketing 

activities 

Airlines are today becoming 

more sophisticated in their 

marketing activities, and are 

finding new ways to break 

through the market. 

As such, passengers are 

witnessing the birth of many 

creative campaigns from airlines, 

be it experiential, social, mobile, 

digital or traditional media 

initiatives. 

Thus, booking a seat on these 

lines is becoming as easy as 

ordering a movie from Netflix. 

A number of companies are 

trying to be the Uber of 

THE Rivers State Signage 

and Advertisement 

Agency, RISAA, has threatened 

to pull down advertisement 

billboards of outdoor 

practitioners if they fail to register 

their firms by end of November 

2016. 

According to the Acting 

Managing Director of RISSA, 

Chukwudi Dimkpa, “every 

outdoor structure owned by an 

operator (Corporate or noncorporate 

entity) must be 

registered by its owner. Such 

owner shall provide his 

registration number as a 

reference with application for a 

Stories by Princewill Ekwujuru 

chartered planes by letting fliers 

book a flight with the tap of an 

app. 

Today, Nestav is throwing its 

catch phrase at customers, 

safety, comfort and style as a 

starting for getting a large chunk 

of the market. 

According to the Managing 

Director of Nestav, Dr. 

Chukwueloka Umeh, “flying with 

us offers you access to the 

services of some of the best 

crews in the Nigerian Aviation 

industry.” 

“From our team of pilots, cabin 

attendants to ground crew, the 

quest to provide you with your 

desired travel experience is their 

ultimate goal, because our team 

Harcourt and Lagos, and 

passenger pick-up services. 

“Our fixed and rotary wings 

charter services are dedicated to 

providing customers first –rate 

air travel experience.” 

As the Managing Director 

clearly stated, “the company 

provides air transportation to 

clients within and outside the 

shores of Nigeria, and makes 

traveling memorable through 

the exceptional experience that 

we provide on our fleet of 

luxurious jets and helicopters.” 

It is obvious the aviation 

RISAA threatens outdoor firms over registration 

CHIEF Executive Officer / Managing 

Director Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, 

has called on advertising practitioners to pay close 

attention to digital advertising. Ogunsanya, who 

was speaking at the 2016 Advertisers 

Association of Nigeria, ADVAN Awards for 

marketing excellence in Lagos, said that with the 

ubiquitous nature of mobile devices, digital 

advertising is the future of advertising. 

According to him, there are over five billion 

people with access to mobile phones; hence, a 

mobile device remains the easiest way to connect 

with people, especially the youths who are the 

leaders of tomorrow. He noted that Millennials 

are looking at many different screens for 

In the face of new 

campaigns 

worldwide at 

airports, they 

offer a massive 

opportunity for 

advertising 

especially for 

premium brands 

is focused on providing 

remarkable service and care for 

our esteemed clients.” “With 

operational bases in Port 

permit.” 

He further stated that any 

unregistered structure will be 

classified as illegal and shall 

be removed after a notice on 

the structure and for a period 

not exceeding in the first 

instance 15 days and after 15 

days which makes it a total of 

30 days in all. 

He further warned that the 

cost of removing such 

structures shall be borne by the 

offending outdoor operator, 

and the dismantled offending 

structure impounded until, all 

cost incurred by the Agency are 

paid up, including a demurrage 

that begins to count five 

working days after the structure 

is removed by the Agency. 

In addition, he said in a 

statement that by the 

provisions of the law 

establishing the Agency, “it 

is unlawful for any person or 

group to erect, construct, 

enlarge or structurally modify 

any outdoor structure or 

operate any structure for 

signage development without 

being registered by the 

Agency.” Owners and 

operators of existing 

structures shall obtain, 

complete and submit the 

prescribed registration form. 

Airtel’s CEO, urges Ad Practitioners to focus on digital advertising 

COMMISSIONING: From Left: Amb. Fidel Ayogu, Commissioner 

for Environment and Mineral Resources, Enugu State; Mrs. Folasade 

Morgan, Director, Legal, Public Affairs and Communications, Nigerian 

Bottling Company Limited (NBC) and His Royal Highness, Igwe Tom 

Inyiama, Traditional Ruler of Ogwofia Owa Community, Enugu state, 

at the Inauguration ceremony of the ultra-modern town hall built by 

NBC for the community. 

advertising. They are now concentrating on digital 

media, and advertising has to move to the digital 

space. We, the clients, can no longer rely on 

strategies counting on users to just watch our 

messages on TV or listen on radio anymore. Nor 

can we be so sure that consumers will watch a prime 

time show at prime time, or in their homes, or out 

of work hours, he said. 

While speaking on what brands should do 

differently, the Airtel CEO urged advertising 

practitioners to ensure that engagement with 

targeted audience is personal and relevant just 

as he noted that brands must always adopt a two 

way communication (conversation) with their 

target audience so as to get feedback. 

industry is going to witness a new 

way of flying without blemish,” 

he said. 

“As an innovative airtransport 

company that offers 

charter services to individuals 

and companies who seek safety, 

luxury and comfort in their 

travel experience, our fleet of 

luxurious VIP jets, VIP 

helicopters and utility 

helicopters are equipped with 

state-of-the –art facilities and are 

very well maintained up to the 

highest international standards,” 

Umeh assured. 

However, in the face of new 

campaigns worldwide at 

airports, they offer a massive 

opportunity for advertising 

especially for premium 

brands. At the airport, the 

audience is at its attentive best, 

as approximately 60 percent of 

airport travellers are important 

decision makers in the public 

and private sectors. 

They are part of a larger social 

network where certain goods 

and services are advertised. 

At the airport, waiting can be 

both a must and a pleasure and 

therefore an ideal situation for 

communicating through 

advertising. 

That is why for example in 

2014, KLM took its social mediabased 

customer service to 

another level with a bold 

campaign 

called 

#HappyToHelp. During five 

days, a dedicated team scanned 

social media for any passenger 

facing travel woes throughout 

the world, and responded with 

real-time answers and support. 

In another campaign in 2015, 

KLM Flight Funding 

demonstrated the brilliant use of 

its own social media fans to raise 

funds for a Dutch lady to fly to 

Canada to visit her grandkids. 

Not only was the idea simple and 

remarkable, so was the 

implementation when it all 

played live on YouTube 

BRIEFS 

Stanbic IBTC, CBN, 

NCC to speak at 

mobile money 

conference 

By Favour Ikede 

AS part of efforts to educate 

Nigerians on the need to 

further embrace the use of 

mobile money in the country, 

Stanbic IBTC, CBN and NCC are 

to speak at the 2016 conference 

of brand Journalists. 

The 2016 conference themed, 

‘’Mobile Money in Nigeria: 

Challenges, Opportunities and 

Threats” will feature seasoned 

experts from the banking and 

telecoms sectors to proffer 

solutions to the challenges and 

opportunities in the use of mobile 

money payment solution. 

The conference holds 

between November 3 and 5 in 

Lagos. Speaking on the 

conference, its co-ordinator, Mr. 

Goddie Ofose, said the annual 

conference is specifically 

designed to address issues 

surrounding the effective use of 

mobile money in the country and 

to educate Nigerians on the need 

for mobile money adoption. 

Mobile money in other parts of 

the world has become widely 

accepted, especially in Kenya led 

by Safaricom, the country’s largest 

mobile-network operator which 

provides platform for mobile 

phones transactions without any 

need to handle cash. 

“The conference will address the 

challenges that are affecting the 

effective use of the platform in 

Nigeria and also provide 

extensive discussion to find lasting 

solution to better ways of using 

mobile money in the country”, he 

said. 

Chivita ends social 

media campaign 

CHIVITA 100% fruit Juice 

from the stable of Chi 

Limited has ended its social 

media promo. 

The promo tagged, ‘My 100% 

Achievement,’ was what the 

brand required to consolidates 

its affinity with consumers 

across the digital space as it 

highlighted the essential 

elements of success and 

leadership. 

The promo further reiterates 

the brand’s understanding of 

the Nigerian consumer who 

wants to associate with the best 

there is, the company said. 

The company’s Head of 

Marketing, Probal 

Bhattacharya commended the 

winners of the Promo for 

participating in the contest. 

He stated, “as we continue 

to develop creative ways of 

engaging consumers via our 

various social media platforms, 

it is our belief that they would 

continue to explore the amazing 

quality and benefits of Chivita 

100%. As they strive to achieve 

success or reach memorable 

milestones in their lives, our 

consumers deserve the best in 

fruit juice and Chivita 100% 

gives the best at all times.”


Labour, Obasanjo, 

activists celebrate 

40 years of FES 

operations in Nigeria 

By Victor Ahiuma-Young 

IF there is any organization 

within and outside Nigeria 

that has remained unrivalled in 

the empowerment of workers 

especially in the area of 

education and social justice, it 

is Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES. 

Little wonder labour leaders, 

civil society activists, academics 

among other stakeholders at the 

40 years anniversary of FES 

operation in Nigeria, reeled out 

how the foundation impacted 

positively on the lives of the 

citizens. 

Among the guests were 

former Nigerian President, 

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. 

Ayuba Wabba, factional 

President of Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, Dr. Frank- 

Walter Steinmeier, Minister of 

Foreign Affairs of the Federal 

Republic of Germany, and Mr. 

Kurt Beck, President of FES. 

Political role of 

trade unions 

Officials of NLC, Trade Union 

Congress of Nigeria, TUC, 

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and 

Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG, National Union of 

Electricity Employees, NUEE, 

National Union of Textile, 

Garment and Tailoring Workers 

of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, 

Federation of Informal Workers 

of Nigeria, FIWON, United 

Action for Democracy, UAD, 

among others were also in 

attendance. 

FES began its works in 

Nigeria in 1976 and has been 

collaborating with human rights 

and pro-democracy groups, the 

labour movement, researchers 

and many civil society 

o r g a n i z a t i o n s , 

parliamentarians, among 

others. It cooperates with and 

supports the Nigerian Labour 

Congress, NLC, and the Trade 

Union Congress of Nigeria, 

TUC. 

While labour rights issues are 

central to this project area the 

political role of trade unions and 

the labour movement in Nigeria 

are also addressed. 

Welcoming guests, Michael 

roll, Resident Representative, 

FES Nigeria, recalled the 

history of FES in Nigeria and 

the achievements, and assured 

that the oganisation would 

continue to impact positively 

on Nigeria 

On his part, President of FES, 

Kurt Beck, recalled the peace 

award presented to President 

Olusegun Obasanjo in 1996, 

when he was in prison during 

the military dictatorship and 

expressed happiness over the 

level of democracy that Nigeria 

had attained, saying it was 

worth celebration. 

Nigeria, German 

relationship: According to 

him, “Nigeria has become very 

important not because of her 

over 160 million population, but 

because she is strategically 

located in Africa”, stressing that 

the success of 2015 general 

elections in Nigeria was not a 

small achievement. 

He called for expansion of 

the diplomatic ties between 

Nigeria and Germany for the 

growth and development of 

both countries, saying FES was 

ready to assist Nigeria to fight 

the current recession, adding 

that FES would continue to fight 

for the poor, the elderly and 

For me and 

for labour 

movement, it is 

one opportunity 

that we must 

continue to 

celebrate how FES 

has supported the 

working class and 

also provided 

funds to educate 

our rank and file 

other vulnerable members of 

the society. 

Speaking, Steinmeier, 

declared that Nigeria had a lot 

to celebrate for including her 

youths, but insisted that she 

had a long way to go in terms 

of development, saying “FES 

has been doing its best to assist 

Nigeria. FES has impacted on 

Nigeria positively including 

Trade Unions.” 

According to him, there were 

many Nigerians living in 

ANNIVERSARY: Mr. Kurt Beck, President of FES, Michael roll, 

Resident Representative, FES Nigeria, former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Foreign Affairs 

of the Federal Republic of Germany, at the event. 

Germany, stressing that 

Nigeria and Germany needed 

to collaborate and work 

together to address the 

challenges of migration. 

The Minister equally noted 

that Nigeria was Germany's 

most trading partner in Africa 

and adding that both countries 

needed cooperation at all levels 

including civil societies, not 

only at government levels. 

Golden interaction: On 

his part, Chief Obasanjo who 

was the guest of honour, while 

congratulating FES for its 40 

years of golden and successful 

activities and interaction of 

FES in Nigeria, said the 

relationship between Nigeria 

and Germany had gone on 

since the independence of 

Nigeria and had gone very well 

in the interest of both 

countries, noting that 

Nigerians felt extremely proud 

of her relationship with 

Germany. 

Obasanjo said: “For me and 

my family, we will be eternally 

grateful to FES. When for doing 

nothing wrong, I was arrested 

and put in jail. I would have 

been forgotten in jail if not for 

organizations like FES who 

maintained their campaigns for 

my release from jail. 

Support for 

workers’ education 

What FES did was that while 

I was in jail, I was awarded the 

prize of the FES of Human 

Right and my late wife went to 

receive that prize on my behalf. 

It of course made an impact 

because as a result of such 

activities that I was able to be 

released from prison.” 

He added that his relationship 

with friends and colleagues in 

Germany has gone many years 

through his life including his 

friendship with former German 

Chancellor Helmut Heinrich 

Waldemar Schmidt who he 

shared many years of 

friendship, saying that 

“relationship that we have 

developed between Nigeria 

and Germany, between FES 

and 

Nigeria, 

between individual 

organisations, corporate 

organizations and Nigeria, 

between individual Germans 

and 

individual 

Nigerians must continue to be 

cherished and to be 

expanded.” 

Speaking to Vanguard on the 

activities of FES in Nigeria 

during the past 40 years, Wabba 

said: “It has done extremely well 

especially in terms of workers 

education. If you know the 

history of FES, it is about a 

worker who later became the 

Ngige assures workers of 

enhanced protection 

MINISTER of Labour 

and Employment 

Senator Chris Nwabueze 

Ngige, has assured Nigerians 

of the commitment of President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

continue to protect workers at 

workplaces. 

The minister who was 

represented by the Permanent 

Secretary, Federal Ministry of 

Labour and Employment, Dr. 

Clement Illoh, gave this 

assurance while declaring open 

the Validation Workshop for 

Diving, Pressure Vessels and 

Lifting Equipment regulations. 

The minister said, ''technology 

and development come with 

various risks on the human 

wellbeing. The ever changing 

President of 

G e r m a n y 

through diligent 

and hard work. 

You can see the 

passion where 

FES priority is 

how educate 

workers and 

citizens about 

issues social 

justice, politics 

and how issues of 

inclusiveness will 

be able to drive 

the process of 

development. 

For me and for 

labour movement, 

it is one 

opportunity that 

we must continue 

to celebrate how 

FES has 

supported the 

working class and 

also provided 

funds to educate 

our rank and file. 

You are aware that 

part of the 

successes of 

Harmattan and Rain Schools is 

based on the support from FES 

and we have also have a lot of 

programmes together that FES 

has provided support. 

“But I think that the social 

dimension of its support is what 

is important because in most 

other supports coming from 

other countries, they try to tie 

those supports to their issues 

and interests. In the case of 

FES, it is open ended where 

you drive the process, FES 

provides the fund and at the 

end of the day, what it wants is 

to ensure that the objective is 

achieved. So, for me, I think that 

is quite different from what we 

see as foreign grant from other 

countries. We must continue to 

celebrate FES and continue to 

encourage it because it has 

done extremely well and we 

congratulate the foundation on 

its 40th anniversary. 

world of work requires effective 

and up to date intervention for 

a preventative safety and health 

culture. Therefore, the need for 

subsidiary legislations to 

address contemporary 

challenges of safety and health 

at work places is imperative.” 

He stressed the benefits of the 

regulation which includes 

provision of a close guide for 

stakeholders’ compliance with 

relevant provisions of the 

Factories Act for safe work 

environment and processes, 

provision of more details and 

guide for the safe operations of 

divers which will provide 

reduction in incidents and their 

consequences at work places


Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMEBR 3, 2016 — 25 

Continues on page 26 

Continues on page 27

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMEBR 3, 2016 

Nigerian woman 

selected as ‘top 

tech woman’ by top 

global company 


transformation Mentoring is a 

critical part of our talent strategy 

and allows us to fully embrace the 

unique styles, experiences, 

identities, ideas and opinions of 

all our associates”. 

Stressing that there are so 

many women in technology and 

throughout the world, whose 

stories we’ve not yet heard, she 

says the programme offers a place 

to share our stories experiences, 

failures and successes. 

“It provides real-life examples 

of women who are changing the 

world and empowering future 

female technologists to aim 

higher and go further. There has 

never been a more exciting time 

to be a woman in tech. Get ready 

to be inspired,” he said. 

Describing the events which 

shaped her character, Umesiri 

recants to Woman’s Own about 

incidences and experiences here 

in Nigeria. 

”When you’re a woman 

behind the wheel, people will 

drive you off the lane. When I was 

learning how to drive, I 

remember this situation where 

somebody wanted to cut me off. 

My dad turned and shouted at 

me, ‘Don’t shift. You have the 

right of way. If you shift, you may 

run yourself off the road.’ 

Biggest 

lessons 

“I have seen that to be true. 

Stay focused. I make sure that I 

am not rattled, that I don’t do 

damage to myself by being 

reactive. That’s one of the biggest 

lessons,” he said. 

She said being an immigrant 

meant she had to work extra 

hard. “There are more 

opportunities for women today 

than in my mother’s time. I ask 

myself, ‘Am I taking full 

advantage of opportunities that 

exist? Am I creating opportunities 

for others? The way I see it is that 

opportunities in life are like 

planting a tree: every time you 

cut one down, you should plant 

one. Because of this, I try to 

invest time in others and 

encourage them to take 

advantage of opportunities that 

those who went before us labored 

for,” he said. 

In addition to being a 

technologist, Umesiri is an 

entrepreneur, having started up 

two companies and also leads the 

company’s Working Mother 

Community called CareerMom. 

She supports Africans in the 

Diaspora events focused on 

closing trade gaps between the 

U.S. and Africa and creating 

market access that leads to job 

creation and poverty alleviation. 

—Fitness Coach, Kwavi Agbeyegbe 

Kwavi Agbeyegbe is a reputable Dietician and a weight loss expert/lifestyle 

coach; as well as being a wife. She graduated with a degree in Information 

and Technology at the University of West London and went further to obtain a 

Master’s in Medical Informatics at a University in Boston, USA. Today, she 

has gained a reputation in the US for having helped a lot of people stay 

healthy and in shape. In this interview, she talks about her upcoming project 

in Nigeria tagged, “the campaign” #MiraclesForMirable. MiraclesForMirable 

is a Project for rape victims who do not have anyone to solicit for their cause 

in Nigeria and is slated for November 12th, 2016. 

Read on... 

By Florence Amagiya 

YOU are in the health and 

fitness business, how have 

you fared so far? 

Health and Fitness is a passion of 

mine. The business has its ups and 

downs with more ups than downs, 

however it’s so fulfilling and I love 

the opportunity to help women find a 

way to live a healthy life that fits their 

schedule and lifestyle. 

What additional thing do you 

wish to add to this craft and love 

if given the opportunity? 

I would love to speak to young girls 

so that they can start from an early 

age to love and respect their bodies 

and learn healthy habits. 

You have taken this passion to 

the US, do you wish that Africans 

-perhaps Nigerians- have a taste 

of your method in the nearest 

future? 

In the past, I have had online clients 

across Africa, however face-to-face 

interactions with clients is so 

powerful. My goal is to offer more live 

events and wellness coaching 

programs to women in Nigeria and 

other countries in Africa utilizing a 

combination of face-to-face and online 

methods. 

Tell us about your hatched 

plans for the African woman/ 

Youth and girl child using 

Nigerians as a case study. 

My plan is to be able to create 

programs that allow trained personnel 

to speak to students at the secondary school 

level making them aware of sexual assault/rape 

and empowering them to realize that they are 

•Kwavi Agbeyegbe 

not to blame and there is no 

shame. 

As well as encouraging them 

to speak up if it happens to them 

or someone they know, 

especially in our Nigerian 

environment. Right now it is 

difficult to tell how many people 

experience rape or attempted 

rape in their lifetime, or how 

many rape survivors do not 

report the crime to law 

enforcement. 

What support are you 

looking at from the 

Government, bearing in 

mind that nothing like this 

It is 

difficult to 

tell how 

many people 

experience 

rape or 

attempted 

rape in their 

lifetime 

has ever been done or 

achieved in Nigeria? 

I would like to advocate for 

the collaboration between the 

law enforcement and judicial 

systems, so that laws cannot just 

be created but enforced. In this 

way, that those that are found

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMEBR 3, 2016 —27 

to be guilty of sexual 

assault or sexual 

violence towards any 

individual will be 

held accountable. 

These laws should be 

National, and apply 

to all states of the 

country.( I would 

also like the 

government to look 

into creating specific 

laws that apply to 

those that are found 

guilty of sexual 

assault or rape of 

minors (anyone 

under the age of 18) 

So far, you have 

been successful in 

all your set 

Projects with 

great testimonies 

from women all 

around the world, 

especially in the 

US; would you 

say you have what 

it takes to push 

this latest project 

of yours to the 

peak, bearing in 

mind the 

challenges you 

would encounter 

in this country? 

I’m very aware of the 

challenges ahead. However I 

believe that taking steps, small 

or otherwise is what will help 

the mindset around sexual 

assault and rape. 

Awareness creates change, 

you tell one person, they tell 

another, using social media and 

other methods and before you 

know it a movement has been 

created. 

Sexual assault 

and rape dialogue 

Everyone has a vested interest 

in the sexual assault and rape 

dialogue. Everyone has one or 

more of the following – a 

mother, grandmother, daughter, 

sister, wife, aunt, female friends. 

I can’t do this alone. 

How would this project 

benefit the public in 

general? 

#MiraclesForMirable 

benefits all in various ways from 

awareness to education. The 

Kwavithon 5K event provides 

the platform to bring awareness 

of the prevalence of rape in our 

community and opens up the 

conversation on what we can do 

to reduce the incidence of rape 

in our society. 

It could start with more 

respect for these women, not 

creating a climate that 

encourages sexual assault, and 

also making it easier for them 

to identify and speak up about 

their aggressors. 

Where do you see this 

project in Nigeria in the 

next 10 years? 

On a national level with 

events being held in various 

states to bring awareness to the 

subject of rape and sexual 

assault as well as more severe 

consequences for those found 

Health and 

wellness also 

includes mental 

health, and 

many victims of 

sexual assault 

end up being 

adversely 

affected in 

different ways if 

they do not 

receive the 

support and 

emotional 

encouragement 

they deserve 

guilty of rape or sexual assault 

anywhere in Nigeria. 

What more should we be 

expecting from you? You 

are a weight loss coach, a 

Lifestyle Coach and now 

this! 

Philanthropy work and a 

grassroots movement in Nigeria 

where there is more awareness 

and support for survivors of 

sexual assault and rape. 

Remember that health and 

wellness also includes mental 

health, and many victims of 

sexual assault end up being 

adversely affected in different 

ways if they do not receive the 

support and emotional 

encouragement they deserve. 

Let’s walk or run on Saturday, 

November 12th to create 

awareness and raise funds to 

help support the efforts of the 

Mirable Centre, a service, 

which unfortunately is needed 

in the Lagos community and its 

environs. 

The Kwavithon 5K is a 

run/walk being organized 

by International Lifestyle 

Coach, Kwavi Agbeyegbe to 

support the Mirable 

Centre, a Sexual Assault 

Referral Centre (SARC) 

based in Lagos. The 

Kwavithon 5K event 

provides the platform to 

bring awareness of the 

prevalence of rape in our 

community and opens up 

the conversation on what 

we can do to reduce the 

incidence of rape in our 

society. Currently over 70% 

of the sexual assault/rape 

survivors that come to 

Mirable Centre are under 

the age of 18. 

Why women don’t report violence 

Hon Mojisola Lasbat 


plan for. I thank God who gave 

me a very good and 

understanding husband. 

Are there challenges you 

have encountered as you 

assumed the office? 

Every job has its peculiar 

challenges. It has not been a 

smooth ride but I thank God that 

I have been able to manage the 

few ones that I come across. 

One of the challenges I 

encountered was during the 

budgeting period. As a new 

lawmaker, the budget processes 

were very rigorous. There was no 

break and not even a Christmas 

break until December 31 but at 

the end of the day, I found it very 

interesting, educative and I am 

actually looking forward to the 

next budget process. 

Any sexual harassment? 

Not at all. My belief is that 

personal presentation matters, if 

you portray yourself as desperate, 

you are likely to fall prey to 

harassment. But if you are a go 

getter and people around you 

know that you are focused, they 

will respect you. A positive 

minded person would always 

commit his or herself into God’s 

hands. 

How about having to 

address issues relating to 

sexual harassment in your 

constituency? 

The truth remains that issues 

of sexual harassment are hardly 

heard. People find it difficult to 

talk about things like that in our 

society. So, it is very difficult to 

know who is going through such 

problems in the society. 

Sometime ago, I read something 

in the Vanguard newspaper, the 

story of a thirteen year old that 

was raped by her neighbours 

alongside a 60 years old man. I 

raised a motion on that issue on 

the floor of the House. This issue 

is currently one of the priorities 

of the House. We are monitoring 

events as they unfold through 

the commissioner of police and 

definitely we are going to see it 

through to the end of this 

particular case. 

Rights of 

women 

People should be encouraged 

to speak up when they are 

affected. The society should stop 

discriminating against those 

affected. I believe addressing this 

issue is a gradual process. 

Would you say there are 

laws to fight the course of 

women in Nigeria? 

Certainly, there are laws that 

protect the rights of women. 

Unfortunately, the women 

themselves are not doing enough 

to make these laws effective. 

Hardly would you see victims 

come out openly to say what they 

are going through. A news went 

viral on social media about a male 

teacher harassing a boarding 

house student sexually. A panel 

was set up to investigate the issue 

but none of the students was 

willing to speak including the one 

who had earlier complained to her 

mother, the mother was nowhere 

to be found. People were of the 

opinion that the mother was 

actually trying to protect her child 

from harassment, victimization 

from the other teachers. It is 

unfortunate. 

How do you intend to 

address cases of Abuse, 

domestic violence as a 

lawmaker? 

The important thing is for 

victims to come and then we will 

take it up. We will ensure that 

people get justice and that would 

serve as deterrent and also 

encourage people to speak up. 

Failure to allow justice prevail 

discourages most people from 

speaking out. 

Are you satisfied with the 

way police and media handle 

rape cases? 

Their involvement has been 

encouraging. However, I still 

believe that all the stakeholders 

need to put more effort. 

What has been your 

contribution in your 

constituency since you 

became a lawmaker? 

I have been able to reach out to 

my constituents in my little way. I 

have given some free JAMB 

forms. I have done a-one-week 

free dental programme and also 

dug some boreholes in some of 

the areas. I am presently working 

on a project for the students 

among others. 

Are those your duties as a 

lawmaker? 

It is not the work of a lawmaker 

but it is the kind of society that 

we find ourselves in. Maybe the 

media can help by sensitizing the 

people on what our duties are. 

Although, some people know but 

they do not care while others do 

not know. 

At the same time, I believe I am 

duty bound to serve my 

community. I grew up among 

them and I know what their needs 



Getting the 

best rest you 

need 

Most women are juggling what 

seem to be a million different tasks as 

they try to maintain balance by being 

phenomenal homemakers, perfect 

mothers, and career goddesses—all at 

the same time. Unfortunately, many 

unconsciously put the needs of other 

people before themselves along the 

line and then end up a total wreck. 

For emphasis, rest is not laziness. 

In fact, the willingness to rest is key 

to good health for every woman, 

particularly as science has shown, 

repeatedly, that women need more 

rest—and sleep too—than men, and 

risk jeopardising their 

mental, physical and 

emotional health if they 

don’t get it. So, from every 

hour to every year, here’s 

how to achieve that. 

By Josephine 

Agbonkhese 

Every Hour 

A break doesn’t have to be 

long. Two or three minutes of 

sustained mental quiet after 

an hour of work can do 

wonders. Wheel your chair 

away from the computer and 

just shut your eyes. You can 

hold some papers in your 

hands to make ‘busybody’ coworkers 

think you’re reading 

something important. 

Every Day 

You need to take yourself offline 

and become engaged in 

something other than your 

normal activity. Block out 20 

minutes for a “me-time”. 

Maybe give yourself a minispa 

treatment in the bathroom 

or a hand massage. 

Every Week 

Take one day a week to 

yourself; make it literally your 

own Sabbath. But you don’t 

have to be religious or 

spiritual on this self-chosen 

day. You can maybe go out 

with family or friends or 

simply lock yourself up in a 

are and as long as it is within my 

reach, I will help. I believe it is 

part of our Corporate Social 

Responsibilities, CSR. 

Are there laws you are 

sponsoring as Chairman 

House Committee on Women 

Affairs? 

The most important thing is to 

make the present laws effective. 

It is not about proposing a law or 

sponsoring a bill, but ensuring 

that the existing ones are 

effective. And we can do that 

through sensitization. 

room and enjoy a really, really 

deep sleep. 

Every Month 

Get a massage. There’s 

nothing more relaxing than 

an hour on the table in the 

hands of a professional 

Why women don’t report violence•• 


•Fadumo Dayiba 

Teenage pregnancy is on the 

increase, what is your take? 

Parents have so much to do. 

They need to be proactive, they 

need to know the kind of friends 

their children move with and they 

company they keep, the type of 

uncles they visit, the places they 

hang out, those are the important 

things. But it is unfortunate that, 

the economy has subjected 

everyone to the streets whereby 

making homes suffer. 

That explains why women 

are now bread winners in 

most homes? 

massage therapist. Studies 

have shown repeatedly that a 

rubdown washes away 

worries while increasing 

serotonin and dopamine; 

hormones that make you feel 

happy and relaxed. 

Husbands and wives are 

helpers. And we should not take 

that out. In those days, our father 

and mother do not disclose who 

is providing what but that is 

different now. Wife wants to know 

what the husband is having as 

salary. 

...And you think this is 

right? 

Well, as a couple I don’t see 

anything wrong in that. We are 

meant to support ourselves, if you 

have a wife that is financially 

buoyant and she is willing to 

support, all well and good. 

Every Year 

For many women, getting 

away is hardly relaxing but 

that’s because they do it the 

wrong way. But according to 

Newton’s first law of motion, 

any object at rest should stay 

Outlook: 

I stand with girls 

By Ayo Adio 

IRECENTLY have been paying apt attention 

to the unfolding events in the Somalia 

presidential race, not because the election will 

influence major foreign policy discussions, but 

because of a particular aspirant whose campaign 

is redefining the playing field and reinforcing the 

truism that girl child education is an economic 

and socio-political imperative. 

Fadumo Dayib was born in Mogadishu to a very 

poor family- her father was a taxi driver and her 

mother a nomad. She was unable to read or write 

until the age of 14 and really had no ambition in 

life. However, when Somalia slid into war 26 years 

ago, her parents were determined to turn the 

obvious adversity into a fortune and so they sold 

all they had to send their daughter overseas, she 

was only 18. 

Her relentless determination to re-write the story 

of her life and to light a torch in her family to 

disperse the dark horrors of poverty fuelled her 

journey to becoming a renowned expert in public 

health. She said in an interview recently that “I 

come from a society where women are almost 

nothing, not taken seriously, just waved away”, 

perhaps, more than anything else, 

her journey from being the 

daughter of a nomad to contesting 

a presidential election, will prove 

a counter narrative. 

The story of Fadumo Dayib 

should not only inspire us but 

drive us to create a better policy 

environment that will ensure the 

replication of Dayib across the 774 

local governments across our 

country. We have to take a stand 

on the future of the girl child and 

re-open the tough conversations 

that are eating up the dreams of 

these little girls. 

We would have to answer very 

tough and somewhat unsettling 

questions, questions like if we 

at rest. So, at least once each 

year, take a relaxing vacation 

where you’re not rushing to 

visit family or overstuffing 

your sightseeing schedule. 

Just indulge in ‘lazy things’ 

and stay at rest. 

want a country where we lack 

concrete legislation prohibiting 

the marriage of little girls before 

the age of 18 simply because 

someone thinks she is ripe 

enough. If Fadumo Dayib was 

given away in marriage by her 

parents rather than investing in 

her future, will she be contesting 

elections today and giving hope 

to millions of girls across Africa? 

If she was pregnant at 14 what 

kind of life would she be living 

today? 

Protection 

and guidance 

We cannot afford to keep 

playing Russian roulette with the 

lives of our daughters, they 

deserve a sound education, they 

deserve our protection and 

guidance and above all only they 

should have the right to make 

marital decisions at the right age. 

On this I agree that it makes no 

sense to deny a girl a driving 

licence and the right to vote 

because she hasn’t turned 18 yet 

but describe her as fit for 

marriage. 

While we look up to Fadumo 

Dayib, Hilary Clinton, Angela 

Merkel, Aung San Suu Kyi, Joyce 

Banda, Theresa May, let us be 

aware that right there in our 

houses is a young girl capable of 

changing the world if only we 

could believe in her enough to 

create a spring board rather than 

a pit hole to launch her towards 

prominence. 

I stand with the girl child.

—29 


Heart disease: Nigeria launches heart 

awareness campaign 

By Chioma Obinna 

WORRIED by the increasing 

incidences of heart diseases among 

Nigerians, the Nigerian Heart Foundation, 

NHF, has launched a National Heart 

Awareness Campaign, tagged, "Spread the 

Heart Message" aimed at reducing 

incidences of cardiovascular diseases in 

the country. The campaign is targeted at 

high risk population in work places 

including artisans in all area of business 

endeavour. Available statistics show that 

cardiovascular diseases are the world's 

largest killers, claiming 17.3 million lives 

annually. 

Cardiovascular 

disease 

Launching the campaign in Lagos, the 

Executive Director, NHF, and a renowned 

cardiologist, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye 

disclosed that in Nigeria the number of 

people suffering from cardiovascular 

disease is on the rise and almost becoming 

alarming, with a prevalence of not less than 

25 percent of adult Nigerians suffering 

hypertension. 

He explained that the campaign has 

been conceived to focus on risk factors for 

cardiovascular diseases such as nutrition, 

physical inactivity, alcohol, tobacco amaong 

others. Under the campaign he said: 

"Corporate organisations are expected to 

conduct regular blood pressure check for 

staff, workplace exercise and physical 

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) 

Iwas using my new vibrator recently and as I 

was about climaxing, I just urinated all over the place 

– Joyce 

Dear Joyce, what you experienced is a deep and intense 

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

ejaculation and what came out as you were climaxing is 

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

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

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

place so that you can clean up afterwards and avoid facing 

a television or any kind of electronic device so that you 

don’t short circuit its components with ejaculatory fluid – 

Uche 

I was looking for a sex position book the other day 

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

Hawk’s Gigolo Sex Position Book. The images and 

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

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

world – George 

Dear George, yes these sex positions are modelled by 

professionals who are really flexible and athletic but you 

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

intimidating but there are others that you and your partner 

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

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

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

same missionary position every day. The 365 Sex 

Positions Book is another good option with hundreds of 

styles that you can easily attempt – Uche 

Hey! I just stumbled on your website and I cannot 

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

so excited. Please can you recommend two good films 

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

– Timi 

You are welcome. Get the movies Exploring Guilty 

Pleasures and Adam and Eve’s Legendary Sex Positions. 

You will love them and they all have instructors and 

demonstrators too so everything is quick and easy to learn 

Diets for heart health 

activity, ensure that work place canteen 

focuses on healthy diet, and promote 

aerobic exercise during working hours etc. 

"Under the collective responsibility, 

Available statistics 

show that 

cardiovascular 

diseases are the 

world's largest killers, 

claiming 17.3 million 

lives annually 

government at all levels are expected to 

ensure that food industries reduce salt and 

high fat in processed food, ensure that 

legislation and implementation of tobacco 

law is guaranteed, promote food labelling, 

consumption of fruits and vegetables, 

encourage local manufacturing of antihypertensive 

drugs, among others." 

Further, Akinroye who is also the Vice 

President, World Heart Federation, WHF, 

stressed the need for stakeholders in public 

and private sector to participate in the 

"Spread the Heart message" campaign as 

it involves all socio economic strata and 

ages. 

Emphasizing the need for Nigerians to 

reduce their salt intake, he identified high 

salt intake as the commonest cause of 

hypertension among Nigerians and 

Africans at large. He affirmed that the 

recommended intake for salt per day is 

three grammes. 

– Uche 

I got back on Sunday and found that your people had 

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

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

gave me very firm erections and I did not have 

headaches. And we had sex several times well into the 

night. Never happened before – Olu 

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

My wife bought a lubricant from your site because she 

was having painful intercourse. Your wife recommended 

the Smooth and Slick Lubricant for her. What she forgot 

to tell you is that she also needs something for arousal 

because getting in the mood is quite difficult for her – 

Memphis 

Okay. There are many different adult novelties that can 

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

gel, then get her the Encounter Orgasm Gel or Sex 

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

then she should take the Tropical Sex Aphrodisiac Mints. 

It is very good and fast acting too – Uche 

I watched a documentary about penis enlargement 

and enlargement exercises were recommended. Any 

idea how I can learn those? 

You can achieve that easily with a penis pump. 

TheClassix Penis Enlargement Pump is very good. Use 

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

penis considerably – Uche 

Thank you for helping me out with this premature 

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

friends about this Prolonging Ointment. Lots of men 

are suffering because of this - Kelechi 

You are welcome – Uche 

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CDC celebrates 20 

years with coffee 

table book launch 

TO commemorate its 20th Anniversary, 

the Children's Developmental Centre, 

CDC, has launched a coffee table book 

that catalogues its history, achievements 

and future plans. 

Titled, ‘Who Needs to be Normal’ the 

book painstakingly tracks the evolution of 

the centre and its role in supporting the 

wellbeing of society, especially care and 

support for children and young adults 

with developmental disabilities and their 

families. 

At the launch of ‘Who Needs to be 

Normal, in Lagos, the Chairman of the 

occasion, Chief Bisade Biobakun who 

commended CDC for its pioneering role 

in caring for and assisting young 

Nigerians to realize their given potential, 

said CDC has created a corporate history 

book that tells the story of 20 years as a 

game changer. 

Speaking, Founder and Director of the 

Centre, Dr. Yinka Akindayomi, stated that 

the quest to support children and young 

adults with developmental disabilities and 

their families, has remained 

undiminished, 20 years down a spirited 

journey that commenced when services 

in Lagos State were poor and almost nonexistent 

to support her son. 

The anniversary celebration, which 

commenced early in the year, highlighted 

the theme: ‘compassion, connection: why 

our communities should care,’ underlining 

the realization that the inclusion of 

children and adults with any disabilities 

into the mainstream can only come through 

the compassion of the people and 

communities.


By Prisca Sam-Duru 

FOR the seventh consecutive 

time, the first 

international arts festival of photography 

in Nigeria, LagosPhoto, 

has succeeded in its determination 

to reclaim public spaces, 

by showcasing world class 

photography at every available 

space in Lagos. 

Themed “Rituals and Performances”, 

this edition of the festival 

opened to the public on 

October 22, 2016 at the Eko 

Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, 

Lagos while satellite exhibition 

venues in arts and cultural 

spaces throughout the city extended 

to Omenka Gallery, Africans 

Artists’ Foundation, Centre 

for Contemporary Art, Lagos, 

Goethe Institute, A White 

Space Gallery, Red Door Gallery. 

It features exhibition, workshops, 

screening, artists’ presentation 

and large scale outdoor 

installations in Lagos. 

Viewers at the grand opening 

were obviously delighted at the 

introduction of performances to 

the festival. The performances 

by Jelili Atiku attracted many of 

them to his stand as he thrilled 

them with various displays of 

some ritualistic moves involving 

the use of calabash and other 

local objects. 

Winners of the Etisalat Photography 

competition also 

emerged during the grand 

opening. As announced by the 

CEO Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew 

Wilsher, for this years Etisalat 

Photography Competition, 

Maxwell Aigborga took the 

third position for his entry titled 

Lagos Traffic, 2nd position 

went to Oluwatobiloba Amusan 

(Celebration of Love) while Abidemi 

Iromini took the top position 

for his entry, Lonely Walk. 

They got an iphone, Samsung 

phone and canon camera respectively. 

Contemporary 

photography 

LagosPhoto presents photography 

as it is embodied in the 

exploration of historical and 

contemporary issues, the promotion 

of social programmes, 

and the reclaiming of public 

spaces. 

It features 42 photographers 

spanning seventeen countries 

and aims to provide a platform 

for the development and education 

of contemporary photography 

in Africa by establishing 

mentorships cross-cultural collaborations 

with local and international 

artists. 

The Curator, International 

Projects, LagosPhoto Foundation, 

Maria Pia Bernardoni, 

said they decided to explore the 

act of repletion to enact the idea 

and it becomes like a ritual. 

”We looked at the repetition 

that shapes gender, image 

identity, social agency, power 

and social constructs in contemporary 

society. The repetitive 

acts imbued with belief become 

• One of the images on display at the ongoing LagosPhoto festival in Lagos 

Ritualistic performances rock 

2016 Lagosphoto festival 

coercive and normative, it 

shapes our general idea of 

LagosPhoto 

presents 

photography as it is 

embodied in the 

exploration of 

historical and 

contemporary issues 

what is true and African image, 

gender, beauty, religion, social 

Isoko nation celebrates culture in unique way 

By Japhet Alakam 

THE rich cultural heri 

tage of Isoko nation,the 

third largest ethnic group in 

Delta State will be on display 

as they celebrate the 2016 Isoko 

Day in Lagos. 

The high profile event which 

will bring all the sons and 

daughters of Isoko nation together 

will feature Isoko 

songs, dress styles, cuisine, 

proverbs, anecdotes, riddles, 

cultural dance, raffle draw 

and other forms of entertainment 

is scheduled to hold on 

November 5, 2016 at the National 

Stadium, Surulere. 

The event which is put together 

by Isoko Development 

Union, IDU, Lagos will be 

graced by His Excellency, 

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, governor 

of Delta State, as the 

special guest of honour, while 

Mr Zebulon Ikokide will be 

the chairman of the day. 

The Isoko Day celebration 

with the theme, The Niger- 

Delta Restiveness and the 

Way forward, will also feature 

paper presentations, the lead 

paper will be delivered by Pro- 

class and so forth.” 

Rituals and Performance explores 

the role of acts of repetition 

that shape gender, image, 

identity, social agency, 

power and social constructs in 

contemporary society. The repetitive 

acts imbued with belief 

become coercive and normative. 

It shapes our general 

idea of what is true in determining 

an African image, gender, 

religion, beauty, social 

class and so forth. 

Contemporary visual representations 

directly affect the 

• Cultural performance by Isoko students 

fessor Sam Aghalino of the 

University of Ilorin, with presentations 

by other eminent 

citizens of Isoko. Other major 

events of the day will include 

a match past by all the Isoko 

Clans in Lagos, cultural 

dance, raffle draw and entertainment. 

In a well attended press 

briefing by the executives of 

IDU Lagos branch, the president, 

Comrade Frank Alordiah, 

announced that apart from 

the prestigious cultural fiesta, 

cultural meanings associated 

with image construction and 

interpretation. 

Throughout the duration of 

the festival which draws to a 

close on November 21, works 

by the thirty photographers 

from seventeen countries covering 

areas of exhibitions, 

workshops, artist presentations, 

discussions, screening, 

and large scale outdoor installations 

in congested public 

spaces in Lagos, form subjects 

for debates and conversations. 

the forum will be used to address 

some of the challenges 

facing the 19 clans that made 

up Isoko. They include key 

developmental challenges in 

that part of the country, to 

strengthen existing relationships 

among Isoko people in 

Nigeria and Diaspora, to encourage 

hard-working sons 

and daughters to continue to 

promote peace, love, unity 

and integrity, for which the 

Isoko people are well known, 

and to make I.D.U. in Lagos 

•Another image from 

LagosPhoto 

an enviable socio-cultural organization 

in Lagos that other 

similar organizations will 

want to emulate. 

Alordiah also stated that the 

event will be used as a forum 

to fix the people especially 

youths by teaching skills in 

this period of recession so 

that they will not rely on government 

alone for jobs. 

Other issue is the neglect 

of Isoko land as an oil producing 

area.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, , 2016 —31 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Rivers State’s forgotten 

rerun elections 

WHEN former President 

Goodluck Jonathan 

“prophesied” that Nigerians would 

miss him when he left office, he was 

laughed to scorn in many quarters. 

Just seventeen months after he 

peacefully handed over to a new 

President, General Muhammadu 

Buhari, and his new ruling party, the 

All Progressives Congress, APC, you 

can decide for yourself if our 

democracy (particularly the 

elections that have been conducted 

under the new regime) has improved 

or backslidden. 

The two regimes have had the good 

fortune of appointing new National 

Chairmen of the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC. 

Jonathan deferred to public 

opinion in appointing a person of 

integrity, Professor Attahiru Jega, to 

replace Professor Maurice Iwu as the 

National Chairman of INEC. Jega 

went on to deliver elections that 

largely met the expectations of 

Nigerians. 

The ruling and opposition parties 

won elections across the country and 

they stood. Jonathan always 

congratulated the winners, 

irrespective of which party they 

belonged to. Eventually, the INEC 

conducted general elections in which 

Jonathan and his party were voted 

out. 

Jonathan lost because of a 

coalition of conspiracies within and 

outside the People’s Democratic 

Party, PDP, which swept the carpet 

from under him; the kind of thing 

that happens when a ruling party and 

its leadership are no longer in tune 

with majority of the people. 

The entry of Buhari into Aso Villa 

also coincided with the end of Jega’s 

five-year tenure as INEC Chair. 

Nigerians expected the new 

President, touted as a “man of 

integrity”, to consolidate on the 

independence of INEC by either 

giving Jega a second term or 

appointing another person of 

integrity to replace him. But they 

were in for a series of shocks. Perhaps, 

the new Buhari regime felt that 

Jonathan lost because he put a person 

of integrity in the INEC chair, and 

decided not to make the same 

“mistake”. 

First of all, a female National 

Commissioner who calls Buhari 

“Uncle”, Hajiya Amina Zakari, was 

made the Acting Chairman, 

brushing aside Ambassador Ahmed 

Wali, whom Jega had handed over 

to. Then, without the public input, 

Buhari appointed Professor 

Mahmood Yakubu on 21st October 

2015. 

Since then, the credibility of INEC 

has returned to the negative axis. 

The perceived 

security challenge 

in Rivers State 

does not come 

remotely close to 

what Jega 

weathered in 

Borno. That excuse 

does not hold 

water anymore 

Yakubu’s INEC has conducted 

elections in Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa, 

Rivers and Edo States. The first four 

elections were declared 

“inconclusive” and redone. The Edo 

election was mysteriously postponed 

following unfounded “security 

threats” which INEC was forced to 

succumb to. Some say the 

postponement was staged to allow 

the ruling party more time to perfect 

its “winning” strategies. 

The most notorious case of 

inconclusive elections happened in 

Rivers State. While the inconclusive 

elections in Kogi and Bayelsa have 

been concluded by INEC, the Rivers 

State case remains unattended to for 

“security” reasons. The APC leaders 

in the state have constantly painted 

the picture of Rivers as a place where 

people are being killed like chickens, 

while the Governor of the State, 

Barrister Nyesom Wike, has 

maintained that the security situation 

there is no worse than what obtains 

in other states. 

There is no doubt that the APC 

Federal Government and the PDP 

state government are locked in a 

battle royale to control Rivers State. 

The PDP had won the governorship 

election and all but one of the 32 

seats in the State House of Assembly 

in the 12th April 2015 elections. It 

also swept all three senatorial seats 

and won twelve of the 13 state seats 

in the House of Representatives. But 

the Court of Appeal, on 11th 

December 2015 sent all three 

senators, 12 House of 

Representatives and State House of 

Assembly legislators home. Reruns 

were ordered in the affected 

constituencies. Today, only one 

member of the House of Reps from 

Rivers is in the National Assembly. 

In the State House of Assembly, 

which is of particular concern to 

Governor Wike and his APC 

opponents, the Court of Appeal in its 

December 2015 verdict, sent all the 

lawmakers home. A new 

permutation entered the 

calculation: if the APC could, 

somehow, find a way to win a 

commanding majority of the vacant 

seats at the rerun, they could still be 

in a position to impeach Governor 

Wike. But the rerun election that 

ended on 21st March 2016 produced 

10 PDP victories compared to APC’s 

one with 21 seats outstanding. 

Though Wike’s PDP is well ahead, 

the Governor’s position still leaves 

him much room for anxiety. 

But the main issue in the Rivers 

State inconclusive polls is not just 

about “safety” for anyone’s position. 

It is about the right of the Rivers State 

electorate to be represented by their 

chosen leaders in the state and 

federal parliaments. Mahmood 

Yakubu’s INEC says Rivers remains 

unsafe for the elections to be 

concluded. But he has been 

repeatedly reminded that Jega’s 

INEC managed to conduct elections 

in Borno State when Boko Haram 

was still in control of its fourteen 

local government areas and 

maintained presence in Yobe and 

Adamawa States. The perceived 

security challenge in Rivers State 

does not come remotely close to what 

Jega weathered in Borno. That 

excuse does not hold water anymore. 

It is sad that Rivers, the nation’s 

foremost oil producing state, will not 

be represented in the Federal 

Parliament when the Petroleum 

Industry Bill, PIB, Buhari’s 

Economic Emergency Plan, the 

controversial $30 billion President 

Buhari foreign loan proposal which 

has implications for all Nigerians 

of today and tomorrow, will be 

debated. They will not be able to have 

their say when Buhari comes 

forward with his plans to sell 

national assets, many of which are 

in Rivers State. They will not 

participate in approving the 2017 

budget. 

And these will all be due to the 

incompetence of Yakubu’s INEC or 

deliberate plots to use state 

institutions to manipulate the 

political situation in Rivers State 

against the wishes of the vast majority 

of its electorate. 

Mahmood Yakubu’s INEC must 

tell us when he intends to complete 

the elections in Rivers State and 

allow its legislators to take their 

rightful, constitutionallyguaranteed 

places in the Nigerian 

political space. We are waiting. 

Why thieves pick on Pension funds 

IS it still necessary to remind 

ourselves that in government, what 

people intend is usually different from what 

they bring about? In trying to evaluate 

governmental action, we ought to consider 

likely, even if unintended, consequences. 

One fundamental promise of our national 

anthem is that “the labour of our heroes past 

shall never be in vain”. In this connection, 

two inter-related measures were put in place 

to ensure that the worker does not suffer 

undue hardships when he grows old – a 

pension scheme for the retired worker; and 

the Pension Transition Arrangement 

Directorate, PTAD, with the latter 

established as an independent agency that 

oversees the smooth management of the 

former. 

The noble intentions here 

notwithstanding, budgetary allocations for 

their execution have constantly been 

plundered and vandalised. Yet, nothing 

happens to the plunderers and vandals, while 

the old people for whom the monies were 

originally intended die daily like poisoned 

rats. Two theories are gradually emerging 

as to why pension funds thieves are treated 

with kid-gloves; and why pension funds are 

the easiest to steal: first, the employer in 

Nigeria understands only one language – 

the threat of strikes and withdrawal of 

services! He has no regard for the pensioner 

who is already too old and too feeble to go 

on any strike; and who has no service to 

withdraw, anyway. 

Secondly, there is the wide-spread belief 

that these big time thieves may not be the 

real owners of the money they steal. They 

could as well be mere commission agents 

or fronts for the big principal who in turn 

ensures that the agent remains tightly 

protected. 

When the watch-dog becomes that one that 

must be watched, then, there is danger. The 

Director-General of PTAD, Nelly Mayshak, 

quickly understood the language of fraud – 

if you must do it, do it big! She carted away 

about N2 billion that was left in the pension 

accounts of the Head of the Federal Civil 

Service, Nigeria Customs Service and the 

Nigeria Prison Service. 

Without wasting time, Mayshak allegedly 

embezzled the N500 million meant to be a 

take-off grant for PTAD. She then proceeded 

to pay herself N50 million monthly in salary 

and allowances. This was not before she 

allegedly awarded several phony contracts 

Ironically, today’s 

worker is tomorrow’s 

pensioner. We insist 

that Labour leaders 

must not sit aloof and 

watch these organised 

thieves toy with their 

future 

to her cronies through which she enriched 

herself as these were mere fronts for her. 

Around February 2016, she was suspended 

from office and in April, she was arrested by 

the Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC. We are told that 

investigation is ongoing; but we also know 

that this is the normal route through which 

such cases travel into “the voice mail”. It 

happens all the time. 

Stealing of pension funds is so pervasive 

that when John Yakubu Yusuf, an Assistant 

Director in the Federal Civil Service, 

proudly announced that after all he “stole 

only N23 billion”, he knew what he was 

talking about. 

Today, Yusuf walks our streets in full 

freedom. For stealing N23 billion, he was 

sentenced to 

two years 

prison term 

with an option 

of a fine of 

N75,000, 

(representing 

0.003% of his 

loot), which fine 

he paid instantly and became a free man, 

retaining his loots. The agent/principal 

relationship came into full focus in the 

executive/legislative handling of the 

Abdulrasheed Abdulahi Maina Affair in the 

President Goodluck Jonathan years. Maina 

was Acting Director of Customs, 

Immigration and Prisons Office. The 

National Assembly smelt a rat that all was 

not well with close to N200 billion in the 

man’s care. 

At first, the matter was before the Senate 

Joint Committee on Public Service & 

Establishment and State and Local 

Government Administration. Efforts to get 

Maina to appear before the Committee 

were rebuffed to the point where the Senate 

issued a warrant of arrest on him. At a point, 

it became clear to the Senate that the 

Inspector General of Police at the time, 

Mohammed Abubakar, was foot-dragging 

on the execution of the warrant. 

At the peak of it all, when Maina was being 

expected in the Senate Chamber, a rented 

crowd was instead, chanting war songs at 

the entrance of the National Assembly, 

demanding what right the Senate had to 

invite Maina. The Senate bared its fangs 

over what it saw as undue shielding of the 

embattled Maina, resulting in his pouring 

invectives on the National Assembly. 

By a unanimous Resolution of the Senate 

with the concurrence of the House of 

Representatives, the National Assembly 

asked the President to dismiss Maina from 

public service and that he should be 

immediately arrested, investigated and 

prosecuted for the alleged multi-billion 

Naira fraud in the pension office. Nothing 

happened to Maina. 

The Principal/Agent arrangement was 

perfectly at work. Why else would the 

executive dilly-dally on the issue until Maina 

finally vamoosed from the country? And why 

else would an Acting Director who had been 

declared wanted by the Senate still be 

moving around with a myriad of police 

guards? We hear Maina has since returned 

to Nigeria but apparently, his loot has 

expired and nobody is asking any question 

any more. Meanwhile, the rightful owners 

of the monies are dying without their 

entitlements being paid to them. 

Ironically, today’s worker is tomorrow’s 

pensioner. We insist that Labour leaders must 

not sit aloof and watch these organised 

thieves toy with their future. Two things must 

happen: Proverbially, God drives flies for 

the cow that has no tail. This proverbial cow 

has no tail at all. And we are not about to 

allow the flies to suffer it to death. As the 

retiree is too old to go on strike, today’s 

worker – if only as a way of protecting his 

own future – must go on strike each time the 

retiree’s pension back-log is unpaid. 

Secondly, our laws must be made to reflect 

the gravity of the crime of stealing pension 

money. The pensioners are people who, in 

their hay days, served this nation with their 

blood and sweat. The crime of stealing the 

money meant to support them at old age 

must be viewed as the moral equivalent of 

murder and commensurately treated as 

such. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

GEMINI: ROMANTIC Venus at positive angle may 

bring matters-of-the heart related temptation through 

friends. But your best bet now is moderate ambition. 

CANCER: The best bet for you is to consolidate on 

progress you made yesterday and look for best way 

to pacify your new friends. 

LEO: EVERYBODY needs other people’s co-operation 

just like you today but you will not be compelled 

by situation to dance to others’ tune; meaning 

that you can do things your own way and rightly 

expect success. 

VIRGO: THOSE of you willing to give others the 

needed co-operation will be in better position to consolidate 

on progress you have made recently. Don’t 

allow sex to distract you. 

LIBRA: WATCHOUT for minor and avoidable but 

costly mistake within your working arena, especially 

if you are in charge of other people’s money. If you 

develop new romantic liaison today, it may not last. 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

About Relationship? 

LIFE is all 

about relationship. 

It is all 

about how you 

relate well with 

the other man or 

woman. For example, 

a successful 

father 

should be able to 


his children, a 

successful leader 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

should be able to 


his followers. 

Similarly, a good 

manager should 

have a good rapport 

with members 

of his 

workforce.How 

well you relate 

with people could 

determine how 

far you will go in 

life.Think about 

it. 

By Kola Fayemi 

SCORPIO: AS the saying goes Atime waits for 

nobody it’s important you guard against unnecessary 

procrastination capable of putting you at tight 

corner tomorrow. Be loving. 

SAGITTARIUS: IT’S better you conclude what 

you’ve been doing for a while rather than starting 

something new you don’t know when to finish it. Be 

more family minded. 

CAPRICORN: IF careless remarks are made by 

you today, it would back-fire at resumption of work 

tomorrow morning. Those who are eager for romantic 

attention will have their dream coming true. Be 

more loving 

AQUARIUS: IF you wait too long before an important 

(financial) decision is taken, you may find yourself 

keeping date with what you don’t bargain for. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

PISCES: Placement of the Moon influences your 

associates to become more self-assertive. If you take 

good advice you’ll fare better. However, it’s important 

you don’t forget your tomorrow with others. 

ARIES: BETTER than yesterday and luckily for 

you, opportunity to rectify mistakes made yesterday 

may come today to the betterment of your finances. 

Don’t try to buy love with money. 

TAURUS: BETTER than yesterday as you will be at 

a more comfortable place today and suddenly discover 

that your hope is alive. Venus bring you money. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

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

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

What about me? 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

Dear Joshua, 

You have done many people’s horoscope; what about 

me? I want you to kindly analyse my star and tell me 

everything about my self. Please take note that I 

value my health and career than any other thing. 

Collins, Lagos. 

Dear Collins, 

What space can take will be given to you hereunder. 

Scorpio and Libra that hosted both your natal 

sun and moon are members of very strong star signshealth 

wise. 

Scorpio, in particular, has unusual survival ability. 

That is to say, even when health related challenges 

come, your survival endowment will always see you 

through. 

Your major challenge is from your constant worries 

about too many things, especially on career related 

issues. Business miscalculation can be another source 

of health related challenge. You will agree with the 

fact that both constant worries and business miscalculation 

can affect one’s circulatory system. 

Other things to watch-out for include: Urino-genital 

organs, minor accident (fire), bones dislocations, 

a few other times, skin infections and, of-course, fever. 

Always take care of the stomach. Please take note 

that all these are mere warnings as there is nothing 

fatalistic about them; a good guard, though. 

Oil related Neptune was the closet heavenly body 

to the sun when you were born at positive angle to 

Pluto in Leo. Thus, having things to do with oil along 

your career/business lines is not by accident. 

Then preponderance of water element and fixed 

quality in the distribution of the planets when you 

were born are favourable to commercial involvement 

with anything liquid. 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa



Oil bandits/contractors’ syndicate attacks 

Trans-Forcados trunk line in Delta 

By Emma Amaize 

WARRI—A SUSPECTED 

syndicate of pipeline 

contractors and oil thieves has 

attacked the Trans-Forcados 

Export Trunk Line at Batern 

community in Warri South West 

Local Government Area, Delta 

State, with dynamites. 

The affected trunk line delivers 

products from Batern flow station 

to the Forcados Terminal Line for 

export. The attack occurred at 

about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. 

A security source, who spoke to 

Vanguard, said: “The attack was 

carried out with the aid of 

dynamites and it is coming less 

than 48 hours after resumption of 

operations at the flow station.” 

Commenting on the incident, 

chairman of Batern community, 

Dickson Ogugu, said on phone: 

“Surveillance teams made up of 

officials from PPMC, NPDC and 

Batern community were able to 

identify the spot of the attack. I 

would like to appeal to locals from 

the community to avail any 

relevant information to the 

security agencies in stemming 

this ugly trend because as I am 

talking to you, the entire river is 

flooded with contents from the 

damaged trunk line and we are 

at the receiving end.” 

As at yesterday morning, no 

group had claimed responsibility, 

Owie blames PDP crisis on party's govs 

By Henry Umoru 

A BUJA—FORMER 

Chief Whip of the Senate 

and chieftain of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, Senator 

Rowland Owie, yesterday blamed 

governors elected on the party's 

platform for its present leadership 

crisis, urging the governors to 

leave the party's affairs alone and 

face governance. 

According to him, in the past, 

especially in the Second Republic, 

governors in the Unity Party of 

Nigeria, UPN, brought their 

annual budgets for vetting and 

approval by the party's state 

executive before forwarding same 

to the state House Assembly for 

consideration, arguing that 

today’s governors treated party 

executive members as house 

helps. 

In a statement, Senator Owie 

noted that the Chairman, 

Caretaker Committee of the party, 

Senator Ahmed Makarfi and 

former Acting National 

Chairman, Senator Ali Modu 

Sheriff, should drop their pride 

and embrace peace in the interest 

of the party and for the logjam to 

be resolved. 

He said: “I urge leaders of our 

party to stop making public 

statements in support or against 

any of the two factions. The major 

but a community leader pointed 

fingers at oil bunkerers in the 

area working in connivance with 

contractors in charge of pipeline 

repairs in the area. 

Meanwhile, chairman of 

Kokodiagbene community, 

Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri 

South-West Local Government 

Area of Delta State, Sheriff 

Mulade, has commended 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

cause of the present problem we 

have in the party is impunity. 

In the Second Republic our 

governors in the UPN brought 

their annual budgets for vetting 

and approval by the party's state 

executive before being 

forwarded to the state House of 

Assembly for consideration." 

Edo indigenes in UK congratulate Oba Ewuare II 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—EDO 

State 

indigenes in the United 

Kingdom, UK, have 

congratulated the new Oba of 

Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku 

Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, for 

his successful ascension to the 

throne. 

The group expressed 

confidence that with the 

emergence of the new Oba and 

incoming governor of Edo State, 

Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the state 

was set to witness more progress, 

noting that the outgoing 

administration of governor 

Adams Oshiomhole laid the 

foundation for a greater Edo 

State. 

Chairman, Conservative 

Commonwealth Association, 

Romford Constituency, UK, 

Mrs. Gloria Adagbon, 

congratulated the newly 

installed monarch, saying, “His 

for personally engaging Niger 

Delta leaders in a dialogue 

aimed at finding lasting 

solutions to problems facing the 

region. 

President Buhari had on 

Tuesday engaged stakeholders 

from Niger Delta region in a 

dialogue at the Presidential Villa, 

Abuja, where the leaders 

presented a 16-point demand. 

In a press statement in Warri, 

The UPN National Assembly 

members from the respective 

States were automatic members 

of the state exco of the party. 

Now most our governors after 

being elected treat the party 

executive members as house 

helps. 

“In most cases party executive 

developmental agenda stands 

him out as a visionary leader.” 

In a statement, she expressed 

confidence in the Oba and also 

felicitated with Edo people for 

having an Oba ready to address 

the key challenges of the state 

even as the governor-elect, Mr. 

Obaseki had earlier outlined his 

Mulade said: “I want to commend 

the President for personally 

engaging Niger Delta leaders 

in a dialogue expected to 

bring lasting peace to the region. 

The President did not 

delegate someone to discuss 

with our leaders, he made 

himself available for the 

meeting. I am impressed with 

this show of humility by the 

President." 

CONFERENCE: From left: Wendy Chesire, Sales Director, Control Risks; Nicolas Fort, 

Senior Business Strategy Manager, VASCo and Inalegwu Alogwu, Head of Innovations 

and Information Security, Interswitch, at Cyberxhange 2016 Conference held at Landmark 

Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Odili disowns proposed award 

FORMER governor of 

Rivers State, Dr. Peter 

Odili, has dissociated himself 

from a proposed award that 

was to be given to him. 

In a statement by Odili’s 

media office, the former 

governor said his attention 

had been drawn to a news 

item posted on some online 

news platforms in which 

Odili was listed as one of the 

prospective recipients of 

Democracy Heroes Award in 

Africa, promoted by Vivian 

members are shifted to the government 

houses. To get headway 

in the reconciliation of this 

conflict in our PDP, our governors 

should please stay aside 

and face governance. Let our few 

respected leaders who are 

founding fathers go into the 

matter." 

blueprints which she said correlated 

with that of Oba Ewuare 

II. 

She said: “It must be noted 

that it is not too often that you 

have a new Oba and a new 

governor, both focusing on a 

similar agenda for 

development." 

Iam Glamour Magazine. 

“Whilst not averse to the 

freedom or right of anyone 

or group of people to honour 

whomsoever they deem fit, 

Dr. Odili dissociates himself 

from such an award, as he 

knows nothing about the 

award. For emphasis, he was 

neither consulted nor was 

his consent sought or given. 

He wishes other purported 

recipients well and 

congratulates them,” the 

statement read. 

Oshiomhole 

inaugurates 

Governing 

Council of 

Agric College 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

B 

E N I N — 

GOVERNOR 

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo 

State has inaugurated a 5- 

man Governing Council of 

the College of Agriculture 

Iguorakhi, charging 

members to ensure that 

the college becomes one of 

the best in the country. 

The Council is chaired 

by Gentleman Amegor. 

Other members are Mrs. 

Mary Ihegue, Dr Felix 

Okokere, Dr Agberese 

Osifo and Mr Olu Daniel. 

Commissioner for 

Agriculture, Prince Joe 

Okojie, who inaugurated 

the council on behalf of the 

governor, noted that the 

death of two former 

members of the Council 

and the resignation of 

another necessitated the 

inauguration of the new 

council. 

According to him, “the 

selection of the members 

is based purely on merit. 

They are erudite scholars 

and seasoned individuals 

in their respective fields." 

Ibegbulem, 

Onya 

commended 

over devt in Ika 

IKA United for 

Change has 

commended Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa's Principal 

Secretary, Mr. Hilary 

Ibegbulem and Mr. Jude 

Onya, Delta North Director, 

Delta State Waste 

Management Board, for 

attracting development 

through their offices to Ika 

nation. 

National chairman of the 

group, Mr. Joshua Egun- 

Okoh, who made the 

commendation in a 

statement on behalf of the 

group said: “What 

Ibegbulem and Onya have 

done for the people of Ika 

only a few months into their 

appointments is very 

commendable. 

“I want to thank Governor 

Okowa for capable hands like 

Ibegbulem and Onya 

because both of them have 

shown Ika people that as an 

appointee there are different 

ways you can attract 

development to your area 

and empower the people.” 

He urged other appointees 

of Ika origin to emulate the 

duo of Ibegbulem and Onya.

34 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 


Leaders don’t 

neglect 

widows, says 

Okorocha’s wife 

By Chinonso Alozie 

O WERRI—THE 

wife of the Imo State 

Governor, Nkechi Rochas 

Okorocha, has called on 

those in authority not to 

neglect the plight of widows 

in the country, just as she 

said that more than 200 

widows in the State have 

received houses. 

She stated this yesterday in 

Owerri, through a release 

issued by Mr Sam 

Onwuemeodo, Chief Press 

Secretary to Governor Rochas 

Okorocha. 

The release quoted that the 

two-bed room bungalows cut 

across the 27 local 

government areas of the 

State, which was under the 

“SHE NEEDS A ROOF 

PROGRAMME” of the wife 

of the governor. 

According to the release, 

one of the beneficiaries died 

before the handover 

ceremony. 

“As part of her ongoing effort 

to put smiles on the faces of 

widows, three beneficiaries; 

Mrs. Roseline Igwe from 

Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Mrs 

Rosemary Ebere from Owerri 

Municipal and the first son 

of Mrs Grace Iheanacho from 

Owerri-West who died before 

the handover ceremony 

received keys to their 

bungalows. 

“Nneoma Okorocha has 

built more than two 

hundred of such houses for 

widows and other indigent 

women across the twenty 

seven Local Governments in 

the state. One of the best 

ways to honour God is by 

putting smiles on the 

faces of people especially 

the less privileged.” 

Abia communities cry out to Ikpeazu, EEDC 

over power outage 

By Innocent Anaba 

NO fewer than eight 

Umunna communities in 

Nsulu, Isialangwa North Local 

Government Area of Abia State, 

have cried out to Governor Okezie 

Ikpeazu and Enugu Elecricity 

Distribution Company, EEDC, to 

come to their rescue as the 

communities have been in 

darkness since June this year. 

The communities: Ikputu, 

Umuakwu, Nbubo, Umuode, 

Umuogu, Umuezeukwu, 

Umuodeche, Umuosu and 

Umuala are calling on Governor 

Ikpeazu to prevail on the EEDC 

to give them constant electricity 

and stop the frequent excuses it 

has been giving. 

The communities reminded the 

governor that they voted for him 

because of his campaign promise 

to provide them regular electricity, 

more so as they are the first Ngwa 

communities he passes through 

while retiring to his community 

from Government House, 

Umuahia, through the old federal 

Aba road. 

A community leader in Ikputu 

community, Chief Edwin Uche, 

who spoke to Vanguard, said 

that Ikputu, Umuosu, Nbubo 

and Umuala are the first Ngwa 

communities Governor Ikpeazu 

passes through from Umuahia on 

the way to his home town and that 

the people of these communities 

take pride in seeing the governor 

pass through their communities, 

but would want him to extend 

his love to the communities, by 

ensuring they get regular power 

supply. 

He lamented that artisans in the 

area have been forced out of their 

businesses, as they have no 

electricity to work, while the few 

Commence repair of S’East, S’South federal 

highways now, Rights group tells FG 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

O NITSHA—THE 

Southern Nigeria 

Peoples Mandate, SNPM, a 

human rights organization 

has drawn the attention of 

the Federal Government 

towards total infrastructural 

decay of federal roads in the 

South-east and South-south 

regions of the country. 

SNPM mentioned some of 

the roads as Nnewi/Amichi/ 

Unubi/Uga/Akokwa/ 

Arondizuogu/Umulolo/ 

Okigwe federal highway; 

Enugu/Awka/Onitsha 

expressway; Enugu/Okigwe/ 

Umuahia/Aba/Port Harcourt 

expressway; Aba/Ikot Ekpene 

highway; Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene 

highway; Ugep/Adim/Uyanga/ 

Calabar federal highway; 

Asaba/Benin dual carriageway 

and Itu/Odukpani/Calabar 

federal highway. 

In a press statement issued 

yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra 

state shortly after their 

emergency meeting, President 

of the group, Augustine 

Chukwudum, lamented that 

these roads have been 

abandoned for the past 20 

years, but during political 

campaign and electioneering 

periods, they would be used as 

tools for political campaigns and 

once the election is over, 

elected office holders would 

sweep them under the carpet. 

SNPM said the dilapidated 

condition of these roads has 

become too inexplicable that 

they decided to raise this alarm 

PEOPLE SPEAK 

On NASS control of CCB/CCT 

who are traders have hiked their 

prices out of the reach of most 

natives. 

According to an artisan in 

Nbubo community, Mr Sunday 

Ugochukwu, the communities 

have since June been 

experiencing what he described 

as ‘flash’ by EEDC. 

"We have repeatedly made 

representations to EEDC officials, 

who most times complain of one 

fault or the other while we have 

continued to wallow in darkness." 

He added that most people in 

the communities are now forced 

to attend church services so that 

they can charge their mobile 

phones. 

The communities appealed to 

the governor to prevail on EEDC 

to restore electricity to them. 

Anambra lawmakers threaten 

to impeach Speaker 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA—FEELERS from 

the Anambra State House 

of Assembly yesterday indicated 

that the lawmakers were 

perfecting plans to impeach the 

Speaker, Mrs. Rita Maduagwu. 

for the present administration 

to look into them because the 

masses are dying on these 

roads on daily basis through 

fatal accidents as a result of their 

total collapse. 

According to the statement, 

“Let the Federal Government 

wake up to its responsibilities 

by doing what they are expected 

to do on these roads. We are 

raising this alarm because the 

current administration is not 

doing anything to alleviate the 

sufferings of the masses who are 

going through hell on these 

roads. 

“The only way to stop further 

wastages of peoples’ lives is for 

the Federal Government to 

commence work on these roads 

with immediate effect”, the 

statement concluded. 

Those behind the plan were 

said to have met in a hotel in 

Awka Tuesday and by 

yesterday, many of them had 

appended their signatures in 

support of the impeachment. 

It was gathered that as at 

noon yesterday, 21 out of the 30 

legislators in the House had 

appended their signatures for the 

impeachment, which might take 

place during today’s plenary. 

It was not clear at press time 

the reason for the impeachment, 

but some of the lawmakers were 

alleging that the Speaker was 

‘eating alone’ and therefore 

needed to be shoved aside. 

Another source said the 

impeachment had something to 

do with next year’s 

governorship election in which 

some of the lawmakers want to 

threaten the Speaker to be able 

to extract something from 

Governor Willie Obiano before 

the commencement of the 

campaigns. 

The Speaker, who spoke in a 

telephone interview, however, 

dismissed the action of the 

lawmakers, saying that she was 

perfectly under control. 

The Anambra House of 

Assembly is made up of 28 

members of the ruling All 

Progressives Grand Alliance, 

APGA, and two from the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP. 

By Bartholomew Madukwe 

(08051019450) 

nwamad@yahoo.com 

The amendment is very 

timely and there is no 

better time than now. We 

all know that the amendment 

will not affect the trial 

of the senate leader, but 

will put an end the administrative 

rascality of APC 

government trying to cow 

their opponents. Mr Peter 

Ekpo, Worker 

All those who are dis 

agreeing with the 

amendment to some sections 

of the laws establishing 

CCB/CCT are clearly 

apologists to the APC administration. 

How would 

you reconcile the trial of 

APC leader with present 

issues? Miss Oluchi 

Nwaihesie, Teacher 

Instead of the National 

Assembly to make laws 

that will help Nigeria to advance 

for good, they are 

making laws that will make 

it impossible to probe their 

lies and greed. I see no good 

future for this country with 

the kind of selfish laws being 

passed. Mr Nonso 

Azudiefe, Graduate 

It is high time we reduced 

the powers of the president 

that make him a minigod 

in the 21st century. 

How can the same president 

that appoints also increases 

the CCT chairman’s 

powers at will? This 

is purely dictatorial. Mr 

Abraham Alexander, 

Student 

Itotally agree with the 

whole CCT amendments. 

It is high time we 

started reducing the 

powers of the presidency 

in Nigeria. This enormous 

power breeds corruption 

and dictatorship 

must stop. Mr Kazeem 

Aremu, Businessman 

These people are self pre 

serving corrupt individuals. 

Everything they 

do is to entrench corruption 

and protect their dishonest 

ways. Can you tell 

me three serious bills that 

they have passed to make 

Nigeria better? Miss 

Anne Oriaku, Fashion 

Designer



APC, PDP clash over nomination 

of Mustafa Jaji as ambassador 

By John Mkom 

JALINGO—THE 

All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, and Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Taraba State are 

at daggers-drawn over the 

inclusion of former Executive 

Secretary of TETFUND, 

Mustafa Jaji, on the 

ambassadorial list sent to the 

Senate by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

While the PDP celebrated and 

hailed President Buhari for the 

nomination, APC condemned it 

and asked the President to 

reverse the nomination. 

Chairman of the state chapter 

of PDP, Mr. Victor Kona, said the 

party was very happy about 

Mustafa’s nomination, adding 

that it showed that Taraba State 

was also considered in the 

scheme of things in Nigeria by 

the President. 

He said: “The Mustafa that I 

know is well educated, he is 

experienced and he has a high 

profile that qualifies him to 

represent Nigeria in any part of 

the world. 

“Therefore, I do not know why 

some quarters would like to 

associate his nomination with 

political insinuations. 

“President Buhari has made a 

brilliant choice from Taraba 

State. We, the PDP here, are very 

happy with his choice and we 

celebrate with the nominee as 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region Editor 

PRESIDENT Muhammadu 

Buhari has given approval 

to the Ministry of Solid 

Minerals and Steel 

Development to engage 

revenue consultants to collect 

all outstanding fees and 

royalties accruable to the 

government from mining 

operations with immediate 

effect. 

Under the approval, which 

Vanguard learned of last night, 

the revenue consultants are to 

work for an initial trial period of 

one year to enable government 

evaluate the suitability or 

otherwise of the scheme. 

Presidential sources 

confirmed last night that in 

granting the approval, the 

President questioned the 

payment of 15 per cent of the 

revenue to be collected to the 

consultants, suggesting, 

however, that the rate should 

only be applied to a higher 

amount of revenue collected 

and not across board. 

According to sources close to 

the deal, the presidential 

consent is necessary to, among 

others, maximise the revenue 

inflow to government by 

we look forward to supporting 

him to succeed when he is 

finally appointed and posted 

anywhere for his assignment.” 

APC kicks 

However, Chairman of APC 

in the state, Mallam Ardo Jika, 

said the nomination of 

Mustafa Jaji was against the 

promises of President Buhari 

to APC members not only in 

Taraba State, but across the 

country. 

He said Buhari neither 

consulted the state executive 

adopting strategies that 

would plug leakages and 

ensure accurate declaration 

of mineral productions by 

operating companies. 

The administration was also 

persuaded to acquiesce to the 

request by the parent ministry 

to assess the quantities of 

nor the representative of 

Taraba State APC at the 

national level, noting he had 

promised to reward those who 

worked for him. 

According to Jika, “as far as 

APC is concerned in Taraba 

State, nobody contacted us nor 

informed us. Two, Mustafa Jaji 

has never, by error of 

commission or omission, been 

a member of APC in Taraba 

State. In his own ward, 

everybody knows that he is a 

registered member of PDP. 

“We are repeating President 

mineral production by 

operators and determine the 

actual revenue payable, with 

a view to collecting the arrears 

due the government and 

send a message to defaulters 

that it would no longer be 

business as usual. 

A document prepared by 

Buhari’s statement, which he 

made to us that there will 

never be a situation where 

someone will be lying in a 

sick bed, while another will be 

taking drugs on his behalf. 

“So I believe this nomination 

did not come from Buhari; 

somebody might have 

suggested the name. 

“He will reverse the name 

because we know him as a 

man of his words. In our last 

NEC meeting, he said 

whoever suffered for APC 

would be rewarded.” 

MILITARY PENSION CARD: Founder and CEO, eTranzact, Mr. Valentine Obi 

(left) and Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Ali, at the launch of the Military pensions 

eTranzact card in Abuja. 

FG audits solid minerals’ 6-year revenue 

THE FADAMA II 

Additional Financing 

project financed by the World 

Bank has supported a total of 

10,845 farmers in the last 10 

months. Of these 

beneficiaries, 585 were youths 

and 1,575 female, while 8,685 

were male. 

The support, according to 

Kano State Coordination Office 

of Fadama, was facilitated 

through the signing of a 

Memorandum of 

Understanding between 

Dangote Tomato Company 

and Fadama Production 

Cluster Group on profitable 

marketing of tomato. 

In its Project Implementation 

Report presented to the Dr. 

Adetunji Oredipe-led World 

Bank/FGN 6th Mission on 

Fadama II Additional 

the government for the 

purpose of re-jigging the 

revenue profile of the 

Ministry of Solid Minerals 

and Steel Development, 

which Vanguard sighted last 

night, showed that the audit 

would cover the period of 

2010-2015. 

World Bank supports 11,000 tomato farmers in Kano 

Financing, which visited Kano 

State on Monday, the Fadama 

State Project Coordinator, 

Alhaji Sha’aibu Sulaiman, said 

the project, in 2016 cropping 

season, recorded a 

disbursement of 89,195 and 

110 for rice, sorghum and 

tomato production groups, 

respectively. 

In the same vein, sorghum 

and rice farmers were equally 

well linked to Grand Cereal 

and popular rice farm offtakers. 

Through collaboration with 

ICRISAT, sorghum farmers 

were also linked to Honeywell 

Company, demanding 

150,000mt of sorghum from 

Fadama farmers in Kano. 

In its effort to meet up with 

project objective of providing 

employment to youths, the 

project has prepared four 

youth spraying groups, 

comprising 10 members each, 

earn, who N58,500 per 

month. 

In order to build the capacity 

of farmers toward efficient 

production, 12 consultants on 

capacity building have been 

engaged and they have 

conducted the train-thetrainers 

seminars for 120 

farmers across eight 

production clusters of rice, 

sorghum and tomato. 

The project commitment on 

youths and women 

empowerment has been 

demonstrated through 

screening of 20 youths and 

women processing groups, 

out of which eight were 

supported with tricycles and 

processing machines. 

FRSC sets 

up patrol for 

overloading 

IN view of the recent 

upsurge of overloading 

on the nation’s highways, the 

Federal Road Safety Corps, 

FRSC, will be organising a 

Special Intervention Patrol, 

SIP, along critical corridors 

from November 7 to 13. 

According to Bisi Kazeem, 

Head, Media Relations and 

Strategy of the Corps, the 

Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye 

Oyeyemi, has directed that 

the SIP focus on overloading, 

speed violation and speed 

limiting device enforcement, 

amongst other offences. 

Kazeem stressed that the 

Corps Marshal hoped to use 

the patrol to impress on field 

commands to sustain the 

enforcement drive on speed 

limiting device installation in 

commercial vehicles, 

continue sensitisation on the 

Ember months campaign, 

and to reduce road traffic 

accidents caused by 

overloading and speeding. 

According to Oyeyemi, the 

selected corridors for the SIP 

are Kaduna-Abuja-Lokoja- 

Okene; Garaku-Akwanga- 

NasarawaEggon-Lafia- 

Makurdi; Funtua-Tsafe- 

Gusau-Sokoto; Lagos-Ogere- 

Ogunmakin-Ibadan; Owo- 

Akure-Ilesha-Ife; Jos-Toro- 

Bauchi-Alkaleri-Gombe; 

Enugu 9th Mile-Awka- 

Nteje-IgboUkwu-Onitsha; 

Asaba-Isele Uku-Agbor- 

Abudu-Benin, and Jebba- 

Olooru-Bode Saadu. 

Nigerian firm 

wins best 

financial input 

award 

CELLULANT Nigeria 

Limited, a financial 

technology company with 

interest in agriculture, has 

won the Fintech Award for 

best payment and transfer 

firm in Africa, ahead of 100 

other companies. 

The award is endorsed by 

world’s leading technology 

companies, IBM and CFO. 

Cellulant is a technology 

company providing the 

payment platform for farm 

inputs across Nigeria and 

Liberia, under Growth 

Enhancement Support 

Scheme, GESS, and the 

agriculture transformation 

agenda of African 

Development Bank, AfDB. 

Speaking while receiving 

the award, Mr. Bolaji 

Akinboro, CEO, Cellulant 

Nigeria, said: “We are 

humbled and happy. This 

award is a reflection of the 

hard work and dedication of 

the amazing team of people 

at Cellulant Group.”


CELEBRATION: From left— Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Saheed 

Adebule; his wife Dr. Idiat Oluranti, Lagos State Deputy Governor; retired 

Permanent Secretary/Tutor-General, District VI, Mrs Amidat Anifowoshe, 

and Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Abiola 

Anifowoshe, during the pen down/retirement and 60th birthday celebration 

of Mrs Anifowoshe in Ikeja, Lagos. 

MGT CONFAB: From left—Director, Inspection & Enforcement, 

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, 

NESRA, Miranda Amachree; Head, Geocycle and Business Development, 

Lafarge Africa Plc, Daniel Adedokun; Head, Branding Strategy and 

Communications, Sterling Bank, Olapeju Ibekwe, and Head, Sub-Sahara 

Africa for Geocycle, LafargeHolcim Group, Olivier Doyen, at the National 

Management Conference in Lagos. 

NOBEL CHARITY: From left— Founder, Bales of Mercy Orphanage, 

Mrs Ngozi Igbokwe; Head, Digital Marketing, Nobel Carpets and Rugs, Mr. 

Adekoya Kazeem, and Children Supervisor, Bales of Mercy Orphanage, Mrs 

Sarah Okoh, at the donation of items to the orphanage by Nobel Carpets in 

Lagos, yesterday. 

HEINEKEN MUSIC: From left— Brand Manager, Heineken, 

Obabiyi Fagade; Marketing Director, Franco Maria Maggi, both of NB Plc; 

American R'n B singer, T-Pain; Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Ngozi 

Nkwoji, and Finance Director, Mark Rutten, both of NB Plc, at the Heineken 

Live Your Music event. 

VISIT: From left— President, International Committe of Red Cross, ICRC, 

Mr. Peter Maurer; National President, Elder Bolaji Anani, and Chairman, Lagos 

State branch, Engr. Mobolaji Onibudo, both of Nigerian Red Cross Society, when 

Mr. Maurer paid a courtesy visit to the Society in Makoko, Lagos. 

HEALTHY HEART CAMPAIGN: From left— National 

Coordinator, National Heart Awareness Campaign, Abiola Awe; Executive 

Director, Nigerian Heart Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye; Category Marketing 

Manager, Chioma Mbanugo, and Brand Manager, Toyin Popoola-Dania, both 

of Mamador, at a briefing in Lagos to announce the launch of the campaign in 

partnership with Mamador. 

DAYGLORY: From left— Chairman, Pastor Sina Ajiboye; Senior Pastor/ 

Founder, Prophet John Oluwaranti Oni, and Personal Assistant to the Senior 

Pastor, Bro. Kayode Oluwaseun, all of Dayglory Outreach Team, at a briefing on 

the 10th annual convention/Founder’s Day, in Lagos. 

DONATION: From left— The representative of State Universal Basic 

Education Board, SUBEB, Mr. Remi Adelabu; Mr. Ahmed Aderemi; 

Headmaster, Saint James Primary School, Akanran, Ibadan, Mr Soleye 

Adeoye; Mrs Funmi Aigbomian, representing Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and 

Head of Small Scale Funds, Germany Consulate in Nigeria, Daniella Ruff, 

during the inauguration of a block of six classrooms donated by Oloye 

Akinjide to the school.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 — 37 

•A typical Nigerian classroom 

Dearth of teachers hinders 

commencement of History teaching 

council on education should absolve 

the policy and get all the 

commissioners of education across 

the country to buy into it and then 

develop common parameter for 

implementation. 

The expert said, if the Ministry 

of Education is serious about it, 

they should push it into the National 

Council on Education 

which aggregates all the stakeholders. 

He explained that since 

it was not a tertiary thing, the 

NUC can do whatever they want 

with jamb at university level, but 

am still concerned about teaching 

it at primary school level, primary 

4-6 and teaching it at JSS 

1-3. 

‘’If you don’t have the foundation, 

introducing or offering History 

at SSS level is meaningless, 

because it is like a house without 

foundation,’’ he said. As regards 

the issue of dearth of history 

teachers, Olukoju maintained that 

the person that studied history all 

his life can not unlearn all he 

had learnt. According to him, such 

a person needs to adjust and 

brush himself up. 

He said: ‘’We need to come together 

and agree on the curriculum 

and what to teach these children. 

Once we have a conclusion, 

a lot of stakeholders can buy into 

it. 

Rewarding 

diligence 

By Dayo Adesulu & 

Daud Olatunji 

HAVING realized the im 

portance of history to our 

children, the Federal Government, 

few weeks ago, restored the 

teaching of History as a subject to 

the curriculum. After the official 

pronouncement by the Minister 

of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, 

many schools in the states 

are yet to commence the teaching 

due to lack of History teachers. In 

some schools, the few available 

teachers are already engaged in 

teaching other subjects. 

Vanguard investigations revealed 

that apart from the shortage 

of History teachers, many students 

are not interested in the 

subject. They prefer Government 

to History. 

Compulsory 

subject 

If you don’t 

have the 

foundation, 

introducing or 

offering History 

at SS level is 

meaningless, 

because it is 

like a house 

without 

foundation 

cation from the curriculum, the 

former Vice Chancellor of Caleb 

University, Professor Ayodeji 

Olukoju said, it is a multi-faceted 

subject. He asked: ‘’Can the Federal 

Government by fiat or decree 

re-introduce history? 

The answer is both yes and no. 

‘’No, because the states have 

free hand in primary school edu- 

Historians who spoke with our 

correspondent posited that except 

History is made a compulsory subject 

in primary and secondary 

schools, many students will not 

choose it. 

Feelers from Ogun State revealed 

that the State is facing challenges 

of dearth of History teachers 

of History in public secondary 

schools as few of them who could 

teach the subject have been 

swapped for other subjects. Findings 

have shown that the directive 

to return History to the school 

curriculum was greeted with a 

shortfall of teachers. The stakeholders, 

mostly teachers, who 

spoke in separate interviews under 

the condition of anonymity, 

commended the action to return 

the subject which they said was 

needed by the students. 

Some of the teachers told Vanguard 

that the subject might not 

receive immediate implementation 

owing to the acute short of 

teachers to handle the subject. 

According to some of them, 

except new history teachers were 

employed by the government and 

posted to all the public schools, 

the subject may remain in the curriculum 

unattended to. 

They said, even, if the government 

teachers, the students 

need to be talked to and persuaded 

on the need to embrace the 

subject as most of them had lost 

interest in the subject. Attempt to 

get the state government’s reaction 

on the directive was unsuccessful 

as the commissioner for 

education could not be reached 

as at the time of filing this report. 

However, an official in the ministry 

of education who pleaded 

anonymity said the government 

was willing to implement it because 

it believes the subject is 

very important. 

In Lagos State, the situation is 

the same, as schools visited were 

yet to commence the teaching of 

History. Efforts made to get reaction 

from the Lagos State Ministry 

of Education, proved abortive 

as the Personal Assistant to the 

governor on Education, Mrs Kehinde 

Fashola refused to comment 

on the issue. Appointment 

made with our correspondent to 

speak with Authorities was not 

honoured. Speaking with some 

Historians on the practicability of 

commencing teaching of History 

in schools after a long time of vacation 

and junior secondary 

school education. It is only from 

JSS3 upwards that you can say 

every body must concur. 

For instance, in 2015, the Lagos 

State Government commissioned 

me and some people to 

do text books for history in primary 

schools from primary 4-6 

and JSS 1-3. 

Pproblem of 

transition 

‘’I assembled people from several 

Universities across this country 

,we delivered the text books 

in May 2015,but the initiative was 

killed. The balance of the money 

was never paid, and they took the 

text books but never developed 

them. ‘’The decision was taken 

at cabinet level under Fashola 

Government and we submitted it 

in the dying days of the Government. 

The government was busy 

with transition, however, it was 

from APC to APC. 

‘’There is a problem of Cartier 

relationship between federal and 

states, there is a problem of transition 

from one government to another 

in terms of continuity of policy 

and there is the issue of taking 

decision and forgetting implementation 

through the bureaucracy 

in Alausa. It was the 

bureaucracy that killed this 

idea,because bureaucracy does 

not change, it is fraud.’’ 

He posited that the national 

‘’Historical Association of Nigeria 

and other societies like the one 

I lead, the universities, colleges 

of education, the faculties of education 

teaching history and the 

department of history across the 

nations universities are the stake 

holders. 

‘’I think the policy is good. It's 

long over due. The implementation 

should be systematic and 

there should be mechanism not 

only for fashioning out a common 

curriculum not only for developing 

common text books with local 

arrangement, but there should be 

mechanism for implementation. 

We want to see the impact. 

‘’In America no matter your 

course of study you must study 

history . There should be a means 

of injecting it into the curriculum, 

there should be a means of making 

students like and learn it. 

‘’There should be a means of rewarding 

diligence in studying it 

and in learning it. It is not just a 

government problem, many people 

in our society don’t like history, 

the society must buy into it. 

‘’It is good for people to have 

an idea of history. History is what 

we live with, live for and make 

every day. A societal awareness 

also should be created along with 

this government project. Teachers, 

associations, principals of 

schools, teachers of history especially 

the ones that studied history 

education and the press 

should be carried along.


AWARD: Prof. G. C. Ilogu (middle), flanked by Dr. Olaotan Kuku and Miss Blessing 

Nnenna Ilogu, during a Convocation for the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree of 

Educational Foundations awarded to Prof. G. C. Ilogu by EAU Commonwealth of Dominica 

held at University of Lagos. 

State of Education: Stakeholder tasks FG 

By Dayo Adesulu 

IN order to address the 

falling standard of 

Education in Nigeria, the federal 

government has been urged to set 

up a presidential task force 

charged with the responsibility of 

resuscitating the sector and 

rescuing it from total collapse. 

An educationist, Mrs. Arete- 

Zoe Amana stated this in Abuja, 

while addressing journalists, as 

she recommended that members 

of the task force team cut across 

different sectors with emphasis 

on the private sector. 

Amana acknowledged the 

bureaucracies involved in 

government businesses, as she 

suggested that the establishment 

of a stronger task force team and 

harmonious synergy amongst 

critical stakeholders would no 

doubt eradicate bottlenecks and 

thus facilitate issues of education 

development. 

"I commend the efforts and 

visionary leadership of the 

Minister of Education, Malam 

Adamu Adamu towards a better 

education system. However more 

budgetary allocation and private 

sector involvement in funding 

education is required for effective 

service delivery. 

"Nigerians should stop 

complaining about the declining 

state of education and seek to 

galvanize support for 

government and the private sector 

to achieve the desired change as 

contained in the federal 

government’s three-year 

education policy document." 

Amana who said gone are the 

days that government is left with 

the responsibility of solely funding 

education added; "We recognise 

the contributions of Tertiary 

Education Fund (TETfund) and 

other interventions in terms of 

infrastructural provisions, but 

more support is required 

particularly from the private 

sector. I am optimistic that the 

forthcoming Nigeria Investment 

Promotion Council (NIPC) and 

EDUINVEST conference, with 

focus on education will serve as 

a veritable platform for 

international organisations and 

private sectors to dissect the great 

opportunities abound in Nigeria’s 

education sector." 

Amana disclosed that the 

conference scheduled for Calabar 

will, among other things, provide 

opportunities for relevant 

government agencies and private 

investors to exchange views, 

ideas and expertise. It will also 

provide an opportunity to finalize 

plans on the establishment of 

EDUPOLIS, an innovation that 

would further boost the education 

sector. 

Educationist canvasses inclusion of special needs teachers’ 

programme in curriculum 

By Kelechukwu Iruoma 

The Executive Director, M.D. 

School, Mrs. Omolara 

Adedugbe has said that special 

needs teachers’ programme 

should be included in Nigeria’s 

teachers’ education curriculum in 

order to operate an all-inclusive 

system of education, to accommodate 

children who require special 

needs education. 

Mrs. Adedugbe said this during 

a press briefing to announce 

the 30th anniversary celebration 

of M.D. School at Oko Oba, Lagos. 

Adedugbe while speaking to 

journalists noted that only few 

schools run special needs programme 

in Nigeria because of 

lack of special needs teachers and 

its capital insensitivity. She said, 

“There is need to overhaul the 

curriculum to include special 

needs teachers’ programme. 

Some institutions like University 

of Ibadan and University of 

Joshave it.” 

She stated that M.D School 

started as a special needs school 

by teaching children who had 

difficulty in their hearing and 

speech, and put them in institutions 

with their counterparts who 

had no special needs. She revealed 

that the school had grown 

to be a regular school and special 

needs school located at Agidingi, 

New Oko Oba and Omole. 

“Agidingbi and New Oko Oba are 

for regular students while Omole 

is for special needs students. 

At the 30th anniversary celebration 

at Academy Inn in Ikeja, She 

said, “Today, we have become a 

reference point of high standards 

in academic and moral instruction 

to our young children, especially 

children with special needs, 

who are extremely dear to our 

hearts.” 

she said that M.D School had 

provided an excellent educational 

model that has equipped children 

with the skills and tools to become 

not only men and women of success 

but also of value, able to serve 

their families and immediate communities. 

However, as part of the programme 

to mark the 30 anniversary 

of the school, Adedugbe stated 

that the school carried out social 

responsibility programmes in 

Oko Oba. She said, “We did 

cleaning of the environment in 

Oko Oba and free medical check 

ups for the community.” 

Lagos State Commissioner for 

the Environment, Dr. Babatunde 

Adejare, who graced the anniversary 

congratulated and commended 

the management and 

staff of M. D School for contributing 

positively to the development 

of education in Lagos State. “My 

three children attended this school 

and they have grown to become 

great in life.” 

He noted that the state government 

would ensure that the environment 

would be highly conducive 

for learning, which would 

be beneficial to M. D School and 

every other school in Lagos 

State. 

NGO to empower 100 teachers 

IN a bid to motivate and ap 

preciate the Nigerian teacher’s 

effort in grooming and instilling 

knowledge in students, 

LWTZE Community Initiative, a 

Non Governmental Organization, 

is set to organize a one day event 

to honor public school teachers. 

The event, which will hold on 

the 13th of November at The 

Best Western Island Hotel,Lagos, 

is aimed at reiterating the relevance 

of teachers in the society. 

The event will feature empowerment 

sessions to be spearheaded 

by professionals and motivational 

speakers to encourage 

teachers in their continued effort 

at imparting knowledge with diligence. 

Director LWTZE, Mrs. Olayinka 

Adamu, who over the years has 

successfully embarked on several 

public based programs to promote 

economic empowerment of 

By Tare Youdeowei 

FOUNDER of UNICAF, Dr 

Nicos Nicolaou, has said 

that it is imperative that higher 

education becomes a more affordable 

option to enable the continent 

to create a strong, well-qualified 

workforce to meet the needs 

of its growing economy. 

Nicolaou made this known as 

he commented on the recent 

opening of UNICAF University 

in Malawi which aims to become 

the leading higher education institution 

in sub-Saharan Africa, 

recognised for its outstanding contribution 

to teaching, learning 

and research. 

“Seven out of ten African firms 

surveyed by Ernst and Young, global 

leader in assurance, tax, transaction 

and advisory services, are 

recruiting to support planned 

growth yet vacancies are taking 

longer to fill and employee turnover 

is high. The consultancy also 

reported that Africa has the fastest-growing 

middle-class in the 

FORMER Head of Depart 

ment, Educational Foundations, 

University of Lagos, 

Prof. Guy Chibuzoh Ilogu has 

been conferred with the prestigious 

honorary Doctorate Degree 

award by the European American 

University in Common 

Wealth of Dominica, held at the 

University of Ghana. 

Addressing guests at the occasion, 

Head, International Relation, 

Integrity International, Engr. 

Joseph Ododo, explained that the 

honour on the recipient was in 

recognition of his outstanding 

achievements and contributions 

observed and strongly appreciated 

by the University, the European-American 

University. 

According to him, it is part of 

EAU's programme to encourage 

excellence and acknowledge the 

contribution of respectful distinguished 

men and women world 

women and address germane 

national issues that conflict with 

development said; "We are constantly 

seeking ways to impact the 

society through various initiatives 

focused on women and children. 

We have had some events over 

the years like the ‘Walk against 

Climate Change and Violence’ 

that educated people on the climate 

and on violence. 

"This year we have decided to 

shift the focus to female teachers 

in Nigeria to celebrate and recognize 

them in their contribution 

to nation building through imparting 

knowledge. We have 

lined up activities like pamper sessions, 

where some will get a spa 

session and several other gift 

items.” 

Adamu further encouraged 

teachers to attend the event as it 

promises to be a special celebration 

of Nigeria teachers. 

‘Higher education needs to be more 

affordable for Africa to grow’ 

world, accounting for nine of the 

15 fastest growing economies in 

the world. 

“If Africa is to maintain its lead, 

it is imperative that higher education 

becomes a more affordable 

option enabling the continent to 

create a strong, well-qualified 

workforce to meet the needs of its 

growing economy.” 

With plans to enrol 60,000 students 

by the year 2020, UNICAF 

has awarded more than $35m 

worth of scholarships and cut the 

cost of attending university for 

thousands of sub-Saharan transnational 

students by up to 80%, 

making higher education, something 

that has been out of reach 

for the vast majority of the population, 

a viable and very real option. 

Continuing, Nicolaou said; 

“UNICAF offers a broad range of 

on-campus and online undergraduate 

and postgraduate degree 

programmes at affordable 

prices. 

EAU confers honorary degree on Ilogu 

wide. Thus, EAU proposed 

through its African Operations 

office, to confer honorary doctorate 

degrees to those who have 

made outstanding contributions 

in academic, politics, business 

administration, religion and humanitarian 

services in the advancement 

of humanity in general. 

Professor Ilogu was nominated 

as one of such distinguished personalities 

to be honored with 

honorary doctorate degree (D.sc 

Hons) of Science in Educational 

Development and Management. 

The ceremony witnessed the attendance 

of Head of Department 

Educational Foundations, 

Unilag, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, 

Dr. Olaotan Kuku, Miss Blessing 

Nnenna Ilogu and Pastor Emmanuel 

Humphrey of Living 

Faith Church (a.k.a winners 

chapel) among others.

Students lament compulsory handouts in tertiary 

institutions 

By Tare Youdeowei, 

Elizabeth Uwandu & 

Kelechukwu Iruoma 

INSTITUTIONS in Nigeria 

have long been citadels 

where students must buy text 

books and 'handouts' (materials) 

recommended and written by 

their lecturers before they can 

pass the courses being taught by 

the lecturers. 

As a result of the recession in 

the country, students lament that; 

instead of being considerate and 

relax their resolve of making text 

books compulsory, lecturers still 

compel students to buy their text 

books, otherwise, they will fail 

their courses. 

Lecturers, however, revealed 

that they sell textbooks to survive 

the economic hardship since their 

salaries are quite discouraging 

and not being paid as at when 

due. Meanwhile, some of the students 

who spoke to Quadlife revealed 

that they are being punished, 

intimidated and frustrated 

by lecturers as a result of not being 

able to buy the books compelled 

to buy. 

A female student of Faculty of 

Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 

UNN, who did not want her 

name in print revealed that text 

books are actually made compulsory 

in the school by some lecturers 

amidst this economic recession. 

“It has gotten to a point 

where one cannot make use of text 

books used by their elders simply 

because the receipts of the text 

books must be submitted to the 

lecturers while registering their 

ourses. 

Photocopy of 

the materials 

“In my department one lecturer 

said his textbooks are not compulsory 

but will tell the class representative 

to get him the names 

of those that paid. What will he 

be doing with the names if the 

books are not compulsory? 

“A lecturer will release materials 

to students and demand that 

they pay certain amount to him 

for releasing the materials. What 

pains me is that we make the 

photocopy of the materials with 

our money and still pay him for 

releasing the materials to us. He 

used to say, ‘A doctor (Ph.D) cannot 

release his knowledge to students 

free of charge." 

Also lamenting the situation, 

Ifeanyi Eze (not real name), a 

300-level student of Education 

and Applied Arts, Alvan Ikoku 

College of Education, said that 

students face untold hardship in 

the hands of lecturers in the form 

of intimidation, punishment and 

sometimes, out-right failing the 

students. 

"For me, as a student, handouts 

are only necessary and not compulsory. 

So, lecturers should not 

compel students to buy handouts 

because, it is too obvious that most 

of the textbooks do not correspond 

with the course outline.” 

Bankole Adure, a Higher National 

Diploma, HND, student of 

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, 

MAPOLY, Ogun state, said textbooks 

and handouts are necessary 

ingredients to get good 

grades as they afford students the 

opportunity to get in depth knowledge 

of their courses. 

Adure frowned at the idea 

where lecturers compel their students 

to buy textbooks and handouts 

that are not in line with the 

course outline. “I believe if textbooks 

and handouts are optional, 

the results of students will be 

poor compared to when it is made 

compulsory. However, if the 

handouts do not tally with the 

subjects, authorities should not 

engage students to buy them.” 

Another student from Faculty of 

Education, UNN, who identified 

herself as Agatha, noted that 

some general courses textbooks 

in the institution are made compulsory, 

adding that if students 

do not buy them, they would register 

the courses and that would 

be an automatic fail. “The textbooks 

of two courses offered by 

Center for Entrepreneurship Development 

are made compulsory, 

Statistics, Computer Science 

and the General Studies units 

make textbooks compulsory.” She 

noted that the prizes of the books 

range from N1200 to N1700. 

Explaining the reason lecturers 

impose texbooks and handouts on 

students, a lecturer in one of the 

federal universities, Dr. Chukwuemeka 

(not real name), said; 

“You cannot really blame lecturers. 

Take me for instance, my salary, 

as I am speaking to you is 

N123, 000 based on my rank. If 

you tell me to relocate to Lagos, I 

wouldn’t because the cost of living 

is so high and I wouldn’t be 

able to take anything home. 

"A senior lecturer earns about 

220, 000, a professor’s salary stops 

at 550,000. This is very poor and 

this is because the reward for 

academia is very poor. Lecturers 

and teachers are struggling to 

make ends meet and their commitment 

level is therefore low. 

Academia should be think-tanks of govt 

– Elemo 

By Tare Youdeowei 

DIRECTOR, Centre for 

Environmental Studies 

and Sustainable Development, 

CESSED, Prof. Babajide Elemo, 

has called on the academia to 

serve as the knowledge base of 

the government. 

He made the call at the Centre’s 

public lecture on ‘Public Water 

Supply in the Mega City of Lagos’ 

handled by guest lecturer Dr. 

Bola Balogun, Assistant General 

Manager,Quality Control, Lagos 

Water Corporation and unveiling 

of its new nomenclature and logo. 

“An appraisal of efforts thus far 

has showed that the centre has 

fairly fulfilled its objective of 

training personnel, it has 

however not matched its 

objectives in other cardinal areas 

such as research, establishing 

synergy with ministry agencies 

and multinational companies and 

creating awareness of its existence 

and relevance within and outside 

the country.” Elemo said. 

Stating the role of the academia 

in providing portable water in 

Lagos, Dr Bola Balogun said; 

“The academia needs to build 

capacity for water supply and 

develop knowledge based 

innovative solutions to local 

problems of improving services in 

the sector. They also need to 

generate, collect and store quality 

long term data that will help 

provide a basis for planning. 

Finding lasting solutions to water 

treatment and research into salient water 

incursion is also a way the academia can 

contribute to resolving water generation 

supply and supply challenges.” 

Stating the need for the public lecture, Prof. 

Elemo, said; “There is an increasing concern 

about the contamination of the various bodies 

of water available in Lagos and this is the 

reason why the university has deemed it fit 

to invite her partners in the Ministries of 

Environment, Agriculture, Health, Local 

Government Sole Administrators and 

stakeholders, to find lasting solutions as water 

itself carries a large proportion in the 

composition and maintenance of life. 

“Locally the major environmental problems 

include oil spillage, deforestation associated 

with soil erosion, ozone layer depletion, 

desertification, acid deposition as well as 

water and air pollution. The impact of 

environmental degradation is more severe in 

Lagos being the commercial nerve centre of 

the country. 


MR. Ekomobong Finbarr 

has successfully produced 

and defended this solar 

powered tricycle (Keke) as his first 

degree project in partial fulfillment 

for the award of a degree in 

Electrical Engineering, Federal 

University of Technology, (FUTO), 

Owerri. It took him just few weeks 

to produce the tricycle. 

The tricycle does not have an 

engine but is powered by a battery 

and solar energy. When test 

By Chinedu Adonu 

STUDENTS have been 

urged to read extensively 

because it would open vistas of 

opportunities for them. 

This charge was given by Prof. 

Pat Ngwu of the Dept of Adult 

Education & Extramural Studies, 

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 

during the annual Little Writers 

Awards ceremony for secondary 

school students and teachers in 

Nsukka zone, Enugu State. 

The event which was organised 

by AIFA Reading Society, a nonprofit-making 

organisation that 

focuses on building youths’ 

interest in reading, saw Prof. 

Ngwu describe reading as a 

cornerstone for a child’s success 

in life, noting that reading is the 

world’s longest kept secret, 

lamenting the poor reading 

culture among Africans. 

His words; "Reading is one of 

man’s ingenious inventions. It is 

one skill that not only opens up 

several social spaces and 

opportunities for man from which 

he makes choices but also 

prepares one for the future in a 

Quadlife 

FUTO student produces solar 

powered tricycle 

driven by his lecturers and Head 

of Department, Mr. Damian Dike, 

it was discovered that the tricycle 

goes 11km without blinking. Lecturers 

of FUTO who were completely 

stunned that he could put 

this together said they are proud 

of the achievement of Ekomobong. 

Mr. Damian Dike and his colleague, 

Dr. Achumba enjoyed the 

first cruise of the Keke. 

Read extensively to open vistas of 

opportunity, AIFA urges students 

nearly perfect predictive 

trajectory. Reading is so important 

that only the oppressed can afford 

to be illiterate. Any community 

that does not promote reading 

should not be recognised by 

government as an autonomous 

community,” Ngwu declared as 

he deliverved his keynote 

address titled The Importance of 

Reading Culture in the Society. 

One of the resource persons, Dr. 

Mike Ajogwu, SAN, harped on 

the importance of reading, saying 

that one of the famous writers, 

Charles Dickens did not have 

much education but by reading 

extensively, he was able to write 

powerful novels. 

Also chairman of Enugu State 

Post-Primary School 

Management Board, Barr. Nestor 

Ezema stressed the importance of 

reading and promised to ensure 

that more teachers are employed 

to teach core subjects that would 

aid reading at early stage, saying 

that the government would not 

take the gesture of AIFA in 

improving reading and learning 

for granted.


How US election'll shape global democracy 

In this piece, the Head, International Politics at the 

Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, `Prof 

Osita Agbu and a Research Fellow at the institute, Mr. 

Kelechi Nwogu analysed the US 2016 Presidential Poll for 

Vanguard and its impact on democratic processes in the 

world. 

This report raises the curtain on Vanguard’s special 

coverage of the election which would be covered in the 

US by our Group Political Editor, EMMANUEL AZIKEN 

& GBENGA OKE, also of the Political Desk. 

By Prof Osita Agbu & 

Kelechi Nwogu 

WE are at a period in the 

history of America’s 

electoral history that the 

ordinary American citizen and 

indeed, the global citizen have 

never witnessed. While the 

electoral process and the 

developments arising therefrom 

are at once entertaining and 

intriguing, they are at the same 

time puzzling and dangerously 

close to questioning all the 

democratic credentials of the 

civilized world, and the United 

States as its purveyor. And who 

are the main actors, billionaire 

Donald Trump and the 

Republican party on the one 

hand; and Hilary Clinton and 

the Democratic Party on the 

other. 

The stage is set, and there are 

all sorts of stage hands all trying 

to outdo each other to please the 

main actors, not to make the 

play pleasing to the audience, 

but to satisfy their perceived and 

mentally constructed finale. We 

just cannot wait for the play to 

end as presented by the CNN. 

One thing is for sure, we all 

now know more about American 

democracy than ever before. 

While we kept waiting for the 

real issues to be thrashed out 

in the debates as befitting an 

advanced democracy, what 

came through was thrash, 

abuses, a lack of civility, bad 

blood, bitterness and a confused 

electorate as never seen before. 

Integrity 

issues 

The question, therefore, is: 

How did the US electoral 

system throw up candidates 

that appear to have baggages 

trailing them, in this case 

psychological, egoistic and 

integrity issues. 

As we know, democracy and 

respect for human rights have 

long been central components 

of US foreign policy. Supporting 

democracy not only promotes 

such fundamental American 

values as religious freedom and 

worker rights, but also helps 

create a more secure, stable, and 

prosperous global arena in 

which the United States can 

advance its national interests. 

In addition, democracy is the 

one national interest we know 

that that helps to secure all the 

others. The thinking is that 

democratically governed 

•Prof Agbu 

nations are more likely to secure 

the peace, deter aggression, 

expand open markets, promote 

economic development, protect 

American citizens, combat 

international terrorism and 

crime, uphold human and 

worker rights, avoid 

humanitarian crises and 

refugee flows, improve the 

global environment, and protect 

While we kept 

waiting for the real 

issues to be 

thrashed out in the 

debates as 

befitting an 

advanced 

democracy, what 

came through 

were thrash, 

abuses, lack of 

civility, bad blood, 

bitterness and a 

confused 

electorate as never 

seen before 

human health. Although, 

democracy is an ideal, however, 

you must agree with me that the 

virtues are noble, and so far, we 

are yet to see a type of 

government better than 

democracy for the selection of 

leaders and protection of rights. 

It is against this backdrop that 

the United States sought to 

promote democracy and is seen 

as doing so as a means to 

achieve security, stability, and 

prosperity for the entire world, 

assist newly formed 

democracies in implementing 

democratic principles, assist 

democracy advocates around 

the world to establish vibrant 

democracies in their own 

countries; and identify and 

denounce regimes that deny 

their citizens the right to choose 

their leaders in elections that are 

free, fair, and transparent. 

Transparent 

elections 

•Nwogu 

In the past 25 years, the 

United States through policy 

and support of International 

Non-governmental 

organizations exported 

democracy to far-flanged areas 

of the world. 

The goal, therefore, is for the 

United States to remain 

committed to expanding upon 

this legacy until all the citizens 

of the world have the 

fundamental right to choose 

those who govern them through 

an ongoing civil process that 

includes free, fair, and 

transparent elections. However, 

are these ideals coming through 

in the mudslinging 

characterizing the present 

presidential elections in the 

United States with even the FBI 

being accused of trying to 

influence the voters by 

announcing that there are more 

leaked email communications, 

which may further question the 

integrity of Hilary Clinton as a 

presidential candidate? 

In respect of the US electoral 

process proper, according to the 

US Department of State inhouse 

publication - Diplomacy 

in Action, the series of 

presidential primary elections 

and caucuses held in each US 

state and territory forms part of 

the nominating process of the 

United States presidential 

elections. 

The United States 

Constitution has never 

specified the process; political 

parties have developed their 

own procedures over time. 

Some states hold only primary 

elections, some hold only 

caucuses, and others use a 

combination of both. 

National 

convention 

These primaries and caucuses 

are staggered, generally 

beginning in either late- 

January or early-February, and 

ending about mid-June before 

the general election in 

November. State and local 

governments run the primary 

elections, while caucuses are 

private events that are directly 

run by the political parties 

themselves. 

A state’s primary election or 

caucus is usually an indirect 

election. Instead of voters 

directly selecting a particular 

person running for President, 

they determine the number of 

delegates each party’ s 

national convention will 

receive from their respective 

state. These delegates then, in 

turn, select their party’s 

presidential nominee. Each 

party determines how many 

delegates it allocates to each 

state. Along with those pledged 

delegates chosen during the 

primaries and caucuses, state 

delegations to both the 

Democratic and Republican 

conventions also include 

unpledged delegates who 

have a vote. For Republicans, 

they consist of the three top 

party officials who serve At 

Large from each state and 

territory. Democrats have a 

more expansive group of 

unpledged delegates called 

super delegates, who are party 

leaders and elected officials. 

If no single candidate has 

secured an absolute majority of 

delegates (including both 

pledged and unpledged), then 

a brokered convention occurs, 

all pledged delegates are 

released after the first round of 

voting and are able to switch 

their allegiance to a different 

candidate, and then additional 

rounds take place until there is 

a winner with an absolute 

majority. 

Anti-establishment 

businessman 

As have been observed by 

many the ongoing presidential 

campaign in the United States 

stands out for its lack of civility 

and the vast differences 

between the candidates: the 

anti-establishment businessman 

Donald Trump and the polished 

and experienced politician 

Hillary Clinton. 

The contest has exposed deep 

fault lines within American 

society and may have damaged 

the country’s global reputation. 

But has the campaign gone too 

far? And what comes next? The 

Republican nominee Donald 

Trump could be said to be a 

most unlikely populist. Having 

inherited a fortune and added 

value to it, he is self-confident, 

sure of himself and distasteful 

of other less achieved humans. 

He talks of an economy he 

understands, and surprisingly 

shows little knowledge of 

diplomacy and international 

politics. But he has somehow 

managed to tap into a deep vein 

of distress and resentment 

among millions of white 


VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016–41 

How US election'll shape global democracy 


working- and middle-class Americans 

who want some change, a departure 

from the establishment politics they 

have seen over the years. To them, 

Hilary Clinton represents this 

establishment. 

The current Polls suggest that 

Clinton, a former senator and secretary 

of state, will defeat the controversial 

Trump, even though her lead is 

increasingly narrowing by the day as 

the play reaches crescendo. But the 

polls could be wrong as has been 

experienced severally on several other 

issues around the globe in recent times, 

from the Brexit vote in Europe to the 

Peace Deal gone sour in Colombia. The 

only poll that will finally put this 

speculation to rest is that of November 

8. 

The basis for Trump overcoming the 

lead already established by Clinton, 

and by extension Barack Obama and 

the democrats is for him to win the 

“battle ground” states, the states which 

swing more frequently from Democrat 

to Republican and back over the 

decades. The other states are 

considered “safe I seats” as it is easy 

to predict who the winner will be. 

Greater 

confidence 

The safe seats account for 418 of the 

538 Electoral College votes to be won 

on Election Day. These states are 

Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North 

Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, 

Nevada and New Hampshire. 

Yet some predictions can be made 

with greater confidence. There is very 

little doubt that the US will emerge 

from this 

election with 

bruises and 

a divided 

government, 

regardless 

of who is 

president or 

which party 

has a 

majority in 

e i t h e r 

chamber of 

Congress. 

In a post 

Trump- 

Clinton 

Presidential 

battle, it will 

be more 

How will 

America and 

the global 

community be 

after this 

election? No 

one can really 

say with any 

certainty 

difficult to 

achieve a 

centrist position on issues in the United 

States as the divide is not only between 

the Republicans and Democrats, but 

also within the wider American society. 

Indeed, it is said as seen from the polls 

that both presidential candidates are 

actually unpopular with about 60 

percent disapproval rate by Americans. 

If Clinton wins, it will be a case of the - 

devil you know is better than the one 

you do not – and only because of 

Trump’s flaws. 

And if Trump wins, after we recover 

from the surprise and probably miracle, 

it will create a situation in which most 

Democrats and even some Republicans 

will make it their highest priority to 

ensure that he does not have an 

opportunity for a second term, given 

his many flaws, governing would be 

rather very difficult during his 

administration. But what are the policy 

issues that somehow got sidelined in 

the heated media war on trivialities 

during the campaign – they are issues 

to do with how to enact legislation to 

fund the modernization of America’s 

aging infrastructure, reform of the US 

tax code – in particular, lowering the 

high rate for corporations and raising 

taxes on the wealthy, and some reform 

of health care - President Barack 

Obama’s signature achievement, 

which has suffered implementation 

problems. 

In addition, there is also the 

lingering and nagging border and 

immigration issues and reform, which 

are as controversial in the US as it is 

in Europe, as well as trade issues. It 

is on record that both Trump and 

Clinton oppose the Trans-Pacific 

Partnership, even though its 

ratification could benefit America’s 

economy and strategic standing. 

The foreign-policy implications of the 

election is quite interesting as under 

Clinton, the discretion of the president 

to execute foreign policy could 

translate into establishing one or more 

safe areas in Syria, providing more 

defensive arms to Ukraine, and taking 

a tougher line toward North Korea 

as it continues its nuclear and missile 

buildup. On the other hand, it is more 

difficult to guess what Trump would 

do as one cannot seriously guess how 

his many campaign rhetoric would be 

translated into policy. Still, it is possible 

to anticipate a Trump administration 

distancing itself from some traditional 

allies in Europe and Asia and standing 

mostly aloof from the Middle East 

crisis as noted by experts. 

Electoral 

experience 

How will America and the global 

community be after this election? No 

one can really say with any certainty, 

but only to hazard a guess that 

American electoral experience will 

never be the same again, and that both 

parties - the Democratic and the 

Republicans parties would have 

learned some serious lessons about 

who not to put forward as presidential 

candidates. 

For the global community at all 

levels, it is plausible that the choice of 

Americans in this unprecedented and 

dramatic electoral process will impact 

one way or the other. Has faith in 

democracy been eroded from this 

experience? With Donald Trump 

refusing to say that he will accept the 

result of the election during the third 

debate for instance. Perhaps! Our faith 

in democracy American style is 

shaken! 

But the lesson for all is that with over 

200 years of practicing democracy 

America still makes mistakes, and this 

implies that for younger democracies 

hope must never be lost in 

incrementally building better and 

transparent selection processes of our 

leaders. 

•Osita Agbu is Research 

Professor and Head, Division of 

International Politics at the 

Nigerian Institute of International 

Affairs, Lagos. Kelechi Nwogu is 

a Research Fellow at the Institute. 

Latest Poll suggests tight race in battle 

grounds 

*How candidates stand in Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania 

BOTH the Clinton Trump at 47%. That’s an cast ballots in Arizona 

and Trump apparent shift in Clinton’s and Nevada are about 

campaigns have hit the direction since the last evenly split, with a 

ground hard in CNN/ORC poll there in narrow advantage for 

Arizona, Florida, September before the Clinton, while she holds a 

Nevada and presidential debates wide margin among those 

Pennsylvania, and new began, but still a withinmargin-of-error 

race. already voted in Florida. 

who say they have 

CNN/ORC polls across 

the four states paint a In Nevada, the poll Trump tops Clinton by 

picture of a tight race to suggests the race has also double-digits in all three 

the finish in critical shifted, with Trump now states among those 

battlegrounds. 

ahead there 49% to 43%, likely voters who say 

Clinton holds a 4-point with 5% behind they plan to cast their 

edge among likely voters Libertarian Gary ballot on November 8. 

in the historically bluetilting 

Pennsylvania, and a two-point Clinton edge votes cast before 

Johnson, compared with In Pennsylvania, where 

Trump tops Clinton by 5 in mid-October. 

election day come only 

with voters in redleaning 

Arizona. Though women are more apt for an absentee ballot 

Across all four states, from those who apply 

both states tilt in the than men to support and have a reason why 

same direction as their Clinton, men tilt to Trump they can’t vote on 

2012 results, the leaders’ in each place. White Election Day, there 

margins are tighter than voters break heavily in were too few early 

their predecessors’ final Trump’s favor in each voters to analyze. 

leads were in each state. state, while non-whites In Florida and 

Florida appears to be favor Clinton by wide Nevada, there are sharp 

as tight a contest as ever, margins. And voters who enthusiasm gaps 

with Clinton at 49% say they have already between Clinton voters 

among likely voters and 

and Trump voters, with 

the Trump backers far 

more likely to say 

they’re enthusiastic 

about voting this year in 

both Florida (58% 

among Trump 

supporters, 48% among 

Clinton backers) and 

Nevada (61% for Trump 

voters, 48% for Clinton 

supporters). In Arizona 

Donald Trump goes to a Wawa gas station 

after a campaign event in King of Prussia, 

Pennsylvania. Photo:REUTERS 

and Pennsylvania, 

there isn’t much of an 

enthusiasm gap, but 

also not much 

enthusiasm either, with 

fewer than half of voters 

saying they are 

extremely or very 

enthusiastic about voting 

for president this year. 

S/AFRICA: Report on Zuma points to 

possible corruption 

AN investigation 

into South Africa’s 

President Jacob Zuma 

has found evidence of 

possible corruption at 

the top level of his 

government. 

In the report, former 

Public Protector Thuli 

M a d o n s e l a 

recommends Mr Zuma 

establish a judicial 

commission of inquiry 

within 30 days. 

Mr Zuma is accused of 

an improper 

relationship with 

wealthy businessmen. 

He had tried to block 

the release of the 

report, but dropped his 

court bid on 

Wednesday. 

The president and 

leader of the governing 

African National 

Congress (ANC) has 

been dogged by 

corruption allegations 

for more than a decade, 

but has repeatedly 

denied any wrongdoing. 

Police fired water 

cannon to disperse 

protesters who 

marched on Mr Zuma’s 

main office in Pretoria 

to demand his 

resignation. 

The 355-page report 

by former anticorruption 

chief Thuli 

Madonsela is entitled 

“State of Capture” and is 

illustrated on its front 

page with a hand strung 

with puppet wires. 

Iranian ex-prosecutor sentenced to 

135 lashes for corruption 

AN Iranian court 

has sentenced 

Tehran’s controversial 

former chief prosecutor 

to 135 lashes for 

corruption, local media 

report. 

Saeed Mortazavi was 

convicted of 

misappropriation and 

wasting public goods. 

The offences are said 

to have taken place 

while he was in charge 

of Iran’s social welfare 

system in 2012 and 

2013. 

He has previously 

been the subject of US 

sanctions, accused of 

“sustained and severe 

violations of human 

rights”. 

State television 

quoted prosecutors as 

saying the sentence was 

too light and that they 

planned to lodge a 

complaint. 

His sentence is also 

open to appeal. 

Mortazavi, a close ally 

of former President 

M a h m o u d 

Ahmadinejad, has been 

fiercely criticised by 

reformists and human 

rights organisations. 

He rose to 

prominence in the early 

2000s, when he was 

instrumental in shutting 

down reformist 

newspapers and 

imprisoning journalists.


Why NJC can’t 

discipline some 

Judges — Falana 

Mr Femi Falana, a senior advocate and leading human 

rights activist needs little or no introduction. In this 

interview, he proffers solutions to some questions begging 

for answers on the on-going probe of some Judges for 

corrupt practices in Nigeria. Among others, he explains 

why some judges are untouchable and proffers solutions 

on how to curb the menace of corruption in the country. 

Excerpts: 


HOW would you 

describe the unfolding 

scenario bedevilling the 

Nigerian Judiciary now? 

The image of the country’s 

judiciary is at its lowest ebb. The 

judiciary has never witnessed such 

humiliation before. After the 

condemnation of the barbaric raid 

on the houses of the judges by the 

State Security Service goons, the 

National Judicial Council, (NJC) 

should proceed to examine the 

allegations of judicial corruption 

without any further delay. 

Both the bar and the bench have 

long been united in recognising 

the dangerous rate of judicial 

corruption in the country. 

Regrettably, the authorities in the 

legal profession have paid lip 

service to the nagging crisis of 

judicial corruption for too long. 

Hence we have allowed the purge 

to be instigated from the 

executive. 

Now the allegation of 

corruption levelled against 

some judges is becoming 

messier as some lately 

admitted to have been 

approached for favour by 

some politicians? What is your 

take on this? 

Frankly speaking, I did not know 

that the judiciary had sunk so low 

to the extent that supreme court 

Justices have admitted publicly 

that the doors of their homes have 

been flung open to politicians. 

One of the embattled jurists even 

confessed that he visited a 

serving minister in his house for 

the purpose of discussing a 

pending appeal at the apex court. 

What further evidence of judicial 

misconduct is the NJC looking 

for? Can you imagine judges in 

whose houses millions of naira and 

thousands of dollars and pounds 

sterling were recovered coming out 

to say that they signed and 

admitted the incriminating items 

under duress or that the huge sums 

of money were planted in their 

homes by the security operatives? 

Why did it take over a week to 

disown the statements signed by 

them? Are they not aware that they 

were recorded in line with 

provisions of the Administration of 

Criminal Justice Act 2015? 

When Governor Nyesom Wike 

visited the office of the Chief Justice 

at the Supreme Court complex 

twice when the appeal over his 

election was pending, did his 

Lordship not cry out and warn him 

to desist from the act? Why did both 

Justices Okoro and Ngwuta not cry 

out or alert the Police that they had 

received strange visitors in their 

homes? Of course, I have called 

for an investigation of that aspect 

of the allegation of judicial 

interference. 

What do you think the 

There is no 

civilised society 

that will allow a 

judge accused of 

involvement in 

judicial corruption 

to continue to hear 

and determine 

cases while he has 

not cleared himself 

of the allegation 

allegations and counter 

allegations from the Justices 

portend for the nation’s 

judiciary? 

I thought that our jurists should 

not have gone that far on defending 

themselves. But since they have 

admitted that politicians are allowed 

to visit judges, the NJC has to deal 

with it separately with a view to 

restoring confidence in the 

judiciary at the highest level. 

The NJC has been accused 

of shielding some corrupt 

Judges and that it lacks 

political will to deal with the 

•Mr Femi Falana, SAN 

corruption in the Bench. What 

do you have to say of this? 

I do know that there are some 

judges that are untouchable as far 

as the NJC is concerned. For 

instance, I submitted a petition 

against a judge at the NJC 

headquarters in Abuja. On 

returning to Lagos many people 

had called me to withdraw the 

petition. Even the secretariat of the 

NJC pleaded with me to temper 

justice with mercy. Since the NJC 

claimed to have dealt with all 

petitions I have asked for the 

decision of the body in respect of 

my petition. 

Judicial 

corruption 

I just cannot understand the 

seeming cover up of misconduct on 

the part of some judges by the 

NJC. In the instant case the 

details of the allegations of judicial 

corruption are in the public domain. 

The huge funds recovered from the 

homes of some of the judges during 

the raid have been disclosed. Each 

of the embattled judges has sent 

a written defence to the NJC. For 

goodness sake what other report is 

the NJC waiting for from the DSS 

before embarking on an 

investigation of the unprecedented 

scandal that has shaken the 

nation’s judiciary to its foundation? 

If the NJC had treated the scandal 

with the urgency it required the 

image of the judiciary would not 

have been so badly dented. Last 

year when some judges were 

recorded on tape while negotiating 

bribes in Ghana, the judicial 

authorities in that country did not 

wait for any formal report from the 

journalist, Anas Arameyaw Anas 

who carried out the sting operation. 

The judges who were identified in 

the tape were immediately placed 

on suspension while a full scale 

enquiry was ordered. At the end of 

the inquiry, 22 judges were 

removed from the system. But the 

NJC has said that the judges would 

not be suspended without an 

investigation. With profound 

respect, there is no precedent for 

the stand of the NJC. 

Civilised 

society 

There is no civilised society that 

will allow a judge accused of 

involvement in judicial corruption 

to continue to hear and determine 

cases while he has not cleared 

himself of the allegation. How 

will litigants who appear before him 

have confidence in the judicial 

system? For instance, if he rules 

against the government it may be 

said that it is because he is facing a 

trial. If he rules in favour of the 

government it will be said he has 

done so because he is standing 

trial. 

The NJC recently directed 

judges handling sensitive 

cases to declare their assets 

before and after such matter. 

Does that make any 

difference? 

In addressing the ethical 

challenge confronting the judiciary 

the NJC has to consider the full 

implications of the new policies and 

measures it has introduced. With 

respect, these are knee jerk reactions 

which are not addressing the crisis 

of judicial corruption. Since the 

Constitution has made adequate 

provisions for declaration of assets 

by public officers including judicial 

officers the NJC lacks the 

competence to insist that judges 

should declare assets at the 

beginning and conclusion of 

every sensitive case. Who defines 

a sensitive case? What happens 

in a situation where a judge is 

handling up to 10 sensitive cases? 

Judicial corruption transcends the 

formal declaration of assets. To 

seriously address judicial 

corruption the mode of 

appointment has to be made 

completely transparent. The 

recommendations and views of 

the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, 

on candidates being considered for 

judicial appointments have to be 

taken seriously because lawyers 

know themselves. If corrupt and 

incompetent judges are appointed 

no amount of asset declaration will 

purge or check them. 

What do you feel about the 

panel led by retired Justice 

Idris Legbo Kutigi appointed 

to design code of ethical 

standard for judicial officers? 

The code of conduct for public 

officers and the Code of Conduct 

for judicial officers are sufficient 

to curb misconduct on the part of 

judicial officers in the country. To 

that extent what is required is to 

ensure that both codes are observed 

by judges. 

New ethical 

standards 

With respect, the Kutigi panel 

should not waste time defining new 

ethical standards as the existing 

ones are in order. The Kutigi panel 

should be tasked with the 

responsibility of going round the 

country like the Kayode Eso panel 

to collate information on corrupt 

judges throughout the federation 

and make recommendations to the 

NJC. Unless the ongoing probe is 

thorough and all embracing it will 

not stop or even reduce judicial 

corruption in the country. The NJC 

should therefore have another look 

at the terms of reference of the 

Kutigi panel. 

There were controversies on 

whether the NJC was duly 

notified by security outfit on 

corruption allegedly 

perpetrated by arrested 

Judges. Is it compulsory that 

the security outfit must take 

permission from NJC before 

it will act? 

What the NJC is saying is that it 

was not afforded the opportunity 

by the DSS to examine the 

allegations against the judges. The 

DSS reacted by citing a case of a 

judge who was given a clean bill 

of health by the NJC despite the 

fact that he had collected a bribe of 

N500 million. Whether the claim 

of the DSS is right or not the NJC 

cannot be right in insisting that 

complaints of murder or bribery or 

corruption involving judges have 

to be reported to it. There is no law 

that allows an administrative body 

to usurp the functions of the police 

and the courts. Of course, the DSS 

may take the NJC into confidence 

but there is no law that requires 

the DSS or EFCC to report to the 

NJC any allegation that judges 

have committed or criminal 


VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 — 43 

•Cross section of participants at an International Seminar on Human Rights, Environmental 

Law and Children’s Rights 

Activists emphasize need to protect 

rights of Nigerian children 

By Innocent Anaba 

SPEAKERS and 

participants at an 

International Seminar on Human 

Rights, Environmental Law and 

Children’s Rights have 

agreed on the need for the 

protection of the rights of 

Nigerian child. 

Chairperson, Local Organising 

Committee, LOC, of the 

International Seminar, Prof. Joy 

Ezeilo, Associate Dean, Faculty 

of Law, University of Nigeria, 

Enugu Campus, in her remarks, 

noted that the efforts being made 

to protect the rights of the child 

cannot be overemphasized. 

The International Seminar on 

Human Rights, Environmental 

Law and Children’s Rights was 

jointly organised by the 

University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 

collaboration with the Stockholm 

University Sweden, and the 

Heinrich Böll Foundation. 

According to Ezeilo, the 

seminar themes, include: 

“Environmental Law, Human 

Rights and Climate Change in a 

Post 2015 World: Global Call, 

Local Action; and Violence 

against Children: The 

Dissonance between Law and 

Practice .” 

Prof. Ozumba, the UNN Vice 

Chancellor in his address, noted 

that “Human Rights are 

fundamental rights. Human 

rights are universal and 

inalienable. The United Nations 

Charter and numerous 

international instruments on 

human rights have reaffirmed 

faith in fundamental human 

rights, in the dignity and worth 

of the human person, in the 

equal rights and men and 

women and of nations large and 

small.” 

He said further: “Children are 

our hope for the future and we 

care a great deal about their 

vulnerable nature that we have 

chosen to pay special attention 

to the rights of this demographic 

group in this seminar. 

Children’s rights are also human 

rights in a specialised way and 

we care enough about them to 

even have a law course in this 

university on Children and 

Women’s law since 1997. 

Developing 

collaboration 

This indeed shows how much 

we are willing to invest in the 

interest of our children,” he 

added. 

On his part, Professor Jonas 

Ebbesson, Dean of Faculty of 

Law, Stockholm University, said 

“On behalf of the president of 

Stockholm University, Vice- 

Chancellor, Professor Astrid 

Söderbergh Widding, I am 

honoured to give you greetings 

from Stockholm. Our president 

Söderbergh Widding met your 

president, Professor Benjamin 

Ozumba earlier this year in 

Stockholm and both expressed 

interest in developing 

collaboration for exchange of both 

students and researchers. 

“We are both comprehensive 

universities with strong faculties 

of shared interest. Stockholm 

University has noted an increase 

in applications from Nigerian 

students and we welcome your 

students to our Masters 

programmes, most of which are 

held in English. 

“We have strong research in 

fields of importance to Nigeria 

such as sustainability, 

governance and education and 

would like to explore more 

opportunities for research 

collaborations and staff 

exchange. 

“From my position as Dean of 

the Faculty of Law, at Stockholm 

University, I share these views. 

The Faculty of Law is consistently 

searching for academic 

institutions around the world for 

cooperation in student exchange 

as well as research. 

“Despite the many differences 

between the societies and 

environments in Sweden and 

Nigeria, the topics chosen – 

human rights, environmental 

law, and children’s rights – are 

of high relevance for both 

countries, and they show that we 

are facing many similar 

challenges. It is my strong belief 

that sustainable academic 

cooperation in research cannot be 

imposed top-down.’’ 

Why NJC can’t discipline some 

Judges — Falana 


offences be reported. 

How would you view the 

position of the NJC that the 

recent invasion or arrest of 

some suspected judicial 

officers can be capitalized by 

some hoodlums to also 

invade Judges’ houses at will? 

I have always condemned the 

humiliation of criminal suspects 

generally. Instead of shouting 

myself hoarse over the raid on the 

judges’ home I have demanded 

that we formulated a policy for 

dealing with all criminal suspects. 

Criminal 

suspects 

Let us stop talking of Gestapo 

tactics when judges and lawyers 

as well as other influential people 

are harassed by security forces 

because majority of criminal 

suspects are daily assaulted or 

tortured by the police even when 

they are presumed innocent until 

the contrary is proved by the State. 

I do not share the view that the 

nocturnal raid on the homes of 7 

judges will expose Nigerian judges 

to hoodlums. My home was 

raided not less than 15 times by the 

National Security Organisation 

now State Security Service and the 

Police from 1985-1997 under the 

defunct military junta. 

But those illegal raids have not 

exposed me to danger from 

hoodlums. If the lives of our judges 

By Jane Echewedo 

THE Lagos State 

Government has been 

urged to refrain from granting 

consent to prospective 

applicants who wish to trade on 

Oyetubo Joko-Tade Estate 

Resources Ltd without their 

authorization. 

In a letter to the Lagos State 

Registrar of Titles, Lands 

Bureau, the holding company 

owned by the Oyemade Royal 

Family informed the state 

government that it has 

disengaged the services of one 

Ms Folashade Ogundare who 

was formerly invested with the 

are threatened let the NJC ask 

for adequate security for them. 

Would you subscribe to the 

argument that the root cause 

of the problem today stem from 

the appointment of the 

Judges? 

Yes. Lawyers regularly discuss 

the involvement of certain judges 

in corrupt practices. I know one 

lawyer who could not be appointed 

in the state where he had his 

practice because he was alleged to 

be an agent of corrupt judges. 

But he ran to Abuja and was 

made a federal high court judge 

without any protest from the NBA 

which has five members in the 

National Judicial Council. You 

cannot have an incorruptible 

judiciary without an incorruptible 

bar. 

Lawyers know all corrupt 

lawyers and judges but have failed 

to move against them. Through 

compromise and connivance, the 

NBA allows corrupt and 

incompetent lawyers to be elevated 

to the bench. The root cause of the 

crisis is the mode of appointment. 

Not too long ago brilliant and 

incorruptible lawyers were invited 

to join the bench. 

But today the system allows 

corrupt and incompetent lawyers 

to be appointed as judges. Each of 

the branches of the NBA knows all 

the bad lawyers but will paint them 

in beautiful colours when asked to 

make input into the process of 

appointment. 

Registrar warns against 

unauthorized dealing on land 

power of attorney over the 

company land located in 

Sangotedo area of the state. 

The letter was signed by a 

director of the company, Otunba 

Babatunde Rahman and five 

shareholders namely, Chief 

Muka Bajulaiye, Alhaja Ajimot 

Ashaku Adisa, Chief Adelaja 

Nureni, Mrs Racheal Tokede 

and Mr. Saliu Tajudeen. 

The company through the 

letter stated that it has been 

having a running battle with its 

erstwhile Secretary / Attorney, 

Ms Ogudare over alleged 

mismanagement of proceeds of 

sale of the company’s land 

located at Sangotedo area of 

Lagos. 

CDHR pledges support for anti corruption war 


THE Committee for the 

Defence of Human Rights 

(CDHR) has pledged its 

support for the Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

(EFCC)’s anti-corruption fight. 

The group made this known 

during its Annual General 

Conference (AGC) in Lagos 

which drew it’s members from 

across the country, where it 

called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to set up 

a trust fund to manage the loot 

recovered by the EFCC and 

other anti-corruption agencies. 

“The CDHR supports the 

crusade for transparency and 

anti-corruption by the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, (EFCC) and 

therefore express our profound 

support for the anti-corruption 

agencies. 

“The Senate as a matter of 

urgency, and without further 

delay, should confirm the 

appointment of the EFCC 

Acting Chairman, so as to put 

the EFCC on a sound footing 

and to guaranteeing unfettered 

crusade against corruption in 

Nigeria,” it said. 

According to the group, a 

recovered loot trust fund would 

compel government and antigraft 

agencies to make full 

disclosure of recovered loot and 

their sources, forestall re-looting 

by the political elite and 

provide funds for “financing 

programmes that address 

poverty and create wealth.” 

Those in attendance at the 

AGC , includes CDHR founding 

secretary-general and now 

Chairman, Editorial Board of 

The Nation Newspapers, Mr. 

Sam Omatseye who 

delivered a keynote address on 

“The Concept of Rule of Law 

and The Notion of Justice for 

the Survival of The Nigerian 

State”. 

EDITORIAL 

Innocent Anaba 

( Head) 

Wahab Abdulah 

Dayo Benson 

08056180119


How ECOWAS trade liberalisation 

protects revenue for govt 

Dr. Martin Oluba is an economic 

policy analyst. He spoke to 

Vanguard on the benefits ECOWAS 

Trade Liberalisation Scheme 

(ETLS) offers to Nigeria, what can 

be done to boost intra-African 

trade, among other issues. 

Excerpts: 

By Naomi Uzor 

REGIONAL economic 

integration has been a 

very big issue in ECOWAS 

for a long time. What is your 

take on this? 

Listen to this, as at the end of 

2015, the National Bureau of Statistics 

(NBS) said that capital importation 

into Nigeria was approximately 

$9 billion. However, 

65 per cent of this amount came 

from only the United States of 

America and the United Kingdom. 

There are so many reasons why 

African countries trade more with 

foreign countries than among 

themselves, but I can talk about 

a few. If you look at a typical case, 

Nigeria, the demand pattern 

shifted when we had the oil 

boom, so elitist consumption patterns 

came in and you wouldn’t 

easily get things produced in Africa. 

The natural tendency was, 

therefore, with this money in our 

hands, far in excess of what we 

normally have, where do we get 

the kind of lifestyle that we have 

chosen for ourselves? It’s outside 

of the continent! So, that’s typically 

why you have more of that. 

Natural 

resources 

But that has to change, not necessarily 

because they are bad but 

because there are alternatives 

here. We need to leverage the 

natural resources we have. 

Do you see the ECOWAS 

Trade Liberalisation Scheme 

as a way of smoothing trade 

relationships among countries 

in the sub-region? 

It’s normal and typical to have 

barriers. But then again, it is also 

the norm within economic blocs 

to find ways of taking out these 

barriers. The global tendency is 

to liberalise trade as much as possible 

so that nations could trade 

with each other with fewer restrictions. 

Just last year, the total value of 

imported products from all the 

other 53 African countries into 

Nigeria was $100 million and in 

ECOWAS, for instance, a lot of 

that has been done under the 

ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation 

Scheme (ETLS) which was intended 

to remove non-tariff and 

tariff barriers to trade among 

member-states. 

But then again, you find them 

in different blocs. Even the ETLS 

is copied because it’s the norm 

We need trade, 

not aid. This tells 

the entire story. 

Trade prospers 

both the seller as 

well as the buyer 

sitisation. In fact, countries can 

even partner in capacity building 

in these areas. All of that, I think, 

will help check smuggling. 

If you are to outline the 

benefits of trade liberalisation, 

what would you say? 

If you, for instance, use the 

ETLS as a case study, let us single 

them out. For instance, government 

is a stakeholder in the 

process and that is basically why 

they decided on it. What is government 

interested in? Government 

wants to ensure that it can 

stop smuggling; government 

wants to protect the private sector 

in these countries. Part of what 

it wants to do is to reduce the 

price un-competitiveness of products 

within the ECOWAS region. 

That way, the first is that the 

ETLS, which is like the flagship 

for liberalisation within the subregion, 

helps to protect the revenue 

that government typically 

Dr. Martin Oluba 

globally. And it presents a whole 

lot of benefits for Nigeria as a 

country and for the whole of Africa 

as a continent. 

How does ETLS checkmate 

illegal cross-border flow of 

goods? 

There are a lot more that can 

be done beyond just ETLS because 

ETLS itself, for instance, is 

not a magic wand. Countries also 

need to do a lot more in terms of 

checking their borders and retraining 

those who work at their 

borders. There is need for re-senloses 

through smuggling and 

through dumping. Number two; 

it gives the private sector producers 

the advantage of price competitiveness. 

Number three, there 

is enormous capacity building in 

all of that. Number four; there is 

enormous prosperity that goes 

with it. 

For instance, the ETLS expands 

market; it gives market access. 

Once you have market access, one 

of the things that go with it is the 

demand pressure on manufacturers. 

That pressure on manufacturers 

forces you to employ more, 

to buy more equipment, to expand 

on your processes. 

Again, one of the things trade 

liberalisation does is, it enhances 

capacity and improves on standards 

across the board. It helps 

to improve on products standards. 

You know, one of the things often 

mentioned as partly responsible 

for unfair terms of trade is 

that they say the standards of 

products from Africa are not too 

good. Liberalisation helps you to 

work on your standards and 

that’s one of the things you bring 

to the market – enhanced standard. 

Are Nigerian companies wellplaced 

to tap into the opportunities 

inherent in the ETLS? 

I think Nigeria still has a lot to 

do to increase awareness, to sensitise 

industries and in fact to sensitise 

even the stakeholders within 

the entire ETLS implementation 

chain, including those who 

work in the ports, to let them know 

about the advantages that these 

offers, and communicate same to 

Nigerians. 

For instance, let me go back to 

the issue of tobacco. If for instance, 

you farm 10 hectares of vegetables, 

you will not get as much foreign 

exchange as you would get 

if you farm 10 hectares of tobacco. 

Now if you have that in mind, 

what you do is to have a policy 

that tells you, hey, go there, plant 

more of this, if you export it you 

are going to do more for your 

economy. 

Do you think ETLS can reduce 

poverty and boost the 

Nigerian economy? 

“Like it’s often said, ‘we need 

trade, not aid.’ This tells the entire 

story. Trade prospers both the 

seller as well as the buyer. So, for 

a country exporting, it offers prosperity, 

while the country importing, 

it also brings prosperity.” 

Also, you need to have good policies 

that enable you to harness 

what side of the trade that you 

are in. 

Of course, when we say side, 

you should be on both sides anyway; 

it depends on what you’re 

offering and what you are getting. 

So, it should ordinarily lead to 

prosperity for all and reduce poverty. 

First, ETLS will stimulate 

economic activities, promote trade 

among member-states, and once 

you promote trade, it should ordinarily 

lead to the creation of 

more jobs. 

What the ETLS ordinarily will 

do is expanding the market that 

is available. Nigeria has some advantages 

in terms of its human 

resource and natural resources. 

It has natural resources in virtually 

every aspect of factor categorisation 

– in minerals; it has 

columbite, tin, iron, steel, uranium, 

etc. 

Forex availability will drive economic 

sustainability — IDL boss 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

& Favour Ikede 

GOVERNMENT has been 

urged to encourage 

‘Made in Nigeria’ products by 

making foreign exchange 

available to manufacturers if the 

drive for economic sustenance 

through local producers is to be 

achieved. 

This was the advice of the 

Managing Director of 

Intercontinental Distillers 

Limited, IDL, Engr. Patrick 

Anegbe. Speaking at the relaunch 

of Eagle Schnapps and 

the company’s distributors’ 

award in Lagos, 

Anegbe stated that in line 

with government’s current 

policy to achieve economic 

sustenance by encouraging 

‘Made in Nigeria’ products, 

“we urge them to make this 

dream come true by providing 

adequate infrastructure and 

access to forex to purchase our 

much needed equipment.” 

Adulterated 

products 

He also urged relevant 

regulatory agencies to continue 

the fight against producers of 

adulterated products, fakes and 

pass-offs whose activities 

threaten the industry 

As a 100 per cent-owned 

Dangote 

eliminates 

LPFO for coal 

By Franklin Alli 

DANGOTE Cement Plc is 

eliminating the use of 

Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) for 

coal in its operations in Nigeria. 

This will take effect from 

January 2017. 

In a statement, the Managing 

Director of the Company, 

Onne Van der Weijde, said: 

“We are eliminating LPFO from 

our fuel mix, as we increase our 

use of coal and as higher gas 

levels return. We do not expect 

to use LPFO again this year. 

From January 2017, our use of 

own-mined coal sourced in 

Nigeria and paid for in Naira, 

will further improve margins 

and significantly reduce our 

need for foreign currency.” 

The statement further noted 

that similar to the second 

quarter of 2016, the firm had 

to contend with high fuel costs 

due to disruptions to gas supplies 

as a result of the vandalized 

gas pipeline infrastructure. 

“Although management effected 

a significant price hike 

of around 39 per cent for the 

Nigerian market in late August, 

it appears that the combination 

of slower sales growth in Q3 

(relative to the months preceding 

the price review) and significantly 

higher fuel costs 

(+53 per cent year on year nine 

months 2016) more than offset 

the effect of the upward review 

in prices,” it said. 

It further noted that during 

the period under review, although 

revenue increased by 

N76.642 billion from N365.450 

billion it made during the 

same period in 2015, yet the 

crises of foreign exchange 

gulped a huge amount of its 

revenue, as it spent N231.684 

billion on cost of sales during 

the review period of nine 

months 2016 as against 

N138.694 billion spent on the 

same purpose in nine months 

2015. 

Nigerian company. “Our 

wines and spirits are made in 

Nigeria by Nigerians for the 

Nigeria market. What this 

means is that whenever 

consumers purchase our brands 

they are growing the Nigeria 

economy and creating jobs, he 

explained. 

Also speaking, Mr. 

Mobolaji Alalade, Head of 

Marketing, said the product 

was renewed because of 

imitations in the market. 

He said that the new look 

features fool proof security 

feature on bottle caps and label. 

He further added that the gift 

pack was one of its kinds in 

Nigeria and each contains a tot 

glass and handkerchief.


Osun tackles girl child education 

By Olaniyi Ige 

FROM a global 

perspective, the girl 

child is generally considered 

highly vulnerable to several 

societal ills, especially in 

developing countries where 

it is believed that effective 

policies and calculated 

efforts are needed to 

safeguard the girl child from 

the detrimental effect of 

violence, limited access to 

education, neglect, abuse, 

gender disparities, among 

other challenges. 

There is growing concern 

all over the world that 

decisive and urgent actions 

need to be taken to address 

these challenges by creating 

an enabling environment 

that will promote proper 

development of the girl 

child. 

Unarguably, education 

and empowerment 

initiatives have been 

identified as crucial vehicles 

that can be utilized to correct 

the many troubles of the girl 

child and also drive 

sustainable development. 

This year, attention of 

governments, nongovernmental 

organisations, policy makers 

and stakeholders again 

turned to issues 

surrounding the girl child 

as the world observed the 

International Day of the Girl 

Child on October 11 with the 

theme “Girls’ Progress = 

Goals’ Progress: A Global 

Girl Data Movement” in 

line with the United Nations 

(UN) declaration. 

Gender 

inequalities 

This special day is set 

aside annually to raise 

public awareness on girls’ 

right and highlights gender 

inequalities that remain 

between girls and boys all 

over the world. 

According to the UN, 

“there are 1.1 billion girls 

today, a powerful constituency 

for shaping a 

sustainable world that’s 

better for everyone. They are 

brimming with talent and 

creativity. But their dreams 

and potential are often 

thwarted by discrimination, 

violence and lack of equal 

opportunities. There are 

glaring gaps in data and 

knowledge about the 

specific needs and 

challenges that girls face.” 

Like other developing 

countries, the girl child in 

Nigeria is also faced with 

most of the challenges 

confronting girls all over the 

world. One appalling 

example is the case of the 

276 girls kidnapped in a 

school in Chibok, Borno 

State. 

The sufferings that the 

Osun gov, Aregbesola 

girls have been exposed to 

while in captivity for more 

than two years further 

highlight the urgency 

required in addressing girl 

child issues. 

The 2016 International 

Day of the Girl Child brings 

to bear efforts being made 

by governments in Nigeria 

towards educating and 

empowering the girl child. 

Worthy of note are the 

decisive initiatives 

undertaken by Osun State. 

When the present 

government under 

leadership of Ogbeni Rauf 

Adesoji Aregbesola 

assumed office on 

November 27, 2010 the 

The sufferings 

that the girls 

have been 

exposed to while 

in captivity for 

more than two 

years further 

highlight the 

urgency 

required in 

addressing girl 

child issues 

Public education had been 

so badly managed that only 

pupils whose parents could 

not afford education in 

private schools were left in 

the public schools. 

The students, especially in 

primary schools were badly 

dressed and malnourished. 

School buildings 

were in dilapidated 

state, students’ performance 

both at the internal/external 

examinations was 

abysmally poor; there were 

no instructional materials, 

while the tuition fees in the 

state-owned tertiary 

institution was outrageous. 

However, the situation 

has since taken an optimistic 

tone particularly in line with 

current focus to prioritise 

girl child education. There 

are 622,726 students with 

309, 488 females and 313, 

238 males, which is a 

laudable feat as the average 

expectation for developing 

nations is that among 

students not enrolled in 

school, there are twice as 

many girls than boys and 

among illiterate adults there 

are twice as many women 

than men. The governor 

overhauled education in the 

state by restructuring the 

education system into 

elementary (ages 6-9), 

middle (ages 10-14) and 

high school (ages 15-17) 

structure. He also 

constructed 100 Elementary, 

50 Middle, and 20 High 

Schools during his first term 

through the O’School 

programme. 

His attention also shifted 

towards improving the 

nutrition and health of 

students in public school as 

the school feeding 

programme. O’Meals was 

introduced in line with the 

recommendation of the UN. 

The government believes 

that a well-fed pupil is likely 

to be more attentive in class 

than his/her counterpart on 

an empty stomach. 

Findings reveal that the 

programme has impacted 

positively on school 

enrolment with an increase 

of 38,000 pupils, 

representing 25% within 

four weeks of its 

introduction. Enrolment of 

pupils increased from 

155,318 on May 31, 2012 to 

194,253 by June 30, 2012. 

By December 2012, 

government decided to 

extend the programme to 

cover pupils in primaries 1- 

4 (representing the 

Elementary School) 

bringing the total number of 

pupils being fed to 252,000. 

At inception, the cost of 

feeding 155, 318 pupils was 

N7.7m per day, N38.5m per 

week and or N169.4m per 

month. With the increase in 

enrolment to 252,000 pupils, 

the cost of feeding went up 

to N14.8m per day, N74m 

per week, and N325.6m per 

month. 

On the economic front, 

O’Meals Programme has 

helped to improve the 

production capacities of 

farmer-suppliers of farm 

produce, and has 

empowered 3,007 women 

who were appointed as Food 

Vendors by the State to serve 

nutritious meals to pupils on 

school days. It is noteworthy 

that the Aregbesola-led 

administration spends 

N3billion naira per annum 

to feed primary 1 – 4 pupils 

in all the public primary 

schools in the State of Osun. 

Out of the 13 original pilot 

states that started the 

programme, only the State 

of Osun is still 

implementing the School 

Feeding Programme, in the 

whole federation. 

•Ige wrote from Oshogbo


Barca’s slip at City thrills 

Guardiola 

PEP Guardiola has 

hailed his team’s 

historic victory after 

Manchester City came 

from behind to stun 

Barcelona on a memorable 

Champions League night 

FA bans Mourinho 

THE Football Association 

has banned 

Manchester United boss 

Jose Mourinho for one 

game for accosting 

officials in the draw with 

Burnley. 

The Portuguese will be 

absent from the touchline 

when United travel to 

Swansea City on Sunday. 

Mourinho was sent to 

the stands for the second 

half of the match at Old 

Trafford and it is alleged 

that the Portuguese used 

“abusive and/or insulting 

words” towards a match 

official. 

His reaction was said to 

have been sparked by 

referee Mark 

Clattenburg’s decision 

not to give United a 

penalty after Matteo 

at the Etihad Stadium. 

Ilkay Gundogan struck 

twice either side of a 

sublime Kevin De Bruyne 

free-kick to earn City a 3-1 

win over the Spanish 

champions just two weeks 

Darmian went down 

under a challenge from 

Jon Flanagan. In 

addition, Mourinho was 

also handed an £8,000 

fine for his conduct 

during that game. 

He must also cough up 

£50,000 after being 

warned over his future 

conduct for comments 

made about referee 

Anthony Taylor prior to 

United’s clash with 

Liverpool last month. 

Mourinho remarked 

that Manchester-based 

referee Anthony Taylor 

would find it “difficult” to 

referee United’s goalless 

draw at Anfield on 

October 17, adding that 

assigning Taylor to the 

game had “put pressure” 

on the official. 

•Mourinho... Always getting into trouble 

CHAN Eagles star Abubakar 

cancels contract with Tunisian club 

ONE-time CHAN Ea 

gles forward Ibrahim 

Abubakar is now a free 

agent after he cancelled his 

contract with top Tunisian 

club CA Bizertin. 

“I have cancelled my 

contract with Bizertin because 

they did not live up 

to several agreements and 

I’m now a free player,” disclosed 

the fleet-footed forward. 

“I have been back in the 

country for the past one 

month as a result.” 

Ibrahim Abubakar 

played for Nigeria at 

CHAN 2014 in South Africa. 

He also featured for 

Nasarawa United and was 

linked with Kano Pillars 

and South African club 

Ajax Cape Town before he 

eventually opted to move 

to Tunisia last year. 

after being thrashed 4-0 by 

the same opponents. 

As in the reverse fixture 

at the Camp Nou, Lionel 

Messi put Barca into an 

early lead, but this time the 

breaks in a compelling 

end-to-end encounter went 

City’s way. 

The victory not only put 

City back on track to qualify 

for the last 16 from Group 

C, but had wider 

implications for both the 

club and manager 

Guardiola. 

For Guardiola it was an 

impressive victory against 

the club he led to two 

Champions League 

triumphs and, after a 

difficult sequence of results, 

made clear the potential 

rewards of playing by his 

methods. 

Guardiola said: “This 

club was for many years out 

of Europe, while these 

kind of clubs like Barcelona, 

Real Madrid, Bayern 

Munich were playing 

every year. 

“Maybe it is a good step. 

Now we realise, ‘Wow, we 

won against the best team, 

so we are able to do that’. 

Suarez not going anywhere 

—Barcelona president 

B ARCELONA 

president Josep 

Maria Bartomeu has 

dismissed reports linking 

striker Luis Suarez with a 

move to Premier League 

side Manchester United. 

Ohuruogu loses lottery 

money 

CHRISTINE Ohuruogu 

is one of several 

leading British athletes to 

have had their National 

Lottery funding cut for the 

2017 season. 

The 32-year-old, a former 

Olympic and two-time 

world champion over 400 

metres, has been 

downgraded from top-level 

podium funding to relay 

funding. Injury plagued 

former 400m hurdler world 

champion Dai Greene and 

James Dasaolu, Britain’s 

second fastest man ever 

over 100m, have both been 

stripped of their funding 

completely, British Athletics 

revealed on Wednesday 

when it released the 

athletes selected on its 

world-class performance 

programmes for 2016-17. 

The total number of 

Olympic athletes on 

podium funding has 

dropped from 21 to 15 

ahead of next year’s World 

Championships in London, 

with the retired Jessica 

Ennis-Hill, sprint hurdlers 

Andy Pozzi and William 

Sharman, 1500m runner 

Laura Weightman and 

800m runner Andrew 

Osagie joining Greene and 

Ohurougu in dropping off. 

American-born 100m 

hurder Cindy Ofili has 

been awarded top-level 

funding after finishing 

fourth at the Rio Olympics. 

Pozzi remains on the WCPP, 

but has been relegated to 

the lower-level podium 

potential funding. British 

Athletics’ WCPP is funded 

by the Lottery through UK 

Sport, with selection based 

upon the potential to win 

medals at an Olympics or 

Paralympics. 

Enyimba okay Udoh’s Sudanese move 

ENYIMBA FC chairman 

Felix Anyansi- 

Agwu has said the club has 

no quarrels with Mfon 

Udoh’s move to play in 

Sudan with Al Merreikh. 

Udoh, who was the 2015 

Nigeria Professional 

League top scorer and also 

with nine goals in the CAF 

Champions League has 

been linked to several other 

African clubs, but Anyasi- 

Agwu said he will not be 

stopped from moving to a 

club of his choice. 

“If they have invited him, 

Enyimba will not stop him 

from joining Al Merreikh, he 

is free to go, “ Anyansi- 

Agwu replied when asked 

if talks have taken place 

between Al Merreikh and 

Enyimba. “Let him go there 

•TOUGH DUEL...Luis Suarez Barcelona star striker kept in check by 

Manchester City defender, John Stones in their Champions League match at 

the Ethihad Stadium. 

first. We don’t want to 

discuss it in the 

newspapers, it will send 

a wrong impression.“ 

Koorasudan.net, 

making reference to 

Sudanese newspapers, 

has reported that Mfon 

Udoh is expected to arrive 

in Sudan in the coming 

days to complete the 

transfer. 

Reports in the English 

media earlier this week 

claimed United would offer 

•140 million to Barca in the 

hope of luring former 

Liverpool man Suarez back 

to England. 

But Suarez, 29, recently 

said he would love to retire 

at the Camp Nou and he 

is in talks over a new longterm 

contract. 

“We read, we listen, we 

see this news, but of course, 

our interest in this 

particular case is that Luis 

Suarez is happy at 

Barcelona,” Bartomeu told 

Sky Sports when asked 

about United’s reported 

interest. 

“For me, he is probably 

the best striker in Europe 

and we want him to be with 

us. Right now we are 

trying to extend his contract 

with Barcelona, and he is 

one of our big future efforts 

because he is still young, 

he has a vision and a lot of 

ambition. 

“He is happy at 

Barcelona and, together 

with Lionel Messi and 

Neymar, they are really 

very dangerous.” 

•Ohuruogu... No more training grants


Ahead 2018 World Cup qualifier 

Ikeme out for Nigeria 

INJURY has ruled out 

Super Eagles 

goalkeeper Carl Ikeme 

from an all-important 

World Cup qualifier at 

home against Algeria in 

Uyo next weekend. 

Ikeme, 30, was forced 

out of the English 

Championship game at 

Blackburn Rovers at the 

weekend due to a hip 

injury. 

“Yes, he’s out of the 

Algeria match due to 

injury,” said spokesman 

of the Nigeria Football 

Federation (NFF), 

Ademola Olajire. 

The player contacted 

the NFF to inform them 

of the severity of his 

injury. 

The official said they 

are now waiting on coach 

Gernot Rohr to name a 

replacement for the 

Wolverhampton 

Henderson 

Continues from BP 

Mane that steal the 

headlines. 

Data gathered by EA 

Sports found that 

Henderson has completed 

more passes than any 

other player in this 

season’s Premier League, 

racking up a total of 830 - 

almost 100 more than 

closest challenger, 

Fernandinho of 

Manchester City. 

Henderson is also miles 

ahead when it comes to 

the number of passes 

completed per 90 minutes 

- the 26-year-old averages 

84.5 passes per match, 

again considerably more 

than Fernandinho’s 73.3. 

It confirms the 

enormous - though often 

under-appreciated - 

influence the England 

international has on 

Liverpool’s matches and 

shows how he is a major 

reason why the Reds 

currently share top spot 

with Arsenal and City. 

The figures also show 

Henderson has 

successfully completed 

more passes in the 

opposition half than any 

other player with 412. 

And there could be no 

Wanderers shot stopper. 

Likely replacement 

would be Olympic team 

goalkeeper Emmanuel 

Daniel or South Africabased 

Daniel Akpeyi, 

who also deputised for 

him when he was 

unavailable for an 

AFCON clash in Egypt 

in March due to a 

stomach problem. 

This is a major blow for 

Nigeria as Ikeme has 

established himself as 

the country’s No.1 

goalkeeper since his 

brilliant debut in a 2017 

AFCON qualifier in 

Tanzania in September 

2015. 

He was the man of the 

match after he made 

several big saves for 

Nigeria to beat hosts 

Zambia 2-1 in Ndola last 

month in an opening 

World Cup qualifier. 

Rohr calls up Akpeyi to replace Ikeme 

SUPER 

Eagles’ 

Technical Adviser, 

Gernot Rohr has now 

invited South Africa – 

based goalkeeper Daniel 

Akpeyi to camp for next 

week’s 2018 FIFA World 

Cup qualifying match 

against Algeria in Uyo. 

Akpeyi, who stars for 

Chippa United, was in 

the Nigeria U20 squad 

that finished as runners 

better illustration of this 

than his excellent through 

ball for Firmino to round 

off Liverpool’s 4-2 win at 

Crystal Palace on 

Saturday. 

The passing stats also 

show that Manchester 

United’s world record 

£89million signing Paul 

Pogba deserves a little 

more credit than he has 

been receiving. 

The Frenchman comes 

in fifth in the table of the 

league’s best passers, 

with an average of 70 

completed passes per 

match and a grand total 

of 630. 

The influence of one past 

and one present Leicester 

City midfielder is also 

shown. Danny 

Drinkwater comes in third 

in the list with 673 

completed passes at an 

average of 68.1 per match, 

while N’Golo Kante, now 

at Chelsea, is fourth with 

654 and 65.4 respectively. 

Kante is one of three 

Chelsea players in the top 

10, with Nemanja Matic 

and cesar Azpilicueta 

demonstrating how the 

Blues have blossomed 

under the leadership of 

Italian Antonio Conte. 

•Ikeme 

–up at the 2005 FIFA U20 

World Cup in the 

Netherlands, and was 

also in the bronze – 

winning U23 team at the 

Men’s Olympic Football 

Tournament in Brazil in 

August this year. 

The former junior 

Continues from BP 

Nigeria’s goalless 

draw against the Taifa 

Stars of Tanzania in a 

2017 Africa Cup of 

Nations qualifier in Dar 

es salam. 

He was also in goal as 

Nigeria conquered the 

Chipolopolo of Zambia 

2-1 in Ndola, only to pick 

up a hip injury in last 

weekend’s 1-1 draw 

against Blackburn in a 

Championship game for 

Wolverhampton 

Wanderers. 

“It is very sad that the 

Super Eagles will miss 

Carl Ikeme considering 

the fact that he’s shown 

to be a dependable 

Ikeme 

international is a direct 

replacement for Super 

Eagles number one, Carl 

Ikeme, whose English 

club Wolverhampton 

Wanderers wrote to the 

Nigeria Football 

Federation that he would 

be unavailable as a 

goalkeeper since the 

departure of Vincent 

Enyeama from the 

team,” Shorunmu said. 

“Again, who would 

have thought that 

Nigeria would find a 

good goalie in Ikeme 

when Enyeama retired? 

The good thing about the 

Super Eagles is that we 

are always blessed with 

quality goalkeepers. 

“We have no choice but 

to depend on 

Ikechukwu Ezenwa and 

Dele Alampasu against 

Algeria. The truth is, 

Ikeme’s absence won’t 

stop the Super Eagles 

from beating the Desert 

Foxes in Uyo,” he 

concluded. 

Ounas out for Algeria 

ALGERIAN Football 

Federation has announced 

that Adam Ounas 

will take no part in the November 

12 FIFA World Cup 

qualifier against the Super 

Eagles after picking up an 

injury while in action for Bordeaux. 

The youngster recently 

switched allegiance to the 

Fennec Foxes and was expected 

to make his debut after 

new coach, Georges 

Leekens included him in his 

18-man squad. 

According to an official 

statement on the FAF’s 

website, the former France U- 

20 attacking midfielder suffered 

an ankle problem in his 

club’s Ligue 1 encounter 

with Marseille on Sunday 

evening. 

“The medical staff of the 

Algerian Football Federation 

has received the medical 

record of player Adam 

Ounas following his injury 

at the Olympic meeting in 

result of injury. 

The Super Eagles 

take on the Fennecs of 

Algeria in Uyo on 

Saturday, 12th 

November, in a 

Matchday 2 clash of the 

African race for the 2018 

FIFA World Cup. 

Goal feast at Etisalat U-15 School 

Cup Kaduna Play-offs 

IT was all goal feast 

encounter in Kaduna 

as the last leg of the 

Regional Play-offs of the 

ongoing Etisalat U-15 

School Cup got underway 

in the ancient city with the 

opening fixture between 

•Akpeyi 

General Hassan Usman 

Unity College, Bauchi and 

Unity College, Dutse, 

Jigawa States producing 12 

goals after the former 

trounced the latter in the 

sensational game. 

The fans that thronged 

Ahmadu Bello Stadium, 

venue of the play-offs, 

savoured exciting soccer 

moments all through as 

the Bauchi lads walloped 

their Jigawa counterparts 

12-0. 

The second match of the 

day between Government 

Day Secondary School, 

Gusau, Zamfara State 

defeated Sultan Bello 

Secondary School, Sokoto, 

3-2. 

It was battle for 

supremacy between 

Government Secondary 

School, Kaduna, and 

Government Secondary 

School, Kano as both sides 

fought hard with the first 

half ending goalless. 

Kano’s Buhari Musa 

opened scoring seven 

minutes into the second 

half but Kaduna came back 

forcefully 15 minutes later 

to level the score-line 

through a penalty spot. 

With two minutes to the 

game, defender Benedict 

Clement completed the 

turnaround for Kaduna 

with another goal that 

gave the home boys a 2-1 

win over the Kano boys. 

Marseille - Bordeaux,” a 

statement on FAF website 

read. “Ounas came out in the 

74th minute of the match after 

feeling pain in the ankle. 

An injury that could land him 

away for a few weeks. 

“He will therefore be exempted 

from the training of 

the national team and the 

match Nigeria - Algeria from 

November 12, 2016.” 

The 19-year-old has played 

ten games across all competitions 

this season, with a 

goal and an assist to show. 

His loss means Gernot Rohr 

and his charges have a problem 

less taking to the Uyo 

Township Stadium on November 

12. 

CBN stakes 

N5m in 

Financial 

Institutions 

tourney 

A 

total of 16 teams will 

take part in this 

year’s NFF/CBN All 

Financial Institutions 

Football Competition, as 

revealed by both 

organizations yesterday. 

At a press parley to 

announce this year’s 

competition, CBN’s 

Director of Corporate 

Communications, Mr. Isaac 

Okoroafor noted that the 

competition serves “as a 

platform for the promotion 

of unity, harmony and 

peaceful co-existence 

among institutions 

operating within Nigeria’s 

financial system.” 

The annual event, now 

in its 30th year, was also 

graced in the past by top 

names in Nigeria football, 

including the late Stephen 

Keshi, Henry Nwosu, 

Nwankwo Kanu and Pascal 

Patrick. 

On its part, the NFF 

pledged to continue to 

provide the necessary 

technical support to make 

the competition even more 

successful, from this year’s 

edition. NFF General 

Secretary, Dr. Mohammed 

Sanusi was represented by 

the Director of 

Competitions, Mr. Bola 

Oyeyode. 

A total of Five Million 

Naira has been set aside by 

the CBN as prize money for 

the competition, with the 

winner to take home 

N2million; 2nd place 

N1.5million; third place 

N1million and; fourth place 

N500,000. Akure, Enugu, 

Jos and Kaduna will serve 

as centres for the 

preliminary competition 

and the quarter finals, with 

the semi finals to take place 

in Calabar and Owerri, and 

the final at the Godswill 

Akpabio International 

Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 

19th November.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 

Ahead 2018 World Cup qualifier 

Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) 

Injury wreaks havoc 

•Carl Ikeme out for Nigeria 

•Adam Ounas out for Algeria 

OUT 

•Carl Ikeme 

Rohr calls up Akpeyi 

to replace Ikeme 

TODAY'S PUZZLE 

Tanzania 

name 

squad 

for 

Eagles 

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. 

•Page 47 

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS 

FIFA COACH OF THE YEAR NOMINEES 

Chris Coleman (Wales) 

Didier Deschamps (France) 

Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich, Manchester City) 

Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) 

Luis Enrique (Barcelona) 

Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham) 

Claudio Ranieri (Leicester) 

Fernando Santos (Portugal) 

Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) 

OUT 

Adam Ounas 

ACROSS 

1 Make (6) 

5 Sweater (6) 

8 Taught (8) 

9 Excursion (4) 

10 Intimidate (3) 

12 Clearing (5) 

15 Sick (3) 

17 Beer (3) 

18 Vigour (3) 

19 Place (3) 

20 Courage (5) 

21 Curve (3) 

22 Bird (3) 

23 Horse (3) 

24 Stray (3) 

26 Passed (5) 

29 Fish (3) 

33 Silent (4) 

34 Mishap (8) 

35 Dislike (6) 

36 Necessitate (6) 

DOWN 

2 Wireless (5) 

3 Roguish (4) 

4 Praise (5) 

5 Exhausted (5) 

6 Legend (4) 

7 Equivalent (5) 

10 Coppice (5) 

11 Irrigate (5) 

12 Class (5) 

13 Concur (5) 

14 Happening (5) 

15 Likeness (5) 

16 Regional (5) 

25 Awaken (5) 

27 Factory (5) 

28 Recess (5) 

30 Boredom (5) 

31 Yield (4) 

32 Revise (4) 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS 

ACROSS: 2, Drama 7, Taxi 8, Person 9, Midge 11, 

Sip 13, See 15, Work 16, Gum 18, Atom 19, Artiste 

20, Also 22, Ewer 23, Saddled 25, Ever 27, Ear 28, 

Oral 30, Rod 31, Did 33, Terse 36, Accede 37, Fell 

38, Night. 

•Page 47 

Henderson is 

Premier 

League’s 

pass master 

THE high-intensity, 

slick-passing, 

rapid-pressing style 

adopted by Jurgen 

Klopp has Liverpool 

firmly in the Premier 

League title race 

following a superb start 

to the season. 

And the statistics show 

that their captain Jordan 

Henderson is the true 

heartbeat of this winning 

team - even if it is the 

exploits of Roberto 

Firmino, Philippe 

Coutinho and Sadio 


Ikeme’s absence 

won’t affect 

Eagles against 

Algeria 

— Shorunmu 

FORMER Super 

Eagles goalkeeper 

trainer, Ike Shorunmu 

says the team will dearly 

miss the services of 

goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme 

but insists Nigeria can 

beat the Desert Foxes of 

Algeria in the upcoming 

2018 FIFA World Cup 

qualifier in Uyo without 

him. 

Ikeme has been the 

team’s safest hands since 

taking over from Vincent 

Enyeama who retired 

from the team last year in 


DOWN: 1, Radio 2, Dim 3, Add 4, Ape 6, 

Rodeo 10, Glut 11, Sweater 12, Pressed 

13, Steward 14, Emerald 16, Grade 17, 

Miser 21, Oar 24, Late 26, Voice 29, Aimed 

32, Ten 34, Rig 35, Eft. 

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

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

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

Senate threatens ‘strike’ over pending re-run polls

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